Being More Intentional

                           

                              Photo Credit: Pinterest: Finding Time To Fly

I am certain I am not a lone voice in not understanding the relationship between being led by the Spirit, and my own free will. Of all the stumblings of my walk by faith this is certainly the most persistent, and most interesting.

I do not plan what I write.

Nor do I seem able to do so.

Any semblence of a plan, is immediately done away with once I start typing. I wrote about this when I finally understood, or perhaps relented, that God is in control even here.

I have read my posts, I am my own worst critic, and if I am honest they are of varying and (hopefully improving!) quality, the best of which are always produced when I write about what is on the mind of God. When I am led by the Spirit.

Yet because of this, perhaps communicating my own spiritual immaturity, I am far from intentional in spending the time creating these posts, perfecting my craft, improving my writing, such that I become more effective for Him.

And if this were a traditional "occupation" would I not dedicate more time to my craft either by coercion, or necessity? Would I not complete CPD, training, or anything I could, if it meant the prospect of becoming more effective and furthering my career?

The answer is yes I would, because I did.

Every qualification I had from my high school education to my degree was self-taught, and in the case of my degree self funded, looking toward the promise of a career for motivation.

How much greater the gift of eternal life, the promise of relationship with an eternal loving God or His abundant blessings? So why am I not spending more time investing in the gifts God has given me, that I may serve Him, and His people better?! Surely this is far better than any career I could have hoped for?

To not treat my obligations to God with at least equal esteem, as those I had when I was interested in a career, is to relegate God's work below that of man, elevate temporal above the eternal. In my ignorance before I knew Him, perhaps I could be excused, but now? Certainly not.

Considering His word and all He has done, not just for me but all of mankind, this simply does not make sense.

So I looked into how to improve my writing, how to become a more effective communicator. I signed up, and paid for, Skill Share, bought some books to read by Christian authors and yet how much time have I spent enjoying the content I paid for? Embarassingly little. Indeed what I will to do, that I do not practice! (Romans 7:15)

Perhaps in this season this is why He has brought me to a standstill. To focus upon Him and His will, and nothing else.

The gift of grace allows me to underperform, but not become lazy nor make excuses for continuing to fall short. I thank the Lord that He is faithful, patient and has not taken away this gifting from me.

God has shown me so many things He has for me in my future, some of which I cannot even believe, and all He is asking me to do is serve Him. I pray, this is a seed moment and my present circumstances the fertile ground for growth.

I do not have the answer to the balance between my own free will and to be led by the Spirit, growth in faith is needed, but one thing is certain:

I must do better.

A Rough Week

I have watched sermon, upon sermon, upon sermon talking about spiritual attacks. When they would happen, how they would happen, why they would happen. Yet seemingly, such is the human condition, despite my numerous learning, warnings and preparation, I was not ready for what was to come.

It is not that I have not suffered spiritual attacks before, no those have been numerous, it was the intensity of what I was subject to that was the surprise.

It is written that ours is not a battle of the flesh (Ephesians 6:12), and we stand against the wiles of the devil ((Ephesians 6:11). Lest it has not been stated explicitly enough, the devil himself and his agents are your enemy, that also means you are his. I do not wish to glorify him, nor give him any undue attention for far greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); yet to be wise to the wiles of the devil we need to understand this of his character: he is a shrewd operator and he is intelligent.

As any good general knows, when you are in battle go for the "head", it is why the Sheppard was struck such that the sheep would scatter (Matthew 26:31). Thus if you grow in relationship with God and your faith increases, so too do you grow in stature as an enemy of the devil. You are more capable of leading people to God and away from him, this for the devil is a problem.

Since I have started this blog, the attacks have intensified. This week has been one of intense trials and tribulations, of which I have not experienced since I begun this journey.

I was doing a Bible study this week, one where the Holy Spirit revealed to me the meaning of our covenant through sacrifice, the significance of Jesus carrying His cross and what that means for us, how Abraham and Isaac revealed Jesus, even in Genesis and so much more. I felt compelled to share this with you, and indeed I will, but this is when the battle intensified.

So what am I saying of myself? Am I exalting myself,and claiming to have become so important in the kingdom of God, that the devil sees me as a threat? No instead the opposite.

If God rejoices in heaven when one sinner comes to repentance (Luke 15:10), understand that this means the devil gets upset when but one person is saved, because if they belong to God, the devil no longer has a hold over them; as you increase God's kingdom, you decrease his.

