Letting the Whole World Know

We are seizing so many opportunities to share good news via technology. We sure need that good news! Facebook and FB Live, YouTube videos, teleconferencing, Instagram and other forms of communicating hope-filled messaging. Before the internet and social media, many of us Jesus followers were quite reclusive. Our faith stayed at home. Jesus “talk” was easy there. We’d pray around the dinner table or at bedtime for typical family needs. It was faith between us four and no more.

But, HELLO, 2020! Who would have thought, way back when, that we would, one day, be visually interacting with people around the world without leaving the comfort of our homes? We are seizing these opportunities to live our faith outloud online before countless numbers of people. Not to mention, when all doors closed for worship in our churches, that we could worship with our churches online. We are sharing great faith videos and images that encourage and build up each other. We've realized that we ARE the church to our world.

We have become evangelists and have been unleashed to spread the good news from behind a computer or a cell phone. I see you. You know who you are. You are the ones who share scriptures, prayers, quotes and videos bearing faith-filled and hope-filled messages.

When Jesus said in John 14:12, “And greater works than these (the works that He performed) will you do….”, He was foretelling about what we could accomplish. It is time for us to raise our voices even louder. As children of God, we are family! It’s time to keep putting faith-building, fear-destroying words out there. We never know whose life we might impact because of something we posted on social media. There is so much power in our words. When we change our words from complaining, whining, blaming or criticizing to faith-filled, encouraging, loving and caring words, we change our world.

Let’s be billboards that make God famous. We are missionaries because we are on a mission. We have been sent. We were sent the second the first spark of life flickered in our mother’s womb and now to wherever we are today and to whoever crosses our paths – via the street or the internet!

When we read Jesus words in Mark 16:15 to "Go into all the world and preach the good news", little did we realize we could do it right from the comfort of our homes. So, let's preach that good news today! So many need to hear it!

I'd Rather Be Remembered for Standing Out Than Forgotten for Blending In

Yesterday morning I saw a Harley Davidson billboard that said, "Why fit in when you can stand out?" -- of course meaning that we would stand out if we drove a Harley. Indeed, that would definitely cause me to STAND-OUT! LOL! And that prompted me to post about the great STAND message I heard Sunday by Pastor Craig Groeschel. We all have that option of just blending in with the crowd and listen to, talk about, act like and participate in the things that the "crowd" does. When we're pushed to the limits in our faith, our values, and our beliefs, do we have the courage to take a STAND? If we're STAND-OUTERS, we can't live a life of passivity. We have to make life decisions based on our determination to never compromise our values, and our relationship with God. I loved this quote, "I'd rather be remembered for standing out than forgotten for blending in."

I want to be a difference maker that rises above the noise. I want to STAND OUT when others complain -- I want to steer them to their blessings. When others worry, I'll STAND OUT by giving my worries and cares to God. When others laugh at an off-colored joke, I'm going to STAND OUT by not laughing or walking away. I will FORGIVE in spite of who wronged me or spoke evil against me. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the Bible stood out in total abandonment to their God -- not compromising their belief and trust in Him. I want to be remembered for STANDING OUT, too!!! How about you?