"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only
such a word as is good for edification according to the need of
the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." ...
Ephesians 4:29
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But oh my! If it's true that "from out of the heart, the mouth speaks," my Negative Nelly Facebook friends must have some super cranky hearts.
Now, of course we all complain once in awhile. That's natural. But when 90% of your Facebook posts complain about gun issues and President Obama and unfairness-of-this-world and rotten politics and bad movies and high prices and crime and who's getting away with stuff and -- Well, it makes me sad for these friends.
And it makes me even sadder for their friends, people who may already feel depressed and came limping into Facebook from their hard times, hoping to find even a hint of encouragement. Maybe a bit of hope. Perhaps just a smile, even--anything positive to help them step up a tiny bit from their current dark pit. But they found, instead, only more of what they already read in the news and more reasons to sink down lower into darkness.
As Christians we have a responsibility to spread the Good News. Namely, that Jesus came to give us Life and Life more abundantly--and I'm thinking fifty years isn't even long enough to speak about what that means, the amazing things which that includes!
So why not start spreading good news now, today? Someone you know may be waiting for what you have to say, for the one simple smile you can bring.
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"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." (Romans 10:15b)
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." (Romans 10:15b)
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health
to the bones.
-----Proverbs 15:30
"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows)." ... John 10:10
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My good buddy, Anne, sent me a heads-up about a book she's enjoying. We can read it online, even(!) So here's the book, I Live Again by Ileana, Princess of Romania ... and here's where you can go to read what it's about. Sounds interesting and I'm thinking lots of you would enjoy it. Thanks, Anne!
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"Death and Life are in the power of the tongue." ... Proverbs 18;21
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"Death and Life are in the power of the tongue." ... Proverbs 18;21
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11 comments:
Your message is very very important, Debra.
People shape their minds in very negative ways by listening to negative media and talking to others who are doing the same - it always feels to me like spending all your time watering the weeds and ignoring the flowers.Not what we should be doing.
We're supposed to build up one another with focusing on what is positive and good.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Ephesians 4:29
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Sorry to sound so preachy.
Thanks, Kristi! And you don't sound preachy at all. Loved your watering the weeks illustration so much and I'm going to add the Eph. 4:29 verse to my post because it's perfect! Thanks for commenting.... Blessings, Debra
I recently posted about Philippians 4:8 (think upon whatsoever is good) and I stay informed but don't overdo watching tv news, it is so graphic.
I love my FB friends, and I usually post upbeat quotes, cute photos, Scripture, etc. and I do mix in a bit about current events to wake people up. You do make good points here.
I've hidden many of my friends who are Christian because of the very the things you mention here.
Being a Christian should help not getting one's "knickers in a twist" because all this stuff is out of my control and in His.
I have never done face book. Juste something I haven't added to my time. I have though heard many others complain about all the Very personal things they are shocked others post and the rudeness etc. I have an older gentleman friend that has an account and he tries to council some youngsters he knows on there. Advising them to not post things employers will see or stuff they may regret saying later. He tries but they he is sad they don't seem to care. Negative is everywhere. Be different. All I know is that a smile is ever so easy to do and if you make a nice comment to someone while out and about and or smile at others it is amazing how relaxed and happy they seem. They come alive it looks like. It is not easy when you feel shy to do but once you do it it is contagious:) God will help you see who needs a kind word. Just follow. I have used Phil. 4:8 many times to figure out if my thinking or doing is in the right path. Like our parents taught us:, "If you cannot say something nice...don't say anything." Sarah
Terra--the Phil. 4:8 verses are ones I think of, also, while at Facebook and just everywhere in general. They're so important! And yes, sharing a variety of things is ok, it's just the folks who complain 90 percent of the time who concern me. :)
Kim--oh, I know. It seems I'm always hiding posts of certain friends and that's partly why I wrote this post. I'd rather not hide anyone who I care about! I do love to hear others' good experiences or read their prayer requests or see their fun photos, etc. Facebook can be such a rich source for sharing what matters in Life.
Sarah-- I was just using Facebook as an example, for it's not worse than any other way we all have of communicating. We are what we are and we take ourselves and our conversations with us wherever we go, whether it be online or at home or at parties, etc.
