If you think about the thing that troubles you most, you may discover that you have a little pet. And every pet comes with its counterpart, the pet peeve.
For example, let’s say your little pet is quiet. So, it only follows that your pet peeve will be noise. Or if your little pet is a tidy house, then your pet peeve will be messes, spills, and dirt. If sunshine is your pet, then your pet peeve will be rain, hail, sleet, snow, and fog.
If you realize that you have a little pet, and you see that God is pointing out to you that He wants you to let that little pet go, and you do, then you will find that it is much easier to deal with all life’s little provocations.
You can still prefer peace and quiet or a tidy, clean house or sunny days. No problem with that. But if it is only a preference, and not a pet, then you won’t get bent out of shape when it’s raining and your kids invite the neighborhood over for ice cream sundaes, and they all come in wearing muddy boots and make a big mess in the kitchen.
But these little pets are hard to get rid of. Letting go is the hard part, especially if it is a long-time pet. And especially if you’re willing to continue to be mastered by your pet peeves. But to really come out from under the peevishness, you’ve got to deal with the pet. It’s got to go.
So I must be hard up for a blog post or I would not dream of wading into the heavy waters of the topic of modesty. But I’ve got my hip waders on, so here I go. I’m not going to be discussing what immodesty looks like because, let’s face it, everyone already knows that immodesty is wearing something that is too short, too tight, too low, or just too revealing. My topic here is what the other Christian women should do when a Christian sister is dressed immodestly.
Unfortunately, there will always be some Christian women who are dressing immodestly, even at church. Why do they do it, we all ask. I suggest that there are three motivations behind immodesty. The first is ignorance. They just don’t know. Most of the time, I don’t buy that one, but just to cover all the bases, it is possible that the girl with the knock-out figure doesn’t know what she is doing wearing that clingy thing. So let’s just include that one to be fair.
The second motivation is insecurity and the neediness that grows from such insecurity. This woman dresses immodestly because she is hungry for attention, and she knows the quickest way to get it. When she dresses this way, lots and lots of people look at her, particularly idiot boys. Continue reading ‘Modesty Issues’
My Oxford granddaughters have sewn me a blouse from Amoretti scrap fabric, and I must send you here so you can admire it (just in case you have not seen it over on the Fortnightly Purse blog already). Is this darling or what? Be sure to examine the details, like the strip of red fabric decorating the sleeves. I think I’m seeing a future clothing line for grandmothers. And what could be more obvious? If their mother designs clothing for girls, then it’s only natural that they should get started on the Nana clothes. By the time Bekah is a grandma herself, her girls will have a whole line available, and guess who will model? Are you seeing what I’m seeing? I can’t wait!
Howdy! I’m literally running past my computer and typing with my left elbow as I pack bins for our move with my other hand, list items on ebay with my foot, and scrub down the walls and clean spots out of the carpet with my other foot. You should see it. Breathtaking. It might also explain why I don’t seem to be making much progress in any of those areas . . .
Anyway, I’m merely stopping in to tell everyone to zoom over to the Fortnightly Purse. I’ve changed things around a bit, and so the giveaway is on another page (a whole extra click you have to go through) . . . however, it’s worth the trip because this time the giveaway is one of the new, not yet released, Amoretti Summer dresses! So head on over to enter!
Also, make sure to notice that we’re now also selling scrap bags of the fabric used in the production – which is loads of fun. So trot along and see it – and meanwhile I will continue my absurd maneuvers here attempting to get ready to move this family across the ocean again! (6th time in 3 years. Not for sissies I’ll tell you that much!)
Once we have identified discontent in our lives, how do we make our way to contentment? Paul had to learn contentment, as he tells us in his letter to the Philippians: “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” And if the apostle had to learn this lesson, no doubt we will need to learn it as well, one assignment at a time with an occasional quiz or comprehensive test. So here are some more gleanings from those old preachers, Watson and Burroughs.
Contentment is not natural, but an inward work of grace in our hearts. We do not need any lessons in discontent. That is easy enough and the flesh runs that direction well enough on its own. But how do we learn contentment? By bridling our thoughts and emotions. That means putting a bit in the teeth of our thoughts, and steering them in the right direction. By mortifying (putting to death) our desires, and keeping our hearts from being set too much on the creature. These are hard lessons indeed. And if we think it’s as easy as snapping our fingers, we don’t yet understand contentment. Continue reading ‘What is the way to contentment?’
What is discontent? A dissatisfaction with your circumstances, a restless desire for something more or something different. It takes the heart off God and fixes it on the trouble, discomposing the soul so that it cannot go forward steadily or cheerfully.
Here’s a little summary of what Watson and Burroughs would say about the evils of discontent.
1. It’s sinful, sordid, troublesome, wearying, and unworthy of a Christian.
2. It has evil companions like melancholy, sullenness, ingratitude, envy, jealousy, and covetousness.
3. It is folly. It takes away your comfort, making the body sick and weak.
4. It makes your crosses heavier and your grief unbearable.
5. It spins out your troubles longer.
6. It spreads to others like an infection.
7. It breeds quarrels.
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