WITNESSING TO UNBELIEVERS...

Greetings -

Last Sunday morning I sat in a public area that has benches and tables.  For about an hour, I sat there and read my Bible and complimented people on their appearance, as our Lord led.  For the most part, people were receptive.  I didn't do any "preaching" - just complimenting people, and reading my Bible silently.

Recently, I read on Ken's blog www.ken-followjesus.blogspot.com

about a visit that he received from Jehovah's Witnesses. This is a portion of what I commented there:

One thing that I will give them props about is that they DO habitual witnessing about their beliefs.  I notice them outside the boundaries of houses of worship witnessing, whereas I don't notice many Christians out in communities knocking on doors...

We have mega churches but I sometimes question, "Where is the mega witnessing to unbelievers."  A lot of people don't come to church.  It could be immensely helpful if more Christians knocked on doors and/or stood outside of establishments to witness about JESUS.

I have been a Christian for many years and cannot recall but a couple of instances when Christians knocked on my door.  And I don't know of any other Christians who have had Christians to knock on their doors to witness of the gospel of the kingdom of GOD.

END OF COMMENT CONTENT THAT WAS PLACED ON KEN'S BLOG

In the times that we live in, I believe that it's wise to knock on doors in pairs or groups.  That is typically how JW's show up to witness.  In public places, I believe that solo witnessing is reasonable.

Noted below are two other ways that our Lord led me to witness.  Twice this year, due to storm conditions, our power went out for more than a few hours.

Incident #1

During the outage, for more than a half hour, I prayed out loud and praised the Lord.  Later that week, my downstairs neighbor, a Christian, told me that she heard me praising the Lord during our power outage.  It is likely that my other neighbors heard me, as well.  Praise the Lord.

Incident #2

During the outage, I praised the Lord and loudly sang with the gospel songs that I played on my battery operated CD player.  And during the outage, I talked on the phone to two of my Christian friends.  We had lengthy conversations.  I didn't tell either one of them that I was without power and sweltering in the heat.  I fanned with my hand fan and conversed joyfully about our Lord.  

Later I continued to sing.  Some people started setting off firecrackers directly outside my open window.  The noise was very loud - booming.  It is likely that they heard me loudly singing and praising our Lord.  My guess is that they weren't fond of my giving glory to GOD.  The neighborhood was in the dark but my singing wasn't embraced.  I wonder why - smiles.  The firecracker noise continued.  I sang louder.  The firecracker noise stopped before my singing did.  

As the hours went on, I said out loud to our Lord something like, "Lord, I pray in the name of JESUS that You will have this power to come on when You are ready."  The desire of our hearts needs to be, Lord, thy will be done.  I knew that GOD was in charge... He ALWAYS prevails.    

Please share here some of the ways that you witness to unbelievers.  Also, please share if you know of Christians who knock on doors to witness of our Lord and/or who stand outside of establishments or in other public places to witness about GOD.  Thank you.

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Below is a continuation of what I wrote about fashion.

Someone criticized me for pattern mixing, polka dots with stripes, as shown in the photo below. Some folks don't like pattern mixing but it CAN work if done with fashion flavor appeal. Ok, so some folks don't like it, regardless. As the saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks."

Years, ago, my then boyfriend objected to my pattern mixing tastes. I said to him something like, "I like it. I won't wear such when we are together but otherwise, I'll continue to wear pattern mixing fashions." He wasn't fond of the alternative offered. It continued because my offer was fair and reasonable.

I heard a pastor say that he notices Christian women who wear no makeup and Christian women who wear too much makeup.

Then there are the stories of Christian women and others of course, who look drab with no fashion flavor and at the other extreme, those who are flamboyant and as such, the clothes are wearing them rather than them wearing the clothes. Both extremes can be unappealing. Drab or excess - neither is attractive fashion flavor.

Back in the day, I was a fashionista, and a fashion consultant of sorts. No, of course, my tastes don't appeal to all.

