Speech on the web

Lately I have come across so many thoughtless, hurtful and highly suspect "words", particularly on social networking sites like Facebook. By giving status updates about all the complaints and personal injuries one has against others, I am wondering if we are simply disregarding God's instructions for our speech by excusing our "web words" as not really being speech. It would seem that we are so quick to air our dirty laundry all over the place, compelled to share it urgently and openly with anyone willing to listen. Furthermore, we really don't even ask if anyone wants to hear, we just type! While I appreciate so much the many thoughtful blogs, helpful websites, and even the encouraging connections that can be made on sites like Facebook, it is quite clear that oftentimes more harm is being done than good. I have learned this lesson the hard way in my own life, regretting an email sent or a message forwarded. Looking back, there were times I wanted to just hit "delete" only to realize there was no way to delete it from someone's mind once they had seen it. When we get ready to type something and hit the "send" or "post" button, let us one last time read carefully what we have composed and hold it up to the light of Philippians 4:8 - "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Now if Paul is admonishing us to think on such things, then imagine how much more we should be speaking of such things. It is so hard to train our thoughts onto right things, things of Christ, and His redemption and His forgiveness...His mercy and compassion in the midst of trying times. Our words are a reflection of our thoughts. So if I am posting things that are at all untrue, dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, grumbling, a bad report...then that is a reflection of my heart and my mind. May the Lord guard us carefully from such things, for it is a serious matter to put something out there for others to see, where it can be misinterpreted, altered and repeated, or at best, simply not exalting Christ and His work in our lives. It is sad that I can take one look at someones status update or read a short email and immediately sense frustration, bitterness, unforgiveness, discontentment. Is the Lord pleased by such things? Is His name made great upon the earth by such things? I may sound trivial right now, but God has commanded us to glorify Him in ALL things! Take heed so that you will not want to take back...Don't lost heart though, there is a remedy. What opportunities have you had today to glorify God? What special blessings has God provided for you? What ways can you use your internet speech to draw others to Christ by exalting the Gospel? What opportunities have you passed up to bring praise to God for all the small ways that He has caused you to persevere, for His abundant showing of forgiveness for all your sins? These are the things that I would encourage you to reflect on. What is your status in Christ Jesus our Lord?

Glorifying God With Our Time...

Working in the college ministry at church, I have a wonderful privilege of interacting with some truly amazing and precious young ladies. In recent months, it has come to my attention more and more the dilemma that many young adults face in learning to manage their time in a way that best serves the Kingdom! I am right there in the same boat, trying to discern how God wants me to use the hours He has given me each day. So, for a recent lesson in my small group, I decided to speak on this topic. It was such a blessing within my group to share in discussion and prayer the ways that we are called to live each day for the glory of God and how that looks for us as young women in practical application. Here are some key points from that lesson:

TIME was created perfectly by God for our good and His glory! When we say there is not enough time in our day, we are maligning the character of God by claiming that He did not get it right somehow. The harsh reality is that we simply don't manage our time wisely! (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:5; I Pt. 1:17-19)

Rising early truly is an essential part of managing our time wisely. We are more effective and energized when we first rise in the morning. Furthermore, if we have children, then it is helpful to rise a bit before them to begin our day alone with God before the distractions of parenting arise. We cannot impose a legalistic rule about this specific point, but it is a biblical principle supported in passages such as Psalm 5:3 and Proverbs 31:15.

Although properly managing our time has no bearing ultimately on one's justification, it is a reflection of being a good steward of the health, mental clarity, stamina, hospitable femininity, and compassionate heart for service that God has placed within us.

Remember, the Lord has ordained your time and has appointed your seasons (Ecc. 3:1-8). Don't disregard His careful planning by failing to exercise self-discipline in managing your time. And always keep in mind that your plans are only accomplished through His mercies, which are new every morning (Lam. 3).

"What men do by themselves they do for themselves. They eat their own fruit, devouring the praise of what they do. Only the Christian who does everything by Christ does it all for Him. He takes his nourishment from Him into whom he has been grafted; and this is what makes him fruitful" (William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armor, Vol. II).

A Mighty Fortress

This has been one of my favorite hymns for several years (especially during the summer I spent in South Africa) and yesterday, my pastor read it aloud during his sermon. It was so appropriately linked to what he was preaching on and to the current state of affairs in our country: "let goods and kindred go". With such an emphasis placed on materialistic security and a society screaming that we deserve some sort of bailout for all of our own irresponsible and wicked behavior, Martin Luther's words remind us of the true purpose of living - for the glory of God and His eternal kingdom!

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great;
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is for ever.