Even in Real Life I hear all this negative talk and at least at Facebook I can quietly, secretly hide it (which is much easier for me than to ask people face to face to please switch to a nicer subject). :)
I see Facebook as an incredible encouraging tool to do wonderful, good, uplifting things for each other! And that's how I and lots of my friends like to use it. Facebook is just one of many things which gets talked about negatively, but what should be noticed is, as I said, it's just people, themselves, who make it or break it. The problem is not Facebook--it's just a result of Life not being lived well. And that can happen absolutely anywhere so we need to be careful and judge things for ourselves. I'm so glad I've found the joy in Facebook for myself rather than let negative people or news stories talk me out of being there.
Thanks, Everyone! Blessings, Debra
Life is a journey...and people come to different places in their journey at different times. We must be patient and caring to those who perhaps have not come along quite yet...nothing says they won't at some later date. I love reading in Psalms and Proverbs...some I know try to read some in each, every single day. I have at times done this myself. I find the first chapter of Psalms to be so helpful, the first verses saying:
Psa.1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And the rest of that small chapter gives us such lovely hopes of the good things that follow if we do as instructed in the first 2 verses. Sometimes we humans cannot help others really...but GOD can and will in HIS timing. There are blogs I have quit reading because of content...and if I was on FB, likely I could not stay too long...because of those things you speak of here.
Enjoy the lovely sunshiny days, if you are also having them as we are!!
Elizabeth in VA
Elizabeth--true.... but God uses teachers to wake us up to what God's been trying to tell us inside our hearts. Sadly it's possible to reach 75 years old still acting in ways which hurt ourselves and others, still clueless as to what a love walk was all about.
God cannot and will not force us to become more like Him. Always, it's a choice we make--or don't make because we've chosen our own way. Happens all the time and I think it's possible to arrive in Heaven horrified because of what we refused to learn and do and see here on Earth. And it will matter what we did on Earth after becoming a Christian--I so believe that.
Facebook is a lovely place, actually. Oh, the prayer requests we share! And the photos of new precious babies and toddlers and families on vacation. And the inspiring quotes we share--they're everywhere, causing us to pause, to think, to see things in a brighter light.
We share funny cartoons and stories and Bible verses and sermon links and links to all sorts of wonderful places with more photos and more inspiration and good news. And how lovely to be in touch with people I lost track of decades ago--kind, thoughtful, sweet people and to share Life with them, again.
Facebook is amazing and I, for one, am richer for having been there. Blessings, Debra
On the subject of negativity..,I was really thinking of life in general...not just Facebook or any other medium. Seems negativity is everywhere if you let it...:) Sarah
Debra, I agree it does matter what we do while we sojourn here in this life. And it is true that some people never change. I have seen in my own life that the ONLY way people usually do change is because somehow GOD opens their eyes to truth, about themselves, about other things as well. I think too, some of us forget that others maybe have no one at home anymore, or maybe never have, to talk to, to bounce ideas and concerns off of...to share with...and sadly their perhaps only outlet is someplace online.
I am glad you find Facebook good in ways. I suppose one might be able to find good things in a majority of places. One has to balance however, the potential for hurts (why walk knowingly into some places?) with the potential good. It is not strangers nor most friends I would not want to "meet up with" on FB...it is kin...who have indeed posted hurtful things concerning my hubby and I...and if we were on there anyplace they could find us, it would not be less, it would be more. THAT plus that FB is known to be about the easiest place to get your computer hacked. MY hubby said no long ago, even before his kin began their "work"...if you want to call it that. Made our decision easy...and from what others have told me has happened to them...tis still the best choice for us.
I find it puzzling to see what is written about the negatives on FB...and still support using it...that I do not understand.
Elizabeth in VA
I too have friends who continually post on these subjects. I've grown so weary of them that I've blocked many from even posting...So now mostly my pages fill up with pages that post photos of flowers or silly cat photos with captions. At least they make me smile!
Ileana's bio was published in part in McCalls(?possibly, perhaps Ladies Home Journal) in the 1950's I think. I have the magazine issue and I thought it a fascinating story. So much so that I looked it up online last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's worth reading I think.
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