Technology ROCKS!!!

I get amused when I hear folks talking about the “good old days” when we could leave our doors unlocked, where the worst thing we did in schools was chew gum, where kids played outside using their imaginations, and gas was 23 cents a gallon (or less). But were the good old days -- really that good? Were the good old days that good when tornadoes came without warning because, without technology, no one could see them building ahead of time. And were the good old days that good when it took days to communicate with a loved one because the only communication was "snail mail". Now we can communicate instantaneously by social media and email. In the good old days we had to stop at a pay phone to make a call. We had to carry a camera for photos, and an extra “Palm Pilot” that carried our contacts in it. Now we have cell phones that do it all. I love this photo of “Before and After" photo.

My word for today is TECHNOLOGY: methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes.

Yesterday I posted that I had been on a retreat for the weekend. That meant being unplugged from technology. As most know, my personal mission since my husband graduated to heaven 7+ years ago, has been to provide a daily blog and Facebook post (without exception). I do my best to post before 6 am, with the only exceptions being when I’m out of the country or out of cell coverage. I didn’t like those “exceptions”, so I set out for a solution. That’s when I discovered Hootsuite, which is an app that gives me the ability to schedule my Facebook or any other social media platform to post at the specific time I need it to. Now, I use Hootsuite and for my blog, I simply schedule it in my Google App – blogger. So, when a friend, who knew I was on an "unplugged" retreat, asked on my FB post “How do you do this when I know you are on retreat?,” I explained Hootsuite to her. Just maybe you can use that app if the need arises, too!.

Sometimes it’s good to UNPLUG from technology so we can hear more clearly from God, to walk a short distance rather than taking the car, to climb stairs instead of taking the elevator or escalator. Sometimes it’s better to visit someone face-to-face, rather than texting or calling. It's a treat to recall good memories from the past, but being alive in this day and this time, in this generation.....is right when and where God planned for us to be. We are here on purpose and if we embrace the opportunities, the technologies, the possibilities and the experiences of these good new days, they will be the BEST DAYS of our lives.

Thanks be to God for TECHNOLOGY and those incredibly wise and gifted inventors and innovators who used their God-given minds to give us shortcuts and conveniences – especially when we need them the most. And, I'm grateful to get to connect with amazing people like you. Thanks, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and to all the other inventors and innovators that made life so much easier for us. Thanks, God, for being the unparalleled Creator of all of us -- Who can give us ideas, creativity and witty inventions on a daily basis. We just have to tap into His wisdom and creativity!

Jesus said “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...." John 14:12. Jesus took His message by donkey or by foot. Today, TECHNOLOGY has taken that same message around the world and the spread of Christianity is nothing short of supernatural. There are still huge segments of the world’s population that have never even heard the name of Jesus. May we pray continually for TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION that will open doors for ALL to hear the GOOD NEWS so we can say, "Even so, Lord Jesus, COME!"

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?
These days, it's almost impossible to have a meal or a focused conversation with someone without being interrupted by a phone call or text message. How does it make you feel to be having a nice conversation with someone, and then THEIR phone rings or dings that indicates a text message coming through, AND, without even a second thought, they leave you hanging while they answer their phone or text message? Ugh! And how do you feel if you're sitting at the dinner table with others and instead of carrying on conversation with you, you seem to be the only one at attention because the others are all checking their Facebook, Instagram or emails?

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones, AND I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others and being laser focused on others in their presence go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member. It's like going into a store -- you made the effort to go to the store and BE THERE, when the store's phone rings, and the sales clerk answers it and carries on a conversation with them, instead of honoring the fact that YOU ARE THERE!

The point was made ever so profoundly yesterday morning as I sat on my friend's lovely screened-in porch that overlooks the beautiful pond and fountain, sipping my coffee, worshipping and praising my Lord as I read my devotion book and scriptures, WHEN.....my phone dinged, alerting me to check out who just left a text message for me. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that's coming over later today, or one of my children or grandchildren needing me. Right? Oh, so WRONG! I was fully engaged in conversation with my Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth, My Creator, My Savior Who Gave His life for me, My Confidant, Healer and the King of all Kings....and I let myself be interrupted. Oh, and to make matters worse....while I was checking that ding, I just had to check my Facebook account and any emails that may have come in. Are you kidding ME? How could I be so inconsiderate? How could I be so unthoughtful? Suddenly, I was well aware of how rude and disrepectful I have been. Immediately, I heard God's tender and loving words "Heaven to Donna!!!! Could I have your undivided attention please?" While begging for forgiveness, I took the phone into the house and then went back to my Welcomed Guest and resumed my one-on-one with The Almighty! My goodness!

So let's do a Where's Waldo?" search. Where is the object in this photo that is used by the enemy to steal my alone time with my Best Friend, Father and my CEO? Oh, there it is.....smack dab in the middle.....instead of AWAY from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my ROYAL guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

STOP.....and Smell the Roses!!!

Yesterday, I stopped by a garden center to check out some trees for my yard. The aroma of the Spring flowers was overwheming when I walked in! Immediately, I thought "I need to get some flowers!" Those fragrant, fresh smells almost led me astray because the nursery rep told me, for Tulsa, it's still too early to plant -- another freeze could play havoc on those little plantings. But I did enjoy the moments and sure wanted to linger there, but just too much to do -- I just had to go. Then, I realized that sometimes I get so wrapped up in my day-to-day activities that I don't take time to even notice the sweet smells around me -- literally, not taking "time to smell the roses". Could it be that we're not enjoying our life journey like we should? Are the details of life -- the finances or taxes, work, family, health, and even Facebook or emails distracting us? Then it is time to "stop and smell the roses"!!

Life really is so short -- the sweet photo here are Larry & Staci's two children, Alexia and Payton, 10 YEARS ago. I think....where did the time go? Isn't it best to be savoring the moments the best we can, while we can. Taking the time to enjoy their sweet smiling faces or listening to their silly laughter, or enjoying the upbeat music that just makes us want to do a little dance, really savoring the food we're eating, or noticing and smelling the fragrance of Spring! When we enjoy the little things, we’ll begin to experience joy and happiness that will make our life journey absolutely so worthwhile! So often, when I'm not distracted by so many day-to-day routines, I just love to sit quietly and reflect on the many blessings of my life -- that is the best way to "stop and smell the roses". If we don't stop and smell them today, before we know it, the roses will have wilted and withered and be gone. Okay....I'm getting off Facebook for a while -- and I'm going to find some roses to smell!!!