I’ve been meaning to (and have been asked about) hosting another Feelin’ Feminine Challenge. I really feel like this is something all ladies should be encouraged in, especially now that it’s summer and I see girls wearing halter-tops and mini-skirts/shorts. I wish I could just tell them about modesty and about what true beauty is. It’s not just about “beauty of the heart”. It’s about beauty of being a woman, a precious gem. The world has so distorted the definition of beauty, modesty, and woman. It really has and it makes me sad to see these young girls dressing in such a fashion because they don’t know any other way, and if modesty has been presented to them it’s most likely been with a superior attitude so they rejected it.

I’m working on a project that will hopefully help encourage and teach young ladies how to dress modestly. I’m hoping it will be done within the next month, but I don’t know how much time I will have to work on it. When it is done I think it will be an excellent resource for girls to have to learn, share, and teach others about feminine modesty.

The Challenge:

So again this week I want to challenge young ladies to dress modestly feminine. To display the inner beauty God has given to us and to show others that you can be stylishly modest. To view the original “rules” about this challenge, please read them HERE.

I also want to challenge the gentlemen who read this to share their thoughts on the importance of modesty and do five things this week that encourage the young ladies they know (sisters, cousins, blogger friends, etc) to be femininely modest.

What’s Your Story:

I also want to invite you to, not only post your thoughts, photos, and things you did this next week, but to share your story of how to began to realize the worth in being feminine and modest. Did you ever balk against it? Did you ever think it was stupid? What changed your heart? Is it a matter of your beliefs? When you’re done writing it I want to challenge you to print it off 5x and then send it to 5 of your girlfriends to read and invite them to do the challenge next month!

My Story:

I didn’t used to agree with the idea of Biblical Femininity, but God changed my heart.

In 2005 when I played softball I wore shorts that came just above my knees. I was comfortable wearing them, and I just hated skirts. Wearing skirts was stupid and they were for the ‘goody-goody’ homeschool families, whose daughters did nothing but cook/clean and submit. However, after Mother Dear bought me a skirt, against my wishes, and made me wear it a few times… I realized that I felt pretty in skirts, and they defined me from other girls and boys. I mean, how often is it that you see a girl in a knee-length skirt?

I started reading the Bible more, instead of fighting against it, and reading about a Biblical woman was and what it represented. It didn’t seem like such a burden as it did before. I suppose it was presented to me in a bad light in the beginning, and I think that’s why so many are against it (and also they want what is comfortable to them so they have a circumstantial-faith).

Unfortunately, then, my sister was no help and discouraged me in this area. She made it seem like if I did all the things that these “goody-goody’ homeschool families” did that I was a terrible person and I was, in a way, betraying her. She fought hard against my mother in this area, and I always felt like I had to join her or she wouldn’t like me.

In the midst of that, I felt I had to follow the Titus 2 Woman mandate or I wasn’t being a “good” Christian. I knew what it said was right, yet still I balked at it. I didn’t want to be told that I had to wear skirts. I didn’t want to wash all the dishes and fold the laundry. I didn’t want respect my parents or delight myself in Lord in everything. I just didn’t want to, but I don’t think Jesus didn’t want to die on that cross but he did. It’s not about what we want. It’s about what He wants.

God wasn’t done with me yet. He kept working on my heart. He kept giving me small nudges towards the teachable spirit I have today.

As I kept searching, I found books, articles, and then I found several bloggers who were seeking to fulfill and become a Titus 2 Woman. This encouraged me greatly and I began to an interest in it even more. I began to read and research Scripture more and as I did I got a better understanding everything… and I wanted to follow.

In my searchings, I have found that in a way Jesus portrayed the role that He wants me to portray. All through the Scriptures you will find that Jesus was humble, obedient, loyal to his Father’s will, and self-less. Now, after having my eyes opened to this I see why this is asked of us women, and I’m honoured in the role that has been bestowed on me. It tries myself self-control and will. It challenges me to be strong and to fight against my flesh.

The feminist-view today is completely opposite of what God has for women. It is a “free” world where people are told to express themselves and not hold back. No self-control, which is why we have scantily-clad girls walking around. They can dress how they want to, “it’s their body”, and are encouraged in it.

I’m not sure what the deciding factor was for me or why my opinion of the matter changed so drastically, but it did. God took my heart, added the Living Water so it softened, and then He molded me.

As I’ve learned sometimes we really really really have to lay down our ideals and our opinions of things like this and listen to… Him, who is the Holy one. I used to fight my Mother about being feminine because I was fine just the way I was. When I put myself in her position I found that she wasn’t trying to mold me to be just like “so-and-so”. She was just trying to follow the Word, protect me from wandering eyes, and keep me pure.

I still had (have) a lot to learn in this area though. When I decided to be in complete agreement with the feminine idea I took it too seriously. I thought everyone who didn’t dress modestly, stay at home, be the Titus 2 Woman were below me. I had a serious superiority attitude, which I had to let the Lord work on and He did. He showed me that, rather than being judgmental, I need to try to understand (because I was once at that place) that some have not been informed and others have had it misrepresented to them. He has called me to be a light to young ladies and teach them what the Lord has revealed to me.

