What goes up must come down. Or in some cases…What goes in must come out.
In most every serious blog entry I find myself trying to work through things or
beliefs or just my emotions. This one is no exception…no exception
at all.
I was watching the “idiot box” last night waiting for the Biggest Loser to come on the screen. As I watched, there were all these commercials for “Lipstick Jungle” and “Desperate Housewives” and a few more smutty, soft-core shows. Even some commercials for Nutrisystem and some Loreal products came on that were so provocative that I just turned my head in shame.
I know that the world is just that…the world. And that I’m supposed to live in the world, but not live as the world lives. These commercials are only offensive to Lovely and me as far as our house goes. No one seems to see the “world” in it. Sex-driven ads and provocatively/scantily dressed women splattered all over everything…not just TV. We need to shelter Little Bear from this world. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we go stupid and tell her to close her eyes when we watch something that is too racey…it means that we don’t watch anything racey. And along those means, we teach and train her what the bible teaches about sensuality in the context of marriage. It means that when she asks a question about what other people say things or do things that are contrary to our beliefs that we educate…not try to act like it didn’t happen. But, of course, we DO need to shelter her because as Proverbs says, “Foolishness is locked up in a child” and we have to be mature, not lacking anything. We have to teach little Bear that we need to surround ourselves with people that have similar sensitivity to God’s heart as we grow. And as we are empowered by God, we reach out to those not surrounded by the hope and beliefs in order to spread the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus, the Christ.
As I reflect on it, the Bible says that Jesus pretty much hung out with everyone that everyone hated or thought that they were the scum of the earth. He ministered to them and met more than their immediate needs. He met needs of eternal proportion. Like the woman at the well…Jesus spoke to her even though she was a Samaritain and He, a Jew. He spoke with authority into her life…and hope for the future. He didn’t promise that times wouldn’t be rough or that life would be easy and without pain or grief. He did promise living water that she would never thirst again. But you see Jesus throughout the Bible seperating himself from everyone else to pray and to be “re-energized” before going out again.
I’m finding that I should do a lot more praying and studying. My family and the people around me that I affect (whether pointing them to Christ by my actions and reactions or pointing them away) deserve a more clear and consistant Christian to watch and judge.
Father, please forgive me for being self-centered and prideful. I
make every possible plan that I can and neglect to wait for your direction and
plan. I fail to see your will as possible and try to make my own way,
which I know leads to failure due to rebellion and disobedience. God,
please correct me and guide me in Your way. God please restore my heart
and the heart of my family. I submit to your guidance and your will for
us. I long to be mature in faith. I know that I have failed trial
after trial because I have hardened my heart to your voice. Break my
heart, God. Please hear my voice and teach me to listen to yours.
Amen
Prodigal Thinker 