I am but a humble blogger, who wishes to spread the gospel to as many people as possible with the measure of talent that God has given me. It is, however, no coincidence that just I had my greatest message of faith to share with you, I suffered my greatest attack,

I am not on the television with an audience of millions, have a large internet presence nor am I well known.

Yet to the devil I have become a threat. This blog has had thousands of views, for which I am extremely grateful and humbled that God is being heard through me, and I am so grateful for all the support it has received, but it is not the biggest blog out there.

In what I have experienced, you would think this is not the case. You would assume my audience is in the millions and wait upon my posts with bated breath.

I wanted to share this with everyone. So that you may know if you choose God what may lie ahead, and if you have already given your life to Him you will not be alone in battle.

More importantly, I wanted to let you know your prayers for the salvation of others are effective, your messages are being heard, anything you do from a tweet, to a conversation about God with friends or a stranger, all are effective in increasing God's kingdom.

Do not be surprised if you suffer spiritual attacks, yet do not give up, for to give up would mean that the devil succeeds in his mission. We know the battle in eternity has already been won by Jesus, because of what He did for us, but ours is the battle now. Not only are we servants of God but soldiers.

During this time I haven't written anything, I truly did not feel able. The devil had temporarily succeeded in preventing me from fulfilling the purpose that God has chosen for me.

Apart from the vine I was useless.

In this time I had a chance to reflect and remember what life was like before I knew God, on what lay ahead in what He has promised me for my service. Many thoughts raced through my mind competing for my eventual resolution. Should I stop all of this? Should I go back to work and defy what God has told me (yes I am still waiting), thus ending my struggles? Should I just get on with my life and come to God another time when I felt more ready? But to do so wouldn't seem right....There was but one conclusion:

Giving up was not an option.

I choose to serve just as the author of our faith, Jesus Christ, I look toward Him to run this race of endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2). It was He that strengthened me and assured me no weapon formed against me will prosper. That though the battle may intensify God was on my side, though He has brought to this place of waiting and enduring it would all be worth it.

So yes you are an enemy of the devil, but be encouraged knowing that we serve the One to whom all must bow (Philippians 2:10): Jesus Christ, that He is Lord, that greater is He that is in us then he that is in the world. God is in control.

Accept His gift of grace. You're going to have good and bad days, but He will not leave nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

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Parents Beware...

Arthur the children's cartoon, in its opening episode, features an openly homosexual marriage.

This is not a frivolous topic, nor should it be thought of as such. I will elaborate on this in a moment. However, we know that modern families encounter the necessity of both parents having to work, due to rising living costs and stagnating income. This means for large portions of the day:

Something or someone else has influence over your children.

Worldly issues are far from the periphery of the life of the believer. They are at the centre. Jesus the author of our faith, said:

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Mark 2:17 NKJV

As the author of our faith and the best example to us, if His ministry focused on calling sinners to repentence, as the salt and light of the earth, so too shall ours. We cannot relegate ourselves to the pews, surrounding ourselves only with those who are already on the journey.

To extend His kingdom as faithful servants we must claim new territory, glorifying God to those who do not yet know Him.

This is why a Christian voice on controversial issues, though not always wanted, is always warranted.

Yet our responses need work. Is it not written:
A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 NKJV
We have seen that the Pharisee's indignation was often not that the subject matter offended or undermined God, but that it offended and undermined them. More worringly still, there was response was often not rooted in love, but self-exhalting arrogance, misleading those who looked to them to guide and instruct them in the ways of the Lord.
Does this not sound like the judgmental Christian we so often encounter?

So I preface this topic with that introduction, that you may know the intention of my words. At age 28 my concern is slowly pivoting to the next and younger generations. We are all tasked with framing the world in which they will inherit, so we all need to assist in creating an environment where they can brought up and instructed them in the ways of the Lord.
When we do not talk about controversial subjects, we cannot be surprised that the loudest voice wins the argument, and as much as you would like to separate from the world, doing so would mean sacrificing that part of His kingdom to the enemy.

I don't plan these posts, but today I was confronted with an issue that was clearly on the heart of the Father, given how early He brought the verse of the day to my attention, and having logged in afterwards to social media, saw the news about Arthur. These two instances were separated with but a moment.

I previously made a light-hearted post on not being able to watch TV, and noted that even children's television is corrupted by agenda. This should not be too surprising seeing as, though aimed at children, these "programs" are created by adults.

