Our Days are Like the Mist

I'm a little girl walking excitedly (and curiously) behind grandpa. I came to visit for a few days and already grandpa has prepared a surprise for me! Oh wow was I excited! Grandpa knew when to make my day! As I walk behind him, I notice how his stride is always so strong and sure. Even though I noticed him getting just a little older, and just a little more tired, I don't see that affecting his busy life. My grandpa is a beekeeper by profession. He lived and breathed this career of his. Business was going very well for him, and he was always out of town tending to his bees. Now here I am visiting grandpa and grandma (and dodging hiper bees in the yard that grandpa had brought in their beehives. They really bite painfully!). I follow grandpa out to the garden and to my amazement grandpa leads me to a little hole dug in the ground and lo and behold I see a mama cat with her kittens! I almost melted on the spot (animals are my weakness)! The kittens were the tiniest things on earth! They were still blind but were climbing all over their mom in an effort to find some warmth. Grandpa proudly let me pat the mama cat and told me that when the kittens grew up, we could keep one. My grandpa made my day once again! In the later days to come, there were baby rabbits, baby calves, puppies, and dogs that grandpa presented to me and he knew what made me happy. My grandpa was awesome!

Here I am sitting in my car watching in the rearview mirror as grandpa slowly makes his way to the main entrance of his apartment complex. I want to make sure he gets in safely (he tends to fall more often now, but always brushes off our help). I see the grandpa that once had the sure footing of a man with a purpose in life. He had the strength and determination of a giant! He brought up his children, built his home, built his business, and worked, worked, worked! He was always on the go! Now I see grandpa's steps have become very slow. With the help of a cane he continues on his walk in life. Sometimes I would see him crying and regretting for the things past or for the things that were lost. He still tends to invite me over to his apartment to show me something new that he acquired and I know it makes his day when I exclaim or smile about whatever he would share with me. When I share the latest news about my nephews goofy words, or how he pronounces new words that make you laugh uncontrollably I see my grandpa just light up. When I bring a new picture of me or our family to him, I see grandpas's happiness radiating out of his eyes. And then I know, I made his day!

Embracing Modesty

I am disgusted at the way today's society portrays women. Clothing designers are putting less and less pieces of material on their models and define that as clothing. Bill boards for Victoria's Secret with revealing lingerie make us (those of us who do have a consciousness and a sense of embarassment) to quickly pull up our shirts and walk with averted eyes. Things that were once private (and should remain private) are now public and blown up by the size of television screens and billboards. Not to mention idolized by many women of this world. Therefore, it is safe for me to say that immodesty is right in our face and it's getting ugly!

Are you disgusted as I am? Are you seeking to dress more modestly? Did someone remark on how immodest your clothing is and you never thought what you were wearing was a big deal before they made a comment? Either way my hope and prayer is that this post will give you as a lady some tools for better insight into knowing and judging for yourself what is modest and appropriate to wear.

First of all, you have to personally understand the value of modesty. It is not hard to determine by today's society that modesty has become very rare. Almost extinct like the dinosaurs. We see and dig through racks upon racks of clothing and know in our hearts that these tube tops, mini skirts, tight fitting jeans and sleeveless dresses that barely touch thigh are in no way fit to be modest. Modesty has become very expensive time-wise (it takes forever to find a decent modest clothing item) and money-wise (you have to do extra alterations by adding sleeves and covering the front and the back of a dress or shirt). Nevertheless, my point is we are in no way to be discouraged about the cost of modesty because modesty is a rare gem with a high price. In other words, if you are a woman of God and an amazing example of modesty, you are glorifying God in your body and soul and in His eyes you are precious. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 A woman who fears the Lord will not dress in a suggestive manner and will do her best not to attract prying eyes and sinful thoughts of men around her. She will know that there are men who struggle with sinful thoughts and lust and she will make sure that she will not be the main cause of these weaknesses.

I myself am not a perfect image of modesty, but I learned that when you strive to be a Godly, modest woman you trully become a blessing to others (especially to men) around you. I gathered the following information from talking with other young men and my father and brother. Therefore I would like to give you an overview of what would be considered immodest/modest.

