Naked, and Not Ashamed

Modesty?
Who defines it?
After many conversations, and many observations, it appears to me that different people have different ideas.

As a teenager, I was definitely not modest.
My intention was to capture "guys" attention.

As a woman, I still desire to be attractive for my husband,
but I realize over the years that I have used that as an excuse.

Looking back, it seems to be a sneaky deception of satan.
He gently whispers,
"It's okay to dress sexy and look hot, as long as it IS for your husband".
I might capture him, but who else have I captured?

BUT, what is the purpose of covering ourselves?
Of everything that I have heard, I LOVE Piper's explanation:

"Then God Clothed Them...................

So what does it mean that God clothed them with animal skins? Was he confirming their hypocrisy? Was he aiding and abetting their pretense? If they were naked and shame-free before the Fall, and if they put on clothes to minimize their shame after the Fall, then what is God doing by clothing them even better than they can clothe themselves? I think the answer is that he is doing something with a negative message and something with a positive message.


Negatively, he is saying, You are not what you were and you are not what you ought to be. The chasm between what you are and what you ought to be is huge.


Covering yourself with clothing is a right response to this—not to conceal it, but to confess it. Henceforth, you shall wear clothing, not to conceal that you are not what you should be, but to confess that you are not what you should be. One practical implication of this is that public nudity today is not a return to innocence but rebellion against moral reality. God ordains clothes to witness to the glory we have lost, and it is added rebellion to throw them off.



And for those who rebel in the other direction and make clothes themselves a means of power and prestige and attention getting, God’s answer is not a return to nudity but a return to simplicity (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:4-5). Clothes are not meant to make people think about what is under them. Clothes are meant to direct attention to what is not under them: Arms and hands that serve others in the name of Christ, “beautiful” feet that carry the gospel to where it is needed, and the brightness of a face that has beheld the glory of Jesus."

 
You can read the whole message  Here.
This text was taken from "Staying Married is not about staying in love" Part 2

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Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another.......

James 5:16 says to "confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed"

Recently I have been struggling with having a "letting it go" and "covering it with love"
attitude towards a few people.
It has been an ongoing issue, but recently I have just about had enough.
Mentally planning on ways of attack......I know some of you women know what I mean.  :)
I would much rather rip them to pieces, than show them love.

But there is a conflict within that wages WAR.
I love God and I know when He commands something like.........

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"
(Matthew 5:43-46)

.........that it is for my good,
and since I have received undeserving Grace,
it should be a JOY to give it.

So why is this such a struggle?????
Because we are all born sinners.
And if you are a follower of Christ, your flesh is at war with the Spirit.
I so badly want to defend myself, or just ask them "what issue is it that you have with me?".
Or is it a personality difference?

But, should that even matter!?
I am commanded to love.
I am commanded to forgive.
And as we read in chapter 21 of John, when Peter says, ""Lord, and what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!",
......it is about us,
......not about the person next to us.

Earlier today, I asked a friend to pray for me, that I was struggling with letting it go, and to pray that I would take my focus OFF of issues that I am having with a few people right now...........and focus on my relationship with God........it has been such a distraction to my walk with the Lord.......every time I get frustrated....I can hear God say , "focus on me, not them!".

Her response was EXACTLY what I needed to hear, and I am sharing it here, because I know I am not alone in this battle, (wondering if this is more of a woman's battle, Cleyo seems to let go very quickly, in which I am very thankful for!).



Here is her response:
"I just read something in Phil. 1 today that encouraged me in this area: Paul talks about some who try to take advantage of the fact that he's locked away in prison, to spread the gospel and promote themselves over him. BUT he says that even so, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached, "and because of this I will rejoice. Yes and I will continue to rejoice." He's more concerned with the spread of the gospel, than with the way people are treating him. I hope someday I am able to say the same!

You can't do anything about the way others speak about or act toward you, but can only call out to God for grace to love them in spite of the way they treat you. John 13:35 says, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." It's the mark of a true Christian. There is no way I can ever love people who make me angry, EXCEPT by God's grace!"

I am so THANKFUL for this sister in Christ, she has been such a BLESSING to me.

So......confess your sins to one another,
so that they can pray for you, encourage and hold you accountable.
So that you will be healed from your sin.