Social Media and "The Rest of the Story..."

(photo credit: http://www.gosimplysocial.com)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Girlfriends, I just finished a morning perusal of my Facebook newsfeed. I have to share these reflections with you because I feel so strongly about this message. Some of you have sworn off social media for the very reason I am going to talk about: Seeing everyone else's perfect life makes you feel inadequate about your own life. I get it. I understand why you deleted the Facebook account or Instagram; however, I would like to offer a different solution. One that I think could revolutionize our lives rather than tear them down with attacks on self-esteem. I suggest we share the other side of our lives on social media...the dark side. Play Paul Harvey and tell "the rest of the story..."

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Social media. Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Snapchat. What's App. 

Girlfriends, I love that we all post the fun and smiling pictures of our good times. I receive great joy from your joy. I laugh at your funny stories and jokes. Your children and grandchildren warm my heart. I feel connected to many of you that live so far away, or live close but busyness keeps us apart. 

Yet, ladies, very rarely does anyone post a picture of themselves or a loved one in pain, or injured, or crying, or depressed, or anxious, or struggling. I am her today to say: Do NOT let social media fool you! 

NO ONE has a perfect life! 

WE all HURT. 

WE all STRUGGLE with something. 

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

We like to put up brave fronts and hide the pain for many reasons, but the unintended consequence is that everyone thinks we have it all together. "Oh, her? Yeah, she has the best life. The perfect family. The dream job. She is always going somewhere fun. She doesn't know what it means to struggle. She must never work. She has so many friends. Everyone thinks she is great. Etc. Etc. Etc."

As a result, one begins to wonder and have doubts about her own life. 

STOP HIDING, my friends. 

BE REAL. 

Post the rest of the story sometimes. Speak your hardest truths. Bring it to the light, because you know what? It is freeing to be in the light. Darkness is draining and harmful. Satan lurks in the darkness, whispering lies to you that take a foothold in your mind and soul. 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

Yes, our happy moments are what get us through the days most of the time, and it is great to share them. But let's be real, friends. Our lives are not all smiles, successes, and vacations. WE cry. WE fail. WE work and labor and struggle. WE lose. WE hurt.

I love that my oldest daughter is not afraid sometimes to share her pain openly. She did not ask for an incurable pain disorder in the entire left side of her body (CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.) She is a victim. Yet even she often hides it, like we all do, because she doesn't want pity. She wants to be "normal" and treated normally, but reality is--she is not "normal" anymore. She has to find a new normal, and just when she finds it, life shifts again and "normal" blows away in the winds of change. It is NOT weakness to share your pain, to bring to light the demons that haunt you. Strength is in found in the prayers of the people of GOD, but we cannot pray for what we do not know about one another. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

I challenge, you my friends, this week...this month...be REAL, be TRANSPARENT on your social media. Share your joys and good times, but turn on the light in the closet and share the struggles you have hanging there too. I would love to pray for you this week. And I boldly ask for prayer for my daughter, Joslyn, as she pushes forward in the "new mom" life, all the while battling the searing pain of CRPS in her body. Pray God will remove the pain from her body if it is within His will. We know He has the power, but we also trust in His greater plan that only He sees; therefore, please pray that God will empower her in every way to tend to her newborn, whatever His will may be. Pray she will hold on to every word in His Scripture, every promise He makes to use our experiences and trials on this earth for a greater glory in eternity.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 Isaiah 40:29-31

Girlfriends, God is good. He already knows your pain. He gave you brothers and sisters in Christ to help you bear it, share it, and use it to encourage one another in Christ. Step out of the darkness into the light. Continue sharing your blessings and good times on social media, but do not be afraid to boldly state the pain and hardships so they may be covered in prayer. Ask God to guide you. And remember, you are loved through the good and the bad times, the beautiful and the ugly moments, and the highest or lowest points of your life journey. God is with you--everywhere!

 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2

 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

I Am Peaceful

The Lord is at hand;  

do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything

 by prayer and supplication

 with thanksgiving

 let your requests be made known to God.  

