This is a follow up blog on the previous entry on June 26, 2008

Faith-filled Response to the Promises of God

More on David

David’s life was an example of someone who waited on the Lord to fulfill His promise.

What did he do while waiting?

1. He developed a life of worship

2. He developed a life of prayer

3. He developed a life of celebrating every victory along the journey

About Prayer:

He had the courage to ask because God had already promised.

2 Sam. 7:1-16

At the end of David’s life, when he knew he would pass on soon, he received a message from the prophet of God:

v. 16 “You will always have descendants and I will make your kingdom last forever. Your dynasty will never end.”

Did David know he was speaking of Jesus? That the Messiah of the world would come from David’s line and He would reign over all the earth and His Kingdom would have no end?

God made this promise to David and it is very interesting to me what David did in response.

He went into the tabernacle (the tent of the Lord’s presence) and sat down and prayed,

2 Sam. 7:18- “Sovereign Lord, I am not worthy of what you have done for me, nor is my family.

v.19 Yet now you are doing even more…

v. 25 And now, Lord God, fulfill for all time the promise you have made about me and my descendants and do what you said you would.

v. 27 I have the courage to pray this because you have revealed this to me and have told me…

v. 28…You always keep your promises.

v. 29 I ask you to bless… let your blessing rest…

He received the promise from the Lord but he went even a step further and prayed that it would come to pass. How many times do we receive a promise from the Lord and walk away thinking, “I hope that happens.”

But we should follow David’s example. He was a man after God’s heart and he received what was promised because of his faith. His example is one that I want to remember. When God makes a promise, I want to be diligent to pray it through into existence. God wants to see if we really believe Him and and are going to ask for it so we can receive it. Jesus told his disciples, If you ask anything in my name I will do it. How many times do we not receive what God promised simply because we failed to ask for it. Praying is so much more than wishful thinking. Praying is laying hold of that which God promised, asking for it specifically and then receiving it by faith.

About celebrating your victories along the way:

David did not forget God’s benefits. Psalm 103

He reminded God that he was not going to forget His faithfulness, His goodness, His promises.

Psalm 145 David said, “The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

Believe God! Say, “I know you keep your promises. You are a merciful and good God.”

1 Sam. 7:12 “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Psalm 116:6-7 “I was brought low and he saved me.”

“The Lord is my strength and my shield! My heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will praise Him.”

David rejoiced when God heard and answered.

Psalm 28:6-7 “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications.”

David cried out to God for help and when God answered, David always rejoiced.

Psalm 118:8-9 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

Psalm 28:6 It is better to put trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

Psalm 146:5 He led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.

Joshua 21:45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel.

All came to pass!

Luke 22:35 Jesus asked his disciples, “Did you lack any thing?”

“Nothing, Lord”, was their reply.

Psalm 63:7 Because you have been my help, therefore, in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

David’s last words really blessed me because I found this after I wrote the blog on June 26, 2008 Faith-filled Response to the Promises of God

David’s last words really summed up the entire message.

2 Samuel 23:2-

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me. His message is on my lips…

…the God of Israel has spoken: the protector of Israel said to me:

‘The King who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn. the sun that makes the grass sparkle after the rain.’

And that is how God will bless my descendants… (David believed they would all serve God) …because he has made an eternal covenant with me, an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed.

This is all I desire. That will be my victory and God will surely bring it about.”

Sand Castles

I dreamed a dream. Puffy clouds are floating in a blue sky. It is a lovely day for building sand castles.

Several boys and girls are playing on the seashore. They are building their favorite version of the perfect sand castle. They all have in their minds as to how it should look for they all have studied the blueprint given to them by the Expert Sand Castle Builder.

As the day wears on, the castle begins to take shape and toy soldiers are brought out and placed in the castle.

Now something disturbing is happening, the clouds are turning gray and are threatening rain. The kids start getting nervous trying to finish building the castle before the sky turns dark. They know that the Expert Builder is coming to inspect the castle and they want to get it just right.

Just then one of the bigger boys begins to argue with another. There is a squabble about how things should be done. Power and control becomes an issue and the other children and confused and uneasy. One decides to start building his own castle and a few agree with him and hurriedly begin to dig a moat right next to the first. A few others start their own project and now there are three and then four castles being built. They all want to get it right. Soon bragging begins over who has the biggest castle and a struggle takes place over who gets the most toy soldiers. Each feels he should have the most, because his castle is the most worthy. Each feels he must define his own castle and have his own domain. Then begins a disturbance in the sand. The people in the castles come out and begin to compare and compete with one another. The contest becomes rivalry, the rivalry becomes all out battle with toy soldiers struggling in the sand. Some of the castles are destroyed and some of the figurines are lost. Some are hidden in the ground and some are lying there unused.

