If you spend anytime on the Internet, or happen to follow entertainment "news" you are bound to have seen, heard, or read about Ms. Britney Spear's latest bikini-clad-caper at the annual Video Music Awards.

There have been literally millions of comments and articles about this infamous pop star's poor (often refered to as lackluster) performance:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/10/mtv.awards.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

I hate to spend even a moment focusing on this sad event. However, the deplorable fact that people, everywhere, are calling this mother-of-two fat is just plain untrue.

What message does this send young girls who are just beginning to notice the subtle body changes taking place when they look in the mirror. What about those young women who have what might be referred to as a curvy figure? We complain about the too-thin women who starve themselves as setting a bad example, and then when an obviously normal-sized, attractive woman takes the stage, she is considered grossly overweight. There's just something wrong with this picture.

Granted, Britney might have been better off with a different attire, but I can think of quite a few women who might be more than a little happy to sport that two-piece looking like Ms. Spears did. Let's get real, ladies!

Yet, once again, the "world" is focused on someone's outsides and making obscene and hurful statements because of them. Wow. We have wars, upcoming elections, natural disasters, and people still spend hours complaining about one woman's appearance and singing ability. What's wrong with this picture?

Let's remember to turn to God for our explanation of what a godly and beautiful woman is. With God it's not all about our physical appearance. Instead, it's a matter of the heart -- your heart, my heart.

Do our hearts beat first and foremost for our Heavenly King? Or do we lust over money, sex, drugs, alcohol, food, or our appearance? Only you can answer for yourself. I know I've fallen short in many areas throughout my life. Thankfully, though, God continues to cleanse me and heal me...one step and one prayer at a time. He will do the same for you.

As our daughters, or the younger women in our lives ask about the "Britney situation" let's make sure that we don't join in the Britney-bashing sessions. Instead, we can share about a healthy body and the importance that God places on us to have a healthy heart -- both physical and spiritual. Amen!

Please check out this thoughtful article on women's self-esteem:

http://christianwomentoday.com/beauty/selfesteem.html