What Guys Think About Modesty

Watch this interesting perspective from men on modesty. If we can even learn one thing here, ladies, then it was worth posting. I don't know if this is true for all men, but if it is, may the Holy Spirit speak to us as we choose our clothing and how we treat our brothers in Christ each and every day.

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Click here for resources for modesty.

(Note: turn off the playlist at the bottom of this page!)

Modesty, Daughters, and Sons

It has been a blessing to raise my children over the years and now my oldest daughter is 18. What a joy it has been to see her serving the Lord and watching how the Lord has worked in her life as she has grown older.  This past week she was asked to do a guest post on Far Above Rubies on the ever important topic of modesty.

What is modesty? Where does it start?
From the Bible. With your heart.

You may read the rest of  it here.

 Yes, modesty does begin with the heart and teaching it at an early age is so important!

Here are some good resources on the matter:

Raising Maidens of Virtue

Christian Charm Course

The Beauty of Modesty

Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America

  With the nicer weather this is a great time to emphasize beautiful modesty with the purpose to bring glory to God.

I will write more on this topic as summer approaches.

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Wise Woman Tip:

Also help sons and grandsons to keep their minds pure with today's mystery product from Vision Forum:

Not just 80% off but 85%!!!!

Thoughts for Young Men
and ONLY $1.20 today!

Sense and Sensibility

Look at the beautiful details of this dress...

It is from a 1780's portrait gown pattern...sigh...don't you just love it?

and look at these:

So lovely and looks like she is straight from a classic art painting...

I suddenly have the urge to watch Jane Austen movies!

My friend, Mrs. Jennie Chancey, has these patterns at her lovely store:


Sense and Sensibility Patterns


Be sure to stop by and visit!

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She also has amazing patterns for little girls too!

The Modest Mom: Lovely Skirts and Maternity Plus Giveaway!

Do you desire to dress in fashionable, feminine, yet modest clothing?

Consider your search over!

The Modest Mom, has provided the solution for a woman's changing wardrobe throughout the seasons of life. Sometimes for us women it can be a challenge finding modest clothes in the mall or stores and just can't seem to find just what we are looking for or the exact size we need. Don't you agree?

And--if the good Lord has blessed you with a pregnancy, it can be even tougher! But The Modest Mom has a wonderful solution for us by offering long custom made maternity skirts in a variety of stylish and attractive fabrics-- and the great thing is that they also carry gently used modest maternity tops at very affordable prices!

I love the fabric pattern above...perfect for the holidays!

Isn't she cute in this  Flowing Long Maternity Skirt?

Ruched Ruffle Skirt

The Modest Mom, a family business having all their products made in the USA,  has a heart to provide us with affordable, quality maternity clothes for that special time in our lives while encouraging us to  wear lovely clothes that are still an option for moms and moms to be!

What a great gift these would make for a special woman in your life or even yourself during the holidays! And now--

They are having a special sale with FREE shipping from now until December 18th on orders $50 or more when you use the code 50FREESHIP at checkout! So be sure not to miss it!!!

They also carry these delightful nursing covers! Aren't they pretty? I wish I had one of these when nursing my twins-- and not only that but they come with a velcro neck strap so that the baby can't pull or kick it off like it would with a regular blanket. It's a wonderful thing when a mom can nurse her baby in style!

Peek-a-boo!

Now let the fun begin---!!!! The Modest Mom is generously giving away to one of my special readers-- a ruffled denim skirt-either maternity OR woman's skirt and you get to pick your choice of length!!! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your email (if you don't have a blog).

For extra entries:

• Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or blog about it. (2 points each, leave two comments each)
• Visit The Modest Mom and tell me what you like. (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
• Like The Modest Mom on Facebook or Twitter. (3 entries each, leave 3 comments each)
• Become a follower to the The Modest Mom's blog. (4 entries, leave 4 comments)
• Buy something from The Modest Mom. (10 entries, leave 10 comments)

***This giveaway is now closed!***

Hope you win!

Many thanks to The Modest Mom!

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Feminine Clothing for Lovely Daughters

It is so hard today to find beautiful clothing for our little girls. The mall is filled with clothing that is unfit for lovely young maidens being raised to love the Lord. Thankfully, there are still places where you can buy beautiful patterns to create your own beautiful dresses.

My sweet friend, Mrs. Jennie Chancey, of Sense & Sensibility Patterns has gone through great lengths to bring us gorgeous patterns fit for a princess--

The 1780's Portrait Dress Pattern! 

Here is the front---simply adorable!

And here it is in blue--a back view

Lovely maidens dressed for the ball...

These playful dresses were inspired by classic artwork such as seen above.

