The Bible Challenge
Stepping Away From Devices And Into God's Word
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
"“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
Today I'm writing to offer you a challenge. I'm challenging myself and I want to challenge you as well. This is a challenge that will strengthen your marriage, help prepare you for marriage, empower you to be a better parent, a better friend, a better son/daughter, a challenge that will drastically change your life.
What is this challenge? It all started with an email. This email to be exact....
"Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!"
Then, as some of you know, I accidentally left my cellphone out in the rain while in a rush to get my kids in the house and all their toys back on our patio. I discovered my mistake later that night. I slowly opened my front door hoping that I was wrong and my cellphone was snuggly stuck somewhere warm and dry; perhaps in between a couple couch cushions. Unfortunately, there it was laying on the bench on our front porch covered in rain droplets.
Everything seemed to be working normally....at first. My husband told me to shut it off immediately and let it dry out for a couple days. I was a bit stubborn. (A rare occurrence...haha) I was certain my phone was functioning fine and, after thoroughly drying it with my hair dryer, plugged it in over night to charge. The next morning my phone was pretty much fried. (Should have listened to hubby <--- shhhh don't tell him that!)
I went a day without a phone....no texts, no checking emails on the go, no taking pictures of my kids, no Facebook. I felt isolated in a way.
Then a friend of mine posted this article on Facebook and BAM; it clicked. I think God was speaking to my heart on this.
What is this challenge? It all started with an email. This email to be exact....
"Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!"
~Author Unknown
Everything seemed to be working normally....at first. My husband told me to shut it off immediately and let it dry out for a couple days. I was a bit stubborn. (A rare occurrence...haha) I was certain my phone was functioning fine and, after thoroughly drying it with my hair dryer, plugged it in over night to charge. The next morning my phone was pretty much fried. (Should have listened to hubby <--- shhhh don't tell him that!)
I went a day without a phone....no texts, no checking emails on the go, no taking pictures of my kids, no Facebook. I felt isolated in a way.
Then a friend of mine posted this article on Facebook and BAM; it clicked. I think God was speaking to my heart on this.
“I can recall a time when you were out with your children you were really with them. You engaged in a back and forth dialog even if they were pre-verbal. You said, ‘Look at the bus, see the doggie, etc.’ Now I see you on the phone, pushing your kids on the swings while distracted by your devices. You think you are spending time with them but you are not present really. When I see you pick up your kids at day care while you’re on the phone, it breaks my heart. They hear your adult conversations. What do they overhear? What is the message they receive? I am not important; I am not important.”
In a 100-word paragraph this concerned woman who has cared for babies since 1977 revealed a disturbing recipe … How to Miss a Childhood....
....How to Miss a Childhood
*Keep your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence; always let the caller take priority.
*Keep your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence; always let the caller take priority.
*Carry your phone around so much that when you happen to leave it in one room your child will come running with it proudly in hand—treating it more like a much needed breathing apparatus than a communication device.
*Decide the app you’re playing is more important than throwing the ball in the yard with your kids. Even better, yell at them to leave you alone while you play your game....." Continue Reading
I was both convicted as I read this article and thankful. Thankful because I was probably about 70% on the right track, but convicted because I wasn't totally there. A trend was revealed to me. I had become more dependent on a device then God. I was more dependent on my interactions with social networks my friends over the internet then I was on God. If I was following this trend now, how much worse off would I be ten years from now. What would my children be learning from my actions? If you're a teen or married with no children this can also apply to time missed with your friends, family, or spouse.
This not only spoke to me about my cellphone but my computer usage (managing my photography business, blog, social networking, etc).
So I decided to challenge myself to "nip this in the bud."
What is the challenge? I'm calling it the....
Bible Challenge.
The Bible Challenge
(Print The Bible Challenge - Click HERE)
Find a small Bible (about the size of your cellphone) and carry with you everywhere you bring your cellphone. When you use your cellphone, use your Bible. Think of the great impact this will have on our children, our spouses, our friends, seeing us place the same (or greater) value on the Word of God as we do our cellphones. You don't have to read it very long, just a verse or two....it will only take a few seconds.
We are living in such a fast paced society where everyone is on the run doing something. Having a busy schedule isn't a bad thing, as long as our priorities are in the right place and we aren't missing out on what is truly important. Years from now when my kids are grown I want them to look back and remember all the special moments we shared together, I want them to remember a mother who was founded in the Word of God, I want them to have a strong foundation in Christ no only because of what I TOLD them but because of how I LIVED out my faith, I don't want them to remember a mother who was distracted and too busy to enjoy them.
I hope this speak to your heart and God is able to enrich your life through this challenge.
Feel free to grab a button and share this challenge on your website or blog, spread the word and let's start a God-centered, Bible-reading revolution!! :-)
This not only spoke to me about my cellphone but my computer usage (managing my photography business, blog, social networking, etc).
So I decided to challenge myself to "nip this in the bud."
What is the challenge? I'm calling it the....
Bible Challenge.
The Bible Challenge
(Print The Bible Challenge - Click HERE)
Find a small Bible (about the size of your cellphone) and carry with you everywhere you bring your cellphone. When you use your cellphone, use your Bible. Think of the great impact this will have on our children, our spouses, our friends, seeing us place the same (or greater) value on the Word of God as we do our cellphones. You don't have to read it very long, just a verse or two....it will only take a few seconds.
We are living in such a fast paced society where everyone is on the run doing something. Having a busy schedule isn't a bad thing, as long as our priorities are in the right place and we aren't missing out on what is truly important. Years from now when my kids are grown I want them to look back and remember all the special moments we shared together, I want them to remember a mother who was founded in the Word of God, I want them to have a strong foundation in Christ no only because of what I TOLD them but because of how I LIVED out my faith, I don't want them to remember a mother who was distracted and too busy to enjoy them.
I hope this speak to your heart and God is able to enrich your life through this challenge.
Feel free to grab a button and share this challenge on your website or blog, spread the word and let's start a God-centered, Bible-reading revolution!! :-)
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