Be Kind? Through Social Media! (#BestOf)

A Year of Being Kind blog – Friday, July 1, 2016

I recently wrote a blog post on my companion blog, www.matterofprayerblog.wordpress.com. I attended two fundraisers last Saturday. I am sad I did not have that much money to contribute, but I wrote social media posts about each fundraiser! And, I posted each of them to several places. Facebook pages, and on my Twitter account. I hope and pray that the blog posts I wrote lifted up both projects.

(In case anyone is wondering, here are the two links: In Which Friends Have A Bowling Fundraiser #matterofprayer #PursuePEACE http://wp.me/p43g3i-F5; A Day of Fundraisers—for Goodness’ Sake #matterofprayer #PursuePEACE http://wp.me/p43g3i-Fc )

Posted on July 4, 2014 by chaplaineliza

A Year of Being Kind blog – Thursday, July 3, 2014

Be Kind? Through Social Media!

The wonders of modern technology! What will they think of next? Yes, I do use social media. I would call myself an advanced beginner, in terms of know-how. Plus, I only use a few platforms of social media. (I don’t want things to get too complicated. On top of everything else, I don’t want to dive in too far over my head, either.)

A few weeks ago, I had my first introduction to Skype! I talked with Rich, a missionary in Latin America. He gave me some in-depth information about IncaLink. Regular readers might remember that, since I had several different ministries of IncaLink on consecutive Fridays. As my Feature Friday feature! Not only was IncaLink’s work in several Latin American countries really innovative, but I was so excited that Rich and I could talk so easily. (!!!!) I’m in my fifties, old enough to remember what a challenge it was to communicate with missionaries. Only three decades ago, it was often difficult hearing regularly from missionaries when they were stationed some distance from even a mid-sized town. In places like Peru, Mexico, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, or Lebanon—just for a few examples.

I do have a Tumblr account, and I post from time to time. Two, maybe three times a week. Tumblr is the place I put all kinds of lovely photos, darling animal shots, breathtaking landscapes, and biblical verses with images. Plus, I also add my links to my blog from wordpress.com. (You know what that is—you’re reading one of my wordpress posts right now! *grin* )

Then, of course, I am an old hand at Facebook. I know my way around the FB world pretty well. I am acquainted with several professors, who often have lively back-and-forth on their Facebook pages. I got involved in several in-depth discussions on Facebook today, and I hope I was encouraging. One post, as I remember, was meant to be helpful. (Another one was snarky, too. But that’s me, sometimes, too.)

How simple it is to be encouraging! How easy to be kind and helpful, as well. I don’t have any idea who might read my posts, or my responses to two blogs. But my thoughts and ideas have gone forth, into the wide world. Of course, they might not be that much of a much. (I don’t want to flatter myself too much, now.) But—God may use some words I have written to be exactly the encouragement someone needs, today. Or perhaps, tomorrow. Even my snarky post might be just the admonishment God means for someone to read. Who can tell? Only God knows how far my words might travel.

May the words that flow from my keyboard be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my blog: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers– where I am doing a PEACE journey through Eastertide and beyond. #PursuePEACE. Thanks!)

(also published at ayearofbeingkind.wordpress.com .   @chaplaineliza And read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er – Thanks!)

Back to the Office—and Still Being Kind

A Year of Being Kind blog – Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Back to the Office—and Still Being Kind

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Well, what about all play and no work? What will that do to Jill? What kind of a girl will she become? It’s not that I did no work over the weekend. Certainly not! But I was in a very different setting. In two different settings, actually. (For those who missed my comings and goings, I was at one conference in Cleveland from Friday afternoon until Sunday midday. And then, I made a hop, skip and a jump to another conference in western Pennsylvania from Sunday mid-afternoon until after lunch on Tuesday.)

I’ve blogged about my conference-going for the past few days. Some marvelous insights! Some innovative ideas! Lots to think about, and lots to process over the next couple of weeks.

So—I was back in the office today. Answering a ton of email, responding to social media, doing a good deal of computer file maintenance and other types of office work and correspondence. Oh, I read to the preschoolers and kindergarteners at the preschool. Had several meetings with people over the telephone. Pretty much just stayed put, at the church.

And yet, I realized today that in just about every interaction, I purposed to be kind. Amazing how much six months of a kindness-orientation or service-practice can cause me to change my mindset. Well, that’s not quite right. I have shown the spiritual gifts of helps and encouragement for decades. That’s nothing new. But—this purposeful kindness- or helps-orientation every single day? That is new for me.

I haven’t spoken of the verse I chose for the month of July much. This is not a deliberate error on my end, because so much has been going on! But before July slips away, let’s take another look at James 1:22; “Be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” To my way of thinking, using my spiritual gifts of helps and encouragement is doing the Word. Being active, not passive.

Towards the end of the day, I did something else that was active. Doing the Word, not just sitting there, vegetating like a spiritual couch-potato. I wrote out two cards and sent them to two separate people. One was a birthday card. A happy occasion! The other was a sympathy card—a friend’s mother recently died after some years in a nursing home. A sad occasion.

Yes, I spent most of the day sitting in my office, doing necessary work. But, I can still be kind. Still be of service and help to someone else. And, I do pray for each family who will be receiving a card. God be with them and bless them as God knows they need a touch from above. Thank You, God!

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Be Kind? Through Social Media!

A Year of Being Kind blog – Thursday, July 3, 2014

Be Kind? Through Social Media!

The wonders of modern technology! What will they think of next? Yes, I do use social media. I would call myself an advanced beginner, in terms of know-how. Plus, I only use a few platforms of social media. (I don’t want things to get too complicated. On top of everything else, I don’t want to dive in too far over my head, either.)

A few weeks ago, I had my first introduction to Skype! I talked with Rich, a missionary in Latin America. He gave me some in-depth information about IncaLink. Regular readers might remember that, since I had several different ministries of IncaLink on consecutive Fridays. As my Feature Friday feature! Not only was IncaLink’s work in several Latin American countries really innovative, but I was so excited that Rich and I could talk so easily. (!!!!) I’m in my fifties, old enough to remember what a challenge it was to communicate with missionaries. Only three decades ago, it was often difficult hearing regularly from missionaries when they were stationed some distance from even a mid-sized town. In places like Peru, Mexico, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, or Lebanon—just for a few examples.

I do have a Tumblr account, and I post from time to time. Two, maybe three times a week. Tumblr is the place I put all kinds of lovely photos, darling animal shots, breathtaking landscapes, and biblical verses with images. Plus, I also add my links to my blog from wordpress.com. (You know what that is—you’re reading one of my wordpress posts right now! *grin* )

Then, of course, I am an old hand at Facebook. I know my way around the FB world pretty well. I am acquainted with several professors, who often have lively back-and-forth on their Facebook pages. I got involved in several in-depth discussions on Facebook today, and I hope I was encouraging. One post, as I remember, was meant to be helpful. (Another one was snarky, too. But that’s me, sometimes, too.)

How simple it is to be encouraging! How easy to be kind and helpful, as well. I don’t have any idea who might read my posts, or my responses to two blogs. But my thoughts and ideas have gone forth, into the wide world. Of course, they might not be that much of a much. (I don’t want to flatter myself too much, now.) But—God may use some words I have written to be exactly the encouragement someone needs, today. Or perhaps, tomorrow. Even my snarky post might be just the admonishment God means for someone to read. Who can tell? Only God knows how far my words might travel.

May the words that flow from my keyboard be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.