And the peace of God, 

which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts

 and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:5-7

Good morning, Girlfriends!

How are you today? 

"I am peaceful; thank you for asking."

I am interested to know how many of you would respond to that question this way? If I had to guess, I'd say, oh, about....ZERO. In today's world, peace does not seem to be the reigning state of mind or heart. Instead, we are more likely to be anxious, stressed out, busy, occupied, sad, concerned, depressed, or sick. Once in a while, that questions catches us on a good day--probably a Saturday--and we might respond with a more positive tone, proclaiming temporary happiness and contentment. Check back a day or two later, though, and most likely we will have reverted back to the former answers. Ladies, I admit, I have never heard anyone, including myself, admit to a peace-filled state of existence. Never. Not once.

Until today. 

Surprise! The words came straight out of ME. Yes, Girlfriends, I am peaceful. Thank you for asking. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:7 ESV

Not as the world gives...

Ladies, I have every earthly reason to be in a state of complete turmoil and emotional upheaval right now: 

1. I am married. I am a mother. I am a daughter. 2. My husband started a new job five states away this week. I miss him. 3. We are moving. I am still here, trying to sell our house in an over-saturated, deflated market. We are going to lose thousands of dollars. 4. My teenage son does not want to move. I am the mom he loves, but I am the enemy moving him. Love/hate relationships. I feel his pain. 5. Another daughter left home to college last month. I miss my babies, aka my lovely daughters. I am trying to be a good, long-distance parent, nurturing tender wings as they encounter the harsh winds of real life. 6. My oldest daughter is in extreme physical pain from a life-altering, medical error. I hurt because she is hurting. I can't fix it. I am pleading with God to heal her. She wants answers, including Why? I can't answer. I try to lead her to the One who can. 7. This same daughter's husband started a new job this week. She is moving to the opposite coast from where I am moving. 8. I am going to miss my mom. And sister. And mom-in-law. And girlfriends. I wish I had been a better daughter. I want to take them with me. 

"I am peaceful; thank you for asking."

Girlfriends, in the midst of life's pandemonium, this tumultuous turmoil, I have peace. Despite all these circumstances swirling around me, surpassing all understanding, the peace of Christ is guarding my heart and mind. 

Peace did not find me, however. I had to go after it. Go after Him. Seek Him. Pursue Peace. God, in His grace and mercy, offered me His peace but the work was mine to do. Do not get me wrong. I did not earn it. Peace was freely given to me. But I had to choose to claim it. I could be anxious and worried, stressed and depressed, or I could follow His Word:

do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything

 by prayer and supplication

 with thanksgiving

 let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:5-6

My peace comes from trusting God. I give Him thanks and praise, even in the difficult times. I believe He is who and what He says He is. As proof, which we humans seem to demand, I stand on His examples of past faithfulness. To me. To my family. To others I know. To His beloved people written about in His Word. I submit my life to Him: the good, the bad, the ugly, the in-between. I chose to offer every issue up in prayer and then trust in His will and His plan, which is far greater than I will ever understand. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Ladies, peace is yours. Take hold of God's will for you. I pray today that you will seek the peace that passes all understanding. Do not sit idly by, waiting for it to come upon you. Do the work. Make the choice. I pray you will choose Jesus. Give thanks. Give praise. Lift up your face. Lift up your life daily. Peace is lasting but your efforts cannot be fleeting: prayer today, gone tomorrow. Be consistent and persistent in your pursuit. And be patient. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

So, I ask you Girlfriends, how are you today?

Peace be with you.

Your Body is a Temple

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:28-30 

Happy Monday Girlfriends! I hope your day started off better than mine did.

A rainy day with no sun shining into my bedroom, I fell back asleep after shutting off the alarm. I woke exactly ten minutes before my doctor's appointment to evaluate the increasing pain I have had in my elbow for the last month. Fortunately the office is nearby. Whew! 