Skirts

When trying on skirts, I don't just stand there admiring it. I have to move around in it.

-When walking, I make sure that there are no undergarment outlines (this is an issue if the material is very stretchy). If there are any outlines: it is immodest! It is the same thing as wearing your undergarment outside of your clothes!

-While walking, your skirt should not stretch out and accentuate your bottom and hips. If it does, it is immodest! I cannot emphasize enough how much these body parts catch the guy's attention

-I would generally suggest to stay away from slits/openings on the bottom of skirts (when the skirt is below the knee), but if need be they can always be sewn together to a comfortable length if they are very long. These slits seem ok when standing but when you begin to walk or climb stairs...immodest!

- Pencil skirts which are straight from the waist down can be immodest. If you are a lady with curves, buy several sizes larger because when you walk or sit down these skirts stick to your body form like cellophane wrap and show your hips and bottom very much. This is immodest!Try to buy skirts that have some flow at the bottom hem (they are comfortably narrow at the waistline and gradually widen in an A form). They take the attention off the hips and bottom and add some feminine swish to your step! ;) Not to mention, most A-line skirts don't have slits at the back. So climb all the stairs you want and walk at a comfortable step with no problem.

-Finally, I would sit down and see if I will be showing any knees or upper thighs. If your skirt goes up when you sit down and you are showing knees and upper thigh, it's immodest! These parts of your body are not to be shown or seen by anyone! The higher the skirt is above the knee, the more you are suggesting something along the lines of easy virtue. If you are not in the "business" don't advertise (I heard a preacher say this!!!).

Tops/Dresses

-A top that has a deep cut neckline is immodest. I honestly feel uncomfortable talking to a girl who has a plunging neckline and I cringe at her carelesness. A low cut top needs to be layered with an undershirt. Otherwise when you fold your arms or bend down...well you got the picture. Besides, you want people to look into your face when you are talking, and not down there. Also tugging on your neckline will attract even more attention if you are doing it repeatedly.

-See through tops and dresses are immodest!!! It is the same thing as a sleeveless, strapless top or dress!

-Dresses that are strapless, spaghetti strap, or halter are all immodest. They are sewn specifically to accentuate a woman's body regions in the most sexually suggestive manner.

Pants

-Pants really lack modesty in many ways. First off, they are designed to fit snugly and therefore hug your curves making them more visible. Secondly they show off a lot when you are walking or running. They may cover your legs all the way, but they still wrap your legs, hips, and bottom like cellophane wrap and they do not cover anything unless paired with a flowy top that reaches below the waist.I know that there's a huge debate about pants and some argue that pants are even more modest than skirts because pants tend to cover more skin than a skirt would. Lets face it, modest skirts are beautiful and feminine and they make you feel like a woman (unlike pants)! Enough said.

Finally, if you are confused on whether something is modest or not, I would solve this dilemma by going against the world's dictations on what is hot and what is not. If the world calls for bare shoulders, open back, and plunging necklines, I will strive to cover my shoulders, back and neckline. If the world rants and raves about how hot their skirts (that you can't even put your foot or hips into) are, you adorn yourself with a beautifully feminine skirt that covers and tucks just at the right places. When the world dares you to flaunt your body, you remember that you are not of this world, and that God has created you in His likeness and you are going to strive for modesty to glorify Him! Go against the world's lies and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove that what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will, of God. Romans 12:2

A Little Warm Encouragement

I heard a very good preacher tell this story. In Siberia during the cold winter months, the inmates of a jail were required to labor at cutting down trees. Winters in Siberia were very cold and these inmates would return to cold and damp baracks. They had one stove which one of the men tried to heat up to warm the room, but since there was nothing to make fire with, this really wasn't effective at heating the room. Of course they grumbled and complained that this man didn't do his job right and they had to go to sleep in wet freezing clothes. Nevertheless, the man told them that everytime they were done working, they should each bring dry sticks or any wood that they could contribute to the stove. Each man did just that and each contributed firewood to warm their baracks. Of course, the room of the baracks filled with the so much yearned for warmth!

