Modesty

It's a good thing I don't cry everytime I feel like it.  People would think I had some sort of mental problem or lived in depression if my face revealed the heaviness in my heart, that I feel when out seeing with my own eyes just how far we have gone downhill, here in our country.

Let me explain. 

While out and about this past weekend, I couldn't help but notice how scantily clad young girls and even their mothers were dressed on a Sunday afternoon.  Most of the people we were seeing were families out for lunch, after morning services at their local church.


We see the same thing in our own building where our services are held as well.  Thankfully, more than once this summer, our pastor has been very outspoken about our responsibility as Christian women, to dress modestly.  But I believe too many young women do not know any longer what modesty is.  Or they do not care.  Have we dropped the ball, when it comes to teaching our younger sisters in Christ the importance of this issue? 

My heart is heavy.

I've ordered several books on the subject and I'm preparing, so that hopefully, I can teach the young ladies within our fellowship just how important this issue is.

This quote alone should make us all be ready to go to battle for the sake of our families, for our sisters and brothers in Christ, and for our nation.

"From all that I have read of history and government, of human life and manners, I have drawn this conclusion, that the manners of women were the most infallible barometer to ascertain the degree of morality and virtue of a nation.  The Jews, the Greeks, the Romans, the Swiss, the Dutch, all lost their public spirit and their republican forms of government when they lost the modesty and domestic virtues of their women."   
-President John Adams 

It's no longer enough to teach our daughters alone.  We must be willing to bring this umbrella of protection over our sisters in Christ, who are within our realm of influence to teach them as well.  The older are commanded to teach the younger.  I've taught my daughter's the importance of this lesson, it's something we discuss almost daily, just because it's such a huge issue and need right now in our culture.  

Pray for our young Christian sisters, that those who did not come from a home where this was taught at a young age, that they will be willing to listen and accept what Scripture has to say on this very important issue.  

My heart is very heavy for our young ladies and the Christian men in their lives who are trying hard to fight against the flesh,   We must not make our Brothers stumble.  We have to take responsibility for our conduct, our dress, and we must teach the younger the importance of this NOW.  

As Nancy Leigh Demoss puts it- "...as Christian women, our clothing choices can either help men succeed morally or can put temptation in their path that they may find difficult to overcome."

"We should do everything in our power to help our brothers stand and to be sure that our dress and appearance bring glory to God."  

We have to ask ourselves daily- "...am I reflecting the world's philosophy of beauty and clothing, or God's?  Am I helping or hindering men who desire to be morally pure?"   

We must teach this to those who have not been taught yet.  It has to start somewhere, let it start with us.  Lead by example, and also be willing to help those who need to know, all motivated by our love for our Lord Jesus and a love for others, reminding them and ourselves of our higher calling in Christ, to live separated lives.


    
  

Woman of Adventure

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I decided to strike out alone.  Just he and I, no one else.

So before church we packed a few things for whatever we might need for our afternoon adventure.  Our plans were to head to one of our favorite old places, a creek up in the hills that not many people know of.  We took our lawn chairs, swimming gear, and cooler full of bottled water.  We knew we'd be able to pick lunch up somewhere along the way.  That ended up being a funny adventure in itself, just trying to find the perfect location selling a great burger.  We didn't realize until yesterday that most "mom 'n pop" places close up around 2pm on Sunday afternoons.  So our lunch ended up coming from Sonic, they're the next best thing to a "mom 'n pop" diner in our opinion when it comes to a burger. 

It's a pretty good jaunt from where we live now to our favorite little swimming hole.  So after our long drive we finally arrived there around 3-ish.  And wouldn't you know it, the perfect spot on the creek was already occupied by another family.  It's not big enough to share the swimming hole with strangers, you feel like  you're invading someone's privacy, even though it's located within public land, owned by the state.

The strange thing I noticed about myself, was that even though I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this creek, I was actually relieved about not having to walk down the usually overgrown trail that leads to the best spot on the creek.  Ticks and chiggers are abundant right now, and I dreaded the thought of a chigger infestation.  OH, how I dreaded that thought.  So secretly, I was relieved that our plan had failed and we were able to stay safe and sound in our vehicle.  I could tell however my husband was disappointed.  

