Listening for Opportunities to Bless Others

Around my house, my husband and I represent the ying and yang of Twitter Attitudes.

He thinks it is a silly, narcissistic waste of time and will have none of it. He represents the "if they're a real friend, pick up your phone and just call them" world.... (a very funny current video circulating on YouTube perfectly captures his perspective on this). Our conversations are quite heated but humorous, given his attorney background and conviction of his own brilliance.

And he does have some valid points. But then I have small experiences which well, just confirm that I am, in fact, right. These involve Listening for Opportunities to Bless Others:

• Outreach: A few weeks ago at my weekly Moms Bible Study I witnessed two gals reach out to a newcomer who attends our church but was trying out our study for the first time. They made it a point to wait out front for her, make sure she was shown around and spread the word of her arrival... all because she'd sent a tweet out that morning.

• Real-time prayer: As Twitter friends share life events of joy or pain, it is an ongoing opportunity to stop what I'm doing and bring them before God. I use TweetDeck to sort out my Twitter friends into categories ("my home church" or "work friends") and that way I can serve them by praying and shooting them a quick encouragement. Whether it is a family member in surgery, sickness, losing a job or welcoming a new baby, hearing about this as it happens is such an opportunity to respond.

• Rallying the Church: Within the past week, I've witnessed a team of church planters in Lakewood, CO bring Forefront Church into existence. I'd only heard of this via a twitter connection with Josh Chapman their amazing Student / Online Ministries guy, but what a joy it was to follow their tweets of anticipation as their church opened its doors. I witnessed folks from around the country support these pioneers with words of encouragement and prayer. Then how awesome it was to read lead pastor Brett Crimmel share his good report tweet of God's work. None of this real-time encouragement could have happened without the connections via Twitter.

So, yes there are a reasons why Twitter can be annoying, silly and time-wasting. But like anything, God can redeem and use this communication tool to connect up His body, both locally and remotely, to do great things for His kingdom. Culling through the nonsense and noise on Twitter, you might be surprised at what opportunities to bless others may emerge.

And if you see my brilliant husband, tell him I'm right. At least on this one. ;-)

Comments

[Lori]

Hi Dawn, What a blessing to read your blog this morning. My husband and I, too, are excited about what the Internet, ( and twitter) can do for His Church. It's all about connecting! Thanks for the post.

[Dawn Carter]

Thanks for your comment, Lori. It really is about connecting, using whatever means are available to us at the time.

I love watching God connecting up His Church like never before. May He bless you guys!

[Stephen]

I follow you on Twitter and love your spiritual counsel. I am a big believer in the role of Christian businessmen in solving the ills of our country. I subscribed to your blog. I invite you to read mine (http://developu.blogspot.com)

Keep writing and I'll keep following you on Twitter all the way from South Carolina

Stephen

[Jason Curlee]

I see there are so many ways to tap in and use twitter than there are reasons to not. Great post Dawn.