Monday, February 23, 2009

Mini Lesson Monday - Keepin' it Pretty

When I got up and going this morning, it dawned on me that it was Monday - Mini Lesson Monday. I panicked a little because I didn't really have anything "waiting in the helm" to write about. So, as my morning went on, I racked my brain, looked around for ideas, and finally came up with one. As I was sitting in my living room, I happened to look over to our fireplace and spotted my pumpkin. Now, many of you may ask why I have a pumpkin as decoration in my living room THIS time of year, but I just can't bear to let it go. I know that sounds weird, but I really like this pumpkin. We all went as a family to a local pumpkin patch this past October and picked out pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. This is the one I picked out, but I decided not to turn it into a jack-o-lantern - it was just too pretty, I thought. For those of you who do the jack-o-lantern thing for Halloween, you know as well as I do that once you cut into those bad boys, it's just a matter of days before they are rotten inside, gnats flying around, and black stuff growing in them. I didn't want that to happen to this pumpkin. And, as you can see, after almost 5 months, it is still as pretty as the day I bought it.

I got to thinking about this - how are WE?? Have we let anyone "cut" into our beings, allowing the elements to turn us into something not quite so pleasing?? OR, have we kept ourselves pure from the elements, and remained pretty?? What are the elements I am referring to?? Well, worldly things, of course. Are we choosing the right things to allow into our minds?? Are we taking care of our bodies the way that God commands us to in I Cor. 6:19-20? Are we picking the right companions to hang around with?? This is a huge one here. All of us, definitely myself included, have made poor choices of friends and acquaintances sometime in our lives. The Bible tells us in I Cor. 15:33 that "bad company corrupts good character". How true is that???!!! Have you found yourself lowering your standards or morals in order to match those of your companions? I have. Have you allowed Satan to creep in unannounced, gradually, as you let those elements take over?? I have. Nothing feels greater, though, than to realize that is happening, fix it, and live the way God wants us to live.

Here are some challenges for the week:
  1. Take a look at your companions - are they helping you get to heaven or hindering??
  2. Take a look at the things we listen to, watch on TV, or spend our time on - what are they doing for or against us?
  3. Strive to live everyday to please God and "keep it pretty".

Have a great week!!

2 comments:

Wendi said...

Very good mini-lesson Steph!! Sometimes it is best to just step away from the friendship. Kenny and I were just talking about this yesterday, sometimes it is even harder when that person is a Christian. I think that is definetly where Satan tries to get his claws in.

Jill said...

love it. needed it.