It is so important for us Christians to realize that we need to labor together in unity if we are striving for one goal. We need to each bring something into our churches to create that pleasantly warm atmosphere of a spiritually burning flame. If it is a prayer group we need to each bring encouragement, a heart willing to pray, and ears that are willing to listen. If it is a marriage, we need to know what God requires of us to each bring/contribute into a marriage to create that loving, burning flame of a Godly family. If it is singing in a choir, we need to contribute our efforts and our voices to create that one flaming fire that reaches up in praise to God.

WE need to contribute and not look upon one person to pull the weight. Lets make that flame a lil brighter shall we?

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12:4-5

Giving- yet gaining much more in return...

The whole issue of tithing was never something that was personal to me. I knew that principle existed in the Bible, and we’ve talked about it with a group of fiends before, (Vicky posted about it previously as well ) but I had never made it a commitment in my heart to follow. I gave when I felt like it, and didn’t when I didn’t. Sometimes it met that requirement, and sometimes it didn’t. I had questions about it…but it just wasn’t personal to me. This year at summer youth camp, God began to work in my heart in this specific area...my finances/ tithing. (Thank God!) My life will never be the same.
I will try not to be redundant, as Nadia has already published an entire summary of the camp’s topics (although in my opinion if you were not there then there’s just no way for you to be filled in, you missed a lot and simple words are not capable of bringing you that experience of being there…but of course God can still use those simple words to begin His work in you…)
I’ll try to make this brief (yea right…haha, gottcha there! That’s not possible!)
Well to at least try and make it brief, I will just share with you my post-camp experience and the work that God has been doing in my life for the past couple of weeks. You are about to take a little tour into my blond brain, don’t be offended in any way though, (I don’t really know if the brain is actually blonde…it might be …never mind, I won’t gross you out since you might not be a nursing major like I am…haha..and everyone else I know! (that was a lie- not everyone)) (ooops…tangent…pace yourself here, there are many more of those to come…I warned you…you are officially in my brain)
Okay…back to the serious stuff…don’t mind me, I’ve had a long day, and I’m really trying to focus on not leaving out any important part…

