God knows just the right time to... (tweet)

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"Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances." (Proverbs 25:11)

Don't worry about what others think... (tweet)

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"'I have loved you with an everlasting love.'" (Jeremiah 31:3b)

Will I Go Up? (tweet)

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"For the Lord (Jesus) Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Top 10 Excuses For Not Going To Church (tweetcast)

This was a quick list I put together off the top of my head on a Sunday recently before church. The way it looked as I tweeted it on Twitter is below ~ including the hashtags.

Hashtags are a way of bookmarking on Twitter (in case you didn't know). And so if you wanted to search a particular conversation, subject, whatever, you could type a hashtag in the Twitter search box and ~ voila! ~ everything tweeted with that hashtag will appear no matter if you're following somebody or not. (To make any word into a hashtag just add the "#" symbol.)

I came up with the tweetcast idea and hashtag a while ago (kind of like a radio or television broadcast). I've found it's a great way to challenge and teach online. (Teaching is what I do.) Combine it (the hashtag approach) with whatever subject matter you're teaching and it works quite well to pull up later. (Another example is my #HopeForTheHolidays #tweetcast I did last Christmas season. I will do it again this year.)

You may want to post the following tweets yourself. (It's okay.) You could give me credit by adding the hashtag: #aheartforgod if you like. See how it works?! :)

Top 10 Excuses For Not Going To Church:

Excuse 1: Too tired #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 2: Don’t want to miss football #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 3: I’ll get right with God on another day #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 4: The preacher’s boring #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 5: Church is for sissys #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 6: What will my friends think? #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 7: The service goes too long #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 8: I’ve got more important things to do #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 9: I’m okay without it #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

Excuse 10: I don’t need Jesus #top10excuses4notgoing2church #tweetcast

What Separates Christianity? (tweet)

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Pastor Mike speaks at 140 Characters Conference

(If you can't see this video, click here.)

21 "More" Twitter Tips from @aheartforgod

I crossed another milestone on Twitter (in my mind) recently. I marked it with the tweet above (clickable screenshot). I wanted to mark it another way as well by offering a Twitter Tips-Part 2 list. It's a follow up to another list I wrote last September. (CLICK HERE to read the original 21 Twitter Tips from @aheartforgod)

I've learned a lot about using Twitter over 2+ years. There's something "more" below for both Twitter "gurus" and newbies alike (starting with Twitter Tip #22)...

21 "More" Twitter Tips from @aheartforgod:
(feel free to tweet these yourself~just copy & paste~they are 140 characters or less!)

Tip #22: The single day of the week that the most people access social media is: Saturday. Don't be AWOL. Big opportunity 4 ministry \o/

Tip #23: Don't miss the power of Twitter lists. There is an intimacy 2 them where u can spend time w/a smaller group listening&learning.

Tip #24: The most important 1st step (as it is with anything) is not to talk, talk, talk, but to listen, listen, listen ;D

Tip #25: Craft your bio strategically. Many follow based on it. (I know I do.) Be yourself. Be genuine. Be holy ;D

Tip #26: Sometimes it's just fun 2 sit back & watch the conversations going on.Set up some lists that auto update & take it all in.Enjoy

Tip #27: You never know who's listening. You never know who's watching. Your tweets r impacting hearts. Your tweets r changing lives \o/

Tip #28: Men have a harder time gaining followers than women (for obvious reasons). Unless you're Brad Pitt or Justin Bieber ;P

Tip #29: Don't take 4 granted that people know u. Introduce urself in tweets & blog posts. Tell us something unique that's happened 2 u

Tip #30: You could have 1 follower, but if they r ur biggest fan promoting ur stuff with tens of thousands of followers, well... ;D

Tip #31: Twitter can be a lonely place.(It's true.)Especiallly if ur a newbie. Take 1 under ur wings & teach them the ropes. Be a friend

Tip #32: Tweeting is much more fun as a team. Find someone of like interests & team up w/a common hashtag. Be creative

Tip #33: Ur approach 2 tweeting (social media) is a teaching in itself. There r others who watch what u do & then do it themselves ;D

Tip #34: People will judge (poo poo) ur use of twitter. But if ur goal is 2 rescue sinners, u keep at it w/all ur soul & strength \o/

Tip #35: That tweet of urs just might b the very thing some1 needs 2 hear (even some1 who has a ton of followers). Don't minimize urself

Tip #36: Just because a person has a lot of followers doesn't mean he/she has credibility. Character gives credibility. Godly character

Tip #37: They replay songs on the radio & in concert,y would u not repeat a tweet if it was good or had a link 2 an impacting blog post?

