LEADERSHIP CONFESSION AHEAD:  I’m in leadership and some people see me as a woman of influence.  Honestly, I struggle to see myself like that, but John Maxwell says that you can tell you are a leader simply by looking around you and seeing if you have anyone following.  As a Christian leader,  I have nothing to offer anyone unless there is a biblical truth associated with it.  God’s truth is unchanging and the basis of all I adhere to personally and professionally.

When social media came on the rise as a communication tool, the Lord spoke very clearly to me that He DID want me to steward my influence on social media, but He did not want me to manufacture it.  Anything that I posted on FB or twitter would be something that HE has used in my quiet time profoundly and was an outgrowth of an authentic God encounter.  Thus, if you look at my words, you can see a post most mornings and they are typically a simple scripture that came right from my time with God, or something I was reading that was profound to me and made me go “hmmmm…”

But I confess that, when I am not rightly focused, I can fall into the trap of being a funnel verses a sponge.  A funnel is a conduit through which something passes through.  A sponge absorbs deeply and does not need to pour anything out unless it is so full, it overflows.

In our social media culture, I can easily become lulled into wanting to post something catchy and fresh.  Sometimes, I get SO genuinely excited about what I’m reading (a catchy leadership learning or the life changing truth of a scripture verse) and I am SO excited to share it with others (FB, twitter, instagram) that I completely forget to simply ABSORB it…. APPLY it …. ALLOW it to be used by God to change me.  Instead of a sponge … I’m a funnel.  Instead of absorbing (like a sponge) and pondering why God used this scripture and how it can change me by applying it to my life, I miss the opportunity to grow and learn from it as I quickly pass it along to my family, friends and followers by posting it and moving on (like a funnel).

Lord, forgive me.  James 1:23-25 is a wonderful reminder of how you want me to live like a sponge and not a funnel. ” If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like.  But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do.” 

I can honestly say that most days, I am a sponge.  But I love how tenderly God reminded me how easily I can shift and be a funnel.  He deeply desires His word to change me as I ponder and absorb it.  And then He loves those learnings to pour out onto others.

What are some ways that God is teaching you to be a sponge in the comments below.

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10 Comments

  1. Lisa- I so appreciate your transparency and sharing this “caution” with all of us. As I begin to dip my toes into social media for my personal ministry, I have experienced exactly what you have described. I have felt very conflicted and at times overwhelmed with all the slogans and “catchy” posts. It is easy to just be a funnel and not stop and take the time to let God’s Word absorb into me and then out into my ministry. I needed this. Thank you!

    1. Thank you, Laura. I know that we all face this as I’ve spoken to other leaders straddling this same thing. I appreciate your authentic approach to all you do for His glory!

  2. Thank you, Lisa! I really appreciate the word pictures of funnel and sponge. As I press in to God and soak up His Word, the same process should happen when people press into me. Like a wet sponge on a dry place, am I leaving evidence of God’s presence in my life behind, or am I so dry that there is no mark of my ever being there?

      1. Hi Lisa,

        Your message resonated with me because that is what my book, Savoring His Word-Five Ingredients to Enrich the Way You Read Scripture is all about. In the book, I share the ALIVE Recipe for you to stir and read scripture in order to taste, chew, ingest, digest, and metabolize the Word of God, in order to live what you read.

        Please visit http://www.alivebyhisword.com and view the book cover and back cover contents. I am also excited to have another following in the Savoring His Word Series called, Express Joy, releasing in May. In Express Joy, we use the ALIVE Recipe throughout a 28-day study of Philippians.

        Thanks for your blog. I believe this must be a message the Holy Spirit is inviting the Church to hear and live.

        1. Carolyn, I LOVE your site … the offering, bible life coaching, webinars, membership. WOWZER, you have taken your calling and put it into action to impact the kingdom. Please keep me posted how things are progressing. I can’t tell you how happy I am for you and for the lives being touched by your passion and calling.

  5. Hi Lisa,

    I was actually at the Hope Women’s retreat this past weekend in Pickwick! Loved hearing you speak! Very powerful weekend and it opened my eyes up to a lot of things. Just thought I would find your site and read your blog! I am praying that I will become more like a sponge and really just soak in God’s word to where I am so full it just overflows onto others! 🙂

    1. Pamela – thank you SO MUCH for attending and finding my blog. I treasured my time with the women of Hope. I can tell you are all “sponges” overflowing with His living water. Stay in touch 🙂

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