What is it about facebook that is so addicting? It's like a cyber drug for our generation. In college, it was a major social climbing device. If you got tagged in lots of pictures or had more than a few wall posts in a day, you appeared a little more popular, even if only online. For me now, it's mostly a passifier of time. I get on several times a day just because I'm bored and I have easy access to it from my phone. I hardly ever get on from my home computer anymore, but it's conveniently right at my fingertips throughout the day when I need something to do.
The ironic thing is that I never feel like I have enough time. I work two jobs, and I do a lot of freelance writing too. I literally feel like I'm overbooked at every second of the day. On numerous occassions, I've fallen asleep before I thanked God for a day filled with little blessings. I've had lost people on my heart, and I haven't talked to them yet because I just "haven't gotten around to it." Still, somehow, I always manage to find time for facebook.
That's the awesome thing about doing the facebook fast. It has given me an opportunity to focus on other things that could be passifying my time. Facebook has become a habit, and when I completely removed the option of getting on every 5 minutes while I'm at work or sitting on the couch at home, I managed to let a lot of other thoughts sink it. I'm not saying I'll do this forever. Actually, I fully intend to log on at midnight if I'm still awake. I like social networking sites. I think it is an incredible way of having regular conversation with people we wouldn't normally stay in touch with. That in itself can be a blessing if we use it correctly.
Anyway, I had been praying that God would soften my heart so that I could have the compassion I needed to really dive into this and be a living example to those who needed one. He did that for me to today. He also opened my eyes to a lot of things that I knew in a technical sense, but had never really experienced for myself. In particular, I was reminded of how empty a life is without Him, regardless of our profession, relationship status, financial stability, etc. You can have the best of the best, but a life governed by people and wealth will always keep you chasing after more.
Day one of my fast is almost complete. I plan to transfer my focus to my "day two person" at midnight, and also my fast. That isn't to say I will not continue to pray for the others own my heart. I will just dedicate a day of sacrifice to this person. I have chosen not to add names for the sake of their privacy, but please join me in prayer anyway. I am sure there are people in your own life that you could be praying for as well.
Tomorrow, I will be "fasting" from secular music. I know there are a lot of different opinions about what music is or isn't acceptable to listen to. I enjoy a lot of Christian music, but I also enjoy a lot of non-worship music, and I think that's okay too (like I say about a lot of things, this is another issue for another blog!) This may be something easy for some people, but 24 hours without freedom to listen to any song on any station is complete torture for me! I live for good music!
I hope that by listening to nothing but Christian music tomorrow, I will be uplifted and encouraged. I also hope that it will help me remained focused on my goal, which is to bring people to God. Something about listening to music inspires me, and when I listen to good worship music, I just want to shout out for God!
Anyway, I'm tired, so I'm going to wrap it up for the night. For those of you who are keeping up with me faithfully during this "fasting week," thank you for being patient with me. I nearly always wait until I'm close to passing out from lack of sleep before I write. This can't make for artfully written things for any of you to read, but I am thankful for your encouraging and insightful comments, no less.
God bless, good night, and happy Tuesday! I pray that we'll all remember to live out tomorrow like it's on purpose, and remember that it is the day that The Lord has made!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Facebook Fast
Before I begin, I feel that I should add this disclaimer: I did not write this to endorse NewSpring. In fact, I must admit that I happen to find some of Pastor Perry's frequently bold statements very off-putting; nonetheless, I've decided to start visiting the church (for numerous reasons which I'll be glad to discuss with you if you're curious), and I have been getting a lot out of the services. So if you're one of my many, many friends/acquaintances/family members who are still not really into NewSpring, please put aside your preconceived notions. After all, the church itself is not the intended focus of this blog. It just happens to be the place that God chose for me to be when He challenged me tonight.
Having said that...
Tonight I attended NewSpring Church for the fifth consecutive week (give or take). They are wrapping up a series called "Practical Atheists," which has had me particularly convicted on several counts. I especially appreciated tonight's message (minus the coarse language, but I'll discuss that another time as not to take away from the reason for posting this), in which Pastor Perry Noble encouraged the church to reach out to people who need Jesus. He reminded us that the people in our lives are not there by accident. If we know someone who doesn't know God, that's no accident either. Maybe God placed us in their lives, and them in ours, because we are the only person capable of touching them in a way that leads them to Christ.
There are two people whose names have been on my heart for a couple of months now. They don't know God, and I happen to know that neither of them are regularly surrounded by people that do. I might be their only chance at salvation. I know I have to talk to them, but I have been putting it off for fear of seeming judgemental or hypocritical. Maybe I'm also a little afraid that I won't have answers to all of their questions. I'm afraid I'll screw this up and that I'll ruin the one opportunity I had to bring either of them to Christ. It's a delicate situation, and I've been afraid to handle it.
Perry reminded us that it is not our fault if someone does not receive Christ. All we can do is work on the person's heart, but ultimately, it is their decision to seek a relationship with Christ. ("You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"). Furthermore, we aren't really called to do anything alone. My words alone may not be powerful enough, but with God, all things are possible. With God, who I should ask for the right words, the right timing, and the right amount of compassion, I might just be able to save a life. I just have to pray that His will be done, and understand that it has been, no matter the outcome.
