Watch What You Say!

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Lynn

There are many things that I love about the internet.  I like the fact that I can research and discover all kinds of interesting things about the world around me just by “Googling” it.  I love staying so connected with my family and friends around the world through social media.  I love being able to download music, movies or T.V. shows that interest me and I can access blogs, books, online sermons, inspirational quotes and pictures that lift my spirit.

But there is a dark side to the internet too.

Being so interconnected to the world, also opens up the opportunity for seeing things that shock, hearing things that make me cringe, and reading articles and comments that bully and denigrate individuals on a regular basis.  It seems EVERYONE has an opinion on EVERYTHING and they are not afraid to express it, not taking into account who is hurt in the process.  I suppose the internet gives people a certain amount of anonymity and a kind of social freedom they would not otherwise have with a one on one, face to face conversation.  They feel safe bullying and expressing themselves online, with misguided courage in finding fault and openly chastising someone they would never have the bravery to confront or speak to in person.

Christians are targeted repeatedly by those who want to mock and malign our faith and our character online.  We can expect to be persecuted for our faith even online.  Freedom of speech extends to every individual I suppose, but there is a cost.  I am reminded of the song I sang to my children when they were very young:

“Be careful little eyes what you see…, be careful little ears what you hear…, be careful little mouths what you say…”

In this age of technology where we are so interconnected, no one can say, think, see, or do anything without it becoming public knowledge and there are always consequences if a perceived “sin” is uncovered and then openly shared online by those who stand as accusers.  In many instances, Christian leaders are condemned and judged online before all the facts have been revealed.  Online they are guilty and remain guilty even if future facts say otherwise.  What was said in the past, even flippantly, is used against them.  Who they may or may not associate with, becomes a way to justify attacking their theology or ministry.  Scripture is used to condemn them more so than encourage them to repent or to show them grace; to disparage rather than edify.  It benefits a condemned individual little in trying to change the mind of public opinion once it begins to spread online.  They will eventually drown in the murky waters of innuendo and gossip, with their reputations ruined and their Christian witness destroyed.  How terribly, terribly sad.

Who are their accusers?

Other Christ Followers…

…and Satan laughs at us.

It has become epidemic online to attack one another.  Christian against Christian, defaming one another in such a public manner on the internet.  When a brother or sister in Christ goes astray, there are right and wrong ways to mete out discipline.  The central purpose being to restore and not punish that person!  Jesus took the punishment for our sins. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (Proverbs 10:17; Romans 5:8; Matthew 18.)  Certainly there are those who require to be called to account for misdoings, but to be accused, judged and condemned online first is just wrong!

How can we say we are different from the world, with our life-giving, life-saving Message if we behave as the world does online?  What kind of a witness are we to a watching world, if we criticize one another in such an open forum on social media?  How can we attack each other so publically when we are called to forgive, show grace, and be Christ-like in and outside the church?

Oh, that the Holy Spirit would constantly remind me of the “plank in my own eye” as mentioned in Matthew 7:5 , should I find myself joining in on any online conversations.  Let me be careful with my little eyes, ears, feet and mouths to not see, hear, participate in, and speak out of turn online against a brother or sister in Christ.  Let my opinions become like petitions lifted in prayerful, private conversation between my Lord and I.  Let me be able to model these fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control in person as well as online.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

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Maybe It’s Spring

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Lynn

Alberta has just come through one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record, and I   am thrilled to now see the white stuff melting away and green grass beginning to show.  Springtime for me is always a time of renewal.  It’s like I come out of my hibernating cocoon and start to flit about with renewed purpose and renewed energy.  As I’ve said on multiple occasions, I am NOT a fan of winter but for some reason only God knows, He has planted me and my family here and He still purposes me to stay.

Spring gives me renewed awareness to the beauty and blessings here on The Ponderosa, as we like to call our little acreage just north of Cochrane.  The Rockies show off their splendor, still wearing their winter coats of white, but shedding more and more layers as the weather warms up.  My garden looks bleak, I will admit.  Frost still lingers in the soil, so I won’t be planting my annuals for a couple more months.  Makes me just a little envious to see my southern friends share pictures in February of their flowers and foliage in full bloom.  One thing about our short summers in Alberta is that we have to take advantage of those warm months from June to late September and pack a lot of outside activity into them, before the hibernation season sets in again and memory-making is mostly confined to the indoors.

This winter has been long and dark in other ways as well.  I continue to pray for friends who have lost loved ones.  The enemy of this world seems to wreck havoc in ways that astounds me with the sheer cruelty, brutality and evil at times.  Over and over and over again I repeat this verse as a constant reminder: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4)  Despite what is happening around me in the world and closer to home, I need to keep reminding myself that God is in control and He is GREATER than the evil one.

It’s hard to stay up beat when all the news seems to focus on the negative.  When my prayer list is full of those dear ones who are struggling with health, marriages, faith and family upheavals.  When I witness first hand the bullying on social media, the attacks on my Christian values and morals by people who just want to say and do ugly things just because they can get away with it.  It is in those times of discouragement, I need to take my “thoughts captive” and focus on the promises and great encouragement from Scripture.

Today, Psalm 121 was EXACTLY what I needed to read on this beautiful spring morning.  Perhaps it’s exactly what you need to read today too!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

 

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25 Encouraging Scripture Verses for Prayer

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Lynn

I am blessed to be involved with my church’s intercessory prayer group.  Every Friday, a group of “prayer warriors” go to battle in what I have appropriately called our “War Room” in our church building.  Prayer allows us to go before the throne of God, to draw close to Him, and to one another, and to ask that His Will be done.  May these verses encourage you as you seek His Will in prayer.

Psalm 17:1, 6-8  “Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips… I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.  Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 4:1  “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Psalm 141:2  “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

Romans 12:1-2  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Ephesians 6:10-18  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Matthew 6:9-13  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Psalm 145:18  “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Romans 8:26  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

1 John 5:14-20  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.  If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.   All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.  We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.  We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

James 5:16  “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Philippians 4:6-7  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2 Chronicles 6:21  “Hear the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13  “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-11  “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

2 Chronicles 7:14  “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Mark 11:22-25  “ “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.””

Matthew 5:43-48  ““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’   But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Proverbs 15:8  “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.”

Romans 12:12  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Proverbs 15:29  “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Matthew 7:7-11  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Luke 18:1-8  “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’  “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?””

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.”

James 4:7-10  “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

1 Timothy 2:1-6  “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

 

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

 

 

 

 

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