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Pornography

My Drastic Estate

 

I love estate sales! I’ve been to two in the past month.

 

Intrigue and wonder fill me as I walk through rooms piecing together people’s lives from what they owned.

 

  • Clothes.
  • Cookware.
  • Tools.
  • Home Décor.
  • Movies and books.

 

Yes, movies and books.

 

You can tell a lot about someone by what they read, watch, and listen to. Even more, you can tell what will eventually be in someone’s heart by the movies, books, and music they own.

 

Become ITWhen I was younger, I read ultra-feminist-type books and magazines for teenage girls, listened to all sorts of music, and watched what could be considered “disturbing” movies. I was fascinated by it all—until I started seeing some of those same thoughts, tendencies, attitudes, and actions in myself. I didn’t know it at the time, but eventually I transformed into a woman who would not let any man tell her what to do, who had a filthy mouth, who couldn’t stop lyrics from playing in her mind—even in her sleep. As I woke up one morning, the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Danger! Get on the floor!”—lyrics from gangsta rap artist Mystikal.

 

 

Seriously—can you see me listening to gangsta rap?

 

 

Anyway… My movies, books, and music even went so far to include pornography.

 

I had years of deep-seated issues. When I finally set out to identify how I came to be that woman, I realized my movies, books, and music choices were a primary contributor to the person I had become. I had to make some serious changes to try to undo all those years of unhealthy programming in my mind and in my heart.

 

My choices were drastic to some, but I had to do it for myself. For years, I listened only to instrumental music—no lyrics, watched movies that had no objectionable material—and if they did, I would turn them off. I threw out books and magazines with immoral and suggestive content. I set similar limits on my online surfing.

 

Today, I listen to music with lyrics again, but I’m still very careful with its content. I’m still very strict with my books, magazines, and computer content. And movies—it’s strange to me that movies I enjoyed years ago—and knew inside out—now don’t pass my test.

 

Listen to what the Bible says:

 

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (Philippians 4:8)

 

 

I try to ask myself:

 

  • Is my music gracious and beautiful?
  • Are my movies pure, honorable, and respectable?
  • Are my books and magazines praiseworthy?
  • Is my favorite Internet content moral?

 

Even more, do I see glimpses of myself in any of my books, movies, music, and Internet content?

 

The Bible says:

 

Don’t live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

 

Put another way:

 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (Romans 12:2)

 

 

His ways are good and pleasing and perfect, dear one. He grants us peace when we allow Him to renew our minds and restore our hearts.

 

You will keep in perfect peace all … whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3)

 

He can change the way we think. He can undo our drastic estate.

 

The first step is up to us.

 

 

Come alongside… What kinds of movies, books, magazines, music, and Internet content are you welcoming into your mind and heart? Who are you becoming? Will you allow God to transform and renew your mind? He can!

 

Guest Post: From Pornography to Testimony

Today is the first of my guest posts. I “met” SundiJo Graham by discovering her blog. SundiJo is a writer and speaker who loves Jesus. Her story is one of redemption. She survived sexual abuse, a broken relationship with her alcoholic father, abandonment, fear, pride, a food addiction, and more. She shares her testimony to offer hope, lead others to experience a transforming relationship with Jesus, and provide a dose of laughter along the way. I’m honored to have her share her heart with you today and hope you will be blessed by her story, “From Pornography to Testimony.”

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From Pornography to Testimony

by SundiJo Graham

http://www.sundijo.com/

The words of Brandon Heath’s “I’m not who I was” is rolling around in my head.

This weekend I was reminded by an old friend whom I haven’t seen in years about some things of my past – some not so great things. He brought memories back to me that I wasn’t proud of. Flashbacks filled my mind as I read his words to me. As he laughed about those memories, my heart broke and I started to let shame fill my soul.

As the color drained from my face and I fought to hold the tears back, God reminded me that I had two choices:

  1. Let the devil steal my joy
  2. Move forward and remember the forgiveness I have received

For a brief moment I chose option one.

Only for a moment…

For the past few days I have been thinking about the grace and forgiveness God has given me. Undeserved grace. All the things I have done in my past and He still loves me. Wow!

Ten years ago I had a dream to run my own business. Do you know what I wanted to do?

I wanted to own my own porn shop.

No joke..

I had it all planned out. The name. All of it. Guess what else?

I made those plans while I wore a cross necklace around my neck. 

I had no idea what I was doing. I had no clue how deep into darkness I was. But today I realize. God pulled me out of a pit that I didn’t even realize I was in.

It’s amazing how our dreams change as God changes us.

Today I dream of sharing Jesus with hurting women. I dream of traveling the world sharing my testimony. I dream of millions of hurting people reading my book. Not for my glory, but for God’s.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reads,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Can I get a resounding amenah?!?

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Come alongside…What dream has God changed in your heart? Comment below…

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