Modesty... it's more than clothng.

My guest blogger today is Sarah. I met Sarah several,several years back through an old mutual friend. She was just a young girl at the time,but now she is a young woman. She is stylish,sweet,and seeks to honor God. I know you will love what she shares today.


Hey guys, my name is Sarah and I blog over at BE31. I am a wife to my best friend and first time mom to our fifteen month old son, Westyn, who definitely keeps us running! I am so honored to serve alongside my husband who has a heart after the Lord and is such an amazing father to our little boy. Underneath my calling as a wife and mother, a few of my many passions is photography, fashion and bargain shopping. I also love to sew and reconstruct thrift store finds and create one-of-a-kind pieces for pennies! My husband and I both serve in the ministry at our church, he is a musician and is apart of the worship team and I am a childrens dance leader and assist in directing choreography for the womens adult team and love it! .

The foundation of my blog is to dress fashionable while maintaining femininity and striving to emphasize modesty as apart of daily life. So that is what I am going to share my heart on today :). The fashion industry today seems as though the goal is "Less is more" but according to Yah's word we are to be Kadosh = {Holy and set apart} from the world. Leviticus 19:2 " Be ye holy for I the Lord your God am Holy". He has specific instructions that he requires of us when we accept him as our bridegroom and finding out what he desires of us as his bride is so important!  I believe that the Father wants to address our heart first since what is in your heart will be your actions by default right? I believe that.. There are so many aspects to being "modest" it is not only referring to clothing but how we think, act and speak And we must get to those areas of the heart first and from there the Father can work in us if we allow him to. I encourage you to get into His word and see what the Lord has to say about how he has instructed us to dress as His Bride...I am not saying I have arrived and have it all figured out but I can say my heart is to learn and grow into the woman I am designed to be and I still have a long way to go and by his grace I will change as he shows me..

To sum up, modesty is a way of thinking that is characterized by humility and purity, and results in appropriate actions



My style is constantly evolving but one of my favorite things right now is hats and Maxi skirts. This outfit is easy and comfortable while chasing a very busy toddler around and the hat helps when you only have a few minutes to be out the door!

Hat: Target (Hudsons) 

Skirt: Cato (old) 

Shirt: Target (Hudsons) 

Bag: thrifted 

Watch: Target (Hudsons) 

I want to thank Sarah for guest posting today. I totally agree with what she shared with us.  Don't forget to hop on over to her blog and check her out.

 Sarah from BE31 has a passion for modest fashion and being a wife and a first time mom is her ultimate priority. Sarah loves to decorate and style her family by shopping at thrift stores and finding the best bargain possible!

Surrendering to God- Our All

If you know me, you know I am a Southern girl. I was born and raised in a small county in Mississippi, the Southeast part to be exact. I never dreamed of actually living in a big city full time,maybe for a limited time,but not full time. I love lots of trees. I love open skies. I love quietness. I love the country. Creeks,rivers,ponds,fields of grass,and patches of flowers. I love the laid back,slow paced country life. Guess where I live? You guessed it, the city. A big,noisy,busy city. Ironic? Yes. Coincidence? No not at all.

It all started when I got married. The man I grew to love was training to be a Highway Patrolman in Alabama. We got to pick 3 counties to be relocated in after he graduated. We were only engaged at the time and really had no clue where we would be put. We just had to trust God would place us where He wanted us. Part of me wanted to move to the mountains of North Alabama and just start completely over. The other part of me wanted to just move across the state line to Mobile County, just 45 minutes from our hometown. I was a clueless young woman and had no idea what God would do in our lives. I felt it had to be something big,something huge,something extraordinary. By God's will, we were placed in Mobile County. We had no clue what a blessing this would be in many ways.

Our journey of surrender and faith began to unfold once we wed in December of 2006. We were not placed at our apartment by chance either. Our landlord has been used by God so much to bless us in big and small ways. I don't know if she knows that or not,but she's been a blessing. We long for the country again and to be close to family and friends. We long for our boys to know what we knew growing up. Endless days in the summer sun,cold winter nights building fires in the backyard. They haven't known that yet to the extent that we have. Not all is lost though.

