You are what you [read, watch and listen to]!

Hey, it's good to be back! A huge thank you!!!! to my guest posters, Bri (she has a givaway on at the moment!!!) and Lauren! We're settling in, and missing our old home town a lot. Ok, now to my post...



It's the truth. Books, TV etc, music and words are four of the more subtle tools of the devil . Many people can say that their lives - a. were less healthy (mentally and spiritually) after watching, reading or listening to not-so-good stuff; and/or b. got healthier after they stopped watching, reading or listening to/got rid of not-so-good stuff.


I personally can testify that bad language had made me a little less healthy. We now live in a neighborhood in which I constantly come in contact with kids that swear. As soon as I go inside, away from them, I realise I now have a desire to swear. Something goes wrong, and instead of thinking "drat" or "bother," a crass word is the first that comes to mind. I hate it. (Thankfully, praise to God, I have never actually sworn out loud.)


Music, books and TV have the same effect. If it has crass words in it, it makes you crass, or have an urge to be. If it has yucky news or is 'black', it affects your thought life for the worse. That then translates into real life.


So can I encourage you - "get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21) Yep - toss the books and mags that have dark murders, assassinations, etc etc; delete from your iPod any songs that have swear words in them, or even bad lyrics and themes; don't watch that movie all your friends are that is M rated (or even PG, if necessary); ask those kids to stop swearing if you're in earshot. It may seem radical, but trust me, it will be a radical decision for the better.


Wait! I forgot: not only do you need to stop filling your mind with bad things, but you also need to start filling your mind with good things. If you just get rid of bad things and not fill up with good things, there will be a void in your mind and heart, which is too easy to start filling with bad things again. Besides, you'd be bored if you didn't fill the gap with something (which, of course, is meant to be good)! The Bible says "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24, emphasis added) So remember to replace the bad, ugly, black and yucky with the good, wholesome, Godly, true, noble, right, pure, lovely etc (taken from Philippians 4:8). Read good books (like Narnia!); listen to Godly music (I can recommend the Newsboys!); pick out movies that are wholesome and pure (pluggedin.com has movie reviews from a Christian point of view); and hey, surround yourself with friends that don't swear (while still retaining non-Christian contacts)!


Cassie xoxoxo