What young lady would not love to wear such sweet apparel? 

They are perfect for church, special occasion, tea party or just beautiful for any day!

If you are as smitten as I am with these dresses,
be sure to check out Mrs. Chancey's lovely, feminine and modest patterns at


Sense & Sensibility Patterns.

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Femininity Lost in America

Is femininity lost in America?

You would think so by hearing that women are wearing this.

Is this what glorious femininity has been reduced to?

Is this whom the majority of American girls idolize and imitate along with their mothers?

I hope not.

Mothers and fathers allowing little daughters to learn wrong ways.

Sacrificing their daughters to the world.

But I am hopeful...

so hopeful...

because I know that many are raising up daughters as pillars in their homes.

They are teaching them to be feminine, to be noble, to love God, to be servant-hearted, to love children, to love and advance the church, to love their families and to esteem that which is good and righteous.

Really, I have met them---they DO exist!

With God's help, I am also trying to raise them....:)

But without God, I know that I would be in the same place.

With or without a meat dress, I need Jesus just as much as the next person---if not more.

Let us pray for these woman and daughters to have discernment and not to be lead astray by the worlds ways and to be pleasers of men.They have been deceived by the seduction of the entertainment industry that they have become enslaved to.

Not because we are righteous,

or any better than them.

Because we aren't.

We need Jesus as much as them.

And because we love them and want to see their souls saved from the only one who can save it.

Are you saved?

If you are not sure,

click here.

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Feminine and Modest newCreation Apparel Skirt Giveaway!

A few years back when I was having babies one right after the other it was hard finding maternity clothes that I liked that were modest, feminine and pretty. I would search the mall for that perfect skirt and was barely able to find even one that I liked that fit well---and then I would quickly wear myself out looking since I was pregnant (how many of you have been there?). How I wished I would have heard about  newCreation Apparel back then! newCreation Apparel is a Christian company that carries an entire line of lovely long skirts, slips, silk comforters, luxurious nightwear, pretty jackets and beautiful maternity skirts in all the colors to mix and match with that are comfortable for mommy and baby. newCreation Apparel specializes in and are dedicated to helping women find modest and feminine clothing without the lengthy hours of shopping disappointment. They have a wide variety of colors and styles for every taste to choose from.

This cute maternity skirt is my favorite, I would have loved to have had something like this for going out:

(Maternity Black and White Floral---only $26)

This one is perfect and just in time for fall:

(Maternity Signature Dark Chocolate-$26)

They also sell  long regular skirts that are just so hard to find these days, long flowing skirts that are graceful, classic and flattering. Their elegant skirts will take you through every season, event and holiday! How practical and the price cannot be beat--they purposefully kept their prices down to keep it affordable for everyone.  How can you not love that???  I know many of you are trying to dress more feminine this year and are looking for modest clothes to add to your wardrobe--I recommend newCreation Apparel as truly a great place to shop for fine clothing. Take a peek at this lovely jacket:

(Classic Corduroy Lavender Jacket--$31.20 on clearance!)

And don't you just love the cute regular skirts:

 (Rainforest 36--$24.75)

And ladies, we all know it can be a challenge to find the perfect jean skirt but newCreation Apparel has a WIDE variety to choose from that range from simple to classy. I love this one with the ruffles:

(Double Crunch Ruffled--$33)

Now I have a surprise for you--newCreation Apparel is generously offering my special readers a chance to win one skirt of your choice from their online store!!! All you have to do is leave a comment with your email---that's all!

(Important Note: This giveaway has free shipping and handling to those living in the U.S.--if you are outside the U.S. you may still enter the giveaway but will be responsible for shipping and handling costs. This giveaway ends on 9/11 at midnight.) 
 
If you would like extra entries:

Facebook or Twitter this giveaway (counts for 1 entry for each, leave 1 comment each)
Follow me on Twitter, subscribe to this blog or blog about this giveaway ( counts as 2 entries each, leave 2 comments)
Visit newCreation Apparel's Facebook page and like them. (counts as 3 entries, leave 3 comments)
Visit their website and tell me what you like from there. (counts as 3 entries, leave 3 comments)
Buy something from their store. (counts as 10 entries, leave 10 comments)

Hope you win!

 Thank you newCreation Apparel!

***This giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to all who participated!***

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The Clothing of Spiritual Beauty

Dear ladies, I have a question for you....

What are your clothes saying about you?

The type of clothes I am referring to is not something you can purchase at the local mall. It is not trendy and nor is it always comfortable. You cannot find it on the finest racks at Nordstroms or even find it on clearance at any sales. The type of clothing I am referring to is your clothing of spiritual beauty.