Surrendering to God is not easy,ever. It always means dying to something you want or desire. But it also means God opening up doors you would have never seen if not giving up your desires. God has given us more than we could have ever asked for. He has worked in ways we would have never known. We have seen his provision countless times in big and small ways while living here. At times I want to scream. I want to just leave and move somewhere that would seem easy for us. Some days I want to have the "easy" life,as if any life is easy,but that is what we think as people. We think someone has it easier by seeing pictures on Facebook or reading their blogs. We all have trials,struggles, and problems we will face in life.

God knows what we desire as a family,but He knows what we need as a family. It says in Isaiah 55:7-9 that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We're still living in the city watching God do miracles. I am reading Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler,if you haven't checked our her site you really need too. A line that stuck with me from the book is this: Every miracle contains sorrow,for without pain there is no need for a miracle. But they also contain redemption. God is using my husband in many ways in his job. God is using us in our church. God is molding us and shaping us to what He wants right here in the city.


Even though we may not get everything we want,we can take refuge in the One who does know everything we need. He's our strong tower. He's our refuge. He's our very present help in times of trouble.

Where is God calling you too that maybe you don't want to go? It could be a physical place or a spiritual place in your walk.


Linking up with Time-Warp Wife for Titus 2sdays.

Putting On....

We have finished the Put On study that I started with the boys 8 weeks ago. I wasn't sure how it would go and I wasn't sure how much would stick with them. To my surprise it went well and they did remember what we talked about each day/week. I really recommend this for parents to do with their kids. My oldest boys are 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 and they loved it.


1. Compassion was our first character trait. This was something they really remembered. I would try to remind them to use their hands for compassion and not sinful actions. I traced their little hands and let them color them. The piece of clothing was a glove,so that is what we said these were.

Hands are for helping others and showing compassion.

2. Kindness was the second character trait we studied.The piece of clothing that represented kindness was shoes. I traced their feet and they just colored those. I reminded them to show kindness by going when someone called your name to help out or if you see someone who needs your help to go. I wish I could have find some foam shoes or something to decorate.

Our feet should move us to kindness.

3. Humility was the third character trait that we learned about. This was a little hard to explain even with help from the book. The piece of clothing that represented humility was a hat. I bought some foam hats and stickers from Hobby Lobby (my favorite store) and let them decorate the hats. I tried to remind them that being humble is knowing we are nothing without God.

Humility can help us be content where God has us.

4. Meekness was the fourth trait we learned about. The article that represented meekness was glasses. This was also hard to explain and help them to remember the difference from humility. I would try to remind them we cannot always see God's plan,but we can pray to see things from God's view. I found some foam glasses at Hobby Lobby and I was so glad! They decorated them with foam stickers. They really enjoyed this.

Meekness can help us see the bigger picture from God's view.

5. Patience was the fifth character trait we learned about. This was something that stuck with them. They knew what this was right off,which is funny. The article that represented patience was a watch. I tried to remind them that God has a lot of patience with us,so we should have patience with one another. I used some house hold items to trace a watch shape on the piece of poster board ( I should have written the items down I used ha!) and cut them out. They had fun coloring them.

Patience can help remind us to be patient and give others time to grow.

6. Forbearance was the sixth trait we learned about. The article that represented forbearance was a backpack. I really wanted to find some small backpacks for them to decorate,but I wasn't able to do so. I just bought a white gift bag and they colored it and put stickers on it. They were fine with that. I tried to remind them that we are not perfect people and we should try to bear (be patient) with others when they fail. We should not make excuses for them,but pray for them.

Forbearance can help us to remember how God is forbearing with us as we grow.

7. Forgiveness was the character trait that we learned about the seventh week. This was a good one. The piece of clothing that represented forgiveness was a belt. We made belts out of poster board. I tried to remind them that we all need a lot of forgiveness and that God gives as we ask Him to forgive us.

Forgiving one another holds us together.

