Thursday, October 11, 2012

'want'

i've been meaning to post about this for a few days now. i read awhile ago that facebook is testing a 'want' button with a couple of big retailers.

my biz partner and i have recently decided to jump on the social media bandwagon, and start doing some facebook marketing for our clients. it doesn't look like the 'want' of our consumer society is going away anytime soon.

and no wonder. there are LOTS and lots of things to want when you spend any amount of time on the internet. for me, it's pretty much ALL DAY LONG, so my want list can grow pretty large.

lou told me about some apps that you can get on your phone that let you track your impulses to buy things. i downloaded one, but so far, i've just kept a mental list of the things that have popped into my head to 'want':

I look at these every fall. sometimes multiple times per week. badly 'want'.

i tried to buy a $3.99 thrift store watch, because the battery is dead in all but one of my watches. it hurts my wrist to wear. so i 'want' this one.

a friend is moving next week. looking around for artwork for HER makes me 'want'.

another long-standing 'want.' which would make me 'want' everything new for my whole living room. the chain 'want'.

i debate about this one. i've decided that food purchases are off limits for now - but what about the birds? is caring for them a 'want'?

you see where this is going.

i'm no longer a serial shopper when it comes to driving to stores and gazing around at stuff. however, the internet creates an even STRONGER desire to 'want' more stuff, because the stuff is especially pretty and easy to purchase.

i've given myself October to at least try to tame the 'wants'. some of it is keeping track of them and realizing how foolish it is to want THINGS more than things. you know?


the other aspect of this is to fill that space where 'wanting' lives with the REAL things God wants me to want. by just opening your heart, you can begin to turn on the internet feed to the REAL things that you want, did you know that?

in my devo this morning, God said this to me:


"though i have brought many pleasures into your life, not one of them is essential. receive my blessings with open hands. enjoy my good gifts, but do not cling to them. turn your attention to the GIVER of all good things, and rest in the knowledge that you are complete in Me. the one thing you absolutely need is the one THING you can never lose: my Presence with you."

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

5 comments:

Rea said...

So, after our conversation on Wednesday and then reading this...I have to confess that I just went out and impulse bought an apron. As in, specifically left the house and made a special trip to go impulse buy one. So yeah, not totally perfect in this area...

bobbione8y said...

oh yay! but i will get to see the cute new apron next week!

confession: i also looked for cute aprons to buy when we started back up on wednesdays...i did not find one, which saved THAT impulse from going too far!

Karen said...

Okay, listen. You are NOT ALLOWED to be done blogging. Even though I've been in a funk, I've come by every single day.

I felt a revival coming on when I saw those boots. :-)

cherk said...

Don't worry you are not alone! Sometimes I wonder if my technology love is just one big time sucker AND you are right, the ease of it creates lots of wanting.

bobbione8y said...

yay! you love me still :) you really really do :)

he he. i won't quit. but i sure wish i could be a little more brilliant!