Is God Far From You?

Morning Musing: March 31, 2019

All you who sorrow and sigh for the many griefs in our time I sigh with you.

The rebellion among professed Christians, the hypocrisy, and politics in the "churches" the donuts and coffee and vain chatter the irreverent children...

Oh AWAKE, AWAKE, AWAKE to righteousness, and sin not!!!!!!

How long will wisdom cry in the streets and so many keep their fingers in their ears or buck like wild horses when those who fear God cry unto them!

Friends, how long!!!! My heart breaks to see my friends indulging in worldliness, sensuality, no fear of God to awaken their senses of right and wrong while they attend "church" on Sunday.

Did you know I called myself a Christian when I partied and drank myself into a fool!

When I paraded my half-naked body around like a whore!!

But guess what?!!

I showed up to "church" on Sunday like a "good Christian"

I was naked and blind in chains and fetters of darkness!

But I called myself a Christian.

God is not mocked. You may have a warm fuzzy feeling at the name of Jesus and call Him your Lord but when you delight in what grieves Him He is FAR FROM YOU!!!

This distance is what finally broke me and brought me to my knees and the deep realization that I was a wicked person before a Just, a Righteous, a Holy and blameless God! Like the woman that wept and anointed the feet of Christ I wept over my sinful deeds that broke the Holy heart of Christ. 

God is not to be blamed my friends.

God is not to be blamed for the problems you suffer in your life.

He is not to be blamed for world hunger and lack of clean water for those in need.

He is not to be blamed for the inhumanity of His creation, the men/women that He created in His likeness who act quite the opposite of Him.

Those who love darkness more than light are to be blamed and all of us have been there and done that; and to my deep sorrow, many continue, though they claim His name to cleave to the darkness.

Time is short.

Don't wait to evaluate your Christian walk, compare your life to the life of Christ, and don't be deceived to think your life can't look like His. He calls us to be Holy as He is Holy, and Perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect.

What does that perfect look like?

What does that holy look like?

Are you even at all striving to reflect it in your life?

Luke 13:24
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

If you think it has nothing to do with what you and your children wear, think again. For the heart is reflected in the actions, buying clothes and putting them on are actions.

If you think the Messiah would buy tight jeans and a tight T-shirt to wear today you are de-sensitized!!

If you think the holy women of old would wear by choice today: skinny jeans, spandex pants, cleavage-revealing tops, fitted clothes you are under a strong delusion.

My heart cries for you to turn from Vanity-Fare from the deceitful lusts to AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN NOT.

And my heart breaks at the fear that my words will fall on deaf ears...

...On hearts hardened that think they are safe and sound in the arms of the Lord and imagine me to be a self-righteous Pharisee while they themselves are filled with the Spirit and secure in their salvation though they wallow in the filth of this world.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom friends, it will steer you onto the narrow path that leads to life. Where you will be a true reflection both inward and outward of one disciplined by the teachings and example of Christ. I have my imperfections I am working on, but if we are not broken by our own shortcomings and if we are not striving for the things of eternity we need to REPENT TODAY!

TOMORROW IS NOT A DEFINITE, SOME NEVER SEE IT.

I can't fully express my burden here...somehow I hope these words draw those who read them to a deeper longing to prioritize their relationship with God and forsake the foolish to live for Him and His will.

Self Deception of Selfies

 

Above content is "shared" from social media

My heart once again is burdened by this very thing you see in the meme.

I have some FB friends that share such good Truth that people need to hear, but then they bring shame and confusion to the name of Christ by posting pictures of themselves that resemble a model posing to encite lust in men. 

They will either put a Scripture as the caption to their picture or they will simply say something like "Out walking the dog",  sounds nice and "innocent", but their so called innocent picture sells their body to everyone that passes by as their buttocks, breasts and bare thighs are emphasized and strangely the position of their hand draws attention to their crotch just like sensual models purposely pose.

They maybe decieved themselves, I have heard some say things like, 

 I meant no harm by it,  I don't see anything wrong with the picture,  I didn't do anything wrong. 

"Such is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness."

Proverbs 30:20

There's a problem here my sisters,  if you are a sister in deed? If you don't see a Problem with posting pictures of yourself in tight clothing or a lack of clothing that shows skin to every passer-by that shouldn't have knowledge of it then you have yet to realize that you are in a fallen world and are still being used of the devil. 

