As you can see from this post, I am passionate about modest clothing. It is not that the world doesn't make modest clothing at all. I love Christopher & Banks. There are some really cute things at most stores. However, there are MANY other stores that are just not appropriate and never will be in ANY situation.
This fact does NOT mean that you must dress in burlap and never look stylin'. There are so many creative alternatives to shopping at the mall. You can hit the thrift stores and make over the things you find there. Like taking a pair of jeans and making them into a skirt.
There are several pattern companies on my link lists to the right that have beautiful patterns. I love to sew and have made several dresses from all the companies except Common Sense Patterns. Take a gander at the sites. They are just lovely. If you do not sew and are interested in having one made, let me know.
God said in 1Peter 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:. To me, this means that people should know you belong to HIM by the way you look and carry yourself.
I don't know about you but I feel different in a dress or a skirt. I haven't worn pants (aside from jammies!) for quite some time. But I have witnessed how people treat me in both types of attire. It is amazing what people think about you by how you package yourself. (See post referenced above.)
Do this experiment yourself. Wear a dress or skirt and go about your business and see if you feel different. See if people treat you differently. Please post your findings! I'm dying to know if it's just me!
Showing posts with label my articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label my articles. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Power In Unity
There is power in unity. When that power is manifested in supplication and intercession that power is magnified.
The church has had a ladies prayer group praying weekly for the past two years. We have seen prayer answered, lived spared and loved ones saved. We have seen miracles and been physically touched by His presence. If testimony was called the group could present any number of praises to the Lord.
Recently it was laid on hearts to unite ladies from the church who didn’t attend our regular meetings. It was the boldness of the Holy Ghost that called this meeting. He was directions us to unite and continue together in His name.
As we met and shared praises, needs and testimonies, Jesus came to sit among us. Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” When Jesus attends a prayer meeting where all are in agreement, He is able to break our will, cast off chains and heal even the deepest chasm of separation.
This united meeting is His will for the church. When those in agreement come boldly before the throne seeking His face and divine direction, He is able to move in this world. It is in unity and agreement His power is made visible to those who are being called.
Acts 1:8 says that “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you . . . “ Imagine harnessing that promised power and linking it with the Holy Ghost power in others. This united, focused power will be as in Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
That city is the beacon for those searching and fallen. It is not just a little light squelched by a bushel basket but an ever present help. A power-filled light that will not go out as long as the circuit of unity is unbroken.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
The church has had a ladies prayer group praying weekly for the past two years. We have seen prayer answered, lived spared and loved ones saved. We have seen miracles and been physically touched by His presence. If testimony was called the group could present any number of praises to the Lord.
Recently it was laid on hearts to unite ladies from the church who didn’t attend our regular meetings. It was the boldness of the Holy Ghost that called this meeting. He was directions us to unite and continue together in His name.
As we met and shared praises, needs and testimonies, Jesus came to sit among us. Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” When Jesus attends a prayer meeting where all are in agreement, He is able to break our will, cast off chains and heal even the deepest chasm of separation.
This united meeting is His will for the church. When those in agreement come boldly before the throne seeking His face and divine direction, He is able to move in this world. It is in unity and agreement His power is made visible to those who are being called.
Acts 1:8 says that “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you . . . “ Imagine harnessing that promised power and linking it with the Holy Ghost power in others. This united, focused power will be as in Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
That city is the beacon for those searching and fallen. It is not just a little light squelched by a bushel basket but an ever present help. A power-filled light that will not go out as long as the circuit of unity is unbroken.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Desperation and Forgiveness
Do you remember your first desperate plea? Do you remember His answer? Do you remember how you felt?
Have you been complacent in your walk with Him? Have you been able to recreate that atmosphere of desperation?
Maybe you have taken your eye off the mark only to find yourself without Him. My personal experience was one of “weariness in well doing”. Not looking to God for my answers, I stopped in my weariness for a “rest”. Jesus continued on without me. I indirectly chose not to follow Him.
It is not that the Lord chose not the search for the “lost” but that He knew the end from the beginning. He waited until I was desperate enough (again) before He reinitiated His pursuit. Just as Satan knows how to respond to my reactions, how much more the Father knew when to re-engage me. However the problem isn’t Him forsaking me because His Word says He won’t but me forsaking Him. Rekindling the urgency and desperation of that initial encounter with Jesus is an absolute necessity. The steps are outlined clearly for all in the Bible; Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness, Infilling of the Holy Ghost and Following His Word.
