Forthright Magazine http://forthright.net/ Straight to the Cross Richard Mansel goes to the Bible to answer ... "The Most Important Question." Great for classes, groups, evangelistic studies and individuals. http://richardmansel.com/most-important-question/ COLUMN: LIVING THE FAITH God's elegant woman by Richard Mansel, managing editor http://tinyurl.com/7lvq5dq Elegance is rare today because too many women have forgotten what it really means to be a woman. She has majesty and power inherent in her being. Elegance is simply an extension of their worth as God's creation and her walk in the Lord. Elegance means, "Refinement, grace, and beauty in movement, appearance, or manners; gracefully refined and dignified" Women today see elegance as a relic of a male dominated society, taking them back to where they were simply the property of men. As women have gained liberation, they can choose to live in a way that will elevate them to the level they deserve. Whether they are demeaned by choice or force, matters little in the end. Women deserve better than what is admired in today’s world. Elegance allows her femininity to blossom like never before. Her character, intelligence and grace are more important than her body and she gains value as a person by focusing on who she is inside. She realizes that her femininity is a gift that should never be cheapened by debased living. Coco Chanel said, "Elegance is refusal." It is the refusal to demean her name with the squalid and the shameful. Elegant women are comfortable in who they are. God's woman should know how God has blessed them in beauty, salvation and peace. Elegance when combined with humility is a powerful force. Sadly, the worldly woman is more interested in profanity and sex appeal. Instead of elegantly floating above the filth of the world, they dive in and wallow. Elegant women are calm, focused and gracious. A woman of elegance does not need controversy or drama. Elegant women fill a room with their strength, beauty and joy. Restraint enhances her beauty and image. In times past, the only women who flaunted themselves were women of low morality while the ladies of better society carried themselves with elegance and pride. Now society says that a fully-clothed woman has little value. An elegant woman is modest, strong, independent and respectable. Elegance sees beyond itself and is able to live without fear of those around them. Elegance elevates her value, rising above the shallow and wasteful. If women of God strove for elegance, the Church would make a bigger impact in the world. Christian women should dress, live, speak and walk above the world rather than imitating them in their weaknesses. Christian women should be examples rather than willing participants in the downward spiral. Scripture tells us to "to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV). A godly woman looks to Scripture for what a woman should be, instead of the street or fashion magazines. Her morality is pure because she has pride in herself and remembers that God deserves the glory, not her (Ephesians 3:20-21). She has no interest in showing off her body, only her character and spirituality because in a spiritual world, where Christ reigns, that is truly what matters (Romans 12:1-2). ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/7lvq5dq You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://forthright.net/help/