Ladies today are writing articles to justify you by calling loving others by avoiding certain clothes as being legalistic.  They are trying to convince you that you have liberty in Jesus to wear the clothes you want to wear and even be called by His name.  

"And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."

Isaiah 4:1 

You don't have to take my word for it. 

But before you pose for the camera and post it honestly ask God if it's His will, and if that picture will please Him and bring glory to His name. God made all things beautiful even you.  But true beauty is in the heart of a woman that knows what God expects from women that are called by His name, and what it truly looks like to reflect His image to this world. 

You got me scratching my head if you think His image is comparable to what Vogue magazine posts and that He will justify your action. You also have me questioning your true character and intentions and sadly you have me hesitant to share your edifying Scriptural posts. Putting out pictures that misrepresent Christian are a spot on your garment. Moreover,  you have me in mourning for the deep grief of women that are either in bonds and still blind, or that are so wicked to use the Word of God to draw people after their sinful ways shaming Christ.

"that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

1 Timothy 6:14 

There is a way to behave that God will truly have your back/ justify you, and there is a way to behave that shows you love darkness more than light and condemn yourself. 

Men need to take responsibly for their lust issues,  but you don't need to make it a challenge for them.  Brothers in the faith should be able to feel safe from temptation in the presence of a Sister; because she knows how to behave uprightly, with shamefacedness and modest apparel,  her heart is not selfishly seeking her brothers admiration through her bodies beauty. 

I am sure you have seen this quoted often,  if it makes you roll your eyes and you have yielded to a false interpretation of it so it doesn't actually apply to you in the plain speech that it is written in,  then there is a problem:

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with SHAMEFACEDNESS and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

1 Timothy 2:9-10

There was an exhortation to men right before this if you read the entire chapter you will see it isn't some foolishly believed exhortation to keep women in bondage and allow men to walk in the flesh. 

Another thing to consider: social media is a place fallen men indulge in their sinful ways; why give them a picture of yourself to become another one of the bodies they've lusted over?

Be honest if you get gratification from all the,  "your so beautiful" comments and that's a motivation for you to post to reassure and feel better about yourself.  If you don't want others to have this impression of you simply forsake the foolish. 

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."

Revelation 19:7 

It's time to get ready, and be free of self deception and carnal insecurities.  Have confidence that you are beautifully and wonderfully created of God,  seek His favor alone and you will be satisfied and your void filled. 

"that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Ephesians 5:27 

I was not born into this world to win a beauty contest.

As some may know I recently had my front tooth pulled in Mexico. About 26 years ago I disobeyed my mom & in the midst of my mischief I fell off the bike I was riding (where I was told not to go) and broke my front tooth. After years of living with a root canal & having issues with the tooth I thought it best for the overall state of my health to have it pulled. (By the way, I highly discourage root canals).
I have heard it said, your sin will find you out. I like sharing my story with children to help inspire the fear of God in them. We may think we are getting away with things when mommy & daddy don't see us, but the Father of all knows when we are in obedience or not. There are consequences for our choices.
We were born into this world for a purpose. That purpose is not to gain: fame, friends, wealth & health. The purpose is to do what we were created to do. Consider the spider, it spins webs, catches bugs & eats them. It does what it needs to do for basic survival. For example:
  "A spider starts life inside an egg.  The mother spider lays many eggs.  Sometimes the mother spider dies after laying her eggs.  The eggs usually hatch in a very short time.  A baby spider is shaped like its mother, but may be lighter in color.  The baby spider is soon able to spin its own web and capture its own food.  It does not have to be taught.  This comes naturally.  Just like when you learn how to crawl or walk when you were a baby.
The spider's skeleton is on the outside of its body.  It looks like skin.  When the baby spider, or spiderling, grows too big it must shed its skeleton.  The old skeleton splits and the spider steps out of it.  This soft, new skeleton soon grows hard.  The spider is now an adult. ...These small creatures help plants reproduce by pollinating them.  They also help recycle dead trees and animals back into the earth.  They are also a vital source of food for birds, fish, and small mammals.  Without invertebrates, like spiders and insects, many other living things would not survive.
...Spiders eat many types of harmful insects, helping to keep your garden free of pests. ...Webs get dirty and torn, so lots of spiders make a new one every day.  They don't waste the old one, though--they roll it up into a ball and eat it!" (info found at: http://www.tooter4kids.com/Spiders/facts.htm)


