Sluice Box Adventures
Believing Bible Study in the 21st century
For Women &
Girls
Proverbs 31
King James Bible
Daughters of Faith
An Internet Ministry For Encouragement Of Christian Girls and Ladies Around the World.
Daughters
of Faith
November / December Issue 2005
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Miss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Our Part-Time Staff:
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
I would, first of all, like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I thank the Lord for my salvation, made possible by Jesus Christ coming to this earth as a wee babe, to live as a man and to die as a criminal. He did not have to do that, and yet He did! He loved me so much that He would die to save me. I cannot express in words my gratefulness and my love for my Savior. If you have never asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and to save you, please do not put it off any longer! The Bible says that we can know for sure that we are going to Heaven when we die...we do not have guess and worry about it! Get it settled today if you have any doubts whatsoever. If you have any questions concerning salvation, please do not hesitate to talk to someone you know and respect who is a born-again believer. If you do not know any person like this, please feel free to write and ask me! I would be so happy to be able to share with you God's Simple Plan of Salvation. That's just what it is, too,...SIMPLE! So get it settled. No more doubts, only assurances.
Secondly, I wanted to let you all know that we are planning some big changes for Daughters of Faith starting with the January / February Issue 2006. Because of these changes and the time it takes to implement them, the January / February Issue may be a little late. Please be patient and pray for us as we are making very important decisions and working on some very difficult articles for that issue.
Thank you so much! **Keep Glowing 4 God!**
~ Laura Beth Wagenschutz ~
Requested By: Miss Abigail Gallagher
Request: First, please pray for my family in the upcoming months. My brother-in-law is going to Washington for training in
December; and then he is leaving for Afghanistan in March. pray for my sister and their two kids, especially. Also, pray for me while at the Public High school this year. I'm only taking two classes; but I've already gotten to know a few new people. Pray that I'll be a witness to them and others that i know.
Requested By: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Request: I would like to ask prayer for the salvation of my aunt Lisa, and friends, Liz & Sarah. Also, please pray for a lady named Kathy. This lady is Catholic and has cancer...my mom has been trying to get back in touch with her and hasn't been able to as of yet. Please pray that they will be able to talk and that she will get saved. Thank you so much!
Requested By: Miss Bethany Boomhower
Request: Please Pray for my Grandfather. He is 87 years old, has a lot of health problems, and is not saved. We worry about him. His name is George Moxlow.
Requested By: Mrs. Cheree Rothenberger
Request: Hello, In the last letter I asked for prayer for my step mother. Well after a long battle she passed away in October. I just want to thank those who kept Anna in their prayers. My father is doing well. His name is Charles Mest so please pray for him as he adjusts to the loss of his wife. Thank you again.
Requested By: Miss Hannah Brown
Request: Please pray for my friend, Jim Hogan. He is joining the Army on November 24th, and is leaving for Iraq in February. I also have 1 unspoken request. Thank you!
Requested By: Miss Rebekah Wark
Request: Please pray for my Uncle Len, my mom's oldest brother. While we were at camp in August, he had surgery for a tumor on his brain that turned out to be cancer. They haven't given him but maybe a year to live, most likely he doesn't even have that. Two of my great aunts also have cancer. They all claim to be saved, Praise the Lord!
The Next Generation
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10
Ah, I was finished with all of my schoolwork for the day, and had some free time to spare. I decided to make a visit to the teenage Internet debate board that I frequent. I enjoyed visiting this board every once in a while, because as it originally started out as a “Christian”-based board, often teenagers would want to discuss spiritual things, and I would have opportunities to witness to teenagers anywhere in the world. Although the board has since changed and now labels itself ‘inspirational’ rather than Christian, and though there are atheists and agnostics who frequent the board as well as those who claim to be Christian, I still visit occasionally because sometimes I can speak out for righteousness there to people who I would otherwise not be able to effect in any way.
My Internet board gives me an interesting view of a sample of teenagers today. Because I don’t attend public school, I really don’t get much exposure to teens who are “out in the world”. As I browse the different posts, looking for one that could use a Bible-based response, I see many different subjects being discussed. Some girls are asking others for advice concerning their “boyfriends”, but I usually don’t have much to say about that type of thing. Some people are discussing movies, or music, etc. Then there are the atheists who enjoy “bashing” Christians and their beliefs as much as possible.
It’s sad when you see so many teenagers who are cynical regarding the things of God. However, the atheists don’t bother me as much as those who claim to be “Christian”, yet show very little evidence for being so in the opinions which they express. Or almost worse, they believe all of the “right” things, but have not learned how to present them to others in an intelligent or sensitive manner. Because of this, many atheists have been given the wrong idea about Christianity, and see all Christians as people who have been fooled into believing a “myth”. I believe that there are many evidences that back up the truth of the Bible, and in order for us as Christians to stand up for what we believe we must be well grounded in the Bible, and in Christian apologetics.
As I continue to look around the web site, I begin to realize that this generation of teens is the next generation of adults, and the next generation of decision-makers for our world. As I begin to realize this, I wonder, “What will this generation do?” This leads me to think about the fact that we are the next generation of Christians, the next generation of Bible-believers, the next generation of teachers, door-knockers, and soldiers for Christ. I wonder: “What will this generation of Christians do for Christ? Will we be able to withstand the hard things in our world? Will we be able to defend our faith? Will we be determined to make a positive impact on our world? Will we serve our God to the best of our ability, and most importantly, will we faithfully pass on our faith to the generation after ours?”
I would like to challenge all of you (as well as myself) in this article about our own lives, and what we are doing to prepare ourselves to be strong spiritually in the future. We have all heard the messages preached about the Lord’s return, how it could happen at any moment, and how it is getting closer and closer. While all of this is true, the Bible does not tell us at what moment the Lord will return. Because we don’t know when the Lord will come back, we need to be preparing ourselves to be the next generation of adults who are eager and willing to do the Lord’s will.
The day may come when we no longer have any of the spiritual mentors in our lives that we have now, and when we will be in a position of spiritual mentorship to someone else. How will each one of us handle that responsibility? How will you handle it? There is no need to become nervous and anxious if you feel that you’re not ready for that right now. The Lord will prepare you if your heart is open to His working. I am saying all this to encourage each one of you to prepare your hearts for the work of the Lord, because one day, you’re going to need that preparation, and if you haven’t allowed the Lord to prepare you according to His will, then you will suffer the consequences later in your own spiritual life.
How can we prepare ourselves? By listening to the Lord’s leadership and drawing close to Him. If we do not maintain physical exercise throughout our lives we will become weak physically. Likewise, if we do not read our Bibles, and exercise ourselves in the things of God, we will become weak spiritually. If we are exercised in listening to His voice concerning the things we deal with in our lives now, then we will be much more sensitive and able to respond to His voice in the future. Your decision regarding whether or not you will listen to the voice of God, now and in the future, will make a vast impact upon your life, and the lives of all you meet. Choose carefully, because your decision will matter in eternity.
In His Name,
Deborah Brauer
Subscriber, Crys Jacobson sent this in and I thought you all might like it...
One day, a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The Teacher was explaining evolution to the children. The Teacher asked a little boy: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see GOD?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see GOD because HE isn't there. HE just doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up wanting to ask the boy some questions. The Teacher agreed.
