Steph once made the statement that “people get dressed intentionally.” If you do not think you dress intentionally perhaps it is time to start dressing intentionally to the glory of God. Many girls/women dress intending to turn a head, to draw the eye a particular man, or men in general. A woman can feel a sense of excitement from getting a positive reaction from a member of the opposite sex. My theory is that this sense of excitement is the female form of lust.

Lust is defined as personal inclination or intense desire (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). For men, lust is an issue of the heart but is typically enticed through the eyes. For women, I would say the same is true with a significant variation. For women, lust is an issue of the heart but is typically enticed through the eyes LOOKING AT HER. For men, lust is passive in the sense that it is fanned into flame through what he takes in from outside of himself, what he sees or looks at and then mulls over in his mind. For women, lust is active in the sense that it is fanned into flame through what she sends out from inside herself, how she dresses, sits, or moves her body which results in a reaction from a man. The power to entice and the intense longing for attention can cause women to dress in a sensual way.

The styles today can create a problem simply because of the fabric they are made with. I know a lot of women who do not wear slips. Sometimes that can create a less than desirable result. I saw a woman recently in a cute modest dress but she wasn’t wearing a slip and that dress clung in all the wrong places, and I doubt she was even aware of it.

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

I only see two options: either we will present ourselves to God as an instrument of righteousness and dress to glorify Him, or we will present ourselves as an instrument of unrighteousness and dress to glorify self. Not choosing to dress intentionally to glorify God will, by default, result in dressing to glorify self. Which do you choose today?

Diane

Yesterday I shared about the attitude of our hearts regarding the battle the enemy has mounted in the area of lust and sexual immorality. I believe he is gaining ground. Lest you think I’m wrong, consider these pornography statistics (1):

The United States ranks 4th in the world in revenue made on pornography

The United States is ranked #1 in pornographic video porn production

Each day there are 68,000,000 pornographic search engine requests

Each day there are 2.5 billion pornographic emails

42.7% of all internet users view pornography

35% of all internet downloads are pornographic

The average age of internet pornography exposure 11 years old

26 children’s character names linked to thousands of pornography links

72% of visitors to pornographic websites are male; 28% female

17% of women reported having a pornography addiction

53% Promise Keeper men reported having viewed pornography in the past week

Here are two Hunt statistics: We are 100% responsible for where our eyes go and hearts linger. We are 100% responsible for our choice to be women of modesty, purity and dignity.

Women, will you step up and join the battle against evil by dressing intentionally to the Glory of God?

Diane

1 http://familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html#anchor4 (accessed 5 22 08)

This week our Victory Calls will focus on “Modesty” – “How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ?

An Attitude of the Heart

Another year has passed already. This is the week for the past 4 years that I have shared a series on modesty and purity. Memorial Day typically kicks off the summer with warmer temperatures and sticky humidity and people wear lighter and less clothing. It is not that modesty is only an issue in the summer, it is God’s desire for us all 365 days of the year. However, I doubt anyone would argue that it becomes a more evident issue with the warmer weather. The beaches and pools are packed to overflowing, and the amusement parks and ice cream stands have long lines. People are out and about. It is disheartening when I see young women (and some not-so-young) wearing attire that would have only appeared in pornographic magazines 30 or 40 years ago. If it is catching my attention, you can be sure it is turning almost every male’s head. Sure there are men out there intentionally looking, ogling anything female, but I would venture to guess that they are not the majority. I think the majority are men with wives and families and daughters who are accosted with sensually and scantly dressed girls and women everywhere they go.

I wish I could say, they could just flee to the church but sadly, it is not safe even in the churches. Women of God, it is time to stand up and battle the enemy as he is gaining ground in the hearts and lives of the men of our churches, our husbands, our sons, our brothers, our pastors. We need a new attitude of compassion and support rather than condemnation and irritation. Please hear my heart.

I am not blaming scantly dressed women for any man’s sinful attitudes or actions! Each man is 100% responsible for where he allows his eyes and heart to linger. I would also say each woman is 100% responsible for her own attire and her attitude towards this whole area of struggle for her male counterpart. It is a cop-out to chalk it up to being “his problem.” More than that, it is short-sighted, superficial and flat out sinful. Which one of us would sit in the foxhole painting our nails when our fellow soldier was waging war against our enemy who appeared to be gaining the upper hand? NOT A ONE! I believe every one of us would jump to the aid of another in our company doing battle alongside them rather than against them.