What is happening? Where is the lovely day?

It begins to rain. Suddenly, the Expert Builder is at the edge of the clearing and coming toward the builders! The children stand upright, stunned. They are caught in their action. They have not finished the castle! In fact their castles are in disarray and toy soldiers are scattered all around!

Quickly they look back at their project. They can’t believe their eyes! For right under their noses, the scene has changed. Instantly, the scene is no longer make-believe! It is real!

In a moment, the toy soldiers have become real men, women and children. Some are proudly standing tall, feeling victorious they have won, but most are lying on the ground sick, beaten up or lost in the sand. The ones hurting the most are the women and children. The weak ones are scattered on the ground moaning for someone to take notice and show compassion.

The castles are suddenly churches where the work of the Expert Builder was supposed to take place. And the children look down at their hands to realize they are the leaders of the entire operation. They had been entrusted over this piece of land to bring order and peace. To bring His Kingdom. What will the Expert Builder say? What can be done? How can restoration come?

The rest of the story depends on us.

by Julie W. Hughes 2007

We all have dreams, hopes and promises from God about who we will become or what God will do in our lives.

I want to encourage you today to think back on the times when you felt God was giving you a specific promise and speaking to you about your destiny.

It’s important that we write these things down and read them over often so that we will not forget.

As we go along the journey of life it seems we have more times of waiting for our promise to be fulfilled than we have actually obtaining the miracle.

It takes as much faith to wait as it does to obtain the promise. God is looking for faith.

We see that the people in the Scriptures were honored for their acts of faith. Their acts of faith included receiving the promise and waiting for the promise in faith.

I have been looking at the life of David recently and I have come to understand a few things about him that have been really encouraging.

David was anointed to be the king of Israel when he was a young man. While he was looking after the sheep, the prophet of the Lord called for him and anointed him with oil and gave him a tremendous promise. Maybe the grandest promise that could be given to an Israelite in those days. “You will be king of Israel.” But then, after receiving the word, David went right back to the fields to tend the sheep! There were many lonely hours spent out in watching over his sheep. He must have thought a lot about the promise of God and wondered how it would come to pass. But I am sure that he believed God.

From the time David was anointed king, to the time when he actually became king, David showed his faith by doing several acts of faith. I realize there are many things he did (you can research on your own) but for the purpose of this particular message, I see three main things that David did.

1. He developed a life of Worship.

2. He developed a life of Prayer.

3. He developed a life of Celebrating His Victories.

1. David developed a life of Worship

As we read the Psalms, we can see a glimpse into David’s inner life. I am sure that David experiences great loneliness in the fields waiting on God to fulfill his promise. What did he do in the mean time? He worshiped. God became important to him. God became big in David’s vision. God became the One that David ran into and was saved. God became his Hiding Place. David said, “He is my refuge. He is my fortress… I will find shelter in the shadow of his wings…”

David learned that he could not live without God.

In the times of trial, loneliness or struggle; in the times of waiting, we can worship. We can run into God. We can make it a habit of hiding in him.

David got accustomed to God’s presence. He learned that when he needed to experience God, he could come into his presence by worship, and God would come and meet with him.

When he did finally become king, he probably was not as lonely as he was out in the fields, but think about it, Who really is buddies with the king? He most certainly needed to keep God ever before him. God had trained David out in the fields to regard God as his most precious treasure so that when he did ascend to the throne, David’s heart was fixed on God.

Below is a beautiful hymn that I used to sing when I was a girl that was inspired by David’s words,”You are my Hiding Place.”

Hiding in Thee

Words: Will­iam O. Cush­ing, 1876 Music: Ira D. Sank­ey, 1877

]]> http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/faith-filled-response-to-the-promises-of-god/feed/ 2 Julie http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/women-are-disciples-too/ http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/women-are-disciples-too/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:01:10 +0000 Julie http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/?p=75 ]]>

My passion is to see women fulfill their full potential in the kingdom of God.

In many cultures, women are relegated to a secondary position in society. Jesus came to change that.

As we read the scriptures we can see that there were women who followed Jesus and He never turned them away.

In fact, when he arose from the dead, He instructed a woman (Mary) to “Go and tell”. We can be confident that even as women, we have his authority and his blessing to “go and tell” as well.

When Jesus was on the mountain, before He was taken up to Heaven, he told all those standing there, including the women, “Go and make disciples of all nations….”

He was not only talking to the 12 men apostles but to all standing there with Him and to all who believe on Him. What an awesome privilege and responsibility to go and make disciples! Women need to be empowered and equipped to do just that.

