Instagram and #hashtags

I have had an Instagram account for a couple of years. I really like Instagram and find it can be very encouraging and a great way to keep connected. However, I have a few “younger” friends that I follow and to be perfectly honest, I am worried. Many of these young ladies are posting pictures that often surprise me. I am not sure if they are really doing what they are posting or if they are just trying to be hip, cool or popular, but as Christians, they should really take this verse to heart…

 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  ~ Romans 12:2

One of the “fun” things about using Instagram is using #hastags. You see that when you put up a #hashtag you are linking it to other posts that have the same #hashtag. But, ladies you need to be very careful! I often check the #hashtags some of my younger friends post and have often been shocked at what they are linked to. If I see something that concerns me, I will make contact with these young ladies privately and ask them it they were aware of what they were linked to. Many times they are shocked and embarrassed as to what they see when they click on the #hastags!

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Use this verse as a guide. Unfortunately, many times I do not see things posted on Instagram accounts that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely (from God’s perspective, not the worlds) of good report, of any virtue, or praiseworthy. These are the things we should be meditating on…and posting on social media! Is what you are posting proclaiming  your faith to the world? Are you using this opportunity to advance the Gospel or are you conforming to the world?

Ladies, please be careful. Don’t get caught up in the trends of the day only to find out you are literally linking yourself to things that are of the world. We are to be different!

 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light ~ 1 Peter 2:9

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The Joy in the Journey

Monday Inspiration

Something to remember all year long!

How Beautiful

Happy Sunday!

The Covenant of Marriage

Sunrise at Mount LeConte (1985),
We hiked 5 1/2 miles up to the lodge on our honeymoon...
the beginning of our adventure together!

My family has had the privilege of attending three weddings this month. Each one was a reflection of the bride and groom and their families. At one of the weddings, the pastor challenged us all to remember our own wedding vows. I have thought about this a lot in the past few weeks. Rob and I have been married for 30 years and yet at times it  seems like yesterday we were planning our own wedding.

 On our wedding day we promised...

to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."

This is serious stuff. To be honest at the tender ages of 21 and 24, I am not sure we understood exactly what was ahead of us. Over the past 30 years, we have experienced pretty much all of those promises. I can not even begin to imagine how we could do this without our faith in God. Marriage is a covenant, something to be taken so seriously.

  And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 

Matthew 19:4-6

 Marriage is so much more than just planning an event, it is a lifelong commitment! I am so grateful for my husband and for this journey we have taken together and I look forward to seeing where the Lord leads us in the future.

Seeking the True Treasure

My son Andrew loves to go geocaching. It seems like every time we get ready to go anywhere, he has the coordinates loaded on his handheld GPS and is ready to look for "treasure". We have stopped at rest stops along the highway, in large cities, on dirt roads, in parks and on hiking trails. Once we actually found one by accident out in the middle of nowhere in Nevada!

The front of the tract Andrew
 leaves in caches.

Andrew decided that geocaching is a great way to witness his faith to others. He leaves a tract that he has made in all of the "caches" he finds as well as the ones he hides. I love that he has found such a creative way to way to share the gospel.

Here is what he puts inside each cache...

…Well, there is! Seeking the True Treasure, Jesus Christ, is more rewarding than any caching hunt. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

If you died tonight, where would you be tomorrow? Would you go to Heaven? The Bible teaches that “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) This means that you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, because the wrong things you have done separate you from God, and eternal life. However, because God loves each and every person on Earth, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place, and take the punishment we deserve: death. He died a cruel and horrible death on a cross so that we could be with God for Eternity! All you must do is believe that Jesus did this for you, and then receive his free gift of Salvation. Your good works won’t save you, as it says in Romans 9:11c, “…, not because of works but because of him who calls.” If you are ready to receive God’s free gift of salvation, pray something like this: 

“Dear God, I know that you sent your Son to die in my place. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Please save me, and help me to live for You. In your Son’s name, amen.”
If you just prayed that prayer, I would encourage you to read the book of John in the Bible, and find a Bible-believing church to attend. Also, if you have any questions, please contact: 1 (888) NEED-HIM

For more encouragement, Andrew recommends the book 

Will Our Generation Speak by Grace Mally

He is Risen!

       
 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

~ Matthew 28:6-7 ~

Do I Trust You Lord?

Today I said goodbye to my friend. It was such an honor to be at the celebration of her life. She was an incredible example of the love of Christ to everyone she met. She was only 36 years old and left behind a husband, son and a family that loved her so much. It was so hard to say goodbye. As I ponder the events of today, the words of the song Do I Trust You Lord  by Twila Paris are a great comfort to me. I know that I must trust the Lord in all things, even when I do not understand. I know that Holly is with the Lord now, and the legacy she left behind will last forever!

Sometimes my little heart can't understand
What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.
So many times I'm tempted to ask You why,
But I can never forget it for long.
Lord, what You do could not be wrong.
So I believe You, even when I must cry.

Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the river flow?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the north wind blow?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all.
But suddenly now, I feel so small.
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.
I know the doctrine and theology,
But right now they don't mean much to me.
This time there's only one thing I've got to know.

Do I trust You, Lord?
Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord?
Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart,
You can read my mind,
And You got to know
That I would rather die
Than to lose my faith
In the One I love.
Do I trust You, Lord?
Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die.
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain!
You were God before, and You'll never change.
I will trust You.
I will trust You.
I will trust You, Lord.
I will trust You.

Will Our Generation Speak?

Will Our Generation Speak? A Call to be Bold with the Gospel is a challenge for young people (and the not so young) to be a witness for Jesus Christ where ever we go. The author is 23 year old Grace Mally. My 14 year old son, Andrew, highly recommends this book and believes every Christian should read it!

Here is the description from the Tomorrow's Forefathers website.

"An invigorating challenge interwoven with real life experiences, honest reflection, humorous cartoons, and practical ideas for witnessing. From a young person to other young people, this book addresses the fears we face and excuses we make, while providing vision for being strong for the Lord in the years of one’s youth! It contains practical ideas of how to begin conversations, how to ask the right questions, defend the gospel, and walk closely with the Lord ourselves."

No Stones to Throw

I have been pondering this verse a lot lately..


"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." (Romans 2:1)
I wonder if we really understand these words. Sometimes we are often so quick to pass judgement on others. We hold ourselves in such high esteem that we forget that we will be judged as we judge. How many times do we size up someone who looks different than we do or maybe doesn't agree with our viewpoint and pass judgement on them? I know I have done this, and it is wrong!

I am so grateful for the Savior who has died for me! I do not want to take what he has done for granted or grieve him by judging others.
Our best witness to the love and truth of Jesus is the "fruit" of our lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
So when I consider this verse...
"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (John 8:7)
I realize... I should have no stones to throw!