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ANG EL IC M AGAZINE IS A 50 1 ( C) 3 NO N-PRO FIT O RGANIZATIO N. O UR M IS S IO N IS TO UTIL IZE CREATIV E EX PRES S IO N TO S PREAD FAITH AND D O THE W IL L O F JES US ARO UND THE WO RL D .
r e t t e L r o t i d E December My birthday is the month and 2020 is on the horizon. This is an amazing time to be alive. I'm a bit of a history nerd and my mindseye fantasizes what it would've been like to live in the roaring 1920s of early hollywood, flappers and bootleggers, our ancestors voyaging across the Atlantic with the hopes of finding the American dream. And 100 years later we are the product of our ancestors hopes and dreams. This Christmas, embrace all of it. The songs and the food, the trees and the church services. We have 25 days from the time I am writing this till we wait until next year for these special times in our life. Embrace each day of this month. Next year we are one year older and one year removed from who we once were to who we've become. I hope you are encouraged to know that God has given us a life to live with hope in Him. So, don't be discouraged this holiday Christmas season. Financially, health wise, worry wise, whatever it may be, it is not greater than our God. Merry Christmas to you. God is always for you. He sees you. He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. All is merry and bright if we're willing to let go of the darkness and step into His light. Walk by faith to Him this Christmas. See you next year.
jesse anaya
y o J Â l e h Rac
T E S T I M O N Y F E A T U R E : S C O T T S D A L E ,
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ANGELICtestimony
RACHEL JOY
"DISHEARTENED, DISAPPOINTED, AND DISCOURAGED WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT OF HOW I FELT EARLIER THIS YEAR. MY HEART GRIEVED FOR THE DREAMS I FELT SLIPPING AWAY FROM ME."
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hat do you do when you feel stuck in life? When your current reality doesn’t match the blueprint you had for your life? When nothing seems to be changing except time is slipping away? You pray. The life I was living definitely did not match the life I had envisioned I’d be living at 34 years young. Disheartened, disappointed, and discouraged was an understatement of how I felt earlier this year. My heart grieved for the dreams I felt slipping away from me. So I did what I knew to do in times like these — I prayed. It’s been from my deepest struggles throughout the years that I learned how to communicate with Him — how to listen and to distinguish His voice from my own. Like the time I had a nudge that my Mom’s time on Earth was limited. I immediately called her and booked a ticket for her to come visit me in Arizona. Deep down, I had a feeling this might be the last time I would see her. The third week of her visit, she got violently ill. Her metastasized cancer had caused a small bowel obstruction. Her only chance of survival was surgery. Yet her body was so weak from the cancer that she would never recover from it. As I sat with my mother in her hospital room, I watched her come to terms with her life. She wasn’t ready to go. She still had a head full of brilliant ideas and a heart full of dreams. How could time be up? She was only 60 years young!
As I witnessed her reconciling her life, I saw the lies that had haunted her years so clearly. Fear had kept her small, timidity had kept her silent, and self doubt kept her stuck. I received the greatest gift from my mother through her passing the gift of perspective. I clung to 2 Timothy 2:7 which says, “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit gives you mighty power, love and selfcontrol.” So I went into action — I redefined my relationship with fear. All that God has for us, won’t be found within our comfort zones. So I actively did things that pushed me outside of it. Things that scared me. Things I thought I wasn’t good at. Things that intimidated me. I gave myself permission to explore and get messy. This began my journey of unbecoming all that wasn’t me… limiting beliefs I had picked up along the way, family conditioning, fear based lies about who I was or wasn’t in Christ. Over the next few years, I would get to know the Grace and Goodness of God in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve always considered my birthday to be my true New Year. After my mother’s passing, I felt the call to disconnect in order to reconnect. I knew my Birthday/New Year was the perfect time for a personal retreat with God… a Divine celebration! It took some getting used to but I have come to rely and live for this time away alone with God. No phones, no distractions, no social media. Just earnestly seeking the Lord. When I first started doing this, my friends and family were concerned. “Why would you
