This past weekend, Jason and I were in Laguna Beach, CA talking to an amazing group of donors from New Life Ministries.Anytime we go to southern California, I go through a bit of a culture shock.  Denver and So Cal are so different.  Sure, there are the pine trees here and the palm trees there.  The ocean there and the Rockies here.  These things are a given.  My culture shock doesn't have anything to do with the aforementioned differences.  Rather, my culture shock has to do with the fancy cars and flashy women.  They were everywhere.And I realized it was effecting me.  Here are some of the lies that were rolling around in my head like a rotisserie grille:“We could never live here. I couldn’t stand for Jason to always see these beautiful women.” “Wow, she is really thin. I guess I could take better care of myself: eat less, run more; and maybe I could look like that, too.” “I can’t compete with these women. It’s unfair. They’ve had plastic surgery. I haven’t.”And can I just tell you....these thoughts were subconscious.  I didn't even realize I was dealing with them until the morning of our talk.  I got out of the shower and felt a weight.  I realized I was comparing.  I was being so unfair to me.  And I was being unfair to these other women.And here is what I told myself:  "Shelley, you are fearfully and wonderfully made."  "You, God, created my inmost being.  You knit me together in my mother's womb."And let me tell you:  stopping and affirming myself with God's truth did something powerful within me.  Praise God, I was able to move forward with the morning and leave that distraction behind.  For a while.Since our return home yesterday afternoon, I've continued to think about the effect this culture shock of sorts had on me.  I spoke to Jason about it.  And he could relate.  He said he noticed how fit a lot of the men were as well.All that to say, this comparison stuff.  These lies.  And the affirmations and truth.  Well, it's an active process.  It's about being intentional.  It's about being aware.  And it's especially about covering the lies in God's truth.Psalm 139:13-14  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."As we go about our week, may we be aware of the thoughts we are feeding ourselves.  Let's work together at stopping the lies and covering them in God's truth, shall we?And I'd love to hear from you!  What lies do you feed yourself?  What ways have you found to cover them in the LORD's truth?