The little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the Teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today, she doesn't have one...........
II CORINTHIANS 5:7 " FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT "
Isn't is good to know that, even though we cannot see God, He is indeed there! Evolutionists and others want to say that, just because we cannot see God, He doesn't exist. They teach that faith in an invisible Being is foolish, but it takes more faith to believe all the nonsense they believe in and cannot see!
I am glad that God is with me, even though I cannot see Him. Are you?
With a Grin,
Bekah
First of all, thank you to all who sent in their recipes. We enjoyed trying them all and they were all so yummy!
Thank you for participating, and better luck next year! :0)
Second place TIE goes to:
The 'Misses' Rachel & Hannah Rothenberger ~ Almond Shortbread
& to Miss Angie Miller ~ Fudge Nut Bars
And, First place goes to:
Miss Jessica Shold ~ Heath
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Ladies, please send us your snail-mail addresses so we can get your prizes off to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again for participating!
(In order to keep their prizes a surprise, we won't be announcing them in this issue.
We will, however let you know what they were after the ladies receive them. Thank you!)
~*~*~*~
An Advertisement of Heaven
An ad from the Bible:
FREE BEAUTIFUL HOMES
to be
GIVEN AWAY
in a
PERFECT CITY!
with:
*100% Pure Water Free
*Perpetual Lighting
*No Light Bills
*Permanent Pavement
*Nothing Undesirable
*Everything New
*Perfect Health
*Immunity from Accidents
*The Best of Society
*Beautiful Music
*Free Transportation
SECURE A CONTRACT TODAY
FOR THE NEW JERUSALEM!
~ The Bible Friend
~*~*~*~
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to our columnists, Ben & Kristina Jossund, who are expecting their first baby!
Due-Date: June 19th
May the Lord bless you and your coming child as you serve Him faithfully.
~*~*~*~
If you would be interested in writing an article for Daughters of Faith,
please contact me at: wagentrails@juno.com I would love to hear from you!
Please send a copy of something you have written before and be sure to include
your name, age (if you are under the age of 18), and a clear account of
your salvation testimony. I look forward to hearing from you!
This month, we will be sharing the first place recipe with you from our Christmas Cookie Contest! Thank you all for participating. We really enjoyed making all of the recipes and trying them...our dad's didn't mind it too much either! :0)
We hope to have more participants next year with nummy sweets for us to try!
Jessica Shold made this winning recipe that we know you will all enjoy. This is a favortie of our's now! Try it!
Heath Bars
Line a cookie sheet (with sides) with foil.
Place about 1 pack of saltine crackers on foil (side by side).
Melt 2 sticks of REAL butter and 1 cup white sugar. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Spread over crackers.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Spread one bag of melted mild chocolate chips over crackers.
Press in finely chopped nuts on top.
Cool--refrigerate until set--break into pieces.
ENJOY!!!
Just so everyone knows, you can still send us any recipes you want to share and we'll be printing those along with these recipes.
We look forward to hearing from you!
From the Kitchen,
Hannah
A Question
As we approach Christmas we begin to see certain words circulating in conjunction with Christ's birth - love, joy, peace... The world seems to be in agreement that this holiday celebrates the greatest demonstration of God's love toward man. After all, God gave us a gift, a baby, a cute and cuddly bundle of joy that was told there was "no room" for Him. In our big hearts we can't imagine telling an innocent little baby that, and so in all our decorations we let Him know that He is welcomed by us. Everything is right in the world - there are no problems between us and God - we have accepted His baby...
Yet there is something drastically different between Christmas and Easter. Why? This baby grew to be a man: a God-man that revealed my own sinfulness through His perfection, an Infinite-man that condemned me through the Words of truth that He spoke, an Innocent-man that suffered a horrible death and the rejection of God the Father because it was the punishment I had earned. To draw nigh to Him I have to see myself for what I really am - a sinner under the judgement of a Righteous God (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23). I have to see Him for Who He truly is - the Son of God Who's love for me found a way to satisfy the wrath of His justice by suffering in my stead (Romans 5:8, Col 2:13-15). The cross not only reveals the un-negotiable holiness of God by the severity of the sacrifice God Himself made, but is also the pinnacle demonstration of His love as He chose to offer forgiveness to all who call upon Him through the incredible atonement He purchased at the cost of His own blood, and sealed by His resurrection (Rom 10:9-11).
The human heart does not readily embrace this assesment of itself. It would rather say that its condition is not so bad as to be rejected by a "loving God." Yet the question that comes quickly on the heels of this is, "would Christ truly have suffered so much if it were not imperative for our salvation?" To pay such a high price on a whim is ridiculous. The only conclusion one can come to as they gaze on the cross and see not only the excrutiating pain, but also utter rejection of both Heaven and earth, is that my soul must be in grave danger to invoke such action from my Creator! Oh why can we not accept this? Why do we cuddle the innocent baby, but turn our face from the suffering, victorious Saviour?
written by: Kristina Jossund
The Art of an Attractive Appearance
“She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.”
Proverbs 31:22
“I cannot take care of my soul, God can keep that; but my body is for me to take care of.” (George Muller) A lighthouse shines its light out across the ocean or sea to guide ships sailing by. But a lighthouse is no good if the windows are dirty. Each window must be cleaned so that the greatest quality of light can shine through. We have spoken about being a light to the world, but you can never be a good light if your “windows” are dirty or lack care.
The next item to add to your “hope chest” is an Attractive Appearance.
You may have gasped, “Are you saying that our outward appearance is important?” Yes, Yes, and Yes! God sees our hearts, but Man CANNOT! The Bible reveals that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and a temple needs to be beautiful on the inside and the outside. “ …Impressions make points either for or against the Lord we represent. How can the world glimpse our Altogether Lovely Lord in an Absolutely Awful Ambassador? Objectors will hastily trot out the text, ‘Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart’ (I Sam. 16:7). This consideration, far from being a reason against, is an argument for meticulous grooming. The outward appearance is all that other persons are able to see, the only basis they have for judgment.” (With Heart and Hand by Beneth Peters Jones and Bobbie Yearick) We need to make our outside a sparkling image of God’s loveliness. As the saying goes, “Be prepared. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Attitude affects an Attractive Appearance.
Psalms 139:14 says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and THAT my soul knoweth RIGHT well.” (emphasis added) We need to have a balanced view of self. How we view ourselves affects our view of everything else. Self-acceptance is an important part of being attractive. Your attitude towards God’s masterpiece, YOU, will affect your appearance in either a positive or negative light.
An attractive appearance displays two specific character qualities virtue and reverence.
Virtue is possessing personal moral standards, which will cause others to desire a more godly life.
Reverence is respect for the property of others and learning to care for our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
You can never show virtue and reverence if you go around despising the way God made you. Taking “pride” in how you look is part of reverencing your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, but belong to Christ, taking care of your physical appearance is showing respect for the property of God. Once you commit to being a glowing temple, virtue will pour from your being. Respecting your body will lead to building high personal standards. Once these are possessed you will cause others to desire the kind of radiance you exhibit. God has given every woman the gift of beauty. We often see ads of before and after pictures of women who got professional help to get out of their slump and look their best. What is the common denominator? These women all decided to accept who they were physically and show respect for their bodies. Suddenly, a hidden beauty emerged.