The subtle suggestion that ungodly behaviour is acceptable, is far more dangerous when aimed at children.
Has God not told us:
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

And just as we saw when Jesus was tempted in the wildnerness, you may know the word, but so does the devil.

It should come as no surprise then, that he is so interested in your children.
I have learnt that adults are often not capable of mature faith based debate on sexual morality, what hope do children have? Wherever you rest on this spectrum, surely we can all agree that sexuality, in ambiguity or definition, does not belong in a children's cartoon.

The fact is no longer is it just television. We have seen this relentless march of the dilution of the sexes, moving from two well defined genders to a dictionary of arbritary terms flung together, and all manner of sexual ambiguity in society.

Now it is now being subtlely implanted in the consciousness of our children, and in some parts of the world being taught in schools with California's justification that "children in kindergarten and even younger have identified as transgender".
Now we know as believers that ours is not a battle of the flesh (Ephesians 6:12), but the fullness of that discussion is for another time.

What can be seen is that when we do not say anything, the frontlines of the battlegrounds advance inward, slowly allowing ever increasing amounts of ungodly behaviour, to be promoted in ever increasing arenas.

Parents be extremely mindful of what you allow your children to watch, and who you let educate your child!

A child is so impressionable that they pick up language with nothing but observation, mimic your behaviours without you having to tell them to do so. God knows this, this is why He wants you to introduce them to Him as early as possible.
I cannot stress to you how important this is. I have seen the effect of not doing so on some of the young children I have in my life (nieces/nephews etc) you will be surprised what they have normalized before the ages of 6-10.

I remember growing up in the 90s we had 4 channels, one main TV and a smaller one for the kids many years later. Without access to streaming, on demand services, 24/7 channels and a host of other convenience, my parents would struggle to keep up with what we were watching.
How much harder the job today, when its not too long before even the fridge will have a screen and be connected to the internet.

In the school I attended, we were never told that we were a boy or a girl, we just knew! We were always taught that boys and girls were different, there was no controversy and all this in a secular school.

Today the world is a very different place.

This is a stark reminder that you simply cannot trust your children with the world, even with something as ostensibly innocent as a cartoon.

So parents take heed.

Fight for your children, do not be afraid of going into the schools and challenging what they are they teaching your children.

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I've Lost Control of My Blog

I've lost control of this blog.

I never inteded this blog to evolve into what it has become. It is an understatement to say that it has gone in a direction I did not anticipate.

My original title for this blog was "Journey with Christ: My Walk By Faith". Indeed you will find me on Twitter as "@WalkByFaithBlog".

I had it all mapped out in my mind: what the URL was, how it was going to go and the type of content I would write: day-by-day experiences of growing in Christ. It was designed to be a written testimony of my journey of faith, that others may know what its really like, so as not to become discouraged or change their perceptions about what its like to be born again.

If then, this blog was a canvas, I was holding the brush, the paint selected post by post as the illustration was to take shape across time, becoming more complete as I did.

But the URL I wanted was taken. I could not use the name I originally intended, so "I" came up with My Steps Directed inspired by Proverbs 16:9.

Proverbs 16:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

I see the irony now in "me" calling this blog "My Steps Directed" and "me" choosing to base the title on Proverbs 16:9, because that's exactly what has happened.

I didn't lose control of this blog, because I was never in control in the first place. He was.

And as much as I try to inject my will into this, it has evolved more into a written ministry. One which I would never have said I was ready for.
I'm 28 years old, but when it comes to faith I only meaningfully got here like 5 minutes ago, and please just have a look at the breadth of topics on here already!

Thy will be done indeed!

I then, may be holding the brush, but I do not choose the paint nor what to do with it, nor in which direction my hand moves.

He does.

Am I then, but a puppet? Do I then, have no free will?

No. I choose to surrender this blog to Him because it is ultimately for Him.

I wanted to be used by Him, to guide people to Him, as a way of giving thanks. I might have had several ideas about how this should have gone, but who am I that He should be mindful of me (Psalms 8:4)?

I'm used to being in control, so this might not seem like much, but its scary for me.

And you know what? This blog continues to be a wonderful experience. I've been blessed and already "met" some people online I never would have encountered without it. As much as I write this content for others it helps me too. Frankly, His ideas are better than mine anyway, I see now I had nothing to fear.

I am re-learning parts of myself not knowing Him had made me forget. The child like essence, that believed I could do anything, that dared to dream, that knew only of endless possibility.

