abandoned to Christ.

Ah, Facebook, our beloved friend and greatest foe. What are we, as Christians to do with Facebook? Whose face do we choose to display—ours, or Christ's? Whose life is magnified on our personal timeline and news feeds? What do we mostly share and who have we chosen to surround ourselves with by accepting or making friend requests?

Are we enticed by the world and encumbered with its dealings (politics, our jobs, our personal rights, physical health, and beauty)? Are these worldly entanglements the prevalent "face" that everyone sees?

I'm not suggesting that sharing pictures of us, our families, and the life God has given us is a bad thing. And I'm not suggesting we never share anything about politics, our jobs, religions freedoms, or healthy lifestyles. What I'm doing is questioning: Is it the things of God or the things of this world that mostly populate our personal timeline as well as our news feed where we're greatly influenced (whether we like it or not) by what we see, hear, and read?

We're commanded and strongly warned in Scripture to choose our company wisely (1 Cor 15:33). Nowadays, our "company" not only includes people we physically invite into our homes, but also the company we virtually invite into our homes via the all-too-easily-accessible internet, our televisions and even our "smart" phones, that often contributes to our dumbness and numbness to reality (this is another topic for another day).

Depending on how we start our day (we either give our first to the Lord or to ourselves), and how we choose to spend our time, drastically effects whose face we end up displaying on Facebook—Christ's, or ours.

"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

~2 Corinthians 4:5-6 (ESV)

We can choose to begin our day with Jesus Christ, or we can choose to begin our with social media so we can have our egos fed and agendas pushed forward. We can choose to open up the Word of God, consume a heavenly feast from our Lord, concluding, we've tasted and seen that the Lord is indeed good. Then, we can choose to remain seated and be still so we can meditate on the sumptuous meal from the Bread from Heaven—the Word of God. Or we can begin our days with God's Word, but rather than remaining still before the Lord, allowing our spiritual food to settle and strengthen us, we can quickly pop up, check it off our "religious duty" list and walk away unchanged.

Some of the choices I make to get my heart, mind, and spirit united with God's Word is through singing hymns, reading the Scripture associated with it, and listening to good sermons by faithful preachers and teachers of the Word, like the one below with Alistair Begg (Truth For Life).

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." ~2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV (emphasis mine)

Isn't it amazing that God had this passage written more than 2,000 years ago, but it perfectly describes our world today...especially on Facebook?

No matter how hard we try to display a positive, I-have-it-altogether-don't-you-wish-you-were-me posts and pictures on Facebook, we'll always miss the mark. We may be able to fool ourselves and our "friends" on Facebook by our well-edited and Photoshopped lives we choose to display, but we'll never fool God. No matter how many commendations we receive from others through "likes" on our posts, we will never achieve the acceptance of a holy God without being washed clean by the blood of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

Therefore, we, as Christians should live every day as if we know that our lives are short, they are not our own and we owe all our love, adoration and magnification to Christ alone. This not only includes how we live at home, at work, at school, church or at play, but it includes how we behave in our "online" world bolstered by Facebook.

Here's something to consider: How long would an unbeliever have to go down your timeline to know you're more than just another religious person? How long will they have to go down your timeline to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How long will they have to go down your timeline to see that your life is different from theirs because you love what God loves and hate what God hates? Will it be minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or sadly...years before they can distinctly see the holy life of Christ shine through you?

Next time, before you post something on Facebook, ask yourself, "Whose face, whose life, do I inherently want to share and display for all to see, mine, or Christ's?

There's so much in this life to be fearful of: loving someone, because they may not love you back; rejection from family, friends, co-workers and even other Christians; public humiliation; being ignored, forgotten and used.

I don't want to be afraid of what others think of me, will do to me, or not do to me (Gal 1:10).

I don't want to be afraid of never being physically healed. I don't want to be afraid that my doctors may not always know exactly the right thing to do (Prov 2:6).

I don't want to be afraid of giving up on ministry opportunities or public services because of my faith and abandon to Christ and His Word. I don't want to be afraid of that phone call, text or email where someone tells me that I'm too narrow-minded of a Christian for their feel-good, man-centered ministry (Gal 2:20).

I don't want to be afraid of speaking the truth in love, just because it's not the truth someone wants to hear (Prov 27:5-6).

"I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"

~Luke 12:4-5 (ESV)

The only fear I want to have is for the Lord God Almighty. Not afraid to be near Him, but have a holy and awesome fear of Him—knowing who He is, what He can and has every right to do to me; yet He withholds evil and only gives me good, because of Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life."

