Thursday, February 18, 2010

More on Modesty!

The past few days have been amazing since posting the last topic about modesty and how Yahweh is putting it on my heart to make changes regarding my wardrobe. I wanted to share these verses that really spoke to me and gave me even more revelation and confirmation about my lifestyle and the woman of Yahwah I desire to be.

I read Titus 2:3-5 and was amazed at how it spoke to me! I love how the Word of our Father can speak directly to the heart. Here is a version from the Aramaic translation:

Titus 2: 3. And so also the elder women that they be in behavior as is becoming to the Fear of Elohim; and not to be slanderers, and not to be addicted to much wine, and to be teachers of beautiful things. 4. making the younger women to be modest, to love their husbands and their children, 5. to be chaste and Set Apart and to take good care of their households and to be obedient to their husbands, so that no one may reproach the Word of Elohim.

These verses really spoke to me about the importance of teaching the younger women to be modest. After the first lecture Paul gave about modesty, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this subject, and having my husband teach about it! I already feel that we live our lives pretty openly and when you feel strongly about a message, like eating healthy, then people are always observing what you eat! So I thought I would be ready to crawl under a rock and hide after this one. But I was actually encouraged even more by his lecture! Even more encouraging to me was when moms of teenagers came to thank us because their daughters were encouraged to dress more modestly! The next day I saw these beautiful girls wearing beautiful skirts and they were dancing and having fun and their hearts had changed! That is what spoke to my heart. Seeing the importance of teaching young women to dress modestly. I knew at that moment that I needed to be setting a righteous example for these young girls. It's not about me, it's about Him, and he calls us to teach and guide younger women!

I am so thankful for all of the spiritual "moms" who have guided me and shared their wisdom with me throughout my life. Now that I am a wife and mother, I hope to bring the same wisdom and encouragement to other women, and to guide and teach my daughter in truth and purity. We definitely need to grow and learn from each other!

It was also amazing that some of the older men who listened to the lecture thanked Paul and shared with him that this is a topic they struggle with as well. It humbled me to discover that these strong men of Yahweh struggled with immodestly dressed women. It is more common than I had thought! I no longer want to be a stumbling block to these sensitive men who are pursuing righteousness.

I am slowly making changes to the way I dress, and trying to find new clothes that are more acceptable to who I hope to be. It's not easy trying to find modest clothes in the malls and other stores that I was used to shopping. I know that Yahweh is really speaking to me about where I spend my money and the businesses I am supporting. I definitely want to make our own clothes soon, but in the meantime, I am trying to be mindful of what and wear I buy my clothes, and the kind of fabric they are made with.

If any of you have any suggestions, please let me know! I am looking for clothes that are made with fabric 100%, like cotton, linen and wool. It hasn't been easy, but I know that when I find something that meets my "new" criteria regarding modesty and fabric that it is meant to be for me.

Karen reminded me of a video that Paul did with Rico Cortes and he discusses the vibrational frequencies in our words, thoughts and clothing. She has a great blog at http://been-couraged.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-linen-skirt-for-simple-life.html, so check that out too.

Now that I have started our "Spring Cleansing," I am going to remove some of those items in my closet that I know are no longer acceptable for me to wear. I may not be ready to get rid of everything, but in time it will get easier. At least I'll be making room for the beautiful clothes I am envisioning wearing in the future!

15 comments:

Rose said...

Shalom!

My name is Lina and I am also a Torah Observant believer. I heard about your blog through an interview your husband did recently.

Six months ago, I made the transition to dressing modestly. I got rid of all my pants and low-cut blouses and now only wear long beautiful skirts and shirts that do not reveal anything.


Then, not too long ago I learned about Torah observance. It was then that I realized my clothing could not be made with two different threads. So I got rid of more clothing. But for some reason, none of this has been hard for me. If the Word says it, I do it.

