They Fit

 Last Sunday, I wore this dress.  I'd worn it several times before.

(I picked it up off the "Give and Take" table in our church's fellowship hall.)

The only thing I did differently was to wear it with the necklace

that I'm wearing in the photo below.

 After church, we went out to eat, and two strangers complimented me on the dress!

And when I picked up my friend to drive to our no-longer-Red Hats-lunch,

she said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you how much I liked the dress you were wearing Sunday!"

 THEN, yesterday a friend stopped by with these two dresses (above and below).

They'd been given to her and had been hanging in her closet.

She said she wanted me to have them.

I said, "If they fit, I'd be thrilled to wear them."

They fit.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today

and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. 

Why do you have so little faith?

 (Matthew 6:30)

....from one of our flower beds...

"Today you are supplied with everything you need. Your job is to live like you believe it."
(Paul David Tripp)

Sunday Best?

 

Many people attend the house of God attired the same way they would dress for a rodeo or a football game.

When people are to be guests at the White House for a meeting with the President, they dress up—suits and ties for the men; pretty dresses for the ladies. Appropriate dress indicates appropriate respect. When the President speaks to a joint session of congress, the gallery guests as well as the lawmakers are all dressed in their best.  (Dr. Tassell)

I don't know Dr. Tassell "from Adam" (as some of us say)!  I DO tend to think these words of his have merit.  And he has said it better than I can. I know there are many opinions on this subject..and I know it may be a little too "King Jamesish" for many...but here are more words from a post of his:

I know the Lord looks on the heart, and clothes don't necessarily make the man, but how we dress when we go to a worship service ought to indicate how much we honor our Lord. We do not have to be fashion models, but we should "dress up" for our Saviour's special day at His special house, the local church. The spirit of what I am saying is captured in the words of Malachi:

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Master, where is My fear (reverence)? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests (Malachi 1:6).

"Just as I Am" is an invitation for sinners, not a description of how the saints are to attend a church service. The Prodigal Son came home in rags. As soon as his father accepted him, however, he was dressed in a fine robe; shoes were put on his feet and a ring on his finger. Before Joseph went in to have an audience with Pharaoh, "he shaved himself, and changed his raiment" (Genesis 41:14). So should we look our best when going to the house of God to worship the Lord of the Church.

I am not pleading for barring anyone from a church service because of the way he or she is dressed.

Let's not allow our local churches to become sanctuaries of the sloppy and temples of the tacky. Let's respect our Master, minister and message.

God's Holy and Special Person requires reverence on the part of those who know Him and who seek to honor His Name. "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him" (Psalm 89:7). He is the great and awe-inspiring God who demands our worshipful respect, not only in the way we dress, but also in the way we sing.

We dress in a proper and special way on the Lord's Day because it is a special occasion and we are meeting with a special Person, even the God who is to be feared and revered. Because of this special occasion and special Person, we want to sing in a manner that is appropriate and befitting such a worthy and glorious God. It is a time of worship, not entertainment.

The dressing, the singing, the bending of the heart before God in humble worship—all of this is but the preparation of one's heart attitude for the glad reception of God's Holy Word. The One who is high and holy is looking for those who will tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:1-2). He is looking for those who will bow before the authority of His Word. "Speak Lord, for Thy servant is listening." 

...some jewelry I wore with my simple "black and white"...

As I said, I know this is a controversial subject--but one which deserves some thought and attention.  I don't even own fancy clothes.  The pictures above show how simply I dress for our Sunday morning gatherings.  And I KNOW that what is inside my heart is more important than what I wear.   There.  I've put some of my thoughts on the screen.  God knows my thoughts - both on the screen and OFF!

In Season and Out of Season

Plaid is apparently “in” this year.  And since I’m so fashion savvy (sarcasm), I was happy to find three plaid skirts recently at my afore-mentioned bag sale.  Here are two of them with a jacket I also found at a thrift store last week.  I obviously have no intention of wearing them together.

According to Wikipedia, the word plaid is commonly used to describe what is actually tartan.  Both terms originally had separate meanings. Plaid is derived from the Scottish Gaelic plaide, meaning "blanket" and was used to describe the rectangle, blanket-like garment sometimes made up of tartan that preceded the modern kilt.  Later plaid was used to describe the blankets themselves.

Tartan come from a French word referring to woven cloth as opposed to knitted cloth.  Today these terms refer to the colored patterns created by the weaving of various colors to create this popular cloth and clothing.

All this to say, I'll be sporting my plaid this season.  I also am aware of God's Word (Paul's to Timothy originally) saying, "Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season;  correct, rebuke, and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."  (I Timothy 4:2).

Spiritual preparation - knowledge of and obedience to God's Word - is ALWAYS "fashionable" for His children!

Thrifty Fashion at Sixty

Garage sale long-sleeved black shirt
Thrifted black denim vest
Thrifted belt
Thrifted paisley skirt
Thrifted black sandals
All items were in my closet. I'd never worn them together before. All totaled: No more than than $5.00. When I added the vest, it all came together!

(Don't worry about clothes...) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:28 & 33)

WHAT I VALUE in CLOTHING

from Thrifty Style at Sixty

• Versatility
• Good fit
• Classic
• Simple
• Easily maintained
• Modest
• Appropriate
• Attractive
• Affordable
• COMFORT