Welcome to Middle Age

In the office, I had an x-ray after which the physician performed a physical exam, poking and prodding, pulling and pressing. Jokingly, he told me he had no idea why I was wincing. Then, with a gleam in his eyes, the doctor looked up from his thumb, which he was pressing on my forearm, and said, "Welcome to middle age! You have tennis elbow. Depending upon your body, recovery is two weeks to two years. Until then, you need to wear this cute arm band and go to therapy. See you in a month!"

My mind began racing with protests: "Wait! I do not even play tennis! But what about yoga? Down-dog and chaturanga dandasana do not cause pain, only lifting the laundry detergent bottle hurts. Can't I just stop doing laundry and keep going to yoga? And what do you mean, "Welcome to middle age?" Just because I am wearing two pair of glasses, one on my head as needed for distance, and the one on my eyes to read this handout on tennis elbow, does NOT mean I am old. I rejected bifocals last week for that exact reason. Only old people wear bifocals! Can't you see I only feel twenty-nine?"

So then I went to my van and pouted. Middle age, schmiddle age. Pffff. We will just see about that next week, when I am frolicking like child in the waves of the Atlantic ocean, in my bikini. Ugh, bikini. Middle age. Oh fine, I resign to reality. But my heart will remain forever young!!!! 

Welcome to Reality

Just yesterday, I told my nineteen old daughter to stop being in such a hurry to grow up, to enjoy her youth while she is in the midst of it. Naturally, she rejected my words of wisdom and continued moaning about how all her co-workers and friends are already twenty-one. Are we not good at that, Girlfriends? Ignoring the voice of experience, only recalling the advice after the time to heed it has passed. Whether you are nineteen or ninety-nine, I am positive you can recall an "I told you so" that still haunts you today! Oh, if we would only listen.

The truth is humans do grow old. Growing old means our bodies are going to age and deteriorate; however, the reality is that physical pain can even attack us in our youth. Athletes experience injuries. Diseases strike as early as infancy. Accidents affect function and mobility. Strength and endurance come and go as seasons of life affect time for exercise and fitness. As much as we try to be healthy, life happens, and our bodies endure the brunt of it. 

Welcome to God's Plan

The Good News is that God understands, having lived among us in a human body that suffered physical pain. He has a plan and a purpose for you, for your soul, which transcends your earthly anatomy.

Girlfriends, our greatest concern in this life should not be wrapped up in our bodies--what we will eat, what we will wear: 

“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25 HCSB), 

or how we look to others: 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7).  

We are told not to fear injury, disease, accidents, attackers, or even death: 

Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. (1 Peter 5:10 HCSB)

Yes, ladies, we are to care for and attend to our health, but the motive for doing so is what God considers. You are uniquely created by God for a purpose in His Kingdom, and while living on earth you obviously need a body to carry out that objective. But why? Well, your body houses God: when you humble yourself and submit to Jesus Christ as your eternal Savior, the Holy Spirit enters and resides within you, giving you access to the very power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8

How marvelous! God within us. And for that very reason, and that reason alone, we care for our bodies in this life: 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  
Girlfriends, out of respect, reverence, and awe of what God has given you--His very Son's blood as an atoning sacrifice for your sins (Past, Present, and Future)--regard His Word. He alone holds the power to glorify--or to destroy--both your body and soul. He tells you that in the gospel of Matthew: Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Mtw 10:28 Yet in His very next words He also acknowledges His love and concern, for you are worth far more than even a sparrow whose life He also commands. God treasures you even down to the very number of hairs on your head!

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-30)

  
My prayer for today is that you will look at yourself in a mirror; yes a full length reflection, maybe even one of those tri-folds like in a dressing room. Gaze upon the temple of the Holy Spirit! Admire your beauty through God's vision. Stare into your eyes and see grace, mercy, compassion, and holiness alive in you! Jesus lives, and Girlfriends, He lives in YOU! Talk about getting in touch with your inner self; reality is you are touching God. Hold His hand, draw upon His strength, and know the comforting promise of a new, glorified, healthy, pain-free, eternally glorious body that He will give you in Heaven. That is the promise of salvation that no doctor, no chiropractor, no therapist, no personal trainer can give you. Stand on the Rock and be Strong!

Love you all!