Twitter Talk
I don’t get Twitter. I mean, I know what it is, but I don’t get why people do it…or more specifically, why people read it. No offense, but unless there is some sort of medical emergency so critical that I need an hour by hour update on your condition, no need to update me hour by hour, thankyouverymuch.
Now Facebook. Facebook I get. In the few short months since I’ve joined The Facebook Club, I’ve reconnected with 225 friends, and counting. I can’t think of any other venue through which I’d be able to accomplish this in my lifetime. To have my childhood best friend, my former co-workers, my sister, a kid I babysat when I was 19, and my neighbors (from every house I’ve ever lived in ) all in one place at the same time is nothing short of an internet miracle.
In my real day-to-day life, I consider myself to have done really well if I’ve had one adult conversation every couple days. And those conversations are usually with the check out people at Kroger and Target, having something to do with something I’ve purchased or something cute (or not so cute) my child has done. No lie.
I’ve practically given up on actually inviting a friend over or-heaven help me- going OUT with a friend. At least until Fall 2012 when Elliana starts kindergarten. But who’s counting?
So Facebook has been an answer to this isolated-stay-at-home-momma’s prayers. In between loads of laundry, carpool and homework, I can hop on line and strike up a 2-minute conversation with any one of my 225 friends. And it doesn’t even have to make sense! Oh, the beauty of it all!
I mean, seriously…where else can I get 42 comments after I ask the question: “What ever happened to Prell?”
And blogging. Obviously, blogging I get. And if you are reading this, you probably get it too. In one fail swoop I can get my reading AND my writing fix in Little. Short. Bits.
I can leave quickie- comments.
I can skim and scan.
No long-term commitment.
Come and go as I please.
Oh, and the absolute THRILL when my Facebook World and my Blogging World collide. It’s almost more excitement than I can handle.
This morning before anyone else woke up, I sat down on my back deck along with the thousands of birds who reside in my backyard, to spend some time with God . Honestly, I was a little frustrated. Not with God, but with myself. It had been awhile since I sat on my deck to pray. A LONG while—I’m ashamed to admit.
See, I fully expected God to speak to me in enormous and profound ways this past week while I was at the beach. To sort of make up for all the times the last few months I haven’t spent time Him. You know…sort of a “catch up” time. After all, God always speaks to me at the beach. I take an hour walk each morning, and God speaks to me. Period. I have a lot of questions, and I need a lot of answers. God’s got the answers. It’s simple.
But as the days rolled along at the beach, I failed to hear much of anything at all. Except static. Very annoying.
So I sat quietly and started reading and meditating on the things of God this morning, and I heard God say to me,
“I miss you.”
And in an instant, I got it. I heard God and I understood in a microsecond what He was really saying to me.
In the last several months, little by little, I have abbreviated my prayer time. It wasn’t on purpose. Things got busy. Didn’t go as planned. Sick kid, dirty house, tired mom, blog blog blog, blah blah blah…
Little by little, I exchanged deep intimacy with my Heavenly Father for a prayer life of Twitter Talk and Facebook Status Updates.
“God help me today.”
“Thank you for my kids.”
“What should I say to this person?”
“God, I’m confused.”
“Lord, help me enjoy this day.”
“Speak to me, Lord.”
“Thank you for our house, our car and the sun.”
Little. Short. Bits
.
Quickie comments.
Skim and Scan.
Come and go as I please.
No long term commitments.
And no intimacy, whatsoever.
Certainly, God wants me to talk to Him all day about everything. Nothing wrong with that. But my Twitter Talk ultimately replaced the hours I used to sit down and soak in God’s presence and consume His word. And, boy, have I suffered for it. Not in the way you may think. God wasn’t over me chastising and punishing me.
Instead, over the last few months, I’ve groped, wandered and complained. I’ve felt anxiety, uncertainty and fear. I’ve allowed my heart to go unguarded, while impurities crept in, giving way to sin. My thinking has been scattered. I’ve struggled with hearing God clearly…or hearing Him at all. All as a direct result of ignoring God’s call to draw near to Him…to go deeply in Him.
“The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I do not rebel and turn away. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will. And I know I will triumph.” Isaiah 50:5,7
I am still determined to do God’s will. After all, this is still my Year of Yes. But in order to do God’s will, I must know God’s will. And in order to know God’s will, I must spend time with God.
Therefore, beginning anew today, I am not going to worry about how everything else will get done…the kids, the housework, the book proposals. There is always too much to get done in any one day, anyway. Instead, I will set my alarm each morning and seek God first…
“I will hurry without lingering to obey your commands.” (Psalm 119:60)
…knowing that when I do this, God will see to it that I am equipped to complete every single thing within His will for me.
You realize what this means, don’t you? I’m starting out my summer vacation (aka, now I can SLEEP IN!!) with a commitment to get out of bed each day by way of the alarm clock. If you know me, you know that is HUGE.
I know this is not some great revelation, praying first thing in the morning.
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3)
But even in my zeal to hear God’s voice and teach others to do the same, I have forgotten the importance of this spiritual discipline. I have forgotten that true intimacy with God requires time and commitment. I have forgotten that my relationship with Jesus—the depth of relationship I desire, anyway—cannot exist on 200-character interactions.
I’m so thankful God doesn’t let me stray too far before He woos me back in.
Speaking of relationships, I think I’ll actually call a friend on the phone and make some plans for lunch this week.
Great thoughts.
And Prell is apparently still available. At Walgreens (Prell Classic), CVS. and Amazon (Prell Original). But it just doesn't look the same in a modern bottle instead of the squeezable tube like toothpaste.
Hadn't thought about it in years, but that was what we used when I was a kid!
I love this post and I am so glad I was blessed to read it. I needed it! Thank you for your honesty.
