Dress code.

Who do you want to be associated with?

My in-laws and I are often asked if we are Amish or Mennonite. I really can’t speak for my in-laws as to how they answer but as for me, depending on who the person is, whether they be a total stranger or a fellow Christian is how I explain it. I first say I am a Christian. I may go on to mention 1st Corinthians 11, Brethren in Christ, conservative clothing et cetera. Now I’ve been told really strange things like “You look like a pirate.” and “Is that a yarmulke?”  The first I ignored, the latter I raised my eyebrow and stated “No.”

I thought it was common knowledge that Jewish men wear yarmulkes,

but I guess it isn’t so well-known.

When I go to Christian conferences and the like, it is really heart breaking to see how the girls (not to mention guys) are dressing a behaving. Girls in pants that show the shape and size of their butts, (Yes, I did just type that, it’s not like everyone does have one.), scoop neckline, v-neckline, cleavage, heavy jewelry, heavy make-up. This really leaves no imagination as to how that person looks like when they are naked and they are so slathered up, it really makes me wonder what they want to be associated with.

Last year I went to a college retreat/seminar up north with the college ministry I belonged to. One of the girls I was rooming with mentioned that she had a pair of red leather pants but they were “questionable”. Really? I could not believe what I was hearing.  I question and still continue to question this person’s motives in the clothing department and if she knows what she is doing to the men around her.

This isn’t skirts vs. pants, this is more serious. 

Without getting into too much detail men think different from we women. And even though men are responsible for where they lay their eyes, can’t we help them not even come close to that temptation? I mean even just the tiniest bit? We don’t have to wear curtains, all we need to do is cover up, not eventuate or show the undersides of our curves! It is so inconsiderate and selfish to flaunt ourselves with the attitude of “You are responsible for where you put your eyes, don’t you dare look at me, even though I am dressed like a loose woman.” Or will we let our stubborn, attention-seeking will dominate how we cover (more like uncover) our bodies.

You may disregard my post as legalistic, but think about this the next time you get dressed. Who do you want to be associated with?

Very good video!

Uncomfortable and Trendy.

My take on the Duggars:

I really like watching the Duggar Family, when I have the time.  I enjoy watching a family who really loves God and loves each other.

But there is something I have noticed in the way that they dress now.

Call me weird, but it kind of is dissapointing. The girls are wearing ‘tighter’ clothes and going more for what is ‘in’. One of the daughters (I know her name I just won’t mention it) wore a flowy knee length skirt on a windy day. I was surprised. I could see her short leggings.

I understand styles and preferences change. But the longer this family is filmed the more their clothing has changed. I don’t know that family’s situation but it seems to me like they are changing just because they are on television.

I just got finished with looking at a headcovering website. They have discontinued a lot of their “more extensive” coverings and are selling a lot more headbands now. If you ask me, a headband is not a covering. The headbands they are selling, although they are pretty , they do not fall under the “covering” catogory in my book.

Why do I feel this way?

Maybe it is because I struggled with the issue of clothing so much in the past. I was more focused on the trendy and eye-poping then covering myself up.

When I was loosing my weight, I will admit, I looked good, and I knew it, so the “body complimenting” jeans came back. I wore them for those reasons. Not to cover up my body. But to show it off.

Now I know that is not the main goal of a lot of my friends who do in fact wear jeans. But as I stated above I had a secretive goal (or lack thereof) to show my weightloss off to MY glory. I was lying about the nature of God and misrepresenting what a follower of Christ is.

When I began wearing skirts and dresses again, I purchased a very nice jean dress. I wore it to church. I knew my purchase was a mistake when  one of the older ladies complimented me by saying, “Oh, that shows off your figure so well!” Upon cleaning out my closet the dress promptly went back into a bag to be donated to the same place where I got it from. The dress was modest, but not my correct size.

I guess you could call this an ”as for me…” type of issue. If there is anyone out there who is considering that type of lifestyle change, don’t knock it until you try it but, don’t take my word for it. Please don’t. Ask God. He won’t turn you away for asking.

It is what I went through and what I am still going through. I still really enjoy clothing, which I think is good. Although, Christians should not be CONSUMED with fashion, it isn’t wrong to want to look nice.

Cruising through the different modesty sites I love looking at the different colors, patterns, styles.

But how much is really too much?

Month Funf!

NOTE: Okay…someone has been searching for me on Google. Creepy…

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It has been 5 months now since I have been covering.

