I love social media.
I am not even going to lie.

It's sad to me how we, as women, have allowed a screen shot to determine our fitness as a person.

 We've allowed it to form a barrier between us and someone-that, had they not posted their perfectly- timed -snapshot- of- their- perfectly- planned- life...

 we might consider a friend.

We fill pin boards full of bright colorful meals,  art projects,  gardens and outfits... all  perfection

 and the follow through - fails.

We forget all that is going on -outside of the frame of the photo.

We see cake, the  frosting fluffy ...

but we don't see the sink full of pans and the layer that cracked.
We see the smiling family at Yellowstone ...
but not the yelling or the stony glances on the other days...
We see and Elf on a Shelf, in every imaginable antic, spreading flour, sprinkles and cheer and for a moment  we fall into the trap and judge our success by their standard...

Meanwhile, the Christ, that was on the cross, whispers, "You're accepted..."

A picture may be worth a thousand words-
But that number internally compounds and multiplies (and some of them aren't always nice...) as we look at other's staged and filtered photos from the comfort of our pajamas, 
with brows that need waxing,
and frozen pizza served on paper plates...

The enemy is not Instagram (that Valencia filter is magic on wrinkles)
The enemy is not Facebook (Be real on YOUR status, you can't control other people and you and I both know--NO ONE has a perfect life.)
The enemy is not PInterest. (ah! Pinterest...I just try to keep the ration of my food pins to exercise pins in balance...)

The enemy is the Enemy ...
and the less than feeling he places on you when your plates don't match and your pancakes don't have syrupy smiley faces...
the lies he whispers about your happiness in marriage , when you don't take couple only  trips to exotic locations with 1200 count sheets...
the snarky judgment he pokes when 'she' takes yet another self portrait...
(doesn't she know what she looks like????)

The enemy wants our joy.

and if he can get us to zoom in on someone else's perfection...
then we can get disgruntled in our not-so-camera-ready-mess-of-a-life.

Picture this:
Jesus was never a world traveler. No fancy hotels, ski vacations or cruises- ok, He did walk on water, out to a boat , that one time. ... 

He didn't have status.
or a lot of followers...
and the ones He did have:
One was dramatic and cut off someone's ear.
One was needy and had to touch Jesus' scars before he would believe what Jesus said.
and one he  was two faced....kissing up to Jesus and betraying him with the same lips...

It's time we stop listening to the lies.

It's ok to have great vacations and matching flatware...
It's ok to enjoy cooking and provide a photo essay to prove it...
it's even ok for an Elf to roll your Christmas tree with toilet paper...

What's not ok is to look at someone's picture perfect snapshot of life

and feel like yours is less than...

God created us all uniquely with gifts and talents and tastes , all our own...
Some are crafty and creative...
Some sing or play an instrument...
Some cook and bake and sew...
Some organize and design and garden...

and in that creation process He knew we would need each other...not as standard to compare to...but as a friend to lean on and a person to pray for...

let's start giving each other a break...

let's encourage each other...
let's post pictures of our epic fails...
let's post about the day the carton of eggs sacrificed itself because the two year old was being artistic.
lets proclaim that yoga pants are, indeed, fashionable...
let's admit to days that are rough and when the gourmet meal is Frosted Flakes and popcorn....

and let's give a little grace...

go ahead and click like the next time we run across one of those "perfect pictures"...

because we know the Truth, 

and HE has set us free.

Jesus said, “ Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

John 8:32