Well KOSMOS is over! There were more than 550 young people at the SCORE sponsored conference here in San Jose, Costa Rica, last week. The purpose was to impact a large group at one time thru teachings and practical ministry opportunities.
Bob and I, along with Mike and Linda Fourman, headed up the dental/medical ministries. We were able to lead teams into Los Guidos (a very poor barrio of Nicarauguan residents) for 4 days. Bob also gave medical care to several of the attendees!
There were 3 teaching sessions each day, along with 6 hours devoted to the practical ministry.
All but one of the speakers were men..pastors at various churches in the US. Most were quite good. There was only one that Bob and I were very disappointed by. He spent 8 minutes of his alotted 40 minutes on his intro. But what he shared in those 8 minutes, while on the surface was funny, it took the mind along a path that was not edifying. I had a hard time listening to anything he had to share after that.
Late Friday afternoon the speaker was Carrie McDonnell, who served as a missionary with her husband in Iraq. Her husband was killed there along with 3 other missionaries. She survived 22 gunshots to her body! Her testimony was uplifting and encouraging.
One of the things she shared had a real impact and one that needs to be shared more. If as a young person you feel you have been called into full-time ministry, you should NOT be dating someone who does not have the same call. If the person you are dating, does not share a similar calling, they will pull you away from where you should be headed.
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But I heard my best message after the conference was officially over. It wasn't even given by one of the main speakers, or anyone up on the platform at all.
There was a missionary couple attending that had served in Israel for a few years, but are now back in the States. They have been to the DR at SCORE in the past at a time that I wasn't there. But we spent some time talking on the bus one afternoon. I enjoyed their company and their attitudes so much.
All week I had noticed how nicely the wife was dressed. NOT flashy, not drab blacks/browns, but in colors and styles that were becoming, feminine and stylish. What I noticed was her gracefulness and quiet beauty that was reflected in the way she dressed. She had such a sweet spirit about her.
As we said goodbye, she was turned to speak to someone else, so I told her husband that he had a beautiful wife. He agreed, of course! She then turned her attention back to us, and I made a comment that I had noticed how nicely she was dressed each day. Her response?
"I am dressing for the King!"
WOW! What a response! I love it! Yes, I know I am a child of the King, but does my dress reflect who I belong to?
In contrast there was a young woman here yesterday morning that was dressed for church in something so inappropriate as to be offensive. Her dad is actually the pastor of one of our supporting churches in the States. To me she appeared to be about 16 years old and what she was wearing was appropriate to sleep in NOT to wear in public. I was able to pull her aside to tell her that it would be best if she changed. Bob and I had cared for her physically earlier in the week, and she knew us from our visits to her home church, so it wasn't that she was a total stranger. She took it well ~~ but her 2nd choice wasn't much better.
I hope I don't sound judgmental, but after the 1st lady's response of 'dressing for the King' I just felt that I should say something. What really threw me is that this girl is NOT 16 but 24! I wanted to cry for her. Somehow she has gotten the message that revealing her body with her choice of clothing was allright.
Where have we failed our sisters, daughters, grand-daughters, friends, etc, when we have neglected to let them know that they are "dressing for the KING!" I am not saying that our emphasis should be on clothing; that we go on an expensive shopping spree, etc. But does our clothing reflect whose we are?
I don't know if I'm expressing myself well in this post. I do NOT want to come across as pointing fingers, etc. But I just want us all to know, to realize and to be able to say;
"I am dressing for the King!"
i'm glad you were inspired and encouraged during your time in CR! Good comments about dressing modestly!
ReplyDeleteI know you don't know me (we are pretty new at Grace) but I so enjoyed this post that i just had to comment. I LOVED your observations about "dressing for the KING". That's an awesome thought! I have 3 daughters and this subject is very active in our home. I am really struggling with the inappropriate amount of skin (especially breasts) that is revealed by sisters in Christ. I've been praying that God would reveal if there is anything He would have me proactively doing. I can't understand how a Christian woman can look in the mirror and really think she is glorifying God with all that skin showing. I have done a ton of research on how women affect men with their clothes (or lack thereof). My daughters remind me frequently that women just haven't been taught- they don't know. I believe, in the church today, that needs to be changed. Women need to be taught what Godly modesty looks like- what it is to dress to glorify God and have the femininity and quietness of the lady you blogged about.
ReplyDeleteSorry this is so long- you just happened to hit one of my hot spots. :)
Glad to *meet* you Margaret.
ReplyDeleteFor years I have thought that so often we have the wrong approach to dressing. Usually, we hear the comments "How short is okay?" "Is this too low?"
To me, those are the wrong questions because they are basically asking, "How much can I get away with?"
To me the real questions are: "Will this please my LORD?" "Will it bring honor to His name?"
And saying "I'm dressing for the KING!" adds a whole other perspective I think.
I agree with your daughters: Women just haven't been taught.
Sad, isn't it?
Preach it, Sister :o)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Anna! I agree with what you stated about asking the wrong questions. We tend to go there in all kinds of situations - to want to know how much we can "get away with", instead of viewing our speech, actions and dress as avenues to bring glory to God.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!