Everything an opportunity to use

How many friends do you have? No, I am not talking about how many people you know or associate with personally, I'm talking about something different... Facebook. In today's online world and culture, we have many "friends", most of which we have never met, or if we have, will never meet again.

But, there they are, sitting in our friends list, reading our boring posts day in and day out, just... sitting there.

So, what if we started thinking of systems like Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms as something that could be used to communicate truth to people? Think about it, your Facebook says more about you then you know.

For example, we can claim to be a strong christian and say many other different things that we are, but people are going to look at our actions and what we do. If I say that I am a christian to someone face to face, then post something lewd to Facebook, or start ranting and cussing on Facebook, what message does that say to people who know us personally and also know what we "say" we stand for?

You can say that this is not true all you want, but statistically, people have a tendency to be more open and honest where there is more perceived anonymity, ergo Facebook and other internet related platforms.

So to end this, realize that everything that you say and do on Facebook or other social media is being reviewed and judged by the people who read it. We all need to recognize that Facebook is an opportunity that can be used to share truths about the Gospel and to reach people. People analyze all that we do- all that we want them to and all that we don't want them to.

God Bless,

The Street Preacher

Update from TheStreetPreacher

God is so good! The last year has been hard to say the least! Undoubtedly, God has been sharpening my character and preparing me for the things to come. As I sit here writing this update in class (Shh! You know that you have done other scandalous things like this as well... So don't judge), I realize that I am on the cusp of a new time in my life. For starters, I get my own apartment for the first time in my life, which is exciting. I am going to be graduating this fall. I still have not managed to figure out the girl friend thing yet, but I am sure that there is still plenty of time for that.

However, what I have realized is that in 4 months when I graduate, I have no idea where or what I am going to be doing. For the first time in my life I have no idea what I am going to be doing! This is a shocker for me. For those of you that know me (and also for those of you that don't), I am a planner type of guy. Not that I don't mind "flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" and live on the edge every now and again, which I actually enjoy quite a bit. But back to my previous point, I in general really like to plan and I really like to avoid uncertainty if possible when it comes to major life decisions.

I. Am. Feeling. Slightly. Stressed.

But in all of the stress and "fun" stuff going on, I have realized that there is a key thing in life that I need to remember at all times: God is in control of my life (I know that I am the only Follower of Christ that has had to remember this, so forgive me). Many of the times, actually all of the times, that I have forgotten this have been the times that I have been stressed out, easily angered or tempted with sin. In these times where I have forgotten the God of my salvation, my spiritual strength has been zilch. Zip. Nada. I simply cannot function as a Christian apart from God. He is my light, strength, my everything. Only in His strength and with His armor am I able to stand against Satan.

An applicable verse that comes to mind is Psalm 46:10, which basically says "Be still and know that I am God..."

First off: Let me just say that for the record, being able to be still does not come easily... at least for me. I am always wrapped up doing college work, church work, or "work"work. It is really easy for me to put my relationship with God on the back burner, too easy and quick to say "I will have to talk to you later God".

However, there are times in life that when I am "too busy", I am "too busy". No matter how I try to work or adapt, there are only 24 hours in the day, only 1440 minutes to spend. I have to remember that when I kill time, it has no resurrection. If I am too busy, I have to MAKE time. That does not involve creating or somehow getting an extra hour of time. Actually, what making time means is that I look at my schedule and all my activities, get a proverbial "magic marker", and I find an activity or object that I am going to stop doing. I have to make it a point to stop at sometime in my day and simply rest in God and in His grace. Unless I stop and recognize His supremacy in ALL areas and aspects, I am not going to be spiritually attentive and spiritually complete in Christ.

Another verse that I also should remind myself about is Jeremiah 29:11 - "I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come."

Many times in life I forget that God has promised to do all for my good and to take care of me, to insure that I don't miss what He wills for my life (as long as I am following after Him and seeking His will). God has made plans for me, that I should prosper and that they will not harm me, and that they will give me a hope. This should make me do anything but stress, knowing that God will take care of all that I am going to encounter and have to deal with. Sometimes I get the feeling that God wants to just look at me and say "Dude, relax!" (And yes, I can imagine my Father talking like that).

So to everyone that is out there dealing with stress of classes, work, or life, remember that if your have a Father in Heaven and you have a savior in Jesus Christ, God is watching out for you and He is going to take care of you. He is closer then you can imagine and some of you He wants to hold if you will just stop for a second and let Him.

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with you all....

In Christ,

The Street Preacher