February 2- Ponder Before You Post

According to a new study from Loyola University, social networks like Facebook and Twitter are cited in 1 out of 5 divorces. Facebook is now the #1 destination for evidence that can be used against you in a court of law. With one click of the mouse the entire world can learn where you are, who you are with, what you are doing, and what kind of mood you are in.

People who claim to be Christians must go above and beyond the call of duty to protect themselves. Above that, we as believers must take into great consideration how our testimonies are affected through careless and thoughtless words on a computer screen. In one remark or reply homes can be destroyed, friendships can be severed, churches can be divided, and lives can be changed.

Filter everything you say through a list of questions: Will this bring a reproach upon the Lord Jesus Christ, my family, or my church?  Am I posting this out of anger and frustration? What is the intent and motivation behind what I am going to say?  Are any of my words, language, and vocabulary questionable?  Will this in any way hurt someone’s feelings?  Can this be taken out of context?  Most importantly, will this bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Ponder before you post.

You have not fulfilled every duty, unless you have fulfilled that of being pleasant” – Charles Buxton

Whatever the Weather…

Legendary preacher Vance Havner was notorious for his articulated phrases and quotes.  His delivery was not necessarily grandiose or flamboyant, but unlike many preachers today he actually had something to say.

In one of his sermons on the subject of faithfulness he declared, “Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot; whatever the weather, we weather the weather, whether we like it or not.”

When I consider that statement by Havner I immediately think of my mail carrier.  Regardless of the weather, she always brings the mail.  If it is raining, sunny, snowing, thundering, lightning…whatever the weather, she comes through.  Much like a mail carrier we as Christians should be consistent in our walk with the Lord.  Too often we get distracted by the external conditions of this world.  We allow the smallest, most insignificant things to detour us in our service for the King.

We need some resilient, can’t-stop-me-now faith in this hour.  As William Shedd said, “A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for.”  You may not like the conditions surrounding your day or your world, but go ahead and weather the weather.   Send the kids to school in faith.  Take on the day with a renewed spirit of hope.  Trust God in all your ways.  Lean not unto your own understanding.  Be faithful to Him and He is sure to be faithful to you!

The most important thought that ever occupied my mind is that of my personal responsibility to God.” -Daniel Webster

Are You Climbing Walls or Crossing Bridges?

One small brick between two people rarely causes issues, but when a multitude of those bricks are gathered there is potential to build a great wall.  In many relationships that is what happens- we use our differences to build walls.  Brick by brick we become isolated and separated from one another.  Each brick may be different in its makeup- (you may have bricks of jealousy, anger, bitterness, insecurity, etc.), but the outcome is the same no matter what your brick is named.  Before you know it years have passed, and one day you are staring at a cold, flat wall wondering what happened.

God does not want us to build walls in our relationships; He wants us to build bridges.  Walls separate us; bridges connect us.  Walls prevent us from moving forward; bridges afford us the opportunity to move ahead.  Walls are difficult to climb; bridges help us get over troubled waters.

Let’s face it; bricks are a part of life.  We will have stumbling blocks no matter who we are; but what we do with those bricks will determine the outcome of our relationships.  Instead of building walls that keep us apart, we should find a way to use those differences to bring us closer together.   Stop climbing walls and begin crossing bridges.

“Every man should keep a fair-sized cemetery to bury the faults of his friends.” -Henry Ward Beecher

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Paint

During my early twenties I worked as a house-painter for my grandfather.  I will never forget the first time I turned over a gallon- bucket of high gloss paint.  The entire area where I was working became flooded with enamel.  The paint that was supposed to be on the wall was now covering the floor; and on top of that I had to deal with what my grandfather was going to say.  My grandfather wasn’t a hard man, but business was business, and the spilled bucket of paint slowed everything down.

I will never forget what he told me when he saw the mess.  He said, “Son, what makes a painter a professional is not his ability to stay clean, but his willingness to clean up the mess.”  In his grandfatherly way, he explained that the nature of the paint business was messy.  He told me about the first time he too turned over a can of paint and then said something I will never forget, “You can’t avoid spills; you just have to be responsible to clean them up.”

Life is somewhat like painting houses.  It is tedious and time-consuming work; and you’ll want to keep a rag on you because it is going to get messy.  You and I will not be able to avoid the “spills” of life.  But the difference in someone who fails and someone who succeeds is their willingness to clean up the mess.  If you have made a mess of things- don’t feel alone, we all have turned over the bucket; just be willing to start cleaning it up.

“We are all failures- at least, the best of us are” -J.M. Barrie