That Gossip Girl

Gossip: noun. Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Some would take this definition and run with it... saying that "as long as the information is true, then I'm not gossiping." Still others would say, as long as they're not actively participating in said conversation then its not wrong. I've also heard it said that as long as you're just venting to one person its not gossip. Or what about the reasoning "I'm just trying to talk through my problems." I've also had experiences where prayer groups/meetings and people in spiritual leadership positions have been the initiators of gossip. I can just imagine those prayer request slips being opened and discussed among those in "leadership." So and so has a problem with this? Oh my, no wonder ____ said ______ about her. And the conversation goes on... down a rabbit trail... with no end in sight.

Gossip ruins friendships, relationships, job opportunities, campaigns, Bible studies, leadership teams, churches... it can destroy anything.

I'm not saying I haven't taken part in gossip before, I believe that everyone has at one point, girl and guy alike. Its wrong. Period. Will we ever get away from it? Probably not. Its not a debbie downer look at life, its just a fact of life. People are sinners, and people love to talk. Its going to happien. Recently I've had some experience with "gossipers." During a particular conversation, I was listening to someone vent about a mutual friend of ours. I knew that anything I said confirming or denying her statements during this vent session could and would be used in the future against me. (sheesh I sound like a lawyer) Anyways, because of this, I said nothing, I just listened. Was this taking part in gossip? By some standards, maybe.
Although I wasn't actually participating in the gossip by actively giving feedback and telling more information about the mutual friend. If I had taken anything she said and made it change my opinion of the other friend, then yes, I was participating in the gossip. Did I allow her thoughts and opinions change my thoughts, feelings, opinions, and friendship with the other person? No. If anything it made the friendship stronger.  

On the flip side of this topic, I have also been the subject of said gossip. Was I supposed to find out the things that were being said? No, of course not. 99% of the time the subject of gossip is not supposed to hear what is being discussed. Does that make it less hurtful? No. What was being said actually hurt me, a lot. Even the adults that were part of this situation played the busybody gossip wives. The stories that came back to me from those women's mouths... sheesh. What do they take me for?

Back to the subject at hand... the way I look at things....
If I wouldn't say it to the person's face... then I don't say it at all.
If I wouldn't want it being said about me... then I don't say it at all.
If I wouldn't want those facts to be known about me... then I don't say it at all.
If the person told me the information in confidence... then I don't say it at all.
And so on... Get the picture?

As a friend said in his blog... Christianity is losing its beauty. Not because the truth of Christianity is failing. God's Gospel NEVER Fails. Its because the Christians of today are falling into the temptations of this world. They are losing the Hope that Christ alone can give them.

Waiting on God - Day 1

To start out this blog post series, I'll give you a little background. I'm doing a 31 day devotional challenge in a series called Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. The devotional parts are written by Jeff and Brigitte Ritchey. Over the next 31 days I will try to post the devotional every day, but because I'm not always at a computer every day they might come one or two at a time. I'm hoping to be able to go back through these at the end and see how much I've learned throughout the challenge. I also hope that you as a reader will learn something as well.

Day 1
Read: Psalm 62

This is one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament. It continuously reminds me that God is in control. He is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. 

At one point in the devotional portion for today the author says,

"Waiting becomes the only way to experience a full salvation, the only way, truly, to know God as the God of our salvation."  

 At first I was taken aback. Salvation does not depend on me waiting. Salvation is a gift. But then I read the statement again, and again, and again. I didn't get it. So I reread the entire paragraph; once, twice, three times. It finally hit me. The author isn't saying that  if we don't wait we are not saved. The author is saying that by taking things into our own hands over and over again, we are not trusting God and His perfect plan; therefore, we do not experience the full benefit of our salvation. If you don't trust someone, how can you have a real relationship with that person? Taking things into our own hands is saying that we don't trust God. If we can't trust God, the Perfect One, the Creator of the world, who can we trust? 

Challenge: Type your definition of what it means to wait on God. 
I feel like most people, when they hear "just wait on God" automatically think that they need to put their lives on hold. Just sit around and wait for God to drop it in your lap. I've found this is especially true with relationships, and jobs. I'm waiting for God to bring me the right person, or to give me the right job; and they complain that they have to wait so long. But those same people are not doing anything about their situation. How are you going to find "the one" (I don't believe in 'the one') when you're sitting on your duff and not going out? How are you going to get the perfect job - if you're not even applying for any jobs? Don't miss out on life, experiences, and relationships because you're "waiting on God." I don't believe that is what it means. 


Waiting on God means trusting Him to bring the right person, or job, or experience into your life at the right time no matter what. By sitting back and 'waiting' for everything to happen, that's almost like saying 'God can't bring the job or the person into my life unless I'm sitting right here.' No matter where you are, or what you're doing, if you're trusting God, and following His will, THAT is waiting on God. If you say you're trusting God, but then not living your life, you're really putting limits on what you think God can do. Of course don't make rash decisions. Pray, Pray, Pray. But as my mom always tells me...

Keep going through the doors until God shuts one.
Then find the new door that He has opened,
And Walk Through.