AND PRAYER

USING TECHNOLOGY TO REACH OUT IN GOD'S LOVE

 

 

Caring by Connect: Connecting to show we Care.

 

 

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 Just because we CAN do something doesn't mean that we SHOULD.  So let's ask some questions.

 

WHAT ?  What exactly is Twitter ?  And what does God's Word say about it's use?

 

Of course there are absolutely no references to the word "Twitter" in any Scripture that I have found ... lol...

However there are LOTS of admonisions about how we are to speak and act toward others.

 

One of my favorite verses is Philipians 4:8 "Whatever is True, Honorable, Righteous, Pure, Lovely, of Good Repute, Excellent or Worthy of Praise,,, let your mind dwell on THESE things."

 

And let us not forget "speaking truth in love".

 

WHY?

 

 Ask yourself this question>>>>   Not just Twitter's question of WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW ?

 

But answer this question >>>>   WHY are you doing it ? 

 

Human behavior says that if a tool is not of value to you, you will not use it.

 

    For what purpose am I doing this? What's my motivation? my calling and my passion?

 

MY PERSONAL EXAMPLE:

 

My passion is Communication ---  I believe people need to feel loved, and that they are valued

"Faith comes by HEARING... the Word of God"... which means SOMEONE has to SPEAK it.

 

I have adopted the name Ellen5e because it is my name with a simple way to remember my mission on this earth as I see it now.

My Five E's are:

 

EXALT the Savior   --- I will always sing praises and tell of His Mercies, for God has been good to me.

 

EQUIP the Saints   --- What I have been given is not mine... it is through teaching what I have learned and giving to others that the blessings are multiplied not only for others, but also myself

 

EDIFY the Body   ---  Lifting each other up in prayer and encouragement, spurring one another on to good works, where can I help? 

 

EXAMINE Myself   ---  If I am not thinking properly and testing my thoughts,word, actions and the words of others against the Truth of Scripture, I may stumble. And worse yet, I may cause others to fall as well.  Tho' I may fall, I will not FAIL... if I repent and learn from the mistake then anyone alongside me has a chance to learn vicariously.

 

EVANGELIZE the World   --- Not only have I been commanded to go out with the Great Commission stated by our Lord, but I WANT to tell the world of the Good News... No... the AWESOME news that though I was filthy and full of sin... GOD loves me anyway!! No matter what. He calls me His child. He actually WANTS to love me.  And if He can love and forgive me, I can more easily overlook when others make mistakes.

 

ABC's of Jesus example for us all.

 

AUTHENTIC and ACCESSIBLE:  Using Twitter allows us to share life as we REALLY are.  Scripture tells us that the lips will speak what is or is not in the heart.  God has told us the importance of speaking the TRUTH, of having our YES mean yes, and our NO mean no. 

 

BEHAVIOR and BLOOMING: I am a BEHAVIORAL EXAMPLE: I am living out in the light of ACCOUNTABILITY.  Surest way to expose sin is to be out in the open amoung firends. 

     Am I WALKING my TALK ?   Am I really living the way I profess ?   There are many people who say that the church is full of judgemental hypocrites that say on thing but do another.  It's so bad that many people have a poor view of anyone who even uses the title Christian.  By living my life openly, people see that I am not some religious kook, but a person just like they are. Soon they can identify that we have more in common than they thought. They'll recognize that the church is not filled with people who do not sin, but those whose sin no longer holds them captive.  And when the fruits of the Spirit start to bloom in our life, we will be appealing in ability to act without reacting.  To run the race to completion even after a set back or injury.

 

CONNECTING and COMMUNITY:  Because God created us NOT to be alone, and because Satan works on our minds if we isolate from one another, it is vital to connect with other people. Not just surface acquaintence but real depth and understanding. "They will know we are Christians by our love" not only for each other, but for the love of our "enemies".

If we are faithful in communicating the Gospel we can help another person be saved from eternal separation from God and enter into the Joy of His Presence FOREVER!!!

 

JESUS was our example in all of these things.  Twitter is a tool that I can use toward doing the same.

 

WHO?

Can communicate with any follower and meet new people who follow you (if you let them) and whom you can follow.

I'm only going to listen to those that I have an interest in. So tune out the "noise" of those salesmen-types who recruit but don't put into the relationship.

Most of Twitter benefit comes from being able to contact many people all at once without having to launch your email acct, or your FaceBook or web page... just blast it out. Short and sweet and to the point.  Good friends will answer back and tell you how they see it. They will be involved in following your life like checking in on another brother or sister.  Twitter crosses age divide allowing for elder, more experienced to learn what's HIP and interesting to the younger generation, while at the same time offering the wisdom that comes from experience to the less experience youth.  IF they chose to LISTEN.

 

Just like in all my other relationships Twitter allows me to decide on the depth of relationship I want to have with somebody. Direct messages allow me to communicate at a deeper level without the scrutiny or embarrassment of the Twitter Universe. 

 

 

WHERE?

GO TO THEM ---  Again the PORTABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY OF Twitter as a communication tool is great.

Not only can you take it with you, but you are not tied up to the computer, or the home phone and each of their limitations.

We cannot compete with the omnipresence of God, but having the tools with us lets us use them wherever we are.

 

Twitter can Insert any details, directions, maps, etc.

 

 

WHEN?

SET A TIME --- MANAGE THE TIME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T "MAKE TIME" BUT NEED TO PRIORITIZE HOW YOU "SPEND" TIME.

Because it is only 144 characters it is very fast and not as much of an inconvenience to either party.  Because it is so FAST, and posts immediately, we can make meet up plans in a minimal amount of run up time and discuss exactly where to meet.

 I can invest in the lives of others by using the tools that are available to me. And TWITTER has become a very good tool for meeting people that I have never before come in contact with, from all over the world, across racial and socio-economic boundaries.

 

We are admonished to make the most of our time.. for the days are evil... we know not when he's coming back.  We may not get another chance to be Jesus to someone.

 

The TIME is NOW !  How IMPORTANT is it anyway?

 

 

 

 

 

===================== OTHER TAKE HOME APPLICATION ======================

 

.                                        , 

Steven Covey's Suggestions for time/ task management

 

 

   1. Get 20 or 30 notecards. On each card, write down one thing you should do, want to do, hope to do, plan to do, or dream of doing. Include everything, no matter how large or small. Keep this up until your brain runs dry.

 

   2. When you've written down all your goals, plans, and ideas, separate the cards into two piles: things that have to be done right this minute (or feel like it) and those that don't.

 

   3. Now go through both of these piles, separating each into "important" and "not important" stacks. The four resulting stacks correlate with the Covey Quadrants.

 

   4. Carefully place both your "not important" card stacks in a safe spot. This, if my experience is any indication, will ensure that you'll never find them again. If you do happen to stumble across them at any time in the future, burn them.

 

   5. Commit to eliminating from your schedule all the activities that didn't make it into the "important" stacks. If you have time after doing your important and urgent things, use it on important but not urgent activities. No matter how pressing something may seem to be, if it's not important, just don't do it.

 

As you focus more on what's important to your soul, filling your schedule with the kinds of things that are vital though maybe not due this minute, every day will bring more enjoyment and refreshment. You'll be fascinated and invigorated