The percentage of women in this world is estimated to be 51%  Slightly more than men.  A whopping total of 143,368,343 females in the United States alone!

Who is going to reach them?

I feel that if the women take their responsibility to disciple, nurture and take care of the new women, we will begin to see women become strong disciples who are a strong force and important part of the Kingdom of God.

When women come into the church, they are no doubt blessed by the worship and the preaching of the Word, but they desperately need another woman to come up to them talk to them and try to establish relationship with them.

One of the best ways to do this is to have the established women in the church be on look-out for the new women.

Meeting new people at church or other events

All believers should be trained how to greet the new people who come to church and how to start conversation with them, asking them questions and trying to set up a meeting time with them.

Asking people, “Are you new here?” is not the greatest opener. Hi, I’m ___ (shake hands if appropriate) I’ve been coming to church here for quite a while. How did you like the service?” is much better. Ask them if they live nearby and ask them about their family. During the course of the conversation try to find something in common with that person. Does she like sports? Is she a homemaker? Does she have children? Does she work full time? What are things she may would like to do?

You don’t have to ask all those questions obviously, but when you discover and get an idea what this person may like, you can make a suggestion. You could try at that point to set up a coffee break, lunch near their work place, or a tennis match. What ever you do, try to establish that you really are interested in getting to know this person. Try to seek out those you are attracted to and feel that they would be similar to you in things they might like. In other words, since I am not a sports person, I would not really be too helpful to someone who is tennis pro and comes to church in their sportswear. I would look for someone who perhaps dresses similar to me, who is about the same age as I am and someone who looks like she has a personality to which I could relate.

It would be ideal if you could prepare name (business) cards for you to give to others when you make an appointment with them.

You can say, “I really do want to get together some time this week, can we do lunch on Tuesday?” And then, “Here is my card if there is anything you need before that, I would love to hear from you.” Be sure to get their name and phone number too.

Try to be sensitive to her and let her talk. She may express a need and you can just stop right there and pray for her. God can help you minister to her even if she is not a believer yet. Prayer is something almost everyone receives and feels love through it.

The Followup Phone Call

If possible, try to call this person within 24 hours. You don’t have to talk long, just make sure they know that you are thinking of them and if they had mentioned anything in your conversation, it would make them feel special if you would bring that up.

Also within 48 hours you should plan to see them at their house or have made an appointment with them, preferably early in the week. Tuesdays would be a great day to dedicate to visitation of new ones.

Before the appointment:

It is so important to prepare your heart before you go to minister to the new person. Pray and ask God to help you know what to share with this person. And ask God to fill your heart with love and compassion and understanding toward that person. Ask God to lead you in your Bible reading to prepare your heart and show you what that person needs. Prepare your heart so you can be open. Paul talked about opening his heart wide to the people. This is what we must do.

Prepare to treat this person as a long time friend. You do this in faith because you believe they will be. You must also believe that you have something to give to them and that they will want to embrace what you have.

Be sure you deal with your heart before you go out, and determine that you will not judge them no matter what, that you will accept and love them just as Jesus would.

If we are to minister to hurting, unsaved people or new believers, we must first resolve that even though they are not perfect, neither are we. And we can minister grace to them because we know Jesus took both our sins on himself.

The appointment:

When you meet with this person for the first time, she may be a bit uneasy or nervous wondering if she is going to have to reveal her life to you and if you will accept her. The very first thing we must do with a person is to make them feel comfortable, by being real with them and vulnerable about our own lives. They need to know that you don’t think you have it all together and that you just want to be friends with them.

Do things they like to do. Don’t play a hostess, but be sensitive to what they like. Talk about things you would talk about to make a friend and when you get on to a topic, be sure to let her feel that you accept her views as important and that you are not judging her for saying what she wants to say.

At some point in the conversation you can turn things to spiritual things. For instance you could ask her how she heard about the church and then reassure her you are glad she came so you could get to know her and be friends.

If you sense she is eager to talk about spiritual things or her life, you can wait and listen for clues. Find out where she is on her spiritual journey and try to bring her one step closer to a better relationship with Jesus.

This is not the time or place to argue or try to explain doctrinal differences. Keep clear of peripheral issues such as religion and stay right on the central issue – which is a closer relationship with Jesus.

Also, there is no need to feel the pressure to be her counselor. A friend can refer people to a counselor, but the role of a friend is to develop a heartfelt trust.

If the person has never been exposed to Christianity: Have you ever heard the story about Jesus? Have you seen “The Passion” movie?” or some other popular spiritual media.