The Lord directs my steps, not in the way I want them to go, but where He needs me to be, both for my own sake and His plan. I have experienced so much wonderful growth and experiences of God. I am a better person now than I was before.

All because I surrended to Him.

This might sound silly, because its just a blog, but our ways are not His ways. This is what He is using on my journey, this is what He is using to fix the parts of myself I did not even know were broken. Now I am so excited to see what He will do in all areas of my life.

And if He can do all this for my good, through a free blog, think: what can He do in your life if you let Him?

Surrender to God, its the best decision you will ever make.

Whatever it is you are doing, give it to God, let the hand of the creator of the entire universe, bless what you are doing. Better still be prepared to let Him change what you're doing completely.
Whatever ideas you have, He has better ones. Maybe you are limiting yourself and you don't even know it!

Surrender to Him, all things are possible with God! He will resurrect your ability to dream and give you renewed hope. Yes the journey may be painful, nor should you expect instant gratification (I am still in the midst of waiting on Him as I write this) but your life will be better.

If you're feeling a little apprehensive about surrending consider:

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
A man’s steps are of the Lord ; How then can a man understand his own way?
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV & Proverbs 20:24 NKJV

Apart from Him, you may not even know what you're doing anyway!
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Conversing with LGBTQ People Part 2: Do Christians Hate LGBTQ People?

If you haven't already had a chance to, check out part 1. This was such a big topic, that I felt each post deserved its own section, but appreciating the whole is important.

Christianity preaches hate against LGBT

No Christianity preaches truth.

But not the world's truth.

Truth in the world is manipulated for purpose. We have seen this so many times throughout history, it would take too long to list them all. Contemporarily then, how many news stations are there around the world and yet seemingly, no two can agree on factual events? Should they not all be reporting the same story from the same angle? This would be truth.
Yet news stations are open about their bias, a news channel can be considered conservative for example. That any news station can be considered to sit somewhere along a political spectrum, should send alarm bells ringing.  This effectively signposting that you will struggle to find objectivity on that channel, yet people still watch and cling to what they see as truth. This truth that suits them.

It wasn't always acceptable to be openly homosexual for example, until all of sudden for no real reason at all, it was. "Get with the times they say", so truth is changed by time? Truth changed by time is no truth at all, truth changed by time is agenda. We can say this of all agendas, all are built upon apparent truths until, for no reason at all, they are not truths anymore; because they never were the truth to begin with.

What commonality is there? In the world then the truth is acceptable as truth, but only when it suits. Situational truth. Lying is not OK in the world, but white lies? Hiring lawyers to lie for you? No problem. Our hypocrisy so ingrained within our culture, that it manifests in our common sayings, I wonder if you are familiar with: "Do as I say, not as I do"....you get the idea.

The truth, that is the gospel, is God's truth.

God's truth is consistent, because He is consistent. He is the great I Am. The same yesterday, today and forever more.

That means God's truth can make you feel uncomfortable. Because we are inconsistent, and the consistent truth will force us to confront this inconsistency within us. Our situational truths.

This, however, is not hate. It is simply the truth. If you identify with the LGBT community or find yourself in any manner of sexual immorality, then to remove any ambiguity:

Yes, this is sin.

A Christian called upon to answer this question, should have no reservation explaining it as such, for this is the truth. God's truth.

If you are a member of this community then, this doesn't mean that God hates you. No God loves you! God doesn't like sin because it is not good for us, but you He loves.

Perhaps you are feeling convicted or rejected by this truth, but this should not be confused as hate, nor would I have any satisfaction in making you feel that way. The apostle Paul dealt with something similar:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
II Corinthians 7:9‭-‬10 NKJV

It is written all had fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:1-26), you don't think being privy to that information, wouldn't have made all who heard/read that uncomfortable? Made them feel convicted? Of course it did, and still does!

God is eternally gracious and merciful, such that conviction doesn't mean condemnation. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Conviction from God is rooted in hope, that is Christ, that we know we can do better because of God's love for us, not feel hopeless. The Holy Spirit prompts us to be better, and we want to do better because sin is not good for us. God allows His truth to make us feel convicted that we may be saved.

So how the truth makes you feel, does not mean there is hate in the truth. God is love, and there is no hate in Him, so you know His truth is simply the truth.

So do not be afraid to speak God's truth, we're not called to be in conformity with the world, but in conformity and aligned to God's will.

But...

Change is Needed

Because clearly something has gone wrong that has led to the widely accepted narrative that Christians preach hate against LGBTQ people.

