Having a two daughters, one of which is a preteen, we are bombarded by all the teen “idols” out there today. I don’t mind my girls liking these stars, what I don’t like is how much emphasis is put on idols. There are even televisions shows for people to compete to be an idol.
My girl’s favorite “idol” is Hannah Montana (HM). For the longest time I didn't want them even watching the show. Why? Because you have, this girl who lives two lives. One so she can have a normal life and another so she can be a star. I felt that this gave a wrong impression. After trying to be something I could never be, for my mother, I vowed that as an adult and a mother I would be who I am and not disguise myself for anyone. After all the most important being, God, knows who I am, even if I try and hide myself, and loves me for who I am. So if someone doesn’t like me, for me, to bad and I want my girls to feel the same way. Then after having HM pushed on my oldest, by a family member, mostly because I didn’t approve I spoke with my husband about it. He brought up other characters, batman, superman, wonder woman, who all lived two lives. I gave in, after that, and allowed them to watch HM and have a few clothing items with her on it. Then the other night it was time for bed and because HM was on they threw a fit. I did not take HM away from them, this time, but informed them that should these actions happen again they will not watch her on TV again. I also told them that we do not act that way over a character on TV.
My oldest and I had a conversation about what her actions were like. I told her that she was basically worshiping HM. I also asked her who she thought we are to worship. She said God and Jesus. She is correct. As a matter of fact, the bible has 233 verses regarding idols and the word idol is found 244 times. Each of these verses tells us how wrong worshiping idols is and that God is the only being we are to worship. Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 states “Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. I realize that these passages do not mention human idols but we have to remember that these passages were written long before there were “stars”, sports, television, radio, etc. The bible also says in 1 Samuel 12:21 this about idols, “Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they really are useless!” Meaning that during our times of needs these idols don’t care, they can’t be there for us, comfort us, or lead us down the correct path. It also says in Isaiah 42:17 “But those who trust in idols call them their gods—they will be turned away in shame.” It also says in Isaiah 45:16 “All who make idols will be humiliated and disgraced.” Another words God wants us to put Him first and worship only Him and if we don’t He will refuse us and turn us away. How sad would that be!?
So how do we teach our kids, that no matter what the TV says, we are not to have idols? Good question! We need to first explain that having someone to look up to is ok, but they should not be worshiped. They are not worthy of being worshiped. They are just normal people like us only they make a lot more money than the rest of us! We could refuse to let our children to watch any TV, listen to any music or seeing any movies, but where would that get us? That would in turn mean they could not ride the bus to school, go to friends homes, and many other things because of the possibilities of them doing these things while not at home. You could also have the extreme where they are sneaking around to do these things and since that is, considered lying they would be going against what God wants us to do again. I believe there has to be a happy medium somewhere. Such as limiting how much time they can spend watching TV or listening to music (and not just non-Christian shows and music because even Christian stars can become idols). We also have to talk to them about God and help them spend time with God and in His word so that it’s only natural for them to want to only worship Him.
Now these are just my thoughts. I am open to hearing what others think of the subject. So please feel free to post your comments, just keep them civil and non-judgmental.
I will close with what 1 Corinthians 10:14 says “So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols”.
Have a blessed day!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Love - "it keeps no record of wrongs"
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV
I have loved this passage since I found it left in a desk at a job I had taken years ago. Of course, at that time I had no idea it was from the bible. This seems wrong since I was taken to church every Sunday till I started working at 16. But then again when I look back and realize that church was all we had growing up unless it was Christmas or Easter. I, for more reasons than one, definitely did not grow up in a Christian home.
So why is this one of my favorites? Well, because it expresses all that love is supposed to be. As a matter of fact, Paul wrote it to the Corinthians, along with several other letters, to explain how they should live as Christians. It also expresses how big love is. Just think God loves us and covers all these aspects in His love for us. He is patient and kind. He does not envy us nor does He boast about His love for us. He is not seeking us to love Him and only Him. He may be disappointed in what we do at times He does not get angry and He always forgives us. God does not delight in or like evil. He wants us to be truthful in all aspects of our lives. He protects us, trusts and hopes we will follow His plan for us. He is persistent in guiding us even in the worst of situations in our lives. Ultimately, God’s love for us never fails. So, if you ever feel as though no one loves you remember that God always does and will!
