Inspiration From J-Lo – The Hallelujah House

Preparing the Harvest:

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 English Standard Version.

If there’s one thing for sure it’s this…my mother Priscilla raised strong women. When her daughters were knocked down by rejection, cancers, or sorrows we brushed the dirt off and moved on. Probably because Momma came from a long line of strong Alabama women with Cherokee backbones. Most probably because the women in our family know Who to go to when we feel weak in the knees.

While watching the Super Bowl game on Sunday it was evident the commercial’s aim was to point out the strength of women, and that’s okay with me. I’m raising my daughter to know God raised women to be strong. God made women to follow Him carrying their own crosses.

My five-year old daughter Bella had pneumonia the night of the Super Bowl. Her medication makes her wired so she stayed up late watching the game with us. She picked the 49er’s after finding out the family cheered on the Chiefs. After San Francisco scored, she lifted her chin and asked if anyone would like to switch to her side.

That’s my girl!

But no one did, and she remained rooted.

Yep, that’s my girl.

When the half-time show came on, I was excited to show her two Latino women dancing and singing—a nod to girl power and the Latin culture. Bella danced in front of the television to Shakira’s guitar playing, before J-Lo’s grand entrance down a stripper pole. From there, it went from bad to worse. I tried to brush it off, but the images had been planted in my daughter’s mind. Later, after my brother admonished me for letting her watch it, I retorted back, “she’ll never remember it.”

But she will. She rarely forgets anything.

I’m not writing this blog post to shame J-Lo. She’s doing what she’s paid to do, use her sexuality to sell her music. Furthermore, as a follower of Jesus Christ it’s not my place to judge her, it’s God’s.

I’ve read all the admonishments from Christians on Facebook, but my thoughts are why are we surprised? We live in a country screaming for women’s equality at the same time women across America praise a book about a perverted psycho who inflicts physical harm on a woman while having sex. Fifty Shades of Grey ranked the top selling book of the decade. Let’s get real, there was nothing gray about it.

Women march in the streets for their rights—even if it means killing their own babies—while displaying female genitalia on their heads. The culture loves to toss us about on its ever-shifting, dark waves of hypocritic morality.

Even the Super Bowl has a record of not protecting its youth from raunchiness. My sons witnessed the boob explosion in 2004. So, I admit on Sunday I should’ve known what to expect and wasn’t surprised a bit when J-Lo spread her legs and rubbed her crotch for the camera.

What did surprise me is…

I let my daughter watch it.

Shame… On… Me.

We live in a world of deception that would like nothing more than to degrade our daughters, whittle their curves into sex toys, and make them believe their source of power is in their appearance and sensuality—not their God. Too often, as mothers we give into the culture or at least compromise a bit. Even strong women have moments of weakness, but if we keep letting things slip, it’ll cook us. My husband calls it the “boiling frog syndrome.” Put a frog in cold water and raise the temperature bit by bit, and he’ll cook. If we’re not careful one day our own innocent daughters will be pushing sensual selfies across the hemisphere or worse.

Through my lapse of judgement, the half-time show reminded me of what this culture feeds our children, and I’m not going to allow it anymore. My daughter is going to grow up knowing her God makes her strong, her humbleness makes her beautiful, her mission gives her passion, and her servant’s heart gives her joy.

Show me a woman who’s strong and I’ll show you a woman who practices restraint, one who doesn’t need to have her ego fed, a woman who doesn’t put it all out there for lustful eyes, and a woman who knows her self-worth comes from what’s inside her spirit not her bra.

I’m going to be careful in the future what messages my daughter receives because I love her. I refuse to allow her to become enslaved to insecurities, anxiety, depression, or constant self-focus. I want to raise her with eyes that see beyond herself, a mind that’s focused on what is good and holy, and a healthy body geared toward the calling of Christ.

So I have a message for the media, music industry, and Hollywood:  Females are worth more than the degrading buffet you’re serving.

This Girl Mom has had enough!

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you as I warned you before that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:19-24 ESV