by Annie Corser | Jun 25, 2014
This is my second post about modesty, check out the first one, Talking Modesty: Who Wears Short Shorts?
The way you dress and poise yourself says a lot about how you esteem yourself. I’m all for wearing cute styles, and even throwing in an occasional trendy outfit, but modesty never goes out of style.
I imagine myself as average height, but it seems nowadays clothing styles are made for women who are shorter than I am. This can be a problem when looking for casual, dressy or trendy tops. The world portrays modesty in the context of being shy, unconfident and lonely. And if we aren’t sharing the Truth about modesty, that’s the definition that will teach the upcoming generation about what to wear.
Had my mom not taken the time to endure our worst shopping trips, my tears and arguments about wanting to wear certain clothing trends, I would not understand the meaning of modesty, either. This series of posts will explore fashionable options to modesty. Modesty that encourages women to be confident about who they are without the need to exploit their bodies. Modesty that allows women to show a gentleman her heart and mind before her legs or chest.
~~~
A constant trend in fashion, at least for the past four or five years, has been the exposure of mid-drift, or tummy skin. But let me be clear, there is a difference between a beach cover-up and a tank top that has lost half of its fabric. I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure the only beaches in Oklahoma are around the man-made lakes.
Fashion Tip: The best test for shirts is one that has been around for decades. My Mom and I refer to it as the “hallelujah” test. If you can fully extend both hands in the air without showing skin, the shirt passes. If you do not pass, find a cute cami or longer tank top to wear underneath the shirt as a layer.
You can see the two separate pieces to the left. The bold print is a tank from Target. Stay away from layering more than one print. Since this top has so many colors, you can choose any one color for a solid tank top or cami. pictured is a purple tank from Maurices. When you combine the two pieces together, you get a classy but fashionable style.
These separates come from the same two stores, but show how you can use a print underneath the cropped tank top. Another mix-and-match style if you do not like bold patterns is to have two solid colors. I would suggest a gray, black or white for the best match.
Heart Check: Often when my Mom would tell me “No,” I wanted to know “Why?” Not because I wanted to question her authority, but because I wanted to understand what she saw that I couldn’t see.
Outside of wearing a swimsuit at the pool or on the beach, I am not sure why a cropped shirt needs to be worn. Yes, I know that it gets hot in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you should walk around exposing your belly to everyone. Be confident enough to cover up. Don’t wear something just to be trendy. Think about who is looking at you. Remember that you have older men, younger men, grandfathers, fathers and even sons looking at you. Sure you might get the attention of that one cute guy at school, but if you can get his attention because of looks you won’t keep his attention for very long. Strive to make them seek out your heart, not your skin.
The media glamourizes cropped tops because they want you to buy their products, products that will fade and made with cheap fabric. The Bible speaks about the beauty from within, confidence that shows through your attitude, lifestyle and countenance.
“Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) (HCSB)
Image credits: Target.com and Maurices.com
by Annie Corser | Jun 19, 2014
Synopsis: This movie centers around the fight for peace. Hiccup, the main character, explains that his father reminded him of his responsibility as heir to the chief of their people. Hiccup believes that he is not ready to lead because his personality is different from his father, and he takes a journey throughout the movie to figure out who he is. Along the way, Hiccup meets his mother, encounters dragon hunters and is forced to fight against a dragon army in order to save his people and the dragons.
Positives: While the movie encounters emotional highs and lows, the two main themes in the movie are about perseverance and protecting peace. There are several incredible scenes of graphics as Hiccup and Toothless soar through the sky. Also, the movie did not feature an overdramatic explanation or portrayal of evil, which makes it a good movie option for young children.
Negatives: In my opinion, there were too many “mini-stories” throughout the movie that caused the movie to drag in places. However, if my only complaint is that a movie that lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes felt slow for 10 minutes, I’d conclude the movie was well done, overall.
Spiritual Application: While the Gospel is not mentioned in the movie, it would be an excellent opportunity for parents to explain to their children that there is a spiritual battle for peace. Throughout life, the battle will weigh us down in attempts to make us stand still if we don’t continually turn to God for His strength, peace and perseverance.
Rating: I would rate this movie a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Photo Credit: DreamWorks
by Annie Corser | Jun 10, 2014
How do you talk to your daughters, friends or sisters about modesty?