So at one point during the camp, in my heart I had finally made a strong commitment to start tithing. I really felt guilty for not giving to the Lord even the minimum of what I should have a long time ago. God has also been convicting me through the Holy Spirit lately to send a package of some of my clothes to a poor family in Russia. I just felt guilty for having too much clothes, most of which I didn’t even wear. I’m being really honest right here, and ouch! (sometimes the truth hurts…) So…to make it up to God, I had also decided that when I get back from camp, I will go through my closet and get that package ready. Let me emphasize that I had (by the Grace of God of course) firmly made those decisions and by all means, planned to stick to them.
The very first thing that I did when I got back from camp and got my check on Monday, was of course put aside that 10 percent into my brand-new-just-started-fund that belongs to the Lord. To really show you the Amazing work of God, I have to be specific here…so I will let you know the amount as well…5,000 pennies!!! Ta-da! (okay okay, that’s only 50 bux, but be nice, I’m a college student...). (One more quick tangent…silly as this may sound, I was having a battle whether to calculate using the gross or the net amount of the check…of which I am really embarrassed now, but this info will play a role in a minute here).
So in my next stage of accomplishing my goals, (and mainly to get rid of the guilt feeling- which I believe was the Holy Spirit’s gentle reminder) I had gone through my closet and gathered the things which I was going to ship to Russia. I had mentioned to my mom previously that I wanted to send a package to Russia -I think even before the camp, and I remember her saying that it usually takes $50 to ship the package. I didn’t really pay much attention to that, but now that $50 is really starting to be consistent. Over the course of my Christian walk with God, I have learned to hear God’s voice to me through consistencies.
Allow me to now introduce another aspect into this situation…throughout camp, many times this thought was stated that our money is really God’s money and that everything we have is God’s in the first place. (If you want Bible verses scroll down to Nadia’s blog and you shall see…or wait, by now I think you’ll have to click on “see previous posts” because I fear this will take the entire first page!)…I understood that concept with my mind, but it was hard for me to accept in my heart. I just didn’t really fully understand that with my heart- I was leaning more towards the “well I worked for that money, so it’s my money” –excuse. Well… God in His creative and unique ways of teaching me lessons, so kindly and generously helped me to understand this concept in reality. The next week at work…I won Bingo! Guess how much money it was…yep, $50 bux!!!...and check this out…in all of my almost two years of working there, I had never ever before won a bingo game…and it’s happened before where multiple people win, so the money was split…but here, now, totally not a coincidence, I was the only one that won!...My heart was jumping with joy when I found out, not because of the money at all, but because deep in my heart I knew God was teaching me a lesson, and GOD TRUSTED ME WITH THAT MONEY! That money was added into my next check, and of course, it was a clear and vivid example of what it means to receive from the Lord what was HIS in the first place and not mine…I guess it was because I didn’t work for that money, didn’t earn it somehow, and it wasn’t money that I had lent to someone…it was just a free gift from God up above that made me really understand that everything we have is given to us by the grace of God. To start tying up the loose ends here, I really believe that God allowed me to win that money to teach me something more valuable than any amount of money. HE knew my heart, and in my heart I had made a commitment to send a package to Russia, that idea came from Him in the first place (I believe so) and seeing that I was being obedient to His calling, HE PROVIDED the means by which I was to ship that package…go ahead, reach for that tissue…because if you’re not in tears at how Marvelous and Amazing the work of God is in our unworthy lives…then you better get your spiritual vision checked out…because it’s clearly everywhere around us. You see…I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around the truth that we are only stewards of those riches that God trusts us with here on this earth…and this little experience opened my eyes to see that…I think if in our hearts we make a firm commitment to commit to something the Lord calls us to do, HE will provide the means for it because it’s HIS in the first place…
Remember my little battle of whether to give from the gross or the net…well God was also showing me how selfish I was…I had to think twice about giving an extra $10 to God, but later on that week I was willing to spend three times as much on my own selfish wants, (notice it wasn’t even a need)…Okay, since I brought it up, let me explain…So one day I was really exhausted from work and wanted to treat myself to something I really wanted at the time, so…I had made plans that didn’t succeed, and yet I was persistent. I drove to another place in hopes of accomplishing what I wanted…only to find out that they were closing in 5 minutes so I was once again out of luck…ok. So now I was really persistent and totally ignoring God’s voice inside my head that it is silly to spend $30 like that, I drove to yet a third place…and saw the sign in the window that said “open”. Very selfishly I sighed with joy thinking, “yes! I got my way”…haha…God is Great. I park, get out of the car, hopes flying in cloud 10zillion by now, and….the door is locked! Lights are off! The place is c-l-o-s-e-d! (see what I mean by consistencies…) So I drive off home, half mad and half frustrated, and fully embarrassed at the fact that I didn’t listen to God in the first place, wanted to spend $30 wastefully, and only last week was debating weather or not to spend $10 on a good cause.
I know, I know, your poor eyes are probably exhausted by now, but hang in there; I’m coming to a close…
God’s Amazing ways of teaching me lessons never comes to an end…to further show me and help me understand with my heart that truth: that everything we have is from God, which includes the money I make at work, which includes the job that I have in the first place, etc… for the past couple of weeks, it miraculously gets supper busy at work at about the time I need to be off, so I have been staying for at least an extra half an hour if not more almost every day...where as maybe a month ago- I was going home a few hours early because it was so slow…

To sum up what I’ve been trying to express in words for the past couple of hours here, basically I’ve come to learn and understand this truth on a much deeper level. I’ve come to understand that when we make correct decisions as to how to manage our finances for God’s Glory, and with a humble heart give to God, HE gives back so much more in return…not necessarily in money, (although that is seen as well) but in the lessons that become so vivid and clear all of a sudden, and IN THE JOY THAT OVERFILLS one’s heart when they know they are doing something that is glorifying God; which is by all means priceless and not even comparable to any amount of money one could ever receive.