"I FELT OUT OF CONTROL. I BECAME FEARFUL OF LOSING WHAT I HAD GAINED. I WAS STRUGGLING WITH SELF DOUBT, AND WAS HELD CAPTIVE BY ANALYSIS PARALYSIS. I FELT SO UNQUALIFIED TO DO WHAT HE WAS CALLING ME TO DO NEXT. I DIDN’T TRUST MYSELF ANYMORE." go and celebrate your birthday alone? Is everything ok?” they would ask. As I neared my 30th birthday I knew this particular year was different — l had an entire decade to review. When I woke up that morning in snowy Sedona, four years after my mother’s passing — I was shocked with what I found. I hadn’t made much progress on my dreams, desires, and goals at all. They all still lived undone in my heart or mind. I was shocked — I felt deceived. Timidity, selfdoubt, and fear were still at work and holding me back! Taking the pain and regret of this to the Lord I asked for a way to better ensure I didn’t miss a thing He had for me. That’s when I deepened my reflection and planning process. Refining how I check in every year, reflect, dream big, and plan my next steps. Shortly after this, new doors began flying open. I was offered a major promotion one I didn’t feel ready for at the time. Yet it was that leap of faith, knowing that if God opened the door, He would equip me for it. And did He! In the following years, I would come to quadruple my income, invest in and cofound a food company, manage a business of over $8 million dollars for a Fortune 500 company as a top sales manager, winning numerous awards, accolades and was flown all over the world on the company dime. It was supposed to be a fun and wonderful time, right?! Yet I felt out of control. I became fearful of losing what I had gained. I was struggling with self doubt, and was held captive by analysis paralysis. I felt so unqualified to do what He was calling me to do next. I didn’t trust myself anymore. My success hit a
tipping point and my performance began to suffer. I was confused, exhausted, anxious, and burnt out…there was nothing I could do. I knew this was in part due to the fact I had been delaying what He had been telling me to do. He had shown me a vision for my life, but I didn’t know how to get there… so I didn’t move. I was waiting for the blueprint, the map. But a step by step guide of the whole journey isn’t what He promises. The miracle is in the movement, He whispered into my heart. That’s when I prayed the most bold, audacious prayer I could think of… “Lord, I give you my free will. I only want to be the woman you created me to be. Help me to move forward and take the next step in order to do what you’re calling me to do!” Over the years, I’ve learned that God regularly answers my prayers. Yet they rarely look how I imagined or expected they would look. This one was no different. Within one week to the day of uttering those words, I found myself 34, single and now — unemployed. Goodness — could things get any better?! And yet, I was profoundly peaceful. Immediately, I chose to take a personal sabbatical. Over the next few months He reminded me who I was in Him. He was my CEO and Jehovah Jireh. He is my Husband (Isaiah 54:5) Hence, why He needed to divorce me from my work! Matthew 6:24 shows us that you can’t serve two masters. How could I be dependent on God, when I was placing my security and faith in my employer? This reorientation and refinement period
and refinement period allowed me to experience Him like never before. It was that sabbatical season that a new company and mission was born. The very company He had given me the vision of over a decade earlier when I was 21 years young but hadn’t believed was possible… one that He had been preparing me for all along. One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 3:20 — “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” It is never too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too young. If He’s called you to it, He will equip you for it. But you must step out in Faith and do the work. Seeking the Lord with our decisions is the most crucial thing we can do. Lacking clarity? Seek the Lord. Need a hug? Seek the Lord. Confused about your calling? Seek the Lord. Want to find your Husband? The answer is always to seek the Lord. He promises in the Bible that whoever seeks WILL find (Matthew 7: 78). Stepping out in Faith is a courageous thing to do. Courage does not mean that you won’t feel fear. Courage is acting in Faith even though you do.