I remember as a young girl, shopping with my mom used to be a nightmare, for both of us. Mom would pick out the frilliest, most lacy, and most girly outfit ever made, and I would take one look at it and panic about how to tell her I didn’t like it. Eventually I came up with a system of looking at it and moving on to something else in hopes to avoid hurting her feelings. Growing up I avoided all things pink, itchy and dresses.
I remember my 6th grade year my mom made a deal with me that I would wear one skirt or dress each week. I was used to wearing dresses every Sunday morning, but I had never worn a skirt or dress, willingly, to school. As awful as the deal sounded to me at the time, looking back I am grateful for her persistence. She wasn’t just teaching me about fashion; she was teaching me how to act like a lady, how to feel comfortable in my own skin in anything, and how to be a woman.
But what does this have to do with modesty issues? Everything. The world portrays modesty in the context of being shy, unconfident and lonely. And if we aren’t sharing the Truth about modesty, that’s the definition that will teach the upcoming generation about what to wear.
Had my mom not taken the time to endure our worst shopping trips, my tears and arguments about wanting to wear certain clothing trends, I would not understand the meaning of modesty, either. This series of posts will explore fashionable options to modesty. Modesty that encourages women to be confident about who they are without the need to exploit their bodies. Modesty that allows women to show a gentleman her heart and mind before her legs or chest.
~~~
During the Summer months, shorts are often a touchy subject. For me, shopping with fairly long legs is difficult because it seems like the shorts are getting shorter and shorter. I have found that stores like Old Navy, Gap and Maurice’s offer longer styles.
Fashion Tip: The best rule of thumb to look for, in my personal opinion, is shorts that have a 4.5″ to 5″ inseam. If you wear a patterned shirt, stick with a solid colored short, and vice versa if the shorts are patterned. Too much pattern will not flatter your figure.
Old Navy’s Twill Shorts, Sweetheart Denim Shorts (pictured) and Boyfriend Bermudas all fall into this category.
Maurice’s Suki Dark Wash shorts, Thick stitch cuffed Bermuda shorts and Smart belted shorts (coral pictured) fall into this category.
Heart Check: Often when my Mom would tell me “No,” I wanted to know “Why?” Not because I wanted to question her authority, but because I wanted to understand what she saw that I couldn’t see.
In shorts, she saw that I would attract the wrong kind of attention — attention from boys who didn’t treasure me as a Child of God. When I began shopping for myself, I began to ask myself questions when I was trying to find what I liked. I would hear my Mom’s voice saying, “Why do you need short shorts that you are going to constantly pull down?” or “Why do you need shorts that expose your underwear?” or “Who are you wearing your shorts for?”
The media glamourizes short shorts because they want you to buy their products, products that will fade and made with cheap fabric. The Bible speaks about the beauty from within, confidence that shows through your attitude, lifestyle and countenance.
“Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornamentsor fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is insidethe heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) (HCSB)
Image credits: OldNavy.com and Maurices.com
You may also like: Talking Modesty: Midsummer Mid-drift and Talking Modesty: UNDERcover garments
by Annie Corser | Apr 17, 2014
Growing up I played on several sports teams. I played softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and I ran track and cross country. Running is what held out the longest.
I remember thinking during track meets it was up to me to warm up, run my race and cool down. There were not team huddles before each individual race. After getting my heat assignment, I would lace up my shoes and warm up. When I was called to the starting line the adrenaline always kicked in. Lining up and hearing, “On your mark… Get Set…” followed by a gun shot, always have the tendency to spike my nerves. I would take off from the start line, keep my eyes up and find a girl I wanted to make sure I would beat. Typically, as soon as I crossed the finish line, I was on the ground, too exhausted to take another step.
This past week I have realized how this is the mindset we have for our spiritual relationship with God. We see it as an individual race where no one else can help us finish. But that’s not true.
Every time I had a track meet, my Dad was there to cheer me on. He was my encourager and my biggest fan. Even days before my races the house slowly changed as the meals I ate were geared toward preparing me for my race. The day of the meet, my Dad would make sure he knew when my races were scheduled, so that he could be there. After I selected my heat, my Dad was there to know which heat I would be running, but he would also let me refocus and warm up.
