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I hope this hasn't been posed before, but I was wondering how have you changed since coming to Christ? This has been a realization for me that the biggest change for me personally has been in my thought processes and focuses.
For years I was completely obsessed with a certain singer. You may have heard of him. Barry Manilow. Still my favorite, though I've always liked others as well. But I collected everything I could on Barry. Bought every magazine he was in, taped every tv show he was on, made scrap books on him. I checked into his chat site several times a day to chat with other fans about him, see if he himself would post anything. I belonged to many fan clubs and even had pen pals because of him. (before there were chat sites). I've been to 29 concerts and 8 talk show to see him. I've even met him (he is quite the gentleman, btw).
But I never considered it "obsessed" because I had other interests. I also loved interior design and worked very hard at making my little home look just the way I wanted. Bought scads of decorator magazines, spent money that should have gone elsewhere on home decor items, watched all the decorator shows on HGTV (cable channel for the do-it-your-selfer) and truly coveted a friend's house that is furnished with antiques-gorgeous!
The realization has been that I no long do these things. Not because I shouldn't but because I no long have the desire. While I still enjoy Barry's music, and would like to see his show again sometime, I listen to contemporary Christian music now, 90% of the time. If I catch him on TV great, but if I miss it I'm OK. I haven't bought a decorator magazine in 4 years and am OK if my home is not "decorated", just furnished. I still have the items I had before but I'm no longer continually changing, adding, redesigning. My TV viewing goes to TBN or other Christian channels before anything else. I always have my Bible and a notebook with me and when I have time between clients I read and study His Word.
I'm absolutely happier, regardless of what is happening around me. This has been a major revelation for me, that Christ is the center of my thoughts and desires - that I actually prefer my Bible to some magazine. I haven't been to Barry's website in probably 3 years.
So how about you?
For years I was completely obsessed with a certain singer. You may have heard of him. Barry Manilow. Still my favorite, though I've always liked others as well. But I collected everything I could on Barry. Bought every magazine he was in, taped every tv show he was on, made scrap books on him. I checked into his chat site several times a day to chat with other fans about him, see if he himself would post anything. I belonged to many fan clubs and even had pen pals because of him. (before there were chat sites). I've been to 29 concerts and 8 talk show to see him. I've even met him (he is quite the gentleman, btw).
But I never considered it "obsessed" because I had other interests. I also loved interior design and worked very hard at making my little home look just the way I wanted. Bought scads of decorator magazines, spent money that should have gone elsewhere on home decor items, watched all the decorator shows on HGTV (cable channel for the do-it-your-selfer) and truly coveted a friend's house that is furnished with antiques-gorgeous!
The realization has been that I no long do these things. Not because I shouldn't but because I no long have the desire. While I still enjoy Barry's music, and would like to see his show again sometime, I listen to contemporary Christian music now, 90% of the time. If I catch him on TV great, but if I miss it I'm OK. I haven't bought a decorator magazine in 4 years and am OK if my home is not "decorated", just furnished. I still have the items I had before but I'm no longer continually changing, adding, redesigning. My TV viewing goes to TBN or other Christian channels before anything else. I always have my Bible and a notebook with me and when I have time between clients I read and study His Word.
I'm absolutely happier, regardless of what is happening around me. This has been a major revelation for me, that Christ is the center of my thoughts and desires - that I actually prefer my Bible to some magazine. I haven't been to Barry's website in probably 3 years.
So how about you?
