Status Updates in the Kingdom

Facebook is wonderful. You can find out anything you want to know about anybody ~ sometimes not in a good way! It amazes me what some people will post on there. I mean, do people not realize that what they type is forever sealed on their digital "record" somewhere out there in cyberspace? Even if they delete it? Also, I'm not one to air my dirty laundry, but some people seem to enjoy it. What's the saying about not being a fool until you open your mouth?? Impressions you get about a person's character, personality, the things he/she finds important, can be drastically changed when you start reading their status updates. I mean, if you come across as the sweetest, kindest, most courteous person ever in real life, but then only post negative, rude, tearing-down statuses on facebook, I'm gonna think you're fake, and I'm gonna think you're rude, negative, and like tearing people down. Sorry, but your words have a greater lasting impact (on me, anyways) than your actions, especially if I don't really know you that well. I am not naive, either, because I realize that my words on this blog help you to see who I really am. Hopefully, I'm keeping it as real as I can ~ trying to take my cues from you, Erin. ;) Anyways, Facebook is still a great tool to connect people and to keep us up to date on those we care about so we can a) talk about them b) be jealous of them c) feel sorry for them d) roll your eyes at their post or e) minister to them. Let's be honest ~ we've all done every one of those things, haven't we? Not in some of my finer moments, but I am human and I still fight human reactions while reading Facebook posts! I have some friends I have blocked because I couldn't take another of their negative, "woe is me" posts. There are some I would like to block because they seem to use facebook as an outlet to tell the world how awesome they are. These perceptions are obviously MY issue to deal with. ;) WOW ~ I'm seeing a definite fasting from facebook needed in my future! Thank you, Frances, for being my inspiration! ;)

Regardless of your motives or judgements about status updates, I think it's important to realize that there is a greater opportunity for us to minister to others ~ to show them we care about them and to show them that there is a greater Love, the Love of God, no matter who they are or what their lot in life. Ain't technology grand? :) The last week or so, I've been burdened by quite a bit of things I've seen or read on status updates. Someone's two-year-old losing the battle with cancer. A sweet friend losing her mother. Friends with sick loved ones. Miscarriages. Friends with job troubles. Friends with their own health issues. Overall crappy, frustrating days. An abortion practitioner charged with killing babies with scissors after inducing premature labor (...shudder...). We are all faced with daily trials and sufferings. Some of us handle it better than others, but it really doesn't matter. We are humans, and we inhabit an earth that is not yet perfect, far from it.

Along with these disheartening status updates, I've been overwhelmed by some pretty awesome ones as well. A sweet friend bringing her baby boy HOME after 6 long months in the NICU. Healthy babies born. Birthdays celebrated. Marriages and proposals. Awesome recoveries from accidents that should have logically been fatal. Encouraging and loving words between friends. Glorifying praises and thought-provoking Bible verses. Y'all, there are some joyous occasions that we should CELEBRATE and give GLORY to GOD for! We should give an equal amount of praises for the bad, too, though. How hard is that? Pretty durn. Ha! We are called to fully rely on God and have faith in Him through EVERY circumstance, difficult as it may be. When times get tough (which I've been pretty fortunate and blessed lately to not have so many of those times), it is HARD to remember to praise HIM through the storm.

All of this about status updates had been flooding my mind, when I heard "I Can Only Imagine" on the radio in the car the other day. That song brings tears to my eyes everytime. Tears of JOY for what lies ahead for me! I can ONLY imagine! Anyways, I started thinking about what Heaven would be like. Is there going to be a Facebook in the Kingdom? (Don't laugh ~ just think about it.) So, we "update our status" every day, and what would it say? NOTHING negative. NO sickness to report. NO death. NO worries. NO woes. ONLY PRAISES!!! How awesome it THAT going to be?? In case you didn't truly grasp it the first time, I'll add some exclamation points. NOTHING negative! NO sickness! NO death! NO worries! NO woes! ONLY PRAISES!!!! Praises to the GOD who loves us SO much that He took on all of the burdens, heartaches, sins, punishments with His Son's death on an old rugged cross so that we may live forever in a Kingdom filled with GLORIOUS status updates! I don't know about you, but I can't wait to sing praises to my KING in Heaven one day! Whether through a "status update" or not! We shall see. :) Please don't miss out ~ that's one "friend request" you surely don't want to "ignore" or postpone responding to!

Miss Charlee Marie is THREE!!!

It seems like just yesterday when I saw my sweet little girl's face for the first time. She was wide-eyed and so alert when I first saw her. January 7th of 2008 was the day my life changed forever. It was the day that I realized the feeling of loving someone so much that it almost takes away your breath. Sure, I love my husband. I love my family. But this love is completely different. It only grows stronger with time, too. How happy and fun this little girl has made my life!

As I'm typing this, it is Charlee's birthday exactly. 4:24 pm. :) How cool is that? I didn't even plan it. Ha! This morning, when she woke up (in our bed of course), I told her "Happy Birthday!" This sugar pie said, "Thank you to tell me 'Happy Birthday', Momma." Melts my heart.

We will be celebrating with a tea party birthday at the carousel here in Meridian tomorrow. She is beyond excited, as am I! This momma has to make her way back to the kitchen to get cupcakes iced and decorated. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite pics of my Charlee Bell from her sweet little life. Thank you, Lord, for the 3 wonderful years you've blessed me with my Charlee. I wouldn't trade them for the world.