During my race his voice carried and was the only one I would hear as I ran. He would yell my time, knowing that I wanted to have a new PR (personal record) each time. He would yell about what place I was in and how many girls I needed to get around. He would also yell when he saw another girl trying to make a move around me. He became my eyes and booster. Just as my Dad was my encourager, so God gives us encouragers in each season of our life.
These encouragers are found in the various places God puts us. School, work, organizations all have the opportunity to bring encouragers, but the biggest place God can use is the church. The church consists of a group of people who share the same mindset, beliefs and goals as you. They are not perfect, they go through seasons of good and bad times, and they are built-in encouragers. Part of the mindset of an individual racer is to think that you are alone in whatever season you are walking through. That is a lie. God created us with a desire for community. He was intentional. He also has given us people to engage in community with every day.
If I ran track with the mindset of running solely for myself. I would be lonely, vain, and I would miss out on helping my team win the overall title. I would also miss out on celebrating the victories my team members got individually. During track, some of the greatest moments came from running relay races with my team members. While each individual is important to the race, it took each person to run the race together in order to win. So it is with our Spiritual ‘race’ or walk with God. The team only worked when each member knew the strengths and weaknesses of the others. We would practice, lose some and win some, but we were always encouraging each other. Not only did we encourage each other in our relays, but in the individual races. We shared stories, experiences and advice. We built a community relationship. We were a team.
The same should happen in the church. We should be a team reaching out and encouraging one another as we run our individual races. We should be a team and help each other realize that some seasons are meant to be relays, where other people can carry our burdens to help us finish the race (Gal. 6:2). We should be a team by being transparent; sharing our experiences and advice. We should be a team and push each other to be better people and grow closer to God. It only takes one person stepping up and being humble enough to admit that their life is not perfect. It takes one person to express their trials and temptations. It takes one person to be transparent and other people to come alongside them to share stories, experiences and advice. It takes you.
You are not alone. There is someone in your church who has gone through the same season you are going through. There will be someone in your church who goes through your current season after you have gone through it. Are you ready to admit that you need help? Are you ready to be poured into? Are you ready to be filled with encouragement so that you can encourage others God will bring to you for encouragement? The first step you should take is to admit that you need encouragement and to allow the church to fulfill your need.
Are you a parent who does not know how to engage in your child’s life? You are not alone. Are you single and unsure about how to be content in God? You are not alone. Are you worried about your family’s unhealthy tendencies? You are not alone. Are you addicted to something that is harming you and those around you, or are you harmed by someone else’s addiction? You are not alone. Are you struggling with an unspoken sin? You are not alone.
God did not create you or place you on earth as the only human being. He also has not allowed for you to go through such an unusual situation that no one around you cannot relate to. The church is the body of Christ, but it is more than that. It is a team of believers who are ready to help you, encourage you, carry your burdens with you, love you and lead you to God. A team is only as unified as its individuals are unified. As children of God, we are called to be unified, for it is good (Psalm 133:1, John 17:23).
This life is fleeting, but it is a team effort. Are you choosing to be on the team?
by Annie Corser | Mar 12, 2014
I love to star gaze on a cloudless night and be outside on a clear, sunny day. This week I got to thinking about what it is about clouds that I don’t like. Here’s what I came up with: they block out the sunlight, or starlight.
And God reminded me that this is exactly like what sin does in our lives: it blocks out the Son-light that is inside us.
Matthew 5 specifically talks about being “the Light of the World.” I often read that passage thinking that He means we hide our light intentionally. Yet, sin hides that light, too.
Think about a lunar eclipse. When the moon passes directly behind the earth and can last for up to a few hours. The moon is hidden from view during the nighttime when this occurs.
We are the moon. The light we give off is not our own, it is the light of God. However, when we position ourselves into the shadow of sin, we hide ‘our’ light. And those who are in the darkness are not able to see God’s light shining in us until we repent.
If you are carrying the weight of your unspoken sin around, it’s time to give it to God. Lay it at the foot of the cross where it was paid for with the blood of the Lamb. It is on the hill of Calvary that the church can stand united. It is where we are able to lay down our sins and pick up our lights so that we shine as a city on a hill.
We are called to stand out. God knows we are not perfect, but each moment we have breathe, He offers us a chance to repent. I love the way that this song portrays the way that we need to fight to be who “we are” as children of the light. Kari Jobe, We Are http://youtu.be/B07iK9uh9qY