News today...

In today's news there is so much report of crime and sadness. It is rather depressing to turn on the evening news or log into media sites that are bombarded with links to "stories" sharing sad news.  This world is going south fast. We need Jesus. My devotional today was about "Media Messages" from the book How Deep a Mother's Love... Devotional Journey. What good quick reads for the busy mom! I got mine at Lifeway if you want to pick up a copy for yourself.  Let me share with you excerpts from the devotional (I have highlighted in blue) and a summary of my thoughts about what it says..

"Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on earth." Colossians 3:2

"Sometimes it's hard being a woman of faith, especially when the world keeps pumping out messages that are contrary to your beliefs."

Have you ever noticed that the media focuses on outward beauty, fame, riches, and such? Things of this world?  I can't say they never send out a prayer or encouraging link to a "good" story but its rare. When they do, have you ever noticed the comments from people below being so controversial? So degrading? Judgemental? Its sad. When you read those comments you see just how far from Christ the people and this world really are.

"Because you live in the 21st century, you are relentlessly bombarded by media messages that are contrary to your faith." 

Don't let the world convince you to thinking that a certain weight, hair color, appearance, job, number of children, car, house, etc is the right or wrong. God made us all different in different stages in life. Whether you have one child or seven... the biggest house in the nicest neighborhood or an older small house in the midst of the country... you work a full-time job or stay home and raise your children... you eat what you want or diet and  the scale isn't moving... you are healthy or battling a illness... you drive a new top rated car or one that used and beat up... we are all children of GOD and in the end of this life on earth it won't matter one bit. None of it! We can't take material things with us. We will get a new body in Heaven. We answer to God alone.  Why focus all your time on what the world does/says. Don't let the lies of this world depress you, or give you a big head. Let's read the Bible and dig deeper to see what He says is right. Let's store up treasures in Heaven and not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).  Let's let people see Jesus in us and not our material things.

I am not saying its easy, or that we will never want stuff we don't need. I know Im not perfect at this but I am striving to give all my focus north (toward Heaven) instead of south (toward the pits of Hell).

"The more we stuff ourselves with material pleasures, the less we seem to appreciate life." - Barbara Johnson

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2