Tuesday, August 16, 2011

#212 "Platforms"

Do you blog? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you "tweet?" Are you on Google+, MySpace or Tumblr? Xanga or Vox? Whether we like it or not, and whether we agree with the concept or not, social media is a part of our everyday life. Most people engage themselves in at least one of these avenues of communication with other people several times a day. 

If you spend any time at all on any one of a host of social media sites, you have been given a platform. You are standing on a figurative soapbox sharing a little something with a lot of someones. 

Lest I be labeled self-righteous, let me be clear and confess that I blog, I "tweet", and I have a Facebook page. My intent is not to tell you that social media is wrong or to suck the fun right out of it. My intent is to make somebody aware of the fact that they have been given a platform to speak. The question is, speak about what?

When we sit down with our fingers poised above the keys of our PC or laptop, what do we choose to share? 


We all do it. We plug our books. We blog hop. We share our websites. We advance our political views. We post funny, amusing and laughable things. I do it. You do it as well, and there is nothing wrong with that. But every once in a while I believe that we need to use the social platforms God has given us to say something of worth and value. To share some kingdom stuff. To share some not so fun, serious stuff.

There is a great big world out there,
beyond our four walls and our own backyards.    

It is with this very intent that I will share with you today what God has been pressing on my heart.

"URGENT: The most severe drought in decades is threatening the lives of more than 11 million people — especially young children — in the Horn of Africa. Famine has been declared in parts of southern Somalia, and threatens to spread further if nothing is done to prevent it. Kenya and Ethiopia are also severely affected by the crisis, with millions in critical need of food and water."





"A child dies every 15 seconds from diseases caused by a lack of safe water and sanitation, that's 1.5 million children dying from preventable diseases such as diarrhea, cholera and typhoid every year."




"An estimated 27 million people are held in slavery worldwide, meaning there are more slaves in the world than were taken from Africa during 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Each year, more than 1 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade. Between 18,000 and 20,000 victims are trafficked into the United States annually. Many who work with this issue believe this number is considerably higher. 100,000 to 300,000 children in America are at risk for sex trafficking each year."




RESCUELIFE

The A21 Campaign

These are the particular issues that are near and dear to my heart. They are the ones that keep me awake at night. They are the very situations that I feel helpless to do anything about and the ones that make tears stain my cheeks. They are the ones that compel me to open my check book and write numbers.

I send. I pray. I hope.

Today I'm choosing to use my God-given platform to share some serious things. As one blogger put it, "I don't want to be a Debbie-Downer", but I must. God wants me to. How do I know?

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31: 8-9

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25: 40


We are all given platforms to speak. I have them. You have them. What will you do with the platform you've been given?

"What I ask of American Christianity is not to show us more creeds, but more of Christ; not more rites and ceremonies, but more religion glowing with love and replete with life,—religion which will be to all weaker races an uplifting power, and not a degrading influence. Jesus Christ has given us a platform of life and duty from which all oppression and selfishness is necessarily excluded. While politicians may stumble on the barren mountains of fretful controversy and ask in strange bewilderment, "What shall we do with the weaker races?" I hold that Jesus Christ answered that question nearly two thousand years since. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them."  Francis Ellen Watkins Harper

**All organization names are clickable links.


friday favorite things | finding joy

Beholding Glory


28 comments:

  1. It's so good that you share these links so that people have very tangible ways to help. May all of us have platform that honors God and the things/people He has created.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe some are definitely called to bring the injustices of the world to the public. Thank you for doing this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for using your platform.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, Donna. You are not being a "Debbie-Downer," you are simply sharing the heart of God. Isaiah 58 clearly speaks that these are the things that touch His heart and should propel us into action.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Donna, I love your platform! I love that God has given us the ability to reach out through Social Media...and share our weaknesses and enlighten others to what is going on around us. I watched so much of what you are talking about (hunger) on the huge screens in the CNN center this weekend...and the tears rolled...and I thought of it this morning...and of the sex traficking..a home, just 10 miles from my own was recently discovered...Oh, how my heart breaks when I think of those enslaved...so far and so close! I just saw your book...and am very interested in it! I'll have to read more of your blog later...but am so grateful to have you here, speaking out for those who can not!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. great reminder! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. we work with an organization here in Belize that is trying to eradicate the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of children...there is so much pain around the world. Thanks for the links!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for sharing the links and reminding us to look beyond our own backyard. Sometimes the problems seem too big to tackle. But together, we can make a difference. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. smiles. true that...we have a voice and a platform...it is up to us the message we are sending on it...thanks for the links as well...have done some things with world vision before...and other oranizations...

