Be Very Careful

I am a Facebook fan.  I really enjoy keeping in touch with friends and family via this media.  I have re-connected with so many friends through this medium and on the whole it has been a most rewarding experience. I have learned, however, to be very very careful of not only what I post, but the verbiage I use in expressing myself.  I have learned that what I post can easily be misinterpreted and can lead to a barrage of negative comments.  I have also learned that there are different "kinds " of friends.

When I befriend someone on Facebook, I am allowing them access to my posted actions and thoughts. They are entitled to make what they want of those posts and I am left at their mercy - whether positive or negative.  Sadly, most of the time the negativity takes the lead and I am left open to ridicule or worse pity.  A handful of friends will make supportive comments and offer prayers up on my behalf in the proper Christian manner.

Not long ago, I received a message from someone I know of, but do not "know" accusing me of unkind comments.  I have no association with this person, but have friends that are close friends of theirs and I was confused as to what she was referring to.  Our mutual friends had made some unsavory comments referencing this person to me and my response was "I know the type."  Big mistake, it was carried back that I had made the comments, which was totally untrue.  This was confusion over the spoken word, imagine the impact if this had been written.

I have learned to keep my comments short, positive and hopefully expressive of my Christian faith.  To those that I have poked fun at through any comments, I apologize profusely and will keep those comments off my posts henceforth. 

Written words have the ability to make or break a person.  There is no intonation available to indicate any emotion, there is no facial expressions to judge any emotion, there is just the words written down to be interpreted by the reader in any manner they see fit without the benefit of the emotion of the writer.  So, be very careful of what you write and how you write.  It may not be read by a supportive Christian with love in their hearts.  Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Thank You, Preacher Mac!

I sat in the same pew I did 50 years ago and the memories came flooding back.  With Johnny, Gwen, Billy, Barbara, Donald, Dennis, Dean and the rest easily slouched down in the pew behind.  Janice, Diane, Mary Ann and I would peek over the top to watch them as the good old gospel songs were sung and we all waited for Preacher Mac to call his "Syrup Soppers" to the front to listen to our special Bible story and sing our special songs.  There was not a child in that church that did not know that Jesus loved every one of us and we were His.   He made his children a part of the church, keeping the families worshipping together. 

Preacher Mac didn't wait to teach us, but he grasp our little minds early with love and caring and showed us that we belonged to Jesus.   We were left with no doubt that Jesus had claimed us, would protect us, and guide us through life.  We felt the security of Jesus' love. 

Through Preacher Mac's stories we learned the Bible from front to back, from God's great creations to his son returning to gather us all up unto the heavens at the end of time.  We were taught not only the words of the Bible, but how it applies to our lives today.  He taught us fear out of reverance and the joy found in living our lives for Christ Jesus. 

Preacher Mac was a special man.  He could reprimand from the pulpit without offending, yet each and every offender knew he was being admonished, leavingmany wondering how did he find out about that.  He had a Bible verse for every occurrance and didn't just share the verse, but  could explain exactly how it applied to each of us and our situations.  He knew his people and he knew his Bible.

Our little church flourished under his ministry.  No one missed church on Sunday and if we did Preacher Mac would visit or call before services on Sunday night.  During his ministry we had more "dinners on the ground" than any other time, because everyone wanted to eat with the preacher. 

Preacher Mac taught us to give thanks when God'a sun comes up in the morning giving us another day to His moon rising at night signaling the time for rest from our labors.  God created it all for our benefit and enjoyment that we might glorify Him.  Preacher Mac belived and taught that we should pray continually asking God to guide our thoughts, steps and actions.  If it would not be pleasing to God, leave it alone.

There are many scholarly pastors in the world, but few great teachers.  Preacher Mac was touched by God and it was evident in the way he lived his life and preached the Gospel.  I thank God for sending him to our little Church and enriching all the lives of those that had the honor of knowing him.  This little "Syrup Sopper" remembers.

Friends

My friends are all different personalities and display various characteristics that have drawn me to them again and again.
Some are fun loving and always happy, some are solemn and serious, some are busy and stressed, and some are laid back and easy going. I have some friends who are out to change the world. I have some friends who are thoroughly enjoying the world as it is. I have peace making friends who don't like the pot stirred, but aren't happy with the way things are but they just want to let the pot simmer. I have friends who love to keep stirring the pot and adding ingredients just to see what will happen - I call these stink stirrers because their are just some ingredients that don't mix and a stink usually follows these friends. Then there are friends who are too busy to even know what is going on unless it involves their current tasks or disaster. All of these friends make up my life! I love them all! They provide me with a variety of views that keep my mind in the right place and encourage me to view the world through other's eyes.

I was reviewing my email list this morning to determine who would enjoy an email I had received. As I came to a name I would review their personality in my mind to determine whether to forward on go on to the next name. Some were judged as suitable or not based on the content of the emails I received from them. As I sat contemplating the list, I realized that maybe I should do it different. Maybe they would enjoy something out of their ordinary. Don't we all like a change of pace as long as it doesn't offend? Who was I to judge what my friends would enjoy? There are so many facets to each and every one of us! Then I started thinking about how my friends view me. Some have told me their thoughts; others are just there, I really don't know how they "see me."

There have been many adjectives attached to me in my 58 years. What others see in me is not what I see in myself! Here are some of the words friends have used to describe me and my connotations of those words. Remember I am referring to friends, not enemies - they have other words to describe me.

Wise - I have lived a long time and learned to live by my rules and values not someone else's (I can spout off advice all day, but you have to learn your way, not mine). Tight Wad - again, what I value is not what someone else values for me. Prude - I am open minded, but refuse to give up my morals and integrity. Compassionate - I care about people, but don't like to be taken advantage of under any circumstances. Plain spoken - if I don't tell you what I think and how I feel, who will (nobody knows me better than I do)? Mean - I am very straightforward in relating what is acceptable and what is not, but if you want to push my buttons, go ahead - but remember I will fight back. Family oriented - my family is very important to me - God gave me children to instruct in his way and to become responsible adults. Don't judge, you haven't reached your end and neither have they - we are all still on the journey of life. Christian - the most important part of my being. I am far from a perfect human being, but God isn't through with me yet. I have been on some hard roads and haven't finished travelling yet, but I find if I follow rather than lead, the trip is much easier.

Now, now friends, how would you describe me? Would you be surprised if I wrote about you? What would I say? Is your life presented in a way that displays your real feelings and your true being? I love you all and you give me so much! If you get an email that doesn't sound like me, remember I am constantly expanding, learning and finding my way.

Keep reading!

Belle