Ephesians 1:7-10

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

Thursday, September 4

Book Review: A Moment in Time



A Moment in Time
by: Tracie Peterson

It is time for another book review!  I have received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley to write a review.
"In A Moment in Time, the second book in Tracie Peterson's Lone Star Bride series, Alice Chesterfield is shaken by the attack that left her scarred and her father dead. She cannot shake the memory of the man responsible.
"Alice is relieved when she accepts the offer to relocate to a ranch in Dallas, Texas. She meets Robert Barnett, a handsome, carefree man with a good head on his shoulders. He is a welcome change from the discord of Alice's past. He helps her navigate the obstacles in her way and he doesn't seem to care about her scar. Just when life begins returning to normal, Alice receives devastating news about her family. She must learn to place her trust in God as she seeks a measure of peace for her future...and for her heart."  (www.familychiristian.com)

Stay at Home Wife in 2014



I believe that I am worth the same as a man.  I believe that I can do most things that men can do, sometimes better, sometimes worse.  I believe that I should be able to live by the same rules according to government standards that men live by.  I should be able to work if I want and make the same amount of money for the same amount of effort and skill.  I deserve to be heard in the political realm and be able to vote on what is happening in our country if I so choose to do so.

I, however, do not believe that I need to assert myself over men.  I am dismayed by what has happened to the “men” of our society.  Man-babies that refuse to get married, while looking for the next conquest in the bed, all the while watching sophomoric, bathroom humor movies.  Am I talking about collage age men?  Nope.  Those 30-somethings out there.

Tuesday, August 19

Don't Hope for the Easy Life!



Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  (Psalm 34:19)


In today’s world, it’s hard to find anything that doesn’t speak to making life easier, relaxation, free time, or doing what you want.  We’re told to put money away for retirement, so that we can have tens of years of free time to our leisure.  Technology is always for the next big thing of making things easier or doing our job for us.  Our entire world seems to be focused towards having a happy, easy life of doing exactly as we please.

Don’t get me wrong, I also wish life could be simple, easy.  If money only grew on trees.  If that certain person would just be nice.  If I didn’t have to do…  If I didn’t have to feel…  If only I…

Saturday, August 9

My Personal Style of Modesty


 

We are finally to the last post of the series on modesty.  Sorry it’s so late; it’s been a crazy couple of weeks here.  This post has literally sat open on my desktop for about two weeks.  Over the past month or so, we have looked at the heart of the issue of modesty: what exactly is modesty, our motivation, our love of our God and others, our self-control, and how the world has corrupted modesty.

As promised, today I wanted to spend just a few minutes on what specifically I felt modesty looks like when I dress myself.  These are my “rules” for myself as of right now, where I feel called to be at this particular time.  Your ideals of modesty might be less or more than mine.  We are all in different areas of where God calls us to be.  My hope in writing this is for you to see how my heart shows through the decisions that I make.  I want you to be inspired to do what you feel God is calling you to do in dressing modestly.

Friday, July 11

Modesty—Beautiful & Sexy Christian


 

Women were made to be beautiful and sexy!

Now I know at the beginning of this series, I made a comment that it isn’t true that Christian women can be sexy and not promiscuous.  And I still stand by that when it is on display for all to see.  However, God did design women to be beautiful and sexy.

First of all, God made women to be beautiful.  It’s not something we should be ashamed of or think otherwise.  We were made to look attractive.  You will find many, many references to women being beautiful in the Bible.  Sarah, Rebekah, and Esther were all said to be beautiful.  Genesis points out, albeit as related to the corruption of humans, that “the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive” (Genesis 5:2).  Psalms even calls out that “the king will desire your beauty” (Psalm 45:11a).  These are just a few of the countless examples showing that women were made to be beautiful.  Even the adulteresses and the prostitutes are called beautiful many times.  However, the problem arises, as we’ve talked about previously, when this beauty is fixated upon or is used to manipulate.

Women were made to be desirable and sexy as well!  But the key to that statement is within the confines of marriage and only for their husband.  When it is taken outside of the marriage, the woman is an adulterer or prostitute in the Bible.  However, within marriage, it is something to be celebrated.  All you have to do is read Song of Solomon to understand this.  It goes into great detail to describe the desire the man has for his fiancĂ©/wife.  It also has the chorus that keeps saying to not wake love until you are ready, as in don’t go there until you are married.

But Song of Solomon is not the only place that we find this.

Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.  Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?  Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.  Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe.  Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. (Proverbs 5:15-19)


Here is another example of a man being told to only desire his “lovely” wife and then it goes on to describe very specifically what should fill him with delight and that he should be “intoxicated” with her love.

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  (1 Corinthians 7:2-5)


Can I make the logical connection here?  If a man did not think women were beautiful, if he did not desire sexual intimacy with her, would there be a “temptation to sexual immorality?”  I don’t think so.  For that matter, if everyone found each other neutral or ugly looking, would sexual immorality even exist?  The problem as I always see it in the Bible is when beauty is fixated upon or used to control.  The prostitute uses her body to entice.  The vain person uses their beauty to elicit praise or adoration.  Than man looks and lusts after a woman in his heart.  Sexual feelings are awakened (felt, focused on, and even acted upon) before the person is wed.

So yes, I can be a Christian woman who is beautiful.  And yes, I can be a Christian woman who is sexy—for my husband.  However, outside of my husband-only viewing, I would be promiscuous if I were to act or dress sexy.  And that’s where the problem comes in our society today.  So as a Christian woman, I stand for the sexy wife!  Last week, we talked about modesty that was corrupted by the world.  A Christian wife that is not allowed to be sexy and desirable for her husband is wrong (which is usually the complaint of people fighting against modesty).  As the above verse from 1 Corinthians states, we are to give our husbands his conjugal rights.  Are you going to do that looking ugly?  Are you not going to shower for weeks?  Of course not, just keep it for your husbands only.

through His grace alone!
Sarah

Thursday, July 3

Book Review: Raising a Lady in Waiting



Raising a Lady in Waiting
by: Jackie Kendall

It is time for another book review!  I have received a copy of this book from Destiny Image through NetGalley to write a review.


In a culture that emphasizes finding the right pair of jeans over waiting for the right man, there is no time to sit back and hope everything just pans out. Mom, you are your daughter’s greatest influence, mentor and relationship coach - and it's time to take action!
The most important decision of your daughter’s life is who will be her Master; the second is who will be her "mister." You play a vital role in preparing her to make this choice. In Raising a Lady in Waiting: Parent's Guide to Helping Your Daughter Avoid a Bozo, bestselling author Jackie Kendall opens her heart and candidly shares four decades’ worth of experience with mothers who are raising daughters to navigate the challenges of relationships.  (familychristian.com)

Tuesday, July 1

Modesty—Corrupted by the World



When Adam and Eve sinned, not only were they cursed, but everything else in this world was also placed under the curse.  So it should not surprise us that modesty has been corrupted by the world.

The world tells women that they should show their bodies for pride and self-confidence.  It’s freeing and liberating.  Playboy is for the power of women.  Dressing sexy is to show our confidence in ourselves and how good our bodies look.  We do not need to cover up from the world, but expose ourselves to not be controlled by the world.