As you can clearly see from some basic spider facts; spiders do not experience spiritual warfare. They do not experience the kind of temptations we humans do. Their purpose for being created is different then ours (I have highlighted their purpose). I can't imagine there is disobedience seen in the life of a spider to their purpose. They just simply do what they were meant to do.
For us humans life is more challenging. We were created in the image of the Creator! We have a soul. We seem to need inspiration & reasons to live. Although, many humans go through life simply doing what other humans around them do. Thus, having little to no thought about the consequences of the things they do.
At some point in life the grace of God appears to us;
Titus 2:11-15  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;   Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.   These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." 
As the days of our lives go by & the grace becomes apparent to us in various aspects of our lives we either grow in grace as we embrace it, or we grow further from it as we reject it. Some people receive His grace in some areas of their lives, but reject it in others. And so there is much confusion in life as we try to understand how it is someone can hold so much truth in some areas of their lives but not in others.
Many profess to be Christians -which should actually mean that not only do they believe that God sent His anointed son into the world, who was crucified, buried, & rose again; but that they obey His teachings. We learn His teachings not only from the preservation of the writings of His early followers, but also through His grace. So, as many profess to know Him, yet in practicality/ daily life (i.e. works) they deny Him. (Titus 1:16) Thus, the good that they do know is reprobate/not acceptable to God.
For what use are we to our Maker when we only choose to obey some of what His grace teaches us? How can we receive all of what His grace would teach us if we do not as Brother James says, " But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6)
He gives "more grace", many of us have received some grace, but there is yet MORE to receive if we are willing. And that is the wonderful difference between the things of creation. Humans were created with their own will. That is why the life of a spider differs from the life of a human. We were both created for a purpose; the spiders purpose comes naturally to them, they have no need of grace. The purpose of humans must be sought after. If we seek we will find our purpose for being on earth & better yet, if we humble ourselves, grace will teach us how to avoid the many dangers of this life & how to live a life acceptable to the One that created us.
(2 Corinthians 10:4-6)  "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
The weapons of a spiders defense are carnal-they are full of poisonous venom.The spider is not fighting for it's soul, it's fighting for it's life on earth. Human beings face a war, whether they can see it or not; and it is for their soul. It is to attain unto the eternal place where the One who not only Created us, but loves us is.Thus, we see the only way love can exist between a thing created & it's Creator is if the thing Created has free-will, otherwise you'd simply be programmed. No one feels truly loved by their cell-phone when they program it to say "I love you!" God did not only create us to eat, drink, work, (for our food & drink) sleep, breed. God did not create us to simply repeat this cycle until our beings expire as other created things do. The spider helps sustain the homeostasis of the earth we live in, and so do animals & other insects.
We on the other hand are on a pilgrimage. We are in travel to eternity. A realm beyond our complete understanding where time no longer exists; it's simply never-ending. Life as we know it here comes to an end. But the soul continues the life without the present body. Our choices here on earth have eternal consequences. Losing my tooth was the result of a choice I made to disobey my mom. It's consequence has effected the rest of my existence on earth. Thanks be to the grace of God that teaches us,  "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)
I do not have to mourn the aesthetic loss of my tooth; God would rather have me learn to obey. "having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
We must obey what the grace of God teaches us so we can go forth revenging/amending the disobedience we have either knowingly or ignorantly lived out.  I spent years of my life being careful & troubled over my physical aesthetics. When I first learned: through seeking the Creator, the grace of God, the example of others & the word of God, about God’s purpose for me in life I began to make the necessary changes to fulfill that purpose.
I learned:

•  that my hair is a glory & given for a covering, so I stopped putting it up & cutting it. I left it down & I covered myself with it. (I used to do that naturally when I was young without even knowing; due to shyness/self-consciousness I hid behind my hair.)
• Then about 15 years later as I grew in God's grace I learned that we women are to cover that glory with a cloth covering. It is to be kept for the husband we have, or may have in the future. We reverence God and husband when we keep this glory from being a distraction. 

