Am I a carbon copy or an original?

Am I a carbon copy or an original? This is something every Christian should ask themselves. As a wife and a mother to 3 children I must examine myself very closely in order to be the Godly example I am commanded to be. We should not want to pattern ourselves after the world...why is this so hard when it comes to the big "M" word? Modesty. All you have to do these days is look to the cover (yes you do not even have to open it! Later discussion..) of the latest magazine, TV commercials, internet sites, and so on to see that our great culture is lacking seriously in the department of modesty. We are witnessing moral decay before our very eyes and your children are witnessing it even stronger than you can imagine. My 5 & 8 year old daughters point out things to me everyday, yes they notice things that I have gotten use to seeing! When our culture changes, we should not. But what about fashion? Modesty is never old fashioned because God has set our standard and he NEVER changes. Modesty should be a big deal to us and those little girls that we influence in our lives. When we read a mystery, does the author reveal all of the surprises in the first chapters? Of course not, you keep reading until the end and it is then that the mystery is revealed and the reader is satisfied. Modesty should be viewed in the same manner. Why do we want everyone to know all about our bodies? Should we not be saving that very important virtue for our mate? Is he or she entitled to know all of your story or is the world entitled to see it. Why do I still care about this old fashioned way of thinking when it is not popular anymore? Because it matters to the Lord. Proverbs 11:22 compares a gold ring in a pigs snout to an beautiful woman who lacks discretion. We must be careful. We must be aware of how we present ourselves. I am of the opinion that a woman gains self confidence when she looks good on the outside but we should not make that a priority over modesty. We should take care of ourselves and for our husbands sakes as well, no woman likes to feel frumpy everyday. If you want to be modest, can you still be stylish if you choose to? Of course, it just takes more effort on your part. Examine that outfit you have on before you walk out of your door everyday. We as parents ought to be doing this to our children as well. I was sent back to my room if my pajamas were too revealing as a child. In Proverbs 31:25 the verse says that she had strength and honor as her clothing. She wore fine linen and of purple, and I am sure it was beautiful and well chosen. In a society that says "If you've got it, flaunt it." the only thing we should flaunt is the image of Christ? Something that is truly beautiful? I want to please the Lord, make my husband proud, and have those children who want to be like me or marry someone that is like me because of the Godly life I have chosen to live. Your image is important and what we choose to look like and participate in matters. Choose friends and surround yourself with people who cherish these "old fashioned" principles and you will be fashionable in the right manner. We need to teach our children what it means to blush? WE as a culture have lost the ability to blush... nothing surprises us anymore but we should blush and cover our eyes. Dare to care about the moral decay that is going on around us and be brave. Have the conviction to stand for what the Lord teaches and measure each action by His standards. Is this clothing modest? Is this bathing suit modest or just acceptable because we put ourselves into an environment where we blend in? Situational ethics does not make it right. Are you living as the world- carbon copy or are you choosing to be an original and follow after the Lord?

Col 3:1-2 - 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Phill. 4:8 - 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Hugs,

Crystal

Home

Home. What a beautiful word. A word that should make you take a deep breath and feel a sense of security, relief, love, happiness, but most of all blessed. I looked up the word and here is the definition:

Definition: domestic

Parts of Speech: Adjective

Synonyms: at ease, at rest, central, down home, familiar, family, homely, homey, household, in one's element, in the bosom, inland, internal, local, national, and native

Notes: A house is the building or structure in which one lives: home is the place one lives with pleasant connotations, or family ties included.

I find happiness knowing that this is not my eternal home but my temporary home. It is comforting to know that I am promised something even better than I could ever possibly have here. That gives me hope! So while we are at our temporary homes (every time I say that, I think about being a little girl singing to the top of my lungs my favorite song in the song book at church: then was page 350, Mansions Over the Hilltop) here on this earth we should strive to make the most of them. It is my responsibility as a Christian woman to provide this environment to my family (Tit 2:4,). I love the verse in Psalms 27:4-5. "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling, he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." With this is mind, I know I can build my home and you can too.

I am a homemaker, a.k.a nowadays as the "stay-at-home mom". I love the word homemaker though, it has so much more meaning.. passion to me. Sometimes when I use the stay at home term I feel as though people drift off into the weeds and dream about me "staying" on the couch all day. No way!! I rarely sit down and if I do it is working like a milk cow, nursing my baby. :) Anyway, when I read the definition of Home I realized that I could do some improving of my own. If our home as a unit is destroyed in this country we will hurt so badly, I am afraid. It is where it ALL begins. I love researching days gone by and taking some of what they use to do "way back when" and applying it to my home. Some simple values such as eating supper as a family and really taking the time to sit and visit with one another is a great place to start! Have family movie nights, read books together, do a bedtime routine, bake together, and laugh and love a lot. I want my family to strive even more to have less TV/ computer time and more quality time doing things together. Keeping the home is difficult at times as it comes with some major responsibilities but it is most rewarding. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas that I use down at my home to help encourage each of you and how you build your home. Together we can build our homes or strive to make them better.

Hugs,

Crystal