Here are some verses I found on dressing ourselves. This first one, I think, is telling us that we should not worry so much about our apparel that is becomes an uncomfortable subject. We should just dress modestly so we can worry about clothing our spirits in strength and honour in our Lord so that when the time comes (when He returns) we may rejoice.

Proverbs 31:25

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time to come”.

1 Peter 3: 3

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 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.”

This one in 1 Peter really speaks volumes on what’s important. It goes on about how we shouldn’t worry about the adornments of wearing gold or the styling of the hair, and then at the end it says that the most priced adornments on a woman in the sight of God is a meek and quiet spirit.

1 Timothy 2:9:

“In like manner also, that woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls or costly array.”

I don’t think that Paul was trying to make women look as plain as he could, but he was really trying to tell them that it’s not gold, pearls or costly array that makes a women modest and pure, which is another reason not to spend money on the latest-and-greatest fashion.

I’m striving to become the Woman of God He made me to be. I want to follow the words of the Scripture and encourage others to do the same, even when we’re not comfortable. May God continue to work and mold my heart and yours too.

I also hope you will visit a few of the blogs on the Feelin’ Feminine blogroll and join yourself.

Blessings!

I chose Psalm 54 this week for my Saturday Psalm & Praise because it speaks about being delivered, free, and since the celebration of our nation’s independence has just past, I thought it suited.

There have been so many things that have dragged me down this past week, including some of the comments and reviews I’ve received. I was so low that I even questioned if what I believe is ludicrous. I pray everyday that God would continue to work in my heart and not let these kind of people put doubt in my mind. I know I believe it in my heart, and I have the promise and proof of God’s existence and love for me. I have the leading of the Spirit, and I am looking towards the goal that has been set before me.

I found this chapter in Psalm so appropriate for this week because it speaks about God delivering me when “strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul“. The Bible tells so clearly why they do though…”they have not set God before them“… and that gives me comfort. They are ignorant of God’s awesome power. They may scoff and say in their hearts “there is no God”, but the Bible says people who do are fools (Psalm 14:1), and it will not prevent what will happen in the End Days when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:1012).

Psalm 54 (King James Version)

1Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. 2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

5He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

6I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

7For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

The passage tells of God’s rewards for David’s enemies will be of evil as they had done. He says that God will cut them off in His truth. I praise God that I have that promise that He will take care of my enemies. I have no need to worry, because whatever false statements or situations I’m in, because God will take care of it in His truth. When strangers, those who don’t seek him, and oppressors seek after my soul that God, my Saviour, will rescue me and take care of them in His TRUTH.Verse 6 says that David, after stating how God faithful is, will freely sacrifice unto to Him and praise His name. I’m not sure if David meant he would freely sacrifice offerings or his life, but I hope that I will always be willing to sacrifice my life to Him and praise His name all the time. I’m looking towards that heavenly crown that no un-Believer (or those who call themselves Believers, but do not seek Him truly) will ever understand.

God has delivered me out of ALL trouble and my eyes have seen God’s desire or want after my enemies… He will take care of them (verse 3), whether it is now or not until that trumpet sounds. For now I will freely sacrifice myself for His glory, and always hold onto the promise I have in Him of the Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

Ultimately what this passage says to me is that God will always deliver me when I pray and seek Him (verse 2), Amen.

Please join us this Saturday as we end the week… join us in praising the Lord for the things He’s given, healed us of, and taught us. If you would like to participate in the meme, you will find the guidelines HERE.

Blessings!

It with a sorrowful and heavy heart I write this and bring you this news. I hadn’t update too much about Rachael for the past few days because she was getting better. She had brain function. She was moving. She was responding to her mother’s commands and everyone had hope that she would live, but the end is so much closer than we realize. 12 year-old Rachael’s was far too near and her family, friends, and other like me who didn’t know of Rachael until now, are grieving the loss of her. I hope it some comfort to her family and friends that she is no longer in pain. No longer unable to move as she normally did. She is no longer in this sinful world. She has gone on before us and is in peace.

THURSDAY, JULY 03, 2008 02:19 AM, CDT
Our sweet little girl Rachael Emily Kligmann died at 11:50 pm on July 2, 2008.

She is at home with the Lord and we are not. We don’t know how to go on. But we will find a way. We will somehow find a new way to do everything with a hole in our family, right in the middle.

Rachael died very peacefully and 2 someones tonight are in the middle or receiving lifesaving kidneys. I hope someday to know who they are.

We don’t know when a funeral will be yet.

We just want to finally sleep now that she is finally okay. We will face tomorrow when it comes.

I know her family’s hearts must just be aching right now, knowing they’ll never get to see her again. Never get to see her grow up and become the woman God made her to be. Please pray for them right now. Prayers for her parents, Pete & Corinne. Prayers for her 11 siblings, especially the young ones as they may not understand where she’s gone. Prayers for her older sister, Amanda, who was with her when the accident happened. Prayers for her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Pray for comfort. Pray for peace. Pray that they will all continue to to trust in Him. You’re welcome to go sign Rachael’s guestbook and leave your own words of comfort there.

grieving with you Kligmann family,