8. Love was the eighth and final trait we learned about. The article that represented love was a jacket,reminding us to put on love. I tried to remind them that love is the greatest of all. God showed that by giving us His Son as a sacrifice. I found these jackets and thought they would work. I really wanted large brown paperback to make jackets out of,but I could not find them.

Love shows the world we are God's children.

Each week we added an piece of clothing or article that went along with the trait.

This study showed me that we may say we know what these things are,but it was hard to explain the difference in some of them. It was good for me too. I will definitely do it again with them.

Sweet boys!

Linking up with The Better Mom for Better Mom Mondays!

Friday's Fave Five

I have been so busy all day. My oldest has some type of cold that has made him bronchospasms at night,so I haven't even touched the computer much. I had this written out already and wanted to post. Please pray for Daniel. He is fine during the day besides a cough here and there. He is acting normal,has no fever,and isn't contagious. But the whole week at least once during the early morning he has woken up gasping for air,which is the bronchospasms. It's very scary for us,he doesn't remember it. We've got him on some medicine and he will start lung tonic as soon as Monday. My littlest one just has a cold,but he will start lung tonic too. So pray for him also. AND pray the other one does not get it. They are usually very healthy and do not get sick often. We try to do over the counter natural medicine or use an herbalist in north MS. He's great. Anyways. Just some prayer request to begin with. 

1. Cooler Temps... We have had cooler temps,if you can call it that. It's been in the lower 70's at night and not so humid during the day.
2. Family time... my hubby has been working a lot of overtime this month. We're like most families and trying to make ends meet,but we only have one income. Tuesday we had a family day. Mike took the big boys out to eat at Subway and I stayed home with Johnathan and played. It was so nice!
3. Pizza... we also ordered pizza on family day. I love pizza! I usually make homemade pizzas,but I love to order out.
4. Visiting family... My Daddy and Mama came by today after my Daddy's Dr. appointment. He did not feel good at all,but he spent plenty of time with the boys. We don't let them play the Play Station much,but I let them play with my Daddy today. Continue to pray for him. The Dr. says he has no Lyme (I don't believe that),but has Toxoplasma. It can be serious and the meds they will put him on can be dangerous. Please pray for him and my Mother and my family. I can't imagine the worst...
5. Walking... I have come to love the in home walking! I started a 5 day walking plan this week. I've been walking 3 miles. Whew... it is tough,but it helps me sleep better for sure!

Link up with Susanne @ Living to Tell the Story for more Friday's Fave Five.

Battling Insecurities

My guest blogger today is Kelly. I met Kelly at the small Bible college in Mississippi that we attended together along with her husband,Will. She is such a sweet,bubbly person. She has since moved away to Texas,but we stay connected via Facebook. I know you will be blessed by what she shares with us today.

    Insecurity.  It's something I've struggled with my entire life.  Even after I got saved at the age of 12, I battled insecurity.  I still do.  God has really been dealing with me this year on overcoming my insecurities.  I even spoke to a small group of ladies about it in a devotional.  Why?  Because as Christian women, we can be insecure too.  I messaged some friends to tell me their biggest insecurity. I appreciated so many being open and honest with me to share their hidden secret.  Some never responded, and I can understand how this can be a touchy subject.  As Christian women, we need to learn to lean on each other more and be vulnerable.  I believe God blesses when we let down our walls and let others in.  Sometimes I think we confuse humility with insecurity.  We feel like if we feel good about ourselves then we must not be humble.  That's such a twisted view of humility.  I want to share some different insecurities and some Biblical Truths that can help us.  God's Word has so many verses to help us see that we don't have to dwell in our insecurities, but with His help we can overcome!

Insecurity:  Finances.  Is there enough money to support our family?  This is one that I have battled as an adult for sure.  There have been many times that we barely were getting by, but we made it!  God has always been faithful, even when my faith was so small.  There was one time in particular that we desperately needed money for bills, and that same week someone sent us a check in the mail. I was in awe of what God had done.  Sadly, even though He always provides I still worry at times if we will make it.