"I T IS NEVER TOO LATE . Y OU ’ RE NOT TOO OLD . Y OU ’ RE NOT TOO YOUNG . I F H E ’ S CALLED YOU TO IT, H E WILL EQUIP YOU FOR IT. B UT YOU MUST STEP OUT IN FAITH AND DO THE WORK ." Know this — He will make a way. He is the Light unto your path (Psalms 119:105). Those aren’t just comforting words — that’s reality. God is so faithful and ever present. He takes our “mistakes” and our “failures” and uses them for His glory. He has a good plan for your life and He wants you to experience all He has for you. As we near the end of the year and the end of a decade, ask yourself — what keeps coming up for me? Is there something I desire to do or be that I keep delaying? Does my life right now reflect the life I dream of living? If not, let Him guide you…. Where do you see yourself this time next year? How about this time next decade? Imagine living fully into who He’s created and called you to be. What would life look like if you were being who He’s made you to be? Because that’s more than possible. The greatest gift you can give Him this Christmas is your heart. All He wants for Christmas is YOU (Cue: Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas)
s a m t s i r h c  s i th
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SINGLE IN THE CITY, THIS CHRISTMAS "GOD IS NOT WITHHOLDING ANYTHING GOOD FROM YOU IN THIS SEASON." BY ALLIE SHIRLEY
I know. I know. Here comes this time of year again. Christmas is just around the corner and and you said to yourself this time last year something along the lines of “surely this next year God will bring them into my life”, or you prayed a prayer like this one “God please don’t make me spend another holiday season in this season of singleness.” I want to remind you that it’s okay to grieve your hearts desire not being fulfilled yet. Its alright to tell God how you really feel. He already knows anyway. Speaking it out into the light helps bitterness not take root in our hearts towards God or this season in our lives. Take all the pain to Jesus and ask Him to give you the strength to keep waiting, not to settle, and to open your eyes to all the amazing things He wants to do in and through you right where you are. God IS NOT withholding anything good from you in this season. He knows the right time that man or woman is suppose to enter your life. Don’t allow the enemy to make you question Gods character or make you question your worth. Your value isn’t based on your relationship status. Your worth is rooted in being a child of God and the bride of Christ. I know family can be hard around the holidays. Always asking the wrong questions with the best intentions. So ask God before every gathering to help you guard your heart and to show them grace. Don’t let your longing rob you of the precious memories you have with those who love you most. I wish I could sit with each of you who are reading this and tell you face to face that GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN YOU. Every prayer you’ve ever prayed in this area has not and will not ever be forgotten by God. He knows you better than you know you. Right now He is building in you an unshakable trust and faith in Him and there is nothing more valuable then the things God wants to produce in us. So persevere. Hold tight to your faith. Pursue the heart of Christ with all you’ve got. Wait expectantly for our faithful Jesus to go above and beyond all you can ask for or imagine. Pray intentionally for that person you’re believing for and keep becoming all God intended you to be.
s a m t s i r h c  s i th
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SCROLLING ON INSTAG
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“DID YOU SEE THE NEW CAR EMILY GOT FROM HE WOW, HE MUST BE SO AMAZING.” YET, FOR ALL UNHAPPY IN HER M BY SHANNON STODDARD
“ ’m not depressed, I’m exhausted.” Ever say to yourself, “this time I’m not falling into the chaos of Christmas?” Then December creeps in and before you know it, your social media feed is on overload with lights, glamorous decor, yummy treats, matching pajamas sets and stacks of wrapped presents under the 15’ foot tree. It can be an endless stream of pressure to get your tree up, presents ordered and just be on. Last year, unwillingly, that was not the case for my family. My dad was admitted into the hospital on Thanksgiving Day and passed away four days before Christmas. There was no time or even desire to shop and bake cookies. I didn’t even put a tree up. Something about watching your father take his last breath and then standing awkwardly in his hospital room while his body lay there, knowing he wouldn’t be going home with us gave Christmas a whole new meaning. We literally left him there, got into our cars and drove home completely numb. It was one of the most surreal and beautiful moments of my life. Now that I’ve totally depressed you, let’s take a turn towards freedom. Social media and Christmas are both amazing in their own rights. We are visual people and enjoy feeling the connectedness of both. I like seeing what my family and friends are doing throughout the holidays and social media is instrumental in doing just that. It’s a place where we can share what we stand for and who and what we love. But it can also be a time of year where we don’t feel like we are quite measuring up. It’s a subtle drop into the rabbit’s hole of comparison. “Did you see the new car Emily got from her wonderful husband for Christmas? Wow, he must be so amazing.” Yet, for all we know Emily could be completely unhappy in her marriage. God wants to give us discernment in every season because we only see shards of what’s really going on. That’s why He also says not to judge which we know we do. We size people up fairly quickly but God is truly the only one who knows what the real deal is with each one of us. He knows our beginning to our end. Last Christmas, I was forced to get outside of myself. I didn’t like it when it was happening but later, oh the freedom. I didn’t cry because there were no presents. I actually rejoiced in the power of God. I witnessed miracles in that hospital room. I felt the presence of God as He wrapped His presents (us) in his mighty arms. He sat there with us. He tapped me on the shoulder to let me know my father was about to take his last breath.