If the person is not a Christian but is religious: Have you ever attended church regularly?

If the person is trying to have a relationship with God but is bound by drugs, alcohol, immoral sex, or other abuses: What are the biggest struggles in your life?

If this person is young mother, seems a little distraught and needs encouragement. Tell her about a new mothers support group or a cell for young mothers. Assuming also that you are making these available.

If this person is a career person : Have you ever thought about what is most satisfying about life?

If this person is devastated by trama or a recent bad experience: Introduce her to a counselor in the church or Healing Streams program.

Don’t push or try to fix them, just be sensitive to the things they share with you. Nothing that people say or feel is dumb. It may be a different viewpoint than you have ever had but it is still how they are perceiving life, so try to be understanding and accepting. This love will be the thing that draws women into a relationship with Jesus.

You can ask them if they are interested in getting together once a week to enable you to explain about some keys to living successfully. It is important that they know about how to have a relationship with Christ.

Let’s assume they are interested in making an appointment to study one on one with you. The booklet that we have used is entitled One to One. It is available from https://www.everynationonline.org

It is designed to share with your sister once a week. You can do it over coffee, lunch or in the park or workplace, at her house or yours.

The discipleship sessions

The first few times you get together, you are going to need to spend some time just being friends and sharing in a warm way. Then at some point after a few minutes, pull out your One to One book. Then you can read it along with her one of the chapters. This will take about 15 minutes unless she has comments or questions.

You will want to make it as comfortable as you can while trying to keep to the lesson as much as possible.

After you read the lesson, you can ask her if she has any questions or anything she is wondering about. She should share at this point. This is a chance to practice being a good listener. This is not the time to “preach” to her but to try to understand what she is saying. The more we listen, the more time we will have to wait on the Lord for an appropriate response.

Ask her if there is anything that you both can pray about and when she is sharing listen attentively. She needs to know you really care about her and her situations.

Pray for her and allow time for her to pray if she feels that she wants to.

A very important part of this whole process is that we always share in a way to show that we have a hope that this person will be able to share the same things she is learning and experiencing with another woman that she knows so that the kingdom keeps advancing and reproducing. We try to encourage after every lesson to ask two questions:

1. How can I obey Jesus in light of the things I have read today?

2. With whom can I share these truths? (Hopefully within the next 24 hours.)

Cell groups

There are different kinds of cell groups:

· Outreach cells for lost people.

· Discipleship cells for new believers

· fellowship and prayer groups

· Bible Study groups

· Interest related cell group (friendship cells) (Suggestions for this: http://www.oasisla.org )

The following are some examples and ideas in the forming of Friendship Cells. They would occur regularly and would be arranged according to age, interest, and demographics. The goal would be to provide the foundation for a network of good works across the city.

• A group called Growing Together could be started to cater to help with raising children. The programming could cover lessons on conception to birth, early motherhood, the toddler zone, school age, and even the empty nest syndrome. The goal would be to provide inspiration and help across every area of family life.
• A group called Girl Force could be started to encourage women who work outside the home.
• Another group could be called Devoted for those women who are single and want to be completely devoted to God and his service.

Dividing women from the men creates a warm and safe atmosphere that they can let their barriers down. The church women’s ministry is vital to the growth and health of the church. May the Lord help you as you seek to develop a wonderfully fruitful ministry to women. What wonderful things to look forward to as you reach out to women, disciple them, get them involved in service, and teach them to disciple others.

Ideas for reaching out and serving:

EASY IDEAS:

Gifts of Strength – Gifts to parents of children in hospital.

Help Line – A phone call from victorious women who have been through the same or similar situations. Just an encouraging phone call only … you will make it!

Prayer Works – Woman who will diligently pray for all ministries of the church

Exemplary Older Woman Works – Older woman available to give advice to younger women. Those who have ‘been there and successfully done it’ before.

Research Works – Give finances into the research of HIV/AIDS, Cancer and Heart Disease -

Clean Sweep – Sweeping up the neighbours leaves as well as your own.

Actions Speak – Flower day to all the shop assistants in the shops where you regularly shop.

Poetry in Motion – Send a card with a nice verse to someone.

Ring Ring – Just ring and have a chat with someone who you know lives on their own and take them out for lunch if they are able to get out.

Paper Oh! – Hand deliver to their door your neighbours’ local newspapers.

Wash day happy – Bring in the neighbours’ washing for them.

TIME AND ENERGY IDEAS:

Heart to Heart – Pool of human resources to BLESS those experiencing tragedy.

The Beat – Groups of woman who clean houses or make meals for those who are sick or needy.