Let’s carry this word picture into the modesty, lust and purity battle. Can you see how God calls us alongside rather than against our brothers in Christ? How do your wardrobe choices reflect love for Jesus Christ? How does your attire reflect love for your brothers in Christ? How does the way you dress reflect your heart?

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor…

Luke 10:27 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Diane

PSALM 91:11-16
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Points to Ponder: Taken at face value, this sounds like an end-all-be-all promise that we, as Christians, will not suffer. But we know that is not true for even within the Psalm it tells us we will have trouble (v. 15) and that we will need rescue (v. 15).

In addition, we need to always view Scripture in view of Scripture. We can expect persecution: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) We will have tribulation: ” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We will face suffering: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” Philippians 1:29

I believe the psalm emphasizes a few things that will strengthen us during those difficult times:
1. dwell
2. abide [abide in the shadow of the Almighty – you have to be pretty close to abide in someone’s shadow and you have to mimic their movements to stay in their shadow]
3. trust
4. take refuge
5. hold fast
6. know Him

This psalm exhudes ‘relationship with’ not just ‘knowledge of’ the Holy One. What are you doing today to deepen that relationship with Jesus?

Diane

Through faith alone:

Kingdoms were subdued… Righteousness was worked… Promises were obtained… The mouths of lions were stopped… The violence of fire was quenched… The edged of the sword was escaped… The weak were made strong and became valiant in battle… Enemy armies were fought… Women once again received their dead.

By faith alone:
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. ~Hebrews 11

Again I ask, are we living by faith? Are we enduring the shame, carrying our cross and following hard after the one who saved us?

Would it be said of us that “the Lord was our passion; that we bore with gladness every cross we were given; headed unity’s call; were marked by forgiveness; known by love ruled by peace…?2

Would our observable lives be known to bear the mark of faith – lives lived believing without seeing the substance of all that we hope for in Christ?

Father God, it is true that all too often we have so little faith and believe. Lord God above we believe little and we want to believe and have faith in and for more. Would you help our unbelief and increase our faith that you alone might be exalted and made famous in all the earth. Amen.

S. Paul

DIGGING DEEPER Psalm 91:15-16
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

1 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011-13&version=NKJV

2 http://couragetotremble.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/let-it-be-said-of-us/

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” ~Hebrews 11:1-3(NKJV)1

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” ~Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.” ~The Message

It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. ~Hebrews 11:6 (The Message)

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.””By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death.””By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land and acted on what he was told.””By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home…he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents.””By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant.”‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.””By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.””By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.””By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel.”By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents.””By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter””By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king…he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood…they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land.””By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.””By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”All of the above is found in Hebrews chapter eleven, which I read today and was greatly encouraged by.

The question for us to ponder is this. Are we, who have received the promised Messiah, living in faith and by faith? Selah

S. Paul

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 91
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.

1 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011-13&version=NKJV

Have you ever had a week , or day, or month, or year when nothing seemed to go right? Well, I think I’ve had a week like that. I’m weary. Have you ever felt that way? Did you want to look for the EJECT button? I didn’t want to be ejected from life, just from the very frustrating situation,

So what can I do to get on top of or get control? My first option is to turn to God’s Word. I looked up the word “weary” in my Bible’s concordance. Here is the first verse I found. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest “ (Matthew 11:28). Ok, so I went to the right place; so I kept looking for more help!

Here is a verse that was encouraging to me, and this particular translation came from The Message. “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind” (Isaiah 40:31, The Message). Fresh strength, that’s what I needed. Have you ever had the privilege of watching an eagle fly? Actually, they glide. They make flying look so easy. I think that’s what God wants us to do. We are to let God give us fresh strength and teach us to let Him do the living.

There is no doubt we are in a war and living life is not easy, but it is true that we know who wins the war! Dear Jesus, I am weary and wish I could find the Eject button. But, Father, I do know that You will ultimately win the war. Please help me live in a way that shows I know Who ultimately wins. Please help me turn to You when I feel weary. Please give me fresh strength. Help me remember to turn to You. I love You, Jesus. Amen

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Author of Roses In December, December’s Song,When Your Dreams Die, I’m Listening, Lord,Becoming A Woman of Honor, and Grief Is A Family Affair.

