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Daily Life And Dress Of The Apostolic "Woman" By: Sister Patricia Gifford Wife of Pastor Elder Don Gifford Holiness Jesus Name Church of God, Mulberry Florida [The following article is intended for women only. At the urging of this editor, Sister Patricia Gifford agreed to write this article with the understanding that it be made clear she is not attempting to "teach" men, but only to help other women who desire to fulfill their calling as wives and mothers.] Sisters in Jesus Christ: It is so good to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. To be a part of the family of God, also the wife of an Apostolic Pastor; a mother of six children and the mother in our church. The daily life of a woman is a very busy one. First we must take time to seek God and His will. Second to see that our husband’s needs are taken care of. Third, our children and our home. "That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Tim 2:2.) A wife can be the greatest uplift or the greatest downfall to the Apostolic Minister of God. Our daily walk with God is a great help to our husbands. We should have the victory of the Holy Ghost in our lives. As wives, we should see that our husbands can find a quiet place to study, have time alone to pray. When everyone else seems to be against him, we are there to comfort him, encourage and pray for him. In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we find, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." Our husbands are the head over us and our homes. If a husband has a wife who is always upset, it is hard for him to help others. If we as wives try to run his life, God cannot be his head. We are not the neck as many women say, but we are one, sharing his burdens. Next to God, we are the closest one to him: knowing when to hold his hand, listening when he needs someone. In our daily walk with God, we must be good mothers and teachers of our children. Titus 2:3 & 4 tell us, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,". Our daily life before our children is important. When it is church time, are we there? Time to clean the church, teach a Sunday School class, visit the sick, care for our parents? Do we talk badly about other saints? Do we worship God, do we sing praises to God, do we clap our hands? We are teaching our children by the way we live. Do we show the joy of the Holy Ghost in a way that will entice our children to desire the Holy Ghost also? Our daily life must be a victorious walk with God. In our daily walk with God, we must be good keepers of our homes. In Titus 2:5 it says, "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Proverbs 31:10-12 tells us, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."And in verse 27 of Proverb 31 we are told, "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." We must keep our homes presentable at all times for guests, sharing with them whatsoever the Lord has provided us. Our home should be a pleasant place, and our daily life pleasing to God.THE DRESS OF THE APOSTOLIC "WOMAN" As Saints of God, who should we dress to please? First, God. In His word He tells us how to dress. In 1 Timothy 2:9,10 we learn, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."Sisters, our dress length should be well below the knee, while sitting or standing, modest in color so as not to draw the attention of people, and made of a material you cannot see through. Ladies, it looks so bad to see a sister without hose on. Also, keep your hair modest so as not to draw attention to yourself. We are a part of the Church of Jesus Christ, set aside from the world. Second, we should dress according to the church laws and for our husbands. In 1 Peter 3:5 it says, "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:".The Apostolic woman should have a meek and quiet spirit. Let God glow on your face, not make-up. When the love of God shines on you, you won’t need gold or pearls. Jewelry is for the worldly women of this world. Look at yourself in the mirror—do you look pure and set aside for God, or do you look like the world? Let us make the true church of Jesus Christ proud, not having to hang its head in shame. We are the Bride of Jesus Christ. . . let us look like it.
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