Adopt a Friend – Make an effort to become a friend of someone in church, someone who is not in relationship with Jesus, a student who has just moved to your town and would benefit from a family environment.

Bringers – Woman available to bring and coordinate to bring woman and children to women’s groups and church.

Baby-sitters – Offers to baby-sit and give the couple a night out.

Food works – Cook a meal for a neighbour/family.

Iron-a-thon – Do a solo moms or an older persons ironing for them.

Born To Shop – Offer to do shopping for the sick or elderly.

Lady Drivers – Drive someone to their doctor’s appointment. Offer to drive a busy mom’s children to soccer, school functions, church etc.

Sweet Things – Bake a cake or something delicious for someone.

Soft Touch – Pamper day for 5 friends.

House minders – Offer to house-sit while folks are away on holidays.

Dig Deep – Do the garden for your neighbour, the sick, frail or solo parent.

Free Pass – Pay for the tolls of the 1 or 2 cars that are behind you.

Surprise! – Visit the elderly with your children.

Suds Away – Wash someone’s car.

Sip & Clean – Clean cupboards for people unable to clean their own for whatever reason.

Kids Galore – Free Child care in centers across your town.

1+1=2 – Do some kind of workshop on how to budget.

Hands of Warmth – Go visit the Children’s Hospital and bring a smile to a little face.

Vollie Are Great – Volunteer to do an outreach with some kind of charity program.

Squeaky Clean – Pay to have their pooch washed when you organize to have your own pooch washed.

Party Animal – Have a neighborhood party for no reason at all – invite the people on both sides and across the street.

Moms Rule! – Take a mom with young kids somewhere where the kids can play and she can have a coffee and relax, and you do all the supervising of the kids

Green Grass – Mow the front lawn of the people next door.

Play Detectives – Find out from your church those who have practical needs that you can meet…and do it/them.

Love the Aged – Pampering day at an Aged Care Facility – visit those the church already has contact with, manicures, massages etc.

Bless a Senior Day – Take a Senior out somewhere or stay at home and do something that needs doing for them.

Angel Day – Help someone from the congregation that needs help of some kind. Anything from a visit to something more practical.

Young Forever – Take out a young person; be sure to check with their parents.
Movie Time – Invite neighbours to see a movie with you or have a showing in your home with popcorn.

Home Church Day – A day of getting into anything around the church that needs doing, from rearranging cupboards to cleaning out the garage.

NO TIME AT ALL IDEAS:

Meals with Smiles – Invite neighbours over for lunch or dinner.

Roll ‘em out – Put out AND return the neighbours’ garbage bins.

Games Night – Invite neighbours over for a fun night of games.

Dogs Rule – Walk the neighbour’s dog the same time you walk your own.

Just a small word – Thank everyone in your day that helps you in any way at all!

Thoughtfulness – Find out what magazines your neighbours like to read, if appropriate subscribe them up for a time.

Christmas Giving – Pass the neighbours a Christmas present to put under their tree from your family.

Free Time – Pay for a family pass to the zoo, theme park, or movies etc.

Birthday Bliss – Once aware of someone’s birthday, send them a card, maybe also Christmas cards.

FINANCIAL SOWING IDEAS:

Heaven on Earth – Organize a ‘Dial an Angel’ to do the housework for someone having a baby (if you’re not available to do it yourself) so the house is nice and clean when they come back from hospital.

Feel Good – Pay for a neighbour to have a facial, massage or the like.

Financial Works – Business people who are willing to offer financial help to those the church deem are in real financial need. Not paying people’s debts but helping them through the really tough times.

Night on the Town – Pay for a baby-sitter and for the parents to go out to dinner. Cover the cost of the whole night.

Research Works – Give finances into the research of HIV/AIDS; Cancer and Heart Disease

Picnics R Fun – Invite neighbours out for a picnic day, you supply everything!

EXTRAVANGANT IDEAS:

Giving is Great – Pay for someone you know who would never ordinarily go away to go away on a holiday.

Mortgage Payment – A year or a month for someone.

Car – Buy one for someone, new or second hand.

Clothes – A new wardrobe.

Next:

How to lead someone to salvation:

Preparation for baptism:

Holy Spirit baptism:

]]> http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/women-are-disciples-too/feed/ 0 Julie http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/amazing-technology/ http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/amazing-technology/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:37:41 +0000 Julie http://blessedwoman.wordpress.com/?p=71 ]]>

I was reading a trends magazine the other day in starbucks.

