How Much Time Do We Give to God?

*In these modern times we have so much technology available to us. We have computers, cell-phones, telephones, TVs, i-pods, mp3 players, radios, and more. Every single day most of us spend a lot of time using one of these things. Maybe on the Internet, texting, watching TV, listening to music, or just playing basically pointless games. I myself spend a lot of time on the computer. I could be editing random pictures, updating my facebook, or replying to emails. No matter what it is i spend way to much time on the computer.
*Recently I've been thinking about much time i spend on the computer or on my other forms of technology and then comparing that to how much time I actually spend just reading God's Word and meditating on it. Every day i read the Bible for 30 minutes. Its really not that long. And then when i compare that short time to how much time i spend doing other things it just gets smaller and smaller in comparison. I don't even realize it most times but i might spend 2-3 hours on the computer. And most of the time I'm not doing anything important. I'm definitely not saying that technology is bad. I'm just saying that everybody needs to watch how much time we spend on it. And definitely me.
*After realizing that i spend so much time in the computer and not very much time in the Word, I need to do something about it. So I'm going to see how much time i spend on the computer and spent that same amount of time just reading the Bible. You can do it too. Just take whichever form of technology that you spend the most time on, without really benefiting from that, and then add up the time and read the Bible for that same amount of time.
*It's very good to have someone you can be accountable to. Make sure it is somebody that is also willing to be accountable to you. Whether its your spouse, mom, dad, brother, sister, or friend. Just find someone that can ask you if you've been staying on track. But most importantly don't think of this as a chore. Think of it as a way that God is drawing you closer to Him, because He is.
*I would love to be accountable to you as well. And would love to hear feedback on what's going on. So here's my email- sarahbeans.shortstuff@gmail.com
*Keep strong in your commitments and beliefs. God Bless.

Ephesians 5:16- Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Tortured For Christ

*Recently I started reading a book called "Tortured For Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. He grew up as an atheist in Romania in the early 1900's. He was confused about his faith and came to Christ after he was married and his wife soon followed. He was a pastor and he preached the Truth no matter what. Communist's began persecuting the church. He was arrested after a while and the torture in the prison was horrible. In his book he said that some of the ways they were tortured were so incredibly horrible that he can't even bear to think about them, much less write about them. He saw so many die for Christ in his lifetime.
-As an American believer I can't even begin to imagine how horrible all of this was. Seriously! Thankfully here in America right now we can worship freely and the government cant tell us not to. We complain about the smallest things. So many people have starved because their spouses or parents weren't there to supply food. Many were beaten to death and tortured mercilessly, and all for God. They didn't complain. They went through it all with joy in their hearts and many times smiles on their faces because they knew God's love. They knew that on the other side of all this torture, suffering, and pain that there was a loving God waiting for them to come home.
*The first time he was imprisoned he was there for 8 1/2 years. He saw so many of his dear friends die. Even though they knew they would be beaten severely, he and many others preached to the other prisoners. There was one man there who was preaching one day. He was in the middle of his sermon when guards rushed in, drug him out, beat him horribly, then threw him back in the cell. He was terribly bloody, bruised, and in terrible pain but he just said "now brethren, where was I?" and continued his sermon.
One girl was discovered one day. She had been witnessing to little children. The secret police waited for a little while until the day of her wedding. As the ceremony was going on the secret police burst in. She reached out her arms to be handcuffed. She looked at her groom, kissed the shackles and said "I thank my heavenly Bridegroom for this jewel He has presented to me on my marriage day. I thank him that i am worthy to suffer for Him." She was then drug out and taken to prison. She was released 5 years later, a broken, destroyed woman, looking at least 30 years older.
Some of the most horrible things happened to the women and girls of the prison. Unspeakable things went on in this area of the world for some time. But God used it all for his glory and He had a purpose for it all.
-These people, just like me and you, they did so much for Christ. Just like them we can do so much for the Cause. It doesn't matter where you live, how old you are, or how shy or outgoing you are. God has placed us on this beautiful earth for a purpose. He has a plan for me, and he has a plan for YOU! You don't have to be tortured or go through many great challenges to be used by Him. God can use us in the simplest ways. Take time to ask God about what He wants you to do for him.

Colossians 3:16&17- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.