• The grace of God also taught me about the way I carried myself/my body language. I realized that it had been sensual. I had lived so long in darkness that I wasn’t fully conscious of my behaviors, & the spirit of those behaviors.

• I stopped going to concerts,

• lost interest in certain music,

• God’s grace convicted me of dancing the way I did,

• I stopped wearing tank-tops after the Spirit of God clearly reproved me for the nakedness of my arms,

• I stopped wearing pants,

• I stopped wearing skirts & dress that showed my skin, or that were form revealing,

• I hardly ever wore make up, but His grace completely took the desire out of my heart-it was clearly un-profitable for God’s purpose in my life I had no interest in it. It was obviously created to appeal to the lust of men,

• I never wore high heels again (also created for the lusty appeal of men),

• God’s grace taught me a pure language that took away the desire to use foul words in conversation,

• God’s grace stilled & quieted me internally as well as externally,

• God’s word & grace taught me not to have fellowship with works of darkness (i.e. watching t.v. shows, violent & sexually perverted movies, spending time alone with men, having “boyfriends”, having physical contact with men,…)

God’s grace, word, & the examples of others was teaching me how to love my neighbor as myself. The list could go on & on. We could all make lists & I am sure there could be differences in those lists. Maybe your list doesn’t have “stopped wearing pants” maybe you never realized your pants are contrary to God’s purpose for your life; maybe you never realized your pants reveal your shape in a way that makes men to stumble, the pants naturally bring out the shape of your body which maybe attractive to some. You may think, “Bah! I’m an old lady”, “no man is going to stumble over me”, or, “My shape is so far from sexy in these pants”, or, “men shouldn’t let their minds go there!” , or, “It’s not practical to do everything I do in a skirt!” What ever your excuse may be, I am persuaded that the Holy angels in heaven that stand before the Holy One are not wearing pants. The Holy men & women of old did not wear pants, & if they did they were called undergarments or they were baggy & had a long garment over them for modesty. For thousands of years men & women have upheld modest clothing in various cultures. I was blessed to come across this picture from the early 1900’s.

http://www.istpravda.ru/pictures/947/

 Although they have a pant like garment on it is worn under long loose fitted garments.These women are not in America. American Women at this time were already losing their sense of shame.
If you do a history search on why people started wearing pants you will learn some interesting facts:

• In Ancient times men & women both wore skirts/robes. (they still do in some countries).

• Men first started wearing pants when they started ridding horses for battle.  First Century Roman soldiers started trading their robes for pants. It became a symbol of desirable  masculinity & modernization.

• It is also reported that in the 1701 decree of Peter the Great, Russian men were told to retire their robes & skirts so they could get with the Western times.  "Peter worked hard to modernize his country. ...he wanted Russians to adopt more “modern” clothing fashions.  ...henceforth, in accordance with this, His Majesty’s decree, all court attendants…provincial service men, government officials of all ranks, military men,…members of the wholesale merchants’ guild, and members of guilds purveying for our household must shave their beards and moustaches. But, if it happens that some of them do not wish to shave their beards and moustaches, let a year tax be collected from such persons… ...Until that time the Russians had always worn long beards...Officials were stationed at the gates of the towns to collect that tax, which the Russians regarded as an enormous sin on the part of the tsar and as a thing which tended to the abolition of their religion."  (-- http://www.westshore.edu/personal/MWNagle/Wciv/Peter.htm )

• So it seems that up until the 1700's not only did men wear robes & skirt like garments in Russia but they also kept their beards. It was through a vain man's desire to keep up with a modern culture that men started denying the grace of God. Men being in a place of headship paved the way for women to follow in their rebellion. You will see this repeated in the history of fashion. When swimming became a public event men fought to go topless in their swimwear & now women are.

Dear friends, follow not a multitude to do evil. Be wise & search out a matter. The world is such a dark place & many are blindly following each other without investigating the nature behind the things people do. Pants made life easier for horse riding warriors. The weapons of a Christians warfare are not carnal & therefore, it is unnecessary for women to be prancing about in pants. If you do have pants, then the women in the above picture would be a good example as to how to wear them. And the same goes for the men, they should not wear them without a proper loose fitting garment over them. God created the same design of clothing for men & women (Adam & Eve ) to be modest & that basic idea has been kept by mankind for thousands of years except in areas where people have rejected God's grace concerning modesty. 

