A beautiful virtue

  External modesty as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary:

2: propriety in dress, speech, or conduct 

Modesty as defined by the Bible:

1: Dressing modestly with decency and propriety, adorning ourselves

                                           with good deeds ( 1 Timothy 2:9-10)  

 

 2: Respectful and pure conduct, being discreet and chaste letting our meek  and quiet spirit be our apparel                                       (1 Peter 3:1-4, Titus 2:4-5)

3:  Dressing in a manner as befits a woman            (Deuteronomy 22:5)

4: Dressing to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)

 5: Dressing in a way that does not stumble those younger than us or new in faith    (Matthew 18:6-7)

    Modesty is a fading virtue that is shunned by today's society. It is a rare and beautiful virtue yet women forsake it these days. Even many Christian women abandon Biblical modesty, for a woman who dresses with discretion yet still acts with impropriety is not modest at all for according to the Bible, modesty is far more then just discreet clothing.

"....Modesty is a way of thinking that is characterized by humility and purity, and results in appropriate actions." -Michelle Brock

    Modesty starts in our heart when we make that conscious decision to start living in discretion and propriety. As Christian women we should be following Christ's guidelines for modesty, and the Bible is our handbook. In all that we wear and say and however we conduct ourselves is to match up with Christ's standards for a modest woman. Before you speak think, before you leave the house look in the mirror and ask yourself  "would this outfit cause men to stumble?," as you are interacting with men constantly be on guard to ensure that you are conducting yourself with discretion and propriety. Above all seek to glorify God and honor your future husband with all your actions, words and attire.

     As young women we need to constantly be praying that God will enable us to live in respectful and pure conduct, being chaste and discreet, making meekness and good deeds our apparel. However this looks for you is between God and yourself. If God is convicting you on an outfit being too revealing, get rid of it. If He is convicting you on your speech or conduct with men, pray that He will help you change that and be actively exercising your prayer. Let us bring modesty back into this world starting today!

"As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman without discretion." 

Proverbs 11:22 

"For the glory of God!"

I will come to you!

  As the airport came into view my stomach lurched with excitement. A smile a mile wide spread across my face as I looked over at my seatmate, Christina Cates. Her face mirrored my own. Breathless with excitement and anticipation, we gasped, "WE'RE IN AFRICA!!!" Suddenly it was all I could do to stay in my seat till the plane landed. That night as we drove through town watching the beautiful, moonlight landscape pass by, I knew I'd already fallen in love with this place. The next day as I lost my heart to the children and mamas of EOH, I knew I would never leave Africa with my heart in one piece.

   Today marks 1 year since I first said yes to God's plan and allowed Him to send me where He wanted, starting me off on the greatest adventure of my life. At that time last year I was on a plane headed to Zambia where I'd soon plant my heart. Tomorrow the 2013 interns head off to start their term in Zambia, and due to a strange change in the Lord's plan, I will not be with them.

    In early May after a series of safety issues, I had to come home. After much prayer, God clearly told me that I was to stay for a while. A few weeks after being home my cousin was hospitalized and shortly afterwards passed away. I now see just a glimpse of His purpose in bringing me home and am grateful to Him for how He directed my trip. God is sovereign and His purpose will stand in our lives no matter how badly we want His will to be different. (Job 42: 2) In this case, I did not want to leave despite the danger, and honestly I fought Him every step of the way that whole month, until He finally had to bring me to my knees before Him.
     
   Though I am home for now, not a day goes by that I do not miss Zambia and the family I left behind there. Every day my heart longs to be back there. To sit in that beautiful red dirt with my clothes and skin stained by it's fine grains, to breath in the wonderful scent of Africa, watching the many wonders of God being performed right before my eyes and being with my Zambian family. A large portion of my heart stays with my Zambian family, connecting me to that wonderful country.

   At this time, I do not know what God has planned for me in near future, nor do I know when He will show me. But for now it is enough for me to know that I am in His will, walking the path He has laid for me.With the love that the people of EOH and I share and the knowledge that my heart is still in Zambia, I can honestly say if it be God's will, "Zambia, I will be back!!!!"

"I will come to you." John 14:18

For the glory of God!

   

   

Help Me Find It!

        

   We all have those moments when we find ourselves at a crossroad in our lives and we are at a complete loss of what to do. We're crying out to God to discern His will for us but we get no reply. There are so many paths in front of us but only one is the path He has chosen for us. We know that He is near, but at times like that He feels so far away. It seems the more we cry out the further away He gets, and the silence we receive in answer to our prayers grows, till we feel that God is not even listening to us anymore.

   In times like that I've learned that I have 2 choices. I can either choose to be angry with God for "not listening to me" or I can continue to seek Him and eventually He'll show me His will. More often then not when I'm surrounded by confusion and feel like God has turned a silent ear to me, my flesh wants to choose to be angry with God. But when I continue seeking Him, He draws near and reveals His plan. Sometimes He takes a whole lot longer then my human mind would like, but at times like that He is able to work on my lack of patience, to gradually develop within me, a spirit of patience and of willingness to wait.

   I recently a sermon by Pastor Damion Kyle on the topic of God's silence. In this sermon he said, "God's silence doesn't always mean "no," but quite often it doesn't mean "yes" either. Most of the time God's silence is simply silence. It just means that He is testing us to see how we will react to Him "ignoring us." Or He will often times even use a trial of silence to prepare us for whatever greater trial lays ahead. He knows that without the trial of silence, we will not be strong enough to stand in the face of the trial that is coming." Personally, I found this very encouraging. I listened to it at a time when I was crying out to God to please help me find the next path He has for me and wasn't getting an answer. I felt angry that He was letting things be so confusing when I just wanted to do His will, but I had to step back and evaluate why I wanted to do His will and once I did, my prayers quickly changed. I went from praying "Lord show me what you want me to do!" to "Lord, whatever You choose to do, will be fine with me. Only take the reins and let Your will be done." God had to totally crush my spirit, bringing me down to my knees before Him in total surrender, before I was finally where He wanted me. Only when I had stopped thinking about myself and what I'd like to do, and had completely handed over control of my life to HIM alone, only then, would He show me His plan and lead me forward onto that path.

   If God has you in a place of silence, be encouraged. He has a plan for that trial of silence and once He's brought you through to the other side, you will look back on that time and see how far He's brought you. And you will be thankful for that silence. I know I was. God's silence brings His blessings. So wait patiently, for soon He will reveal His purpose to you. Just keep seeking His face and allow Him to be at work in you.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: 

wait, I say, on the LORD."

Proverbs 27:13

"For the glory of God!"