What pertainiths to a man?

I often wonder what God sees as pertaining to a man...wardrobe wise.  We are instructed that a woman should not wear anything which pertains to a man and a man should not wear anything pertaining to a woman in Deuteronomy.  This scripture is one that I am most often told as an explanation/reason for why women should wear skirts or cape dresses. 

I wonder if women should wear button-up dress shirts, or t-shirts because both of those were worn by a man first. 

I wonder if it is okay to wear clothing as long as it is bought from the women's department.

I was told by another woman that we should not wear anything that splits the legs, even under our skirts.  She gave shorts as an example saying that God can see under our skirts and He doesn't like when we wear something pertaining to a man even under skirts.  I started wondering then if tights/nylons would be included in that.  Tights are something that I definately wear during the winter, otherwise I would freeze!!  In the summer, I wear shorts under my skirts.  But I do not have a problem with it because I'm not showing that to the world for all to see. 

I think there is a balance there.  I am not convinced that as women we should not wear shorts, leggings, tights, etc, when it is concealed by a skirt.  I personally feel it is okay as long as that item is not visible to the world.  But I am still unsure about the button-up shirts and t-shirts.  Those are both things that I wear a decent number of, because they are easily made modest.  But I wonder if God sees those as pertaining to a man...  So far I don't have a conviction either way on that, but I do wonder...

Blessings in Christ,

 

The Motions

A fellow blogger posted yesterday song lyrics of a song that "hits every aspect of what you're going through and feeling". 

I was listening to my iTunes while working on copying recipies for my roommate's Christmas present.  Then this song came on.  And this is my song that "hits every aspect of what you're going through and feeling".   

The Motions
Matthew West

This might hurt, it's not safe

But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break
At least I'll be feeling something

‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something

‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

‘Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

Take me all the way
(Take me all the way)
Take me all the way
(‘Cause I don't wanna go through the motions)

Take me all the way
(Lord, I'm finally feeling something real)
Take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?
Take me all the way
(Take me all the way
Take me all the way
(I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)

Take me all the way
(Through the motions)
Take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

I've been struggling in my spiritual life for a while and I want to break free from that and not feel like I am just going through the motions.  I want to 100% live my life for God. 

Do you have a song that hits the nail on the head for you right now? 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Modesty is Appreciated

Over at Amish America, Erik posed a question...

"Are plain businesses the only place where 'modesty is appreciated' anymore?"

What do you think?

The point was brought up in the comments that people have different definitions of "modest".  That was quite evident by what people defined as modest. 

I wonder...

How do you define modesty?  Do you think it would be okay to wear shorts under your skirt for extra modesty or is that wrong?

Blessings in Christ,

 

Salvation Through Grace

I have heard of Torah Observant Christians.  I am not one of those people, nor do I fully understand what they believe and why they do. 

I believe in this verse, John 1:17:

I also believe Galatians 3:1-14, 17-19, 24-26:

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

O foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as cruicified?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain -- if indeed it was in vain?  Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? -- just as Abraham "Believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are writen in the book of the law, to do them."  But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might recieve the promise of the Spirit through faith. [...]  And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.  For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of primise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.  What purpose then does the law serve?  It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  [...]  Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

I am so thankful that God sent His son, Jesus, to save us from the law.  I cannot imagine having to live under such a law.  Maybe it would be different if I were to have been born into it, in fact, yes I know it would be different, but I am  thankful to know that I do not have to follow the law of Moses in order to reach salvation.  I need to believe in Jesus and His grace and that is my path to salvation. 

I do not believe in salvation through good works, but nor do I believe that if you only believe will you be saved.  Our actions must match our beliefs.  We need to believe in salvation through grace, but in addition we also need to believe in making our actions match that.  We cannot simply go around killing people because we know that we will be forgiven.  The Bible teaches us that murder is wrong and therefore we cannot do it, even if we know that we will be forgiven all our sins.

If there is a TO Christian who would like to possibly do a guest post to share their beliefs, I am open to that.  Please know that I do not mean this as an attack on anyone.  I simply wish to express my gratitude for Jesus Christ saving us from the law of Moses. 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Lessons from the Model Prayer

I was flipping through my Bible and came across Lessons from the Model Prayer in it.  I wanted to share it with you.

Prepare for prayer:

• Pure heart and motive (Matt. 6:5-8)
• Private conversation intent on invoking His presence (Matt 6:6)
• Meaningful communication (Matt. 6:7-8; Luke 18:1-8)
• Presenation of specific requests (Matt. 6:9-13; see 1 Sam. 12:23-24)

Pray:

Phrase - "Our Father in heaven" (Matt 6:9)
Meaning - Recognize who He is -- the PERSON
References - Rom. 8:15; see Is. 64:8

Phrase - "Hallowed by Your name" (Matt. 6:9)
Meaning - Adore Him because of who He is -- PRAISE
References - Ps. 18:3, 96:8

Phrase - "Your kingdom come/Your will be done" (Matt. 6:10)
Meaning - Seek and do God's will.  His Word is the path to finding His will -- PURPOSE
Reference - 1 John 5:14

