Page 58 - Full Sample of ec magazine

By Jennifer McCaman • illustration by Angela Martini
Extreme Mod esty Makeover

Hairnets and Stockings We have value because mODesTy TesT body or throw yourself at a guy. You never have myTh Guys only like sexy outfits and WarNINg:
CONFrONTINg
She greets you every day with a we belong to God. As girls, clothes are to worry about embarrassing pictures popping flirty girls. ImmODesTy
cheesy grin and a hearty scoop of God made us exactly woven into our DNA. up on Myspace. Sure, you can still dress cute, TruTh Guys long for a girl who doesn’t Girls who do not
From shoes and
green beans. She’s the lunch lady, as He wanted, and He purses to tops and wear make-up, and fix your hair, but your make them struggle. have Christ have no
and we love her. But think for a loves us. jeans—every choice is worth is not found in your appearance or your Generally, guys are visual creatures who are reason to dress like
moment about her, well, outfit. First Corinthians deliberate. even girls wardrobe. That is freedom. easily tempted to lust. Your choice to pursue Christians. We have
Picture the hair net, shapeless 6:20b (The Mes- who “don’t care” modesty hugely impacts their purity. You seri- a different standard.
about their clothes
Do not freak out
dress, apron that falls just above sage) says, “ . . . let intentionally don’t myTh Modesty is insecure. ously have the power to help your guy friends over their clothes
her gray stockings, and black, people see God in and care, meaning they TruTh Modesty is confidence. pursue Christ. Simply by wearing a shirt until you freak out
flat shoes. through your body.” intentionally select More than clothes, modesty is an attitude. that’s not low-cut under a plunging neckline, over their lives.
What words would you use to Like this verse says, quirky T-shirts, The world teaches girls that confidence is you help guys keep their thoughts pure. Also Your first goal is to
describe this fashion style? Odds are modesty is letting shoelaces, and found in looking sexy. Actually, true security by intentionally not sitting in a guy’s lap and lead them to Christ,
jeans to pull off the
not to dress them
“sexy,” “hot,” and “cute” didn’t make the list. people see God in and “I-don’t-care” look. is learning to see yourself the way God sees avoiding sexually flirtatious contact, you help up like a Christian.
As Christian girls, we’ve heard the word through your body. As lovers of fashion, you. Psalm 45:11 says “the king will desire them grow in Christ. Sure it’s difficult. Many Many non-Christian
“modesty” preached at us until it starts to Modesty does not how can we tell if our your beauty.” Psalm 139:13 teaches us that God girls think guys should just control them- girls think Christians
conjure up a cafeteria lady in our minds. For mean joining a convent choices honor God? knit us together in our mother’s womb. We selves, but it’s just not that easy. As girls, we judge them and
look down on them
most of us, “modesty” is a list of things we’re or never wearing are beautiful because we are made by God. connect emotionally. Guys connect physically. because of how they
not allowed to wear, including the scandalous makeup. Instead, it’s We don’t have to draw attention to our bodies Help your guy friends—and all guys—stay dress and act. Choose
spaghetti-strap shirts, two-piece bathing dressing and acting in a way that honors Christ. by wearing revealing clothing or flirting pure when they’re around you. By honoring to show these girls
kindness and love,
suits, and sweatpants with “hottie” printed Modesty can be defined as “freedom from provocatively. Running after the world’s idea of God with your body, you also respect the guys without conforming
across the seat. Admit it: modesty often vanity.” We all know people at school who are beauty only leaves us empty and insecure. around you. It might seem like guys don’t to their choices.
1
seems like your less-than-fashionable obsessed with flaunting their image. Modesty notice your effort, but (trust me) they do, and As Christ changes
mom’s main weapon in her plot to is freedom from the pressure to conform to myTh Modesty is boring. more importantly, so does God. their hearts, He’ll
eventually change
take away everything cute in your the world’s standard of beauty. Along with the TruTh Modesty is mystery. their wardrobe and
wardrobe. cafeteria-lady lie, the world spews other false Perhaps the most powerful word to describe myTh Modesty is easy. attitudes.
Actually this concept of modesty information about modesty. spiritual modesty is “mystery.” Modesty is TruTh Modesty is sacrifice.
is far from the truth. Modesty goes keeping yourself mysterious to guys and to the Pursuing Christ-centered modesty is totally
beyond clothes to the core of who myTh Modesty is restricting. world. Instead of flaunting your body, wear rewarding, but it is also a sacrifice. As you set Check out
ecmagazine.blogspot.com
we are. The world teaches us that TruTh Modesty is freedom. cute clothes, but cover up. Instead of throwing higher standards for your wardrobe, you’ll this month for some
our waist, bust size, and flirty Google certain girl celebrities, and you’ll see a yourself at a guy by calling, texting, and flirting have fewer choices at stores. You might have to modesty quizzes just
personality give us value as slew of photos that would probably embarrass all the time, hold back. Be mysterious. Let God go to two or three stores to find a bathing suit for the girls!
females. Psalm 139:13-15 speaks their moms. Hollywood teaches that fashion is cultivate an inner beauty that is captivating to that doesn’t show everything. Maybe you’ll
another message: freedom. They argue that a truly independent, the guy he wants to bring your way. Don’t get me completely ignore a style many of your friends
For it was You who created uninhibited girl isn’t afraid to show what she wrong. Modesty doesn’t mean being quiet or shy wear because it doesn’t reflect who you are in
my inward parts; You knit has. The media equates sexiness with self- necessarily. It’s great to have a bubbly, passionate Christ. Modesty also means that certain guys
me together in my mother’s expression. personality if that’s who God’s made you to be. are totally off limits. (You don’t really want
womb. I will praise You, In reality, freedom is only found in Christ. Just don’t let a desire for attention cause you to these guys anyway.)
because I have been When you honor God with your life, you make bad decisions. If Don’t be discouraged. Your choice to honor
remarkably and won- understand freedom at a level the world can’t mINI-CheCKlIsT a guy isn’t interested God with your body will always be worth it.
derfully made. Your imagine. This freedom empowers you to in you, let him walk Modesty doesn’t just happen. You have to
works are won- become the woman God made you to be. � Does this outfit away. If the loud, less choose to go against the world and be differ-
reflect who I am in
derful, and I The world’s idea of beauty is imprisoning. Christ? clothed girl in your ent. Intentionally decide to dress and act in
know this very Many girls become depressed, anorexic, cut- class seems to attract a way that glorifies God. Don’t let anything
well. My bones ters, or at the least, insecure with the way they � Can I move all the guys, don’t come between you and your commitment. ec
around in this outfit
were not hidden look. Talk about prison. (standing, sitting, worry. You will never
from You when I was Modesty in Christ gives freedom. You are leaning, bending regret your choice to 1. “modesty,” Dictionary.com [online], cited 6 February
made in secret, when I was free to feel good about who God made you to over) without pursue modesty and 2009. Available from the Internet: http://dictionary.
reference.com/browse/modesty.
formed in the depths of the earth. be. You don’t have to draw attention to your anything showing? mystery.
� Will guys respect
me wearing this?
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