Why "Inspirational" Memes Make My Brain Hurt

Can we be frank here for a few? I’m really concerned about something that can be crazy-dangerous. Our brains are being infiltrated over and over again daily by some poisonous words, and I’m afraid we are going to end up extremely misinformed. 

Ahhh the power of words. “Word people” love them, but even the rest of the world can be sucked in by the lure of a well-constructed sentence. Especially when the catchphrase has a trace of truth in it, and is something we can relate to - it’s easy to buy into the rest. And the #1 place to find these singing sirens? Facebook.

Surprise! 

No, not really, right? There are lots of posts we all scroll past everyday, without “liking” all of them. Political views, scary videos, fake photos. Tell me you have discernment while you’re scrolling. Promise me you don’t believe all the viral emails you get. Please don't buy into every cool visual with a statistic in it. 

I hope not. It is very easy for random, nameless FB identities (PeopleForPeople? Who the heck knows what they stand for?) to tweak truth and throw up some stats they got from generic-technical-sounding-database, so they can attempt to make a point - or get some traffic. Extreme brings in traffic, so there is little motivation to stick with reality, let alone common sense. (And then there’s all the misguided ideas FB suggests we about friendship, i.e. lack of boundaries. I’ll have to tackle that another day.)

Anyway, clearly I’m on my soap box, but my issue is much bigger than dumb political commentary or photoshopping pictures of celebrities.  In number there are probably even more “inspirational” memes that grace my newsfeed everyday, and I’m amazed at the number of them that are just outright wrong.  They disturb me.   

Take this one for example.

I suspect that people like this one because we are all fans of taking responsibility for your stuff.  Man-up and deal with your issues instead of whining about them! So people like the idea that once you decide to do that, God is ready to help you tackle your problems. 

But this is SOOOO WRONG.  “If ____ then ____” statements about what God does usually are messed up. Are you telling me that until I try to change my circumstances, God is just standing around waiting for me? That He is an idle God who watches from the sidelines? There are probably some good metaphors about God being a coach, but this is not one of them. 

The only one who can change you is God. HE is at work within you. HE is the power and the strength that leads you to do the right thing, to muster up the courage to accept the circumstances you are in. HE is the one DOING.

In Genesis, God tells Abraham -

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”  

He doesn’t say, Once you figure out where you are supposed to go, THEN I will help you get there. He says GO, and I will lead you. Not to mention, God was the instigator of this conversation. It didn’t happen once Abraham decided to pay attention or asked God what he should do. This is our introduction to Abram in Genesis chapter 12.  He doesn’t even have the new big fancy name, yet!  

Here’s another one.

I already dedicated a blog post to this, because I was so struck by the message here.  Again, we are focusing on what WE are capable of, apart from God. But actually, the only good I can do is through Him.  It’s not about me and how great I am.  It’s about Him and how he uses me right alongside my faults and mistakes.  Don’t act like your behavior is ALWAYS so perfect.  It’s not. If you aren't convinced, read the blog post and let me know if you still disagree.

Here’s another.

Ok, so I can definitely see why this one gets a few “Amens.” Trying to align life with Scripture sounds like a good idea. But when I really try to apply this, I have no idea what she’s trying to say.  There is no gospel here. And not really any law either. 

What are your expectations? 
Are we talking about how people treat other people?
My to-do list?  
An expectation that I’m supposed to be happy?  Nowhere does it say that life is going to be easier as a believer, or that Jesus expects us to perform perfectly.  I can’t help but think of John 16:33:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Look, I understand that it is always easy to twist and conform a statement, a verse, a mantra to whatever our baggage-laden brains want to hear.  Even the Bible has lots of misguided readers, no question.  But please arm yourself with discernment when scrolling through your newsfeed!

Discernment: the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding. 

keen perception or judgment 

When I hit the Like button, that means more people are going to see it.  

That means more people are going to be thinking about this concept and possibly believing it and maybe setting themselves up for disappointment and confusion because they aren’t stopping to think about what’s true and worthy vs. what’s really just a reflection of us complaining about society.  

Arming yourself with discernment is worth the extra time. It protects you and it protects your friends. We need a Fact Checker for FB Feed! If you want this job, I'll give you lots of traffic. You'll be the most controversial thing out there!!

