If It Looks Like A Duck

February 11, 2008

"The Lord does not see as man sees;

for man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart"

(I Samuel 16:7).

We don't know the hearts of people, so why do we make judgments about their lives based solely on outward appearance? Example . . .

I grew up a tomboy, and even at my age now I am still a tomboy. I was called many ugly, hurtful names growing up. I still get called ugly names today, however the key for me is to know the truth and to have a mature and teachable spirit that is not easily offended. There will always be someone who disagrees with me and calls me ugly names, but it is not my job to pass judgment or be offended. As a Christian it is my responsibility to point out (without a superior attitude) what I believe and why then let God do the convicting and the convincing.

I have never liked wearing much make-up, and I still don't. I don't like wearing frills and dresses and panty hose and the like. I like wearing dress-pants with a nice blouse. I like wearing jeans with a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I like wearing nice pant-suits with nice dress shoes, but I do not like wearing dresses! Does that make me wrong? No! Does that make me a lesbian? No! Does that make me a boy? No! It just makes me a female who doesn't like wearing dresses and panty hose.

When I first got saved I would force myself to wear dresses, because that's what was expected of me as a Christian woman. I was always very uncomfortable, so after many years of trying to be what others expected me to be I finally decided to accept myself just the way I am; blue jeans and all. And, guess what? God accepts me that way too! Guess what else? He still loves me the same too! He is not a hard task master, so why do we try to make Him one? He doesn't knock us down when we stumble. He helps us up when we fall. So, why can't we do the same?

I heard someone say once, "The Christian army is the only army I know of that kills its wounded." And, from reading some of the posts on this board concerning controversial subjects I can see why someone would say that.

A question that use to haunt me is, "What if I am believing the wrong thing?" Well, God answered that question by saying, "Follow your heart with peace." For me that means that when my heart is restless my life is unfocused and unbalanced, but as long as my heart is at peace my life is steadfast and stable. So, if ever I believe the wrong thing for my life my heart will let me know.

I pray we stop trying to force our personal convictions on everyone else but that we live our own convictions peacefully and let others do the same. Other than the 10 commandments, I use to think that whatever God disapproved of for my life He also disapproved of for everyone else's life. Not so! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and their own convictions. Just because God says that something is wrong for me does not automatically make it wrong for everyone else.

Also, I pray that we stop passing judgment against things and people we don't agree with. I use to be very judgmental of things I didn't understand. I'm not perfect. I still have a long way to go, but I am less judgmental now than I use to be. God is still working on me. He hasn't given up. Hallelujah!

February 12, 2008

"The Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart"
(I Samuel 16:7).

We don't know the hearts of people, so why do we make judgments about their lives based solely on outward appearance? Example . . .

I grew up a tomboy, and even at my age now I am still a tomboy. I was called many ugly, hurtful names growing up. I still get called ugly names today, however the key for me is to know the truth and to have a mature and teachable spirit that is not easily offended. There will always be someone who disagrees with me and calls me ugly names, but it is not my job to pass judgment or be offended. As a Christian it is my responsibility to point out (without a superior attitude) what I believe and why then let God do the convicting and the convincing.

I have never liked wearing much make-up, and I still don't. I don't like wearing frills and dresses and panty hose and the like. I like wearing dress-pants with a nice blouse. I like wearing jeans with a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I like wearing nice pant-suits with nice dress shoes, but I do not like wearing dresses! Does that make me wrong? No! Does that make me a lesbian? No! Does that make me a boy? No! It just makes me a female who doesn't like wearing dresses and panty hose.

When I first got saved I would force myself to wear dresses, because that's what was expected of me as a Christian woman. I was always very uncomfortable, so after many years of trying to be what others expected me to be I finally decided to accept myself just the way I am; blue jeans and all. And, guess what? God accepts me that way too! Guess what else? He still loves me the same too! He is not a hard task master, so why do we try to make Him one? He doesn't knock us down when we stumble. He helps us up when we fall. So, why can't we do the same?