GRAM THIS CHRISTMAS
ER WONDERFUL HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS? L WE KNOW EMILY COULD BE COMPLETELY MARRIAGE."
I stood up from my chair and walked to his bedside and just like that he was with Jesus. It was heart crushing and magical all in the same moment. I will see him again. So...Lets celebrate this time of year with thanks and giving. Thank God for your every breath. Let’s reflect on how far we’ve come in just in a year. Let’s show others what decency and kindness look like in our own little speck of the world while using our social media for the good of others not just for ourselves. People are hungry for love and belonging. We could start a social media revival in the minds and hearts of others just by taking ourselves off of ourselves. There is so much in us that unfortunately rarely gets tapped into without the experience of pain. If you’re feeling pain this season, know you are not even close to being alone and your pain will be the catalyst to something new, something really beautiful. There is beauty everywhere even in death. You just have to be looking for it. Open your heart and allow the wonder in. While you’re scrolling through your Instagram account this Christmas, sprinkle your love with likes and kind comments. Maybe bring light to a need, while you’re posting your favorite holiday recipe or party dress. You have already received the greatest gift, Jesus. Don’t take that lightly because even if things are dire right now, your paradise awaits. You are a son or daughter of The King. An heir. There is so much more to come even in your tomorrows. You are part of the greatest story. Your one life is telling a story and you get to decide the narrative. Life will unknowingly bring us to our knees but if we get back up and go a little farther, there is an unlocking to love.
MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA, WITHOUT UNPLUGGING "I REALIZED THAT INSTEAD OF UNPLUGGING I NEEDED TO LEARN HOW TO BALANCE MY ONLINE LIFE"
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BY ALANIE SAYER
isconnecting from the internet world is difficult when you really do enjoy social media but you know it’s blocking you from being fully present at times. I’m not the best at disconnecting since my job requires me to be online often but I have found myself missing out on the present. Working instead of being present with the people I love. Missing out on “being in the moment” because I’m too busy trying to capture it. Falling into the comparison trap as I scroll through feeds of everyone’s highlight reel. Spending more time than necessary on trying to come up with the “perfect” caption. Never stopping. Always updating. I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Yet, I love social media for so many reasons. I love how Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat connects me to the whole world. Every day, every minute—there’s something new and exciting. Facebook keeps me connected to old friends and helps me connect to new ones. It also assures that I’ll never miss anyone’s birthday (thank you, Facebook). Instagram is definitely my most useful tool being that I have a photography business. It’s great for marketing, showcasing my work and displaying some of my most favorite memories. And then there’s Pinterest. I don’t really need to explain myself on this one, do I? I didn’t think so. This year, I decided that I would get intentional about being intentional. Intentional with my loved ones, being present and spending more time with Jesus. Intentional in the now. In every moment I am given as I’m given it. I don’t want to ever miss out on a divine appointment because I couldn’t put the phone down for one minute. We’ve all heard of the benefits of “unplugging,” but the reality is that most of us have a hard time doing that. In my case, it isn’t just unrealistic for my habits —considering my line of work, unplugging is essentially impossible. Ultimately, I realized that instead of unplugging I needed to learn how to balance my online life with time that allowed me to relax, be fully present
in the moment and intentional with loved ones. First, I took inventory of people I was following and cleaned house. I realized that what was coming into my feed was a lot of content I didn’t really want to be seeing. Part of the problem is that social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram can skew how we view the world. So, I unfollowed a lot of negative people and unliked a lot of pages. I found Christian magazines, positive influencers and creatives that truly spoke to the person I am and the person I want to be. I want to be authentic, beautiful and intentional in what I do...and I want my media consumption to reflect that. In the mornings, instead of immediately replying to missed texts and scrolling through social media, I make sure to take some time to acknowledge God and just sit and talk with Him. He sits and waits for us to wake and have those first moments of our day. It’s my favorite part of the day and it really sets the tone for my day. I feel more positive, encouraged and joyful when I spend each morning sitting at His feet. Finally, I got intentional about putting people first and allowing myself to enjoy moments in real time. A text can wait but an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones may not. Enjoying the moment as it’s happening is something that cannot be replaced nor re lived. So, I have made an effort to set aside my phone when spending time with people. If I am traveling or doing some crazy, awesome thing I limit myself to taking a couple quick photos or videos and then putting the phone away for the remainder of the time. To have fully embraced a special moment and only have it live in your memory is more valuable than having physical evidence of it that caused you to miss the experience in its entirety. Now, I am able to create authentic, unhurried moments throughout my week that result in less anxiety and more appreciation for each moment. I have been amazed to see how making these simple substitutions can lead to a completely changed mindset. Go on...give it a try.