Tip #38: Figure out ur twitter "mo." R u a content producer or content consumer? I am the former. So I approach #twitter differently ;D

Tip #39: Realize ur gonna make mistakes.I've been suspended,broken #twitter following limits,u name it~just trying 2 reach people 4 Christ

Tip #40: Some people will get upset w/what u have 2 say (especially if ur serving Christ). U don't have 2 respond 2 them. U just don't

Tip #41: Just because somebody didn't tweet u back in response to 1 of ur tweets doesn't mean they didn't c it or weren't impacted by it

Tip #42: There will b people that ur their encouragement 2 go on, ur their hope in a darkened world. Make ur tweets count

Feel free to add your own "Twitter Tips" in the comment section. I might put them together in a Part 3 and give you credit? That would be cool. ;D

The "Big Three"

"Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is iin the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16)

These are what I call the "big Three." These are the sins that all other sins can be grouped under. The lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes. The pride of life (or vanity). I expect that any one of you reading this right now might be in trouble or dealing with one or all of these. If you are, you're in good company. Both the mother of all the living, Eve, and the Lord of all life, our Savior Himself, were tempted by the "big Three." Of course, the problem for Eve was that she gave in (and her husband with her). (Genesis 3:6-7) The difference with Christ (it was a huge difference) is He didn't have it in Him to. (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; James 1:14) (Whether or not Jesus' temptation was a legitimate one is a subject for another day. It was.)

And the lust of the flesh (in the words of one Bible teacher) is "the strong and sinful desire of the bodily appetites (not just sex)." And the lust of the eyes is "the strong and sinful desire for gain ('I just have to have that item' whatever it happens to be)." (Careful, ladies, while shopping.) And the pride of life/vanity is the attitude that says, "Look at me. I'm so smart" or "I'm so good looking" or "I'm so spiritually gifted" or (no one is prideful like this, but I'll suggest it any way) "I've got thousands of Twitter followers and Facebook friends. I'm so cool."

Repent.

(Above picture in the public domain: HERE)

21 Twitter Tips from @aheartforgod

Many moons ago (in a faraway land~not), my adventure with Twitter began. Honestly, I had no idea what a wonderful experience lie ahead. Tens of thousands of tweets and replies later, I guess the best way to sum it up is I am a better Christian man. (I love Jesus even more.) I have met and connected with Christians in the West, Midwest, on the East Coast, in Hawaii, Europe, the Philippines, China ~ you name it (take a peek at the maps to the right) ~ literally people from all around the world, I have seen lifted up, I have seen come to Christ and draw closer to God ~ and all from the convenience of my laptop and handheld. (Isn't that just crazy/amazing?) And I've learned a number of things that have helped enhance my use of Twitter especially in the service of our Lord. Whether you're a Twitter "guru" or newbie, I think there'll be something here for you, too, as you read the following...

21 Twitter Tips from @aheartforgod:
(feel free to tweet these yourself~just copy & paste~they are 140 characters or less!)

Tip #1: To gain more followers tweet 1 update per day (at the very least) so that we can see ur alive

Tip #2: 1 of the best ways 2 get somebody 2 notice u is 2 retweet them. It gets my attention. And I follow back

Tip #3: Avoid odd avatars. (Double meaning?) I don't follow weird or scary profile pictures. They give me bad dreams ;P

Tip #4: A "thank u" 4 a mention, shout out or RT can come in the form of retweeting something of theirs

Tip #5: Have a back up site in case your main one goes down. (Mine: @aheart4god)

Tip #6: The twitter "gods" say not 2 thank ur RTs. But I think it's a way of saying, "Glad 2 connect." Your RT causes me 2 notice u

Tip #7: If u get the big guys/gals (those w/lots of followers) 2 follow u back, u gain their reach (audience)

Tip #8: Many of u just starting out will gain tens of thousands of followers. Y? Because u have a good story 2 tell

Tip #9: Want more followers? Unless ur Britney or Lady Gaga, u need 2 be aggressive in ur following others. Engage & offer them value

Tip #10: Automate tweets overnight (I use HooteSuite). Reach the overseas followers (in Europe,S Africa,Australia,India,NewZealand,etc)

Tip #11: Repeat tweets. You will have followers today that you didn’t have a year ago that would miss out otherwise

Tip #12: You will start out small, but some of u will grow & become quite dynamic & significant tweeters. Invest

Tip #13: People will judge ur tweeting approach (motives), but they can't know ur heart. Pleasing God is all that matters

Tip #14: If you make a mistake (& u will) let it be in promoting what others have got going

Tip #15: People enjoy responses. (I know I do.) Some get many. Some get few. Focus your twitter luv especially towards the latter

Tip #16: Don't "poo poo" #FollowFriday (some Twitter "gurus" do who used 2 do it).It's 1 of the best ways 2 get 2 know people & it's fun,2

Tip #17: You may never be @chrisbrogan or @guykawasaki, but we don't need another 1 of those. We need you

Tip #18: Combine ur use of Twitter w/blogging or vlogging. Tweet links 2 ur latest posts. Reveal yourself (be transparent)

Tip #19: I don't get the most traffic to my blog or vlogs from Twitter (that comes from other places), but I have the most fun with it ;D

Tip #20: Divine appointments take place even on Twitter. That tweet u send (or schedule at 12:25 am) God has planned 2 meet someone

Tip #21: Most of all (& as a believer) represent Christ with all His compassion, peace & joy. There r so many hurting people in need of Him

Feel free to add your own "Twitter Tips" in the comment section. I might put them together in a Part 2 and give you credit? That would be cool. ;D