Dear Miley,

You have never met me.  And honestly, you probably never will.  Several years ago I watched you on Disney Channel with my little girl.  We loved Hannah Montana.  We watched it as a family.  We loved to see you on tv.  We loved what you stood for in life.  I liked knowing that you were working with your dad.  At the time it appeared you would survive childhood stardom unscathed.  

Sadly, I was wrong.  Apparently you didn't survive and thrive.  You gave in to the inordinate amount of pressure that the spotlight brings.  As I see it, you have fallen to nearly the bottom.  Maybe you are about to hit rock bottom.  I don't know.  But there are some things I do know.

Miley, I'm sorry that when you were that 'good girl'  I didn't pray for you.  It didn't matter that you were a good influence with seemingly good parents.  What mattered was that because you were a good role model you were going to be under more attack, under more pressure than the others in the spotlight.  I'm sorry that it took the decisions you are making now to send me a wake up call.  I'm sorry that when you look in the mirror you don't see someone who is abundantly loved by JESUS!  I'm sorry you don't see your beauty.

If your goal was to gain attention, you have accomplished that.  If your goal was to gain respect...as a whole, you have lost that from most of the people I know.  But I also believe you can change.  You can become a good role model again.  You can show people the saving grace and mercy of Jesus.  I believe you don't want to go back to being Hannah Montana.  I can understand that.  I'm thankful I don't have to be the person I was in my teens.  But you can go back to being a good role model for women everywhere.  You could revolutionize pop culture like you revolutionized Disney Channel sitcoms.

So here is my promise, I promise to pray for you.  I don''t even believe you will ever see this.  But I still promise.  I will pray for your parents.  I will pray that God sends people into your life that show you the way to Jesus.  I will pray you become a good role model again.  I will ask others to pray for you too.  Because even though I don't know you my heart aches for you.  I know you must be hurting about something to act the way you have been.  So I will simply pray.

Kristen

(Side note to my friends who are moms:  I know this may seem out there but honestly Miley could be any one of our adult children.  We would want everyone who interacted with them to pray for them.  To be Jesus to them.  I have never prayed for a celebrity before this but I am truly praying.  Please pray with me.  This girl who was given her name because she lights up a room when she smiles could dynamically change the world for Jesus.  Or she could continue down this path and draw others with her to Satan.)

The 10th Commandment

When we read the 10 commandments and teach them to our children I think we sometimes overlook number 10.  I am so very guilty of number 10.  I look around and see so many things I want to have, that I wish I had, that I wonder why God won't give me. Sometimes they are literally things and sometimes they are circumstances but regardless, I am coveting.

This conviction has been ever present lately.  It is present when I long to be closer to my family and am envious of my siblings that do live closer.  It is present when I hear of others getting a raise.  It is present when I hear of or even see women who are expecting a new baby (yes, I know I have 5...I just wish I could have more).  It is PRESENT...

And yet, and yet God is calling me to something greater than covetousness.  He is calling me into contentment. 

 Philippians 4:11 
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" 


Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

I desire to be content.  Even more than I desire contentment I desire JESUS.  I want more of HIM.  I believe that covetousness is just a symptom of needing more of Jesus.  When my eyes lose sight of Him they focus on things.  Covetousness is a reminder to refocus, to realign.  It is a reminder to pick of my Bible and talk to my Savior, to my best friend.  

I wish it were that simple.  I wish I had this one figured out, conquered.  But then I wouldn't need grace, and I wouldn't need forgiveness.  But I do need grace and I do need forgiveness.  I serve this amazing God who loves me even when...and yet He is calling me to be better.  To be more like Him.  To be able to say, "No, I don't have it all, I have JESUS and He is better than anything this world could offer.  He is better than a house in Indiana, better than an increase in income, better than a 6th child.  He is the Best this world has to offer."