No More Facebook Fuming

...so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:14-16a

 

 

Five years ago, I created my Facebook account just to share photos of my granddaughter with extended family members. No more waiting in line for my one-day-developing at the local pharmacy or stalking the mailbox for that thick envelope of glossy paper prints. Facebook and the Internet brought instant cyber-satisfaction.

 

Daily cyber reunions filled my evenings as one-by-one I reconnected with high school and college classmates I hadn't seen or spoken with since graduation. After a few weeks and lengthy notes our daily (hourly) FB status reports kept us connected and informed. It was like reading Christmas letters in little daily spurts.

 

Welcomed or not, Facebook not only gave me a daily dose of friendship, but it gave the writer-me an instant platform from which to share my wordy-passion. Where else could a no-name author share her opinions and stories with an instant world-wide audience? So, I started blogging and thinking out loud on Facebook.

So did the rest of the world.

It's crazy out there in Facebook-land. Everyone has an opinion and many aren't so kind or wise or thoughtful. Many just grumble. I call it Facebook fuming. Some people just love to share the awfulness of their day in hopes that misery loves company and somebody will join them. I don't know. I mean, sometimes it does feels good to vomit all the negativity in some pithy post, but seriously, on a daily or hourly basis? It's just not healthy.

While I mostly process life on my blog, I carefully choose words that tell truth in love and encourage one another because that's how Jesus instructs us to speak. As believers in the gospel (good news) how much more important to encourage one another in the "permanent" written words that can be read repeatedly? We are called to be the Light in the darkness that bring hope to this lost earth. Why then, do some feel it necessary to add to the darkness?

While I'm willing to share life on a heart to heart level - and life doesn't always come with rainbows and roses - let's share life's journey in such as way that encourages one another and brings God glory?

Paul says, "...encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:14b-18
 

Let's make a conscious effort, whether in a blog post or a status update, that all our words reflect God's goodness in EVERY circumstance, encourage our readers and shine God's Light. Join me?

 

Thankful Thursday: Broken Limbs

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

October snow melts under warming skies lifting its icy hold on still green earth. I venture out mindful of broken limbs piled high against scarred trees through town.

I take the narrow wooded road. Unmarked hazards slow me, cause fear. I almost turn back, but her lonely waiting, needy anticipation begs me come. I creep up toward the hill where she sits behind brick and glass nursing her own broken limb.

She too is scarred from unprecedented storms. Her once strong limb carried her miles around New England town each day, now lays broken, bruised and braced. She sits wishing for younger, stronger, healthier, less lonely times. Who wouldn't? She prays, too--for healing--with faith and patience and thanks. She who lives broken gives thanks.

Thankfulness in the midst of brokenness. Thanks for brokenness. Is this what God wants?

God never delights in our trouble but without brokenness how can anyone know his mercy, healing power, forgiveness or strength? Not even Jesus could know these things without suffering: "...it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation {Jesus} perfect through suffering." Hebrews 2:10

We offer God our broken sacrifice of praise and somehow he comes--God our healer. God our provider. God our strength. God our salvation--he comes close.

Her nurse meets me at the door. "She's feeling puny today--a bit under the weather."

More suffering. More brokenness. And before I leave, she who lives broken, gives thanks.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9