Sunday night my son Evan and I watched the Academy Awards. I have to be honest. I have never in my life sat through the entire event. I’m not even sure if I have ever watched any portion of it “live” before in my life!

But for some reason, Evan turned it on and since I knew he would be heading back to college the next morning, I decided to sit and watch it with him.

We had such a good time!

Evan and I share a very similar sense of humor, so we got such a kick out of so many things that were happening during the night. From the movie star’s clothes to their comments to the way they held their heads…..

Even the hosts were making us laugh.

I know. We were probably not taking the whole event seriously enough.

After all, the manner in which the stars received their little golden figurines and said, “thank you,” made me think that maybe they had just received a Nobel Peace Prize for discovering something that could make this world a better place for generations to come!!

I guess I just kept wondering, “What does God think about this event?” “Does He care?” “Is He impressed?”

From a mere tv-watcher’s perspective, it sure seemed like “anybody” who is “anybody” should have been there.

Wearing the right clothes.

Walking with the right person.

If you watched it, you know just what I’m talking about!

The sad part is that before the program was even over, yahoo was already putting out headlines about mistakes, blunders, poorly-chosen dresses……..

Even the most “impressive” people of this world seem to fall short of “impressing” everyone.

So tonight as I sat here knowing that I leave early in the morning to sub at the high school (oh, please pray for me!), I knew that if I wanted to say anything I’d have to say it tonight……

and my mind wandered to my memories of the Academy Awards and how hard those stars work to impress people who are so easily unimpressed.

Then, of course, I had this urge to see what the Bible says about the word, “impress,” and guess what I found out.

The word “impress” is ONLY in the NIV version of the Bible one time in its root form!!!

And listen to how it is used!

Deut. 6
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Hmmmmm…………..
For some reason, I think God is making quite a statement by only using this word once and by using it the way He does.
I think He is telling us that the only impressing we need to be doing while we’re here on this planet is the impressing of God’s commandments on children’s hearts.
Kids are starving for people who care about them and who want to see them succeed in life. Have you noticed?
We went to the district basketball tournament tonight and had such a good time. While I was there I was just amazed to watch people interact. Kids, young and old, are hungry for hugs, for kind words, for positive attention.
And I believe that kids today are aching for the truth.

So, as I head to the high school tomorrow, I’m definitely not expecting a red carpet entry!
But I will have this thought in the back of my mind all day,

“How are my actions impressing these students?”
Not from man’s perspective, but from God’s.

Not that He calls me to impress even Him……He just calls me and you to share His love with others.

Thankful to have an audience of One! An audience of grace and mercy,