Deuteronomy 22:5 ~ The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

According to the Bible, women are to wear women's apparel (dresses/skirts) (and men are to wear men's apparel (pants), and to not do so would be an abomination to God).

Yet, there are Christian women who wear culottes as an alternative to wearing skirts. So let's evaluate culottes in the light of Scripture.

Maybe some of you may have never heard of culottes before, so here is a definition:
"Culottes- Trousers, usually knee-length or calf-length, cut full to resemble a skirt. Originally, the word was used to refer to trousers worn by men. Women's fashion appears to have appropriated the word in the 1800s, when women started wearing culottes so that they could ride astride instead of sidesaddle. From French, literally: breeches, from cul bottom"

Although, there are patterns of culottes that actually might resemble a skirt from some angles of viewing, the fact remains that culottes ~are~ pants. Pants are men's clothing. Culottes is just another word for trousers. Culottes are just full, baggy pants. They have two legs. When we think about it, what makes pants, pants? Is it not the fact that they have two legs? The definition of trousers (pants) are thus:

"Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately (rather than with cloth stretching across both as in skirts and dresses). English-speakers in areas such as Canada, South Africa and the United States often refer to such items of clothing as pants. Additional synonyms include slacks and breeches."

The fact of how wide the legs on a pair of pants are, does not change the fact that they are still pants. Baggy pants do not cease to be pants, just like no matter the width of a skirt, how narrow or wide a skirt is, the fact remains that it is still a skirt.  So, therefore since we know that culottes are a type of pants, and pants are men's apparel, then according to Scripture which says its an abomination for women to wear that which pertains to men, it is wrong, Biblically, for women to wear culottes.

So then comes in the argument that says, "but I need to wear pants to do a certain task". Dear sister, you should ask yourself, if I cannot do this modestly in a skirt, should I be doing this at all? And if the situation is absolutely unavoidable, then you can wear leggings underneath your skirt. Women have been wearing skirt/dresses for centuries, they lived their lives without ever wearing pants. As far as activities like taking walks (in the woods or such), bike riding, and riding horses goes, I have been able to do all such tasks (modestly) in a skirt. It can be done, you just must pick the right fullness and length of skirt for each task like that. You would not want to wear a skirt that is at your ankles going walking up hills, you would not want to wear a really full skirt while bike riding as it will get caught up in the tires.

On a website talking about culottes, I saw the catch phrase "And when you just can't wear a dress? Click here". But, as a woman you need to be able to find a way to do all things (modestly) in a skirt, or not do it at all. If a woman can't do a task in a modest dress/skirt in a modest way then the answer is not to wear pants to get that task done.  Dear sisters, there is never an excuse for disobeying God. If a woman wears pants, then they are committing abomination by wearing mens apparel.

His Handmaid,
Megan

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. ~ Psalms 89:15 

Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. ~ Psalms 149:5

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. ~ Psalms 32:11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. ~ Psalms 16:11

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. ~ Psalms 35:9

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. ~ Psalms 5:11

Have you ever thought what "JOY" is? Joy means to be happy; it means to be full of gladness and having the ability to be content in every situation you are in (Philippians 4:11).

Does this mean that if you are joyful you will never have any problems? Absolutely not! Our problems are from the Lord in that they work out His perfect will in our lives in order to perfect us. (Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9). It is our joy in Christ that allows us to make it through the problems we will encounter in this life.

A godly woman has a meek and quiet spirit. She has learned to accept the circumstances in which God has placed her. She has a contented spirit. Life does not have to be perfect for her to be happy. She will have a servant heart  (Mark 10:44, 1 Corinthians 9:19). A woman with this spirit radiates an inner beauty. She will speak pleasantly, with kindness (Proverbs 31:26).