Read Romans 3:1-23 again, it said all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I am a sinner too, so too are you who reads this. I too lived in sin, no different than a member of this community. I too am stumbling to walk the righteous path.

But I walk. And keep walking, keep changing, keep striving to be better. Knowing that He works all things for my good because I love Him. Knowing that even if I fall short of His glory, His mercy endures forever (Psalms 136). I walk in the hope that is Christ knowing I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  If this is true for me so too is it for members of the LGBTQ community.

That should give us humility that we can give a gentle answer to turn away wrath, and avoid harsh words that stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). That doesn't mean do not speak the truth, it simply means remember that the greatest gift is love (1 Corinthians 13), and freely as you have received, freely shall you give (Matthew 10:8).

Part 3 coming soon!


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Conversing with LGBTQ People Part 1: The Acceptance Question

Moderate members of this community often ask if what they are doing is acceptable, a sin, or simply want to know your opinion. The more activist members of this community may be more staunch in their response, simply stating that they are not in sin and do not see an issue.

Questions on sexual morality are surely one of the most asked questions in faith, and no doubt as a believer eventually you will be asked too. Maybe you have a friend or know a member of this community? Or maybe you end up involved in a discussion on social media, or whilst you're evangelising.

Before you enter that discussion ask yourself what is the purpose of their question?

Searching for Acceptance

Firstly, whose acceptance are they seeking? If they are seeking the acceptance of man, in man-made institutions, there is a seperate forum for that discussion and progress in that arena.  Nor can they force your acceptance of them on you, you do not need to conform to the world.

But what if they, (or maybe you are a member of this community and are reading this post, so if you) are looking for acceptance from God, then I believe we should start here:

There is no institution, nor person, on this earth that can make you right with God, that is to make you righteous.

Let me be more explicit. This means you cannot sit in the pews of a church that endorses your lifestyle and be saved. Jesus has already told us that would be as the blind leading the blind for both will fall into a pit (Matthew 15:14). Nor can a pastor, preacher, celebrity, friend, anyone purporting to be of the faith in any guise, tell you that you are saved and you are righteous, and that make it so. If you commit a crime on earth and bump into a stranger on the street, and they tell you not to worry about it, when you step in front of the judge will justice still not be served?

That should not instill fear, God is a faitful merciful judge and He loves you, but He is a judge nonetheless.

It is your faith that makes you righteous (Romans 4:1-5). Your faith in God.

So when a member of this community asks the question "Do you believe what I am doing is sin?", what are they looking for? Their salvation is not dependent upon anyone on this earth rubber stamping their lifestyle, as with any other sin. God is the judge, Him and Him alone.

Salvation is based upon believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord; He resurrected and overcame death (Romans 10:9-10) to atone for our sin.

Understand, however, this is where the journey begins not ends.

When you do this, you start your walk along the narrow path to salvation (Matthew 7:13-14). That sounds scary to call it a narrow path, but remember you have eternal grace and mercy from our most faithful and wonderful God, and there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

God did this to allow for your stumblings as you put off your former self, and put on the clothes of righteousness.

It is written:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, you accept your old lifestyle fell short of the glory of God, and it passes away. You become a new creation in Christ by accepting Him as Lord becoming dead to sin and alive unto righteousness (Romans 6:11). It is therefore an impossibility, that you truly accept Jesus as Lord and continue living the way you did before, in its entirety.

That mean that you will have to sacrifice some parts of the old you to become new. God doesn't want you to completely forsake all aspects of your life and personality when you are born again, no, rather to refine you He wants you to forsake your sin. Uprooting what was not of Him (Matthew 15:14), and planting His fresh seed in fertile ground.

And yes its hard, this whole blog is about my stumblings! But if I can do it, anyone can.

You will change, but for the better.

In Conclusion

I truly believe in most instances members of this community are looking for acceptance for who they are and what they do, that you can never give them. So before even entering the discussion, ask them why are they asking you this question?

If they are looking for God's acceptance through me, I answer as I have in this post. Its a very long winded way of saying "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).

Simply put you can't give God's acceptance to them. No one can but God Himself.

Do your best to encourage them towards the Light, as always. Its a journey. You can't force them to forsake their old ways by being judgmental, but encourage them to grow in relationship with Jesus such that they relinquish sin willingly.

Yet remind them, God doesn't need us to be perfect that we may come to Him, nor does He expect perfection once we do, but He does want us to submit to His will and live a life pleasing to Him.