Here is a modern example of 2 men that have upheld godly modesty & 1 man that has not

.

One of the men in the above picture is a potato farmer.(picture from 
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Afghanistan#/media/File:People_of_Bamyan-6.jpg

 “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger.-Psalm 8:2
My husband and a brother were recently in a grocery store when a young boy saw them and asked them, "Are you God & Jesus?" They were wearing long robe like shirts, and they have beards. I am so thankful for this young boys innocence enabling him to discern that they were reflecting the glory of God in their modest appearance. On the contrary many adults corrupted by modernization & media propaganda, fear anything that resembles godliness (including the garb of Muslims that are dedicated to their beliefs). It is a shame to those who call themselves Christians when they are out done in modesty by non-Christian nations. Tertullian makes mention of this in 198 A.D. when he states, "Arabia's heathen females will be your judges,..." . They went above and beyond what was necessary for modesty. And they have upheld modesty much more than the so called Christian nation. Today many adults (who claim to be Christian) look upon our modesty as a threat & a thing to fear, as bondage & a lack of liberty.
"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.  Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.  Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it". -Jeremiah 6:16-19
The good & right way was the way that both men & women lived out their God given purpose for life & covered themselves with the design of modesty God originally gave them. Their first style of covering (the loin cloth) was unacceptable.
Evil will come upon those who do not STAND IN HIS WAYS & SEEK THE OLD PATHS, THE GOOD WAY AND WALK IN IT. WE must walk in it. 

 Be not ashamed to receive the Grace of God in the midst of this crooked & perverse generation. God’s invention of clothing was Tov Meod = very good. Our purpose for being created by Him was to  glorify Him by choosing to love Him with our free will.  It is not to follow vain fashions & trends.

These are modern day Christian women who have received the grace of God concerning modesty. (I distorted their faces for privacy)I want you to focus on their godly example of modest apparel. They are all blessed in the Lord & free in Christ. The choice is yours.





  "Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times."
Psalm 106:3


" Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.   Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors."  -Proverbs 8:32-34

Ladies & Girls

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1Peter 3:4

How many a time have I seen a lady, a girl

Swept up in a whirl,

Of loving attractive & cute,

Hearts & minds entangled in an outward suit;

Just the right fit from head to toe,

The bow must be just so.

All the while calling Jesus Lord,

When they wish they could afford:

The brand, the style, the jewels that fit the attire.

Dear ladies & girls,

Deceive not yourselves with lace & swirls.

Godly women taught by grace

Do not sit long to perfect & stare at their face;

Their concern is not for themselves,

But that the clothes on their shelves,

Draw not the eye of a man that is married; a man that is single,

With these they ought to fear the Lord before they mingle.

Ladies & girls you do shame

God’s pure name,

When you make vain your time on earth,

Caring about your looks & the size of your girth.

Let grace teach you:

To be discreet, to hide your outward beauty, to be sincere & honest, to let your words be few.

A word thought out is likely to be well-spoken;

A girl that rambles on about cute & attractive clothing is but a token,

Of one falling short of the prize, mind filled with lies;

Believing that classy style & fashion,

Are worth our passion.

Take all that burning fire,

that you have to be desired

of men & people you esteem;

use it rather to sew seams,

that conceal the curves & cover the arms & legs.

Stop the plagues,

That corrupt the heart to call God Lord

When you’re not willing to take His sword

& cut yourself free

From an over sexualized, vain society.

The body is not for fornication(1.Corinthians 6:13)

but for the Lord.

Who does not bear in vain the sword.

He will not take part,

With ladies & girls who dress as they please deceiving their own heart.

Go on & look at the magazines full of glamour,

Claiming to be Christian style,

A God-fearing woman knows not to travel even a mile

Down a road that claims to be Christian, while clearly denying the power of godliness.

Ladies & girls your adoration of self is fruitless.

Take up your cross,

& count your cute skirts & shirts but dross.

You’re a slave to sin so long as you put such care,

In how people stare.

It is better for them to see,

A lady, a girl, from vanity free;

Than a lady, a girl outwardly desirable & “cute as a button”.

To all who are slaves let my rhyme, 

Speak to your heart this time.

What better hour to embrace Christ’s liberty?