God created a place of initial cleansing from sin in His Word in Acts 2:38 for nonbelievers; Repent, and be baptized . . . for the remission of sins. . . Also place of continued safety is offered to all cleansed believers in 1John 1:9; If we confess . . . he is faithful . . . to forgive . . and to cleanse . . . As believers, we need to remember that our baptism washed away all sins prior to that day and that sins committed since need to be confessed.
Repentance and accepting God’s forgiveness isn’t usually the problem. Jesus said that He would forgive but we must learn also to accept that forgiveness as our own. We cannot be like the man in Luke 11:24-26; When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man . . .return into my house. . . findeth it swept an garnished . . . taketh him seven other demons more wicked than himself . . . last state of that man worse than the first. and reclaim our previous life. We must remember Romans 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism . . . as Christ was raised up . . . we should also walk in the newness of life.
Upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:9 notes that But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: Power to continue our walk in the newness of life with Jesus. Reading the Word, learning to wield His power and applying it literally to our lives will help keep our eyes on the mark. The Holy Ghost is our divine connection to Him and the power to maintain our walk.
We must remember the source of our desperation and how His forgiveness covered it. We must learn to forgive past hurts and remember Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:12 . . . forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. even if that debtor is us. This is the place we must hold in balance so that we don’t take our eyes from His mark and find ourselves without God.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
Have you been complacent in your walk with Him? Have you been able to recreate that atmosphere of desperation?
Maybe you have taken your eye off the mark only to find yourself without Him. My personal experience was one of “weariness in well doing”. Not looking to God for my answers, I stopped in my weariness for a “rest”. Jesus continued on without me. I indirectly chose not to follow Him.
It is not that the Lord chose not the search for the “lost” but that He knew the end from the beginning. He waited until I was desperate enough (again) before He reinitiated His pursuit. Just as Satan knows how to respond to my reactions, how much more the Father knew when to re-engage me. However the problem isn’t Him forsaking me because His Word says He won’t but me forsaking Him. Rekindling the urgency and desperation of that initial encounter with Jesus is an absolute necessity. The steps are outlined clearly for all in the Bible; Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness, Infilling of the Holy Ghost and Following His Word.
God created a place of initial cleansing from sin in His Word in Acts 2:38 for nonbelievers; Repent, and be baptized . . . for the remission of sins. . . Also place of continued safety is offered to all cleansed believers in 1John 1:9; If we confess . . . he is faithful . . . to forgive . . and to cleanse . . . As believers, we need to remember that our baptism washed away all sins prior to that day and that sins committed since need to be confessed.
Repentance and accepting God’s forgiveness isn’t usually the problem. Jesus said that He would forgive but we must learn also to accept that forgiveness as our own. We cannot be like the man in Luke 11:24-26; When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man . . .return into my house. . . findeth it swept an garnished . . . taketh him seven other demons more wicked than himself . . . last state of that man worse than the first. and reclaim our previous life. We must remember Romans 6:4; Therefore we are buried with him by baptism . . . as Christ was raised up . . . we should also walk in the newness of life.
Upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, Acts 1:9 notes that But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: Power to continue our walk in the newness of life with Jesus. Reading the Word, learning to wield His power and applying it literally to our lives will help keep our eyes on the mark. The Holy Ghost is our divine connection to Him and the power to maintain our walk.
We must remember the source of our desperation and how His forgiveness covered it. We must learn to forgive past hurts and remember Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:12 . . . forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. even if that debtor is us. This is the place we must hold in balance so that we don’t take our eyes from His mark and find ourselves without God.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Mirror, Mirror . . .
Ask most people what God is like and they might say warm, inviting, loving and forgiving. Some might say vengeful and controlling. What is God really like?
Ask most people what born-again Christians are like and they might say exclusionary, self-righteous, “perfect” and uppity. Others might say kind and courteous. What are we supposed to be like?
Both of theses kinds of observations are based on the type of experience the individuals you asked have had with God and His ambassadors on Earth. In order to get a more accurate observation and answer the questions, we need to go to His Word given to men that were with the Master on Earth.
In chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we are shown the great Creator building His perfect masterpiece. God created the heaven and the earth and all that fills both realms. God said that is all was good. He created man to have complete dominion over all (Gen 1:26). He also required obedience to His instructions from the very beginning (Gen 2:16-17).
He also said that man was good. However, we are the only creature in heaven and earth that were given a choice. He entrusted us with the rest of His creation.
After entrusting us with His creation, humankind chose to be disobedient (Gen. 3:6). We opened mistrust and shame and allowed sin to enter. As we continue to read, we see the immediate consequences for that choice; mistrust, accusation, enmity between loved ones, pain, sorrow, hardship and death (Gen 3:9-19).
Poor choices and problems continue to plague mankind (Gen 6:5). So much so that God, shows grace and mercy to Noah’s family (Gen 6:8) by telling them that the firmament will be flooded and they have been chosen to continue on with the animals. Noah’s obedience to God’s instructions spared human and animal kind from certain destruction (Gen 6:22).
Continue reading in the Old Testament and you will see the same pattern. Mercy, grace and provision for obedience; Wrath and destruction for disobedience.
The greatest demonstration of love for his wayward creation was made in the New Testament. God robed himself in flesh (temptation) (Mt 1:18-25), lived a sinless, obedient life through Jesus and died so that we might all be reconciled to the perfection of the beginning.
Are God’s character and His actions more evident after this review? He is, indeed, all those things in the observations made in the beginning of this article. What did we learn about mankind in this review? Humans have choices. We can make good ones or bad ones. These choices reflect our hearts and create circumstances (consequences).
God said that his creation was good. He Word also says that we were created in His own image (Gen 1:27). Because of these truths, all mankind is redeemable. Each can choose the path of obedience and blessing or of disobedience and cursing.
Check the mirror. Are you reflecting His image? Or do you see something else?
If you are grieved, chances are He is too. Redemption and condemnation are choices. Only you can make that choice.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
Ask most people what born-again Christians are like and they might say exclusionary, self-righteous, “perfect” and uppity. Others might say kind and courteous. What are we supposed to be like?
Both of theses kinds of observations are based on the type of experience the individuals you asked have had with God and His ambassadors on Earth. In order to get a more accurate observation and answer the questions, we need to go to His Word given to men that were with the Master on Earth.
In chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, we are shown the great Creator building His perfect masterpiece. God created the heaven and the earth and all that fills both realms. God said that is all was good. He created man to have complete dominion over all (Gen 1:26). He also required obedience to His instructions from the very beginning (Gen 2:16-17).
He also said that man was good. However, we are the only creature in heaven and earth that were given a choice. He entrusted us with the rest of His creation.
After entrusting us with His creation, humankind chose to be disobedient (Gen. 3:6). We opened mistrust and shame and allowed sin to enter. As we continue to read, we see the immediate consequences for that choice; mistrust, accusation, enmity between loved ones, pain, sorrow, hardship and death (Gen 3:9-19).
Poor choices and problems continue to plague mankind (Gen 6:5). So much so that God, shows grace and mercy to Noah’s family (Gen 6:8) by telling them that the firmament will be flooded and they have been chosen to continue on with the animals. Noah’s obedience to God’s instructions spared human and animal kind from certain destruction (Gen 6:22).
Continue reading in the Old Testament and you will see the same pattern. Mercy, grace and provision for obedience; Wrath and destruction for disobedience.
The greatest demonstration of love for his wayward creation was made in the New Testament. God robed himself in flesh (temptation) (Mt 1:18-25), lived a sinless, obedient life through Jesus and died so that we might all be reconciled to the perfection of the beginning.
Are God’s character and His actions more evident after this review? He is, indeed, all those things in the observations made in the beginning of this article. What did we learn about mankind in this review? Humans have choices. We can make good ones or bad ones. These choices reflect our hearts and create circumstances (consequences).
God said that his creation was good. He Word also says that we were created in His own image (Gen 1:27). Because of these truths, all mankind is redeemable. Each can choose the path of obedience and blessing or of disobedience and cursing.
Check the mirror. Are you reflecting His image? Or do you see something else?
If you are grieved, chances are He is too. Redemption and condemnation are choices. Only you can make that choice.