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so heartbreaking, Donna. My prayers for our brothers and sisters in Africa.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Donna:

    We have been so blessed here in the US and it is easy to turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering that people in other countries are facing.

    I'm glad you are using your platform to bring attention to these matters and I pray that each one reading will search their hearts about how they might help.

    Thank you for linking to the Grace Cafe today.

    Blessings,
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  12. Blogging and other forms of media make the world a much smaller place. No longer can we turn away from people's suffering because it is on the other side of the earth. It is now in our backyard. Thanks for helping to get the word out.

    Blessings, Joan

    ReplyDelete
  13. A good post and a great challenge for everyone with a heart for others and a wish to be the face of Christ to the world. There is so much need and heartbreak we need the eyes to see and the will to help.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I agree with the above comments, it is so easy to turn a blind eye away from the worlds tragedy and get lost in our own personal ( and upon reflection very minor) problems. Thank you for using your platform and voice for something so important. Lovely to find you on VoiceBoks. I look foward to spending other Tuesdays with you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've been using Social media for Jesus for years. I have hosted online bible studies and my blog for the last four years has been about the miracle God did through my husband. I loved this blog and wish more believers would use the web as a ministry.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you so much for linking up today!!! :)

    And you are so right! Everything we think, say, and do should be for His Glory and for the "building up of the Body of Christ." Thank you for challenging with powerful words! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. HI Donna...I've found blogging, facebook, twitter has connected me with some amazing people and has given me a voice and ministry reaching out to so many. I'm so grateful for this venue and for your site...that inspires.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a wonderful way you are using your platform. I am learning from women like you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Stopping by from vB! I'm your newest follower and would love a follow back when you get the chance!

    Ashton
    http://www.somethingswanky.com
    {Sweet Treats Thursday} Thu-Sun

    ReplyDelete
  20. i love your heart, friend. thank you for this challenge. e.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Okay, tearing up. Your blog is beautiful, your words stinging.

    My blog is about helping chronically ill mothers raise their children, as I am one too.

    I identify myself as a Christian, definitely, but my readers come from
    all faiths, some even pagan, so I don't want to identify too much with Christ or my message will be lost to them.

    Your post reminded me that although I am chronically ill and in poverty, millions more, most, children have it far worse, if they live.

    Thank you for that.

    By the way, I have a Tuesdays With Tyler, my son, regular feature, I had to smile about your blog title, so thank you for the smile too.

    ReplyDelete
  22. These are certainly worthy links. I'll be checking them out more fully. World Vision is known by me, but the other two are new. Thank you for alerting me to them.

    ReplyDelete
  23. You are so right! We sponsor a child through Compassion. The girls chose the country and the profile. Our Compassion child lives in Haiti, near Port-au-Prince. I have been so burdened for her and her family lately. I wrote a letter, I pray, we continue to give, and I'm anxiously waiting to hear news---hopefully that she and her family are okay. We are more blessed than we realize.

    ReplyDelete
  24. So true. I love that the internet and blogging can be used for the glory of the Lord. What a blessing to be able to share and to speak truth!

    You are always a blessing and you always get me to think. And that is good.

    Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  25. I agree with you. This is the reason Ginger and I decided to start the Spiritual Sundays blog a few years ago. It has been such a blessing to us and to others. I'm glad you're sharing there with us.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

    ReplyDelete
  26. THis is an important message to get out there. Thank you for sharing this information. THe Bible says that to those who are given much, much is expected. We should consider these words carefully, shouldn't we?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you, Donna. Visiting from the antbed.

    ReplyDelete