Expand My Territory

The summer of 2000 I got to travel with the Servants Choir from Kentucky Christian University (where I just happened to meet my husband Alex and one of my bffs Krista). Just recently, actually around 3:00 am last night, amidst my frequent pregnancy night wakings, I happened to recall a little book that stirred up a large mass of Christians across the world. Perhaps you have heard of it, "The Prayer of Jabez"?

I have to admit, The Prayer of Jabez did not have as profound of an impact on my life at the time as Bruce Wilkinson's other book, Secrets of the Vine. However, I do remember praying the prayer of Jabez along with other members of the choir as Dr. Deakins read from it during the week for devotional times.

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain."

At the time, I had no idea what I was asking for when I prayed the simple prayer. But it came to mind last night, specifically the request that God would enlarge my territory. I certainly have moved around a lot since graduation from high school. In the past eight years God has led me to Grayson and Lexington, KY, to Muncie, IN and to Bristol, TN. (not to mention all of the camps and churches we visited with the outreach team during college)

From all of these places I have somehow managed to make connections with several Christians and non Christians, whom which I have now been reconnected with via Facebook. When I think about facebook, and the 420-something "friends" I am connected too, I see that my prayer has been answered.

Facebook has provided all of its subscribers with a way to enlarge their territory in ways that the apostle Paul could never imagine. I'd like to think that if facebook was around in Paul's day his friend list would be through the roof. When I read the beginning and ends of his letters, I know that he would definitely be leaving comments of encouragement to his friends' status updates.

I hear a lot of people complain about how they don't want to write pointless stuff and status updates, and thus give facebook a bad rap. But, for me a status update is like casting a line... you never know who's going to bite, and what conversations could simple off that simple statement. But most important, I love to be able to respond to the everyday lives of people whom I have been reunited with thru facebook. I think facebook can be a really awesome gift if we allow God to be a part of our posting and commenting.