At the end of the service, Perry had us write down names of people that God had placed on our hearts. I felt like this message was made for me. These two people immediately came to my mind again, and I wrote them down. As I was leaving, I was burdened by the names I did not write down. I decided I'd write them down when I got home, and that I'd pray for them all week as well. (The challenge was to pray for these people all week and to beg God to shed light on us so that we can be the witness He has called us to be to these non-believers).
I could not be more excited about this. I really felt like I needed to be challenged to do this. I've been putting it off for too long, and a weight is being lifted off of my shoulders now that I have decided to trust God to guide me in talking to others about Him.
But what does this have to do with a 24-hour facebook fast, you might wonder. Perry had asked the congregation to participate in a 24-hr fast from something that they love, and I was thinking about the animal sacrifices in the OT, and about how something pure had to be sacrificed to save someone who was impure. I cannot offer myself as a sacrifice for a couple of reasons: My heart is naturally wicked, for one, and because Jesus became the eternal sacrifice when He died on the cross for our sins. Still, I am fasting from facebook as a symbolic sacrifice of someone whose life I'd like to save.
I decided that I'd "fast" from something each day for the people that I'm praying for this week. Two people have been on my heart for a while, but three more people came to mind today. For each of these five people, I will dedicate one day this week. I will pray for this person, I will sacrifice something that I love to symbolize my dedication to this person's salvation.
For my "Day One Person," I am giving up facebook. I'll keep you guys posted throughout the week on what else I decide to give up. (I laugh at myself as I read this...I make it sound as if I have a million followers-ha!) If this is something that will encourage you as well, I'd like to invite you to join me. If it's not, I'd still ask that you join me in praying for the lost, and for the continued strength and faith for the found.
I'll end with the verse that spoke to me tonight:
"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
'Night guys! See you on facebook at approx. 12 am tomorrow!! :)
Having said that...
Tonight I attended NewSpring Church for the fifth consecutive week (give or take). They are wrapping up a series called "Practical Atheists," which has had me particularly convicted on several counts. I especially appreciated tonight's message (minus the coarse language, but I'll discuss that another time as not to take away from the reason for posting this), in which Pastor Perry Noble encouraged the church to reach out to people who need Jesus. He reminded us that the people in our lives are not there by accident. If we know someone who doesn't know God, that's no accident either. Maybe God placed us in their lives, and them in ours, because we are the only person capable of touching them in a way that leads them to Christ.
There are two people whose names have been on my heart for a couple of months now. They don't know God, and I happen to know that neither of them are regularly surrounded by people that do. I might be their only chance at salvation. I know I have to talk to them, but I have been putting it off for fear of seeming judgemental or hypocritical. Maybe I'm also a little afraid that I won't have answers to all of their questions. I'm afraid I'll screw this up and that I'll ruin the one opportunity I had to bring either of them to Christ. It's a delicate situation, and I've been afraid to handle it.
Perry reminded us that it is not our fault if someone does not receive Christ. All we can do is work on the person's heart, but ultimately, it is their decision to seek a relationship with Christ. ("You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"). Furthermore, we aren't really called to do anything alone. My words alone may not be powerful enough, but with God, all things are possible. With God, who I should ask for the right words, the right timing, and the right amount of compassion, I might just be able to save a life. I just have to pray that His will be done, and understand that it has been, no matter the outcome.
At the end of the service, Perry had us write down names of people that God had placed on our hearts. I felt like this message was made for me. These two people immediately came to my mind again, and I wrote them down. As I was leaving, I was burdened by the names I did not write down. I decided I'd write them down when I got home, and that I'd pray for them all week as well. (The challenge was to pray for these people all week and to beg God to shed light on us so that we can be the witness He has called us to be to these non-believers).
I could not be more excited about this. I really felt like I needed to be challenged to do this. I've been putting it off for too long, and a weight is being lifted off of my shoulders now that I have decided to trust God to guide me in talking to others about Him.
But what does this have to do with a 24-hour facebook fast, you might wonder. Perry had asked the congregation to participate in a 24-hr fast from something that they love, and I was thinking about the animal sacrifices in the OT, and about how something pure had to be sacrificed to save someone who was impure. I cannot offer myself as a sacrifice for a couple of reasons: My heart is naturally wicked, for one, and because Jesus became the eternal sacrifice when He died on the cross for our sins. Still, I am fasting from facebook as a symbolic sacrifice of someone whose life I'd like to save.
I decided that I'd "fast" from something each day for the people that I'm praying for this week. Two people have been on my heart for a while, but three more people came to mind today. For each of these five people, I will dedicate one day this week. I will pray for this person, I will sacrifice something that I love to symbolize my dedication to this person's salvation.
For my "Day One Person," I am giving up facebook. I'll keep you guys posted throughout the week on what else I decide to give up. (I laugh at myself as I read this...I make it sound as if I have a million followers-ha!) If this is something that will encourage you as well, I'd like to invite you to join me. If it's not, I'd still ask that you join me in praying for the lost, and for the continued strength and faith for the found.