1.Bookreader for downloads great resolution

10,000 books does mp3 also.

bookeen cybook Gen 3 website: http://www.bookeen.com

2. Sony ICD-UX80 www.sonystyle.com

2 gig speech card. loads on computer as mp3

3. Asus Eee A Beautiful Simple Mini Computer 8 gig.

www.asus.com

4. an inexpensive phone that does almost everything

Motorola Q9c

internet

camera

mp3

keyboard

cheaper

www.motorola.com

4. Portable hardrive you can throw around.

durable, 320 gig

Freecom’s tough drive

www.freecom.com

Note to self:

Check this stuff out!

• Stick to simple, snug-fitting clothes: say no to flowy skirts, big sweaters; yes to this modified trench from Banana Republic’s petite line ($198).
• Get petite sizes, not misses’; with alterations you lose the trench’s great sleeve details, and it’s difficult for a tailor to fix too-big shoulders.
• Wide-legged pants won’t stunt shorter women if the volume is balanced by heels and a defined shape on top.

Pants, Alice + Olivia, $175. Top, J.Crew, $88. Shoes, Oscar de la Renta. Earrings, Leslie Greene. Ring, H.Stern.

• Pinstripes look professional and give an enhanced vertical line.
• Switch to evening simply by removing the jacket.
• “Petite sizes aren’t just smaller than misses’; they’re proportioned differently, with shorter neck-to-waist and waist-to-hip measurements,” says Kim Williams Dahlman, author of The Petite Handbook

Jacket, Calvin Klein, $198. Dress, $168. Short necklace, Dean Harris. Pendant necklace, Irene Neuwirth. Rings, Helen Ficalora and Jane Taylor. Shoes, Yves Saint Laurent.

• Keep bags in proportion. Get a scaled down version, such as a large clutch.
• A blazer that hits at the high hip is flattering; pass up anything boxy (looks squat) or shrunken (looks faddish).
• The trousers—fitted on top, widening below the knee—suggest fuller styles that might be trendy without being too big.

Trousers, Theory, $230. Blazer, Theory, $360. Top, Tory Burch, $295. Clutch, Tabitha. Ring, David Yurman. Shoes, Christian Louboutin.

I’m broad on top, so petite clothes aren’t necessarily for me. They’re geared to women with no bust or shoulders.”

• The petite market shamefully lacks large sizes. Some knits are exceptions: relaxed but not huge.
• Stretch your legs by matching shoes, hose, and skirt. “Opaque tights are a perfect trend for petites,” says Dahlman.

Cardigan, $178; camisole, $118; skirt, $238, Eileen Fisher. Earrings, Kara Ross. Bangles, Irene Neuwirth. Ring, David Yurman. Belt, Orciani. Tights, Wolford. Shoes, Chanel.

• Express’s special shorter-leg version of jeans are ready to wear.
• Dark-wash denim always elongates the leg more effectively than the lighter kind; it’s dressier and more versatile, too.
• A good crop? No such thing if you’re petite: It “chops” you at the calf or ankle. For a sleek, continuous line, the hemline should cover the top of your heel.

• A high-belted top makes legs look longer, as do the heels—but for comfort’s sake, “maybe I’d do pointy flats instead,” says Matlin.

Jeans, Express, $60. Top, Charles Nolan, $258. Shoes, Jimmy Choo.

• In the U.S., “Petite women have made great strides in denim,” Dahlman says. Witness these upscale boot-cuts.
• Sophie gets away with horizontal stripes because she’s slight.
• Flats aren’t illegal, but the pared-down proportions of ballerinas are more in sync with a small frame than a big, clunky sneaker.

Jeans, Paige Petites, $215. Tank, Cherry Tee, $23. Bangles, Sequin. Pendant necklace, Gabriella Kiss. Flats, Brian Atwood.

• Monochromatic dressing—one shade, head to toe—is always flattering. “Anytime you chop up your body with color, it’s not going to be good,” says Dahlman.
• Luscious charmeuse fabric makes it dressy; interestingly textured python accessories steer it in a casual direction—and you can always add a jacket for the office.

• Such a classic shape would look just as good with lower shoes.

Dress, Ann Taylor Petites, $188. Belt, Ann Taylor Collection. Shoes, Cesare Paciotti. Earrings, H.Stern.

• The classic wrap dress is very friendly, says Dahlman, “because it paints a vertical line on your body.”
• Wear a camisole to provide age-appropriate coverage of the V neck.
• Size up prints by holding your fist against the fabric. If the pattern is the same scale or smaller, okay. If it’s bigger, it will overwhelm you.

Dress, Diane von Furstenberg, $365. Camisole, Only Hearts, $40. Bangles, Melissa Joy Manning, Marco Bicego, Jamie Wolf Fine Jewelry. Ring, H.Stern. Shoes, Brian Atwood.
 