Cast down your fears of what others say & just be,

The woman who’s shape & beauty is a mystery,

Her glory concealed, devoted to her God eternally.  

A Need for Discretion

An orangutan seeking coverage under a pink veil. He was not interested in having an audience.

Dear sisters,

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Please take seriously the need for discretion it is LACKING among women professing Christ. Women that follow Christ are taught by the Apostle to be discreet (Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.)

Facebook is an obvious snare to many women professing godliness. Somehow it becomes an outlet for them to display themselves freely & forsake discretion.
PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THROUGH the many quotes I have put together in this article; I think some of you may be helped by them:

(From the late 1600/early 1700's) Here are a man's comments on Proverb 11:22:  "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion."

"It is lamented that beauty should be so abused as it is by those that have not modesty with it. It seems ill-bestowed upon them; it is quite misplaced, as a jewel in a swine's snout, with which he roots in the dunghill. If beauty be not guarded by virtue, the (lack of) virtue is exposed by the beauty. It may be applied to all other bodily endowments and accomplishments; it is a pity that those should have them who have not discretion to use them well."

Here is a man's commentary on Titus 2:

 "Keepers at home - Οικουρους. A woman who spends much time in visiting[on facebook, etc], must neglect her family [and if she is a single woman she may be neglecting her Christian duties to serve others]. The idleness, dirtiness, impudence, and profligacy of the children, will soon show how deeply criminal the mother was in rejecting the apostle’s advice. Instead of οικουρους, keepers of the house, or keepers at home,  ..., workers at home; not only staying in the house and keeping the house, but working in the house. A woman may keep the house very closely, and yet do little in it for the support or comfort of the family.

That the word of God be not blasphemed -

The enemies of the Gospel are quick-eyed to spy out imperfections in its professors; and, if they find women professing Christianity living an irregular life, they will not fail to decry the Christian doctrine on this account: “Behold you boasted religion! it professes to reform all things, and its very professors are no better than others! Our heathenism is as good as your Christianity.” These are cutting reproaches; and much they will have to answer for who give cause for these blasphemies."

(18th century)Yet another man:
"Of beauty vain, of virtue void, What art thou in the sight of God? A slave to every base desire, A creature wallowing in the mire. Go, gaudy pageant of a day, Thy folly, with thy face display: Set all thy charms and graces out, And shew - the Jewel in thy snout!"

(From the late 1600/ 1700's) And another man:
"so is a fair woman which is without discretion; or, "has departed from taste"; from a taste of virtue and honour; lost all sense of modesty and chastity; forsaken her husband, and given up herself to the embraces of others. As her beauty is fitly expressed by a "jewel of gold", which is valuable and desirable, and, rightly placed and used, is ornamental; so she is properly represented by a swine, wallowing in the impurities of lust; to which her beauty was the snare, and whereby it is quickly sullied and lost."
 From a man of the late 1600-early 1700's:
" That the aged women likewise (as well as the men) be in behaviour as becometh holiness; or as beseems and is proper for holy persons, such as they profess to be and should be, keeping a pious decency and decorum in clothing and gesture, in looks and speech, and all their deportment, and this from an inward principle and habit of holiness, influencing and ordering the outward conduct at all times. Observe, Though express scripture do not occur, or be not brought, for every word, or look, or fashion in particular, yet general rules there are according to which all must be ordered; as 1Co_10:31, Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. And Phi_4:8, Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. And here, whatsoever things are beseeming or unbeseeming holiness form a measure and rule of conduct to be looked to.
 There are lessons for young women also, whom the aged women must teach, instructing and advising them in the duties of religion according to their years. For teaching such things aged women have often better access than the men, even than ministers have, which therefore they must improve in instructing the young women, especially the young wives; for he speaks of their duty to their husbands and children. These young women the more aged must teach, (1.) To bear a good personal character: To be sober and discreet, contrary to the vanity and rashness which younger years are subject to: discreet in their judgments and sober in their affections and behaviour. Discreet and chaste stand well together; many expose themselves to fatal temptations by that which at first might be but indiscretion. Pro_2:11, Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee from the evil way. Chaste, and keepers at home, are well joined too. Dinah, when she went to see the daughters of the land, lost her chastity. Those whose home is their prison, it is to be feared, feel that their chastity is their fetters. Not but there are occasions, and will be, of going abroad; but a gadding temper for merriment and company sake, to the neglect of domestic affairs, or from uneasiness at being in her place, is the opposite evil intended, which is commonly accompanied with, or draws after it, other evils. 1Ti_5:13, 1Ti_5:14, They learn to be idle, wandering from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. Their business is to guide the house, and they should give no occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully. Good, generally, in opposition to all vice; and specially, in her place, kind, helpful, and charitable; as Dorcas, full of good works and almsdeeds. It may also have, as some think, a more particular sense; one of a meek and yet cheerful spirit and temper, not sullen nor bitter; not taunting not fretting and galling any; not of a troublesome or jarring disposition, uneasy in herself and to those about her; but of a good nature and pleasing conversation, and likewise helpful by her advice and pains: thus building her house, and doing her husband good, and not evil, all her days. Thus in their personal character sober, discreet, chaste, keepers at home, and good:"