I have a picture of this passage hanging in my bathroom. As many times, as I have looked at the picture I hadn’t really read it closely for a while. But when looking at it recently this stood out to me: it keeps no record of wrongs. So why would this stand out so much to me? Because of my childhood. Most every little, or big, mistake I made was remembered and used against me at a later time. I could never do anything wrong without a mistake I made in the past being mentioned that may or may have not been similar to what I had just done. I was told time and again that I could never be trusted because of something I did long ago. And no, none of it was dangerous, unlawful, or violent. The worst was having lied about something at one point or another. My family didn’t know what love was, not really. You had, or at least I did, to earn and deserve it, you weren’t just loved. I was even told that once after giving my mom a gift. “Buying” her love was farthest from my mind. I saw something I wanted her to have and got it for her. Now I don’t think that God expects us to forget how someone hurt us, treated us, etc, nor does He expect or want us to have to continue living with that person so they can continue their behavior. He just wants us to forgive them and move on in our lives instead of let the hurt control our lives. He also wants us to love, even those that have hurt us, as He loves us and them. Believe me, it’s all to easy to let hurts and emotions control your life, and some times, you don’t even realize that is what you are doing until you are feeling so low and can’t get back up on your own. Hopefully, if you are in that situation or have been, you have someone in your life, as I do, that loves you enough to help. I’ve also seen what holding onto hurts, anger, and hatreds can do to your life emotionally and physically. It can eat away at your life till there is nothing left. Sadly, we have a family member in this situation. I understand that they may not have any real love for those that hurt them but they are holding on to the anger, hatred and hurt so tightly that they can’t really love back nor let anyone love them. Instead, there actions are pushing away those who do love them and are living a lonely, miserable life.
Do you know what so wonderful about love? It is so big, powerful and amazing that it can be shared with everyone, which is who God wants us to love, everyone! Love was not meant to be shared with one person at a time. Nor switched from this person to that person based on who is your favorite at the moment. I have family notorious for doing that. I have also been at the end where it wasn’t my turn to be loved, more times than I care to remember. Or the love that was given to me was just a plain and simple, hollow love. Maybe that should be enough, but it’s not. I have family that have never truly taken the time to really connect with me, to find out who I really am, to understand me, nor have any real emotional connection to me. That hurts more than you may know. Without these things, you can’t have a compassionate love for anyone. Of course, you don’t have to have a compassionate love for everyone; to me that is usually a love you have for a spouse, your children, family members, and very special friends. And of course God!
Since I mentioned “buying”, love above I thought I would touch on that subject too. You can never truly buy a persons love. Showering someone with gifts or spending tons of money on them when you see them (on very rare occasions) may cause them to shower you with affection but only for that moment. “Buying” someone’s love could actually be hurting them because they may feel as though you don’t really love them. After all, if you really did love them you would be able to show it in other ways besides with gifts you bring and money you spend. It’s like I said above I was not trying to buy my moms love but because she didn’t believe I had any real and sensitive emotions towards anyone, but myself, nor did she have any emotional or compassionate love for me she could only assume I was trying to buy her love. Realizing this put a lot of things into perspective for me and shaped my feelings for my mom. Please don’t let that happen to you!
So I guess this explains why this passage means so much to me. It might also explain why this is my four posting on love.
I pray that you will consider what it keeps no record of wrongs means and do your best to follow this, just as I try to, so that you can live a life full of love.
God bless!
I have loved this passage since I found it left in a desk at a job I had taken years ago. Of course, at that time I had no idea it was from the bible. This seems wrong since I was taken to church every Sunday till I started working at 16. But then again when I look back and realize that church was all we had growing up unless it was Christmas or Easter. I, for more reasons than one, definitely did not grow up in a Christian home.
