When The Enemy Attacks You With Legalism.

    I am blessed to work with two women who are Mennonites and live in an area with a solid population of Mennonites as well. The women I work with don't wear their culture's traditional clothing at work because it would constrict their movement at work, and they consider it their good clothing vs their work clothing. Like most of us, our work wardrobe is different than our personal life wardrobe.

    Anyway, because of the area in which I live, I see Mennonites all around me. Of which I love and respect. I disagree with some of their traditions, but I respect their culture and how they dress. That being said, the enemy has used them to attack me with legalism regarding my standard of modesty and clothing. To be clear, my two Mennonite coworkers have never said a word about how I dress, other than that I dress modestly. In fact, a handful of other coworkers have asked me if I am a Mononite because I dress conservatively. I am flattered that people see that in me.

    The 'problem' occurs when I am out in the community and I see a Mennonite woman dressed in a full-length skirt, and I am in a knee-length skirt. I wear all lengths of skirts. My husband's and my rule of thumb is if I can touch my fingertips to my thigh when standing up straight, then it's too short. Otherwise, I will wear anything from that length and longer. Every length has its place. So in my head, I start comparing myself to the other woman, who, of course, has no idea, and I start thinking that I should be in a longer skirt. Then I fight with myself and remind myself that I am dressed modestly and that I have freedom in Christ. Meaning that I'm not restricted to only wearing one length of skirt. Again, no one has ever told me that I don't dress modestly; it's simply the enemy attacking my thoughts and me learning to defend against them.

    Yes, God calls us to dress modestly, and I also believe that some women are convicted differently than others. I am blessed that my husband and I have the same convictions for how I dress. Recently, I purchased a top that would need additional layers under it to make it modest, which was my intention all along. Hubby lovingly reminded me that I would need to wear something under it, and I agreed and told him he didn't need to mention it because I already knew it. But then I thought about it for a second and remembered that it is a huge blessing for my husband to want me to dress modestly and for him to remind me of his standards and of God’s standards.

    Anyways, the reason why I share all of this is to remind us all that the enemy doesn't just tempt us with sin, he also tempts us with false religion. He tried to distract me by being legalistic about the length of my skirt. When in reality, there is nothing wrong with the length that I wear. Plus, I wear shorts under every length of skirt/dress.

While I was dealing with the attacks, I had to remind myself that some skirts are simply better shorter and some longer. I have a pink, knee-length one with flowers and ruffles. It's hubby's favourite. It would be way too overpowering visually if it were a full-length skirt between the pattern and style. But as a knee-length skirt, it's beautiful.

    I am blessed and thankful that I have freedom in Christ to dress how I choose and that I have the option to wear all different lengths and styles. Where the Menonite community tends to only wear a couple of styles of dresses and skirts. I was chatting with one of my Menonite coworkers who is not yet married. I asked her if she would wear a white dress or a traditional black dress. The black dress is old colony style and very simple. She said the black one and then mentioned that there are too many options for white wedding dresses, and how do we “English” girls pick? I lovingly responded with the fact that she has been wearing the same three styles of dresses her whole life and therefore is not used to having more options. We had a good laugh.

   

I pray this blesses, encourages, and challenges you today, friend.

We have freedom in Christ, but we also have a responsibility to honour Him with everything that we do. 1st Corinthians 10:31.

God Bless

~Hannah

Bikinis' Should Be Banned.

    The topic of bikinis has been on my mind recently. Between opinion videos on my social media feeds and my pastor's sermon from last Sunday, which discussed women dressing modestly and how bikinis are not modest, I have decided to share my thoughts on the matter.

    My opinion has changed over the years about them, and as of this summer, I am completely against them. That being said, I was never for them to begin with. They are immodest and inappropriate. Yes, once upon a time, I thought they were cute on little baby girls and at one point, I could also understand why women in their 20s and 30s wore them.

    God has changed my heart recently, and now I wish we could ban them altogether. As believers, we are called to dress modestly. Meaning cover up more than just your butt, crotch and chest when you are near water and even more so when you are not. 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Yes, I understand not everyone follows the same faith as I do. I respect that, and I will be praying for you. It dishonours God when we dress immodestly. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to honour God with how we dress His temple.

    One argument that was made in a video I watched asked the ladies what kind of man they were trying to attract. A man of respect, honour and integrity? Because I don't think that's what you are attracting. All you are doing is causing him to lust after you.  I'm sorry if I sound harsh; I'm just speaking the truth in love as best I can.

    For those ladies who think you are showing off your confidence by wearing a bikini, you really aren't. All you are doing is leaving less to the imagination and less for your future husband to enjoy privately. At one point, I could appreciate both sides of the argument about the more you show off, the more confident, and its counter parter, the less you show, the more confidentent you are. I am now firmy in the camp of the more coverage you have the more confidence you have. That being said, I'm not saying to cover from head to toe.

    And then there is the whole bikini thong style we have going on these days. Oh my goodness, no. A bikini is revealing enough as it is. Why do you need to add a thong? Answer, you don't.

    Now I recognize that not every woman out there is wearing a bikini. You are likely in a one-piece or a tankini. Sister, I salute you. I also don't think that mothers or wives should be wearing bikinis. What message are you teaching your husband, son and daughter? Again, I'm not here to judge or condemn. I'm also not saying that I''m against a two-piece. I love my tankini. I found it at a second-hand store, it was a little big but I was able to alter it and it's now perfect.

    I'm also a big believer that as a woman of faith, it's my job to show the young girls and ladies coming up behind me that you can dress modestly and appropriately and still be fashionable.

    I wrote this post a few months ago and haven't had a chance to post it yet. It's been a busy summer at work with lots of overtime. And when I wasn't at work, I was at my sewing machine.

As usual, I pray this encourages, blesses and challenges you today friends.

God Bless

~Hannah