Love of self…….

Well, I’m in Sparta, Kentucky for the NASCAR races this week, Yypee!  O.K. it’s not that bad, I just am not a huge fan of cars going in a circle for 3 hours!!  But hey, I’m here, might as well enjoy it!  As is the case at most events of this length, the first stop is Target or Walmart to stock up on the supplies needed to set up a mobile media office.  Standing in a pretty long line at the check out I happened to glance down at the magazine rack and was struck by the theme of most of the magazines, self.  With titles like; Allure, Self, Fitness and more what would you expect.   I was even more intrigued by the names of some of the articles; “Look Hot – Feel Cool!”   –   “Summer Heats Up – What to Wear Now!”   “276 Hot Summer Looks!”  –   “Tone Every Inch!”  –  “Wow Hair!”   O.k. maybe I’m a little put off because I’ve never been “In” – “Hot” or had “Every Inch Toned!”   Actually that’s not it, I’m concerned about our societies over abundance of thought about all things, “self”.

I know that God loves us whether we are wearing the most fashionable, in, summer clothes, and I think He doesn’t want us to be so dependent on the opinions  others have of us.  In the wonderful book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren starts the whole discussion off by stating, “It’s Not About You!”   This is the first step in serving our Heavenly Father, letting go of ourselves, our desires, our needs, our desire for approval, and placing it all in His hands.  It’s hard to do because our world says your value and worth are all about what others think of you.  Not true, it’s about what He thinks of you, and He already loved you so much He sacrificed His Only Son for you.  How’s that for value?

In Him,

the pilgrim