MODESTY

Good Morning Sisters =) So, here is what is going on in my life right: (grab a cup of coffee, because this might take a minute lol)  (Taken from my previous blog)

Ok, so...for quite awhile now I have felt that God has been pulling me closer to Him. I can't stop reading things about Him. I find myself drawl to anything and everything that is of "spiritual" nature. I am yearning to be a better wife and mother to my family. Heavenly Homemaker: that's what I call myself. I find myself reading Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 over and over and over again. I see the women as they are portray through God's words and His eyes and I am drawn to them. I want to be like them. I want to treat my family as the Bible tells me I should. This spiritual journey that I am on has brought so many questions to my mind. It has be digging deep within to view the reflection of myself. Who am I? Who am I in God? Why after all this time am I searching the way that I am? What brought this all about? Is t God reaching out for me? How can I do this when I am only one woman? How am I going to feel at the end of all this searching? Will it have an end? Is it a temporary inquisition? How will this affect my family? Who will I be afterwards.......so many questions!!!!

I find myself feeling "empty" alot. I try to find a one word description of the things my heart seeks. One day I can't get the word TRUTH out of my head. Hospitality the next. Now it is Modesty. My heart meditates on these single words constantly! Sometimes it drive me crazy because out of left field they appear. I will be sitting down watching TV or something and then " HONESTY" (or any other word) pops in my head and I can't sit still. I am finding myself sitting on my computer all day and all hours of the night researching things to fill my spirit. Things to "help" make my home a better home. Inspirational websites, articles, youtube videos, music to encourage me. My soul is aching for a response from God. I am not sure what is going on with me, but I just can't get enough of Him. I cry at the drop of a dime. When I see or hear of someone loving God....I cry. My heart is overflowing with love and so much that my emotions are out of whack!

So last night as I lay in my bed (again) at midnight or close to it, I grab my clipboard with blank pages on it, my Bible, a pen, and write down what was on my heart at that given moment. Modesty has been on my heart for a few weeks now and I can't get my mind off of it. I believe that God is trying to teach me about modesty....this is what I wrote/kept scribbling last night:

Purging of unrighteous items/behavior for the sake of Spiritual Cleanliness!

Heavenly father, please reveal to me ANY areas of my life that are unpleasing to you. I open my heart to you and ask of you: use me as a vessel for your will. Help me to put you and your commandments before myself

Thank You <3 Amen

*As I serve you today Lord, Keep my mind, heart, and physical body focused on you*

1. Go through ALL clothing and discard anything unpleasing to God

2. Go through shoes and donate items too revealing/unwanted

3. Sort through music & DVD's

4. Sort through ALL books

5. All "unclean" items discarded

6. Behavior and language

7. Nail polish (all loud and distracting items)

8. Television shows

9. Vanity (self-centeredness)

10. Toys (girls' immodest dolls, dress-up clothes, books etc)

11. The girls' clothing (purge ALL immodest garments)

Father, there are many distractions in my life. Please help me to remove ANY obstacle that hinders me from giving my ALL to you.

1. The computer (in general)

2. Online gaming (Facebook games, EQ2 etc)

3. T.V

4. Procrastination (in ALL forms)

5.  Useless chit-chat/gossip/idle talking with no purpose but to just talk

6. Idleness/Laziness: Not wanting (physically) to do the work needed around the house)

 7. My desire to have a baby so badly that I spend more time focusing on TTC and things that can “help” my situation, more than I am seeking God the ONLY one who can fix me.

8. Temper/un-submissiveness

9. Past people, situations, things etc.

10. Time management/priorities

11. Untruthfulness/dishonesty

12. Being a “people pleaser”

_______________________________________

So, as I sit back and read what was flowing out from my pen, I realized that all these things were revealed to my by God Himself! The reason I keep getting one word statements is because I have asked God to “REVEAL ANY ARE OF MY LIFE THAT WAS UNPLEASEING TO HIM”. 

Modesty- he is not happy with my clothing, my attitude, my way of just “being”.

Honesty- He doesn’t want me to try and perfect truth: He wants me to realize that HE IS THE TRUTH! I am not perfect, none of us are…..the biggest dishonesty is being dishonest with yourself by thinking that you are perfect. 

Hospitality- he wants me to not be a people pleaser, but learn ho to be a good host. Helping other people just to help without the satisfaction of pleasing self or getting something in return. While I never thought I was like this: I guess I am. I  thought I did things out of the kindness of my heart, but HONESTLY speaking….I can see what I did some things and expected something in return without making my feelings known about it to whomever that person or situation was.

I will say that those nagging little thoughts that kept popping into my head were in fact NOT there to drive me crazy at all. It was God all along trying to get me to DO THE RIGHT THING at ALL TIMES! As I go through my modest transformation I will be sure to take pictures and video along my way. Something to look back on (physically) and say wow! This is what God was changing in me….and as simple as clothing too. The best part of all of this is that Titus 2 says:

 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,

10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

My children and I (1 son age 11 and 2 daughters ages 5 and 7)  are going to do this together, so I may direct and teach the younger ones to live according to God’s word.  Another revelation is that I never realized how much I was not only sing myself with being immodest, but how much I was causing MEN to sin. With every glance they give us ladies….we are the root of their sin.  Yes it goes both way and it is their choice to look, but  WE CAUSED THEM TO HAVE THE TEMPTATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. Lust, Desire, impure thoughts, not to mention that some of the men we are attracting could be old enough to be our grandfathers!!! Or worse…our 11 year old sons! I am thankful for God showing me the light on this one…..for I have a son and I would hate for immodest women to entire him in this way…..So here is to a ver prayerful and life changing journey!!!!

I invite ALL of you to join in with me on this journey and  Be encouraged Sisters!!!

<3 Holly