I am constantly being reminded of this little lesson that I was once taught back in the day when I was in Sunday school, and the teacher taught us this analogy that giving to God is like having a piece of paper with four corners…when you give to God, fold one corner…what happens in return is you now have two corners. If you fold another one, you now have 6 and so on…
It’s been years since that lesson was first introduced to me, but it is only now that I am experiencing the reality of that lesson in my life.

My prayer is that everyone who comes across this page may at one point in their life- by the grace of God, if you haven’t already; experience that joy of giving- and gaining so much more in return.

May God’s Name alone be glorified for this post.

p.s. Hope you weren’t offended in any way by my humor…and thanks for taking the tour! (l.o.l.) Blessings!

Love, Love, Love

Dear Ladies,

Every lady has either specifically or unconsciously made a list of "what I want" and "what I need" in a gentleman. So, when meeting someone, she will go for that list and mark off what fits the criteria. These types of lists are natural to the sinful nature within us--it is when we try to and think to achieve happiness by meeting those "important to us" lists.

Please notice that God makes Adam first, not Adam and Eve together. God made Eve only after God saw that Adam cannot find any other creation to be his companion. Point: God is interested in the individual relationship with Him, regardless of marriage status. That being said, if a lady has a strong relationship with God, she will fall in Love with the Jesus INSIDE of the young man, and will not mentally reach for the list that, of course, everyone does have.

There are times when the young man is Godly, a born-again strong Christian and is vividly strong in his faith. However, according to you, he may not have the ideal personality or physical traits or financial status, or family background or educational level...and because of these things, you feel that you don't see yourself with him. Others might point that out too by saying "you need someone taller/bigger/smarter/more confident/older/wiser/more financially stable..."

When you are sure that he is a Godly man, without a doubt...and have doubts about being able to love him...or feel like, "well, Why don't I love him? It must not be From God then.." the real issue is in you! yes, because you have chosen not to Fall in Love with the Jesus in him, but instead you reach for that list of yours!

Love is a choice, a commitment. it is not simply a feeling or affection. if it were only that, it would be inconsistent and completely unpredictable...that is why when pastors marry couples they say their "VOWS" or promises to continue to love. it is a choice to love someone DESPITE a, b, c, d, in him (or lack thereof) that is/isn't on your list.




Think of those big red round bins that float in rivers to separate boats...each bin (i don't know their proper name...if you do please tell me in your comment) represents an aspect of him...(his personality, spirituality, physical appearance, age, finances,...) YOU have weights to attach to the bottom of each red bin. If you use your list, you will put 100 pounds on physical appearance for instance, and 50 pounds to the spirituality aspect. If you are a Woman of God, who seeks Him and is now in Love with JESUS...then you would put the most weight on the man's love for God...and everything else will fall into 'secondary' or not important at all!! SO please, ladies, analyze yourselves and those lists and remember, Love is a choice. There is a threat to miss a blessed marriage simply because the priorities are misplaced due to our sinful nature to make our own happiness, knowing all along that true Happiness lies in Him, and He wants us to acknowledge that.

Another point is that there is no ONE PERSON for each lady. God will and can Bless ANY TWO PEOPLE who truly seek Him, Love Him and have a strong relationship with HIM!!! God's interested in forming you and continuously work on you so that you may be the perfect vessel you were meant to be. Most of the time, you will be challenged through marriage not because your marriage is bad or you are a bad wife, but because God Loves you So much, He sent you a gentleman who will, through marriage (and tought times), help you grow in patience, wisdom, humbleness, submissiveness, generosity, prayer...or whatever it may be That God meant to fix up in you!

This conversation was led by God when my friends (a newly engaged couple)shared their thoughts and experiences on the topic...so, of course, my life wouldn't be complete unless I shared!

Ladies, God will bless you when You search for Him in the potential husband. Everything else will come from above and into place. you know why? Because you Trusted Love Himself, because you love Love, and Love wants your heart completely.
continue to be completely in love with Jesus.

=)Be Blessed sisters!