Social Media
Social media is certainly a new thing that many people do not understand. Is it a good thing? That is up for debate, I believe. Some will adamantly tell you "no" and some will say, without a doubt, "You betcha!" Some say that it can be a generational difference and I can see that as well. I think that, like anything, it can be time consuming and too much of it can be a bad thing. I often do much of my blogging and the bulk of my internet usage after the kids go to bed or in the wee hours of the morning before anyone gets up. Having access to so much technology makes things so much easier and I find myself checking Facebook and Twitter quite a bit during the day as well. It literally takes about a minute to update a Facebook status or answer a few people's questions on Twitter. It is an easy way to communicate.
The downfall to this? It should not replace face to face communication. I am such a people person and I would much rather talk to someone than on the phone or by email. We should be more relational than just via social media and I absolutely do not believe that social media should take the place of those interpersonal relationships that we have in person.
Another thing that is important to remember is safety. I believe that there are things that should be posted on the internet and things that should not. I do not always use the best judgment when it comes to "airing my dirty laundry" so to speak. In the past I have caused some serious hurt with relationships due to lack of discretion in what I have posted on my blog. Not everyone wants their information posted in such a public way so it is important to check with those that you post about. My husband does not use Facebook or Twitter but he is very much in support of my blog. He reads it and is supportive of me sharing how God is working in my life. I do not post about my marriage. It is not something I feel is appropriate to post about.
Is there bad going on in the cyber world? Unfortunately, yes. I am on Twitter quite a bit and have a great number of girlfriends on there and just like friends in real life, we bicker and argue about dumb things but, for the most part, I have been able to "weed out" the drama-causing people in my Twitter feed. What I will tell you is this - the good has far outweighed the bad on Twitter in my life in the past two years!!! I have a group of about 35-40 ladies that I know at the drop of a hat if I asked them would drop what they were doing and pray for me diligently if I needed them to. When I was at my wits end in the middle of the night with Hannah not knowing what to do with my baby, these women were also up with the same struggles tweeting with me. When I was struggling in my walk with God, these women were also there, praying and struggling with me. I have seen, first hand, the power of God work through a phone and computer screen through social media. I have seen moms get on and ask for advice about their sick babies, receive advice and minutes later be in surgery with their newborns because of the wise counsel of other moms who have been there! One of the most incredible things that I have seen most recently is a group of women who rallied together for a sister who needed us in her time of need. For a precious dear friend who lost her husband and her sweet baby girl who lost her father. In a 24 hour time frame the Twitter/blogger community raised just shy of $2,000 for funeral flowers and then the rest went into a fund for Baby Girl. In a week's time, people from all over the place came together as the Holy Spirit worked in the lives, and the handiwork of five generous people donated countless hours of time and love, a silent auction took place and over $12,000 was raised for the Turner Family!!!! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!! Now I want someone to respond and tell me that social media is not good stuff!
I love my friends that I have made both in the cyber world as well in real life due to the world of social media. I understand that it is not for everyone but I hope that this gives others some insight as to why it is important for some people. I do think that it can be used in access and should not be used in place of interpersonal relationships or when it causes one to neglect other responsibilities or families. I do believe, also that above everything that social media should not be above making time with God. If you are making time for Twitter, blogging, or Facebook and neglecting daily quiet time with God, your priorities are not straight.
If you do not follow me, I am rikkihester on Twitter and you can also find me on Facebook!! :) Leave me comment if you want me to follow you as well! :)
The downfall to this? It should not replace face to face communication. I am such a people person and I would much rather talk to someone than on the phone or by email. We should be more relational than just via social media and I absolutely do not believe that social media should take the place of those interpersonal relationships that we have in person.
Another thing that is important to remember is safety. I believe that there are things that should be posted on the internet and things that should not. I do not always use the best judgment when it comes to "airing my dirty laundry" so to speak. In the past I have caused some serious hurt with relationships due to lack of discretion in what I have posted on my blog. Not everyone wants their information posted in such a public way so it is important to check with those that you post about. My husband does not use Facebook or Twitter but he is very much in support of my blog. He reads it and is supportive of me sharing how God is working in my life. I do not post about my marriage. It is not something I feel is appropriate to post about.
Is there bad going on in the cyber world? Unfortunately, yes. I am on Twitter quite a bit and have a great number of girlfriends on there and just like friends in real life, we bicker and argue about dumb things but, for the most part, I have been able to "weed out" the drama-causing people in my Twitter feed. What I will tell you is this - the good has far outweighed the bad on Twitter in my life in the past two years!!! I have a group of about 35-40 ladies that I know at the drop of a hat if I asked them would drop what they were doing and pray for me diligently if I needed them to. When I was at my wits end in the middle of the night with Hannah not knowing what to do with my baby, these women were also up with the same struggles tweeting with me. When I was struggling in my walk with God, these women were also there, praying and struggling with me. I have seen, first hand, the power of God work through a phone and computer screen through social media. I have seen moms get on and ask for advice about their sick babies, receive advice and minutes later be in surgery with their newborns because of the wise counsel of other moms who have been there! One of the most incredible things that I have seen most recently is a group of women who rallied together for a sister who needed us in her time of need. For a precious dear friend who lost her husband and her sweet baby girl who lost her father. In a 24 hour time frame the Twitter/blogger community raised just shy of $2,000 for funeral flowers and then the rest went into a fund for Baby Girl. In a week's time, people from all over the place came together as the Holy Spirit worked in the lives, and the handiwork of five generous people donated countless hours of time and love, a silent auction took place and over $12,000 was raised for the Turner Family!!!! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!! Now I want someone to respond and tell me that social media is not good stuff!
I love my friends that I have made both in the cyber world as well in real life due to the world of social media. I understand that it is not for everyone but I hope that this gives others some insight as to why it is important for some people. I do think that it can be used in access and should not be used in place of interpersonal relationships or when it causes one to neglect other responsibilities or families. I do believe, also that above everything that social media should not be above making time with God. If you are making time for Twitter, blogging, or Facebook and neglecting daily quiet time with God, your priorities are not straight.
If you do not follow me, I am rikkihester on Twitter and you can also find me on Facebook!! :) Leave me comment if you want me to follow you as well! :)
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