I'll end with the verse that spoke to me tonight:
"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
'Night guys! See you on facebook at approx. 12 am tomorrow!! :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Happiness on a Budget
It's been a while, I know. If anyone's actually reading these things, you'll have to forgive me for neglecting my blog. I've just been busy. It isn't really by choice. I've been working non-stop to keep up with the never-ending stack of bills. They just keep coming, month after month. There's no end in sight.
I lived in an older, smaller house before the one I'm in now. I wasn't making quite as much money then though (not that I make a lot now), and I kept thinking "if I just made a decent salary, I'd be able to afford things that I want." I finally got a job making more money nearly a year ago. Soon after that, I decided it was time to move.
I don't regret moving out of that house. I loved it, and I have lots of fond memories of my time there, but the move was inevitable. It was old, and the house required more maintenance than I was able to keep up with. Nonetheless, I moved to a more expensive house. And why? Because I could afford it...at least in theory.
The problem with number-crunching though is that it never accounts for the money we blow every month. My numbers assume I'm paying my bills on time and that I'm making purchases primarily out of necessity. It doesn't account for emergencies either, or unexpected expenses. I finally got more money, and I assumed that meant I could afford more house. You'd think I'd have known better, seeing as how I was just getting comfortable in the old house with the new salary, but nope. I had more money, so I wanted more ways to spend it. And I got it.
So lately, I've been looking for a third roommate. (I have a roommate now, but we have a third bedroom that's basically being used for storage right now). It would cut some costs, and then I'd be able to buy a car. At least in theory, but again, that's assuming that I wouldn't blow the money I saved. Don't worry--I've also been looking for a better-paying job.
There's a pattern here, if you haven't noticed. The more I have, the more I want. I've realized that it may not be possible for me to ever be satisfied. I'm trying very hard now to change my mentality. I'm trying to embrace the present. It's not that I believe in settling. I believe there's actually something admirable about a need for constant improvement. Still, I think it's also important to appreciate where we are now and all that God has blessed each of us with rather than to act like it's never enough. That's an insult to our creator.
At NewSpring this Sunday, Pastor Perry Noble challenged his church with this question: if we aren't able to manage a little bit of money, why would God trust us with a lot?
...So true. I have a tendency to spend money. I also have a tendency to be broke. I have a tendency to want more money. I have a tendency to accidently spend money that belongs to God. I have a tendency to be irresponsible with my money, especially for someone who is on such a small budget.
I've got to learn to be careful with the money I have. I need to act like an adult. I need to act like an accountant for God. I always think I need more money to be happy, but what I actually need is to stop allowing money to govern my life. I need to budget and manage more wisely. I want to let God see what an excellent accountant I am, and then, he just might promote me to something that pays more.
I lived in an older, smaller house before the one I'm in now. I wasn't making quite as much money then though (not that I make a lot now), and I kept thinking "if I just made a decent salary, I'd be able to afford things that I want." I finally got a job making more money nearly a year ago. Soon after that, I decided it was time to move.
I don't regret moving out of that house. I loved it, and I have lots of fond memories of my time there, but the move was inevitable. It was old, and the house required more maintenance than I was able to keep up with. Nonetheless, I moved to a more expensive house. And why? Because I could afford it...at least in theory.
The problem with number-crunching though is that it never accounts for the money we blow every month. My numbers assume I'm paying my bills on time and that I'm making purchases primarily out of necessity. It doesn't account for emergencies either, or unexpected expenses. I finally got more money, and I assumed that meant I could afford more house. You'd think I'd have known better, seeing as how I was just getting comfortable in the old house with the new salary, but nope. I had more money, so I wanted more ways to spend it. And I got it.
So lately, I've been looking for a third roommate. (I have a roommate now, but we have a third bedroom that's basically being used for storage right now). It would cut some costs, and then I'd be able to buy a car. At least in theory, but again, that's assuming that I wouldn't blow the money I saved. Don't worry--I've also been looking for a better-paying job.
There's a pattern here, if you haven't noticed. The more I have, the more I want. I've realized that it may not be possible for me to ever be satisfied. I'm trying very hard now to change my mentality. I'm trying to embrace the present. It's not that I believe in settling. I believe there's actually something admirable about a need for constant improvement. Still, I think it's also important to appreciate where we are now and all that God has blessed each of us with rather than to act like it's never enough. That's an insult to our creator.
At NewSpring this Sunday, Pastor Perry Noble challenged his church with this question: if we aren't able to manage a little bit of money, why would God trust us with a lot?
...So true. I have a tendency to spend money. I also have a tendency to be broke. I have a tendency to want more money. I have a tendency to accidently spend money that belongs to God. I have a tendency to be irresponsible with my money, especially for someone who is on such a small budget.
I've got to learn to be careful with the money I have. I need to act like an adult. I need to act like an accountant for God. I always think I need more money to be happy, but what I actually need is to stop allowing money to govern my life. I need to budget and manage more wisely. I want to let God see what an excellent accountant I am, and then, he just might promote me to something that pays more.
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