~Romans 5:1, 10 (ESV)

Fear of God is the only healthy fear. All other fears are crippling. But the fear of God causes us to be humbled by His mercy and grace, while strengthening us to rejoice in His exceeding kindness toward us who are in Christ Jesus.

The fear of God is sobering and brings any human being into right relationship with Him as we see Him as He is, and not as we would like Him to be (e.g., warm, fuzzy, feel-good, not-very-holy deity).

I want to let go of all my fears that inhibit me from fully living in the freedom Christ died to give me. I want to live in God's perfect love that casts out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment (1 Jn 4:18). And since I am in a right relationship with God; forgiven and free, why should I fear what man might do or take away from me? I shouldn't.

Therefore I resolve to:

Love without looking to be loved in return;
Kindly and thoughtfully receive others even if they choose to reject me;
Be willing to be publicly humiliated, ignored, forgotten and used all for the sake of Christ my Lord who suffered greater than I ever have or will, in all these things;
Meditate on the Lord, His Word and His precepts rather than be consumed with what others may be thinking of me (for good or for ill);
Trust the Lord with my physical health and the wisdom He chooses to give or not to give my doctors in His perfect timing, even if I never understand it or see it on this side of Heaven;
Trust the Lord with where and how I am to serve rather than having my heart set on serving in ministries and in a manner I most desire;
Speak God's truth, in accordance with His Word, in His love—no matter what.

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name. They shall be Mine says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up My treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

~Hosea 3:16-18 (ESV)

Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

I remember.

Do you?

I remember where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing.

I just returned home from dropping my two precious sons off at their elementary school. When I walked in the door, I could hear the television on, with a newscaster's voice detailing a terrible accident in New York City, New York. My husband was sitting quietly on the couch, watching and listening intently as one of the Twin Towers was burning because an airplane had crashed into it.

It seemed surreal.

I stood there confused, "How can an airplane accidentally hit a building?" Just as I was thinking this, 18 minutes after the first plane crashed into the North Tower, I see another plane crash right into the South Tower.

This was no accident.

I wept and dropped to my knees and began praying. I prayed, wept, and watched. I listened intently to the newscasters and my heart broke for all those innocent people in the airplane, in the buildings, and for their families.

But it wasn't over.

At 9:45 a.m. another airplane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Just before 10:00 a.m. the South Tower of the World Trade Center came crashing down. Then approximately 30 minutes later, the North Tower fell. It was unbelievable and terrifying. There was fire, smoke, people jumping out of buildings—screaming and chaos everywhere. The whitish-tan plume of debris chased the people on the streets and covered everyone and everything in its path, with ashes.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed from the terrorists' attack on the World Trade Center Towers—125 were killed from the attack on the Pentagon—45 people were killed from the hijacking of United Flight 93. Due to some truly brave souls, this plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania because unlike the cowardly terrorists, the passengers on Flight 93, sought to save lives not take ruthlessly take them.

No righteous, no good, no courageous person takes innocent people hostage and forces them to play a cruel part in a maleficent errand. No soldier takes the lives of unarmed civilians.

The world is a mess.

That's really the simplest and most accurate way to put it. With such wicked terror groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); Christian beatings, imprisonments, and killings in many parts of the world; and the beginnings of Christian persecutions in our country with the increased sympathy for immoral living—the world is truly a mess.

But thankfully, there is God.

God is sovereign.

God is good.

And thankfully, He doesn't govern His creation by the crooked and fickle standards of this world. No. Thankfully, God governs our world by His righteous, just, and wise standards. He governs every creature in accordance with His good and perfect will. And He governs, protects, disciplines, and sanctifies His children, by the power of His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Therefore, we dread not the mess of this world, but we rejoice in the sovereignty of God.

Without the Gospel of Peace—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the only Name in which anyone can be saved—without knowing God and being known by Him, there is no true hope, peace nor joy for anyone.

None of us are guaranteed our next breath. None of us knows our last day.

Only God knows.

This world could and would be a scary and lonely place to live in if not for the sovereignty, the kindness, mercy, and compassion of God. If it weren't for the Almighty's restraint on the evil of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 there would've been more casualties and more heartaches. And if not for God's restraint on evil more than 2,000 years ago, by sending His one and only Son to earth, to live a sinless life, die the cruelest death and resurrect, ascending in power and glory, there would be no hope of Heaven for anyone. There would be only pain, sorrow, and horror upon horror.

