The book of Ecclesiastes says, "There is a time to speak and a time to be silent." And I am certain that I will spend the rest of my life figuring out when to do either. 

I have always regarded Ecclesiastes (along with James and Proverbs) as a book full of practical wisdom. When I am torn on a decision, or don't know what to do in a situation - I often turn to one of these books for help on what is wise. Sometimes this wisdom means confronting the problem and coming face-to-face with the issue at hand. And sometimes, it means stepping away and spending time in prayer, allowing God to do what He does best - taking the issue from my hand.

This has been a life-long, learning process for me. Because my first instinct is always to DO or SAY something. I'm an advocate for injustice. If I believe something is wrong - those close to me will most definitely know about it. 

Yet, while advocating is a good thing - arguing isn't (I even wrote a post on this very topic last year). And especially, for followers of Jesus, this can be damaging to our faith and witness if we are not careful. 

Last week, I made the mistake of sharing my opinion of this election season on social media. Listen to me when I say - it was a mistake. What I thought would just be an opportunity to offer a different perspective for my friends and family on the election - turned out to just be an opportunity for them to have a different perspective of me. Because, like it or not, people associate you with your opinions. Insults were fired and blame was casted - all because of the way I was choosing to vote/or not vote.

It got so bad that I had to deactivate my Facebook account, for fear of receiving another discouraging Facebook message. My heart just couldn't handle it anymore. I'm sure I'll be back eventually, just probably not until after the heat of this election is over.

There's a reason people say the two things you should never discuss are religion and politics. Because when people tie their identity into something - any criticism towards the subject becomes directed at the person. 

And while, for the sake of eternity, I can take the insults about my faith. And for that reason, I will never choose to be silent about what I believe about Jesus.

Politics, on the other hand, is temporary. Not eternal. And my identity and hope will never be found in who I'm voting for. Keeping that in mind, I think this is what Ecclesiastes would refer to as the time to be silent. 

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

It seems everywhere we look lately, there is another tragedy trending on Twitter, or worse, streaming live over Facebook video.

This troubles me.

Not because I want to remain ignorant or unaware of the troubles and injustices our world is facing - actually, for the very opposite reason - it is because of this fallen, sinful, broken, fractured world full of injustice, murder, hate and racism, that I want with ALL that I am to CLING to what is good. I want to stay fervent in PRAYER. And continue sharing the HOPE found in Jesus Christ.

It is devastating that nearly every tragedy that has happened recently has turned political. I have come to expect this from the world and media, but it's the multiple believers who have taken to social media platforms to share their controversial opinions and thoughts on how they believe others should be responding, behaving, or championing their cause that is most devastating to me. Instead of being light to the world, some of these words have turned into fuel for the fire.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a passionate and opinionated person. I love a good, healthy debate. But I always want to walk away from the conversation with a hug or a good ole pat on the back, letting the other person know that our difference in opinion does not define our relationship.

When you share an opinion on social media, you are unknowingly creating a divide between you and others who disagree with you. You may never even know who these people are, and may never be able to give them that validation that your relationship with them is not strained. You will walk away feeling justified by those who agree with you, and possibly destroying any amount of influence you have to speak into the life of someone else.

I have read through enough personal opinions over the last month to know that I'll probably never agree with anyone 100 percent of the time. Unfortunately, social media makes the weight of that divide feel even greater. The likes, the retweets, the camps that are formed around which "hashtag" is most appropriate, while real families and real people are hurting and in need of hope. The hashtag will do nothing. Your relationship with them will.

Let me be honest, I wrote a whole comment on an Instagram post in response to the tragic weekend we had with the deaths of two black men and the police officers in Dallas. I wrote it in anger. I have my opinions. I have my grievances. My heart is broken for the terrorism that our country and world is facing.

Thankfully, I wrote it at 5am when no one else was likely awake, and was able to delete it 2 minutes later.

Because, my opinion wasn't worth costing me a relationship.

Instead, I prayed. Instead, I turned to Scripture for comfort and encouragement. Instead, I spoke those words aloud in my car to Jesus that I so badly wanted to type up and rant on some girl's poor Instagram post.

I believe you can grieve, without intentionally creating a divide. You can pray, without standing on the corner of a street and announcing it. And you can be confident that the God of peace will soon crush every tactic the enemy is using to create division in His church. Be on guard, brothers and sisters, our relationships are more important than our opinions.

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” - Romans‬ ‭16:17-20‬ ‭

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

— John 13:35

I have been so grateful for friends that have called, texted and supported us in our move to Jacksonville. I am not kidding when I say, we have some incredible, kingdom-minded friends. Just yesterday alone, I woke up to a sweet text from a friend in Ocala praying for our services at Chets Creek. And then later in the afternoon, another friend wrote to say she was thinking of us and hoped we had a wonderful morning of worship!

Man, THIS is the kind of love that we (Christians) should be known for. Not self-seeking or self-gratifying, but just-because-I-care love with no other pretense.

I have to be honest, one of the hardest parts of transitioning in ministry is leaving one church for another and praying they truly get that it's about the mission and don't take it personally. These calls and texts from friends are exactly the encouragement I've been needing in this season. And I felt a strong sense that maybe there are some of you who are needing this encouragement as well. I hope you'll keep reading, and find some inspiration for your kingdom-work, my friend. 

A little over a month ago, we packed up our home and said goodbye to one ministry to start another. I wouldn't say it's been an easy transition, because I'm not sure that "easy" and "transition" ever really go well together. But I do believe it's been a healthy one.

After so many years in student ministry, I remember my husband (Josh) saying multiple times that "a sign of a healthy transition is when you leave a ministry and it doesn't fall apart."

His reasoning, at the time, was to encourage leaders in the student ministry to invest in the lives of those students so that the ministry was not all about him. If he relied solely on his own (super awesome) personality and (incredibly gifted) teaching to transform the lives of students, then what would happen if he ever left? (adjectives in parentheses inserted by his super-fan wife 😉)

A question that can only be answered when someone ultimately does, leave.

I love hearing and seeing what God continues to do in the ministries we have been blessed to be a part of. There were some great things that happened under our leadership and some even greater things that have happened since we moved on! Not all the seeds we planted grew while we were there. But it's exciting to watch from afar and know that when growth does happen, someone else had the blessing of doing the watering.

Ultimately, it is God that grows that seed. And we could never take credit anyway.

“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers.”

— 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

 

I think it is a temptation for all of us, especially our media-saturated, status-driven generation, to become deceived and prideful about growth. It's easy to see why - a lot of people attending our ministry is an exciting thing! And should be celebrated, no doubt!

But pride will quickly shatter a kingdom-heart. Other ministries become competitions and other ministers become competitors. Jealousy and selfish ambition are signs of the last days - and unfortunately, the church is not an exception.

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. This is the church, friends. Working together with the same purpose. It doesn't always have to look the same. In fact, it shouldn't always look the same. We are each called to play different roles in different lives at different times. Planting and watering. One is not more important than the other, but both are necessary. And ultimately, the growth - the glory, the awe, the wonder and beauty - is God's.

This is what it looks like to be workers for the Kingdom. And you know how people will know we are His? Not by tweeting our service numbers (although, I pray they are growing!) but by cheering each other on.