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Home Archive for July 2015
Both technology and a sense of entitlement are a dangerous middle man for our communication with friends and acquaintances about sensitive topics.

Dangerous water for a blogger here.

Yet I will stick out my neck and preach to myself, too, because this has weighed so heavy on my heart.

What are some sensitive topics in the media of late? Transgender individuals? Homosexual relationships? Racism? Abortion?

We all have opinions and beliefs about these things, and these aren't usually topics on which we ride the fence. They're hard-hitting, often close to home, and our beliefs regarding them come from deep within our souls and even life experiences.

For Christians, these topics are tied directly to Scripture and what God says about sin and creation and abundant life.

For Christians, these topics are wide-open opportunities to share the light, life, and love of Christ through meaningful dialogue with people who have questions.

Yet we seem to, in our distress and concern and very real emotions, use these topics as a soap box, as a door to shout and point fingers and call names.

Some of us even call our President names and disrespect him up and down the street because we may disagree with some of his principles and decisions.

But the very Word of God tells us to "honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). You know who was the emperor at the time Peter wrote this? Nero! This monarch set Christians on fire! What's to honor there?

And when did Facebook become an avenue to shame those who don't share our opinions and beliefs? It breaks my heart when I see such marked, heated, disrespectful posts on this online platform. It breaks my heart because I've done it before, and it breaks my heart because this is not the arena for such discussions.

Perhaps this is part of the reason why people say they like Jesus but not the church?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust...

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:9-23

Please, let us be that royal priesthood that proclaims Christ instead of representing Him with dissension and conflict. I am not saying we should stay out of politics because I think Christians have a very real and important place in our government (see Daniel). But our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and that must take precedence over our earthly citizenship.

Praise God for freedom of religion in the USA. Let us use our freedom well as we draw people to the awesome Gospel of Jesus Christ - the truth of the Gospel, but also the grace of it.

We have to be so careful how we represent our Lord on social media. It can be a great tool but also a great detriment. Difficult, sensitive conversations are best in person because that is how God created communication - face-to-face. I'm sure we can use Facebook and Twitter to stand up for truth on these topics, and we should, but we have to be ever so careful.

Let's not be an arrogant stench that makes the Gospel smell like garbage.

Instead, let's be that sweet aroma (2 Cor. 2:14) that intoxicates our searching world with the beauty of Christ.
the godly, gifted women (and man) of the Speak Up Q&A panel


Hello again. It's been a while.

I've spent time worshiping the idol of entertainment instead of worshiping God through the hard work of writing.

I've become defeated by self-doubt because of my age and lack of life experience and how easy it was for me to quit my job so I could write.

So God met me where I was last weekend. I didn't want to go to the conference: Speak Up with Confidence! Who am I to speak up? I don't have a hard story. I'm not an encouraging, caring person. And with confidence? Ha! I'm so young. No one will listen to me. I'm doing it all to boost my ego anyway. Because I like to be in the spotlight. Because I honestly enjoy speaking and writing for crowds. I shouldn't enjoy this. This should be hard.

There was the question of what I should tell people I do. Do I call myself a writer when I haven't posted on my blog for three months? Do I call myself a speaker when the last speech I gave was in college over three years ago? Do I call myself a musician when I don't perform, haven't been practicing, and won't begin teaching for several months?

I pulled into the Prince Conference Center and parked my car Thursday afternoon, knowing that I hadn't prepared well and my heart wasn't in it. I opened my Bible to Jeremiah 1, something a mentor at church pointed me to last summer when I met with her about discovering my spiritual gifts. Last Thursday I wasn't feeling spiritual and I didn't feel gifted. I felt worthless.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10

That first day I went in, gave my speeches, attended my breakout sessions, and left for home.

On the way home I stopped at Meijer for the sole purpose of purchasing a chocolate bar - a real, dark chocolate, I-need-me-some-magnesium-and-happiness kind of chocolate bar. In the checkout lane, I ran into one of my husband's good friends, Brian, and confessed my chocolatey sin.

"You came here just for chocolate?" he asked, innocently. He's not married and hasn't lived with his sister and mother for years, so he's probably forgotten this element of the female life.

"Yes. It's been a long day, and chocolate makes me happy."

He got that look on his face like he was cracking up internally but didn't want to encourage my unhealthy behavior externally.

When I got home, I broke it to Randell this way:

"Honey, I love you so much, and I'm so thankful for what a kind, patient, and loving husband you are. So I decided to celebrate by... buying myself a chocolate bar!" Yes, it was that kind of day. And I couldn't fall asleep until 1am because of 500 calories of 70% cacao caffeine goodness.

Back to the conference. Friday morning I was barely awake but resisted the temptation to buy coffee so I wouldn't pass out during my speech. I didn't need the caffeine, either, because God woke me up.

God spoke to me so many times through so many people on Friday and Saturday. It was beyond what I could have asked for or imagined. Beyond any of my expectations. Beyond myself.

He spoke to me through Cindy Bultema, who taught, "In Christ, you are enough for this ministry."

He spoke to me through my small group facilitator, Kathe Wunenberg, who told me the world needed me, as a young woman, to share Christ.

He spoke to me through Jen Ferguson, who said God gives you your name and gifts for a reason, and it's not prideful to use them to point others to Christ.

I didn't even mention Karen Porter, Carol Kent, Elizabeth Murphy, Robyn Dykstra, and the loads of other beautiful speakers and attendees I interacted with last weekend. The conference was a gift from God to me - time away from the distractions and temptations of ordinary life to hear the truth.

The fact is, I'm not comfortable counseling or comforting hurting people because I just simply don't know how to do it.

The truth is, God reminded me that I care about hurting people, and that is enough for Him to use me.

The fact is, I feel really awkward sometimes trying to make conversation.

The truth is, God knows I want to help others feel loved and accepted.

The fact is, I'm not brimming with life experience and wisdom to offer a hurting world.

The truth is, God is the answer, and I can point others to Him.

Here I am, Lord, on my knees, willing to speak up. You are hope for the world, and You are my confidence.
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