Phrase - "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11)
Meaning - Ask God to meet even your most mundane needs to accomplish your spiritual duties -- PETITION
Reference - Phil. 4:9

Phrase - "And forgive us" (Matt 6:12)
Meaning - Ask God to forgive your debts or your failures to give obedience due Him -- PARDON
Reference - Ps. 66:18, Hos. 14:2

Phrase - "And do not lead us into temptation" (Matt. 6:13)
Meaning - Seek a way of escape from teh evil of temptation -- PROTECTION, not removal from any trials but from judgement that comes when you are overcome by trials.
Reference - 1 Cor. 10:13, James 1:2-3

Phrase - "For Yours is the kingdom" (Matt 6:13)
Meaning - This benediction is also a doxology -- PRAISE AND PERSON

They say "this model teaches the manner and method of prayer and shares matters for which to pray".

I don't know that I would believe this is the only way to pray and to be heard by God, I think He hears prayers of all sorts, but I do think this is a wonderful guide for anyone who is wondering how to start praying or how to make their prayers make sense :)  That last part is added in for me...I tell people I will not pray outloud because those listening wouldn't understand...I flutter from one thing to the next and back to the previous.  I just can't seem to keep my thoughts straight when I'm praying...maybe this model would help me...?

Blessings in Christ,

 

Two Types of Wisdom

The Bible tells us that there are two different types of wisdom, worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.  I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the two. 

Paul warns against worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 3:18 - 17.

Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For hte wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."  Therefore let no one boast in men.  For all things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come -- all are yours.  And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Worldly Wisdom...

• Sees the message of the Cross as foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18)
• Does not know God (1 Cor. 1:21)
• Boasts in men (1 Cor. 3:21)
• Takes pride in human knowledge (1 Cor. 8:2)
• Is puffed up (1 Cor. 4:6)
• Criticizes leadership (1 Cor. 4:8)
• Relies on the power of words (1 Cor. 4:20)
• Takes pride in personal accomplishmens (1 Cor. 4:27)
• Scoffs at differences (1 Cor. 12:21)
• Insists on personal rights (1 Cor. 8:9)
• Is insensitive to others (1 Cor. 8:11)
• Arrogantly wounds others (1 Cor. 8:12)
• Leads to envy, strife, and division (1 Cor. 1:10, 3:3)
• Is full of malice (1 Cor. 14:20)
• Is subject to "fall" (1 Cor. 10:12)
• Will be caught in its own craftiness (1 Cor. 3:19)
• Has immature understanding (1 Cor. 3:1, 14:20)
• Will not last (1 Cor. 3:15)

In 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Paul writes about Spiritual Wisdom. 

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man's widom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 

Simplifying it, Spirtual Wisdom...

• Realizes the message of the Cross is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18)
• Demonstrates the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5)
• Glories in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31)
• Knows the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)
• Seeks meekness and humility (1 Cor. 2:3)
• Submits to spiritual leadership (1 Cor. 14:37, 16:16)
• Relies on the power of God (1 Cor. 4:20)
• Recognizes God as source of everything (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
• Respects diversity (1 Cor. 12:11)
• Becomes servant of all (1 Cor. 9:19)
• Edifies others (1 Cor. 8:1)
• Seeks another's well-being (1 Cor. 10:24)
• Pursues unity (1 Cor. 12:13)
• Walks in the way of love (1 Cor. 13:11)
• Stands up under temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)
• Maintains self-control and discipline (1 Cor. 6:12, 9:27)
• Develops maturity (1 Cor. 2:6)
• Will last (1 Cor. 3:10-14)

I bolded the last description of each type of wisdom because I think that is one of the most important things for us to remember.  Only the teachings of Christ will last.  Nothing else.  Should we decide to follow something else, then we must realize that we too will not last.  Only following the teachings of Christ will we have the chance for eternal salvation. 

...Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. -- 1 Corinthians 2:5

Blessings in Christ,

To Every Season...

People younger than you aren't supposed to die.  But there are accidents. 

This past weekend seemed to be filled with car accidents.  I'm not sure what it was, the break in the rainy weather we've had, or just everyone out trying to enjoy one last fall weekend. 

Two young girls involved in an accident were sophomores in college.  I didn't know either girl very well, but the part that I really kind of struggled with is that I had them both in classes when I was substituting.  They were your average teenagers.  I would get annoyed with them for thinking because I was a substitute they didn't have to do their work and then later on one would be helping me get a rowdy class of freshman under control. 

In the wake of tragedy, it is always wonderful to know that they knew God and accepted Him as their savior. 

But what I find odd is that I reacted more to these two deaths, of students whom I had in class a handful of times, more than I did to my own grandma's.  Granted this was unexpected and my grandma's we knew was coming, but still.  I do find that odd. 

If God sees it fit for me to become a teacher, that is going to be the hardest part for me to deal with, students who die.  How do you deal with that?  It certainly isn't going to be one of those things that gets easier with time...  I guess by God's grace only will anyone be able to deal with this fact of life and help others to work through it as well. 

Blessings in Christ,