I heard someone say once, "The Christian army is the only army I know of that kills its wounded." And, from reading some of the posts on this board concerning controversial subjects I can see why someone would say that.

A question that use to haunt me is, "What if I am believing the wrong thing?" Well, God answered that question by saying, "Follow your heart with peace." For me that means that when my heart is restless my life is unfocused and unbalanced, but as long as my heart is at peace my life is steadfast and stable. So, if ever I believe the wrong thing for my life my heart will let me know.

I pray we stop trying to force our personal convictions on everyone else but that we live our own convictions peacefully and let others do the same. Other than the 10 commandments, I use to think that whatever God disapproved of for my life He also disapproved of for everyone else's life. Not so! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and their own convictions. Just because God says that something is wrong for me does not automatically make it wrong for everyone else.

Also, I pray that we stop passing judgment against things and people we don't agree with. I use to be very judgmental of things I didn't understand. I'm not perfect. I still have a long way to go, but I am less judgmental now than I use to be. God is still working on me. He hasn't given up. Hallelujah!

Best post I've read in a long, long time.

I read every word and I usually don't do that.

Nice.

tsth · February 12, 2008

Dear LHF,

Have you ever heard of the term "relativism"?

We have to understand that our faith has a foundation, it begins somewhere and stands on very specific foundation. You might look at my signature line, to understand what I'm trying to say, and where it begins.

(by the way, I'm not addressing you not wearing dresses, as that does not fall under the foundation I'm talking about.)

In His Love,

Suzanne

tinnocker · February 12, 2008

Iwould like you to know I feel like you . I dont think God requires women to ware dresses.I like my wife to but she will ware what she wishes and thats ok with me. you be you ,dont worry what others think.God does not make mistakes he made you the way you are. GOD BLESS ,TIN

tsth · February 12, 2008

This comes to mind:

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

In His Love,

Suzanne

jackie d · February 12, 2008

"The Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart"

(I Samuel 16:7).

We don't know the hearts of people, so why do we make judgments about their lives based solely on outward appearance? Example . . .

I grew up a tomboy, and even at my age now I am still a tomboy. I was called many ugly, hurtful names growing up. I still get called ugly names today, however the key for me is to know the truth and to have a mature and teachable spirit that is not easily offended. There will always be someone who disagrees with me and calls me ugly names, but it is not my job to pass judgment or be offended. As a Christian it is my responsibility to point out (without a superior attitude) what I believe and why then let God do the convicting and the convincing.

I have never liked wearing much make-up, and I still don't. I don't like wearing frills and dresses and panty hose and the like. I like wearing dress-pants with a nice blouse. I like wearing jeans with a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I like wearing nice pant-suits with nice dress shoes, but I do not like wearing dresses! Does that make me wrong? No! Does that make me a lesbian? No! Does that make me a boy? No! It just makes me a female who doesn't like wearing dresses and panty hose.

When I first got saved I would force myself to wear dresses, because that's what was expected of me as a Christian woman. I was always very uncomfortable, so after many years of trying to be what others expected me to be I finally decided to accept myself just the way I am; blue jeans and all. And, guess what? God accepts me that way too! Guess what else? He still loves me the same too! He is not a hard task master, so why do we try to make Him one? He doesn't knock us down when we stumble. He helps us up when we fall. So, why can't we do the same?

I heard someone say once, "The Christian army is the only army I know of that kills its wounded." And, from reading some of the posts on this board concerning controversial subjects I can see why someone would say that.

A question that use to haunt me is, "What if I am believing the wrong thing?" Well, God answered that question by saying, "Follow your heart with peace." For me that means that when my heart is restless my life is unfocused and unbalanced, but as long as my heart is at peace my life is steadfast and stable. So, if ever I believe the wrong thing for my life my heart will let me know.