Speak things that will edify (Romans 14:19). Speak things that will bring life and happiness and encouragement to other people. Make that a top goal in your life and you will find joy and happiness all around you, rather than gloom! Bitter people who usually have nothing to say good about anything or any one. They see everything through a negative, unkind, spiteful eye. Bitterness is what happens to someone who won't forgive. Forgive your enemies. Love your enemies. Do good to those that hate you.  (Matthew 5:43-48) This is the way of God. And with this way comes joy. It's easy to be kind to others when they are kind to you. But God has called us to a much more difficult task than that. We are called to be kind to our enemies, and to love our enemies. If you think of someone who is kind, what do you picture in your mind? Probably someone who isn't pretending to be kind because she wants someone to view her as a "nice person", but rather you think of someone who is inherently "warmhearted". They would think of being kind no matter what and be truly hurt by those being mean to someone else. This is what God would have you be.

Did you know that "kind" means to be very friendly, generous, hospitable, warmhearted, good. The next definition is important… It means charitable! It means helpful, showing sympathy, or understand for others.

Are you being kind and joyful now? If not, perhaps you are living a life that is only self-fulfilling. The secret of living in the joy of the Lord is to live a life for others. Joy and happiness comes to the person who lives their life for others. We are so blessed by God to be given a life full of unselfish duties. This is where true happiness comes from. Don't you love to help your mother? Don't you love to be able to be useful to others when they are in need? Females were created by God to give.

Every time you have reached the goals you have set in regard towards your home and family duties, you should be joyful! And even if you have found yourself not reaching those goals yet, you should be joyful that you can try again and that the Lord is there to give you strength to reach your goals. To be a happy, cheerful helpmeet, homemaker, and mother some day, you must be a happy, cheerful person now. What a blessed life and what a wonderful purpose we have as young women.

Dearest sister, finding happiness in life is easy. Its simply how we live our life. We either, "find ourselves", as the world advises, and be miserable, or find true happiness and joy in dying to self, living for Christ, and giving our life away to others through serving them in Christ!

If you find that you fall short of all these attributes, ask God to help you develop them in your heart. And He will! Seek God and His way, and you will truly find joy and peace!

*Taken and edited from Personal Help for Girls from PEARABLES Character training curriculm

Joyfully His handmaid,
Megan

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

~ Proverbs 31:30 ~

Anyone familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman has of course heard or read this text above. Most however, I fear, disregard the beginning parts of this particular verse and just use the very last part "a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised".

The beauty this verse is speaking of, I believe, is the outward / external-only kind of beauty where one pretties herself up in order to be attractive to others, rather than having true, godly inward beauty that shines outwardly. True beauty does not come from painting your face [makeup, ect] (The wicked woman Jezebel painted her face.. why would we wish to imitate her? 2 Kings 9:30), making yourself look painted, powdered, and fake (and, think about it.. doing that is just saying to God — "Lord, I'm sorry to say that even though I'm fearfully and wonderfully made, you really didn't do such a good job on my looks, so I'll have to fix that and improve upon it myself."), doing fancy hair-do's, and fashionable clothing.

Oh, girls! When you adorn yourselves with external beauty, you make yourself into someone who is vain and empty, having no price and no worth, for you have no true beauty ~ if you did,  you would not need to be showering on the powder & makeup and fancy hair-do's and clothes to try to make yourself pretty.

Dear sisters, adorn yourselves with modesty, shamefacedness and sobriety, good works (which becometh women professing godliness), and a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price! We've all heard the saying "Beauty is as beauty does" and oh, how true it is! The following excerpt from a book shows, indeed, how true this saying is:

In the cloakroom of a certain school a question arose among some girls as to who had the most beautiful hands. The teacher listened to her girls thoughtfully. They compared hands and explained secrets of keeping them pretty. Nettie said that a girl could not keep perfect hands and wash dishes or sweep. Maude spoke of the evil effects of cold and wind and too much sunshine. Stella told of her favorite cold cream. Ethel spoke of proper manicuring. At last the teacher spoke.

"To my mind Jennie Higgins has the most beautiful hands of any girl in school," she said quietly.

"Jennie Higgins!" exclaimed Nettie in amazement, "why her hands are rough and red and look as if she took no care of them. I never thought of them as beautiful."

"I have seen those hands carrying dainty food to the sick and soothing the brow of the aged. She is her widowed mother's main help, and she it is who does the milking and carries the wood and water, yes, and washes dishes night and morning, that her mother may be saved the hard work. I have never known her to be too tired to speak kindly to her little sister and help her in her play. I have found those busy hands helping her brother with his kite. I tell you I think they are the most beautiful hands I have ever seen, for they are always busy helping somewhere."

