An Appreciation…

Of…

Ego Problems.       Jamzzzzz.       DJ and Tour Guide Lessons.       Cursing.       Elevator of humor.       c-c-cool b-b-b-beans-beans.       Playing the Background.       Frat boys’ boxer campus-run-throughs..yikes.       Choir tour “kidnappings.”       Stayin’ alive.       Scrumptious cupcakes and melting dipped cones.       Stolen golf carts.       Uncle Don bathroom situations.       Mr. Magorium.       Jamz with Cademon’s Call, Jars of Clay, Usher, and some loudly yelled curse words.       Blap Blap Blap!       Can I get an Amen, Hello!       Prayer and it’s full importance.       A learning of student ministry.       Are you a man, or a muppet??  …hmmmm.       “Because I’m Oprah!!” and 3 a.m. Walmart runs.       DelTaco late-night convos.       Laughs.       Birds  (Are we talking the animal or the finger here??).       Whore sermons – thanks for letting that be an ok thing. I really like talking about whores…       Date bets and freak-outs.    Candle Vigils.       Trashcan? Hospital.       Expectation of God’s movement in student’s hearts.       Old-school footprint posters.       Pinching-even though I don’t think that “big brothers that I never had (thankfully)” would actually hurt me.       Pregnant with potential and other awkward statements.      Life being not about me or you.       Names that aren’t my own proper name (not sure why Beege has grown on me).       Full life.      Mentoring and pastoring.       Cheesy Events.       Andy Stanley mancrushes.       Learning to fully love God, love people.       Zombie obsessions – whether it be sheep or people. Yup.       Allowing God to use you and impacting my life for the Kingdom in big ways that can’t be put into simple stories.

Because you’re 40 and oh, so old, here are 40 things I fully appreciate about you, and one to grow on.
I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to do ministry with you and to have you as a friend.  (:   beeee!

-BG

Social Media Thoughts

As Social Media director for our youth ministry, articles like these stand out to me. I love this blog anyway because the women who run it speak blunt truth to the teenage ladies of this world. But this particular topic has become an issue with quite a lot of girls lately (at least the ones I follow), so here’s a good, short read:

http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1915

I think that it not only applies to Instagram, but Twitter and Facebook as well. Instagram is mainly used by middle schoolers and filled with “selfies”. Selfies basically tell the world that you think you’re the prettiest person ever and that you want some affirmation of that. As ladies, we especially thrive off of what other people say about us – shown in how many “likes” we get on a single picture. How vain do our posts then seem? Can we please find self-esteem in Christ, the complete Creator of beauty, instead of imperfect people?

This not only happens with pictures, but on Twitter as well. Apparently the new thing is to “subtweet.” This is basically complaining or gossiping about someone without mentioning who it is. It not only is annoying to one’s followers, it’s definitely not edifying to the Body of Christ. Would you say that tweet to their face? If not, why post it? There are much better ways to handle frustration. Does it really need to be said, online or to a friend??

What a great thought to use social media to glorify Christ instead of ourselves.
How would our lives look if we applied this not only to Instagram and Twitter, but to every aspect of our lives??

So as we consider what we are putting on social media, let’s remember to encourage one another, share the joy from our lives, and point to Jesus and not to vanity. I’m not saying to never post a “selfie” but to seriously think and pray about the motivation behind the post. And in any tweet or other picture, are your motives pure and will they encourage others or bring joy? These are things I need to think about myself.

As Daughters of the King, stewards of all that God has given us, being made holy by the Lord, and examples of who Christ is, let’s be mindful of what we are putting on social media, and what is coming out of our mouths and of our body language.