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SPRING CLEANING YOUR



      CLOTHES CLOSET





      By Ruthie Flynn
      Copy Editor
        God’s ideal for us is
      to rightly represent Him
      in every area of our lives.
      As Adventist Christian
      women of any age, this
      clearly includes dressing
      modestly, appropriately,
      and attractively for church,
      in our workplace, and even
      in our casual wear.   A
      beloved pastor summed it
      up in the best way I have
      heard yet:  We should dress
      so that when anyone looks
      at us, their eyes should be
      drawn to our faces, where
      they will see God’s love
      shining in our smile.”
        Worldly fashion
      promotes baring as much of our   chosen to not wear jewelry is to   or knit tops for warmer weather.
      bodies as we dare—but God invites   have more financial resources to   Not only are they appropriate for
      us to live by His principles and   give to the cause of God.  Thus   church, but they can be ideal for
      standards.  When our hearts are in   we can help give the gospel to   dressing in our workplace.  Even
      tune with God’s plan for our lives,   the world, but also help support   casual wear during hot summer
      and we choose to dress by God’s   humanitarian ministries who are   weather can be modest, yet
      principles of modesty and what is   striving to provide clean water,   comfortable and attractive.
      appropriate and attractive for any   nutritious food, warm clothing and   God longs to help us simplify
      occasion, this goal is far easier to   bedding, shelter, and education   our lives, and living by His
      achieve than we might think.   for millions of persons and families   principles truly simplifies all our
        When we factor in the principle   who are simply struggling to   choices, including how we dress
      of dressing affordably, those of us   survive until tomorrow.  Our current   day by day.  As we transition from
      who live in North America have an   overwhelming refugee crisis and   winter to warmer weather clothing,
      added advantage of thrift stores,   escalating persecution of Christians   our challenge is to evaluate each
      especially Goodwill stores, as well   worldwide has multiplied our   item of   clothing in our closet by
      as stores like Ross and Wal-Mart.    responsibility to the lost, the last,   God’s principles.  Let’s keep the
      God has truly enabled us to live by   and the least.          ones that rightly represent Him,
      all of His principles, including good   Long skirts and dresses are   and clear out all the others.
      stewardship of the resources He   classic wardrobe items that are   “Therefore, whether you eat or
      has entrusted to us.  The underlying   timeless.  They can be paired with   drink, or whatever you do, do all to
      principle of why Adventist     warm sweaters or cardigans during   the glory of God.”  (1 Corinthians
      Christians have traditionally   cold weather, and attractive blouses   10:31 (NKJV)

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