So why is this one of my favorites? Well, because it expresses all that love is supposed to be. As a matter of fact, Paul wrote it to the Corinthians, along with several other letters, to explain how they should live as Christians. It also expresses how big love is. Just think God loves us and covers all these aspects in His love for us. He is patient and kind. He does not envy us nor does He boast about His love for us. He is not seeking us to love Him and only Him. He may be disappointed in what we do at times He does not get angry and He always forgives us. God does not delight in or like evil. He wants us to be truthful in all aspects of our lives. He protects us, trusts and hopes we will follow His plan for us. He is persistent in guiding us even in the worst of situations in our lives. Ultimately, God’s love for us never fails. So, if you ever feel as though no one loves you remember that God always does and will!
I have a picture of this passage hanging in my bathroom. As many times, as I have looked at the picture I hadn’t really read it closely for a while. But when looking at it recently this stood out to me: it keeps no record of wrongs. So why would this stand out so much to me? Because of my childhood. Most every little, or big, mistake I made was remembered and used against me at a later time. I could never do anything wrong without a mistake I made in the past being mentioned that may or may have not been similar to what I had just done. I was told time and again that I could never be trusted because of something I did long ago. And no, none of it was dangerous, unlawful, or violent. The worst was having lied about something at one point or another. My family didn’t know what love was, not really. You had, or at least I did, to earn and deserve it, you weren’t just loved. I was even told that once after giving my mom a gift. “Buying” her love was farthest from my mind. I saw something I wanted her to have and got it for her. Now I don’t think that God expects us to forget how someone hurt us, treated us, etc, nor does He expect or want us to have to continue living with that person so they can continue their behavior. He just wants us to forgive them and move on in our lives instead of let the hurt control our lives. He also wants us to love, even those that have hurt us, as He loves us and them. Believe me, it’s all to easy to let hurts and emotions control your life, and some times, you don’t even realize that is what you are doing until you are feeling so low and can’t get back up on your own. Hopefully, if you are in that situation or have been, you have someone in your life, as I do, that loves you enough to help. I’ve also seen what holding onto hurts, anger, and hatreds can do to your life emotionally and physically. It can eat away at your life till there is nothing left. Sadly, we have a family member in this situation. I understand that they may not have any real love for those that hurt them but they are holding on to the anger, hatred and hurt so tightly that they can’t really love back nor let anyone love them. Instead, there actions are pushing away those who do love them and are living a lonely, miserable life.
Do you know what so wonderful about love? It is so big, powerful and amazing that it can be shared with everyone, which is who God wants us to love, everyone! Love was not meant to be shared with one person at a time. Nor switched from this person to that person based on who is your favorite at the moment. I have family notorious for doing that. I have also been at the end where it wasn’t my turn to be loved, more times than I care to remember. Or the love that was given to me was just a plain and simple, hollow love. Maybe that should be enough, but it’s not. I have family that have never truly taken the time to really connect with me, to find out who I really am, to understand me, nor have any real emotional connection to me. That hurts more than you may know. Without these things, you can’t have a compassionate love for anyone. Of course, you don’t have to have a compassionate love for everyone; to me that is usually a love you have for a spouse, your children, family members, and very special friends. And of course God!
Since I mentioned “buying”, love above I thought I would touch on that subject too. You can never truly buy a persons love. Showering someone with gifts or spending tons of money on them when you see them (on very rare occasions) may cause them to shower you with affection but only for that moment. “Buying” someone’s love could actually be hurting them because they may feel as though you don’t really love them. After all, if you really did love them you would be able to show it in other ways besides with gifts you bring and money you spend. It’s like I said above I was not trying to buy my moms love but because she didn’t believe I had any real and sensitive emotions towards anyone, but myself, nor did she have any emotional or compassionate love for me she could only assume I was trying to buy her love. Realizing this put a lot of things into perspective for me and shaped my feelings for my mom. Please don’t let that happen to you!
So I guess this explains why this passage means so much to me. It might also explain why this is my four posting on love.
I pray that you will consider what it keeps no record of wrongs means and do your best to follow this, just as I try to, so that you can live a life full of love.
God bless!
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