But because of God's great kindness and mercy, He didn't allow the evil of 9/11 to prevail. And He didn't allow the evil and captivity of sin to prevail either. Rather, in God's mercy and grace, He placed the punishment of our sins upon His Son and offered to His enemies (that would be all of us) the gift of eternal life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.

On 9/11 and more than 2,000 years ago, the Lord of hosts provided tangible comfort to despondent souls and aid to the needy and peace to the frightened.

As we remember what happened 13 years ago today, let us also remember what happened more than 2,000 years ago. Let us never forget how frail our lives are, and how gracious, powerful, and good God is—that He would send His one and only Son to die for us, so we can live for and with Him, now and forevermore.

I remember the terror and devastation of 9/11. But more so, I remember God, and the hope and life found only in Jesus Christ the Lord.

There are many (too many) days I have trouble just opening the Word and getting my day started with Praise and Quiet Time in the Lord. I know this isn't a popular thing to share, but it's an honest thing to share about my spiritual walk...or sometimes, lack thereof. Though I could keep this weakness of mine hush hush and only share my accomplishments, my highs and all my joys I have in Christ, I can't do that because it would be disingenuous.

When I remember I'll never be the wisest, kindest or most Christ-like person on this side of Heaven, I am both relieved and spurred on toward holiness (2 Cor 7:1, Eph 4:24, Heb 12:14). This may sound a bit strange—to feel relieved and encouraged by what makes me weak; but in Christ, these seemingly diametric concepts are actually harmonious.

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

~2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV (emphasis, mine)

So as not to misunderstand what our Lord Jesus means that we are made "perfect" in verse nine, let me digress for a moment. The Greek phrase used for "is made perfect" in this verse is, τελέω (transliterated, teleō); which means, to bring to an end, complete, fulfill. The verb τελέω is in the present, passive, indicative. This means "is made perfect" is spoken in the present tense (occurring now), in the passive voice (the Apostle Paul is the recipient and not the doer of the action) and in the indicative mood (Jesus Christ, who is speaking, is making a definitive statement).

Therefore, it's clear that Christ is neither telling the Apostle Paul nor any of us that we will, or can ever be "perfect" (without any sin or flaw) on this side of Heaven. There is only one Person who has ever and can ever live a sinless life, and that is the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now that we have the biblically accurate understanding of what Jesus was telling the Apostle Paul about being made perfect, let me clarify a second aspect of this passage. Jesus' power is made perfect, that is complete, fulfilled and most evident in us when we are weak. That doesn't mean that we supposed to go around parading our troubles or wallowing in our weaknesses so the power of Christ will be perfected in us. It means that when we humbly and truthfully recognize our limitations, whether physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually, then yield to the Lord and cry out for His help, we can more clearly witness the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to accomplish whatever God has called us to (Phil 2:13, 1 Cor 2:4-5).

"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

~Jesus the Christ (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV)

So on those many days, sometimes weeks and sometimes months I have a hard time just opening my Bible, I remember that God is fully aware of this weakness in me (Ps 103:13-14). And I rejoice in the supernatural help from Christ, who was tempted in every way to sin, yet was without sin (Heb 4:15-16).

When I admit my weaknesses before God and humbly seek His help, He immediately answers as He always does (Mt 20:34, Ps 65:5) and He helps me to remember how to worship, and why I so desperately need to commune with Him through reading, meditating and studying His Word.

It's in these moments, I remember why I've always called my time with the Lord, "Praise and Quiet Time"—because I always start with a song of praise, which moves me to open my Bible, and beckons me to bask in the quietness of communion with Him through "sitting at Jesus' feet" and listening intently to every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Personally, I've found hymns are the best help for me because all hymns are either based on Scripture, or references Scripture. After I have my time of worshiping the Lord in song, I read the Scripture associated with the hymn, then read the entire chapter that particular verse is found in. The next thing I know, I'm in full blown worship; sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, in awesome wonder of how every one of His words illuminates my mind and soul.

"Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak"

"Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Your tone;
as You have sought, so let me seek Your erring children lost and lone.

"O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things You do impart;
and wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart.

"O fill me with Your fullness, Lord, until my very heart o'er-flow
in kindling thought an glowing word Your love to tell, Your praise to show.

"O use me, Lord, use even me, just as You will and when and where;
until Your blessed face I see, Your rest, Your joy, Your glory share."

~Hymn by Frances R. Havergal, 1872

(published in the Trinity Hymnal)

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