Recently, we've been running out of songs. So while we've rocked in the plush brown chair in his room, I've dug in the archives of my brain to try to remember some old Sunday school songs we used to sing.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
Jesus Loves Me
The B-I-B-L-E
God Is So Good
Today, as we sat on his quilt under a tree in our yard, it was O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little eyes what you see
Be careful, little ears, what you hear.
Be careful, little hands, what you do.
Be careful, little mouth, what you say.
It's never really been my favorite song, but today it struck me differently. It reminded me so plainly of Philippians 4:8:
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.I needed to hear that lyric so much more than my son did.
In an age where information is so easily accessible - hello, internet! - it's easy to be flippant or careless about what we see and hear and take in. I'm not just talking about the blatantly evil things you can so quickly uncover. Of course that's part of it.
For me, though, it's so easy to be careless when I read blogs. There are blogs I sometimes skim whose theology is completely off, but I think their homes are cute or their crafts are clever. So I stick around, and I let the words soak into my heart - whether I realize it then or not. It's easy to be careless as I peruse Facebook. I can easily spend more time on Facebook than in God's Word, and soon enough, I'm formulating my thoughts and opinions based on so-and-so's status that I read in passing. It's just so easy to get sucked in! Sucked into negativity, into time-wasting, into comparison and jealousy.
And it's all because I haven't been careful. Because I haven't been intentional about thinking of those things that are true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable.
I want to be more careful. To be on guard. To listen, to mind, to notice. I want my foundation in the truth to be so secure that when discouragement or lies or misinformation or jealousy comes my way, I can brush it away without a second thought and stand firm in Christ and His love for me.
Thanks for sharing this enormous truth... Yesterday I was actually preparing a study on this topic and reading what Spurgeon had to say about this;' Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.' And he is so true, the big evil is obvious, it is the little things that do not seem all too bad. My prayer is that we will be so close to Christ that we get that discernment, that we will know what is true, and almost true...
ReplyDeletethanks so much for sharing this, Whitney - you are so right! this internet based world makes filtering very difficult. thanks for the reminder, I plan on keeping Php. 4:8 on my heart today.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great reminder, I am going to be more intentional about what I see and hear today. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI've really noticed myself lately how easy it is to let your beliefs about God get distorted. Something someone says, something you read. Little things that plant doubt or just theology about God that is not backed by His Word. These things can seem so small and then the next thing you know you are doubting God's goodness or trustworthiness. Thank you for this reminder.
ReplyDeleteI totally know what you mean about running out of songs. My boy is two and I was just thinking I needed to find a cd so we can get more Jesus songs in rotation. I find myself singing "Rubber Ducky" too much!
Thanks for the reminder Whitney.. Convicting for me!
ReplyDeleteOh.. what a nice blog I have found.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to mention how I absolutely adore these pictures with grass so green. Here with our sixth month full of snow we can almost forget that it's already springtime.
Thank you for the jolt, as I have been spending to much time on the internet. My bible and study of David sits under my laptop. I will reverse the order and get back to what is most important. Thanks again.
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:8 is one of my most treasured verses and I try so very hard to live it, knowing that what comes in through my eyes and ears will either nourish and refresh or poison me. Finding your blog has been a precious blessing to me, you may never know the encouragement your strong faith gives me to continue to serve the risen One despite this world's ways. G-d bless you and your husband for raising a G-dly child.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear of the blogs that you DO read and that DO encourage you.. I am also guilty of what you mentioned about blogs with off theology. Thank you for your transparency!
ReplyDeleteSeeing this post reminds me of that guilty feeling I get when I watch something rated R or use language that I wouldn't dare do in front of my grandmother. Even if she's not in my living room, God is. Picking up Philippians will give me the encouragement I need to put down the remote and pray for strength in His word.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, Whit!
And, I teach Sunday School and will be singing this with my four-year-olds on Sunday! :)
i have found myself walking away from certain blogs because of things they say about God that I know to go against scripture. What you wrote is so true and what we put in our minds is so important. Also, have you heard of SEEDS family worship music? I started to get some of their cd's when I started having children and love them. All their songs are scripture put to words. Also, Sovereign Grace Ministry puts out a couple children's cd's that are good, but both of these might be a tiny bit old for Liam.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, friends, for your input. So encouraging to hear from women who are dealing with the same issues (I had a feeling!). You bless me immensely.
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