s a m t s i r h c  s thi
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LOOKING BACK
AS WE END 2019 WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BRING EXCITED TO WRITE AND CREATE NEW PAGES IN
G IN A NEW YEAR. THE PHOTOS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE ARE GLIMPSES OF OUR PAST. WE'RE
2020.
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SOCIAL MEDIA IS N
"I KNOW IT’S POPULAR TO HATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS ARE INFLUENCERS AND A FEW HA NAME. I ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF FRIEN BY BRANDON LYONS
family member recently followed me on Instagram and oh mercy, I had no idea who they were. In this alternate universe where you can pretend to be anything you want to be, they had it together. They were sexual and alluring. It didn’t match my own experience with them. My first instinct was to scroll through their pictures and laugh. Look at this poor child trying to act like an influencer. To their credit, they had their angles and their looks down. That’s when it hit me, who do I think I am and who made me the social media police? I shouldn’t be laughing at their social media presence; I should be laughing at how petty I am. I know it’s popular to hate on social media, and I don’t blame you. I generally feel the same way. A number of my friends are influencers and a few have that coveted little check mark next to their name. I also have plenty of friends who want to be influencers. They know their good side, how to smile and when to not smile. They use their VSCO filters but still talk about being authentic. Even as I type this, I can feel my selfrighteous smirk perking up on the corner of my lips. Why? I already told you. I’m petty. Insecure. Maybe even a little jealous? I think a lot of my social media hate game comes out of that space. I’d rather minimize someone else than examine what in my heart makes me want to knock them back. I’ve had Facebook for a long time. Back when it was still just college students. I was a late adopter on twitter and probably early on Instagram and snapchat. Never really got Vine and still don’t really get TikTok. I will deny my Pinterest account until the day I die. I never got on Myspace. I probably wouldn’t have gotten on Facebook if it wasn’t for a drinking club I was a part of, back in my wandering years. Once I finally caved, I was all in. Back then it was different though. We had no idea how public it would all become. You could poke people you liked. You didn’t have your parents on there or your future employers looking at your profile as part of the interview process. I was naïve to what it would become. It was kind of just fun. You saw what other people were doing and friends could invite you to the party. It made your friends who all got out like you did not seem so far away. You didn’t see political debates as much. You shared pictures and checked out the girl or boy you had a crush on. It was fun. Same for Instagram. You got to take photos of your life and post for friends to see. Put a cool filter on it, use a hashtag, and people would give it a like or make a comment. Somewhere along the way, my attitude about it shifted. It became less about expressing myself and connecting with others. I felt myself need it for approval. I wasn’t happy with only a couple hundred friends on Facebook, I needed tens of hundreds. I remember how excited I was the first time I got over 100 likes on Instagram. When I joined LinkedIn you better believe I was going to be in the 500+ club.