What's the craziest thing you've seen someone Like on FB?  

Do you have any tips for not ending up brainwashed? 

Am I the misguided one here?

Share in the comments!

Building a Family

Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3,4

photo credit: Nick Kenrick ..gone to Cuba , back soon via

A home is built with wisdom that keeps it from falling down.
It is established by understanding that a home is built with the help of God, not on our own understanding, plans or ideas.

The foundation has to be Christ and the wisdom to trust Him in all times of doubting and fear. It has to be built on trust, faith, and grace.
A home is built and stays standing because God is there holding up the pieces.

Even when you look over at your spouse and feel mostly confusion and frustration. The days when his life approach just doesn’t seem to be lining up with yours, the days when you don’t see eye to eye.

God keeps it standing.

Even when anger and bitterness enter into your heart. When you’ve been hurt and feel alone. Or when you’ve done the hurting, and you don’t know how to get back those words you never wanted to say aloud.

God holds it together.

Even when the day is long, the family is tired, and the demands seem never to end.

God can show you joy even in the darkest hours – with a laughing baby or a child’s arms wrapped tight around your neck. Or a quiet “i love you” or the squeeze of a hand.

A home is built with faith that God can fix all our wrongs, fill in all our cracks, and repair the age that starts to show.

As time goes on, the aging adds more than cracks and disrepair. It brings a house character and memories. It reminds us of the joy shared and the dreams dreamed... together. And when a house has stood strong
- established by understanding that God is in control and His nails hold it together -
it grows grander and increases in value.

When I have walked thru the rooms of my grandmothers' homes, I am surrounded by knowledge and rich compassion.  None of them have been wealthy or have had a fancy address. Many of their furnishings have been dated. But despite a life fraught with disappointment, loss, and painful truth - there exists also a history of faith and understanding that can only be learned as a home - as a family - is built.

Knowledge fills the rooms with riches – memories, forgiveness, and love. As we grow together, the rooms of my house are filled with the knowledge of our purpose here – the calling we have to build a family and encourage and pray for our children and to teach love and grace and the mercy of Christ. Knowledge fills my rooms and it fills my soul. And I have a lot more to learn – that will never change.

But I pray that God will continue to give me
wisdom, despite my stubbornness;

understanding, despite my rush; 

and knowledge, despite my pride.

And I know He will. Because I’m asking Him to.


(This post, along with others, will be compiled under the Family Building tab at the top of the site.  Check out the tabs periodically for new takes on these vital topics.)  

Feeling Good Devotion - Published!

Today I am thrilled to share the link to my devotion published on Christian Devotions! So privileged to get to share my trials and thoughts with a bigger audience today. Hoping it can be of use to readers!  So much to boast about in Christ!

Feeling Good - Angie Wagner

…let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me… Jeremiah 9:23

Gonna be a good day. I picked up the toothpaste. The image in the mirror boasted back at me: “Not a bad hair day. Rested. Nice to not be in too much of a hurry.”

My mind hopped around and settled on a struggle my friend had confessed to me................

.............. read the rest on on http://christiandevotions.us/feeling-good-angie-wagner/

And leave a comment there if you can relate!

Finding Solutions that Work for YOU

Somehow my wonderful husband made sure that our closet had shelves and rods before we moved in over a year ago.  We were both really excited about having a walk-in closet and had all sorts of creative ideas about how the space should be utilized. 


Unfortunately, I tend to be somewhat of a slob, and the walk in closet became my dumping ground.  And the bedroom.  And all our dressers.  Ok, I'm a total slob.




I clean them up every once in a while, but for some reason I take no pause before draping my clothes over whatever laundry basket or large piece of furniture happens to be closest.  (I draw the line at our bedside tables and my floor mirror, but really that's about it).  

Our closet-of-high-hopes stayed the way it was when we moved in, until the other day.  We finally put up shelves for blankets and linens.  Praise the Lord!  Then the other day Brad added a shoe shelf.  Now we are getting fancy!

I put a hamper of my own behind the door and moved some hangers closer to the end of the rod.  Maybe, if they are handy, I will hang things, I thought.  Maybe, if I see my hamper right there, the clothes will go in it.  Maybe.

Well, turns out I might be on to something.  I seem to be drawn to putting the clothes INTO the hamper.  I find myself reaching for a hanger and PICKING THINGS UP OFF THE FLOOR!  It's a crazy development, but I'm hopeful.

