thinking a lot

With the abundance of time I have on my hands, I find myself writing way more than ever. Why? Because with the abundance of silent times comes an abundance of thoughts.

I began thinking about a conversation I had nearly 4 or 5 years ago with a family I admire greatly.  The Henry's had me over to their beach house for dinner and dessert.  Of course, with this family, a biblical and God glorifying conversation naturally flows from who they are.  They not only talk the talk and know Scripture, they walk the walk and know God more deeply than anybody else I've ever encountered.

But I remember sitting in the living room after eating a delicious dinner. We began to talk about the Christian life and walking on the higher road. I didn't know what they really meant by that, but I added my two cents here and there. But I will never forget verses Mrs. Henry pointed out.

"I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil." [Psalm 101:2-4]

Well, this is what I have been thinking about today.  As I sit at home and find myself with an abundance of time, what are my thoughts like? What are my actions? How do I interact with my family? What do I watch/read? How do I spend my time?

I truly found myself pondering "the way that is blameless."  As I seek to walk before God, these verses paint the picture of what a righteous man would look like.

The blameless man is not that one that serves in church, helps out in youth group, goes on mission trips, or even reads the Bible.  The blameless man walks with INTEGRITY within the his home. This is behind the scenes when no one else is watching.  How do you treat your family members? Do you lash out? Or do you answer them with kindness?  Are you the same person inside your home than you are when you are at church? 

Then David goes on to say that he will not look at anything that is worthless.  This is where I have been convicted. Many of the entertainment our society produces nowadays is worthless to God. They glorify and uplift evil rather than the truth of God. David refuses to look at it. Why would I want to be "entertained" by the things that God ABHORS?  Should I not abhor what my Savior abhors? Should I not hate those things that sinners love? 

Some people may thing it's an extreme for me to cut out music and movies.  I do not. I am doing what I need to do to keep my focus on Christ. If I'm distracting myself with music that glorifies hopelessness, then what I am saying about the hope that is in Christ? Is it not enough?  If I watch movies that glorify sex before marriage, then what does that tell society? That it's okay if sinners do it and it's okay if I watch it, as long as I don't do it. NO!  I want to AVOID the appearance of evil and I want to cast those things out of my presence.