I pray we stop trying to force our personal convictions on everyone else but that we live our own convictions peacefully and let others do the same. Other than the 10 commandments, I use to think that whatever God disapproved of for my life He also disapproved of for everyone else's life. Not so! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and their own convictions. Just because God says that something is wrong for me does not automatically make it wrong for everyone else.

Also, I pray that we stop passing judgment against things and people we don't agree with. I use to be very judgmental of things I didn't understand. I'm not perfect. I still have a long way to go, but I am less judgmental now than I use to be. God is still working on me. He hasn't given up. Hallelujah!

NO BOXES!!! I haven't found one that fits me either..

step outside the box and refuse to re-enter and you will receive a label...as duly noted in posts above.

Follow the Heart of God.

jackie d · February 12, 2008

Moral relativism. Suzanne marked you well.

What is wrong for you really is wrong for me, and vice-versa.

Now the whole thing with women wearing dresses isn't really supported by scripture anyway, but that is another matter in and of itself.

what is that? marked with what? and who are YOU? I didn't read anything that said she was walking against MORAL principles of God...she spoke of personal CONVICTION big difference between them see below

moral

February 12, 2008

"The Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart"
(I Samuel 16:7).

We don't know the hearts of people, so why do we make judgments about their lives based solely on outward appearance? Example . . .

I grew up a tomboy, and even at my age now I am still a tomboy. I was called many ugly, hurtful names growing up. I still get called ugly names today, however the key for me is to know the truth and to have a mature and teachable spirit that is not easily offended. There will always be someone who disagrees with me and calls me ugly names, but it is not my job to pass judgment or be offended. As a Christian it is my responsibility to point out (without a superior attitude) what I believe and why then let God do the convicting and the convincing.

I have never liked wearing much make-up, and I still don't. I don't like wearing frills and dresses and panty hose and the like. I like wearing dress-pants with a nice blouse. I like wearing jeans with a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I like wearing nice pant-suits with nice dress shoes, but I do not like wearing dresses! Does that make me wrong? No! Does that make me a lesbian? No! Does that make me a boy? No! It just makes me a female who doesn't like wearing dresses and panty hose.

When I first got saved I would force myself to wear dresses, because that's what was expected of me as a Christian woman. I was always very uncomfortable, so after many years of trying to be what others expected me to be I finally decided to accept myself just the way I am; blue jeans and all. And, guess what? God accepts me that way too! Guess what else? He still loves me the same too! He is not a hard task master, so why do we try to make Him one? He doesn't knock us down when we stumble. He helps us up when we fall. So, why can't we do the same?

I heard someone say once, "The Christian army is the only army I know of that kills its wounded." And, from reading some of the posts on this board concerning controversial subjects I can see why someone would say that.

A question that use to haunt me is, "What if I am believing the wrong thing?" Well, God answered that question by saying, "Follow your heart with peace." For me that means that when my heart is restless my life is unfocused and unbalanced, but as long as my heart is at peace my life is steadfast and stable. So, if ever I believe the wrong thing for my life my heart will let me know.

I pray we stop trying to force our personal convictions on everyone else but that we live our own convictions peacefully and let others do the same. Other than the 10 commandments, I use to think that whatever God disapproved of for my life He also disapproved of for everyone else's life. Not so! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and their own convictions. Just because God says that something is wrong for me does not automatically make it wrong for everyone else.

Also, I pray that we stop passing judgment against things and people we don't agree with. I use to be very judgmental of things I didn't understand. I'm not perfect. I still have a long way to go, but I am less judgmental now than I use to be. God is still working on me. He hasn't given up. Hallelujah!

MorningGlory · February 12, 2008

I don't think the Lord cares about the wrapping.....only about what's inside. Designer dresses won't get you into Heaven and blue jeans won't keep you out.

jackie d · February 12, 2008

I don't think the Lord cares about the wrapping.....only about what's inside. Designer dresses won't get you into Heaven and blue jeans won't keep you out.