This is all well and good, but there is a warning found in Proverbs 11: 22. “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” There are many beautiful women in this world, but their beauty gives the picture of a gold ring in a pig’s nose because they are without discretion in their actions, attitudes, words, and the way they dress. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (I Timothy 2:9) That word “becometh”means “something that flatters.” What does this verse say “flatters” a Christian woman? Good Works! “Inward beauty, which is ‘Christ in you the hope of glory’ results in outward deeds that reflect what you have within.” (Helpmeets of the Old Testament by Betty Jo Seay) As you can see for the Christian young lady, outward beauty and inward beauty cannot be separated. Each is as important as the other. Remember the lighthouse, inward beauty will not shine through an unkempt outside.
Let’s look at the life of a woman who understood the balance between inward and outward beauty and by exhibiting both saved her own life and the life of her people.
The Attractive Artist
In the Bible, we find an entire book dedicated to the story of one woman. This woman who goes from “rags to riches” possesses both an inward and outward beauty with which she changes the course of history. This story is found in the book of Esther.
Esther was an orphaned Jew in the care of her cousin Mordecai. Esther grew up pure in heart, body, and spirit. She was also very beautiful.
“In fact, she was double blessed with beauty: she was ‘lovely’ (meaning fair of form or shapely) and ‘beautiful’ (meaning beautiful in countenance and face).” (Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength by Elizabeth George.) One day after a series of events going on at the palace, Esther is chosen with an unknown number of other young women to go to the palace. One of them would become the king’s new wife.
Listen to what Herbert Lockyer says about Esther in All the Women of the Bible. “That Esther had great personal beauty goes without saying. Her dark, exotic features marked her out, and she was chosen as a candidate for the king’s favor, who, when he saw her for the first time must have been captivated by her physical charms. But through her beauty there shone a radiance of personality and character which enhance her beauty and gave it distinction in the eyes of Ahasuerus who chose her as his queen.”
I know what you are thinking, “So what if Esther was beautiful, what does this have to do with me? Esther did not hide her beauty by sloppy hygiene. How do we know? She was chosen as a candidate for queen! In Esther 2:2 it says, “Let there be FAIR young virgins sought for the king:” So, those men going out to find these candidates were looking for the prettiest girls for the king. Don’t hide your God-given beauty underneath a cloak of frumpiness.
These men were also looking for virgins, which means that no matter how beautiful physically, they didn’t pick up the women dressed like harlots. Esther dressed modestly showing to the entire city her physical purity. Do you dress in a way that causes people to doubt your virginity? Dressing in immodest clothing is like wearing a big sign that says, “I’m available.” Do you give strangers this impression? Something to think about!
After being taken to the palace, “The exquisite Esther took care of her appearance, dressed with care, and ‘obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.’” (Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George) Esther underwent 12 months of spa treatment. Think how this enhanced her already God- given beauty. When it was Esther’s turn to go before the king, instead of choosing her own attire, she allowed Hegai the king’s chamberlain to choose it for her. Why? Hegai knew what would please the king. After being around Esther for a year, he also knew what attire would best shine forth her inner beauty. So, Esther went before the king and the king “loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins…” Ahasuerus saw not only Esther’s physical beauty, but also her inward beauty of character, and he fell in love with her. The entire focus of these articles is preparing for the day when you will be a wife. All of your preparing will be for nothing, if when your paths finally cross, your future husband can not see your inward beauty because the outside is not what it should be.
Attractive Appearances take Action.
Talking about being beautiful inward and outward will get you nowhere. You must actually do something, and I’m not talking about plastic surgery! “You look exactly as God meant you to look, for, indeed, you are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14), But you can make an effort in the care of your appearance. So fix up…a little! Make up…a little! Dress up…a little! Shape up… a little!” (Life Management for Busy Women by Elisabeth George.) Change the things you have been given the power to change.
There are 22 verses in Proverbs 31 speaking of this godly woman. Only one of these verses mentions her appearance. This shows us that about 1 hour a day should be spent on our looks, 1 hour- not 3 or 4 hours, and not 10 minutes. So far in our study we have learned that the Proverbs 31 woman does not neglect her home or her family. For her to do all these other things and yet to leave herself unkempt would make her a hypocrite. She knew that her appearance was a reflection on her God, her husband, her family, and her home. She also understood that having an attractive appearance is an art not learned overnight. We have learned that this woman concentrated on the important things of life. What are the important basics of an attractive appearance?
Cleanliness
-This includes showering; the use deodorant and a fragrance, keeping your skin clear of acne, taking care of your fingers nails and toe nails, keeping your breath fresh and teeth clean, and the removal of body hair.
Attire
- The foundation here is the discretion I spoke of before. Your clothing should be modest, a reflection of God’s standard found in 1 Timothy 2:9 and Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man…for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Your clothing should also fit properly and should be free of wrinkles. Your shoes should be practical and not sensual. Your jewelry should accent your clothing, not be gaudy or worldly.
The same goes for makeup. A Christian young lady’s makeup should look natural and accent her facial features. This excludes black eye shadow and lipstick, and colors that don’t blend well with your natural looks. It’s important to find out what colors look best on you. Color Me Beautiful is an excellent source for finding out your “season” of colors for both clothing and makeup.
Hairstyles should be feminine and should complement your age, body proportions, profile, and face shape. Your hairstyle should also follow 1 Corinthians 11: 15, “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” This verse says that a woman’s hair is her glory. Why would any woman turn down her glory? Your hair is your crown and it should show all that you are a daughter of the King! One last note about clothing “If you don’t know what to wear, you probably have too many clothes.” (Unknown)
I know it is difficult to find modest clothing in the stores. A good website to find modest clothing is www.modestapparelusa.com. Some good books on modesty are Your Clothes Say It For You, Reflections on Feminine Modesty, and The Look: Does God really care what I wear? Take the time to study this out. The Proverbs 31 woman’s silk and purple spoke of elegance. Purple was an expensive dye made from a shellfish found on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. We can imagine that the Proverbs 31 woman may have traded her handiwork with the merchants to purchase this dye. Dressing your best does not mean dressing expensively. Dressing the best means “The best appearance at all times demanding the least time in order to reflect my lovely Lord.” (With Heart and Hand by Beneth Peters Jones and Bobbie Yearick)
In just a few short weeks we will be in the midst of the Christmas season, thinking back to the time when God sent His Only Begotten Son into this world in the form of a baby, born of a virgin, for the purpose of giving His perfect life on the Cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt in order that we, if we accept His sacrifice for us, might have eternal life. The exact date of Christ's birth is not important, but the fact that He was born of a virgin is vital to our salvation, for if He was not virgin-born, His death could not atone for our sins. However you celebrate Christmas, take time to praise the Lord for His goodness in providing for us His perfect sacrifice.
While I don't want to detract from the serious and spiritual observance of Christmas, I decided to share a little bit of fun which I have used at least three times at holiday parties to the delight of everyone who attended.
