Friday, September 20, 2013

Kathy's Headcovering Testimony...

Today I'm sharing yet another testimony from a gal who is practicing the 
biblical mandate of headcovering.   I met Kathy on facebook and requested 
her permission to share it with you.  Her story begins with a question from her young daughter!   
Today - Kathy is joyfully obeying the scriptures in this area - 
even though she is 'alone' in her church.  Enjoy and be encouraged...

Three years ago, my then 11 year old daughter asked our pastor's wife about what Paul meant about modest dressing, roles of women and head covering. She told my daughter and I that these were "cultural" in nature and not a value for today. Both my daughter and I felt that this was a rather lame answer to a heart felt question on my daughter's part. My daughter and I talked about these issues together and decided that this could not possibly be truth. How can we decide what is "cultural" and what is not. What about order in the family, honoring parents, teachings on homosexuality, obedience to God etc. If modesty and head coverings were "cultural" then why are these other issues not "cultural". 
...After this I was perplexed and disturbed by the answer we got from said pastor's wife. We attend a charismatic non denominational church in rural mid west Minnesota.... I began to study the scripture for answers and asked the Holy Spirit to direct my path and give me direction as to dress, and head coverings. God had already dealt with me regarding obedience to Him in areas that are difficult, ie husband as head of family. My obedience in the home has been a blessing and God has honored my obedience. I was ready to take the next step. The Holy Spirit kept taking me to 1 Corinthians 11. I said "No not that" But God was not going to let me go that easily. He nipped at my heels until I was convinced that He was directing my path in this. I said "Ok' and my husband did not care one way or the other. 
I ordered a simple black snood and started wearing it about the house. It was January when I started and wearing a simple indoor crocheted hat indoors and at church was not a far stretch for me. As it is I am already kind of "weird' at church wearing mostly longer flowing skirts. People probably just thought it was another "Kathy oddity" . Wearing my scarf or wide head band etc began to feel so freeing and normal. I felt that the Angels were honoring me, I slept better, felt my prayers were more earnest and felt a peace about my life. I shared only with a couple people about my decision, they thought I was cracked although they did admit that it was a command in the bible. A command that was "cultural in nature". No one has asked me about it in 2 years!
I felt that if I started telling people they would think I was being too conservative, or pious, or weirder then usual. So, I just did not say anything and no one has asked. I am the ONLY one in church who wears dresses 90 % of the time and the only one who wears a head covering. I feel a freedom in Christ and am at the age that I really do not care what people think of me. The only one I need to honor is God then my husband....  Those of us ladies who have been called to obedience in head coverings need the encouragement of fellow sisters. We are bucking the trend not only in society but in our fellowships as well. Rejoice dear sisters you are not alone, we have God and the Angels on our side!!!
God bless you Kathy!  Thanks for allowing me to share your story.

Friends - following Jesus can be lonely - but this life is but a vapor.
 And we are not truly alone at all.  ~Joyce

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Scripture Sunday....

Do you feel alone in your Christian walk and beliefs?  Sometimes we need 
to remind ourselves that no matter how lonely it feels - Jesus has promised 
to always be with us.  Cry out to Him!  Trust and know that He is with you and beside you. 
 Bask in His presence and experience His Peace - even amidst many tears.  
We are never alone or left on our own!

Spending time with Jesus always gives strength for the journey.
My love to you this day ~ Joyce

Friday, September 13, 2013

Riding Bicycle in a Skirt...


In my area - its not uncommon to see conservative Christian women  riding bicycle 
in a skirt.  But there are some challenges.  Namely - the skirt getting caught on 
bicycle parts when too long... or of course riding up as you move your legs.

But I'm encouraged to find this.... A company has come out with a 'bicycle skirt' 
that unzips for pedaling - and reveals not a slit (yeah!) - but more fabric!   
Altho - a fuller skirt to begin with would solve the problem. 
But at least this is a step in the right direction for mainstream society
And I love the charming photos! 

Source
And this dear blogger did a post on bicycling in skirts that I love as well.  
Her ideas?  Wear leggings underneath...
 Or maybe padded bike shorts which no one can even see!  By the way - 
you can do most anything in a fuller skirt that falls just below the knee.  
Plenty of room to move, full enough for layering, and isn't too long to be dangerous. 

Now - go bike your heart out and be modest too!
 
Source
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty... 2 Cor. 3:17 
- a freedom to please our Savior!

~Joyce

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Distinctly Female - Does It Matter?