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.

~ 1 Timothy 2:9-10 ~

Following the footsteps of Jesus,

The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: [1 Cor. 7:34]

This verse has been on my mind a lot lately. Those of us young women who are unmarried do not have an obligation to please a husband, therefore our focus ought to be on the things of the Lord, pleasing Him and obeying Him in all things.

We should care for the things of our Lord ~ nothing else should be important. Is what we are doing pleasing to God? Is what we are reading pleasing to Him? Are we wearing modest apparel out of love and obedience to Jesus?

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Are we covering our heads in submission to the Lord and His headship order as we pray or prophesy? Is what we are putting before our eyes (movies, television, entertainment, etc) honoring Him and edifying us? Are we denying ungodliness and worldly lusts?

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Are we striving to be holy in both body and spirit? Pure, and blameless? We should not care for the things of this world ~ money (the love of which is the root of all evil), entertainment, fancy or fashionable clothes, things that appease and emphasize "self" or other pleasures this world has to offer. We should be seeking only to please our Lord and Saviour… who came to save His people from their sin.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

We need to be studying the Word of God, hiding His words in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him. Our focus should be on the things of the Lord, not on the things of this earth, which will pass away.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [.....] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Though we still must honor, obey, and respect our earthly parents, we have a Higher Authority to which we have to answer to for our obedience to His word. "Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe!"

Let us care for the things of the Lord, as we ought, and strive to be holy in both body and spirit!

Seeking my Saviour's paths,

I am sure all of us have heard the verse that the title of this post comes from. It deals with two of the attributes of a godly woman.

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4

I see so many women claiming to believe/support/promote this verse… but are they just promoters of it, or are they possessors of it also? Do they even really understand what it means? Or has having "a meek and quiet spirit" been reduced among some to almost being a cliché. Something said and acknowledged but not really understanding or following it. So what does it mean to have a meek and quiet spirit. Let's start off by defining the terms. (Definitions taken from the 1828 Noah Webster dictionary)

MEEK, a. [L. mucus; Eng. mucilage; Heb. to melt.]
1. Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all men. Num 12.
2. Appropriately,humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." Mat 11.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5.
QUI'ET, a. [L. quietus.] – Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 1 Pet 3.
SPIR'IT, n. [L. spiritus, from spiro, to breathe, to blow. The primary sense is to rush or drive.] – Temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary; as a man of a generous spirit, or of a revengeful spirit; the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Let us go to the house of God in the spirit of prayer.

So godly women are to have a disposition, an attitude of mildness of temper, soft, gentle and not easily provoked or irritated, yielding, and given to forbearance under injuries. We are to be humble. We are to be peaceable, not turbulent, mild, and contented.

When I read the above definitions and verse, I envision a pleasant attitude, a cheerful countenance, gentle, kind, patient, humble, compassionate woman, who does not get mad or irritated easily. Can you say that you line up with this verse? Do you possess the the qualities described above? If not, how can you make claim to have a meek and quiet spirit?

The next verses go on to say:

"For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." 1 Peter 3:5,6

Another attribute of a godly woman, is that she will happily obey and submit to her earthly authorities/head, whether it be her parents if she is unmarried, or her husband if she is married (that is unless they are leading her to disobey God). She will not grumble, murmur, and complain about it.

The opposite of a godly woman would be someone who is harsh, blunt, lacking discretion, easily irritated, provoked, and easy to anger, willful, proud, of a unpleasant countenance, not peaceable, turbulent, giving offense, exciting controversy, in disorder or trouble, discontent, disobedient to authorities/head, contentious, being loud, not submissive, obnoxious, overbearing, having a bad attitude. If you can see any of these qualities in yourself? We all need to be constantly evaluating ourselves by the light of God's Word. The Lord expects us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. If we only want to claim a meek and quiet spirit in doctrinal knowledge, but not actually possess a meek and quiet spirit, we deceive ourselves.

Your sister in Christ,
Megan