But I think that there's a growing problem. It's that people write things that are disrespectful.

Why?

First, let's be honest. We humans are deeply flawed.

Second, instant communication eliminates our "sober second thought". Before we've had a chance to fully think things through, it's easy to send something that we'll later regret. And it's too late to take it back.

Third, for all its benefits, the Internet has a desensitizing effect. Since we can't see people's faces when we communicate with them, it's easier to treat them like they're less than human. It's as if we forget that we're dealing with an actual person.

I think that a significant and growing source of stress and anxiety for people is techno-trauma.

And yet, Paul says, "Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10b NIV) We fail to do that when we don't use that sober second thought, and when we forget that we're communicating with other flesh-and-blood people online.

With all this in mind, here's a rule that can help us to honour others online, and which will curb the number of things that we type that we'll one day regret:

Never say something to someone online that you wouldn't say in person.

Before we type, message, or hit send, let's ask ourselves whether or not this is something that we'd say to someone's face.

Our online communication habits can give us the illusion of anonymity, since there's a physical distance between us. But anonymity disappears when we're face-to-face with someone. We're usually more accountable and respectful with our words in person.

So, let's honour one another.

Never say something to someone online that you wouldn't say in person.

Prayer: Lord, as we communicate with others online, remind us that we're interacting with people whom You love, people made in Your image. In Jesus' loving name, we pray. Amen.

First, we sympathize with their situation and offer help.

But it can also make us think, "If they can do it, so can I!" We can learn from their example.

Last year, I was at the church of Hyeon Soo Lim. He is the Canadian pastor who was imprisoned in North Korea while providing humanitarian aid. Fortunately, he was released in 2017. Praise God!

For two years, he was forced to do hard labour. He had to dig holes in the frozen ground with his bare hands. He also had to break apart chunks of coal.

Upon his return, he talked about his battle with terrible loneliness. So, what did he do? Mope around in an endless pity party? He spent what little free time he had by reading 100 books on North Korea, reading the Bible in English and Korean five times, memorizing more than 700 Bible verses, and worshipping alone for 130 Sundays.

Hardship can draw us closer to God — or push us further from Him. Hyeon Soo Lim chose to draw closer. What an example!

Paul said that nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". (Romans 8:39b NIV) That includes imprisonment, hard labour, and loneliness. And it also includes bad days, feeling sad, regret, and stress.

The reason that I say this today is because I'm sure that some of us are going through a tough time right now. So, let's believe what the Bible says in Romans 8:39, and be encouraged and inspired by the example of Hyeon Soo Lim.

Hardship can draw us closer to God — or push us further from Him.

Which do you choose?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your unshakable love in Christ. Rescue us, strengthen us, and shine the light that can come only from You! In Jesus' powerful name, we pray. Amen.

Repentance. It's an unpopular topic. And it certainly flies in the face of our do-whatever-makes-you-happy society.

But it matters to God. It's about deliberately turning away from those thoughts, attitudes, or actions that dishonour God, and turning back to the way of Christ.

Maybe we agree that repentance is a good idea. But then the week starts, and we begin working through our to-do list, and this idea of repentance fades from our mind's eye. That's why it can be helpful to take action and name something specific that we need to repent from:

"I will repent from ____________."

Ambiguity is the enemy of action. If we're unsure about whether it's important, or whether or not we have something to repent from, or whether or not it will make any difference in our daily life, we'll probably just do nothing. As a result, we may miss out on God's renovating power in our lives!

So, let's be honest about whatever thoughts, attitudes, or actions that we have that don't honour God. Then let's apologize and decide to live differently as a result.

Ambiguity is the enemy of action. So, let's get specific.

"I will repent from ____________:"

Prayer: Lord, I am a sinner in total need of Your saving grace. I have turned from Your way, but I want to turn back. I will repent from ____________. Amen.

She constantly snooped, made judgments, and then scattered her version of the "news" to other people around the town of Avonlea by flapping her unstoppable gums.

But hear what the Bible says: "Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander." (Proverbs 17:4 NLT)

In other words, it's also wrong to "listen" to gossip, and to "pay attention" to slander. We perpetuate gossip not just by speaking half-truths about other people, but by going along with it in silence.