Sandy, I think you've hit on something really important here. in this day and age, we tend to treat God like we treat anything else–with quick snippets. But a holy God demands so much more. I'm glad you reminded us of that.
These were great words! I especially liked "God will see to it that I am equipped to complete every single thing within His will for me." This is a something I have just recently been reminded of also…our daily earthly obligations will never be completed, so turning it over to Him, and focusing on Him, we will do just as you wrote…complete every single thing within His will. How liberating is that!! But I still need to be reminded of it daily as deadlines zoom.
I remember Prell in a green bottle with a fake pearl in it to show how thick it was and how "thick and luxurious" it would make your hair….
Welcome back girl! I can so relate! I need a wake-up call every now and then to draw closer to God. It seems like the easiest thing in the world to get distracted and busy and before I know it I traded that special intimate relationship for a watered down "twitter" version:)
Oooops! I'm having an extra blond moment. It was actually not Tony (some mysterious new guy) posting the above comment, but just me, forgetting to log out of my husband's account! Sorry:)
oh my friend – this was one amazing post. Too often, twitter talk with our Lord is too near and dear to my heart. What a great reminder…especially when I go right now and log into Twitter (cuz I do get it, but not really Facebook as much…hee hee).
Hey Sandy,
Welcome back and thanks! I can totally and completely appreciate where you were, where you are at and look forward to joinning you on where you are going…
Prell… They still make that stuff? I always wanted my mom to buy Agree. I thought it smelled so good.
Just came by because I missed you and am praying for you and your family. Love ya.
Thank you, Sandy. I had been struggling with the same thing. Your plan is perfect and a great reminder for me. Thanks.
Pat S.
Lago Vista, TX
I love how gentle God is with us. "I miss you" will melt your(my) heart faster than a 1000 "You really should spend more time with Me"'s. He's so good.
As usual another great post. First of all, I have twitter, but I never "tweet". I don't get it either.
Secondly, I LOVE facebook (I will be sending you an friend request). I started last summer when I was looking to do a High School Youth Group reunion.
Thirdly, I have noticed myself "tweeting" to God too. Or start praying and my mind start wondering to other things. Doing it in mornings would be a great thing for me, so I'm going to start doing that.
It wasn't until this pasted Sunday when I sang a special that I felt God plucking at my heart. I have actually posted me singing this very song on my blog. But all in one Sunday I vowed to open my heart completely and spend more time with him in prayer, as well as signed up to teach the 3-5 year old classroom. I feel him reaching for me, and the "static" is starting to clear… It is SO refreshing!
Thanks for sharing this awesome message with all of us today. It really hit home, as I was feeling that I needed to spend more intimate time with Him…Our lives get so crazy and sometimes we forget. I especially love the part about how He gently woos us back to Him…Isn't He awesome!
OK – before I go back and read the second half of your post I just have to say…
I LOVED PRELL!!!
Michelle
I totally don't get twitter…at all but I get at least ten emails a day from people asking me to tweet with them.
As far as God missing me…that's where I've been lately. Can't be here and there at the same time, know what I mean?
Praying for your mornings, sweet friend.
Hi,
I just found your beautiful blog site…Congrats! It is very inspiring and amazing…I added to your followers list…
I also like to "inspire others toward Jesus"…if you have a moment, please visit me at
JESUS KNOWS YOU BEST.BLOGSPOT.COM
All the best,
K.Frangeskos
Great post, Sandy. Very tongue-in-cheek, and a good reminder not to let distractions get in the way with real relationships with God and others. I also don't get Twitter, and refuse to join it. (I also rarely visit FB.) One thing I'm excited about is that starting from July, I will be making a longer drive to work, which means I get a longer one-on-one prayer time. Can't wait!
Ouch!!!
time and commitment…
oh, how I love sleep, yes I do!
alarm clock, people use those? I've been convicted about sleeping in and letting my 2 year old wake me up… okay, okay, I get it. Use the alarm clock.
BTW… I DO get FB!!! Want to be "friends"??? We can keep each other accountable with the alarm clock! :o)
Don't update your status too early, I'm on Mountain time!
Thanks for the heart check.
Hi Sandy,
I have been on your blog many times and have been deeply touched by your story and your series on depression. So moved, and feeling so badly for struggling myself, with trials so much smaller than what you have endured. I couldn't even comment. Thank you for this post. I needed to hear it!
And I don't "get" twitter, either, and Facebook seems very similar in many ways. I love the blog world because it seems "Deeper", although it is mostly people you don't even know. Kind of a strange reality!
Anyways, thank you for your comments on my blog. You have really blessed me.
Hi Sandy,
Always nice to visit you hear….
Keep up the great writing…
I left you a message on my site at
JESUS KNOWS YOU BEST.BLOGSPOT.COM
under the post "What do you need?"
Please visit when you get a moment.
Thanks and God Bless…
K.Frangeskos
This is a wonderful analogy and beautifully written. I am a ministry twitterer and a ministry facebooker, so I understand it perfectly. Without my deep, face to face time with the Lord, everything else is just meaningless, but when I'm walking connected with Him, in deep fellowship with HIm, I enjoy twittering with Him throughout the day too. I love to talk to Him all day long to keep my mind on Him.
Without that bond with Him, however, my short conversations with Him seem empty.
What great thoughts to chew on…
This is an awesome post. I'm new to Facebook and I don't get Twitter either. But I totally get this post. I just sent you a Facebook Friends request. : )
You said it, "true intimacy with God requires time and commitment".
It's so easy to allow the daily events to interfere with that precious time.
BTW, I do twitter in spurts. It actually helps from a work related way. I am able to communicate and get feedback on things. And I can connect and follow people who I want to eventually have a real relationship with, not personal but professional. I've found consultants to work with through twitter. I can ask a question of many social media types and they actually answer me directly.