*This post is very personal and possibly too graphic in nature for some. Just so you know...I warned you!!*
This post by a friend of mine on Facebook really got me to thinking. I have been feeling some very strong things for quite some time, but have honestly been too afraid of what people would think of me to post them. So, in MY blog, my corner of the world I'm going to share MY thoughts, MY feelings, MY opinions and everyone I pray can at least respect me for that.
Here is the link that my friend shared on her FB page http://www.purefreedom.org/blog/?p=320. I also have another link I would invite you to read http://sweettea.typepad.com/sweet-tea-by-lori-frank/2012/05/porn-lies-and-50-shades-of-gray.html. I respect both of these ladies and their opinions. However, the real issue in my mind, is that God's Word plainly says that lust is wrong. It says that adultery is wrong. It warns of the downfalls of sexual sins, promiscuity, fornication. The Bible also gives us instruction on pure, exciting, God honoring love.
MANY people I know, love and care for have read this book. They have read the entire series. Devouring it's pages and hardly able to focus on life until the books were complete. Well...they did finish the books so they could get to the theater in time to see "Magic Mike". "Magic Mike" a fine piece of cinema? Please ladies, we all know you aren't going for the story line, acting or cinematography. Could it be that you are going because the men are amazingly beautiful and you want to look at them? Guess what??? They aren't YOUR men.
I'm not going to participte in either one of these "crazes" because it doesn't bring honor to God, to my husband or to myself. There isn't ANYTHING good that can come from introducing these words or images into my psyche. True intimacy with God and with others can only be achieved through purity of heart, soul and mind. Would I like it if Nathan went to a movie about female strippers??? Absolutely not!!! America is consumed with pornography and we've justified, analyzed, reconciled, and explained it away into a state of being "norm". It's not normal.
I no longer choose to read "romance" novels. Although the Notebook is one of my favorite books and that movie still brings tears to my eyes, there was a time when watching it brought nothing but conflict and sadness. You see, honestly I lived many years of my life with a divided heart, a conflicted mind, a life of duplicity. My reality, as is the reality of most people I know, isn't like the lives of those in movies. Real, true, lasting integrity, honesty, intimacy, trust takes cultivating, developing, working for and towards. In my life watching these kinds of "chick flicks", reading "romance" novels and sitting around in huddles of women talking about our sex lives doesn't promote a healthy marriage. Please HEAR me. I have done ALL of these things. I am fully aware of my sin. I am fully aware of the hurt and pain I've caused myself AND Nathan. I want to be a different lady.
My heart's cry is to bring joy to my Savior. Phil. 4:8 says "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Also Psalm 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." These Scriptures sum it up for me. I can't be thinking about what's right as I am filling my mind with that which is contrary to God's Word. He is holy. He is pure. He sent his only son, Jesus, to die for me (and you) and to actively, willingly participate in these activities, cannot bring Him joy.
It's the old saying that my mom used to say "would you do that if Jesus were sitting next to you"? Well ladies....would you invite Jesus to sit next to you at Magic Mike? You could share popcorn and talk about what a good job he did creating those beautiful men and how talented they were at stripping??? What about reading "50 Shades" instead of the Bible or finishing your "quiet time" so you could get in a few pages of your new read before the kids wake up???
God sent Jesus that we might have a more abundant life!!! I'm so grateful that his Word is truth and that I can hold onto it, even when everything and everyone else around me fails. My heart and flesh will fail, but He will never fail me. I am far from perfect. I sin. I think horrible things. I do horrible things. I grieve the Spirit. I however, do not make sin a practice. Praise be to God for his unfailing love and convicting Holy Spirit.
If you made it to this point in the post, I hope you know that you are loved, cared for, and prayed for by me. I am not going to write you off if you've read the book or seen the movie. This is MY post. I just wanted to share me heart, because I love you.
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