I checked my email as soon as I woke up. Then I made breakfast and checked it again. Had my devotional time and checked it again. Ran some errands and checked it on my phone. When I got home, I checked it once more.
I sensed the Holy Spirit nudging me to pause and ask myself, “Why do you keep checking your email?”
I wasn’t sure if it was God or me answering, but my thoughts intertwined with His Spirit whispered: You keep coming back because your heart longs for connection with a friend.
Yet no matter how many times I checked email, it was never enough to satisfy my craving.
With a busy schedule at work and home, I’d cut back on my time socializing with neighbors and hanging out with friends. Although I hadn’t completely cut out my friendships, my face-to-face connection time had been reduced to a minimum. I realized I’d let the pendulum swing too far and now I was checking email repeatedly, trying to fill a God-created need for relationships with a white screen and black alphabet keys.
That day as I sat in front of my screen for the fifth time, Jesus revealed the source of my incessant email checking and reminded me I am created for real-life connections.
I need to fill that lonely place in my heart with friends I can share life with — in person.
I know friendships are not easy to build. They take time and most of us don’t have enough of it. But in this age of technology, I think it’s really important to evaluate and balance connections that are screen-to-screen rather than face-to-face.
So, Im getting intentional about pulling away from my computer, phones and television to intentionally carve out time for friends. We all need those times where we can meet in person to share what’s going on in our lives.
Jesus needed face-to-face connections, too. He surrounded Himself with intimate friends — first His Father, then close friends like John, Peter and James, and then the other disciples. Through His example we see how important it is to satisfy our craving for connections by spending face-to-face time with friends.
An Invitation JUST FOR YOU!!
What do you think about taking time to pull away from your computer, and the stress of everyday life, to connect with a friend on a Girls Getaawy with me and Melissa Taylor of Proverbs 31 Ministries? We would LOVE for you to join us on the Girlfriend Getaway Cruise in October! Here’s a few details and a fun video where I get to tell you more… Hope you’ll watch it ’cause it just might be possible that this little get away is just what your heart needs!
To find out more, visit the Girlfriend Getaway Cruise website!
Also, when you book your cruise you will receive a one night stay at the luxurious Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa for FREE. Each stateroom will receive one hotel room for Wednesday night, October 2nd. You will be good and rested for our fun cruise adventure! Remember, use the code “Proverbs 31” you will receive $100 off the entire package! Can’t wait to sail the high seas with YOU!
Enter to Win a Girlfriend Gift Pak {which includes 2 copies of my book, a Starbucks gift card and set of pretty note cards}! To enter, let me know your thoughts about the cruise, one money-saving or money-making idea that might be a good way for us to get the money to go, and who would you go with if you won a trip!?
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I love your blog, you said so perfectly what I been saying only your words are precious and mine not so together. I have already let go of the cell phone, texting and FB mobile. I still reach into the black whole of cyber world trying to connect to someone , on a spiritual level. I do have a couple friends on line that fill that Face to Face void, but just a few and its bleek to say the least.
I would love to take a cruise , always have wanted too, although I never thought about a Christian Cruise untill my friend said she was attending this particular cruise with you ladies.
If I had the ability to go on this cruise or any other for that matter, I would bring my 70 year old friend, whom is like a mother to me, she is patient and kind, loving and filled with wisdom. She goes for treatment 3 times aweek and I have never once seen her down or depressed. She is a bright light and she shines for God.
Maybe one day, I will attend a cruise a get away, and I will be blessed to bring a friend.
Thank you for this blog, I believe that the internet and the fast paced life of texting has destroyed human relations, email, facebook, texting, etc. That we are all searching for more in a land filled with more and more and we are actually getting less and less. Be blessed and I am praying for the ability for you too, continue resisting the new technology and returning to old fashion ways of communication…
Thank you , God bless.
This is amazing. My husband died on Oct 27 and his birthday was Oct 2 I promised myself Lord willing I would make an effort to do something each year in October to honor his memory. Since his death I have been searching for meaning and purpose as I continue my life without him and as a single person. I know that God has a plan for a new role for my life. I have be praying for His plan and for His direction to be revealed to me. This just might be God’s perfect time for me in my journey. If I win the trip it would wonderful; I would invite someone who could not go without this shared blessing… I am looking forward to being a part of a cruise that will allow me the chance to meet and fellowship with many new friends. I know the Lord will move among us in a very special way…..Thanks for planning a cruise where women can, relax, enjoy learning and growing with other ladies. This leisure time I believe will serve as a blessing to each lady on board. God Bless you…..