(Everyone needs an inexpensive, wrapped gift to exchange. Ask your guests to bring such a gift or purchase an assortment at a dollar store and wrap them yourself. Do not tell your guests ahead of time what you intend to do. Everyone sits in a circle, holding the gift brought, or received. All pass their gift to the right when the word RIGHT is read, and to the left when the word LEFT is read. The gift each person is holding when the story ends is the gift that person keeps.)
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RIGHT FAMILY by Kim Mason, Granbury, Texas
Christmas was almost here, and Mother RIGHT was finishing the Christmas baking. Father RIGHT, Sue RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT returned from their last-minute shopping.
"There's not much LEFT to be done," said Father RIGHT as he came from the kitchen.
Did you leave the basket of food at church?" asked Mother RIGHT. "I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to," said Father RIGHT.
"I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy RIGHT. "I don't have any money LEFT."
The hall telephone rang and Susan RIGHT LEFT to answer it. She rushed back and told the family, "Aunt Tilly RIGHT LEFT a package on Grandma RIGHT's porch. I'll go over there RIGHT now and get it," she said as she LEFT in a rush.
Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree. By the time Susan RIGHT returned, Mother RIGHT, Father RIGHT and Billy RIGHT had begun trimming the tree. The entire RIGHT family sang carols as they finished decorating. Then they LEFT all the presents arranged under the tree and went to bed, hoping they had selected the RIGHT gifts for their family.
Now, I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself, because that's all that's LEFT of our story -- except to wish you a Merry Christmas. Isn't that RIGHT?
From Nana Wagenschutz to all the Daughters of Faith: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
By: Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg
Ë What does the dictionary say concerning modesty?
1 : freedom from conceit or vanity.
Though we should be content with the way God created us, and it’s good to have a pleasant countenance, we ought not be proud of how we look, spend hours in front of the mirror (emptiness/vanity), or only care about the outside and how cool, stylish, and up-to-date our clothes are.
We need to be free from this type of attitude. The right kind of girl wants her clothing to honor God and not draw attention to areas of her body that don’t need to be shown off.
God considers nakedness to be from the shoulders to the knees (Is.20:2-4; Ex. 20:26; Ex. 28:42). Therefore this part of the body needs to be covered, so as to refrain from tempting young men around us and drawing attention to ourselves. GOD is to be the center of attention ... not any girl’s body.
We’ll study more on this a little later on in this booklet.
2 : propriety in dress, speech, or conduct.
What is “propriety”? true nature; a special characteristic : different; the quality or state of being proper : appropriateness; the customs and manners of polite society.
Obviously this particular word means that we dress in a specific way in which other people notice there’s something different about us. Then when they ask why we wear long skirts or don’t wear low, tight shirts we can tell them it’s because we are born-again Christians. As a result, we may then be able to share Christ with those individuals, and perhaps someone else’s life will be changed because we chose to be different from the world. (Philippians 2:15; 1 John 2:15,16; 1 John 4:4)
Example : Here in South Africa, anywhere we go, whether it’s a store or gas station, the mall or the library, we see people in uniforms. Even some of the cults wear identical outfits. I’ve gotten quite used to the many uniforms, so when I was at the library last week something seemed odd. All the ladies in the library match, yet there was a new lady checking in the books and she didn’t have on a uniform. It looked so strange to see her wearing something different. I almost asked her, “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you wearing the library uniform?”
Lesson : As a Christian young lady, God has given you a wonderful opportunity to wear a different uniform than those in the world, and to be a testimony for HIM.
Example ‚: A few years ago I attended a camp in one of the Northern States. It was a big place with a lot of people, and I knew no one there except my three sisters and a few friends we had briefly met. I didn’t know my way around the place and basically was helpless. But, one thing made matters so much easier – all of the councelors wore matching shirts. I could pick one out in the crowd of campers. If anyone ever needed help, all they had to do was grab the arm of someone in a blue collared t-shirt. I knew who to turn to in a time of need because of their clear distinction.
Lesson ‚: If you obey the Lord and dress differently from the world, you will be criticized . . . but in their time of spiritual need, they’ll know who to turn to. They will remember that you not only look different, but there’s also a peace about you ~ then, you’ll be able to point that person to Christ!
Now let us consider that first description of the word “propriety”: true nature. Let’s take just a quick peek at several words behind this “true nature”. Consider your own spirit and see if these character qualities are clearly displayed in your attitude, conduct, and personal appearance.
X Steadfast, Loyal
X Honest: Free from fraud or deception. Genuine, real. Humble. Respectable. Marked by integrity. Sincere.
X Consistent: Faithful. Marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity –- free from variation or contradiction. [Does your lifestyle contradict itself? Are you confusing to others?]
X Conformable to a standard or pattern: Accurate. [God has set a pattern for us young ladies to follow, but we must be comformable to it. If we are only humble enough and our hearts are yielded, the Lord can do so much with our lives as He daily molds us to His perfect pattern!] Remember, He is the Potter, we are the clay! Clay in and of itself is not beautiful, yet the Potter can take that lump of clay and make something lovely out of it. When people look at you, do they immediately think of WHO made you and is in control of your life? Does your life (attitude, actions, speech, or clothing) reflect the molding work of Christ in your heart?
3: Chaste ~ pure in thought and act.
4: modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.
Other words that mean modesty or propriety: rightness, suitability, decency, dignity, etiquette.
—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™
May Daughters of Faith be a blessing and an encouragment to each of you every time you read it.
Hi Laura Beth,
I just wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed this last issue of DoF!! I thought "True Modesty, What Is It?" was especially well written, and "An Encouraging Word" was wonderful!! I also enjoyed "And The Lord Called Him Home"! :)
Thanks again for sending it to me!!
Morgan Denise
Dear Laura Beth,
Hello! The newsletter this month was fantastic! It seems like it is never long enough. Could you possibly send a sample of your sister's CD to me?
Thanks so much.
For Him,
Ashley E. Wasson
Isaiah 6:8
We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
All of our columnists write according to these convictions.
Daughters of Faith is a bi-monthly publication and is, therefore, published in these months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
If you would like to submit anything for publication, we need to have it before the 10th of these months.
Thank you...
Our staff enjoys hearing ideas from our subscribers and we want each of you to be involved!
Here is a list of some ideas for things to send in:
Poetry
Recipes
Jokes
Short Devotional Paragraphs (Under 700 words, please)
Funny/Cute Children's Church Stories
Prayer Requests
Book Reviews
Classified Ads (Things for sale, etc.)
Quotes
Any ideas you may have for new articles!
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send any submissions to: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, wagentrails@juno.com
To Un-Subscribe from Daughters of Faith, please send an e-mail containing your name, e-mail address, and a brief statement of
your reason for un-subscribing to: wagentrails@juno.com
Have a Jolly day today,
and a Happier one tomorrow!
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Our Full-Time Staff:
Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, Editor & ColumnistMiss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Our Part-Time Staff:
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
A Holiday Greeting From the Editor...
I would, first of all, like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I thank the Lord for my salvation, made possible by Jesus Christ coming to this earth as a wee babe, to live as a man and to die as a criminal. He did not have to do that, and yet He did! He loved me so much that He would die to save me. I cannot express in words my gratefulness and my love for my Savior. If you have never asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and to save you, please do not put it off any longer! The Bible says that we can know for sure that we are going to Heaven when we die...we do not have guess and worry about it! Get it settled today if you have any doubts whatsoever. If you have any questions concerning salvation, please do not hesitate to talk to someone you know and respect who is a born-again believer. If you do not know any person like this, please feel free to write and ask me! I would be so happy to be able to share with you God's Simple Plan of Salvation. That's just what it is, too,...SIMPLE! So get it settled. No more doubts, only assurances.