I find that the best place to get modest clothing is at Goodwill or Salvation Army. But sometimes finding clothing made of 100% cotton or linen is difficult. Some online stores carry kosher clothing at reasonable prices. A few of my favorites are koshercasual.com and tznius.com

Lastly, I wanted to mention that I used to be a vegan and then a raw foodist. That's when I first heard of Paul Nison. Now, I'm a vegetarian who's thinking about returning to a more raw vegan diet.

Thanks for the inspiration!

I look forward to reading more from your blog.

In Messiah,
Lina

Andrea said...

Wow Lina! Thanks for all of the great info! It is really encouraging to hear your story. I am in the transition mode, and am trying to make the changes slowly, but they may happen quicker than I think!

I look forward to reading more of your blogs as well! Please keep in touch!

Andrea

Karen Johnson said...

Thanks for the mention, Andrea.

Every time we are more enlightened, our load of possessions seems to get lighter and lighter. I love living with less.

Paul Nison said...

Each day I love my wife more and more and after this post my heart is beating with more love than ever before.

Anonymous said...

studies on dress http://sabbathsermons.wordpress.com/category/dress-reform/

Unknown said...

I am so excited when I see, read or hear of women making changes for more modesty! Abba is so pleased when we save our bodies for only our husbands and not for other men to look/lust after! This is a subject close to my heart.... And we were so excited to hear Paul on GLC talk about it.... more people need to now about this. We are not of this world and should not look like it.
YHWH, bless you as you seek to follow HIM in all you do.

Joanna said...

great post, Andrea! as you know, modesty is very dear to my heart and I can't contain my excitement when you (or any woman) reveals what G-d has been speaking to your heart concerning it! Baruch HaShem. Something that really opened my eyes was reading the book, "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn. Every woman should read this book! It's so much easier to dress modestly when we realize that we are not really doing it for ourselves first, but for G-d and for the men that He created to be very different than us. The fact that it gives us self-respect and dignity is just an added bonus!

goodyweaver said...

I have a different set of spiritual beliefs, but they also include modest dress. At the same time, my spiritual beliefs dictate that I be careful about how items I purchase are made - so for several years I've been avoiding items produced in sweatshops. A great place I've found to buy not just clothing, but a large percentage of baby & child, household items, and toiletry products is www.etsy.com - almost everything is handmade, usually by single individuals, often by stay at home moms. And the clothing in particular is incredibly beautiful, and organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo items abound!! Highly, highly recommended!

*For the record, I'm not affiliated with etsy, just a fanatical supporter! :)

Becky said...

Hi Andrea,

As a Muslim who covers everything but her face and hands while outside of my home, I appreciate hearing about other believers being or becoming concerned about how they dress. Best wishes on your transition to a modest wardrobe.

Becky

PS By the way, you might want to check out some Muslim clothing websites for ideas. Here's one such web site: http://www.shukronline.com/

YahKheena said...

Shalom Andrea~

I enjoyed the post and it was actually Lina's post that directed me to your husbands site...I listened to his teaching on modesty and what joy overflowed in me because you just don't hear many men of Yahweh teaching this truth. Our family is striving to walk in Torah as we follow Yahshu and I have been dressing the way your dh describe for several years from no make-up to unshaved legs and underarm, I also cover my head. Anyway it was good to hear your dh teaching and I'm so blessed to read your post...it is good to follow your dh as he follows Messiah!

I sew all our clothes, well not my dear husbands lol, but we have two daughters. I make all our clothes mostly out of 100% cotton but after listening to the link you posted I might inoorporate more linen...

We are now learning to eat according to Torah...old habbits die slow...sigh...but we are encouraged because we serve a mighty Elohim, HalleluYah!!

Blessings to you my dear sister!

YahKheena

Andrea said...

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments! I am so encouraged and will check out the sites and other info! Blessings to all of you!

Unknown said...