We rode around on several back-roads, taking in the sights of the hill country, talking and reminiscing all the while.  We have so many memories up in that area.  We've camped there several times, ever since our girls were little bitty.

Our drive finally brought us to another familiar location, a spot on a river, where there is also a public access.  We got out our chairs, and situated them in the shade.  We were greeted by one of the locals, who was fishing there.

As we sat there, I felt a sadness within me.  I have never shied away from any adventure that Mr. C has taken me on.  We've hiked, camped, canoed, swam in rivers and creeks, and fished, regardless of the fact that I might get a chigger or two, or... one hundred, see snakes, get stuck by thorns, it just comes with the territory.  But when I realized that day, that I felt more at home in the truck than I did venturing out I couldn't help but feel sad.

(Canoe trip summer 2009)

As we sat there by the river and I pondered this, I thought of my husband's mother.  She was widowed when he, Mr. C, was only 10 yrs. old.  Somehow, she maintained her sense of adventure well into her Sr. Citizen years.  She was such a good Mom, in this sense, to my husband, her son.  She took him camping, fishing, and made sure he learned how to use a gun so he could go hunting when he was old enough.  She knew he needed these things, even if he no longer had his Daddy in his life.  She wanted him to be a manly, man someday, and she braved so many adventures with him all through his childhood and even through his teen years.

I admire her.  And as we sat there by the river, it just hit me so hard, all of those memories she gave him, being willing to go and do all of this without the leadership and direction of a husband.   What a great mother she was to him.  We talked about her ability to keep her sense of adventure even after she had one leg amputated because of the horrible affect diabetes was having on her body.  We would get her out and take her fishing and go to parks with trails that were handicap accessible.  She loved all of that up until the day she died, and she never shied away from anything adventurous.

I took my husband's  hand, with tears in my eyes and I asked him to make sure that whatever our future holds, to help me not loose my sense of adventure.

Even though our afternoon was very calm and safe, compared to outings we've shared in the past, I do believe my Mother-In-Law's example will help encourage me to continue to be a woman of adventure, and share in the things that she taught her son to love.

I love all that he has taught me and shared with me, and I want our days ahead to contain many more adventures, if the Lord wills it for us.   

My Little "Chica"

My little chica at her Spring Formal

I am the mother to two very beautiful and talented "chicas". 

My youngest "chica" has just begun a new job this week.

I like "chica", it's the Spanish word for- girl, and the "i" is pronounced with a long "e", like this- [chee-kah].

The reason I'm enamoured with calling her "chica" right now probably has to do with the fact that she is working for a company where they sell lots & lots of chicken.  The words "chicken" and "Chick" are being used quite often this week, here in our home, so I think that's why my brain keeps going to "chica" when thinking of her.

So, my little chica is now working part time to sell chicken, for Chick-Fil-A.  She wanted a part time job, to earn a little dinero so she can
-save  up to buy her own vehicle
-save to take art classes
-save to start her own "art" business and all that might possibly include.

And also, so she can earn some of her own spending money, since her needs are greater lately.  Life has been very busy for her ever since she graduated from High School/home-school last spring. 

It has been extremely encouraging to learn all about the high standards this company upholds and expects from their employees.  She said it sounds pretty much like what she's learned at home. 

Hmmm, what a comfort to know she is in an environment that encourages the same standards she has grown up with.

This morning before she left, I read this prayer to her.

Almighty God,
as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care.
Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me.
Incline my heart to thy ways.
Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay.

May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise.
Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit,
trampling the world underfoot,
unconformed to lying vanities,
transformed by a renewed mind,
clad in the entire armour of God,
shining as a never-dimmed light,
showing holiness in all my doings.

Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands.
May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain.
In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven,
and my love soar upwards in flames of fire,
my gaze fixed on unseen things,
my eyes open to the emptiness,
fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities.

May I view all things in the mirror of eternity,
waiting for the coming of my Lord,
listening for the last trumpet call,
hastening unto the new heaven and earth.

Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good.
Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable.
May I speak each word as if my last word,
and walk each step as my final one.
If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

(Morning Dedication from The Valley of Vision)

What a sweet time in prayer followed, after reading this with her. 

I am comforted knowing, my chica has her Heavenly Father with her constantly, whenever she is away from us... so very, very far away from our little town. 

She's only 15 minutes away, but still...