Are You Ready?
Penny LeClair
I decided for my sons 14th birthday that we celebrated this past
April to buy him tickets to go see a well known country singer in concert. My son was ecstatic, He loves country music, old and new. He got to bring a friend along, and the friend’s mother decided to attend with us. So this past Saturday night after months of anticipation, we all jumped in my car and headed out for what was going to be a night of fun and singing.
We arrived, parked the car and entered the world of cowboy hats, cowboy boots and plaid shirts. But to my surprise, and why it surprised me I don’t know, we also entered the world of shorts so short and tank tops so tight and low, that there was nothing left to the imagination. Now the hormones of my 14 yr old boy and his friend were quickly raging I am sure and my young impressionable daughter was now looking at these girls saying mommy she is pretty. That was just the beginning of night that I will never forget.
As we sat in our seats and waited for the music to start, I watched as people from all ages enter with beer filled cups talking, laughing and anxiously waiting for the band to start. Sounds like fun to be had right?
Then the lights went low, and the music started as I watched and felt a darkness come over the crowd, people were drinking more and more, there were women young and old falling down they were so drunk, and women dancing with their boyfriends as they were being heavily fondled. Men who were being loud and obnoxious as they spilled their beer on whoever walked by them.
As I sat there I said to God, what was I thinking, bringing my children here, I don’t remember concerts being like this when I was young, I quickly repented because my heart was full of hurt and pain that I had opened a door that should have never been open for my children to see. This is not the life that I want for my children.
But God being as good as He is spoke to my heart and I distinctively heard Him say, with every generation who doesn’t know me, they become more liberal, and more corrupt Penny. I started asking God to protect my children’s hearts from the atmosphere around them. I heard in my spirit to plead the blood of Jesus over their hearts and minds, so I did, then I heard the Lord say, take this experience and teach your children what happens to a person’s heart when it is not filled with My love, but that of an enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy them. Remember we are to be in the world by not a part of the world.
I heard Him say, they do not know who they are; because they don’t know me, therefore they settle for things that they think will make them happy and filled. Beer/alcohol is a counterfeit of the joy that you receive when you receive me and the enemy uses it to deceive. The women are trying to fill themselves with love from men who have no respect or honor for them and the men feel like they have super powers as their insecurities fall to the ground from the hyperconsumption of alcohol.
Then I felt Him say in my spirit look around you, the enemy has them spending their money and time to spend hours worshipping a mere man. They are giving a part of their souls to this man, they have him on a pedestal thinking this is what life is all about. When I could make their lives so full and joyful, they would never need a beer or look for love in all the wrong places again.
Then I heard the Lord say, I am coming like a thief in the night, (Romans 16:15) who will you be worshipping? WOW. Talk about a sobering moment, talk about a reality check, talk about waking me up. It brought this scripture to my mind.
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man Luke 21:34-36
This saddened my heart more, I wanted to shake them, make them see, wake them up. I started to literally pray for the singer, and the people at this concert, my children. I wanted them to know Him. So, I ask you this question, are you on guard? Are you ready for His return?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I can totally relate to you here Penny. I have two daughters, the eldest is 11. She is on that verge of magazines, music videos, tv shows that can influence her in ways that I don’t wish for. Like you I pray to Jesus for protection.
Thank you for your powerful post that reminds be to be on my guard and to put Jesus first in my life and in the lives of my children.
Raising my 2 teen grandchild I can totally relate…problem being the sights that you saw at the concert can be seen most anywhere these days…at the mall, the movies and most definitely at the beach (we live in Florida). Parents need to begin at as early of an age as possible teaching their children to have a relationship with God and to respect themselves! Most often my kids point out inappropriateness they see to me!!
Very good article Penny! I stopped going to concerts many years ago for that same reason. Not to mention that you can’t enjoy the artist because of all of the noise. I would rather listen to a CD at home. I am sure it was a good teaching experience for you with your children. God will watch over them and protect them, but I believe He wants us to use those moments to instruct.
I hope that you used this opportunity to ask some great questions of your kids as to what they thought of the night.
Matthew….definately did and was glad to hear their responses.
Soo very true and I also can relate to your situation. The devil always has the same tactic; he makes you do things and then when you do it, he turns around and asks you: how could you do this as a good Christian? Like you said: God is merciful and He always shows us a way out…
Wow…Penny. When I read this, I felt there is a reason why God let you and your children into that environment. He is a good God and would have stopped you if he disapproved. So glad to know you were there with your children and they did not have to face this situation by themselves.
Oh Penny, I so identify with you! I felt like I was sitting there at the concert with you, my soul stirred to weeping along with you!
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted… It is better to mourn over these things than to go along with the crowd. I look forward to His return and the setting things right that will take place soon. I’m so ready… I’m longing for His return!
Thank you for writing, Penny, and for sharing your precious heart!
I’ve never been to a concert with my kids, and I can’t remember the last one I went to myself. But this was such a powerful read for me. I try to teach my boys as much as I can about morality, living a clean life free of promiscuity, drugs or alcohol. As Denny said, there’s no escaping the images, they’re everywhere. So we have to teach our children as much as possible about these things, and beyond that just keep them covered.
Penny, thank you for this article and the willingness to share your experience. Yes, I am ready for Christ’s return yet occasionally I find myself in a situation I would really not want to be in if He returned at that time… we’ve all been there. I pray that your children will be able to recognize the false hope of all that supposed glamor. Yes, as parents (and grandparents) we have to be examples and pray, pray, and pray more as our children and grandchildren face the social immorality of the world’s influences all around us as we live in this world as God’s children.
I can relate so well to this with 3 of my children being teenagers right now. It is something we talk about a lot. I find it so sad that many parents are not willing to tackle some of the tough issues with their children. I have a hard time even in our church (which is fairly conservative) with what some parents allow their girls to wear. It just makes me so sad to see. Your kids have a great mom who cares enough to allow situations like this to be teachable moments!