GodTube had a free viewing until the 29th, and I’ve heard good things about the movie, so I decided to tune in and watch “Come What May.” (there is a great trailer on that link!!)

“In the movie, Caleb, a Christian student attending Patrick Henry College, is caught in a moral tug-of-war as he challenges Roe v. Wade at the National Moot Court Championship. At the same time, the character’s mother, a feminist attorney, argues the case at the U.S. Supreme Court, but on the opposing side.”~ quoted from worldnetdaily.com here

I love this movie:

* because, most importantly, it brings out the truth about when life begins…there’s no getting around Caleb’s argument.
* it promotes modesty & family values
* it was created by homeschool students, who were then instructed by movie professionals (how cool is that?!)
* and because it’s location is Patrick Henry College, which just so happens to be where I have wanted my girls to ever since hearing about it nearly 2 years ago - I know…they’re ages 5 and under…I’m a planner
If you get a chance…check out a clip, which I’ve so conveiniently embedded here

“That red man with the horns that are gone…” My five year old was trying to explain to me what movie (among others…sigh…) she “liked watching” while she was visiting that certain out-of-state relative’s residence. (Obviously, nothing shocks me anymore…lol)

Any guesses as to what movie she was talking about? It sounded familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on the title. And since we don’t watch TV or listen to mainstream music, I don’t even know if she was talking about a movie out in the theaters. So I googled, “red,” “horns,” and “movie.” Hellboy was immediately displayed…with a rating of PG-13. That’s right, my FIVE YEAR OLD was watching a PG-13 movie. I would describe PG-13 as: completely off limits for a five year old; this is how the MPAA describes the PG-13 rating:

PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13 years old.

May contain very strong language, nudity (non-explicit), strong, mildly bloody violence or mild drug content.

So how did I handle this? I had to explain to Lilli that even though her relative has different rules than our family, she still needs to think about if it makes God happy. I asked her if the movie Hellboy is something God would be happy watching. She said, “No because the slimy guy was fighting and not talking nicely.” I then asked her if God would be happy that she watched it…again her response was no. I explained to Lilli that we choose to do right things because God does right things. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

We also then looked in the Bible to see where God tells us to watch nice things. Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”

Does this describe the movie, Hellboy? I think not.

So what movies does Lilli think Philippians 4:8 describes? Cherub Wings, Little House on the Prairie, & Dora the Explorer (just to name a few). She understands it…but Satan sure does have a way of trying to tempt us away from purity and innocence doesn’t he? Thankfully God promises that “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” ~1 Corinthians 10:13 And what do I do as a mother of a child who is being swayed by someone who she trusts, but only sees maybe 8 weeks out of the year? Set God’s standard in our home and family…and pray, pray, pray. “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” ~Hebrews 13:5

And that’s a pretty darn good feeling

At one point in my life, my Saturday nights were devoted to either a fraternity party or clubbing in DC. Thankfully, I’m now at a different point in my life. Currently six to eight years later, my Saturday nights (just like every other night) are devoted to my darling husband. Lately, we’ve been refreshing our memories on “The Lord of the Rings,” which is one of my favorite trilogies - not only because I get to see Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen for a few hours (however, I do think Sean Connery would have made a wonderful addition to the cast ), but because of quotes like these:

Sam: It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it’ll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.

Tonight, in my pink flannels, snuggled up to my hubby in front of the fire watching the “The Two Towers,” I remembered my “shadow,” my “darkness” and I remembered thinking that I would never get through it. But, with God’s amazing grace, I persevered. I didn’t give in to something that would harm me and that would eventually destroy me. With the help of a few “Sams” in my life (my Heavenly Father, Michael, & best friend Holly - just to name a few), I fought through my moments of weakness. My new day has come and boy does my sun shine bright!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11

As we headed into Lowes this weekend to pick up some shades for Lilli’s room, we passed by a beat-up-been-around-for-fifty-years-such-a-man’s-kinda-truck. This truck looked like it had been through it all, and then some. Rust, cracked windshield, missing hubcaps…you know, a typical “man’s truck.” Lilli says, “Look! A Mater truck!” After I stopped giggling at how darn cute she was, I took the opportunity to explain to her that even though things look old, they might still work very well. She responded, “Yes, Mater was still nice.” I guess she got the point

Since we don’t watch TV in our family, I thought we would avoid the whole “zoning out” in front of the TV ordeal. Did you know watching DVD’s has the same effect?! (sense the sarcasm??) Michael and I realized that almost every time the girls would “get too silly” or need a “calming down time,” we’d pop in either Baby Einstein or a movie for them to watch. We soon realized that the girls had us trained!!