“I have to tweak every outfit to make it work,” says Cook. Not this gown, which disproves wisdom that short women shouldn’t do floor-length.

• Empire waists raise the focus to bust level, so your torso and legs suddenly seem much longer—that’s one reason this dress works.
• It helps that the fabric is sinuous rather than bouffant; plus, the drape from the bust to her shoes makes a vertical statement.

Dress, BCBG Max Azaria Petites, $405. Shoes, Christian Lacroix. Earrings, Giles and Brother by Philip Crangi. Clutch, Rodo. Rings, H.Stern, David Yurman, and Zasha Signature Jewelry.

• Attention-getting jewelry (like these triple pendants) is fine for petites if it’s worn with simple clothing.
• “I like Brooks Brothers boys’ department and Children’s Place—where I just got a $29 jacket.”
• A good bra can make anything work. Jessica had a postpregnancy refitting and says it’s made “a huge difference” in how her clothes look.

• “I own a lot of pants, but if I could just wear jeans, I would. One of my favorite pairs was labeled ‘cropped,’ but on me they’re full-length.”

“Jackets and pants are the hardest because you really want them to fit well. If they don’t, it destroys the look.”

• “I like short jackets over long tops to hide the waistband of pants. A tucked-in shirt cuts you in the middle.”
• Gwen nixes wide-legged pants even if they’re in fashion (”They make me look short”).
• “Long skirts will swallow you.” Instead of midcalf, her hemlines are midknee.
• Avoid ankle-strap shoes or short boots, Gwen cautions; they break the leg line.

• Tailoring can’t fix everything: “If a garment is too big in the shoulders, forget about it.”

• Double-duty 101: “A long tunic, belted, is fabulous as a short dress.”
• “Too much fabric will overpower your figure.” Think balance: Volume on top means slim on the bottom, and vice versa.

• “Once you find pants you love, buy two pairs, one hemmed for heels and the other for flats.”
• “I have a very small foot, so I buy kids’ socks and save a fortune.”

Trench, Burberry, $1,350. Dress, Michael Kors, $1,595. Tights, Wolford.

t’s a myth that petites can’t wear intense color or graphic patterns. It’s just got to be done on a figure-flattering shape.”

• Show some part of the body so you don’t get lost in your clothes.” This trapeze dress is short enough to give lots of leg.
• “As long as you don’t look like you’re going to fall over, you can pull off a big bag. But you need heels to offset it.”
• “I believe in three-quarter sleeves—you don’t want to look as if you’re wearing your father’s jacket.”
• Vintage can be a great resource. Lisa loves ’60s designers: “I think they cut things smaller then.”

Dress, Lisa Perry, $1,095. Stockings, Wolford. Shoes, Manolo Blahnik.

Style and the Short Woman
Labels to look for!

Use our shop guide to find a stylish coat, tailored business outfits, and jeans that promise the elusive perfect fit—no matter what your stature.

Coats and trenches

Lines that offer petite sizes:

• Burberry, burberry.com
• Ellen Tracy, 888-269-6080
• London Fog, Macy’s, 800-622-9748
• Marvin Richards, nordstrom.com.

Department stores with petite sections:

• Bloomingdale’s, 800-555-7467
• Saks Fifth Avenue, 800-347-9177 for stores
• Nordstrom, nordstrom.com, 800-695-8000.
• Neiman Marcus, neimanmarcus.com, 800-825-8000
• Lord & Taylor, lordandtaylor.com, 800-223-7440 for stores
• Macy’s, macys.com, 800-622-9748.

Go-to-work clothes

Lines that offer petitie sizes:

• Ann Taylor, anntaylor.com, 800-342-5266
• Lauren by Ralph Lauren, ralphlauren.com, 888-475-7674
• Anne Klein, anneklein.com for stores
• Lafayette 148 New York, lafayette148.com, 877-324-5148
• Jones New York, macys.com, 800-622-9748
• Liz Claiborne, lizclaiborne.com
• J.Crew, jcrew.com
• Banana Republic, bananarepublic.com.

Jeans

Lines that offer petitie sizes:

• AG Adriano Goldschmied, agjeans.com for stores
• David Kahn, nordstrom.com, 800-695-8000
• J.Crew, jcrew.com
• Joe’s Jeans, joeseshop.com
• Lee, lee.com.

Shorter lengths available from:

• Gap, gap.com, 800-427-7895
• Levi’s, levis.com.

On-line:

• searchbyinseam.com.

