Oh I was devastated when you did indeed sell out to the common world view of the media and relationships. I wrote you a letter earlier thanking you for not selling out but I was premature in my writing.
Your show would be as equally viewed if you chose not to kiss someone. I know you are just acting but there are tons of little girls looking up to you. You are not an idol but you have been put into a position of influence. That is a God-given gift. You need to use it wisely.
You all wear your purity rings. Purity is so important and a HUGE part of that is guarding your hearts. Your kiss is special and really it would mean a lot more if you saved it for your future wife. That is true purity.
I am just trying to encourage you in this. The more you compromise to the standard of the world the easier it will be to continue down that path. I am writing you from experience not judgment. I hope you reconsider your future actions because little eyes are watching. As for me as a parent of those little eyes it is my charge to protect and guard them. So, I must now add your show to my growing list of shows that need previewed before allowed to be seen in my house.
Don't worry we aren't haters. We love you dearly as brothers in the Lord. We are praying for your decisions and the impact you could have for the Lord in today's world.
When joy embraces pain contentment comes. A quiet surrender the world cannot understand.
This lesson can only be learned in the classroom of life. God does not change. God is good. He never leaves or forsakes us. God is what sustains us. When the world looks at the joy contained in the face of pain it cannot understand because it is not a natural thing. It is that of a supernatural power that comes from Christ alone. If you are going through a rough time and do not know what to do, have you considered a relationship with Christ? He is the only thing that brings peace in the midst of any trial. If you want to talk about this further let me know.
"Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." ~John 12:30-33
Right before these verses above, Jesus is talking about His end and said to the Father, "Father, glorify your name!"
Then out loud from Heaven God spoke for everyone to hear, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." Some of the people there thought it was thunder others though and angel spoke but we know from the text it was God. Can you imagine the God of the universe speaking out loud for a crowd of us to hear Him all at the same time? That is amazing.
Now look to the text I posted above in John 12:30-33. Jesus tells us why and what is up. He was telling them how men and women would come to Jesus and what kind of death He would die which we know is death on a cross. He was nailed to this object and lifted up to hang there until He slowly died.
But there are some other amazing treasures through the word that point to this place. I will point out two today that really stirred my heart about how God's word is perfect and complete.
Take a journey to the Old Testament with me. The children of Israel are again complaining after God has provided for them over and over again. When that happens again this is what God does.
Numbers 21:6-9 states, "Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
God had the power to take away those snakes upon repentance but He chose instead to give them a snake on a pole to look at for the cure. He left the snakes with them. Have you ever been in a situation where you just wish God would take it away? Sometimes He chooses not to. Sometimes we have to walk through things but God is always there to get us through if we keep our eyes on Him. That was what was meant in creating the snake on the pole. Unfortunately sometime later the children of Israel chose to worship it. Probably after the harmful snakes were gone. This snake on a pole was to represent their need for keeping their eyes on Jesus to come. Here is how we know.
We also are bitten by the poisonous sting of sin. We need a way to take it away from us lest we die. Just as a poisonous snake bite can kill you. God provided that cure through Jesus. John 3:14-15 states, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
Isn't it amazing how God's word fits together perfectly? Let us keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the only true healer. Any problem in life He can get us through if we keep our eyes on Him. Our circumstances may not change but He never leaves or forsakes us. He is our hope.
Father thank you for your rich word full of treasures! I am amazed by it day by day. Lord open our eyes to see you and know you better each day. Guide us in the right way and help us to keep our eyes on you lest we turn to complaining. We love you. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Zondervan sent me a free copy of this book for my agreement in reviewing this book.
This book was about a very interesting journey that the author took over a period of a year. Just take a second to look at the beard on his book cover picture. That was just one interesting part of the journey. I found the book very thought-provoking. It continually challenged my heart and how I viewed others.
The book also gave me great insight into what living like Jesus was like under all the traditional Jewish customs of the times. Doing something like that today would be very difficult as Ed finds out. It is a great privilege to be living in the period of grace and not the law.
Though I am not sure I agree with everything Ed wrote in his book it was still his personal journey. It gave me some things to continue to ponder through. The journey in my eyes was a very admirable thing for him to do and I deeply respect the journey he undertook.
As a personal side note there were a couple of sections that ministered deeply to my heart about God and Jesus and illness. God used Ed to minister to those places in need through his journey and insights. I have disclosed my various health battles through these years and Ed is a man on his own tough journey. He did inspire me deeply.
To get your own copy from Amazon go here. Check out Ed's website here. To see what others are saying go here.
Today I am over at Radical Revolution, the teen ministry for Proverbs 31, Go over and check it out. Looking for relevant spiritual growth material for young girls, check us out. Here.
To my sweet man, I know we started out way rough. Rougher than most. We had all odds stacked against us. We were not meant to last. But through Christ and His most amazing grace we have made it this far. I adore you. I respect you and would not want anyone else leading our family.
Though we were not sure if we would make it so many times, I can honestly say I am thankful. I got to have a front row seat and be a participant of God's amazing redemptive work. I got to see how trash could really be refined into treasure. I got to see miracles take place before my eyes. I would not be who I am today without you.
Thank you for sticking through it with me. Life is hard but we have each other with God at the center and with that we cannot fail. Thank you for being the vehicle that God used to teach me true and lasting love of the unconditional form. I am blessed beyond measure by you. I love you!
Here is my previous letter.