Secondly, I wanted to let you all know that we are planning some big changes for Daughters of Faith starting with the January / February Issue 2006. Because of these changes and the time it takes to implement them, the January / February Issue may be a little late. Please be patient and pray for us as we are making very important decisions and working on some very difficult articles for that issue.
Thank you so much! **Keep Glowing 4 God!**
~ Laura Beth Wagenschutz ~
Prayer Power
By: Miss Amanda SedlerRequested By: Miss Abigail Gallagher
Request: First, please pray for my family in the upcoming months. My brother-in-law is going to Washington for training in
December; and then he is leaving for Afghanistan in March. pray for my sister and their two kids, especially. Also, pray for me while at the Public High school this year. I'm only taking two classes; but I've already gotten to know a few new people. Pray that I'll be a witness to them and others that i know.
Requested By: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Request: I would like to ask prayer for the salvation of my aunt Lisa, and friends, Liz & Sarah. Also, please pray for a lady named Kathy. This lady is Catholic and has cancer...my mom has been trying to get back in touch with her and hasn't been able to as of yet. Please pray that they will be able to talk and that she will get saved. Thank you so much!
Requested By: Miss Bethany Boomhower
Request: Please Pray for my Grandfather. He is 87 years old, has a lot of health problems, and is not saved. We worry about him. His name is George Moxlow.
Requested By: Mrs. Cheree Rothenberger
Request: Hello, In the last letter I asked for prayer for my step mother. Well after a long battle she passed away in October. I just want to thank those who kept Anna in their prayers. My father is doing well. His name is Charles Mest so please pray for him as he adjusts to the loss of his wife. Thank you again.
Requested By: Miss Hannah Brown
Request: Please pray for my friend, Jim Hogan. He is joining the Army on November 24th, and is leaving for Iraq in February. I also have 1 unspoken request. Thank you!
Requested By: Miss Rebekah Wark
Request: Please pray for my Uncle Len, my mom's oldest brother. While we were at camp in August, he had surgery for a tumor on his brain that turned out to be cancer. They haven't given him but maybe a year to live, most likely he doesn't even have that. Two of my great aunts also have cancer. They all claim to be saved, Praise the Lord!
The Treasure Box
By: Miss Deborah BrauerThe Next Generation
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10
Ah, I was finished with all of my schoolwork for the day, and had some free time to spare. I decided to make a visit to the teenage Internet debate board that I frequent. I enjoyed visiting this board every once in a while, because as it originally started out as a “Christian”-based board, often teenagers would want to discuss spiritual things, and I would have opportunities to witness to teenagers anywhere in the world. Although the board has since changed and now labels itself ‘inspirational’ rather than Christian, and though there are atheists and agnostics who frequent the board as well as those who claim to be Christian, I still visit occasionally because sometimes I can speak out for righteousness there to people who I would otherwise not be able to effect in any way.
My Internet board gives me an interesting view of a sample of teenagers today. Because I don’t attend public school, I really don’t get much exposure to teens who are “out in the world”. As I browse the different posts, looking for one that could use a Bible-based response, I see many different subjects being discussed. Some girls are asking others for advice concerning their “boyfriends”, but I usually don’t have much to say about that type of thing. Some people are discussing movies, or music, etc. Then there are the atheists who enjoy “bashing” Christians and their beliefs as much as possible.
It’s sad when you see so many teenagers who are cynical regarding the things of God. However, the atheists don’t bother me as much as those who claim to be “Christian”, yet show very little evidence for being so in the opinions which they express. Or almost worse, they believe all of the “right” things, but have not learned how to present them to others in an intelligent or sensitive manner. Because of this, many atheists have been given the wrong idea about Christianity, and see all Christians as people who have been fooled into believing a “myth”. I believe that there are many evidences that back up the truth of the Bible, and in order for us as Christians to stand up for what we believe we must be well grounded in the Bible, and in Christian apologetics.
As I continue to look around the web site, I begin to realize that this generation of teens is the next generation of adults, and the next generation of decision-makers for our world. As I begin to realize this, I wonder, “What will this generation do?” This leads me to think about the fact that we are the next generation of Christians, the next generation of Bible-believers, the next generation of teachers, door-knockers, and soldiers for Christ. I wonder: “What will this generation of Christians do for Christ? Will we be able to withstand the hard things in our world? Will we be able to defend our faith? Will we be determined to make a positive impact on our world? Will we serve our God to the best of our ability, and most importantly, will we faithfully pass on our faith to the generation after ours?”
I would like to challenge all of you (as well as myself) in this article about our own lives, and what we are doing to prepare ourselves to be strong spiritually in the future. We have all heard the messages preached about the Lord’s return, how it could happen at any moment, and how it is getting closer and closer. While all of this is true, the Bible does not tell us at what moment the Lord will return. Because we don’t know when the Lord will come back, we need to be preparing ourselves to be the next generation of adults who are eager and willing to do the Lord’s will.
The day may come when we no longer have any of the spiritual mentors in our lives that we have now, and when we will be in a position of spiritual mentorship to someone else. How will each one of us handle that responsibility? How will you handle it? There is no need to become nervous and anxious if you feel that you’re not ready for that right now. The Lord will prepare you if your heart is open to His working. I am saying all this to encourage each one of you to prepare your hearts for the work of the Lord, because one day, you’re going to need that preparation, and if you haven’t allowed the Lord to prepare you according to His will, then you will suffer the consequences later in your own spiritual life.
How can we prepare ourselves? By listening to the Lord’s leadership and drawing close to Him. If we do not maintain physical exercise throughout our lives we will become weak physically. Likewise, if we do not read our Bibles, and exercise ourselves in the things of God, we will become weak spiritually. If we are exercised in listening to His voice concerning the things we deal with in our lives now, then we will be much more sensitive and able to respond to His voice in the future. Your decision regarding whether or not you will listen to the voice of God, now and in the future, will make a vast impact upon your life, and the lives of all you meet. Choose carefully, because your decision will matter in eternity.
In His Name,
Deborah Brauer
There Is Reason To Be Joyful
By: Miss Rebekah WarkSubscriber, Crys Jacobson sent this in and I thought you all might like it...
One day, a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The Teacher was explaining evolution to the children. The Teacher asked a little boy: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see GOD?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see GOD because HE isn't there. HE just doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up wanting to ask the boy some questions. The Teacher agreed.
The little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the Teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today, she doesn't have one...........
II CORINTHIANS 5:7 " FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT "
Isn't is good to know that, even though we cannot see God, He is indeed there! Evolutionists and others want to say that, just because we cannot see God, He doesn't exist. They teach that faith in an invisible Being is foolish, but it takes more faith to believe all the nonsense they believe in and cannot see!
I am glad that God is with me, even though I cannot see Him. Are you?
With a Grin,
Bekah
Bea's Bulletin
Christmas Cookie Contest Winners!!!!!First of all, thank you to all who sent in their recipes. We enjoyed trying them all and they were all so yummy!