This lack of discretion pertains to all females young, old, married, single. Even those who do not consider themselves beautiful (one of the common excuses I hear from women who seek to be excused from discretion). Discretion is not an issue of modesty only, but of the whole character/words & actions.

My heart has been so shocked & grieved to see women on Facebook professing Christ while glorying in their outward appearance. The shame it brings as the man above described, the reproach. It shouldn’t be so difficult to discern a “Christian” woman from the women of the world. The inward reality reflects outwardly. If a woman fears the righteous judgment of God, then she will know she will stand in shame before Him if she fails to outwardly reflect  His virtue & holiness. This outward reflection bears witness to her inner respect & reverence for her God. Receive it or not, our choice of clothing & actions are a reflection of our heart.

I was raised to be a professing Christian. I professed it, but I didn't reflect it.

I didn't reflect it because I was still in darkness. I had very little knowledge of who Christ was & what He requires of those who are called by His name. If you were raised to profess Christ & you are drawn towards dressing & behaving with a lack of discretion please ask God to search your heart, & while He is searching yours, search His---read the Bible concerning virtue & godliness, holiness, discretion; search out testimonies of the Holy Women of Old.  We are so blessed to have all this knowledge available at our finger tips. We are without excuse when we shame the name of the Lord as if we did not know better on how to behave ourselves as women professing Christ. Get the victory over the spirit of the world that continually tries to seduce you to look & act more like it! You know it's whispers in your ears:

"You look frumpy in that! wear something a little less baggy"

"Emily's a "Christian" and she wears jeans; they are "women's jeans", what's the big deal?!"

" My dad never says anything about this tight shirt, it must not be a big deal."

"It's dangerous to do things in long skirts, maybe these baggy shorts would be safer."

"People give me such dirty looks when I dress so plain & cover my head, there must be a way I can look more acceptable to them?"

"My Aunt Marie would love to see how long my hair is, she hasn't seen me in years, surely it'll be ok if I post a picture of myself uncovered on Facebook for her?."

"Well, people have already seen me without my covering, so what's a few more pictures gonna hurt?"

"And everyone always says how pretty I am when I post these pictures on Facebook, no one says anything about the fact that I'm not covered, or that I have jeans on; I was just around my family in that picture."

"They all know my heart & how I 'love Jesus', it's so exciting to be able to share pictures of myself on Facebook!"

 I came across the following quotes after I wrote the above. I found it interesting to see the similarities of speech this man used over 1,000 years ago to shine the light of God's Truth in this area: (please read this slowly & understand what he says:)

"The covering [clothing] ought, in my judgment, to show that which is covered to be better than itself, as the image is superior to the temple, the soul to the body, and the body to the clothes. But now, quite the contrary, the body of these ladies, if sold, would never fetch a thousand Attic drachms [this is a type of $]. Buying, as they do, a single dress at the price of ten thousand talents, they prove themselves to be of less use and less value than cloth. Why in the world do you seek after what is rare and costly, in preference to what is at hand and cheap? It is because you know not what is really beautiful, what is really good, and seek with eagerness shows instead of realities from fools who, like people out of their wits, imagine black to be white.  

