When I was looking through this past Sunday’s paper for my coupons (that’s the only reason I get the Post…the newspaper itself ends up in the basket - unread - to start our fires in the winter - we use a fireplace insert to heat our house rather than gas…BIG savings there ), I noticed this comic (you can click on it to zoom in):

I didn’t laugh, or even chuckle. It’s a sad fact that our society is spoiled. More *stuff* supposedly = happiness. But if society were truly happy, would they *need* so much more or would they be content with what they had? And where do people even get the *need* to have more *stuff*? The number one answer that comes to my mind is television. We don’t watch TV for a number of reasons, but one of those reasons is due to commercials. I couldn’t even tell you what the new “it” toy is, nor could my children. They seem to quite happy playing with the not-so-new-toys they do have, playing pretend (remember that game?), reading,  or exploring outside. As they grow older, I pray they will continue to enjoy serving others.

Now, I understand that God wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labor:

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” ~Psalms 128:1-2 (NIV).

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift of God.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NKJV).

But God does not want us to be materialistic. There is more to life than *stuff*:

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” ~Luke 12:15

Our possessions do not last forever:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“ ~ Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

And greed doesn’t do us any good:

“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” ~1 Timothy 6:8-10

In the past, I have found that it was easy to sucked into having worldly views (for example, having multiple Furla & Coach bags is a must, low-low-low rise jeans are “hot,” and being an expert texter meant that you could text with your eyes closed…) But I’ve found that God is faithful. I pray that He open my eyes to see what things I am doing wrong or where I can improve. He has and will continue to do so in His time. (Just for the record, my closet is now rid of excess baggage - woo hoo for eBay! - my jeans seemed to have migrated north, and I don’t even own a cell phone. Did I mention God is faithful?? )

So here it is - three days since my last blog post! WOW! I have much to share…

I’ve picked up the last Bible study book that I never finished (Couples in the Bible) and have begun to do a lesson each week. I completed lesson three last week (see…I have a habit of starting things and not finishing them…) and it made me chuckle…okay, laugh out loud really. Why? It was the story of Lot and his wife. In a nutshell, Abraham and Lot were of the same family and when their households became too large to travel together, Abraham let Lot choose where he wanted to settle first. Of course, Lot chose the most fertile land near Sodom (a thriving but sinful city) and Abraham got stuck with the leftovers. Later, when God sent angels to warn Lot and his family to flee before God destroyed the town, Lot was hesitant. Even his wife looked back at the city as they were leaving (she was then turned into a pilar of salt!). Lot loved God but still gave into worldly desires. He was double-minded.

Geez…how many times has my lack of faith caused me to focus on worldly things (you know, the “oh I can do it myself”) rather than on God and His promise? Or, how many times have I chosen to do things I wanted to do rather than choosing to pray or do things God’s way? Tooooo many to count! Lord, I thank You for your grace!

So then Sunday morning rolls around. We went with my friend, Carrie (who has three boys about a year or two ahead of each of my girls). What was the pastor preaching about? Choosing the way we live. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (NLT) But still, we have free will…the choice is up to us. Our lives can either be self-centered (focusing on our wants and desires) or our lives can be God centered (having confidence and utmost faith in God).

Wow, when God wants to make a point, He doesn’t hold back!

So after these many convictions from God about what I’m choosing in my life, I’m confused…lol. Honestly, I felt convicted to not blog as much or spend as much time on the computer in order to make time with God in prayer…I got that one, really, I did. But these extra two convictions…my Bible study just HAPPENED to be about separating from the world and the pastor’s sermon just HAPPENED to be about who’s way we can choose to follow in our lives. I think not. God is really orchestrating something here and I just have to find out what. Lord, I pray you open my eyes to what it is You want me to see. And as it says in Philippians 2:13, please continue to give me the desire to do your will!

“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