Thank you for participating, and better luck next year! :0)
Second place TIE goes to:
The 'Misses' Rachel & Hannah Rothenberger ~ Almond Shortbread
& to Miss Angie Miller ~ Fudge Nut Bars
And, First place goes to:
Miss Jessica Shold ~ Heath
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Ladies, please send us your snail-mail addresses so we can get your prizes off to you as soon as possible.
Thank you again for participating!
(In order to keep their prizes a surprise, we won't be announcing them in this issue.
We will, however let you know what they were after the ladies receive them. Thank you!)
~*~*~*~
An Advertisement of Heaven
An ad from the Bible:
FREE BEAUTIFUL HOMES
to be
GIVEN AWAY
in a
PERFECT CITY!
with:
*100% Pure Water Free
*Perpetual Lighting
*No Light Bills
*Permanent Pavement
*Nothing Undesirable
*Everything New
*Perfect Health
*Immunity from Accidents
*The Best of Society
*Beautiful Music
*Free Transportation
SECURE A CONTRACT TODAY
FOR THE NEW JERUSALEM!
~ The Bible Friend
~*~*~*~
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to our columnists, Ben & Kristina Jossund, who are expecting their first baby!
Due-Date: June 19th
May the Lord bless you and your coming child as you serve Him faithfully.
~*~*~*~
If you would be interested in writing an article for Daughters of Faith,
please contact me at: wagentrails@juno.com I would love to hear from you!
Please send a copy of something you have written before and be sure to include
your name, age (if you are under the age of 18), and a clear account of
your salvation testimony. I look forward to hearing from you!
What's Cooking?
By: Miss Hannah BrownThis month, we will be sharing the first place recipe with you from our Christmas Cookie Contest! Thank you all for participating. We really enjoyed making all of the recipes and trying them...our dad's didn't mind it too much either! :0)
We hope to have more participants next year with nummy sweets for us to try!
Jessica Shold made this winning recipe that we know you will all enjoy. This is a favortie of our's now! Try it!
Heath Bars
Line a cookie sheet (with sides) with foil.
Place about 1 pack of saltine crackers on foil (side by side).
Melt 2 sticks of REAL butter and 1 cup white sugar. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Spread over crackers.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Spread one bag of melted mild chocolate chips over crackers.
Press in finely chopped nuts on top.
Cool--refrigerate until set--break into pieces.
ENJOY!!!
Just so everyone knows, you can still send us any recipes you want to share and we'll be printing those along with these recipes.
We look forward to hearing from you!
From the Kitchen,
Hannah
An Encouraging Word
By: Mrs. Kristina JossundA Question
As we approach Christmas we begin to see certain words circulating in conjunction with Christ's birth - love, joy, peace... The world seems to be in agreement that this holiday celebrates the greatest demonstration of God's love toward man. After all, God gave us a gift, a baby, a cute and cuddly bundle of joy that was told there was "no room" for Him. In our big hearts we can't imagine telling an innocent little baby that, and so in all our decorations we let Him know that He is welcomed by us. Everything is right in the world - there are no problems between us and God - we have accepted His baby...
Yet there is something drastically different between Christmas and Easter. Why? This baby grew to be a man: a God-man that revealed my own sinfulness through His perfection, an Infinite-man that condemned me through the Words of truth that He spoke, an Innocent-man that suffered a horrible death and the rejection of God the Father because it was the punishment I had earned. To draw nigh to Him I have to see myself for what I really am - a sinner under the judgement of a Righteous God (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23). I have to see Him for Who He truly is - the Son of God Who's love for me found a way to satisfy the wrath of His justice by suffering in my stead (Romans 5:8, Col 2:13-15). The cross not only reveals the un-negotiable holiness of God by the severity of the sacrifice God Himself made, but is also the pinnacle demonstration of His love as He chose to offer forgiveness to all who call upon Him through the incredible atonement He purchased at the cost of His own blood, and sealed by His resurrection (Rom 10:9-11).
The human heart does not readily embrace this assesment of itself. It would rather say that its condition is not so bad as to be rejected by a "loving God." Yet the question that comes quickly on the heels of this is, "would Christ truly have suffered so much if it were not imperative for our salvation?" To pay such a high price on a whim is ridiculous. The only conclusion one can come to as they gaze on the cross and see not only the excrutiating pain, but also utter rejection of both Heaven and earth, is that my soul must be in grave danger to invoke such action from my Creator! Oh why can we not accept this? Why do we cuddle the innocent baby, but turn our face from the suffering, victorious Saviour?
written by: Kristina Jossund
The Hope Chest of Proverbs 31
By: Miss Gina AllisonThe Art of an Attractive Appearance
“She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.”
Proverbs 31:22
“I cannot take care of my soul, God can keep that; but my body is for me to take care of.” (George Muller) A lighthouse shines its light out across the ocean or sea to guide ships sailing by. But a lighthouse is no good if the windows are dirty. Each window must be cleaned so that the greatest quality of light can shine through. We have spoken about being a light to the world, but you can never be a good light if your “windows” are dirty or lack care.
The next item to add to your “hope chest” is an Attractive Appearance.
You may have gasped, “Are you saying that our outward appearance is important?” Yes, Yes, and Yes! God sees our hearts, but Man CANNOT! The Bible reveals that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and a temple needs to be beautiful on the inside and the outside. “ …Impressions make points either for or against the Lord we represent. How can the world glimpse our Altogether Lovely Lord in an Absolutely Awful Ambassador? Objectors will hastily trot out the text, ‘Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart’ (I Sam. 16:7). This consideration, far from being a reason against, is an argument for meticulous grooming. The outward appearance is all that other persons are able to see, the only basis they have for judgment.” (With Heart and Hand by Beneth Peters Jones and Bobbie Yearick) We need to make our outside a sparkling image of God’s loveliness. As the saying goes, “Be prepared. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Attitude affects an Attractive Appearance.
Psalms 139:14 says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and THAT my soul knoweth RIGHT well.” (emphasis added) We need to have a balanced view of self. How we view ourselves affects our view of everything else. Self-acceptance is an important part of being attractive. Your attitude towards God’s masterpiece, YOU, will affect your appearance in either a positive or negative light.
An attractive appearance displays two specific character qualities virtue and reverence.
Virtue is possessing personal moral standards, which will cause others to desire a more godly life.
Reverence is respect for the property of others and learning to care for our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
You can never show virtue and reverence if you go around despising the way God made you. Taking “pride” in how you look is part of reverencing your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, but belong to Christ, taking care of your physical appearance is showing respect for the property of God. Once you commit to being a glowing temple, virtue will pour from your being. Respecting your body will lead to building high personal standards. Once these are possessed you will cause others to desire the kind of radiance you exhibit. God has given every woman the gift of beauty. We often see ads of before and after pictures of women who got professional help to get out of their slump and look their best. What is the common denominator? These women all decided to accept who they were physically and show respect for their bodies. Suddenly, a hidden beauty emerged.
