Like the Cool Kids

Remember how when you were younger and thought Will Smith was the coolest  person on the block? Maybe it was Alfonso Ribeiro, Carlton, who did the funniest dance possible?

Not gonna lie, still do the Carlton dance to this day. Match it with "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones and I am up and dancing like a mad woman (it's actually pretty embarrassing but I embrace it)!

Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Paris Hilton to Taylor Swift to One Direction. The "cool kids" have changed from time to time, never has it stayed the same. One person rises, one person falls.

One thing I have noticed lately is young people now-a-days calling their celebrity "crushes", or people they look up to, their "Queen" or "King". 

...Really? 

This underage person with tendencies to violate the law and pose stark naked is your "Queen/King" or better put, your idol?

May I ask the bold question that is: why? 

Okay they might have catchy music or great fashion sense but what about their morals, standards, how about the level of love they exemplify? What about respect? Do they respect themselves? Do they jump on the bandwagon-cause-train or do they actually fight for something worth fighting for? Better yet, what is worshipping them going to do for you? 

Let that sink in for a minute, our young people are worshipping 18-year olds who are already going to rehab and getting in trouble with the law. Worshipping. Have you seen what people call Beyonce or Jay-Z? It is rare that you will find an article about Beyonce without the journalist calling her "Queen B".  (Note: Beyonce and Jay-Z are not the law-troubling celebs I am talking about, I am just using their names as an example)

If our young people are too busy idolizing these high-privileged celebs, where will there be room for their passions,  their adventures....Jesus? What about discovering who they are?

Yes, I realize that I once was there, that I adored bands, writers and some celebs. However, it never got to the point where I was obsessive. That's what's happening in this current instant-gratification-always-on-our-phones-twitter-facebook- world. 

There are boundaries and lines when we choose to allow these things into our lives. I mean I get it, I understand it because as humans we were born to worship something. People always have had this "God-shaped" hole in their hearts that they stuff and stuff and stuff with things, other people, relationships and distractions of light hearted happy things that are really just toxic waste in our hearts. Satan loves that. He loves it when God's kids distract themselves with anything and fill their hearts with hollow things because as long as it keeps them from not recognizing their need for Jesus, all is right with this dark world. 

But why allow ourselves to be sucked into that vast empty hole? Maybe, you whole-heartedly disagree with me, and that is okay. This post might rub you the wrong way and make you upset but that's okay. If all it has done is cause you to think outside your normal box for just a moment, then my job is done. 

I ask and challenge you to search your heart. Do you have young people around you whose heart, minds and souls are being sucked away by media, the internet and unrealistic expectations? Are you helping guide them or are you telling them "you can do whatever you want and be whoever you want because only you matter."Does that cause a selfish mindset or a giving mindset?

The truth of the matter is this: we can't force anyone into any certain direction. People choose their feelings, actions and mindset every day and you have no control over that. However, you can influence, you can pray, you can practice this mindset yourself! 

I have been there. I have allowed my feelings to take over my actions and healthy mindset, I have allowed that toxic relationship to overtake my world and idolize it (sadly, that happened more than once). I am the last person to have it all together. But one thing I do know is this:

Jesus is full of grace and mercy, the Holy Spirit is packed full of wisdom and God always has a plan. 

Why are we as a society idolizing broken people and distracting things? Because it is easy. I challenge your mind, heart and soul to this: what mindset are you choosing and what do you want your legacy to be at the end of your life? A legacy of social media, worshipping celebrities and living the lifestyle of someone who is lost? Or do you want to leave a legacy that fires people up and that young people look at and say "that is someone who lived a passionate life, I want to do that too".

We have choices everyday. We choose where our heart lies, where our mind drifts off to and how rich our soul is. 

What do you choose?

Favor.

She sat at her desk, mindlessly staring at the ever bright screen, struggling to find the courage to do the work she was called to do.

"Lord, I can't... I cannot do this. Who am I to do this job? I am not equipped, no one will want to hear my words. I am going to be the laughing stock of the office and the world. Where do I even go? What do I even do? I am an utter failure."

A gentle hand landed on her shoulder:

"But remember... remember my daughter that I Am. I am more than enough to do this job with you. Ask...Ask me for favor in this place. Lean on me when you are tired. Trust my promises as they are. Reach out, trust and let Me do the rest."

*sigh*

"If You're here, then I will try my best. I'll rest in You, knowing that You will be here every step of the way."

-------------------------------

How many times have we, as women, felt inadequate? Raise your hand. *raises own hand* 

Yes, you may be reading this while no one is around you, or you're "reading the newspaper" in the only quiet space in your home, you could be a rebel and be reading this in your office but who cares! Raise your hand anyways because we have all felt inadequate one time or another. 

How do we combat this?

Are you constantly believing these lies? Yes, they are lies. Lies, I tell you! 

*enter melodramatic music here* 

Okay, let's get serious though. How many times are we told that we are not good enough? Through out the day we encounter Social Media, television, newspapers, text messages from flippant "friends", remarks from abusive relationships, all in one way or another telling you the you are not good enough, that you will never ever measure up to their expectations or standards.

Excuse me?!

Who are they to tell you, daughter of the Most High King, who you are and how you measure up in this world??

They have no grounds. And even if they threw their best reasons at you, those are nothing compared to what Your Creator thinks of you. 

You, my dear, are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Did you know that? 

Yes?

Maybe you have heard it or understand it as knowledge but has your heart and soul taken it into their homes yet, built a cozy fire and had piping hot cup of coffee? 

No?

Let's fix that then! 

"I *state your name here* am beautiful. I am beautiful with these scars, with the spots on my face, with my makeup smeared, eyes tired with my body full and wonderful. No matter what others say, no matter what they do to me, I will choose to not allow their lies to enter into my space. For I am *state your name here* and I refuse, I refuse to allow the expectations of this world to poison me. Never again." 

You see, you are so much more. You are more than your face, you are more than that quirk you have, you are more than your friends and relationships. 

When it comes down to it, we have so much say in how we feel, in what we do and what we say. You have that power. Further more, there is a God who is madly in love with the "imperfect" you. He longs to take you away from that negativity, to give you the desires of your heart. He already favors you... are you choosing to see that, my friend? Or are you choosing the negativity that the world heaps onto you? 

You are a field of white daisies dancing in the gentle wind.

You are the mighty mountains when they receive fresh powder on their rocks.

God spends time on you like a carpenter endlessly perfects his masterpiece, gently creating the curves of the legs, etching in the intricate details. 

No, it is not easy. Nothing of this life is easy. If it were, when would we learn, where would we grow? 

You are near and dear to Jesus' heart that He daily fights for you and always wins. Are you willing to open up your eyes and see that? 

Allow yourself to ask Him for favor, because my dear friend... He is aching to pour it over you in all shapes, colors and sizes. 

-----"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."-----

Matthew 7:7 {NLT}

Jesus.

"You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have."

~Corrie Ten Boom~