Modesty of heart

"No heathen god or goddess has ever had more zealous devotees than fashion, or more absurd and humiliating rituals, or more mortifying and cruel penances. Her laws, like those of the Medes and Persians, must be implicitly obeyed. But, unlike them, they change as certainly as the moon. They are rarely founded in reason, usually violate common sense and decency and uniformly common comfort" (from The Royal Path of Life).

Modesty, on the other hand, is unfading and timeless. Although it may not be the latest "style", it is feminine and attractive. True beauty does not start with external appearance, however; it begins in the heart. A life that is wholely submitted to Christ will radiate beauty. In this way, modesty works from the inside out.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful" (I Peter 3:3-5).

A great gift

"'God gave this gift to you on the day you were born,' said the queen, 'because He loves you so dearly.' 'And now,' continued the king, 'this kiss is yours to keep... or to give away, as you see fit. But use wisdom, my daughter,' warned the king, 'and save your kiss for the man you will marry. Never part with it for the sake of a stranger'" (excerpted from The Princess and the Kiss, by Jennie Bishop).

Shout for joy

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Praise the LORD with the harp;

make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

Sing to him a new song;

Play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Psalm 33:1-3

Come to Jesus

I would like to share the words to a compelling song by Chris Rice.

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live

prayer request

I would like to ask for prayer for some friends of mine. It is for a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Michel, who are involved in the home school co-op I attend. Last Friday, Mrs. Michel had a CAT scan that showed a large mass in her uterus. Tomorrow at 10:30, she will be having a biopsy to see if the mass is malignant. Spiritually, she is doing very well, because the Lord is her refuge and help in time of trouble. She is having some physical discomfort, however, and the doctor has her on medicine for pain. Will you join me in praying that, if it is the Lord's will, the tumor will not be cancerous and the doctor will be able to operate on it? Please also pray that the Lord will be their provider, and that the Prince of Peace will comfort their hearts. Thank you so much.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! It is with mixed emotions that I start this new venture: eagerness at the opportunity to share the Lord's work in my life with my friends, but also fear and apprehension, because I am brand new to the world of blogging. :) I am sure I'll learn quickly, though, since my sister Bryant is an accomplished blogger who willingly assists me. I look forward to keeping in touch with friends, and maybe I will make new acquaintances via the blogosphere.

As you will soon discover, I enjoy collecting inspirational quotes, and I would love to share some of these on my blog. I also plan to post insights and encouragements that the Lord reveals to me through His Word.

Here is recent insight I gained:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (II Corinthians 1:3-4). This passage is meaningful to me because it promises that God will comfort other people through me, if I am willing to be used by Him. I do struggle, however, with knowing exactly what to say to encourage someone. Different circumstances call for different responses, and I can't always know on my own what will be the most edifying. Just the other day, I found this verse that contains the answer to my dilemma. "The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary." I was so grateful to the Lord for showing me this bit of wisdom. The words that I should say will come through the Holy Spirit! I must just be faithful to minister to those whom God has laid on my heart, and God will do the rest.