When Change Brings Pain

My family and I have been attending church at a very family oriented church for the past five years. Other than a few pastoral changes (pastors coming and going, due to retirement, change in course etc.), this Church has been a wonderful change for us. We've been blessed through the teachings, the activities, and the friendships of fellow brethren.

One thing that's lacking is the solid foundation of prayer, and intense bible study. Though there are some established bible study groups at individual homes, one that takes place in the morning hours, none of that is geared toward the youth. I know that no church body is perfect, but we wanted more, for our kids.

My husband and I have been extremely blessed to have had very solid biblical teachings background, and a practical prayer life from our old Church, which even though we've tried to instill in our children is not being enforced in the environment that they spend so much time in. So after much prayer and consideration, we felt led to go back to Bethel.  The church where we started from, our old church.

The 'old church' teaches very strong christian principles when it comes to dressing. The believe is that any child of God should be modest, not causing others to stumble through their dressing. The wearing of pants, make-up, and jewelry is not encouraged, it is actually frowned at. It is also their believe that hair covering must be worn in church.

My teenage daughter is the one that's all torn apart right now because of this move. She's not looking forward to doing away with a lot of her skinny jeans, earrings, and the thought of having to wear hats to church.

Is there anything wrong with wearing pants?

Though our relationship with our heavenly father is not defined by our outfit. Once washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to be modest in our dressings, covering our nakedness. The bible also states in 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."

This has been a controversial verse in many churches. How we define what should be worn by a man or a woman is relative, and strictly defined by culture. Men wear berets, so do women. Men wear blazers, so do women, Men wear socks, sweaters, and shawls, so do women. The only distinctive way of telling the difference is often the color or the tailoring of each.

It is best to pray for the Holy Spirit's understanding of this verse. I do believe that there a reason this verse was included in the bible to begin with, and that sometimes the word need to be interpreted literally.

Though the 'old church' tends to focus some on modest dressing, sound biblical teachings, emphasis on holy living, and regular prayer meetings (and all-night prayers), was never lacking. And while our other church believe the same biblical doctrines similar to our old church, we feel that the aspect of corporate prayer, having a designated day where the entire body can come together for prayer, and emphasis on holy living is lacking.

With that said, I also believe that if we choose to be a part of a believing church body, we are to do whatever is humanly possible, not to be a stumbling block in the life of those other believers. The outfit should not cause us to lose sight of what's important. And that is, maintaining a healthy relationship with our fellow believers. And keeping our focus on heaven.

This move will definitely bring some pain. Relationships that has been built over the years risk fizzling away, or been lost. You know what they say, "out of sight, is out of mind". But knowing that our children are going to have the opportunity to grow in grace, in their prayer life, and in the knowledge of our savior and Lord, that makes it all worth it.

It shall be well.

He Orders Our Steps And Directs Our Ways

This week I was given the opportunity to be sign up for a job assignment that will occupy me from Tuesday through Friday. This was Monday, while I was working on a separate assignment. As I pondered how to response, "wonderful, sure, why not!", something in me was quietly saying, "Easy, not Wednesday. Say no to the Wednesday". Just shortly (few seconds, maybe) after, I find myself saying, "I'll take the Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but not the Wednesday".

I can't believe I just said "NO" to an opportunity to work a full week. Isn't that what I've wanted, to work the entire days of the last week before the holiday break?. I asked myself over and over again, and I even started to beat myself up for it. I wanted to go back and say, "I'll take the Wednesday too", but the assigning manager came over to inform me that they found someone to take the Wednesday slot and then she thanked me for working with them on the assigned schedules.

Well, I got home Tuesday night from work, and my older son, who is in high school, wanted me to know that I'll need to pick him up from school earlier that Wednesday, that is, the Wednesday that I wasn't scheduled to work. Why?, I asked him.

You see, it's final exam week, and he'd only have one exam on that Wednesday. That would be in the early morning. Most students will be in and out since many (including my son) have exempted some of their finals. The school is encouraging that students be picked up after their exams so as to discourage them from roaming around an almost empty school and hallways.

My other son, who six, and in first grade has a school party on that Thursday, which I completely forgot. To play our part, there are some things that I needed to get for the party. And then, there was this problem I've been having with my truck, and some other minor things that I've been putting off.

If I didn't have this Wednesday to myself, I wouldn't have been able to pick my son up from school, shop for my other son's Christmas party, fix my truck, take a break enough to realise what God is doing all around me.

It didn't seem so at first, but I believe that God has a hand in this. He that holds the future in the palm of His hands. My helper and my Lord directs my paths, and orders my steps. He made it possible to write this post too, because I did it on that Wednesday.

The steps of the righteous man are ordered by the Lord. Psalms 37:23

Maybe you find yourself struggling with a decision you've made or need to make. Know this, if you are a believer, be rest assured that though you may not know what lies ahead, but if you will just trust that Christ's got your back, that He knows what you may not know, and He sees what you can't see, then it shall be well with you.

Only trust Him. For "...He he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). God Almighty will direct your path. Just trust Him.