{day thirty five} at the foot of the cross i lay down social media...

Social media can be a bit tricky to navigate.  Unnerving, really. It sucks you in and then you find yourself falling victim to the worry that comes with sharing your business for everyone to see.  There are times that I worry over my ridiculous Facebook posts and Twitter whatchamacallits and Instagram pictures and blog posts.  

Do people just scroll right past my posts for fear of yawning?  Or do they roll their eyes, chuckle a little bit and then keep scrolling?  Do they snicker because I post a picture of my girl almost every day {sometimes multiple times a day}?  Are my status updates and Tweets witty enough?  Does my hashtag make sense? And please don't get me started on my blog posts.  I mean, do people actually read them?  And if they do, do they make any sense to anyone but me?

When writing {and reading} is your therapy and you choose to share that with others, it opens a whole new world of criticism and worry.  Be it your writing or the writing of the others that caused your heart to stir, you share it through social media in the hopes of spreading some hope.  And love.  And Truth.

Last night and today I saw several Facebook statuses that referred to how they never could survive without knowing what so and so had for supper or that potty training was going well or their day never would have been the same without seeing your Instagram of what you wore that day or seeing a picture of your child completely made their day ten times better.

I hope you sense the same sarcasm that ripped my heart to shreds as I read these posts.  I'm fairly certain these posts could have been entirely for me.  Perhaps not.  But either way, my heart broke for all the eyes who read the words dripped in sarcasm and poor humor.  My feelings were hurt for those that could have been hurt by reading the same words.  I wanted so badly to embrace anyone who could have been hurt by such a jab and tell them to keep sharing themselves with the world.  Because the world needs people who are bold enough to share themselves with others.  

Trust me, there are several posts that I could go years without knowing.  I could do without the negativity and sarcasm and bad language and inappropriate links or photos.  But I would never use my little corner of the Web to poke fun at another person.  Never.  It's just not nice.  

The truth of the matter is we are called to be true ministers of God.  I choose to use social media to share my beliefs.  To proclaim the name of Jesus.  To demonstrate how Jesus can redeem someone as wretched as me.  And then use me to spread His truth.  

I'm also a mama.  A mama who prayed long and hard for God to give her the desire of her heart.   And He did.  Because of that answered prayer, I celebrate my daughter.  Everyday.  I adore her.  I do my best to capture all the moments.  I soak them up and hold them tight.  And then, I choose to share them on Facebook and Instagram.  I make no apologies for that.

As a blogger, I've had my moments when I get wrapped up in the numbers.  In checking the stats to see how many people are actually reading my words.  Not all the time.  But more than I care to count.  I write when I feel something pressed upon my heart.  I do not take it lightly.  I do not share words just for the sake of posting something.  I share my heart.  And sharing my heart leaves me raw and vulnerable to the world who choose to read what I pour out.  I worry over the eyes that are seeing the very inside of my soul; wringing anxious hands and clasping my pounding heart praying for hope to spill out.  

Today, I found myself letting go of it all.  I sensed Jesus telling me that I am way more than a witty status update or profound {I use that term very loosely} blog posts.  I felt God calling me to use my voice on my tiny little corner of the worldwide web to shine His light.  I can lay the worry at His feet and allow Him to do the rest. Sometimes the words will just be ones I need to hear.  Other times they could be words just one other person needs to read.  Either way, I choose to stay obedient to His call over my social media. 

As for the pictures of my girl, again, I make no apologies.  I've always taken a lot of pictures.  Now I just don't have to spend money having them printed at One Hour Photo.  I can post them and enjoy them forever.  You can too.  Or not.  I post them for my enjoyment. 

There will always be the naysayers..  Those who post raunchy status updates with filthy language or inappropriate pictures.  Or those that poke fun at people who proclaim the name of Jesus through social media.

Much the same, there will always be someone else who posts something that gets way more likes or comments.  There will always be another blog post by a more eloquent writer sharing the message of the Gospel.  The person who seems to be able to so beautifully script what my very heart is feeling.

But that is their corner of the web.  And they are sharing their thoughts for all the world to see.  Far be it from me to judge or criticize.  Or feel little and unworthy because their corner looks shinier than mine.

Much like Paul, I can hope that I am never ashamed about sharing all the wonderful things Christ has done in my life.  I pray to continue growing bold to His call over my life, so that He may be glorified.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, 

but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. 

And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:20-21

May He be glorified through me.  

Yes, Lord.  

May You be glorified.  Always.