The clothing of spiritual beauty is much more beautiful than the cashmere sweaters, the silk dress, the leather skirt, the diamond studded belt---that moth and rust can destroy, for many reasons. Our spiritual clothing is beautiful in the eyes of our Lord for He is the great designer of it---and as others see it, they will see that it is the fruit of God's work in us.

Now our spiritual clothing is exquisite and looks like this:

love
joy
peace
patience
kindness goodness
faithful
self-control
humility
strength
dignity
courage
forgiveness
meekness
steadfastness
gentleness
quiet
modest
pure
encourages others
always points to God

Very different from this kind of clothing:

loud
selfish
angry
irritated
revengeful
lustful
self-centered
greedy
discontent
slanderous
unforgiveness
bitterness
vain
hatred
jealousy
murder
malice
self-seeking
prideful
discourages others
always points to self




You can see the garments of spiritual beauty on a woman because it is very evident. Her clothing is in full view for others to see even while it is spiritual. It is seen in her conduct (how she carries herself), in her eyes, in her words and in her works. She possesses something that others do not and carries the spirit of the Lord with her. When I see these attributes in a woman it is hard not to notice. She is a rare gem and treasure that my heart desires to aspire to. I pray the Lord would help me to cultivate this type of fine spiritual clothing, though not to receive approval from man, but to be pleasing in God's sight.

The latter list of apparel is wretched. It defiles us and steals glory from God. It comes thundering in the spirit of Satan---loud, debaucherous, slanderous, and prideful. It seeks only self-gain and is quite deceptive especially to the person who wears them. It seeks to conquer, kill and destroy--much like the designer who designed it--- and yes, I said DESTROY. Not just destroy those around but the very person who wears the pseudo raiment.

And as a last word....sometimes are we not like trees that look full from afar but when you get up close they are empty? Or maybe we look like bowls of lush, fresh fruit but when you get up close we only find in dismay that is only wax? I am speaking here of authenticity. We can look like we are wearing the spiritual clothing that God has designed for us to our neighbors, on Sunday dressed in our Sunday best, at our women's Bible studies, etc., but are we sadly like the bowl of fruit that when people get closer find that we are not whom we portrayed ourselves to be?????

God's word is the final word on the matter on our authentic spiritual clothing:

"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

What will you pull out of your spiritual wardrobe today?

Purity

Impure images barrage America on a daily basis. Television overflows with scantily clad men and women and billboards attempt enticement likewise. We must be careful even as women to live pure lives. Here are some areas we need to protect ourselves and our families from:

1. Romance novels (even Christian novels)

2. Children novels that discuss unbiblical sex at an early age. Ex: Judy Blume

3. Impure television shows, movies, magazines with unacceptable pictures

4. Sales flyers (models in underwear), posters

5. Radio shows, music, friends or anything that has a low value of purity

6. Exercise videos (I realized this early on with little sons in the room) I make sure all the videos are now modest! (example: Stormie Omartian has great modest workout videos)

7. Internet (pornography is rampant, images are everywhere--from you tube to art stores--make sure you have controls!)

8. Suggestive clothing

Obviously this is not exhaustive--we want to protect ourselves and our sons and daughters from the assault on purity that is so prevalent today. We all know that once an image is branded in our minds, that it is there forever. We need to teach our children how to handle being bombarded with these sexual assaults.

I also think that it is important for those of us who have been defiled by the world (and honestly now, who hasn't?) that we make firm choices to think purely. "Be holy, for I am holy." exhorts the Lord. Yes, wrong thoughts or images can flash through our minds but we are the ones who controls what stays there. It is false to say that a man is more tempted than women are, I believe, unfortunately, we all are tempted in our own ways.

Wives, we need to protect the marriage bed from becoming defiled, this includes thinking wrong thoughts and/or thinking about others. We shouldn't be thinking about other men--period. That also includes men in novels, movies real life or fantasy. Just because you are thinking about it in your mind where no one knows about it, does not mean that it is not sin! It is just as dangerous and sinful.

Most importantly is to teach ourselves and our sons and daughters the tools of self-control against images seek to grasp their souls and rule them. Train them to look away, teach them to not pull up images in their minds, give them the weapons of warfare-- Scripture regarding impurity and holiness, talk to them about grace, mercy and compassion on those who are partaking in such things. Teach them what they should be looking for in a spouse (godliness, meekness, character, humble, etc). Point to living examples around you so they know godly people exist and that they can also live in a pure way. Pray together as a family for things you've seen and/or talk about what you have been exposed to in the day.

And before you train your children, be sure to train yourself first! Talk to your husband and share what you can do to make purity a priority in your family--for you are both their primary examples, what they see you both do, they will also do.

Be sure of it.