i've been thinking quite a bit about facebook. blogspot. pinterest. actually, my pinterest account and a dream actually got me thinking.... the dream first? ok...this may sound ambiguous but i prefer leaving the detail lacking to the supply of too much information (and i actually can't remember a lot of the detail now). it was one of those dreams that doesn't really fit in the category of nightmare, but may cause a stirring of discomfort and an awakening with feelings of being disturbed. somehow, in my dream, something that we consider wrong and damaging and harmful had been encountered at a location outside of our home/community but was somehow (whether invited or not) edging it's way toward our home/community. yeah...that is the dream-summation. so...in trying to make sense of the dream, i was thinking about the prevention of this unhealthiness...and the protection of our home/community. and i started thinking about the internet. link to link to link...wrong and damaging and harmful things can be happened upon...accidentally. i got to thinking about this with my pinterest account. every pin has a link to a site, and i have to say that i'm new to pinterest and have realized that so far i have pinned a lot of pictures/ideas but haven't even checked out the link that i posted from that pic that is now on my pinboard.
so, i want to be careful. i read an amaaaazing blog post from a friend of a friend that touched my heart to the core, and i immediately clicked to share it cause i wanted to be an encouragement to others.... but then...i thoughtfully made the decision to delete the shared post because though this article was wonderful, i hadn't read the other dozens of posts from this friend of a friend that my link would link to/wanted to be careful. (i don't know...still thinking on this....)
all of that to say...i have trust issues with the internet. (i even put a disclaimer on my pinterest account profile about this. :) ) i have to be careful. for myself and my family. with youtube. with social networks. with blog sites.... even with pinterest (though honestly, most of it really is all innocent...home ideas/recipes. but then you do have the workout ideas/fitness-type stuff with their plentiful scantily-clothed perfect females). and...please don't misunderstand. i know that other people who link to links from my facebook wall or my pinboard can make their own decisions about what is right and what is wrong. but i know that there are all kinds of people/all kinds of different people...of all ages and generations and levels of maturity...and understanding and carefulness for their own eyes or the eyes of their people (some little people) looking over their shoulders at their computer screens...that may link from a link to something wrong or damaging or harmful.... and not just pictures or videos but printed thoughts.
and...all of that to say...my motive is not fear of the wrong/damaging/harmful but caution and alertness. i peter 5: 8-9a says, "be of sober spirit. be on the alert. your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. but resist him, firm in your faith...." (italics mine). psalm 101:3 says, "i will set no worthless thing before my eyes." this reminds me of the old song, "be careful, little eyes, what you see. be careful, little eyes, what you see...for the Father up above is looking down in love...so be careful, little eyes, what you see...." His concern is for our safety. our protection.
when i read His law, i think of this. the law was for the provision and protection of God's people. as i look at His law and read through leviticus and numbers and deuteronomy, i want to consider His motive and His character and His heart for His people. He wanted them to be protected from the deception of idolatry and of the devastation of turning toward other gods/all an illusion of satan. He wanted them to be protected from the evil actions of men...setting forth laws to be observed as consequences for intentional harm. His law was for them. to protect them.
looking to His care and His protection over my days/my home/my computer.... praying the same for you, friends....
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