Dresses

Lines that offer petitie sizes:

• ABS by Allen Schwartz, Nordstrom, 800-695-8000
• Maggy London, nordstrom.com
• Michael Michael Kors, macys.com, 800-622-9748
• Nicole Miller, Nordstrom, 800-695-8000

Regular labels that run small include:

• Miguelina, 212-400-3100
• Rebecca Taylor, rebeccataylor.com, 212-966-0406
• Shoshanna, neimanmarcus.com, 800-825-8000
• Theory, theory.com for stores; Tory Burch, toryburch.com
• Tracy Reese, 212-807-0505, tracyreese.com for stores.

Online:

• edressme.com

Blogged with Flock

1. Identify your image. Clothing allows us to project any image we want. You simply have to decide how you want to be perceived, then dress for it. What you do, what you like and what looks good on you are your major considerations. One exercise is to select an adjective that sums up the impact you want to make. For a financial advisor, the word might be, “wealthy” (How much credibility would a “poor” expert have?) Then look for clothing that conveys this attitude.

2. Imitate a stylish person. One that exudes the image you seek. This person could be the most successful person in your organization, someone you’ve met at an event or even a stranger you glimpsed in passing. Perhaps he or she is on the cover of your favorite business publication or even a model wearing a great look in a fashion magazine.

3. Emphasize your assets. Select silhouettes, items and colors that not only work with your image, but also express your personality and play up your best features. Don’t forget that “great” bodies come in all sizes and shapes. I know how difficult this can be when clothes are shown only on tall, skinny girls and young, hunky men. But sometimes believing in yourself takes work. Why not turn an imperfection into a uniquely personal distinction? Or, strive to get into the best shape you can? Physical activity helps put me in touch with my body so that I feel better about it, while improving the way I move and carry myself in my clothes.

4. Stand tall. When your posture is perfect, your clothing looks better, whatever your height or size. So walk with your head up, shoulders back, ribcage raised and stomach in. I find that wearing comfortable shoes also helps.

5. Befriend a tailor. You can’t be stylish if your clothing doesn’t fit, no matter how expensive the garments. Pieces that are too large undermine your power; those that are too small do the same and are uncomfortable to boot. The most modern silhouette for both men and women is slimmer and more shaped and this usually takes tailoring.

There is one more secret, but you may have to work up to it. I call it take a risk. Stretch your limits a bit and try a touch that will set your look apart and give it punch. For a man who usually sticks with a French blue shirt and striped tie, it could be a pattern-on-pattern look (striped shirt with a dot tie, for example). For a woman who tends to under accessorize, it could be a wonderful brooch or necklace or eye-catching shoes. Or, an entire outfit that’s slightly, just slightly, unexpected.

Blogged with Flock

1. Separate each of your suits. Hang tops and bottoms separately.
2. Store all garments by category, then color, organizing them from dark to light in each category.
3. Use wood or plastic hangers for jackets and shirts. Avoid wire, because it doesn’t properly maintain the shape of the shoulders.
4. Hang trousers long, using skirt hangers with clips. I clip them at the waist. Men can hang their trousers folded over the slat in a wooden hanger.
5. Clip skirts on skirt hangers.
6. Dresses too will be hung in a group that ranges from dark to light using wooden or plastic hangers.
7. Never hang knits. Fold them. I keep my sweaters in an armoire. My black sweaters are separated into three piles: turtlenecks, pullovers and cardigans. The rest of my sweaters are separated in piles by color, ranging from—you got it—dark to light.
8. Fold T-shirts and store in piles by color in a chest of drawers or on a shelf.
9. If you have the room, mount a shoe rack inside a closet door. When I open my closet, I see 24 pair at a glance.
10. Organize socks and hosiery by color. I keep mine in lingerie boxes in a deep drawer.
11. I like to see my jewelry at a glance so I keep it in clear plastic boxes with compartments, that were probably originally created for nails and screws.
12. Hang belts and bags on special hangers or as I do, on hooks suspended from pegboard on the inside of one of my closet doors.
13. Fold scarves lengthwise over a hanger so they can be readily seen.

Once everything is out in the open and pieces are assembled according to category, then you can begin pairing items you might not have thought off.

Blogged with Flock

Dress young, but not teenage young.It’s fine to shop for fun accessories and costume jewelry at stores like Forever 21 and Claire’s, but buying clothing from retailers that cater to juniors will only make you look like you’re trying too hard to look young. There’s a reason the prices are cheaper in the teen department: The fabrics are cheap. And cheap fabrics are never flattering, especially on women over 17. Many of the mistakes that grown women make fall into the category of revealing too much, as in baring your midriff (unless you’re at the beach). It doesn’t matter if you have six-pack abs or paid six figures for a tummy tuck, keep it hidden—it’s not cute.

Dress Young—How Not to Look Old

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