I don’t know what the deal is. All week my web mail and various other sites I frequent have hosted ads from Victoria’s Secret. I’m a woman, am I checking out their sales? No. I’m too busy being offended by the images. It doesn’t take a whole lot of brain effort to realize that we are surrounded by and constantly bombarded with all that is impure, specifically in media and fashion. You can’t really go anywhere in this world where you will not see provocative images whether it’s signs on the freeway, a magazines in line at Vons or the next door neighbors–having a pure heart is obviously not what is on people’s minds. If you don’t believe me, walk through your mall or just turn on the TV guide channel.

To our culture sex appeal is everything. The troubling reality is that many Christians are embracing this mindset too. Our favorite movies, TV shows, music and the clothes we wear really are not that different from non-Christians around us.  Not only are Christians looking and acting like the world but they have a casual attitude about it. In Ephesians 5:3 Paul gives us a rather jarring wake-up call for our hearts regarding impurity.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Too often the question is, “What’s wrong with it?” This is an immature question for the believer because as God’s people holiness is what should be on our minds. Why would we want to do anything that might hinder us in our pursuit of Christ? What if we lived in such a way that there wasn’t any trace of impurity in our lives? What if wouldn’t allow even a hint of impurity in our thoughts? What if we were content with what we have, not jealous and trying to get more attention, more money, more of what we want? That sounds like a pretty dynamic lifestyle.

Our youth group has started reading through the book of Proverbs (Please read along with us by click on the Proverb-of-the-Day icon in my sidebar!). I’m noticing a recurring theme of warning about impurity in the seductress or adulteress (Especially Proverbs 6:24-29 and chapter 7). I started wondering why it’s so easy for us to accept impurity in our lives. Maybe we just think to ourselves–I’m not offended by this, and no one I know is either so it’s not a big deal. Then this morning, Bobby read Proverbs 8:13.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil.

It was like a light when on in my head. The impurity that we allow in our lives is directly proportionate to how seriously we think God takes our sin. Bobby’s sermon was about fearing the Lord and several quotes from him really cut to the heart on this topic.

“God is holy, I am not.”

“God hates sin and will do anything to keep it away from Him.”

“If you tremble about who God is you will hate your sin.”

We aren’t offended by impurity, it doesn’t bother us–what’s the big deal? The big deal is that God is offended by it and He will judge it. The cure for our casual attitude about the impurity that we are surrounded by, our own lustful thoughts and actions is to fear of God.

We cannot avoid living in the world, but we can do what it takes to keep our lives free of any hint of impurity. This would mean using discernment with entertainment.  This might mean that you can’t watch the shows you’ve gotten hooked on. This might mean looking twice in the mirror and changing if what you are wearing isn’t appropriate. It means a battle in our minds. The battle is between getting comfortable with our sin and the reality that God is to be feared. Do you take God seriously?

Two weeks ago we found a nice wood patio set. It’s small enough to fit on our patio but seats 4 people too. We’ve been sitting out there nearly every day since we got it. I even put Tyler’s portable high chair on one of the chairs because he loves eating lunch outside. Tyler is so much fun right now. He seems like such a big boy walking and talking all the time. I am amazed at how much he can talk especially with phrases now. He’ll say, “Mama, up please” or “More na-na please” and then say “thank you”! He got his two top molars this week so that was hard for the little guy. He was grumpy and had a couple of rough nights because of it. But we discovered that despite all the teething pain he still loves chocolate chip cookies!

It’s been a good week. Bobby and I both started our summer goals and I think we are off to a good start…how are you doing if you started? I’d love to hear how it’s going if you’ve chosen a goal. If you haven’t chosen one yet, please consider one and let me know so I can add it to our list!

My spiritual goal for the summer is to memorize the book of James. I have three friends who chose this goal as well, so it is great to have the accountability. As of today I’m through verse 5 and I’ve been thinking a lot about verses 2 and 3–

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you will be mature and complete not lacking anything.”

We should never doubt whether our trials will produce something positive. They are designed to grow in us a patience and endurance. We can have joy that God has a purpose for putting them in our lives. In every difficulty God is testing the genuineness of our faith and as we endure through those tests we will become more mature in Christ likeness.

But we try to get out and avoid anything challenging, don’t we? We have such a strong desire for what is comfortable and I was convicted memorizing these verses that I need to develop a stronger desire to be mature in my faith. If that was at the forefront of my mind I would remember that my current trial is growing me toward that maturity and not loose heart. Every difficult trial we face proves something about God: He is trustworthy, sovereign, just, holy, the list could go on. In contrast, every trial we face produces something in us: It deepens and strengthens our trust in God, or reveals a lack of faith.
I started looking up cross references to this section in James and found that throughout the New Testament we are commanded to rejoice in trials and not to be surprised when we have trials. One passage that was very similar to the James verses was 1 Peter 1:6-7

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

We should never think of challenges and trials as a hassle or act like we are put out to have to deal with them because they are opportunities that our faith needs in order to be stretched and in order to grow. We should not only welcome troubles, but should put our trust fully in God while we are in them. Then we will actually be able to rejoice!