Somehow I might have stumbled upon something THAT WORKS FOR ME.  I've identified some patterns of behavior and I'm working with those; not so much against them.  So often we try to take someone else's amazing idea, and integrate it into our life; our home; our parenting style.  But it doesn't work.  And we are left feeling failure or disappointment or frustration.

The older I get the more I realize I have to figure out what works best FOR ME.  It doesn't mean that my way is the only way.  Or that it's ok to live like a slob.  It means that some things work better for others.  It means that what looks great on Pinterest, just might not be the ideal solution for my home.  And it means focusing on the positives - my skills and abilities - instead of fixating on my weaknesses and what I'm terrible at.

"Know thyself," an ancient Greek idea that few can argue with, is the take-home idea here.  Instead of walking around blindly trying to put on the habits and routines of others, we have to seek to understand what makes us tick; what makes sense for where we are at, today.  It's hard to sort through the barrage of suggestions, solutions, and idea galleries that inundate our lives.  But eventually it works so much better to walk away from the screen, think about our individual situation, and make a decision based on the real people involved.   

You aren't a failure because her way sounds impossible to you.  I'm not a lost cause because my dishes aren't all washed before I fall asleep on the couch.
Instead I'll consider the needs of my family and + add that to my proven strengths, to find = the solution that will work best for us right now.  

Today I won't beat myself up for the things I'm not good at.  I won't feel like a loser for the laundry that isn't put away or my desk piled up with papers.  I'm going to enjoy the little triumphs and celebrate learning something new about myself.  

And maybe I’ll clean my room while I’m at it. ;)

Wisdom Seeking

Today is Mother’s Day.  I like days like this. 

I know some people think these days that celebrate moms, or sweethearts, or whoever were just invented by card companies wanting to make money.  But I have seen such great reflection from people – on facebook, or at family cookouts, or at church – about how much they love their moms.  I think it’s fabulous.

And for those of us that ARE moms… It is an opportunity to really consider the meat of this job.  I mean, what the heck are we doing here? In THIS job?  I am SO NOT QUALIFIED for this.  ;)

On the other hand – I love it.  I love these little people that live here and crack me up and say the smartest things I’ve ever heard.  I love these crazy kids with their silliness – that would not be funny in any other circumstance – and their shenanigans, and their awesome dad.  I love how excited they get about getting me something for Mother’s Day and the SURPRISE! when I walk in the room and they have their priceless handmade gifts all ready for me in the middle of the room.

And I love everything I learn from them.  Not that it’s always fun to learn it.  But they teach me a lot.  Just being a mom, reveals so many truths about life.  I want the best for them.  I want to be exactly what they need.  I want to be the perfect mom.

Sounds kindof nuts, doesn’t it?

But, if you’re a mom, deep down somedays isn’t there a part of you that is striving for that? 

If you’re like me, there is a part of me every day that wants that.  And I know it’s impossible.  And I know I’m not perfect.  But I still have stupid-high expectations for myself.  And frankly, often for my kids. 

It can get ridiculous.  I can get unrealistic and disappointed in myself pretty fast.

This is part of the root of my blog.  My entire life, journaling has been part of my solution.  When I feel disappointed in myself or a situation or a person, writing things out always helps me see things more clearly.  When I realized as a mom that there is this community of women out there who feel the same way I do, I wanted to share my experiences... so maybe we could all feel a little better about ourselves. 

But then when I got started I saw that not only can we find comfort in community, but we can encourage and build each other up.  We are all learning hard lessons everyday as a parent, or a spouse, or a teacher, or an accountant, or whatever.  What if we were honest about these lessons?  What if we looked a little closer to how these life lessons line up with what God wants for us?

What if we seek wisdom?

We are all a work in progress.  This was very apparent as we started building our home… board by board, hour by hour.  A little here, a little there.  It was a process that was painful and time consuming and slower than we wanted it to be.  Much like working through our sin and confusion and questions about living. 

But when we had a house to live in… built by tired, blistered hands, and love and help from our family and neighbors.. then we really had something.  Something to show for all our hard work and tears. 

I want my life to be like that too.  I’m a work in progress.  And by the grace of God, I’ll have something to show for it.