As a woman - how important is it to look like a woman?  Does God care about that?
  Let me offer some thoughts...
   
We have all grown quite accustomed to seeing women in pants.  
It has become a way of life.  But let me assure you when women first started 
wearing pants - it wasn't just the Christians who were in an up roar - 
it was seen as distinctly going into the male world. 
Now ladies - let me ask you - are you prepared to get accustomed to seeing men 
wear skirts?  When I see this (and I have!)- something within me cries 'no!' 
It's just 'wrong' and my spirit knows it.
  I don't want to get used to it!  And I pray you don't either.

Currently - our fashion industry is bringing feminine dress to the male population.  
These images are from a 2013 runway collection in London... 
(and yes - there is a decidedly homosexual emphasis here.)



Source for images
Are you surprised?  Satan loves to blur lines... to make things gray... 
to have us question 'hath God said?'.  Some refer to this as 'a slippery slope'.  
Trouble is - once you're headed down a slope - it's hard to stop - 
let alone turn around and go back up (think sledding down an icy hill!)  
Wouldn't it be better to not go down the hill to begin with?

I can assure you that in bible times - there was something very distinct about the 
female and male garments of that time -regardless of what teaching you may have heard.   
No Godly person would have tried to be gender confusing in their attire.  
After all - it was God who said  "A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth 
unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever 
doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God."  Deut. 22:5  
When our appearance is not clearly different from our male counterparts - we are on a slippery slope. 
 (Yes, I realize there may be times or activities that call for pants to be worn - but this can 
still be done in a distinctly modest and feminine way as I've posted about earlier.)  

 As women - we are designed and created by God to be drawn to the opposite sex - 
not our own. 
The first thing another notices about us is our appearance.  What do we want to portray? 
  Homosexuality is not a new thing by any stretch of the imagination - but it is a sin.  
(God said it - not me!)
 I want to stay far removed from it.  Wearing unisex or gender neutral clothing, 
blurring the lines of distinction or crossing the lines all are dangerous territory.  
Certainly - Satan is smiling to himself as we become more
 'progressive' in our attire and churches.  I don't want him to smile at me!
(and my apologies for a longer post than usual...)


















Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A Headcovering Movement? Wow - An Answer to Prayer...

For years I have prayed and asked the Lord to help his church 
become convinced of the scriptural teaching of headcovering.  
If more pastors and lay persons would practice and teach 
this truth - what a blessing that would be to those who 
are trying to be obedient to His Word in this area.   
Not to mention the blessings of simple obedience!
 God is answering my prayer and I'm sure the prayer of untold others.  
Just yesterday I stumbled upon a website that has me so exited.  
Check out their introductory video...



Officially this site is teaching that headcovering 
is a practice for corporate worship - 
which it certainly is.  But I believe it is for more!
 The website also offers a free ebook by K. P. Yohannan 
(It's small - great for printing & handing out!)
Within its pages, the author acknowledges that
headcovering extends beyond corporate worship. 
 There are also beautiful testimonies that give
 witness to covering beyond the church service.  
Praise be to Jesus for bringing this teaching to
 light to the church in these last days! 

I can't wait to see what happens next!  ~Joyce

Friday, July 5, 2013

Headcovering Testimony...

I love to share testimonies of dear ones who have been 
prompted by the Lord to take Him at His Word
 and have begun the journey of head covering.
  Jennifer is such a gal and I have recently
 been introduced to her and her blog...
I love this quote from her post where she explains 
her change in appearance to her blogging visitors...

"It is a gift and a treasure to be called one of the children of God and
 we should not be ashamed."  

In addition, below is her testimony in brief that she
 shared with some of her facebook friends... (used with permission)
I felt led to wear a head covering several years ago, but knew I had to wait for the Lord to work on my husband's heart as that is not something the modern christian world does, much less the secular world. Fast forward about 5 years, and my husband voiced his concern as to why we were not abiding in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. So we surrendered to the Lord's calling and I started wearing a head covering. Unfortunately, after 6 months I started having problems with the coverings fitting and hurting my head so I stopped wearing them. Six months later and under intense conviction from the Lord, I resolved my issues by designing and making my own. I wear my coverings from the moment I wake up until I go to bed, minus the shower. :) 
Her website, Mama Economics,  is all about living a biblical debt free life.
(But there are other great Christian topics too.)
Go meet her and be blessed!
Thanks Jennifer for sharing with us today ~Joyce