{Click to listen}
We didn't watch the MTV awards this week.
We didn't have to watch it to see Miley Cyrus on news broadcasts the next day.
I have not watched the whole thing.
I have seen photos and the excerpts on news.
I told my kids, son and daughter, "DO NOT Google her or find her on YouTube."
But, even so, the kids know about it too.
If they didn't see the clips on TV, (but they did), they've also heard it in conversation.
So we talked about value.
We talked about how it is not ok to act like that and it is not ok to watch it.
I talked to my son about how he views women and girls.
I talked about God's design for sexuality.
I talked about God's design for food.
When we eat nutritious and follow God's ways with food we are nourished.
When we don't, we destroy ourselves.
And it is the same with sexuality.
The same with money, jobs, success.
We talked much.
Here I am adding to her "publicity" by mentioning her once again.
But . . .
Miley has me thinking this week
how my heart breaks for our girls and how they view their value.
And even us as grown women.
We all have struggles with what we believe deep down makes us valuable
and wondering if we are really, truly loved right here, right now,
just as we are in all of our mess and "not-enoughs".
We struggle to know who we are and the to live who we are.
God is showing me His truth
to my own heart about
myself,
as a 12-18 year-old and as an adult,
and my girls,
and Miley,
and all women.
Why have I given it so much thought?
Because the girls that were her fans are not her age.
They are not in their twenties.
They are 11, 14, 17.
They still pay attention when they hear her name.
Because, right or wrong, I allowed my daughter to watch her TV show,
listen to her CD's and
because I took my daughter to her movie on her 8th birthday
and sat there in a row of 8 year-olds
with tears running down my face
realizing how I was living a life of not being my true self.
That silly movie
brought freedom and courage to my heart
to be true to myself
and to allow God to change my heart
like he changes a caterpillar into a butterfly.
There is a message in that movie for the very girl that played the part.
And my heart breaks for that girl
trying to find herself.
And for being surrounded by people
that encouraged her to dress that way
and act that way
and be treated that way
and then broadcast
and exploit her
as she is trying to establish her own identity
{not that it couldn't be argued that she was exploited before}.
She is a legal adult.
But she did not act alone.
Somebody along the way could have said
"No, this is gross, disgusting, disturbing, and depraved."
Instead, they were cheering her on.
Is she trying to use this to her gain? Yes.
Are others using her? Yes.
{click their names above to listen}
have been
singing clearly into my ears as I walk this week.
About gaining the world
{gaining attention, fame, money}
but
I'm not only talking about losing it eternally,
but I am also talking about losing it
right
now.
I hear these song lyrics in my heart as they sing them in my ears. . .
And I pray that I'm an artist who rises above,
The road that is wide and filled with self love,
Everything that I see draws me,
Though it's only in You that I can truly see
that its a feast for the eyes- a low blow to purpose.
And I'm a little kid at a three ring circus.
The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it's you,
But they don't know that who you are is not what you do,
True, we get it twisted when we peak at the charts,
Yo before we part from the start,
Where's your heart?
Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on You.
Grant us the privilege of Your world view,
And may Your kingdom be,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on You.
Grant us the privilege of Your world view,
And may Your kingdom be,
what wakes us up,
and lays us down.
I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul.
Read more: Toby Mac - Lose My Soul Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Read more: Toby Mac - Lose My Soul Lyrics | MetroLyrics
*
I have had my own personal battles
about worthiness and identity
in the past and this week.
And God is speaking to my heart in all of it.
So this is for
the girls,
the moms,
the grandmas,
and
for
Miley.
Right here.
Right now.
You are loved.
You are valuable.
You are a treasure.
Your heart is
~ worth
protecting.
~ worth
healing.
~ worth
helping.
~ worth
rescue.
You are a daughter of God.
Yes, you.
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son
into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world
through Him
might be saved.
John 3:16-17
You are loved.
You belong.
You are established.
You are secure.
You are significant.
You are valuable.
You are so treasured.
A Man.
Saw you.
And gave up His life.
To rescue you out of
whatever pit you find yourself in.
I can hear Him say,
"I will rescue you! You are worth it!"
"I will do whatever it takes to give you
abundant life
fullness of joy
and pleasures forevermore."
It is so unexpected when I realize again and again
His love.
{Here is a video to make you SMILE BIG about this RESCUE: And the little children shall lead us...}
And He did.
And when you ask for His help and trust Him and believe Him,
He picks you up,
washes you off,
shines you up,
loves you tenderly,
fills you with His strength,
and sets you up on your feet again.
To be yourself and to help others find Him.
In being who He made you to be, rescued you to be,
He is glorified
and
you
have
life
that you have always wanted
deep inside of you.
Unlike the world,
God doesn't use you to glorify Himself
and then just cast you aside
like an empty wrapper or water bottle.
He fulfills you, loves you, builds you up,
restores you, breathes life into you.
When you belong to God,
in Him,
you find all that your heart seeks
about Him,
about life,
about yourself.
You can live
with
love,
courage,
grace,
kindness,
confidence,
hope,
peace.
