tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post1971352002602050618..comments2024-03-24T04:35:18.581-04:00Comments on Sunday Women: May I Buy New Clothes?Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-89023944884967699442011-10-14T15:29:07.910-04:002011-10-14T15:29:07.910-04:00This definitely strikes a cord for me. When we we...This definitely strikes a cord for me. When we were in Russia, our apartment had a dishwasher. Every time someone came over, I was extremely quick to say, "The dishwasher was here, wasn't that a blessing!" because I sure didn't want anyone to think that we had gone to the extravagance of purchasing a dishwasher, which is a huge extravagance in Russia.<br />I think that having a sense of responsibility for the money given to you is appropriate, but not the sense of fear of man, rather the responsibility to use all our resources for God's honor and glory. They are His after all. God has helped me to relax a little and to be better at accepting generosity from other people and enjoying the good things that He has given us!CristyLynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10410962268582246670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-52240784234391367332011-10-13T08:26:01.584-04:002011-10-13T08:26:01.584-04:00I got my small town t-shirt from this online store...I got my small town t-shirt from this online store. Due to the wonders of the internet, a northerner can purchase items from a place called Southern Belle. http://www.southernbellestore.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=small+townPatsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821591671127590449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-24548676277174337882011-10-12T18:16:05.742-04:002011-10-12T18:16:05.742-04:00Patsy, I want one of those T-shirts! I am so going...Patsy, I want one of those T-shirts! I am so going to make one if I can't find one. LOL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-18354691638698548422011-10-12T11:54:45.240-04:002011-10-12T11:54:45.240-04:00I have noticed that there is a pride in having pos...I have noticed that there is a pride in having possessions and a pride in frugality (having few possessions or paying little for them). Both are opposite ends of a pride problem, and it's a struggle to be balanced in my thinking. Where I live now, frugality is the direction our people follow. Recently, I was caught off guard when a lady in my SS class asked me how much we paid for my daughter's violin lessons, so I told her. She gasped. Generally, I keep our purchases relatively quiet or only mention a really good deal. :)Uptown Froghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727506778908514962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-6562793613136370142011-10-12T09:47:32.870-04:002011-10-12T09:47:32.870-04:00I grew up in a small town (600 people) so I know t...I grew up in a small town (600 people) so I know that people do keep track of the comings and goings. But, they do that for everybody, not just people in ministry. The experience has taught me to care less about what others think and more about what God requires. I have a t-shirt that says "The best part about living in a small town is when I don't know what I am doing, someone else does."Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821591671127590449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-69618255355857555142011-10-12T07:57:06.267-04:002011-10-12T07:57:06.267-04:00A mini-van purchase is fast-approaching for our fa...A mini-van purchase is fast-approaching for our family (necessary to accommodate car seats for 3.) Thanks for the wise things you sisters have said; the first Sunday we arrive on "new" (used!) wheels, I'll be glad to remember I'm not the only one who has had these awkward feelingsMeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084741256488042140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-33803311752030581762011-10-11T23:15:18.730-04:002011-10-11T23:15:18.730-04:00I should have said it's the Lord who we're...I should have said it's the Lord who we're responsible toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-61797484556775684822011-10-11T23:14:27.388-04:002011-10-11T23:14:27.388-04:00I agree that this is an issue sometimes. I feel a ...I agree that this is an issue sometimes. I feel a little guilty EVERY time we go out to eat or pick up a meal to bring home. I wonder, "What if someone from the church sees us? Will they think we're not being wise with our money, eating out?" etc... We've just recently moved to an even smaller..way smaller..town. I feel like everyone will know our comings and goings..and buyings. I too often feel like I need to mention how little I spent on this or that. You're right though, that it's the Lord who we're responsible for and we need to find freedom in that. Thanks for the encouragement. And thanks for touching on this topic...one that you don't hear talked about very often in ministry circles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-19434830962926857412011-10-11T18:04:09.195-04:002011-10-11T18:04:09.195-04:00What a timely article! Seriously I struggle with s...What a timely article! Seriously I struggle with something like this too. I worry that those who would begrudge it to us - that we have something nice and new - will gossip or stop giving in support of us or whatever. When we need a new vehicle or a big ticket item it is especially hard. <br /><br />Guess what? We need a bigger house to ease our ability to entertain large crowds which we have in our church. We can pack in one other family into our small dining room, but we're usually spilling over into the living room. We have been praying for this for a couple years and this summer some friends offered to pay the down payment for us - seriously, just for God's glory. We recently found a big house with everything we have been praying for - in fact, it is so perfect it is like God told these ppl to build their house in 1977 just to our specifications for how we would need it laid out. It is so Providential that we feel certain we are to bid on it and did so yesterday. But I am struggling. What about those who will begrudge it to us? Every church has them right? Those who think we should live in poverty to keep us humble, or those who think we are wasting their money? Or those who think we ought to not have big nice or new things for whatever reason. Or those who have gossiped about us maliciously. It floods me and I am conflicted. MAN FEARING plagues me. <br /><br />I stand rebuked. <br /><br />My friend says to ignore them and let them wallow in their ugliness while I shine for Christ and bring the glory to God. She asked me to say, "Come and see what THE LORD has done for us." When we're in the house, I will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028000359711843677.post-84365323809559172202011-10-10T09:49:09.986-04:002011-10-10T09:49:09.986-04:00I do this with big ticket items. Part of it is tha...I do this with big ticket items. Part of it is that, at times, I am secretly jealous of another woman's purchases and think, "How can she afford that?" So, she might judge me in the same way. I need to apply Matthew 7:1 to my life.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821591671127590449noreply@blogger.com