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 91:11-12
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Are you enjoying this Psalm as much as I am? I have been memorizing it on the road (safely). I so appreciate the reminder that God has my back. I am in His constant care. Are you making this Psalm your own? How about taking 10 minutes today to meditate on the truth within?

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
1 6With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Commentary: “Psalm 91. This tender and intimate psalm describes the confidence that the believer may have through all manner of dangers and challenges. The psalm speaks about the faithful person as “he” (vv. 1, 14-16), addresses him directly as “you” (singular; vv. 3-13), and gives him words to say as “I” (v.2). Some have suggested that all of these are Israel speaking as a whole, but the situations in view in the psalm (e.g., pestilence, vv. 3,6; terrors by night and arrows, v. 5; one’s fellows falling, v. 7) are those primarily faced by particular persons. Of course, Israel as a whole finds refuge in God and is covered by his divine wings, but the nation’s members see this in their individual lives as well.” ESV study Bible ~ notes, pg. 1054.

Diane

Psalm 91:5-105
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-
the Most High, who is my refuge-
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

It is so easy these days to fall prey to the temptation to fear. Am I right ladies? The magnitude of those fears range from seemingly small and insignificant to large and looming, threatening to cut off our very breath. Yet, over and over again in the Scriptures we are told not to fear or be anxious.

How can we NOT fear? Given the choice every one of us would chose faith and peace over fear.

I believe the answer lies in verse 9 that is to make God your dwelling place, your refuge. Trust the God of all the earth with your problems. Rest in knowing that He has not taken His eyes off of you… ever. Sister, would you tarry right there for a moment? Close your eyes and meditate on this truth. “God sees me. He sees my circumstances. He sees my struggles and problems. He sees those things which concern me. He sees all. He sees me.” AND He is already at work in those circumstances, those struggles and those problems.

Friend, Run to Him. Hide in the shadow of His wings. Dwell there.

Diane

So many people are hurting….going through trials, times of illness, times of sadness, times of disappointment….especially in these “last days.” Family members, friends, co-workers and even those you have never spoken to before are looking to be encouraged in the midst of their trials.

The Word calls us to be encouragers, to give godly encouragement, not false hope but encouragement. The Lord has especially blessed some with the gift of encouragement. These are the people you like to hang around with. These are the people that always seem to have those who are going through difficult times seeking them out, looking to hang around them. The Bible gives us examples of encouragers, and one of those was Barnabas.

In Acts 4:36 it is written that his very name means “son of encouragement.” This name seemed to describe Barnabas very well indeed. He certainly was an encouragement to Paul and the other apostles…but especially Paul in the beginning of his ministry. After Paul met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, he was never the same. But Paul still had a reputation of persecuting the believers and everyone was frightened of him…rightly so. But Barnabas comes along and encourages Paul and goes before the Apostles and allays their fears by speaking on his behalf. The result is, Paul is accepted and even assumes a great leadership role.

Later on, before their second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas have a difference of opinion over Barnabas’s cousin Mark. Mark had been with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey but for some reason Mark left them and returned home. We aren’t told the details but we know Paul was not happy because when it came time for the second missionary journey, Paul refused to take him.

But Barnabas! He steps in and what an encouragement to Mark! Mark and Barnabas go off in one direction and Paul and Silas go in another. It is amazing how Barnabas encouraged both of these men. Both had made errors in judgment yet Barnabas, the “son of encouragement,” encouraged each man and then in later years both of them became leaders and even reunited. In Colossians 4:10 Paul even recommends Mark to the church there.

We all need encouragement but we are all called to encourage. Who can you encourage today? Who among the many people that will cross your path today needs to hear a word of encouragement, a word from the Lord? The funny thing about encouragement is that when you encourage someone else the Lord seems to encourage your heart. Today keep your eyes and heart open, seek to encourage…You may be encouraging the next great evangelist or preacher!

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons and one long awaited granddaughter! She serves at America’s Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

Digging Deeper
Psalm 95:10
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways.”