Jennifer Knapp Trinity

A Modest Heart

Definitions of the word 'Modesty':

1. Freedom from vanity or conceit
2. Reserve or propriety in speech, dress, or behavior.
3. Lack of pretentiousness; simplicity.
4. Websters Dictionary: mod·esty (mäd′is tē) noun
- unassuming or humble behavior
- lack of excesses or pretensions
- moderation, decency; decorum

Quotes on Modesty...

'Modesty’s at times its own reward, like virtue' —Lord Byron

'Modesty is the conscience of the body' - Honore De Balzac

'Modesty once extinhguished knows not how to return' - Seneca Quote - (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

'Modesty is the chastity of merit, the virginity of noble souls' - Madame de Girardin

'No truly great person ever thought themselves so'. - William Hazlit

'There’s a lot to be said for the fellow who doesn’t say it himself' - Maurice

My thoughts:

It doesn't matter what my estimation of myself is.
It doesn't matter.
It does matter what God thinks of me.
This matters to me.

The BIBLE: 1 Timothy 9-10

'I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God'
This passage on modesty guidelines affirms a theme present throughout the Bible: the type of beauty that God values is the beauty of a 'godly character', not the passing beauty of an expensive outfit or opulent jewelry

Final Comment...

As with all things with God, he's interested in authenticity. I believe an exterior modesty is only born from an inner modesty. It can be taught, but the end result is far more true and long lasting when the teaching comes via the Holy Spirit.

The human ego and the mind are powerful things to bring into submission. The enemy is aware of all weaknesses. If we have an honest estimation of oursleves, wer'e less likely to fall into snares.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Reading the word of God and Prayer are the only tools I know of to keep on track with God and to remain in his will. Seeking God's favour is the worthy goal, not the favour of the world.

Blessings and Peace - Follower of the WAY

Happiness...

What Happiness is ..
by Stephanie Dowrick.

If someone offered you the chance to be happy for the rest of your life, would you take it? If you were told that you already have the power to bring happiness to others, would you believe it?
One of the most bizarre quirks of human existence is that we long for happiness, yet we have such difficulty defining what would make us happy or content in any lasting way. Spiritual teachings are clear we are unlikely to find lasting happiness through people or things outside ourselves. There will of course, be rewards when we are finally driving a new car, or marrying someone we genuinely love, but those delights are never permanent. The car wears out, the marriage may falter..their may be stress at work. Or we may have problems with our children, or our partner dies or loses their love for us.

A more stable experience of happiness, say those teachers, can come only through recognizing how inevitably our lives overlap with and reflect the lives of other people – seeing ourselves in others and others in ourselves. From that vantage point it makes absolute sense to contribute what we can to the well being of all. In fact we recognize that our personal well-being cannot exist in isolation.
A Taoist verse invites us to reflect on life:

'The fragrance of blossoms soon passes
The ripeness of fruit is gone almost at once
Our time in this world is so short

Better to avoid regret.

If we grasp the truth of our own imminent mortality, surely we would more clearly treasure the gift of life. Surely we would more gently cultivate self-love, distinguishing it from self-absorption, and reach out to others from a full rather than an empty place?

Contemporary psychological research backs up those ancient teachings. The happiest people are those who value their own existence and can give to others without strain. They are the lucky people, but not necessarily in financial terms. Perception is everything here. Those who are confident they have plenty to share may have nothing in the bank. Equally those who feel too poor to share may have a healthy bank balance. We can more easily attain self-love when we unobtrusively meet other's needs.

When a lack of happiness arises from a sense of distance from others or from the boredom of thinking about no-one but yourself, then opening your eye's to others reality almost invariably brings a glimpse of what you are seeking.
And a promise of more joy to come.

From Stephanie Dowrick's book: 'Free Thinking'

Keeping it simple ....

I'm sharing 2 excerts I particularly like from the book "A Quiet and peaceable Life" by John L. Ruth..its a very tiny book about the 'plain people - the Amish'.

painting by : Dzvinka

1:"The Church is the 'circle', the gathering of people, no matter what kind of 'house' they meet in. The ground we stand on is 'holy', not because we have ercted a shrine, decorated it, filled it with incense, and 'dedictated' it, but because 'GOD' meets us there.

2: "When we give bread to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, and clothing and bedding to those who are cold, light and health enter our house and our life. Then there is nothing we need in the whole world, for our thoughts are filled with God and His Kingdom. It is not in the fasting or the sacrifice itself that we meet God. In fasting as in sacrifice it is not the cult or the solemn ceremony that moves Him. He does not want them. What he does want is what is good: justice, love and good action. There is a thirst for the living God at work in all these things, pointing to the salvation and healing which is in Christ Jesus. Then the heavens are opened. Then comes the one who was to come."

-Andreas Ehrenpreis 1650

'Abou Ben Adam'

Hey there everyone. I thought I'd begin this blog by posting some favourite bits and pieces that I used to have on my old my space profile. Enjoy...I've always loved this poem!



"Abou Ben Adam"

Abou Ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."

The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adam's name led all the rest!

-- By Leigh Hunt