Christiaan Van Pol, 1813, floral oil painting.
Whatever you focus your mind on, that is what you will become. Is that a scary thought? Or does it explain a lot of our doubts, confusion, and our misery.
The wonderful thing about the United States is that we are a free country. However, we are constantly bombarded with propaganda from biased media. Our minds are always under attack with ungodly ads, news, and "lifestyles" paraded before us, in our everyday lives.
Most of us cannot become reclusive and hide out in the deep woods, living in a cozy cottage. But we can recreate such a retreat in our daily choices. It is up to us:
1. What we read.
2. What we watch on television.
3. What we see on a computer.
4. Where we go.
5. What we will listen to on the radio.
6. What kinds of people we will be friends with.
7. What kind of church we will be a part of.
The last few days, I have heard plenty of reality shows, news, and horrible "trivial" propaganda coming from the people around me, and the programs they watch. It is causing a restlessness and a misery inside me.
To counteract this, I am choosing propaganda that will re-new my mind, my soul and my heart. I am going to get all dressed up today and sit in my parlour. I will do my normal duties throughout the day, while listening to gospel or sermons on my kitchen radio. I will read and sing from my hymn book. I will do my Prentiss study. I will also read from three books I have chosen from my home library:
1. "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham.
2. "Raising Your Children for Christ" by Andrew Murray.
3. "Not Regina" by Christmas Carol Kauffman.
In order to live a joyful, godly life, one must have a mind on heavenly matters. We must seek for it as hidden treasures. We must yearn for it, and be disciplined enough to do certain religious duties. We must avoid the bad propaganda that will cripple and destroy our mind.
It all really comes down to freedom of choice - our free will. Choose this day which propaganda you will hear.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
You Can Have - The Cleanest House Ever!
Are You One of These? - A Mother of Sinners.
It is All I Ever Wanted To Be - Just a Regular Mom.
Thank you for all the great books you recommend. I've added several of them to my Amazon wish list, and look forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteDef keep them coming!
hi- i absolutely agree with you. I do live in a cabin in the woods-but near town. we have tv but 1 channel. i usually don't watch it,but the other day i turned it on to listen to the weather and was waiting for it-and listening to all these voices (from the broadcast) felt like an intrusion in my home. It was really strange.I guess i am used to the quiet. anyway-i have to be so careful what i put in my head. by the way0I LOVE Andrew Murrays books.I am reading "Abide in Christ" for the 5th time.We must bask in the reality of Gods presence each moment. take care.
ReplyDeleteBecky
Thank you for your great encouragement. I so agree. If more believers walked this way there would be more focus on Him.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Mrs. White! I have recently taken to listening to The Sound of Life, our local Christian radio station because mainstream radio was simply becoming too much. The artists even I enjoy sing about "ice cold beer" and "sexy" everything - too much for little ears. Even the celebrity gossip and talk about a certain best-selling book is trash for young ears! And not-so-older ones (mine!) too.
ReplyDeleteMy mother recently said that during our growing-up years she wished we could all simply escape to our own little island. Now a mother myself, I understand completely what she meant!
The problem, as I see it, is not only the amount of media (magazines, television, radio, the Internet), but also the quality of it all. What's now allowed on network television would have been shocking only twenty years ago.
Wouldn't it be great it all the young people who believed in a different way stood up and together for good?
I only wish I had the courage to start a movement. For now, I will start in my home.
Thank you for the encouragement. You are awesome.
This is the first general election during which I chose to ignore the media. It's also the calmest I've been. The choices are so totally opposite, it's easy to choose, in my opinion. Why get myself all stirred up for months, when ultimately, I have so little impact?
ReplyDeleteI will vote and vote conservatively at I always do. No one will change my mind.
So, I choose to pray for our country and be peaceful in trusting God with the results.
We've not had tv since they changed to needing a new tv or a box. We haven't missed it except for weather. During and after the Joplin tornado, it would have been helpful, but that's it.
I've been much calmer and more peaceful since.
Blessings to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
My sentiments exactly Mrs. White. That's why I read your blog. Thank you so much for taking the time to encourage others. May God bless you!
ReplyDeleteSweet Autumn blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteIt makes a huge difference to us when we keep peace in our homes.
d
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he," Proverbs 23:7
ReplyDeleteThis has been a real challenge for me lately - to choose my thinking and recognize when it is not right. So your words were very timely. Sometimes even ok things to read can become a distraction for me and not helpful! An ongoing discipline! Thank-you for your helpful words!