* I Just Gotta Say... *

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to the beach and spend some time relaxing and watching my son play in a basketball showcase tournament. The games were spread out over a few days so that meant lots of downtime for my husband and me to sit on our beach chairs and take in some sunshine.

You know how it goes. You’re sitting there taking in all the sights, watching young children play with their sand toys, glancing at boys throwing a football to each other and…oh my goodness, getting to see how everyone’s swimsuit looks on them. Oh, you don’t do that? Well, maybe it’s just me, but since I’m in the fashion biz I just can’t seem to help it.

When we weren’t at the beach, we were strolling down streets looking for neat outdoor restaurants to have lunch at or we were in a smelly, sweaty gymnasium watching teenage boys play basketball.

All in all, I had many opportunities to see how girls are dressing these days.
And I just gotta say…WHAT’S WITH ALL THE BRA STRAPS?

Seriously girls, what are you thinking? And wait a minute, it’s not just teenage girls, but it’s girls who are even younger AND its women who should know better. Just because it’s in style, doesn’t make it right. Did you hear me? I’ll say it again.

Just because it’s in style, doesn’t make it right.

There was a young dark skinned gal sitting in front of me at one of the ball games. She had on a black tank top with her white bra straps boldly screaming out, “look at me, look at me”! And then there was the mom of one of the players on the other team. She had on a bright blue bra with a light tan, almost see through shirt. (At least she had on a bra that day, because the next day, she decided not to wear one at all. And she wasn’t small chested, either.) Young, old, and in between, I saw more bra straps this weekend than I cared to.

Can I just ask you to pleeeeease look in the mirror from all directions before you leave the house today? If you need to put on a strapless bra to wear with that dress or top, then please do that. If you don’t own a strapless bra, then run, don’t walk, to the nearest store to get one. I also want to remind you that camisole straps LOOK like bra straps, and they aren’t appropriate either.

So girl, set the standard for dressing appropriately. Take the time today to notice what others are wearing and see how many bra straps you see that you shouldn’t. I’d love for you to comment back here and tell me your finds. It’ll be nice to know I’m not the only one who notices these things. And for now, just say NO…to bra straps peeking out of your clothes. It’s just not pretty, at all.

Beautiful Blessings,
Shari Braendel

www.fashionmeetsfaith.com

It's All About Accountability

By: Alyssa Avant

Genesis 4:7, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (NIV)

Temptation. Sometimes it completely stares you in the face. You aren't sure what to do and you just wish you could for once not give into it. You may wonder, “How can I keep from giving into temptation, especially giving in to the same sin over and over again?”

When I was a teenager, I often gave in to the same sins over and over again. For instances, lying to my parents just got easier and easier as I did it. One little white lie led to another until there was no way I could untangle the web I had woven.

The one thing that saved me in high school from continuing to repeat the same sins was having good friends that I could trust and that would hold me accountable for my actions.
What does it mean to be held “accountable”? When you are held accountable, you are “subject to explanation.” You must, therefore, explain your actions. If your only reason for sinning is “the devil made me do it,” then you're going to be in big trouble.

In order to truly be held “accountable” you must be willing to be honest and to also be responsible for your actions.

It may sound a bit scary. It is extremely personal, but having a relationship with someone (or a few people) that you can trust and who will hold you accountable is a great way to stop giving in to those same temptations over and over again.

When looking for an accountability partner it is important to look for someone who:

• Is the same gender. It’s better to share your struggles with another female. Having a guy for an accountability partner could be very dangerous!

• Is close to you in age. This may not necessarily mean chronological age, but may also mean maturity level. We all mature at different speeds and you’ll want to take Christian maturity into account as well. You will need to be on the same level with this person.

• Is trustworthy. You will need to be able to discuss personal issues with the person and be able to trust that they will keep them confidential.

• Shares the same morals and beliefs. In order to be able to hold each other accountable you will have to have the same morals and beliefs. If you don’t believe in drinking alcohol but your accountability partner does, you won’t be able to truly be held accountable.

• Will pray for you. James 5:16 says to “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Prayer makes a difference!
  

While an accountability partner cannot keep you from sinning, she will help you remember that you are striving to stay away from temptation and avoid sin, especially those that are difficult for you. Together, you and an accountability partner can be a great help to each other to keep each other on track and away from temptation.

"Solitaire"

By: Katie Rath

1 Peter 2:17, “Honor everyone. Keep on loving the community of believers, fearing God, and honoring the king.” (ISV)

I love the card game solitaire. I love repeatedly flipping through the cards, rarely discouraged by how many times I lose; I just keep playing until I win. Sometimes I even make a game out of the game, telling my cards that I won’t go to sleep or take a shower or read my devotions until I win. I have played so many times that I have “lucky cards” or preferred decks of cards that I am sure will help me win. For me, solitaire is the perfect mix of a mindless game that still keeps you thinking. But what I love best about solitaire is the most basic part of the game – you play alone.

A few years ago, I shared my love of the solitude of solitaire with my mother, and she told me something that absolutely shocked me. She told me that there are versions of solitaire that you can play with other people! What?! Involving others in the game undermines the name of the game and ruins the entire thing! But she assured me that playing solitaire with other people was more fun than playing alone, and it took strategy and speed. She invited me and my sister to come to the kitchen table, and she taught us how to play multi-player solitaire. Although I’m not completely convinced that it’s the best way to play, I had to admit that playing solitaire with other people was indeed fun.

There are some of us who absolutely love the community aspect of life. We are co-dependent people who appreciate being with other people and prefer not to be alone, especially when going through hard times. And then there are other people who prefer to go at it by themselves, just like I like playing the game of solitaire alone. But in a community of Christians, walking alone, while more comfortable for some people, is often the least desirable circumstance.

Scripture is adamant about community. Multiple times we as Christians are told we should desire to be a part of Christ’s family. Jesus’ analogy of the Church being a body furthers explains that we need each other to fulfill our duties to Christ, and that without each other, we wouldn’t make it very far at all and we are more susceptible to Satan’s advances.

God created humans as relational beings. God made a partner for Adam, and then He gave them children, and the concept of a family was formed. Friendship is another strong element in the Bible. Community is so important to Jesus that He lived His own life in that way, sharing everything with His disciples. Our interactions with other people are meant for encouragement and love; starving yourself of those things is spitting in the eye of the God who made you to crave them. Maybe you’re the type of person who doesn’t recognize the need for community, and you’d rather just be alone. However, even in our most solitary moments, we are never alone; we always have Jesus beside us.

Prayer:

God, You have made us to love each other. Sometimes it’s not easy to love the people around us, but I pray that You help strengthen us to appreciate the community around us. Help us to love our families and friends and respect them as You would. Help us to really care about other people and enjoy the body of Christ, of which we are members. You created us to live among other people, and I pray that You would help us recognize how important that is, even when we’d rather be alone. You are so good. Thank You for giving us our families and friends. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Every Teen Girl's Little Pink Book on Girlfriends, by Cathy Bartel

Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson

Think About It:

Am I someone who likes being alone or with other people?

How can I still show my family and friends I love them even if I don’t always like being with them?

Live It:

Are you the type of person who likes being around people or being alone? Even though it isn’t good for people to be alone, God made you who you are for a reason. Think about ways that you can still serve God and love other people, while primarily working by yourself. Serving in quiet places like a library or an office are great ways to love your community while still mainly being by yourself.

Power Verses:

Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (NAS)

1 Thessalonians 5:11, “So then, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing.” (NIV)

© 2009 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.

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