Modesty

Question for you.....what is modesty to YOU? Leave a comment below and let me know :)

Interview with Chandra

Since I joined the blogosphere, the one blog that has always been a favorite is the More Modern Modesty blog by Chandra. I absolutely LOVE her blog! She's modest, and has a unique sense of style. She also loves shoes, which makes her a soul sister. Oh, and a big plus, she loves a BARGAIN! So I decided that since this blog is for all of us Pentecostal girls and us girls that are trying to be modest, I would interview her. Enjoy! and stop on over to her blog.

Why did you decide to start a blog on modesty?

I initially just wanted to start a fashion blog. I then realized that I could be a "little different" if I called it a "modest fashion blog". I've been blogging since 2003 about various topics (mainly my personal life, my social work career, and then about life as a teacher), but never about fashion or clothes. I liked reading blogs but realized that I never really "identified" with the bloggers. When they discussed makeup, jewelry, or trends involving revealing attire I realized that I had could gain no inspiration from these types of blogs. I never longed to be like these bloggers, nor did I long to change my outward appearance to fit in with mainstream trends. Instead, I figured the better thing to do would be to start a blog featuring clothes that I did wear. The blogosphere is huge and I just knew that somewhere out in internetland there would be other girls and ladies that identified with me--and I was right!

Why do you choose to dress modestly?
I was born and raised in an Apostolic household and I was taught that skirts were for ladies and pants were for men (among other Biblical and church standards). I went to church every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday and the clothes I wore were modest because my mother bought them and my father approved of them. I went to a public school from kindergarten through 12th grade and every year the same questions were asked, "Why do you wear a skirt? Do you sleep in a skirt? Aren't you hot? Aren't you cold? How can you run like that? Do you take showers in a skirt?" Depending on my mood I would respond with, "Because my pastor tells me to" or "Because I want to" or "No, I'm not hot. Are you hot when you wear your pants?" It wasn't until I was in 7th grade when I got a true revelation about modest attire and why it was the best way for a Christian lady to dress. I can't pinpoint the exact reason as to WHY my mindset changed, but it did. One morning I woke up and decided that I was going to dress modestly because I wanted to and because God wanted me to dress that way.

What has been the biggest struggle for you when it comes to dressing modestly? How did you overcome it?

My height can be an issue at times. I'm five feet eight inches tall and every now and then dresses and skirts will be above the knee. I simply layer (alot)--skirts under dresses, dresses as skirts, skirts as dresses, slip extenders, and letting hems out. Other than that I try not to make dressing modestly too much of a struggle. When you want to dress modestly--you will. Nothing will stop you.

Who instilled the values of modesty in you?

My late pastor, Rev. Paul F. Wilson, my mother, my father, and all of my Sunday school teachers.

Who inspires your style?

I can't pinpoint out one person who inspires me. I basically wear what I like and like what I wear. I like bright colors, pencil skirts, scarves, blazers, and vintage dresses. These days I get inspired by images I see on Pinterest.

What is your favorite "fix-it" item?

The easiest way for me to get dressed is this: take a dress that's too short and tuck it into a skirt. You've got the look of a blouse and it won't rise up and show your back!

Where is your favorite place to shop?

Ohhhh, just one? Impossible! Online: Asos.com, Etsy.com, Nextdirect.com Major Department Store: Nordstrom Thrift Stores: Salvation Army, Goodwill, St. Vincent De Paul, Savers.

If you could send out one word of advice to Pentecostal girls everywhere, what would it be?

Be authentic. Be true to yourself. Don't get caught up in trying to look like, act like, speak like, or be like anyone else. Hold on to your personal convictions.

Why Would I Wanna Do That?

So tonight my family was discussing evolution. I am taking a science course called "Ecology" this year. It's essentially the study of environments and the effects humans have on them. It's an extremely interesting class, and I have learned some things that I've wondered about for years. The one things I've always heard about, but never understood is why people want to save the rain forests. Well we just went over the topic of rain forests this week, and the week before Christmas vacation. Without getting too "nerdy" I'll explain what the big deal is. Rain forests hold 50% of the biomass in the world. That means it holds 50% of all plants and animals in the world live in a rain forest. You would think the soil there would be really fertile right?? WRONG! There is so much life in the rain forest that when a plant dies, it decomposes within days (it's very warm and moist) but it's used up within days. So the soil there has no nutrients. So the big problem with cutting down rain forests is that they cannot grow back. I know that's a lot of back story and I don't know why I told you that.

