OFFLINE & LOVING IT!

Yep! Been OFFLINE and loving it...although, it makes it difficult to share my blog without being logged into FB.

I have NOT been on FB recently.

I’ve been ‘offline’, ‘logged out’, and so free.

In just the first few days, the fruit of patience appeared on my branches.

My anxiousness has diminished.
I’ve had a good dinner ready in time for my husband’s arrival home from work.
I got more chores and errands done in a timely manner & with less stress.
I’ve had more conversation with my kids.
Opportunity knocked on the door and I was available to answer.
I’ve had time to hear from the Lord on direction for ministry and my future.

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that the BAD of FB definitely outweighs the good.

Disagree? That's fine. But I challenge anyone who doesn’t believe me to LOG OFF…or even better, deactivate their account for 1 week.

I doubt many will take this challenge. Or least the ones who need to take the time off, won’t. The ones who don’t have a problem, they’re never on there to start with and will stand up to this challenge. But trust me, it’s worth it to log off…and when you do, it's convicting to see how much your life is out of order with FB in it.

Which brings me to one revelation I’ve had this week…

By letting our kids watch cartoons on TV while we are on FB,

we are raising internet/screen addicts.

But it’s not just FB. Well for me it is. The 5 minutes here and there is already a time-drainer. But I know men and women…they’re on them all. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, what else is there? I’ve heard of a ‘StumbleUpon’ or something. QUESTION: WHO HAS TIME FOR ALL THESE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS?

Now if social media is your job…your real job, you are justified. If you do online marketing, multi-level marketing, you’ve got a reason…but for many of us, we have ‘real jobs’, ‘real duties’, and ‘real lives’ that we are robbing time away from on these avenues of entertainment. And I haven't even brought up the apps...the games...the other things uploaded to that device of distraction you carry!

What is it really? Entertainment. Entertainment sucks you in. Remember the times before the internet was a ‘necessity’, people were called “couch potatoes” because they sat in front of a different screen. Now with YouTube...you don't even need to turn on the TV, you've got entertainment in your pocket. So are you still a couch potato? Or a new name for a new device, in a new era? 

What can we be called?

• SCREEN JUNKIES?
• INTERNET ADDICTS?
• PHONE FANATICS?
• OBSESSED?
• HOOKED?

Don’t think so? Just this week, I read a few articles on parents who neglected their 2 year old twins and let them starve to death. I saw a story on a nine-month old that nearly died from not eating for about 2 months. The parents? Where were they? Not on crack…well, a new crack: internet games. They were hooked. And many of us are too!

I have 2 boys…I’ve been on FB before, ‘checking in’, ‘checking messages’ with my kids asking me to play with them, fix ‘em a snack…What do we say, “Just a minute…” right? Luckily for our kids, it really is (or hopefully is) only a minute or two…

But imagine these people out there…crying babies for food from behind the doors and their game is more important. But yet, how many of you have kids or spouses crying out for your UNDIVIDED, UNDISTRACTED attention and love. And while they may have their bellies full, they may in fact be starving to death emotionally.

What is it? It’s addiction. It’s idolatry. People who many never have had a drug or alcohol addiction misses it when it's right under their nose. I overcame a variety of addictions and broke free from them. I recognize in myself when I'm just starting to get hooked...and that's when I reel myself in. I know the claws of addiction. I know the lies, 'just this once'...'just a little'. I know them all to well. That's why I unplugged, I recognize when something/someone is fighting to become Lord over my life.

So maybe we “aren’t that bad”…right? We say it all the time. “I’m not as bad as them.” “I’m not like them.” But that’s where we get off course. We compare ourselves to others; others who are clearly not living out their purpose in life.

We have to look into the mirror – the Word of God. The Bible. The Holy Scriptures. The Truth. This is where we will see our idolatrous selves clearly. We will discover that we are slaves to things we have ‘justified’ were ‘necessary’ for too long.

Homework: Go to your concordance in your Bible or www.biblegateway.com and look up the words: idols, idolatry, idolatrous, and idolaters. Tell me what you find looking back at you in “the Mirror”.

What is it going to take?

I peer over the vast sea of people, overwhelmed by the destruction they cause themselves.

If only God they caught a glimpse of what You intend for them.

If only Lord they set You as Lord of their lives, as their only God...and not just one of their many gods.

Some days I intercede for them that they will wake up, repent, and follow You!

Other days I ask if it will take a taste of Your wrath for their eyes to open from their slumber and denial.

My heart is sad for those who neglect You Lord.

With their words they say they love You.
But their actions say they love themselves... and their sin.

Oh Lord, what will it take to turn these lukewarm believers into passionate disciples?

Help them love You first Lord.
Help them let go of their dreams, goals, and sin.
Help them grasp a hold of Your will and Your purpose for their lives.