A Social Media Breather
I haven’t watched any mainstream media news in months. Tommy and I decided that we had to quit because it made us so angry. They don’t cover real news anymore. Their biased agenda is sickening. Social media has followed the tactic, and despite being able to scroll past what I’d like to avoid, I still find myself getting fired up by the suppression of the real news.
Now that I’m retired, I’m spending WAY too much time scrolling through Facebook and not investing my time on more positive influences like reading my Bible. I’m not reading or writing enough, and God has placed it on my heart to fast social media for at least three days. If you’re not a Facebook junkie like me, it sounds simple, I’m sure. However, I think there are plenty of folks out there just like me. You say you’re just going to spend ten minutes checking up on friends, and before you know it, two hours have flown by. You haven’t done anything productive, and now you are either riled up about the election or COVID or very sad about people that are losing their businesses, loved ones, and fur babies.
I’m praying many times a day for all of the turmoil to end and the virus to be eradicated. I know that God has a plan in all of this. Nothing happens that He does not allow. I believe there has been a spiritual awakening in 2020 like the world has never seen. Our favorite pastors on television, the way we do church now, all report record numbers of people coming to know Christ through their television ministries. Just as many are rededicating their lives to spiritual growth and striving to make a difference in this crazy world.
Matthew 5:13-16 are scriptures we should all be concentrating on right now. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
For way too long, Christians have been putting our lights under a basket in the name of social correctness or because we didn’t want to upset folks that weren’t believers. We don’t want to be labeled as zealots. We want people to like us. As long as our ticket to heaven was punched, it was all that mattered. God did not call us to live that way. We are supposed to be salt and light. And that means sharing the gospel. 1 Peter 3:15 instructs us – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 2 Corinthians 5:20 – We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
I’ve used Facebook in a positive way to share God’s word through devotionals and posting scriptures that spoke to my heart. What started as a one-time thing, more years ago than I can remember, became a ritual that I very seldom skip. One morning I read a scripture that blessed me, and the thought came to me that someone else might be moved by it too. I took a picture of it with my phone and posted it on my Facebook page. The next day I did it again. After a week, it was a habit to share what God had shown me in my devotional time with friends on my Facebook page.
I’ll never forget the first time someone walked up to me in Johnny’s Bar & Grill, the historic business I owned and operated for more than 22 years, and told me how much they enjoyed reading my postings. What a blessing! I was astounded. “Really,” I said. “You read my morning scripture posts?” They went on to tell me how much what I was doing had helped them. I was over the moon with joy. I was salt and light.
At the time, I was working with Sean Buckley, my Christian coach, and I couldn’t wait to tell him about it. He was happy for me and suggested that I start a Facebook group to share my devotionals. I thought that was a fabulous idea, and Love Notes from the Lord was birthed. I invited all of my friends to join my group for daily encouragement. I now have over 800 members, and it’s still growing.
As well as sharing in the group, I continued to post on my personal page. Now I was sharing two posts every day. As I said, I don’t know how long I’ve been doing it, but I can’t imagine stopping. What took ten minutes to do in the mornings before beginning my day as a bar owner has become an obsession as a retiree. If all I was doing was sharing spiritual inspiration, it wouldn’t be a problem. But now I’m spending hours viewing posts and commenting on Pelosi, Newscum, the election, and masks. I can start my day with a song in my heart, something fabulous like, “He’s a Good, Good Father,” and a skip in my step and an hour later be utterly distraught about the condition of the world. My faith and hope are sucked up by grim reports of a terrifying future.
It’s a sad situation. I’m a Christian, and my faith is in Christ, not the world. I know the One in charge, and I know that He has a wonderful plan for my life. He has blessed me in more ways than I can say. He has brought me through many harrowing situations. I know how the story ends, and we win. Good will triumph over evil, and Jesus will return to take us all home with Him.
In the meantime, it’s my job, and yours if you are a Christian, to spread joy and hope by being salt and light in a scary world. I’m continuing to pray that truth and justice win out. But, no matter what happens with COVID or the election, I know that the God I serve will take care of my family and me. He will give us the strength to endure and persevere through whatever happens. I personally believe that if Trump doesn’t remain our president and “The Steal” is allowed to take place, Jesus will be returning soon. And I want everyone that I know to be ready. I want to share my Jesus with as many people as possible before that happens.
I’m excited to see what kind of revelations God shows me when I step away from social media for a while. I have a feeling that I will pay more attention to my blessings and be more joyful. I have an excellent program called Cinchshare that allows me to schedule posts. You will still see my daily scriptures and devotionals, but not because I’m hanging out on Facebook. It would be great if some of my friends join me in the social media fast and share their experiences with me.
God bless you all, and see you on the internet in a few days.