But not anymore - no way. The Clarke’s have a new rule: only one movie a day. Since the girls were used to watching probably 2-3 movies a day, I had my doubts that this new rule would be greeted with open arms. (Now don’t get me wrong, the girls wake up between 6 & 7am and are in bed by 7pm, so we have about 12 hours a day for homeschooling, playing outside, arts & crafts, etc. But up to 4 hours of movie watching is simply ridiculous…even if it is only “background noise.”) Thankfully, the past week has been wonderful! Lilli knows that she has the choice of which movie she wants to watch and when she wants to watch it. She knows that once she watches a movie, she has to wait until the next day before she can watch another one. She seems to be proud of herself in making these “important” decisions.

The extra time has been put to good use. Lilli has made NUMEROUS crafts (a popsicle stick basket, play-doh animals, glitter glue pictures, just to name a few) and Corinne has been exploring EVERYTHING (she especially likes the puzzles, even if the pieces don’t fit where she thinks they should go…lol). We all have enjoyed surprising Papa with our baked goods when he has returned home from work (we made brownies and a Bundt cake this week). It’s great to see their little minds soaking it all up!

 
God speaks to us in His time and His way and I am thankful for it. I am so thankful to have a gracious and loving God. I am so thankful that He helps me, His child, to see the lies Satan tries to deceive me with. I am just so thankful!!!It’s amazing how many times Satan tries to deceive me on a daily basis.

Take today for example:

1) “You’re not pretty enough.” - Lie from advertisements in magazines at the checkout lane (which I’ve trained myself to not even look at…because who cares who is anorexic or obese in Hollywood?!)
2) “You shouldn’t have to wait patiently for the light to turn green…go ahead get frustrated!” - Lie when I was waiting at that intersection of Amherst Street & Merrimans Lane…you know, when the left hand light skips your lane and you have to wait a whole other rotation.
3) “You’re not a good mother.” - The most recent lie from a conversation where I was told how to parent my daughter. (lol)

There are some other one’s, but these three lies are the one’s I’ve been praying about how to deal with for the past two years. It’s amazing how God will speak to us in His time, not ours. This past September, prayers #1 & #3 were answered. My small group started reading  “Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free, ” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. In all of her books, she quotes Scripture and applies it to today’s world. Now, I’ve I read and re-read the same Scripture she quotes, on previous occasions. But this time, God switched on a light bulb….I’ve even been known to say, “Duuuuh!” as I read. I’m happy to say, and I give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ for this, lies #1 & #3 are no longer an issue for me. They are easily seen and easily discarded….woo hoo!

Prayer #2 was answered last night…through Morgan Freeman. Michael and I watched “Evan Almighty.” (Yes, even though we do not watch television, we do watch movies. Netflix is so convenient and they have a parental ratings and reviews section that I enjoy using ) Overall, the movie was cute and made you feel all warm and fuzzy at the end. However, I would not suggest this to anyone wanting to have a biblically sound lesson on “Noah’s Ark” (Here is a Christian based review on the movie). One scene really spoke to me - I even had a “Duuuuh!” moment. God (played by Morgan Freeman) said, “When a person prays for patience, does God give them patience, or the opportunity to be patient?” Really - did I think my Father God would just whip up some patience to zap into me? This made me look at the situation from a parental point of view: Is Lilli going to learn how to do a back handspring on the balance beam after one gymnastics class? Absolutely not…but with the opportunity to practice in her lessons, I know she will nail it one day! Is Corinne going to up and walk if I’ve been carrying her around on my hip all day? Absolutely not…but with the opportunity for her to hold my finger as she practices walking, she will be running around before I know it! So bring on the impatient moments and the put downs…let me show you what I’ve got! I’ve got God’s Truth and that can crush any lie or deceit thrown at me! (double woo hoo!)

 

John 8:32
     “…the Truth will set you free.”