UNPLUG: Step away from the Computer

NOTE:IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT CLICK ON THE BUTTON & FIND OUT then come back and finish reading. If you don't know about my Blog Fast, you can read about it here.

Most of you know that I'm suppose to be on a 40 day BLOG FAST so this challenge is just a stretch more for me. In order to finish off my 40 day blog fast and truly benefit with really focusing on my priority, I am going for more than March 27th (besides it's past), but be sure to click over to "A Soft Place to Land"for more details on Kimba's challenge, even though it has past & read the experiences of the many bloggers on Monday, March 30th that joined her great Challenge.

Some of you may be aware that my blog fast has not been complete. I must confess this. I have recently posted. I have been emailing. I have even been keeping up with the blogs that I follow if their posts show up in Google Reader, since I wanted to keep my emails & Reader to the minimum and not let that stack up. So I guess that would be considered "cheating". Yes, myself.

However, I must tell you that I have learned to prioritize my time with God first and it took a while to break the temptation. Now I read from HIS WORD before rushing to my emails, or blogs! I spend time in my devotionals before checking the Google Reader update. I have systematically learned to spend time in prayer and worship followed by reading my Daily Bible Reading. Then back to more prayer. This is teaching me discipline. After reading many of the blogs or noticing prayer needs, I've returned to prayer once more for those prayer requests. I am spending considerable less time on line. And I am breaking my dependence on the internet for fellowship and learning from God's Word (grinning) though it is one blessing I've treasured.

After reading this great CHALLENGE and idea by Kimba, I have been drawn to go a step further. I only pray that I won't have 100s of emails, Google Readers and all that other stuff to manage after so that I have to spend more time catching up later when my objective is to cut down and focus on JESUS! I was too late for her UNPLUG Challenge and plus I would not have been able to participate in her Mr. Linky on this Monday with a post. Since I'm not suppose to be posting! :) until post Easter.

SO I would like to challenge any of you, to consider during Holy Week or perhaps for Good Friday to offer a "sacrifice" of giving up whatever is distracting you from what really matters, then the following week share in a post about what took place in that 24 hours, what you unplugged (TV, computer, phone, blackberry, or all of the above) & what was your experience like for that time unplugged. I will put up a Mr. Linky the week of April 13th.

Truthfully, for me so far in this 40 day Blog Fast, I have really missed my communication with many of YOU and all that you have been sharing. But I have prayed for YOU & if you had prayer needs that I saw, I lifted them to the Lord. It's the fellowship & encouragement to grow & love.

I have stayed true to reading my Quiet Time with God (in Spanish)(focus in Isaiah) and my Bible Study with Tracy @ Thirsty for Him ~ Makeover of the Heart (since I figured that's what God was calling me to do, get my heart right before Him)! 

I have also been reading my chosen book for these 40 days, The Bible(NIV) and a book on prayer by Stormie Omartian (also in Spanish) "The Prayer that Changes Everything" NOW that's a real CHALLENGE! 

It has been such a discipline to do this and not jump on line or sneak a comment in to you and encouragement for all you have been pursuing & sharing while I'm away.

ADDED NOTE: I just figured out why I am almost to 40 days, when "Easter" is not for 2 weeks. They don't count SUNDAYs in the 40 days ... so I could have been posting on these days. I did my last two posts because they were timely as this one was also and I missed it. So I believe God sees my heart...and I have His grace for a few Sundays that I did abide in my "blog fast". But actually, my Sundays have really been my sweetest days: no TV, no internet, no emails, just me & HE & I think that's 3+ me:praying, reading, praising, Glooorrryyy! Alleluia! That's WORSHIP!

I hope Kimba does not object to me "paying her idea" forward. My challenge is that part of your "unplugged time" will PLUG you back into the main Source and deepen your faith walk with Jesus - that it will be a special time of spiritual connection, followed by you spending invested, quality time with any of the other priorities such as: family, spring cleaning, personal relationships, exercise, reading ... what ever you can do, away from being "plugged in" that perhaps has taken a "backseat" because of blogging, like prayer time, one on one time, etc....

I know you "get me" and what I'm asking...

Can you do it? Can you UNPLUG?

Will you DO it?

For me, since I confessed above ... I truly will be UNPLUGGING ... for Good Friday, April 10th and I may try this throughout the next two weeks except to clear & check mail. 

So if you write me and it's IMPORTANT please write that in the Subject, otherwise, you will truly have to wait awhile for a reply from me...as was my original plan until after

JOYFUL

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!!!

My SUPER SUNDAY post!

Let's celebrate JESUS & enjoy our families!

So, are you in for Good Friday or one day during Holy Week???

[let me know in the comments please but it's really between you & God]

"UNPLUG 4 JESUS"

Good Friday

April 10th, 2009

idea from Kimba @ A Soft Place to land

[if you don't know her or her blog be sure to visit 

& go see the other Blogger-Challengers this Monday, March 30th]

 

Hope you all are not disappointed in me and my break in my blog fast!

Psalm 16:11 (New International Version)

 ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life;         You will fill me with joy in Your presence,         with eternal pleasures at Your right hand

Psalm 119:9-12 (New International Version)

b Beth

...By living according to Your word.

 ¹⁰ I seek You with all my heart;         do not let me stray from Your commands.

 ¹¹ I have hidden Your word in my heart         that I might not sin against You.

 ¹² Praise be to You, O LORD;         teach me Your decrees.

Your Word I have treasured in my heart, 

that I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11 (NASB) 

Memory Verse for this past week!

FORTY YEAR JOURNEY....Amazing!!!

A MUST SEE!

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?