Ellen Conn Taylor
2006
Friday, December 21, 2007
Indentured Servitude
Like the indentured servants of old, you and I are bound to Christ. He purchased our salvation and place in Heaven with His blood. Offering our bodies to as a living sacrifice is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Doing His bidding is our reasonable service.
Has He asked you to do something that is unpleasant or humbling? Just remember that He walked and talked with those that no one else would walk and talk with. He cleansed the unclean.
Has He asked you to do something outside your comfort zone? Just remember the Garden of Gethsemene.
Jesus is our perfect example. We are to aspire to be like Him.
He talked with the Father daily. There was a deep connection there.
He understood what was required. He asked for clarification and confirmation.
He was obedient. He did the things He did out of love.
That last one is the kicker. Indentured servants of old were not required to love. Just complete the time period that was agreed upon.
As servants of Christ, we are still indentured but God added another component. Love. It is not optional but part of our reasonable service.
Indentured servitude is a choice, an agreement to the terms. We must serve on HIS terms. We must choose.
Doing His bidding is our reasonable service.
Has He asked you to do something that is unpleasant or humbling? Just remember that He walked and talked with those that no one else would walk and talk with. He cleansed the unclean.
Has He asked you to do something outside your comfort zone? Just remember the Garden of Gethsemene.
Jesus is our perfect example. We are to aspire to be like Him.
He talked with the Father daily. There was a deep connection there.
He understood what was required. He asked for clarification and confirmation.
He was obedient. He did the things He did out of love.
That last one is the kicker. Indentured servants of old were not required to love. Just complete the time period that was agreed upon.
As servants of Christ, we are still indentured but God added another component. Love. It is not optional but part of our reasonable service.
Indentured servitude is a choice, an agreement to the terms. We must serve on HIS terms. We must choose.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Legacy is important.
I am so glad that we are promised eternal life in a place prepared specifically for us. As Christians, we are promised a life without pain, tears and sorrow in the presence of Jesus and those that have gone before us.
My grandmother met her perfect heavenly match at 3:49AM Tuesday,November 13, 2007.
We were planning a family celebration for Thanksgiving this year. She had the cranberries in the refrigerator and the pies in the freezer (with Cool Whip!). She was prepared.
No one in the family was really as prepared as Grandma was for what actually transpired.
I saw some of the saddest moments in my family's life in the last two weeks. My mom and her sister in grief and in service to their mother. My grandfather with his heart broken and in denial. 67 years is a long time. A life time. My grandmother using all her energy just to breathe.
During her funeral, my siblings and some of my cousins shared some memories, read her scripture choices and sang a song written in her honor. We shared some of the memories we remembered for her 90th birthday, Prell shampoo in the kitchen sink, baths on the back porch in the wash tub, toast fingers and coffee, black hair dye and many more.
I read a sign on a church recently that said "Live your life so that people won't have to lie at your funeral". Legacy is important.
The hospital chaplain made an astute observation. She said that you can feel love in the atmosphere and see it in a room. She also said you can tell when there is no love. Her job placed her in a unique position to observe this. Legacy is apparent.
Is your legacy one of love or one without love?
My grandmother met her perfect heavenly match at 3:49AM Tuesday,November 13, 2007.
We were planning a family celebration for Thanksgiving this year. She had the cranberries in the refrigerator and the pies in the freezer (with Cool Whip!). She was prepared.
No one in the family was really as prepared as Grandma was for what actually transpired.
I saw some of the saddest moments in my family's life in the last two weeks. My mom and her sister in grief and in service to their mother. My grandfather with his heart broken and in denial. 67 years is a long time. A life time. My grandmother using all her energy just to breathe.
During her funeral, my siblings and some of my cousins shared some memories, read her scripture choices and sang a song written in her honor. We shared some of the memories we remembered for her 90th birthday, Prell shampoo in the kitchen sink, baths on the back porch in the wash tub, toast fingers and coffee, black hair dye and many more.
I read a sign on a church recently that said "Live your life so that people won't have to lie at your funeral". Legacy is important.
The hospital chaplain made an astute observation. She said that you can feel love in the atmosphere and see it in a room. She also said you can tell when there is no love. Her job placed her in a unique position to observe this. Legacy is apparent.
Is your legacy one of love or one without love?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)