As, then, in the fashioning of our clothes, we must keep clear of all strangeness, so in the use of them we must beware of extravagance. For neither is it seemly for the clothes to be above the knee, as they say was the case with the Lacedæmonian virgins; nor is it becoming for any part of a woman to be exposed. Though you may with great propriety use the language addressed to him who said,
'Your arm is beautiful;' 'yes, but it is not for the public gaze.'
'Your thighs are beautiful;' but, was the reply, 'for my husband alone.'
'And your face is comely.' 'Yes; but only for him who has married me.'
But I do not wish chaste women to afford cause for such praises to those who, by praises, hunt after grounds of censure; and not only because it is prohibited to expose the ankle, but because it has also been enjoined that the head should be veiled and the face covered; for it is a wicked thing for beauty to be a snare to men. Nor is it seemly for a woman to wish to make herself conspicuous, by using a purple veil. Would it were possible to abolish purple in dress, so as not to turn the eyes of spectators on the face of those that wear it! But the women, in the manufacture of all the rest of their dress, have made everything of purple, thus inflaming the lusts. And, in truth,those women who are crazy about these stupid and luxurious purples, “purple (dark) death has seized,” according to the poetic saying. On account of this purple, then, Tyre and Sidon, and the vicinity of the Lacedæmonian Sea, are very much desired; and their dyers and purple-fishers, and the purple fishes themselves, because their blood produces purple, are held in high esteem. But crafty women and effeminate men, who blend these deceptive dyes with dainty fabrics, carry their insane desires beyond all bounds, and export their fine linens no longer from Egypt, but some other kinds from the land of the Hebrews and the Cilicians. I say nothing of the linens made of Amorgos and Byssus. Luxury has outstripped nomenclature.

[Clement of Alexandria, 180 A.D., The Instructor, Book 2, Chapter 11, PDF Format]

  
The following was written in 250 A.D.
You call yourself wealthy and rich; but Paul meets your riches, and with his own voice prescribes for the moderating of your dress and ornament within a just limit. “Let women,” said he, “adorn themselves with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly array, but as becomes women professing chastity, with a good conversation.” Also Peter consents to these same precepts, and says, “Let there be in the woman not the outward adorning of array, or gold, or apparel, but the adorning of the heart.” …and draw the sighs of young men after you, nourish the lust of concupiscence, and inflame the fuel of sighs, so that, although you yourself perish not, yet you cause others to perish, and offer yourself, as it were, a sword or poison to the spectators; you cannot be excused on the pretense that you are chaste and modest in mind. Your shameful dress and immodest ornament accuse you; nor can you be counted now among Christ’s maidens and virgins, since you live in such a manner as to make yourselves objects of desire. Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg.432

I praise God for the preservation of these quotes! The quotes I have posted are not all from men of the same time period. This sin of shameless women lacking discretion & making a path for future generations to boldly follow after has been around too long. Many men have tried to teach, exhort, & warn women; but as you can see women have not taken heed. If you desire to be a woman of Christ please help put a stop to this cancer. We can start as individuals. You see women all over wearing pink bows to help stop breast cancer; what about the cancer that forms through a lack of discretion? Are any of you bold enough to cry out against it, to face the world by wearing symbols of discretion? Well, what is a symbol of discretion? I believe after reading this article & laying it to heart you will have a good idea of how to display discretion. Certainly not by posting more pictures of yourself on Facebook for God & all His angels to behold your shame. What do I mean by pictures? Is it wrong to have pictures of ourselves; well, do the pictures reflect your discreet heart, or do they promote your God given physical beauty, the details of your lovely face? Pictures of ourselves make a way for people to look long upon something they would not naturally feel comfortable staring at. Take time to really think these things out rather than just simply wanting to go on your way doing what the ungodly around you do, lacking the reality of God's judgment.

 Does anyone want to help stop the spread of this disease to future generations? 

I know I do. 

I also know, that although I am conscience of covering myself, after reading through these quotes I am yet the more convicted to make more changes in my clothes, etc. Studying this topic strengthened & renewed convictions I have had that the deceitfulness of my own heart, the influence of other women professing Christ (who lack discretion)& this wicked world have labored to weaken in me. A woman that fears not to go UN-noticed, that is not moved by the disapproving glances of worldly people & lukewarm Christians, that does not need praise for her appearance, that is content serving God in virtue & purity of heart, with lowliness of mind, is a woman possessing discretion & the fear of the Lord, a woman of true strength.

 Proverbs 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.   

- - -Stand for a just cause: be discreet.- - -