sheya joie

There was a site called 'tznius' I think. They had lovely scarves from Jerusalem.

I'm not Mennonite, and I wear one. Just a cotton scarf, triangular, right around my head. Nothing fancy. Go for it!

I've been reading my way through Ted Dekker's books lately. They are really stunning.

****SPOILER!!!!!**** To read spoiler, highlight the section from here... The witch is the bad guy, and gets what she deserves in the end. ...to here.

Before my late husband and I got married, we sat down together one day and talked over all the most important stuff to us: about the LORD, about child-rearing, about whether he would expect me to work outside the home once we had kids, etc, etc. It was really a bit scary, to have such a talk; I knew that if his answers and my answers did not line up together, I was going to have to call off the wedding. It didn't matter how much I loved him - I knew that I would be a fool to marry a man whose expectations of marriage were not at least 99% in line with mine. I wanted to be able to submit, you see, and I wanted to know going in that his expectations for me would be the same as my expectations for me. Now, of course, he could have been lying to me... But he wasn't. I think that's one of the main reasons we had such a good marriage - that we made sure ahead of time that we agreed on all the important stuff. (Not a perfect marriage, of course! But a very very very good one.)

Jesus often rebuked those whose observancies were outward show without inward reality. So I think that's the important starting point - to be REAL on the inside. From that, from a genuine heart of love for the LORD and love for your neighbor (that is, the two great commandments), the actions of obedience will flow, as we marinate in HIS Word and it grows within us. As we learn the things that please HIM. Just some of my thoughts.

Here is the reference: Num 15:37 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Num 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: Num 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: Num 15:40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. The word fringe is: H6734 ציצת tsîytsith tsee-tseeth' Feminine of H6731; a floral or wing like projection, that is, a fore lock of hair, a tassel: - fringe, lock. Hope that helps. I don't have real tzit tzit on my homemade prayer shawls - but I do usually fringe the edges some.

Thanks. I think the upper link is going to work for me.

I haven't been able to see the trailer yet, at either link.

I wear a cotton scarf. I have several, in different colors, that I made easily on the sewing machine. I'm the only woman at my church who covers. There are many types of coverings. You can do an online search and find lots of styles. You can also find a lot of writings, pro and con, on the subject. As for advice, I would say pray about it and ask your husband to pray about it also. Then do as the Holy Spirit leads.

There is a storyblogging carnival that runs every two weeks. I am a frequent host of it. The founder and I, as well as at least one of the usual contributors, are Christians; not all of the participants are, though. If you would be interested in participating, please contact me.

Keep posting! You should get a blog, maybe, and put this story up there. Or publish it in book form. Enjoying this very much! ~ A thought that occurred to me as I was reading this chapter: I wonder how the social coordinator would have reacted if Betty was, uh, nursing the baby. Mama's milk, I mean. Would that be too 'possessive' of the offspring?

Good writing! Do you the story somewhere else online? About to have a look at part 2.

Oh yes, preach it... I completely understand where you are coming from. It took me many years, many tears and failed surface relationships to really get over that first heartbreak. I too am 29, and I too am single still! I finally quit bothering, and I happened to run into a christian guy who I have begun to develop a really great friendship with! Is he the right one? Well I don't know that yet! But I too have prayed for a Godly spouse for quite some time now. I believe God will send him along when he is ready, I am ready and the time is right in both our lives. There are honestly some advantages to being single right now as well. I don't have to answer to anyone, I have more time for friendships and personal enrichment through reading, attending Bible Study, etc than my married counterparts. Don't look at it like we are cursed or something, look at it as when they do finally come along, God will really bless us with the right person, and a happy future! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Exactly.

One of my dearest friends used to be bi. He isn't any more. Why? Because he got saved and became a new creature in Christ Jesus. As 1 Cor 6:11 says: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. The verb there is were - through Jesus, through the sacrifice HE made willingly on the cross, giving HIS life for love of us all - there is freedom from every kind of sin. HE makes us new in HIM. We are no longer what we were. My friend is new in Jesus; he no longer worships sex. I am new in Jesus also; I no longer worship my own (stinking before GOD) righteousness in keeping all 'the rules' in my own pride and strength. Just wanting to encourage you, that you can be new as well. (Oh, and I want to agree with dgolvach - ALL sin is sin, and NO sin is better or more acceptable than any other.)

Can't speak for the OP, but for me, it's not the Scriptures I wonder about, but how it translates into life. For me as a woman, the thought of being the LORD's bride fits naturally. But I wonder how a man sees it? If that makes sense?

I relate to Fiosh's question. I too have wondered about the male perspective on being 'Bride.' For me, as a woman - well, I am head-over-heels in love with the LORD, so the concept of being HIS Bride makes excellent sense to me. But how does a man see it?

I too would like to know what exactly you mean by not believing in the trinity. It's rather hard to know how to answer when the question is worded somewhat vaguely. I will mention one thing. I noticed lately this verse: Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Jesus HIMself was speaking here. HE could have simply said 'in the name of Jesus Christ' as Peter did about ten days later at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Or HE could have said in the name of the 'Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.' (Isaiah 9:6) Indeed, HE could have chosen many titles for us to use, for Scripture uses many titles to speak of the LORD and HIS attributes. But HE chose to mention these three titles - these three, neither more nor less. Why? To me, it looks like HE was referring to the 'trinity.' What do you think?

John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, so it could be that the two witnesses will have the spirit and power of Moses and Elijah. Notice this: Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Fire and shutting up the heavens (ie, no rain) is what Elijah is famous for, while turning waters to blood and smiting the earth with plagues is what Moses is famous for. So that seems to indicate the spirit and power of these two men. I have heard some say that, since neither Elijah nor Enoch ever died - both were translated or taken to heaven alive - that they will come down and be the two witnesses. I don't know about that. Any thoughts?

Aw, man. I wrote a response to this, and the Internet ate it. The two witnesses are in Revelation 11. 1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses , and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees , and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. The phrase 'two olive trees' refers back to Zechariah 4: 2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. ..... 11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. I'm not sure what it all means - but I hope this is a help.

More and more, I find that the only thing that 'works' is for me to be like a little girl, trusting Abba Daddy. One day, as I was reading this: Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I noticed that this peace which passes all understanding is linked to prayer with thanksgiving. Being thankful for every gift from the Father's hand - even the gifts that don't much look to me like gifts. Not that I'm perfect at it. But the more thankful I am, and the more childlike I am, turning all of me over to HIM - the better it all is. Hope that's a help.

Jeffrey Dahmer murdered many people in a really nasty manner, and was later murdered himself after he was sent to prison for his crimes. BUT - before he was murdered, he came to salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul called himself the chief of sinners. The LORD can save anyone - and there's not a one of us who deserves heaven. But the LORD loves. Isn't that great?

Oh, I just had a thought: Hitchcock.

I am single again. (widowed) I miss being married.

I started in this thread with and have now progressed to (I still really do not know what we are talking about here - and when did we wind up in Alice's Wonderland?)