I know something good about you. Yes, you.

Lose My Soul by TobyMac.

{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.

TobyMac, Kirk Franklin and Mandisa 

{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

losing your soul.

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, 

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 

*

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.