I am really hoping to be able to be part of this awesome event! Right now I am on my own raising three young girls (9, 7 and 15 months). I am standing with The Lord for our for my marriage and praying for restoration. My husband left a year ago. I have been so refine ld by this situation and have absolutely been held up by Jesus’ right hand. I also have had so much inspiration and support from Proverbs 31 website, such a precious gem to me! I think that if I just set the goal of putting aside a little of my paycheck every week even if its $50 or less it can happen. If I won a trip (and even if I don’t) I would love my mom to join me, she needs a restoring trip as well :).
I would love to win this cruise! I take care of my 3 year old granddaughter every day so that her mother (daughter) can work! I love it but I need some me time in the sun! I would love to take my daughter. She works hard as a marketing director for CHick-fil-A! It would be so muich fun spending time with her. We don’t get to do that anymore.
I would love to go – I would take my best friend who is going thru a horrible time in her marriage. Not sure we could afford it right now, tho. Especially with her heartbreaking situation. But, I’d do my best to try to save enough for us to go. She is so broken right now, and is trying to stay focused on the Lord. She wants so badly to honor Him in all that she says and does, which has kept her in this marriage for this long. My heart just breaks for her.
I can’t afford to go on a cruise this year, but if I was chosen to go for a trip for two, I would without a second thought take my wonderful Mom. She is a woman of great courage in God’s eyes and my eyes. If I can get a slice of her strength, I will be half of the Godly woman she is in Christ!
This cruise sounds amazing a and a perfect time away to have fun, relax and connect with God and others. To save I would take all the coin change I receive and put in a jar, as well as eat at home more often.
I would take my younger sister with me, who is a brand new Christian.
Hi Renee, I can’t wait to meet you and am so looking forward to this cruise. To save money I register early (I have been fortunate enough to have been on 2 others, so I know they are great). This makes the payments small, they are taken out of my checking account, and honestly I have not missed this money at all. Without even a thought, my granddaughters age 11 and 13 would be my guests. The testimonies and experience of this cruise would remain with them for the rest of their life. It’s our young people we need to raise up to be leaders in God’s plans for our future. Looking forward to October!!!
Miss you both.
Love ya
Cris
Ohhhh, the ocean beckons me relentlessly, yet I live 8 hours from it! My girlfriends and I are in a special “book club” where the only criteria to join is having a an alcoholic spouse-some recovering, some not. We just listen to, pray for, and support one another.
Oh, this sounds Amazing!! I would have to say giving up coffee at my local coffee shop : )… That is really the only place that I splurge for myself since we don’t eat out a lot. I would definitely take my grandmother… she is going through a lot right now with my grandfather having Alzheimer’s and I would do anything for her to get away and take her mind off of things.
Eating at home is probably the place we could save the most $$ – but unfortunately, it wouldn’t go for a cruise! If I won this cruise, it would be tough to choose who to take. I have several Christian girlfriends that would be fun to go with. Hmmm!
Save so much a month. I would choose my aunt or my grandma.
I could spend less on lunch and stick to a firm budget. Also make purchases based off needs instead of things I would like to have. I would love to take my daughter. Blessings
Unfortunately while the cruise would be wonderful health & finances prevent anything extra right now. However, if health wasn’t a factor, would really work on my Melalueca business so could go. While I would much more enjoy having my sister with me, would probably take my mom. Give her a break from dealing with all the stuff related to my step dad & grandparents deaths last year.
The girls getaway sounds fabulous! To save money for the cruise, I could far spend less on new clothes and buy them from a consignment store instead so they’re new-to-me. Also, cutting down on those Starbuck’s visits 🙂
I’d love to take my sister in law with me. She never gets a break from her kids and her husband works the night shift so she’s on her own most of the time. She recently lost her mom to lung cancer and could really benefit from the fellowship and relaxation!
I am so looking forward to this cruise, I get to meet a favorite author and I plan on reading books from authors that I do not know, so I know who they are before meeting them. I loved the pay monthly payment plan, this is so affordable with monthly payments. My husband is taking our boys to Vegas in June and I get to meet so many new women in October. Since I am already booked for this trip and have a roommate, instead of a free trip would I get a refund or ship credit to use towards shore excursions?
This sounds like a great way to vacation!!
I would have to take my friend Carol who I have known since 9th grade. She is such a warrior for God and such an encourager to me!
I would say don’t shop unless you really need something. Don’t just go window shopping! It will cost you more than you thought, always.
Could I meet you ladies too on the cruise? That would be great!!!
This sounds AMAZING and answers my hearts cry “I NEED A VACATION!”
Money saving tip, cook at home more, healthier & cheaper in the long run!
If I were to win this trip…the thought blows my mind!…I would take my daughter, Brandy. perfect first cruise experience for us both!
I went on a my first cruise last year !!! And I am going again this year 🙂 I look forward to meeting everyone 🙂 what an awesome thing to have affordable payment plans that is even better yet..