June 13, 2020
I remember, as a kid in the 1960’s, standing next to our black and white television and turning the knob, while my dad decided which of the three channels he wanted to watch. (I was his “remote”.) Ask any child of the 60’s about the first time they saw the NBC Peacock in color in their own living room. They probably remember it. In the early 70’s, my mom got a microwave oven for Christmas and we all stopped unwrapping gifts to go into the kitchen and watch it make water boil. We were amazed! While “home movies” (watched on a reel to reel projector) from my early days were in color, there was no sound. I am so glad that when we watch our kids’ videos, we can also hear their little voices and giggles. In my lifetime, phones have gone from being rotary dialed and attached to the wall, to voice dialed and attached to our hands. We thought a “princess phone” was the ultimate in sleek and sassy (see picture above) and if you had one in your own room, you were indeed a princess. I got one because I was the oldest. (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”) While there are still no flying cars, at least not in my neighborhood, we are able to see the people we are talking to on our phones and computer screens, just like George and Jane Jetson. (Facetime with my grandson is the best!) We’ve come a long way, baby! (another 1960’s reference… ask your mom about it) There is no doubt that most of us have a world filled with conveniences that we take for granted and that most of these “new fangled things” like TV remotes, microwaves and cell phones have improved the quality of our lives. (Can you imagine flipping through 500 channels without a remote? Your kids would have to work in shifts, standing by the TV.) Even now, I am sitting in my recliner, typing on my laptop, and in a few minutes, I will search for a good picture, maybe a song and then with just a mouse click, I will post this blog for you to read (probably from your phone). All these innovations enhance our lives. But some of these gadgets can lead to overstimulation of our senses, with their constant barrage of news, music and social media. How often do we just sit still, close our eyes and be quiet? Even if we talk to God all day, if we never pause and listen, how can He speak to us? He is not going to text us or send us an email. It is in quiet stillness that we can best hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts. He listens when we talk to Him and ask Him for answers. Are we listening back to hear what He has to say? Psalm 62:5-6 (TLB) says: “But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress—why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) says: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Psalm 130:5 (NIV) says: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Be still! Smile and be joyful!
A powerful song to lift you up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37wV6D49iEY
I remember, as a kid in the 1960’s, standing next to our black and white television and turning the knob, while my dad decided which of the three channels he wanted to watch. (I was his “remote”.) Ask any child of the 60’s about the first time they saw the NBC Peacock in color in their own living room. They probably remember it. In the early 70’s, my mom got a microwave oven for Christmas and we all stopped unwrapping gifts to go into the kitchen and watch it make water boil. We were amazed! While “home movies” (watched on a reel to reel projector) from my early days were in color, there was no sound. I am so glad that when we watch our kids’ videos, we can also hear their little voices and giggles. In my lifetime, phones have gone from being rotary dialed and attached to the wall, to voice dialed and attached to our hands. We thought a “princess phone” was the ultimate in sleek and sassy (see picture above) and if you had one in your own room, you were indeed a princess. I got one because I was the oldest. (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”) While there are still no flying cars, at least not in my neighborhood, we are able to see the people we are talking to on our phones and computer screens, just like George and Jane Jetson. (Facetime with my grandson is the best!) We’ve come a long way, baby! (another 1960’s reference… ask your mom about it) There is no doubt that most of us have a world filled with conveniences that we take for granted and that most of these “new fangled things” like TV remotes, microwaves and cell phones have improved the quality of our lives. (Can you imagine flipping through 500 channels without a remote? Your kids would have to work in shifts, standing by the TV.) Even now, I am sitting in my recliner, typing on my laptop, and in a few minutes, I will search for a good picture, maybe a song and then with just a mouse click, I will post this blog for you to read (probably from your phone). All these innovations enhance our lives. But some of these gadgets can lead to overstimulation of our senses, with their constant barrage of news, music and social media. How often do we just sit still, close our eyes and be quiet? Even if we talk to God all day, if we never pause and listen, how can He speak to us? He is not going to text us or send us an email. It is in quiet stillness that we can best hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts. He listens when we talk to Him and ask Him for answers. Are we listening back to hear what He has to say? Psalm 62:5-6 (TLB) says: “But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress—why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) says: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Psalm 130:5 (NIV) says: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Be still! Smile and be joyful!
Comments
Post a Comment