But its a privilege to walk the narrow path, just be prepared to change along the way.

(Part 2)
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I'm Saved...Now I Can't Even Watch TV!

To be honest I feel like this post is so overdue. God has been teaching me many things at such a pace, that this has gotten lost somewhat. Yet as I wait on His promise to me, coming to fruition in the physical (watch this sermon by TD Jakes if you're also waiting on a promise from God), I have been faced with a new challenge.

What exactly am I supposed to do with myself?

There are many times throughout the day when, frankly, I have no idea what to do!

Before you're saved theres a lot of things you can do ( I stress can because it does not mean you should do them), largely in your ignorance, but once you're saved....not so much.

See...there is a plethora of things in this world birthed in writers' rooms, expressed through scripts and imagination, that is just not pleasing to God. But we consume this content. Now however, before I go anywhere near a remote or frankly any device with an internet connection (I feel so sorry for parents for this reason, that must be terrifying!), I have to ask myself: "is what I am about to watch pleasing and acceptable to God?".

Now I have never been glued to a TV set, nor relied exclusive on one for my entertainment, but every now and again pre-saved me would like to sit down, relax and watch something that made me laugh or a story I could get lost in. Something like Damages, Brooklyn 99, The League, Gotham...you get the idea.

Now though?

Including all of the above, let's go through a quick list of things I can no longer watch:

Obvious things like horror movies of any kind (even spoofs!), never ever been the type of thing I would watch anyway so no great loss. Rant warning: to be honest I'm not even sure why these exist anyway! Who is sitting there dreaming up this stuff and then selling it for the purpose of entertainment? To be honest look no further for evidence that the flesh is a bit weird, understanding people get enjoyment dreaming up and then watching demons.

Warning to all: the above is demonic and to be avoided and frankly even if you aren't saved yet stay extremely far away from this stuff, you have no idea what you are inviting into your life.

TV shows like Power, Narcos, and any one of numerous law enforcement focused violent shows and their spinoffs of spinoffs (NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law and Order I'm looking at you).

But it also extends to what you would think to be innocent things, like cartoons and children's shows. My gosh! I'm frankly shocked at how many adult themes there are in children's TV shows, no wonder they call it "programming", there is nothing more dangerous than the subtlety of suggestion. These children are growing up believing ungodly behaviour is a) normal and b) to be sought after! (But this is probably a rant for another post).

But if you are a parent seriously watch what you let your kids well....watch!

So finally, I thought maybe I've found something...Parks and Recreation. So I skip season 1 thinking its a slow burner, I turn on season 2 episode 1 about a penguin wedding. Sounds like some harmless comedy right?

Wrong!

5 minutes in the penguins have had their wedding and start mating, then we discover.....both are male....Seriously?!!? Was this needed for the story? You mean you couldn't find a way to make this funny without sprinkling some sexual immorality on top?! AND there are children on the screen watching and no doubt young impressionable minds who won't see anything wrong with this!

All of these shows promote behaviour that the Spirit is not in agreement with and He makes it known.

Ultimately, God loves us and wants us to stay away from things which are not good for us. Not watching these type of shows is good for me. No matter how strong willed you believe you are, you have no idea what seeds are being sown by what you are watching.

Even if you are not saved and you have just clicked on this blog for the title, reflect on what are you watching. It's not just obvious things like the above but think:

Has watching these shows influenced you in any way?
In the way you saw women if you are a man, or men if you are a woman?
What about how you saw relationships?
Did it make you want for a lifestyle so much, that you hated your own?
Did you end up feeling inadequate because your body didn't measure up to what you are seeing? (men as well as women!)
If you are in a relationship, did anything make you look at your partner differently? Or even made you treat them differently?
Or if you're single did it make you feel like you had to be with someone, anyone, because theres something wrong with you if you're alone?

So I don't lament not being able to watch these shows, I lament that His influence is not felt by those who create them.

I lament the fact that there are so many captive in the world and TV is being used as a device to keep them there. I lament that the state of affairs is so bad that you cannot even turn on a children's cartoon without finding a hidden agenda.

If you are a creator of your own content I want to challenge you to ask God if He is happy with what you have made/are making. Invite Jesus into your life and see how your creativity will flourish!

As for me? I'm sticking to my safe territory: sports and cars.

BTW before you suggest reading, as I will tell you shortly, books can be just as bad.

(PS please comment below if you know of anything safe to watch!)

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