Giving up or giving in?

I am deleting our Facebook account. Several have asked "WHY?"
Well, there are LOTS of reasons. I've tried to make excuses for months about why I should ignore that still small voice that says "get off that!" I find more and more reasons to obey.

Am I surrendered to God? I want to be. I pray to be. I often am not.
Am I sticking to my convictions? Most of the time.
Are my convictions biblical? Oh my! That's a better question. Does what I believe line up with the truth found in the Bible. Hummm.... I can make lots of excuses. But you can't argue with God. (or at least if you do, expect to lose). (I could could go on a rant now about being mad at God, I'll chase that rabbit later).

I believe that I should abstain from the appearance of all evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). I've heard people take this to different degrees. I've not always agreed with them, but I find that when I haven't agreed it was because the thing they called evil was something I enjoyed and didn't believe it was hurting me. That doesn't make it right.
I've also had the Spirit reveal things to me in the last year that was evil in my own life. Things easy to give up. Certain music, books, words, TV shows. And things taken for my own good, like, dare I say, the influence of well meaning people.
Someone used the word "discernment" - I like the word "awakening" better. I don't just discern that something is amiss but I see what it really is. I am made more alive, free, well, whole.

Now I'm convicted to let go of something. Sorta stinks!

I find myself constantly deleting people or hiding things on Facebook that have EVERY appearance of evil. Even the "good" things are often get vulgar or ugly. People are sinful and that's exactly how it looks.

I've had others comment on what a good mother I must be, or some other such nonsense. I don't want their idea of who I might be, based on a random status update or pretty picture to become a stumbling block to someone. Home and family looks WAY different for each one. What I do well, might not work at all for someone else.
Likewise, I often see the random status or pretty picture and long to be something God hasn't made me to be. That's a stumbling block to me. It leads to depressed feelings. It messes with my peace. It's that beam in my own eye that needs to be removed.

I'd like to be that strong woman that can take on the world. But I'm a tenderhearted mess. That's a hard admission for me. Things easily hurt my feelings. Gene often needs to get the mop bucket to clean up the mess that I become. Family can hurt you with out meaning to. Good friends can hurt you and never know. Why hide? I should go see them or call them on the phone. Not make another random status update.

I should be desirous of spending time with my God, my husband, and my children. In that order. I have become aware of communication problems because of the amount of time I devote to Facebook instead of those more important. It has to go.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 tells me to live peacefully and attend to my own affairs. I'm not at peace and I need to mind my own business.
Does this mean I'm not concerned about other people? Absolutely Not! It does mean that if I can't handle the number one job God has for me at this moment I have no business being concerned with what your doing.

My 13 year old ask when she could have a Facebook page. It occurred to me that she doesn't need one. That she shouldn't see most of whats on there. That my job is to guard her heart and no matter how involved in Facebook I am I can't do that there. If I don't think she should have one then why should I? The answer is my heart needs just as much guarding as hers.

I've tried to use the excuse that I could promote biblical ideas, pro-life, pro-family, uplifting stuff, funny stuff. Also things that I need to do first in my home and then in my community. Not a good excuse (but what "excuse" has ever been a good one).

And, on a lighter note, I can't fix anyone. The world we live in says that pushing your beliefs on others in intolerant. Well, I'm intolerant. I'm not always tactful. That shows up. Its not always pretty. I'm not always sorry. I am usually right. ;)