R U wondering how we ever got by without cell phones? U don't even have to type in the entire word because there are great abbreviations U can use to save time. U can ask someone RUOK (are you O.K), or tell them their message caused LOL (laugh out loud). The first time Jon ever got LOL, it was from a female, and he thought it meant "lots of love." He thought "awe, how sweet", but then was somewhat relieved when he found out the true meaning.
A great text communicator can also add some facial expressions so that the message comes across as intended. There is %-) which means confused. :-D is laughing. My favorite is the simple happy expression of :)
A couple of weeks ago we had a Civil War in the Boulware home. My daughter was confused as to why a friend was mad at her. She proceeded to show me the line of communication she had been having all day. It came down to her joking about something that probably did not come across as a joke to her friend. My daughter said, "But Mom, I ended it with ;-) , which apparently means a "wink." I advised her to call this friend in person, and that is where the war began. I was told that to call someone and discuss a problem over the phone (voice to voice) was unheard of and embarrassing. My other daughter and Jon got into the action and it became old school vs. the techies. You can imagine the exchange:
Old School: "Back in our day, you had to call someone on the house phone"
Techies: "You only call someone on the house phone if they are not answering their cell phone"
OS: "We talked to someone so they know your tone of voice and sincerity"
T: "That is just weird"
I really could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. We all went to bed mad. Another banner evening in the Boulware home.
This week my Bible Study Group talked about prayer, and some things really hit me between the eyes. I consider myself to have a fairly good communication with God. I get up early before everyone in the house and read a devotional and pray. Some mornings it is a little rushed, but most mornings it is a nice exchange that starts the day. But is it really an exchange? I do most of the talking. How often do I let God just talk to me. How often do I make an effort to listen to His voice? That would require complete silence and a blank mind, and I am easily distracted, and often in a hurry to get my day going.
I know we live in a very unique time in history. We can communicate with people on the other side of the world in minutes, and we can have a relationship with a person without even seeing them face to face. Do we do this with God too? I think we can easily text in our requests without ever stopping to hear His voice. The Bible is full of great men and women of faith who found the gift of being quiet before God. They listened for his voice so they could understand better God's will and purpose for them. Even Jesus, God incarnate, spent intimate and quiet time with His Father.
When I think of my own children and husband, it is the quiet times that I get with them (the one on one time) that is really special and revealing. I hear things that are meaningful. Often when I am alone in the car with the girls we talk about our joys, frustration, disappointment and hurt. Jon and I try to go for walks (not often enough) where we can talk without being interrupted by one of our children. Wherever it is that we get this intimate time with each other, it feels good to connect with the people you love in a deeper way. God wants that with us!
Some of the suggestions of having quiet time with God is to be still, relaxed and having an open mind. Things will come to your mind during this time that are either a prompting or a conviction. We are often hesitant to be quiet before God because we are afraid of what He will tell us. Sometimes God is pushing us to do something that is out of our comfort zone, or something we don't want to face that is holding us back from His full will for our life. You might want to make short notes on what goes through your mind during these quiet times. Be careful with all that goes through your head, and always make sure it is scriptural and from God. He would never prompt you to do anything that was not in His Word, which is why going to scripture is always important.
In looking back on my journey, I can see that it is in those moments of my life when all I can do is look up and submit everything to God that I have received the most clear messages of love and purpose for my life. God is still gracious and merciful to be at work in my busy life. He brings people into my path, and provides opportunities for me that I don't deserve. But those quiet times are the most cherished and deepest times. Those moments when it is just Him and me and I have nothing to say and can feel the desires of His heart. Psalm 46:10 is the greatest reminder about being quiet before God:
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
I write this knowing that it might be a completely foreign concept for many people reading this Blog to be quiet before God. But consider even five minutes of this kind of personal communication this week. We can all use peace and quiet in her heads. You might be surprised at what God will place on your heart. You might even get direction or an answer to something that has been troubling you. How blessed we are that there is a God who calls us to a quiet and intimate time with Him. The creator of this universe wants to have time with you!!!
This is IMHO (in my humble opinion)
B4N (Bye for now)
Sandy :)