Here is what works well for me:

- I'm inclined to patterns that never go out of style.  Those patterns are pinstripes and regular stripes, polka dots, checks, plaids, houndstooth, tweed, and paisley.  Also, basic colors never go out of style unlike some other colors.  Flowers and fussy prints date and go out of style quickly. 

- Sometimes, I'll get blouses and button down shirts that are outside the realm of the basic color/pattern realms, but hardly ever do I purchase pants and skirts that are other than black, navy, beige, red, or white or in patterns that also don't go out of style, such as plaid, pinstriped, houndstooth, and tweed. As for t-shirts, I'll go with them in just about any color.

- Bows, ruffles, and ornamental clothing also date and go out of style quickly. Let me pause here to state that I'm fifty-six years old and have developed some tastes that are age appropriate. For the most part, this fashion post is NOT for youth because, typically, they are on quests to find themselves and so more fashion exploration and edgy displays are understandable for them. By edgy, I don't mean revealing, and tight fitting attire. That isn't attractive on anyone.

- Sensible heels to me are about two inches or less. Rarely, do I go higher. Foot doctors strongly advise against unwise high heels. I believe that is three inches or higher. When I was young, I purchased tight shoes and wore them to break them in. At a certain stage, years ago, that ceased. Back then, a shoe salesman advised me that I could later break in some tight shoes that I had tried on. I told him that if they didn't break in while I was in the store that I would be breaking out of there without them. These many years later, I adhere to that. If shoes aren't comfortable on me in the store, they stay there.

- Relative to accessories, extreme isn't tasteful. And please forgive me but I must ask, who told women that those earrings larger than bracelets look good?!

- It's a big time saver to have a wardrobe where the majority of clothing/accessories match and color coordinate with one another. I'm not inclined anymore to expend energy on figuring out what may match and coordinate together. Fashion color coordination exercises no longer appeal to me. Years ago, I ceased because more meaningful things now have priority. I easily know what matches black and the other basic colors. That is why the bulk of my wardrobe is black with colors that match it. When it's too hot for black, I do white, off-white, tan, blue, etc. I easily know what matches them, as well. Wardrobe simplification is a big budget saver, as well.

Sandra at the Arboretum in Washington, D.C. 

Here is the link to a previous fashion themed post http://lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/2011/06/flavor-in-fashion.html

Below the focus is on accessories. 

Scarf around neck of dress

Same scarf as a "flower"
that can be pinned to a lapel

Scarf tied in knot
and placed around
neck of dress

Same scarf tied around a hat

Belts
some in patent leather
with patent leather shoes
One reason that I love
patent leather is because it 
is low maintenance
It doesn't need to be shined 

Striped top
orange capri pants

Me from back in the day



Back in the day 



Back in the day

Back in the day

Black hat, belt
orange top
army capri pants

Bandana around neck
of jean dress

Lacy top

NOTE: My excerpted comment below is a response to a comment on my Wednesday June 15, 2011, post titled, "FLAVOR IN FASHION."  I replied to Mining for Diamonds who mentioned that she sought the Lord about whether she could wear makeup.  My excerpted response, plus some words that I added here:

Also, I'm glad that you sought the Lord and that He allows you to wear makeup - smiles.  I get to wear some, too.  My belief is that makeup should be applied to accent and to complement. Too much of it is NOT at all appealing.  Praise the Lord for makeup permission, and for His permission to dress modestly - with flavor.

A lot of the so-called Christian don't's are more religion and bondage than Spirit of GOD led.  I say this in love - I've met "Christians" who dress and look dry, and who also have dry attitudes.  Translation = not flowing in love. They "embrace" their dry appearances as holiness.  In that regard, holiness can be a title but NOT a lifestyle.  Love and TRUE holiness are the most important to our Lord. WITHOUT LOVE, WE ARE NOTHING - DRY OR WET.... 

You were so on point to seek the Lord about the makeup matter.  He leads us all uniquely...

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