I am a bit late to this party. But wanted to share some stuff. I too have been on a path of learning to dress modestly. It has not been hard to understand all Torah says on clothing(mixing of fabrics etc.) but finding what fits into this is not easy. I found a wonderful website a couple yrs ago,it has linen for sale or you can have custom made clothes if you choose all modest and quite simple, yet beautiful. I use it for fabric and design ideas. zipporahresheldesigns.com is the web address. I don't make much of my clothes but long for the day I can make all I wear, since thread used in commercial clothes is almost always something different then what is on lable. I don't know how this is for some but for me I think when it says 100% cotton it should mean the thread as well! Oh well. Also the women that suggested Muslim sites is right, great clothes designs but rather expensive most times.Still something to check out. I have a unique block for me in following my convictions on modesty. My husband. He thinks I dress "old" and would rather see me in something not so modest. The problem for me is I have gained a lot of weight and can not find clothes that fit well. I know I must become healthy ( I found you through your hubby's info,so I am on my way to learning what this means).Anyway thanks for this site will continue to follow!

Sarah said...

I think it is great that everyone here wants to dress modestly. And while I think it is great that you would be seeking to improve this area of your life I have a few words of caution. I only offer them because of what I have seen done to people in the Messianic community, in the Jewish community and in the Christian community when one's perception of modesty does not conform to another's perception of modesty.
Based on my upbringing (Conservative and Orthodox Judaism) I know that modesty is culturally related, because there is no description of modest dress in the Torah. In fact, there is no command to dress modestly in the Torah or what modest dress is.
I also know that Yeshua expected men to hold themselves responsible as far as lustful thoughts by telling them if something caused them to lust get it out of their sight. He didn't tell them to blame the woman for their 'immodest dress'.
Based on life experience I know that some men will lust after anything and some men even prefer loose clothing because "it leaves more to the imagination".
I also know that men have no business (and neither do women) worrying or concerning themselves with the way non-believers dress. They are not in the community of believers and they can and will dress however they want. Their dress is not a believer's concern. Drawing them to G-d's kingdom, His Torah, and Yeshua in love is the concern.
As a woman I have witnessed the crushing of other women's spirits when another woman, or even a man tried to force their definition of modesty onto a gorgeous beautiful sincere lover of G-d who was dressing modestly based off her cultural understanding of modesty.
I have seen and heard of women's clothing being ruined with bleach or worse, a woman being ostracized and not talked to because a Rabbi decided that that type of material was immodest, and she made the mistake of wearing it. This kind of stuff is craziness. And it doesn't end.
However sometimes one person's cultural view of modesty is not approved of by another's and is in fact considered immodest by that person. It is beyond sad that because of this many people drawn to G-d have been scorned and pushed away by other's religious views.
When the children of Israel left Egypt they were given Egyptian clothing aka Egyptian raiment (simlot - Ex 12:35). Egyptian clothing was light, airy, and probably would not be considered modest by those concerned with modesty today.
As far as the threads go...
Scripture is interpreted with Scripture. While one reference only mentions two different threads (Lev 19:19), another reference in the Torah clears up what these two threads are (Deut 22:11). The two threads are wool and linen. Not wool and silk. Not wool and cotton. Not linen and silk. But wool and linen only. The term is shatnez.

So just a word of caution. Please don't get to a degree of modesty that your view would crush another's spirt and prevent them from entering into G-d's kingdom because of the lack of consideration for a vulnerable spirit. Please interpret Scripture with Scripture so as not to impose a man made idea into a commandment that YHVH clarifies in another place in Scripture.

Sarah said...

And...
behatz'lacha (much success) with your journey in tzniut.

Anonymous said...

I was excited to hear about the linen health so I started buying 100% linen clothes to sadly discover they are not made(seams,hems, ect.) with linen thread! Our 100% cotton store-bought clothes are the same way, made with poly/cotton and other synthetics. This defeats the purpose that Im trying to achieve which is to obey Scripture in not wearing a garment of mixed threads!
I noticed someone gave a comment that its just for wool and linen together only, but this would not make since nor go in line with the theme throughout Scripture calling us to separate clean from unclean, not planting in "mixed" fields,not mixing animals, not mixing this and not mixing that as it goes on and on. There is an obvious message here. Does anyone know of anyone sewing with linen thread using machine sewing? I have heard its not too good. I would appreciate any input. Jan