Update: We now have a “Seize the Summer” logo courtesy of Brad Smith! If you will be participating by setting a goal for your summer please feel free to use this logo on your blog in an entry or sidebar with a link back to here or a little explanation of what it is so others will be encouraged to make the most of their summer too!

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A few weeks ago at our Women’s Bible Study, my friend and small group leader, Yvonne asked us what we were going to do this summer to give those little spaces in our schedules back to the Lord. Some of the other women in our group were into her idea and told us how they were planning to do a study in the attributes of God and another is going to do a study on hospitality this summer. Yvonne challenged the rest of us to think of something and commit to it for the 12 weeks of summer, and hopefully, now, all of us have taken her up on it!

Almost everyone has a schedule change for the 12 weeks of summer. School is out, their job hours are more flexible, and a ministry they are involved in takes a break. Most people use this time to sleep, watch TV, hang out with friends and family or just do nothing. Summer is the most wasted time of the year. During the school-year we keep a daily quiet time, read, and pursue accountability for our spiritual growth. It doesn’t really make sense to stop all of that for the summer. There are also the people who claim that they will be busier in the summer doing day camps, summer school or taking vacations–all the more reason to dedicate something special to the Lord!

If we did a 12-week diet or workout routine we would see results from that. Consider the progress we would make if we committed to a specific area of spiritual growth for a whole summer? It would make a huge difference in our lives! In Ephesians 5:15-16 Paul says–

“Be very careful, then, how you live—
not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil.”

In our youth group we’ve just started reading Proverbs together. The theme of Proverbs is wisdom and one of the main characteristics of a wise person is discipline. The fool does whatever he wants, is lazy and won’t listen to instruction. We definitely don’t want this to describe us. But with even the slightest summer schedule change we think, “Yay, time for me!” So many people I’ve told about this idea to seize the summer had first thought they were just going to sleep in, watch more TV, garden or many other things, that don’t have anything wrong with them in and of themselves. But it can be all too easy to watch these weeks fly by and then look back and see what we have really wasted. We need to think of at least one thing that we can do to redeem the summer!

So I hope you will choose something and start in this first week of June and then tell someone else about it so that you can have a partner to help keep you accountable. Here are some of the commitments friends and some of our high school students have made to make the most of their summer:

• Hospitality–having a family over for a meal once a week for the summer. At the end of the summer, they will know 12 people much better than they do now!
  
  
• One friend selected 12 missionaries from her church’s missions table. Each week she will pray for one of them and also send a card to encourage them and thank them for the work they are doing.
  
  
• Bible study–several of the high school students have selected a book of the Bible and bought a notebook so they can study that book for 12 weeks.
  
  
• Reading–a few people have either one book, or a few books that will spark their thoughts on some spiritual topic, that they are committing to read this summer.
  
  
• Memorization–selecting a verse or passage a week for 12 weeks, memorizing them and asking someone to keep you accountable so you really do it! My friend Debbie and I are going to commit the 5 chapters of the book of James to heart, I can’t wait!
  
  
• Blogging–My husband Bobby wants to seize the summer by blogging every weekday.
  
  
• Bible reading–Several people chose this, committing to anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour, or a daily Bible reading plan for the summer.
  
  
• Prayer journal–Writing a prayer a day, or another girl is getting started making a notebook with detailed pages of church needs, friends and family with pictures and other creative ways to help her be faithful in prayer.
  
  
• Encouragement–Writing and mailing one note card a week to encourage a friend or someone who needs it.
  
  
• Giving–Someone is doing this who is not in the habit of giving to their church, so for the 12 weeks they want to develop this habit of giving.
  
  
• Meditation–This it the most unique idea! One of my friends is lining up sitters to be with her children every Friday afternoon for two to three hours so that she can spend some time of quietness with the Lord. She told me that she has already thought out the first few weeks, one was taking her coffee, Bible and journal to the beach and having hours to read, pray and just be still with the Lord. I thought this was a great one!
  
  
• Children’s ministry–Committing to teach a Sunday school class, or help in the nursery for 12 weeks. One of my high school girls is doing this.

These are just a few ideas that I hope have sparked your thoughts for what you will do to redeem the summer. I would love to add to this list your ideas, so please leave a comment letting us know what you are going to do. Also please let me know if you post at your blog about seizing the summer so that I can link to you. I hope and pray that we will get fired up about dedicating our summer days to the glory of the Lord! Who’s with me?