Biblical Truth:  Matthew 6: 25 says, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink, nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more that food, and the body more that clothing?"


Insecurity: Appearances.  Overwhelmingly, this was the biggest struggle of my christian friends I polled and also for me.  I thought I was fat even when I was a bean pole.  There's something wrong with that!  Now I struggle with how much my body has changed after having 4 kids.  My husband is constantly telling me how beautiful I am, and I just don't believe him.  I'm trying my best to be happy with who I am, and what God wants me to be.  I do believe He wants me to be healthy, not perfect. 

Biblical Truth: Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty if vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."


Insecurity: Am I a good mom?  That's something that all mom's struggle with at some point.  Comparing ourselves to other mom's, and seeing if we measure up.  God just wants us to look to Him for guidance.  To me a good mom is a mom who loves her kids and wants to teach them about Christ.  A few years ago I homeschooled my oldest daughter, Katelyn.  After I had the boys, I really felt overwhelmed and put her in public school.  I struggled with this decision, but God gave me peace about it.  One thing that I make a priority is doing a short devotion and prayer time in the morning before I take her to school.  It really has helped both of us with starting our day off right.

Biblical Truth:  Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."


Those are just a few of the insecurities we all face.  I have in no way "arrived" when it comes to this subject.  God is still working in my life, and I pray that we all can overcome our "secret" insecurity and be confident and secure in the Biblical Truth's. 


I want to thank Kelly for being my guest. I was definitely blessed and encouraged by her words. Remember to pray for her and her family. They are ministering to a vital group.the youth. They really are a God seeking family.

Kelly Hutchinson is a stay-at-home mom and wife.  Her husband is a youth minister at First Baptist Church (FBC) Jacksonville, TX. They have 3 children at home: Katelyn (8), Isaiah (2), and Zack (1).  They also have a baby girl in Heaven, Ava Synclaire.  Kelly loves to help minister to the Youth and help minister to their own children at home. 

Good Moring Girls Online Bible Study

Today the enrollment starts for Bible study from Good Mornings Girls. It's called Loving Like Jesus and will go through some of the book of Luke. I participated in my first study last year. We began in the book of Luke and it became 3 separate studies,this one being the 3rd. I was so blessed by it. I love it because you are reading scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit for revelation. They are a wonderful group of women who just followed the leading of the Lord and now they are very well known on the internet.

If you haven't ever done one, I so encourage you to try it out. I will hopefully be leading a group. It will be the group I have been in since last Winter. I will take it over and lead this study. I am nervous and excited!! I get to encourage others and still be at home with my boys. All the info is on the blog,Good Morning Girls, today. So make sure you go there to check it out. If anyone wants to be in a group and you are on Facebook let me know. I will do my best to add you.

Friday's Fave Five

Whew,it's been a week here at my house. I am glad it's coming to a close and we get to start anew in a few days. It's time to look back at my week and count my blessings.

1. Friends... We spent Sunday afternoon with friends who are like family to us. We've known them for years,my husband longer than I have. It was a great time and the boys got to go to the creek for a bit.
2. Donuts... I love a good donut. I haven't had much sweets lately,but the boys and I found Smore's donuts today in Wal-Mart. Oh they were very good!
3. Family... The boys and I went to spend the day with my parents yesterday. It was a good visit. My Daddy just wasn't able to do anything. He had an adverse reaction to the medicine they had him on. Please pray for him if you think about it. Tony is his name. He is fighting Lyme Disease.
4. Slowing down... I have been writing for the last month on my blog almost every day during the week. I was trying to build my blog followers up,but I got to thinking is that really important? No it's not. My children are more important,so I have pulled back. I will post whenever I can or something is laid on my heart. It's been nice to not feel pressured to write everyday.
5. Exercise... I started doing my in home walking again. I have been walking 5 nights a week,starting out with the 1 mile and have been doing the 2 mile this week. I have switched to doing it at night. It works best. Oh my legs have been feeling it,but I can feel them getting stronger. It'll be worth it!

Join Susanne @ Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five.