Facebook Makeover

Fighting to be transformed? Why doesn’t your Facebook show that?

When you truly change, everything about you and around you does it too. Yes, Facebook page included.

So, here are a few things to consider for an “extreme profile makeover”.

Friends: Do you really need to accept anyone that sends you a friend request?

This is what you could ask yourself before hitting “accept”: Do you know them? What does their profile picture say about them? Why would you be interested in knowing what they post and think? Are they people of good character and habits? Will their posts be beneficial or will they lead you to things you would rather keep away from you? Why do you think it’s okay for them to learn more about your life?

Make sure you go about your list of friends and do a clean up too. Remember: it’s easier for them to drag you to what it’s wrong than for you to lead them down the right path.

Wall: Make sure there are no curse words, dirty jokes or sentences with a double meaning —those that sound clean but hide dirty references behind them. Of course, we know you haven’t written them; some “good” friend of yours did it. Anyways, they don’t look good on you. Leaving them in your wall is like shouting: “I’m okay with it!” And please, unfriend that “friend” that keeps on doing that.

Pics: Why would you keep all those old pics of yours there? Yeah, those of you partying, sticking your tongue out while holding a beer, vomiting after getting drunk or posing for the camera inviting people to undress you with their eyes. Not to mention pictures of half-dressed girls or boys, or those you took with old friends that don’t get along with the new you.

By all means, keep some of those stored somewhere so you can show how much you’ve been transformed, but don’t show them in your Facebook —unless you do it like this {show YPG before and after pics}. That’s not you anymore.

Status & Comments: Watch what you say and comment. It seems that some people get bolder to speak nonsense just because they are doing it virtually. Someone you know —or at least you’ve heard about— put it this way:

“Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." (Mat 12.36-37, The Message)

Wanna know a secret? Whenever I want to know someone better I look him or her up on Facebook. I find it quite an eye opener. I guess that’s why some have opted to open Facebook accounts under a pseudonym.

P.S.: We are not aiming for you to become a bible freak; filling up your wall with bible verses, pictures at church with your pastor and things of the like. Nope, you should just look neat and balanced; like someone who’s been truly transformed. That should be natural to you.

Luke Castro

YPG National Coordinator

Are You Ignoring God's Voice?

Samuel was young when he was called by God. Although he was already in the house of God and was ministering His word, Samuel was unable to recognise God’s voice when He called. Why? Because he did not know God for himself yet.

This example applies to many youths in the church today. They come, they clean, they help and take part in many activities in the church but yet when God calls them they do not recognize His voice because they have not yet had an encounter with Him.

God called Samuel three times, and three times he ran to Eli, the prophet, believing it was he who called. Eli advised Samuel that he ought to have an encounter with God, otherwise he would never be able to be used by Him as he wanted.

"For how long will you continue to hear message after message

and not take the decision to know God for yourself?"

Just like Samuel, the youth hears the voice of God but because he does not recognise it, he runs to Eli (the Pastor) for direction. But more often than never, they don’t put anything they get from the pastor into action and consequently are never able to discern God’s voice for themselves. In fact, many think that what the Youth Pastor is telling them to do is too hard, that we are meant to understand their situation and not criticize. CRITICISM? Give me a break! We are meant to speak in a way that their faith will be awaken, and not spoon-feed them.

So I ask you dear friend, for how long will you continue to run to Eli? For how long will you continue to hear message after message and not take the decision to know God for yourself? Seek this encounter with God that you may know Him for yourself so when He calls you will recognise His voice and answer “Speak, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10). If you do this friend, be sure that God will use you greatly just as He used Samuel.

"So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground." (1Samuel 3:19)

Pr Luke Castro
YPG National Coordinator