I feel like I need to say this to my headcovering sisters out there. Do Not Be Ashamed of the Covering. Stick with the conviction, Don’t be ashamed, I thought it would have been to difficult for me but it wasn’t. I guess having mature family and friends has something to do with it. They are more curious than critical.

The more and more I go on the plainer I get. While out shopping I have found dresses and jumpers and let me tell you, they are so much more comfortable than my old jeans!

A headcovering sister on submission.

I really like listening to this sister, she is very down-to-earth and practical and she has a lot of good points.

Daughters of Sarah

Feminine Armor

Before I began my modesty journey I can see where I had certain points of struggle.

I had lost a lot of weight so I could fit into all of these great clothes. Needless to say I was bitten by the vanity bug and really proud of the way my body looked in tighter clothing. Am I saying that people who  don’t dress like me are troublemakers? Of course not. I would never say such a thing.

I had also gotten some “open for interpretation” comments from someone. Once I began dressing in this manner they have stopped. I guess you could say that I have donned a sort of armor.

I have been called “ma’am” more times now then I can ever remember.

Am I saying that women who do not dress in the same manner as I do will have the same problems. No. The last thing I want to do is put up stereotypes. I am just sharing what has happened to me.

New Journey

1 Corinthians 11 (New King James Version)

1 Corinthians 11

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Head Coverings

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her[a] for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

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God has been doing some great works in my heart as I have said lately. These past few weeks have been very eye-opening for me.

I know I cannot look to the left or to the right, I need to follow God.

After doing much research on the subject, I have started covering my head. I looked at 1 Cor. 11, in verse 16 where it says “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” That part just hits me! We are called to be set apart from the world.

In the Jewish culture the men and women covered their heads. Now, men no longer cover their heads while praying they remove their hats, so why have the women taken off the covering as well?

Some say it was a cultural thing. If it was, Paul would have addressed this in his writings. There once was a time when most denominations women wore coverings, it got watered down so much, it went from hats, now to nothing.

Many make assumptions to what was happening in the Cornith church at the time. But here is the thing- it is in God’s Word. It is meant for all Christians not just the Corinthians, otherwise Paul would have addressed this also.

Many say it was because the prostitutes in Corinth shaved their hair and went around without coverings. This however was practiced about 2000 years before Jesus, and Paul was writing this in 1 A.D. It would be like making assumptions on the America’s 2000 years ago based on studies that are from the American Revolution.

Also, if I covered my head and dressed in such a manner, others would know that I am a Christian and not just a regular person if I wore what everyone else was wearing. It would be a testimony of what God has done in my life, and that I know my place.

I know that this decision is mine to make and that I need to be consistant with it. I can’t look to the left or the right to see what others think and do, if they cover or if they don’t. I need to look to God and if His Word says it then I will obey. His ways are not our ways.

I don’t want this to be of my doing but of God’s. Like last year when I was doing skirts only, I was not doing it for God I was doing it for me. I remember asking God and praying about it one night. It is in His Word!

I looked at this website—

http://www.biblicalresearchreports.com/headcoveringmyths.php

Most of what I have said in this blog post is in the link above.

• I am not saying that wearing a covering makes me holier than everyone else. Every person needs God just as much as the next.
• I am not going to turn super strict and serious. I’m still the same Lauren-Mae, I promise!
• I know most of my friends will have questions and such.
• I know I will be treated differently.
• I know that others will stereotype me.
• I might get talked about behind my back.

• I know that it is way counter-cultural, but my Jesus has already made me a traveler passing through this world.

Please-Don’t think that I haven’t given this any thought. This was not a compulsive decision. This has been on my mind for a few months now. I only shared it with one of my mentors, who thinks that covering isn’t for our time.

Thank you for all the prayers that you have said for me upon making this life altering journey.

Glory to God.

Love,

Lauren.

Going under-cover.

Muwahahaha!

I couldn’t think of a better title so I thought I’d have some fun with it.

For those of you that might be confused I will elaborate on this later when I have the time. Maybe later today.

Laying in bed this morning I was thinking, How far out on a limb can I go? I can go out so far that when I loose my balance and my arms flail-because I trusted in my own strength- I won’t experience even a second of free-fall because God will catch me.

Stay tuned!

God has been doing certain works in my heart that might seem odd.But after considering Noah, a man who was called by God to do something crazy-build a boat in the middle of the desert of all places-didn’t listen to the comments around him.

Have you ever searched the Scriptures and see something that pops out at you? That stirs your heart?

Solemn Assembly is tonight at church.

So stay tuned. And I will share with you what God has put on my heart.