This is all well and good, but there is a warning found in Proverbs 11: 22. “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” There are many beautiful women in this world, but their beauty gives the picture of a gold ring in a pig’s nose because they are without discretion in their actions, attitudes, words, and the way they dress. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (I Timothy 2:9) That word “becometh”means “something that flatters.” What does this verse say “flatters” a Christian woman? Good Works! “Inward beauty, which is ‘Christ in you the hope of glory’ results in outward deeds that reflect what you have within.” (Helpmeets of the Old Testament by Betty Jo Seay) As you can see for the Christian young lady, outward beauty and inward beauty cannot be separated. Each is as important as the other. Remember the lighthouse, inward beauty will not shine through an unkempt outside.
Let’s look at the life of a woman who understood the balance between inward and outward beauty and by exhibiting both saved her own life and the life of her people.
The Attractive Artist
In the Bible, we find an entire book dedicated to the story of one woman. This woman who goes from “rags to riches” possesses both an inward and outward beauty with which she changes the course of history. This story is found in the book of Esther.
Esther was an orphaned Jew in the care of her cousin Mordecai. Esther grew up pure in heart, body, and spirit. She was also very beautiful.
“In fact, she was double blessed with beauty: she was ‘lovely’ (meaning fair of form or shapely) and ‘beautiful’ (meaning beautiful in countenance and face).” (Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength by Elizabeth George.) One day after a series of events going on at the palace, Esther is chosen with an unknown number of other young women to go to the palace. One of them would become the king’s new wife.
Listen to what Herbert Lockyer says about Esther in All the Women of the Bible. “That Esther had great personal beauty goes without saying. Her dark, exotic features marked her out, and she was chosen as a candidate for the king’s favor, who, when he saw her for the first time must have been captivated by her physical charms. But through her beauty there shone a radiance of personality and character which enhance her beauty and gave it distinction in the eyes of Ahasuerus who chose her as his queen.”
I know what you are thinking, “So what if Esther was beautiful, what does this have to do with me? Esther did not hide her beauty by sloppy hygiene. How do we know? She was chosen as a candidate for queen! In Esther 2:2 it says, “Let there be FAIR young virgins sought for the king:” So, those men going out to find these candidates were looking for the prettiest girls for the king. Don’t hide your God-given beauty underneath a cloak of frumpiness.
These men were also looking for virgins, which means that no matter how beautiful physically, they didn’t pick up the women dressed like harlots. Esther dressed modestly showing to the entire city her physical purity. Do you dress in a way that causes people to doubt your virginity? Dressing in immodest clothing is like wearing a big sign that says, “I’m available.” Do you give strangers this impression? Something to think about!
After being taken to the palace, “The exquisite Esther took care of her appearance, dressed with care, and ‘obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.’” (Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George) Esther underwent 12 months of spa treatment. Think how this enhanced her already God- given beauty. When it was Esther’s turn to go before the king, instead of choosing her own attire, she allowed Hegai the king’s chamberlain to choose it for her. Why? Hegai knew what would please the king. After being around Esther for a year, he also knew what attire would best shine forth her inner beauty. So, Esther went before the king and the king “loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins…” Ahasuerus saw not only Esther’s physical beauty, but also her inward beauty of character, and he fell in love with her. The entire focus of these articles is preparing for the day when you will be a wife. All of your preparing will be for nothing, if when your paths finally cross, your future husband can not see your inward beauty because the outside is not what it should be.
Attractive Appearances take Action.
Talking about being beautiful inward and outward will get you nowhere. You must actually do something, and I’m not talking about plastic surgery! “You look exactly as God meant you to look, for, indeed, you are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14), But you can make an effort in the care of your appearance. So fix up…a little! Make up…a little! Dress up…a little! Shape up… a little!” (Life Management for Busy Women by Elisabeth George.) Change the things you have been given the power to change.
There are 22 verses in Proverbs 31 speaking of this godly woman. Only one of these verses mentions her appearance. This shows us that about 1 hour a day should be spent on our looks, 1 hour- not 3 or 4 hours, and not 10 minutes. So far in our study we have learned that the Proverbs 31 woman does not neglect her home or her family. For her to do all these other things and yet to leave herself unkempt would make her a hypocrite. She knew that her appearance was a reflection on her God, her husband, her family, and her home. She also understood that having an attractive appearance is an art not learned overnight. We have learned that this woman concentrated on the important things of life. What are the important basics of an attractive appearance?
Cleanliness
-This includes showering; the use deodorant and a fragrance, keeping your skin clear of acne, taking care of your fingers nails and toe nails, keeping your breath fresh and teeth clean, and the removal of body hair.
Attire
- The foundation here is the discretion I spoke of before. Your clothing should be modest, a reflection of God’s standard found in 1 Timothy 2:9 and Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man…for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Your clothing should also fit properly and should be free of wrinkles. Your shoes should be practical and not sensual. Your jewelry should accent your clothing, not be gaudy or worldly.
The same goes for makeup. A Christian young lady’s makeup should look natural and accent her facial features. This excludes black eye shadow and lipstick, and colors that don’t blend well with your natural looks. It’s important to find out what colors look best on you. Color Me Beautiful is an excellent source for finding out your “season” of colors for both clothing and makeup.
Hairstyles should be feminine and should complement your age, body proportions, profile, and face shape. Your hairstyle should also follow 1 Corinthians 11: 15, “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” This verse says that a woman’s hair is her glory. Why would any woman turn down her glory? Your hair is your crown and it should show all that you are a daughter of the King! One last note about clothing “If you don’t know what to wear, you probably have too many clothes.” (Unknown)
I know it is difficult to find modest clothing in the stores. A good website to find modest clothing is www.modestapparelusa.com. Some good books on modesty are Your Clothes Say It For You, Reflections on Feminine Modesty, and The Look: Does God really care what I wear? Take the time to study this out. The Proverbs 31 woman’s silk and purple spoke of elegance. Purple was an expensive dye made from a shellfish found on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. We can imagine that the Proverbs 31 woman may have traded her handiwork with the merchants to purchase this dye. Dressing your best does not mean dressing expensively. Dressing the best means “The best appearance at all times demanding the least time in order to reflect my lovely Lord.” (With Heart and Hand by Beneth Peters Jones and Bobbie Yearick)
Nana's Notebook
By: Mrs. Ruby WagenschutzIn just a few short weeks we will be in the midst of the Christmas season, thinking back to the time when God sent His Only Begotten Son into this world in the form of a baby, born of a virgin, for the purpose of giving His perfect life on the Cross of Calvary to pay our sin debt in order that we, if we accept His sacrifice for us, might have eternal life. The exact date of Christ's birth is not important, but the fact that He was born of a virgin is vital to our salvation, for if He was not virgin-born, His death could not atone for our sins. However you celebrate Christmas, take time to praise the Lord for His goodness in providing for us His perfect sacrifice.
While I don't want to detract from the serious and spiritual observance of Christmas, I decided to share a little bit of fun which I have used at least three times at holiday parties to the delight of everyone who attended.
(Everyone needs an inexpensive, wrapped gift to exchange. Ask your guests to bring such a gift or purchase an assortment at a dollar store and wrap them yourself. Do not tell your guests ahead of time what you intend to do. Everyone sits in a circle, holding the gift brought, or received. All pass their gift to the right when the word RIGHT is read, and to the left when the word LEFT is read. The gift each person is holding when the story ends is the gift that person keeps.)