Maybe, we sometimes go along with it because, on some deep, unhealthy level, we want to believe the worst about someone. Or maybe, we just enjoy snacking on someone else's dirt.

And there are other times when we're thinking more clearly, when we know that we don't like it, but simply don't know what to do.

Sometimes, breaking the cycle is as simple as saying, "You know, I'm not sure that that's the whole story," or, "Well, it sounds like a tough situation that we should pray about." That can send the signal that unfounded negativity isn't welcome.

Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

Prayer: Lord, help us to break the cycle of gossip and to think, speak, and act in a way that honours You and Your people. In Jesus' perfect name, we pray. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a – Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. (NIV)

How many of us can think of a time when a good friend helped us through something tough?

When we think about our friendships, it's easy to think about what we get out of the relationship. We wonder, "Does so-and-so support me? Do they help me? Are they there for me?" There's nothing wrong with that. It's just not the whole picture.

I have a saying. It's that good friends make good friends gooder. I realize that "gooder" isn't a word. But it seems more memorable when I say it like that! LOL

So just as your good friends can support and strengthen you — and make you gooder — you should also be a person who supports and strengthens them. When they ask themselves that same set of questions — questions like whether or not you support them and help them and are there for them — would they answer "Yes"?

I realize that none of us has a perfect track record. But when it comes to cultivating quality friendships, we should be equally as concerned with what we give as with what we get.

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up." Sometimes, you're the one who does the falling. But sometimes, you're the one who does the helping.

Good friends make good friends gooder.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be the kind of friends who don't just think about what we get out of the relationship, but about what we give. In the name of our never-failing friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

It's true: Some people just drive us crazy. They're people at school or work or church, or in our family or at the arena.

But as people of faith, this doesn't sit well with us. Why? Because Jesus' command, "Love one another" (John 13:34 NIV), echoes in our ears. So how can we be at our best when some people put us at our worst?

Today, let me suggest just one thing to un-stick our thinking and propel it toward a more loving place.

When we pray, think of the people we don't like, and then, thank God that Jesus died for them, too.

Here's the thing. Jesus loved us so much that He died for us. But guess what? He died for other people, too — and not just the ones who make us feel hunky-dory, but the ones who make us scream, tear out our hair, and run for the hills.

I write a daily devotional called "Up!" at TheUpDevo.com. After I originally wrote about this idea, I heard back from several people who told me (a) how hard it is to do, but (b) how much it makes their attitude more loving.

If we want to be at our best even when some people put us at our worst, then when we pray, let's think of the people we don't like, and then, thank God that Jesus died for them, too.

I'm guessing that God will use that prayer to un-stick our thinking and propel it toward a more loving place.

Start today!

We may not like everyone, but there are things that we can do to start loving them. Please join me in this prayer:

Prayer: Lord, thank You for __________. I know that You love them and that Jesus died for them, too. Help me live differently as a result. Amen.

The superintendent, John Dagget, knew how valuable that they would be some day. So, he gave three of the dimes to his daughter, Hallie. "Hold on to these, my dear," he said, "and they'll be worth much more than ten cents someday."

Hallie skipped home. But on the way, she stopped in for some ice cream — and used one of the dimes that her father had just given her.

In 1981, one of the 1894 coins surfaced. It sold for $34,100! Little Hallie didn't realize the value of what she had been given.

Do you?

The people in our lives are sacred gifts from God. They might not seem like much. After all, they get bad breath, speeding tickets, and mediocre work evaluations just like everybody else. Like a dime in a pile of dimes, nothing appears to make them stand out.

But they have a value beyond anything that we can ever imagine.

James 1:17a – Every good and perfect gift is from above. (NIV)

The people around us are gifts from God. And they enrich our lives beyond anything we can ever imagine.

So today, it's simple: not squandering the amazing gifts that God has placed in our lives. Let's make sure that someone who matters to God knows how much they matter to us.

Prayer: Lord, help us to realize the value of the people that You have placed in our lives, and help us to express our appreciation in a way that honours You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.