The following is taken from: http://www.thecrossfilm.com/index.php

"THE CROSS is the story of one man carrying a twelve-foot wooden cross on a pilgrimage around the world. It is a mission of love, peace, blessings and Jesus. It is one man walking out his purpose and destiny, one step at a time.

This compelling story is an inspiration and an adventure of life on the roads of the world and the reactions of people to the cross and, more importantly, its life-changing message.

Arthur Blessitt's story began with a simple act of obedience...making a large cross to hang on the wall of "His Place," a Jesus coffee house he had started in Hollywood, California. Then, in 1968, he began taking short trips with the cross along the Sunset Strip, giving out food to hungry hippies and telling them about Jesus. Soon, he began to feel Jesus calling him to carry the cross across America. He left Hollywood on Christmas Day 1969, beginning a journey that would see him walk across the entire country to New York and then on to Washington, D.C.

The next year, Arthur felt called to carry the cross in war-torn Northern Ireland. This kicked off what he soon discovered was to be a step by step, nation by nation, walk around the entire world. In 1988 he felt Jesus tell him to carry the cross in every nation. Ten years later, in 1998, he completed this mission, gaining access to North Korea through a series of incredible circumstances. Yet God still had more for him to do. And so he launched out to carry the cross in every island group throughout the world as well.

In June of 2008, Arthur finally completed his mission with the faithful assistance of his wife, Denise, who has been with him in 291 of the nations and island groups he's visited. Listed in the Guinness World Records for the "world's longest walk," Arthur has carried the cross in 315 nations, island groups, and territories and walked 38,102 miles -- a distance that circles the globe more than one and a half at the equator.

Arthur's true joy, however, comes from the Gospel and becoming part of the people groups he visits. For Arthur, the world is his home and family. "I love God and I love people," says Arthur, "I try to keep it simple." As he carries the cross, he stops to speak with people about Jesus and prays prayers of blessings. he has gone into many war-torn and troubled areas of the world. Huge crowds have often greeted him; yet most of the time he has walked the roads alone, except for the Presence of God. He has met many of the world's leaders, yet is at home with the poorest people on earth.

Arthur is the first to admit that he is the least likely of all for God to have chosen for such a calling. Thus, beyond all the rousing adventure, beyond all the lives that God has used Arthur to touch, lies the true heart of this documentary -- the story of facing life's challenges and pressing on. It is about smiling in the most difficult times and bringing hope in the face of despair. It is about inspiring audiences across the country to step out of the theater and into the destiny God has waiting for them, walking it out one step at a time."

The original DVD trailer can be seen HERE. I had to replace the other YouTube I had here due to copyright.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhYrBDtvHs

There are various YouTubes available... on different parts of his journey. To see photo's and information of when Arthur was in Mexico, please go here: http://www.blessitt.com/?q=mexico.html

Here I am on a Forty [40] day blog fast (still not over) and this man's MISSION was for 40 years!!! As we near Palm Sunday, Easter week and Resurrection Sunday, may we consider any "cross" that God has given us to carry as having one purpose and that is to GLORIFY Jesus!

GOD'S GREATEST BLESSINGS as YOU CARRY THE CROSS!

BE a WITNESS of JESUS daily!

It's one step of obedience at a time...just DO it!

If you enjoyed the Katina's  you can see more @ their blog by going  here: http://thekatinas.com/blog/ or their My Space here: http://www.myspace.com/thekatinas

Check this out! MANDISSA'S Freedom CD Being Released March 24th

Join CWO Internet Cafe Devotions & some great speakers April 6th through the 9th at the "A Woman Inspired Online Conference!" [See & click on button in the right hand sidebar!]

LOOK BELOW TO THE GREAT NEWS in RED!!!

it's below Mandissa's CD which you can listen by clicking on the >

An online audio conference will use the Internet as a conference venue. What this means to you is that you will be able to access the conference from anywhere in the world using standard browser software which they will provide. This software is compatible with all computers including Macs and it is provided by them, to you, with the cost of admission. All you need is a computer, internet connection, and speakers!

The conference will happen in real time but it will be recorded so if you can't be there then you can still download the sessions to listen to at your convenience.

Click on the play > button & hear some great new songs on Mandissa's CD being released on March 24th.[Be sure to pause my playlist above]

They're even giving away tickets to this conference! There are only 1000 spots available at this conference but they have allotted 10 tickets to give away to 10 lucky readers. If you want to skip the contest and guarantee a spot, you can purchase a ticket by going here for $24.95. Time and spaces are running out. 

BIG NEWS ....HURRY, HURRY...TWO FOR ONE!

knowing that times are tough and that is why they are offering a reduced rate until April 1 at midnight CST. Get your ticket for only $12.95! Don't let time slip away... register now! You definitely don't want to miss this opportunity because this is one women's conference that you definitely want to be a part of. PLUS, ticket holders will be entered into a contest to win lots of great prizes including autographed CDs from Mandisa and much, much more...

And Guess what? If you attend, you will be entered to win all kinds of prizes, including an iPod Shuffle, and an autographed Mandisa CD!! And speaking of the beautiful Mandisa… she is giving all the attendees some free downloads of her music! Woo Hoo!! They have a Virtual gift bag that's getting full and there's more being added daily. Check it all out A WOMAN INSPIRED!

http://www.awomaninspiredconference.org/

You'll be so glad you did! Don't you owe yourself a special blessing this Spring!

P.S. So sorry, but this doesn't mean that I'm back from my 40 day blog fast! I'm NOT! This was just from an email I received & then I ended up embedding the code from Mandissa's, and since it showed up on ALL my blogs, I had to add some info so it made some sense...looking forward to seeing ya' on Resurrection Sunday...