NOT THE BAD GUY
DON’T BLAME YOU. I GENERALLY FEEL THE SAME WAY. A AVE THAT COVETED LITTLE CHECK MARK NEXT TO THEIR NDS WHO WANT TO BE INFLUENCERS." Suddenly a tool to connect became an addiction. The thing that brought me closer to others drove me to compete with others. I began to judge others. I couldn’t celebrate someone’s baby announcement when my wife and I were struggling with infertility and miscarriages. Other people’s wedding pictures were so much nicer than ours. Their vacations more next level. Political rhetoric was turning friendships sour. Likes would give me a spike in dopamine while my sharp tongue gave me a platform to cut down the competition. I can be so small sometimes. Here’s the deal, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc etc are not the bad guys. It’s just a platform. The platform is not the problem. Our use of the platform is the problem. This is as old of an issue as time. A bullet in one pistol is used to defend while in the other is used to murder. The real issue is in our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jesus says in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Let me get personal, I came to a point in 2018 where I realized that Facebook was no longer improving my life. I didn’t make a big deal. I just stopped going on there. I dip back in from time to time, but it’s not a part of my life. Back in 2017, I realized Instagram was causing me problems and when I am feeling weak, I delete the app. I don’t rail against it or try to get someone else to do the same. The platform is not the problem. I am the problem. So, I stepped away. That’s the conviction on my heart. That’s for me. Social media can reveal the dark areas of your heart. If you’re the type to be discontent, it’ll make you discontent. If you’re the type to lust, it’ll make you lust. If you’re contentious, it’ll give you a platform to bicker. If you’re insecure, it’ll give you a platform to project a false narrative. Social media gives you the rope you need to hang yourself. Still, that’s not the fault of social media. That’s a you problem. If you choose to look at someone else’s victory and try to discredit it to make yourself feel better, that’s your problem, not theirs. Don’t blame social media. It will be what you allow it to be. If you choose to idolize someone else’s life, that’s you. If you look down on someone else’s viewpoint because you think they’re dumb or less intelligent, that’s you. No, I’m not talking about the person spewing hate speech or dangerous conspiracy theories. I’m talking about you, and me, and our social media issues. If you’re like many people I know who have decided to pull the plug on Facebook or Instagram, good for you. It was probably a good decision for you. If you are still on it and enjoy it, great. You’ve probably found much more contentment in your life than others. As Paul would say in Romans 14:5, whether on it or off it, go by your conviction. It’s not a right or wrong thing. It’s a you thing.
words that form daggers BY WHITNEY HANCOCK
and two hours later, he was in jail’ i know she meant well. i’ve been there before, justice compels you, : speak up. : speak away. nowadays, instastories instantly disappear. well, not much to apologize for later. the juicier, the better. more engagement, more likes, more validity, right? but this was… this was a moment where #metoo just didn’t sit right. unprocessed pain dripped from her words pangs hit me anger for her naivety prompt to post her opinions, : to pop off : to speak one’s piece use your right to speak up against men like this. he had only been locked up for a day when all the posting began. the news article was enough, caught themselves a bonafide offender.
as shady as they come, crooked and cunning, clearly. a bad man. deep breath. not once i’ve known a friend so accused with sexual violations stacked high. not one. until that night, pulling out of the driveway. i texted her as i exited, excited to see his wife the next time. staked out around me, six on patrol. handcuffs, heavy weights, and two hours later, he was in jail. not once been on this side of a criminal news story. not once seen so clearly through the hype. is it character that counts? or glorious gossip? this man, i’ve seen healing flow through his hands. heavenly legacy, and hunger in his heart. so let us heed wisdom, finding the fine line between judgment and grace. [noun]: the dissemination of information [noun]: idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others words that form daggers aimed senselessly, can someday, damage the accuser the most.
POSTING WITH TRANSPARENCY, AND HONESTY BY ASHLEY HAUBENSCHILD
"I CHALLENGE YOU TO REFLECT ON WHAT YOU POST ABOUT AND WHO YOU FOLLOW AND WHAT YOU LIKE." Social media. What a big topic to cover. I’ve debated over what angle I’d like to tackle for this months issue. Do I want to rant and rave over the “perfection” culture that social media perpetuates? Or do I want to talk about all of the ministry opportunities it makes available? What I’ve finally come down to is short and sweet. As Christians, our social media presence should be about promoting Jesus. And in an age where selfpromotion and selfies are considered anything but shameful, posting about our walk with Christ doesn’t always seem to be a top priority. Friends, Heaven is fast approaching. Chances are that you have more than a few followers that aren’t destined for eternal life with Christ. Are you using your platform for a purpose? Are you posting intentionally? Are you real and raw about your walk with Jesus? Do you even mention Him? I challenge you to reflect on what you post about and who you follow and what you like. As we approach Christmas, let us resolve not to waste any time. ‘Tis the season where everyone celebrates Christ’s birth, whether they mean to or not. It’s the season where people will post about their presents, and their feasts and their trips. The season where families will be separated and loved ones, missed. ‘Tis the season where we can be different; where we can point to the hope we have in Christ. So this Christmas season (and way past that), may we be a force for Jesus. May we post with transparency and honesty. May we be bold about the joy we possess. Let us use the tool of social media for a purpose greater than ourselves. For all of this is fleeting. But one thing will remain. Christ our Savior is coming, and we haven’t any time to waste. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him...” Philippians 3:78