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RIGHT FAMILY by Kim Mason, Granbury, Texas
Christmas was almost here, and Mother RIGHT was finishing the Christmas baking. Father RIGHT, Sue RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT returned from their last-minute shopping.
"There's not much LEFT to be done," said Father RIGHT as he came from the kitchen.
Did you leave the basket of food at church?" asked Mother RIGHT. "I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to," said Father RIGHT.
"I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy RIGHT. "I don't have any money LEFT."
The hall telephone rang and Susan RIGHT LEFT to answer it. She rushed back and told the family, "Aunt Tilly RIGHT LEFT a package on Grandma RIGHT's porch. I'll go over there RIGHT now and get it," she said as she LEFT in a rush.
Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree. By the time Susan RIGHT returned, Mother RIGHT, Father RIGHT and Billy RIGHT had begun trimming the tree. The entire RIGHT family sang carols as they finished decorating. Then they LEFT all the presents arranged under the tree and went to bed, hoping they had selected the RIGHT gifts for their family.
Now, I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself, because that's all that's LEFT of our story -- except to wish you a Merry Christmas. Isn't that RIGHT?
From Nana Wagenschutz to all the Daughters of Faith: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
True Modesty, What Is It?
(Part 2)By: Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg
Ë What does the dictionary say concerning modesty?
1 : freedom from conceit or vanity.
Though we should be content with the way God created us, and it’s good to have a pleasant countenance, we ought not be proud of how we look, spend hours in front of the mirror (emptiness/vanity), or only care about the outside and how cool, stylish, and up-to-date our clothes are.
We need to be free from this type of attitude. The right kind of girl wants her clothing to honor God and not draw attention to areas of her body that don’t need to be shown off.
God considers nakedness to be from the shoulders to the knees (Is.20:2-4; Ex. 20:26; Ex. 28:42). Therefore this part of the body needs to be covered, so as to refrain from tempting young men around us and drawing attention to ourselves. GOD is to be the center of attention ... not any girl’s body.
We’ll study more on this a little later on in this booklet.
2 : propriety in dress, speech, or conduct.
What is “propriety”? true nature; a special characteristic : different; the quality or state of being proper : appropriateness; the customs and manners of polite society.
Obviously this particular word means that we dress in a specific way in which other people notice there’s something different about us. Then when they ask why we wear long skirts or don’t wear low, tight shirts we can tell them it’s because we are born-again Christians. As a result, we may then be able to share Christ with those individuals, and perhaps someone else’s life will be changed because we chose to be different from the world. (Philippians 2:15; 1 John 2:15,16; 1 John 4:4)
Example : Here in South Africa, anywhere we go, whether it’s a store or gas station, the mall or the library, we see people in uniforms. Even some of the cults wear identical outfits. I’ve gotten quite used to the many uniforms, so when I was at the library last week something seemed odd. All the ladies in the library match, yet there was a new lady checking in the books and she didn’t have on a uniform. It looked so strange to see her wearing something different. I almost asked her, “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you wearing the library uniform?”
Lesson : As a Christian young lady, God has given you a wonderful opportunity to wear a different uniform than those in the world, and to be a testimony for HIM.
Example ‚: A few years ago I attended a camp in one of the Northern States. It was a big place with a lot of people, and I knew no one there except my three sisters and a few friends we had briefly met. I didn’t know my way around the place and basically was helpless. But, one thing made matters so much easier – all of the councelors wore matching shirts. I could pick one out in the crowd of campers. If anyone ever needed help, all they had to do was grab the arm of someone in a blue collared t-shirt. I knew who to turn to in a time of need because of their clear distinction.
Lesson ‚: If you obey the Lord and dress differently from the world, you will be criticized . . . but in their time of spiritual need, they’ll know who to turn to. They will remember that you not only look different, but there’s also a peace about you ~ then, you’ll be able to point that person to Christ!
Now let us consider that first description of the word “propriety”: true nature. Let’s take just a quick peek at several words behind this “true nature”. Consider your own spirit and see if these character qualities are clearly displayed in your attitude, conduct, and personal appearance.
X Steadfast, Loyal
X Honest: Free from fraud or deception. Genuine, real. Humble. Respectable. Marked by integrity. Sincere.
X Consistent: Faithful. Marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity –- free from variation or contradiction. [Does your lifestyle contradict itself? Are you confusing to others?]
X Conformable to a standard or pattern: Accurate. [God has set a pattern for us young ladies to follow, but we must be comformable to it. If we are only humble enough and our hearts are yielded, the Lord can do so much with our lives as He daily molds us to His perfect pattern!] Remember, He is the Potter, we are the clay! Clay in and of itself is not beautiful, yet the Potter can take that lump of clay and make something lovely out of it. When people look at you, do they immediately think of WHO made you and is in control of your life? Does your life (attitude, actions, speech, or clothing) reflect the molding work of Christ in your heart?
3: Chaste ~ pure in thought and act.
4: modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.
Other words that mean modesty or propriety: rightness, suitability, decency, dignity, etiquette.
—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™—–˜™
Welcome to Our New Subscribers!
Welcome to Mrs. Selina Nolan and the ladies of her church! We are so glad to have you all joining us.May Daughters of Faith be a blessing and an encouragment to each of you every time you read it.
A Word From Our Subscribers...
Again, Laura Beth, all of your ladies did a wonderful job! This letter to me is great! ChereeHi Laura Beth,
I just wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed this last issue of DoF!! I thought "True Modesty, What Is It?" was especially well written, and "An Encouraging Word" was wonderful!! I also enjoyed "And The Lord Called Him Home"! :)
Thanks again for sending it to me!!
Morgan Denise
Dear Laura Beth,
Hello! The newsletter this month was fantastic! It seems like it is never long enough. Could you possibly send a sample of your sister's CD to me?
Thanks so much.
For Him,
Ashley E. Wasson
Isaiah 6:8
About Daughters of Faith
Daughters of Faith is a ministry of Twin Ports Baptist Church, 208 52nd Ave. East, Superior, Wisconsin. 1(715) 398-6947We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
All of our columnists write according to these convictions.
Daughters of Faith is a bi-monthly publication and is, therefore, published in these months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
If you would like to submit anything for publication, we need to have it before the 10th of these months.
Thank you...
How To Get Involved With Daughters of Faith
We would be happy to consider anything that you submit for publication.Our staff enjoys hearing ideas from our subscribers and we want each of you to be involved!
Here is a list of some ideas for things to send in:
Poetry
Recipes
Jokes
Short Devotional Paragraphs (Under 700 words, please)
Funny/Cute Children's Church Stories
Prayer Requests
Book Reviews
Classified Ads (Things for sale, etc.)
Quotes
Any ideas you may have for new articles!
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send any submissions to: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, wagentrails@juno.com
Subscription Information
To Subscribe to Daughters of Faith, please send an e-mail containing your name and e-mail address to: wagentrails@juno.comTo Un-Subscribe from Daughters of Faith, please send an e-mail containing your name, e-mail address, and a brief statement of
your reason for un-subscribing to: wagentrails@juno.com
Have a Jolly day today,
and a Happier one tomorrow!
SEARCH THE
BIBLE
Copyright 2024. Sluice Box Adventures All Rights Reserved.