Anyways. We had to watch this movie for the class about the rain forests. In the beginning of the video it was talking about how it took 400 million years for the rain forests to form and it went through the stages and blah blah blah. The one stage was the primates. And then the narrator was like "and 4,000 years ago, humans began inhabiting the Earth." Obviously, evolutionists believe that humans evolved from primates. That philosophy just grinds my gullet. I can't STAND it! I don't voice my opinion often because it's senseless and only brings about debates, but I just can't TAKE it! When the Bible says that God formed man out of the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into him, I BELIEVE IT!

Dad brought out a very valid point. The people that believe we evolved don't want to admit that there is a Higher Power that did create all things, because they don't want to be held accountable to that Being, God. So it's easier to say, "Well humans evolved from apes and we are the most advanced species" and so on and so forth. Humans want to be the biggest, the baddest, and the toughest so that they don't have to come to the realization that there IS a God who wants to be in control.

I've heard it said SO many times! I don't WANT to be the biggest or the baddest. I like having a God that I can turn to with my problems. I can trust Him with my deepest secrets, I can cry to Him with my biggest fears. When people think that they are the "ruler" of their life, they are taking on all their own problems, and it DOESN'T work. You will always find that someone who wants to be their own ruler ends up breaking down and being too weak. God is big enough that He wrapped Himself in the flesh of a puny little human and took on the problems, sins, fears, and faults of the entire world, and He didn't break down. He conquered Death, Hell, and the Grave, and came back from stronger than ever. It's amazing what a Lord and Savior we have! So anyways.....I got all fired up about it! So all you out there in public school, don't let the teachings of this world twist your mind and make you doubt the all-powerful Lord we have.

Peer pressure

So I made this video about why I chose to go to public school......BUT I ended up deleting it because I don't like some of the things I said....I don't feel like I communicated effectively:-p SO, I'll probably redo it, but for right now I'll just write it out.

I was born and raised Pentecostal. We had a Christian school that I attended from 1st to 9th grade. We closed our school at the end of my 9th grade year because all of the families wanted to try our state's cyber school. So my tenth grade year I was home-schooled. Shortly into that year, my parents decided my brother was going to public school this year. I could choose to continue cyber school or go to public school. For years I have wanted to go to public school for a variety of reasons. The main one being that I feel like I don't do enough. As Christians we are supposed to be lights to the world. It talks about a man that has a candle doesn't hide it under a bushel, but puts it on a candlestick for all that see it to be given light. I feel that I have a light, but that it WAS under a bushel. I wasn't intentionally hiding my light, I just didn't have a candlestick to put it on, so to speak. So I chose to go to public school.

There is no doubt in my mind that it was God's will for me to be in public school. I am the only Pentecostal in a school of 700-800. It almost haunted me for years that there was no one spreading truth in my school. A lot of people "warned" me about public school. They would tell me about the peer pressure and that it's hard to be different and that people will talk about me. I wasn't trying to be a jerk, but my attitude was "I don't care!" I made up my mind back in July when I really felt the burden that I was going to be the peer pressure. I heard a preacher preach back in July about unleashing the young people into the world. He kept talking about how we need to be preaching to our young people to where we don't have to worry about what they're doing. That we're not protecting them from the world, but unleashing them to be the CHANGE in their world. He was talking to the young people, mostly. He kept repeating himself that we need to get a hold of this message and that we need to be the ones affecting people. That WE ARE THE PEER PRESSURE.

So that's what I determined in my heart. In my school, I am the one affecting people, not the other way around. I encourage all of you girls, AND GUYS, out there that are in the public school system, YOU be the peer pressure. Live a life above reproof. Don't lower yourself to the standards of the world. When people talk about you, don't let it be a negative thing. The best thing anyone has ever "insulted" me with is that I'm a Jesus-freak.....see? Best insult ever! I love it that people know I'm CRAZY about my Savior! Wouldn't you be crazy about someone who loved you unconditionally, ALWAYS listens to you when you cry, and doesn't complain about it, meets your every need, will take care of you without question, AND COVERS ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER DONE WRONG WITH HIS BLOOD???

Go on ya'll! Go full-throttle, don't let the enemy discourage you. People ARE watching, and they DO notice that you're different :)

What is this all about?

I really feel like the Lord has laid a burden on my heart to "carry on the baton of truth" so to speak. I feel such a heavy burden that I can't even put it into words. This blog is aimed towards all of us Apostolic/Pentecostals. I want to be an encouragement to you all, and hopefully give you some food for thought. I know that for me, even if I don't personally know someone, seeing other blogs and other Pentecostals online is an encouragement to me. Hopefully guys will find this blog enjoyable, too, but I will probably aim a lot of what I write towards girls, since that's what I'm most knowledgeable about ;-) So enjoy, and PLEASE, share your thoughts and ideas and opinions about stuff!

I understand what Proverbs 27:17 is saying in the KJV, but I like the way the CEV says it best. "Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other."

I hope we can all sharpen each other!