Revive Our Hearts

Thu,Aug 27 2009 01:05:31 PM

"Praise the Lord for making me aware of how much of my time was spent in front of the TV. I was using it as a means to wind down, my entertainment and backround noise. I have been broken free from turning the TV on when I walk into my home. I now take that time to commune with the Lord and ask Him what He would like for me to do. At the beginning it was to read His word, and ponder the past few months of my life. It then turned into a full blow revival of my relationship with the Lord.

My son is grown and I am 41 going on 18 again. The Lord showed me that this part of my life has been set apart for Him to prepare and grow me into the woman He created me to be without the distractions of the world when I walk into my home each day.

I am not the same person I was just 25 days ago.

I have to thank Sarah's (testimony below) obedience for writing Psalm 107:9 on this web page. The Lord placed that same scripture on my heart the very same day I came across this challenge. It was confirmation to me, what God was calling me to do. Little did I know where that one simple scripture was going to lead me...Into the beginning of the most Holy Spirit filled chapters of my life....and it is still continuing to this day.

Thank you Nancy for putting this challenge out there for people to consider.

Abiding in His Love,
Dawn"

--Dawn

Mon,Aug 24 2009 07:27:04 AM

"I am glad that I am no longer a TV freak. i have learnt to use the time more productively and my relationship with my husband and child is now great. my attention is no longer divided. There is so much joy in doing some of the activities you have availed. thank you so much."

--Esnath

Tue,Jun 30 2009 07:54:03 PM

"I am so glad I don't enjoy watching television. Other than some news and the occasional movie, I really don't have any interest in watching it.

There are so many productive things to do with the time we waste staring at a box. Reading, studying, working, exercising, cooking - you name it. Thanks for encouraging people to find lives outside of television!

Blessings ~~
Summer"

--Summer

Mon,May 11 2009 05:22:06 PM

"You have definitely caught the heart of the Challenge! God bless you, Penny, as you honor God with your time, activities and thoughts! Indeed He satisfies our souls with good things (Ps. 107:9)!"

--Sarah

Mon,May 4 2009 04:07:24 PM

"This has helped me realize how much I watch TV just because I am bored. I live by myself and don't have many friends and it helps me to realize in order to have victory in areas of my life I need to spend more time in God's word and prayer. Especially in God's word. I love to read so I don't miss the tv too much. I don't have a computer and I think that is good cause it forces me to find other activities that honor God. I still have a long way to go but Gods mercies are new every morning. And I praise God that He does not see me as man does. He looks at my heart. Thanks for the challenge. God Bless Penny"

--Penny

Tue,Feb 3 2009 07:40:41 PM

"I commented on an earlier date but thought I would give an update. I have not at all missed turning the TV on. I do however turn on my laptop, check my email and then listen to Bott Radio Network or all the ROH past programs that I've downloaded. I continue to listen to them throughout the night. I was a bit convicted though about not being able to have "quiet" when I come home from work so I'm purposely not listening to anything at times but reading instead which I've always had a hard time doing. I'm not a poor reader but I've never enjoyed reading. I'm actually enjoying reading my books I purchased from ROH (I can't believe how many I bought!). I plan on reading them though and then will give them to my church library or share them somehow. I turned the TV on for the first time since Nov. 11th just to watch the superbowl but had it muted most of the time . . . I really don't watch sports but I was afraid I was getting a little proud (in my spirit) of being able to say I had cancelled my cable TV and had not turned it on since Nov 11th so I made up my mind I would turn it on for certain things like the weather ( I don't even care about the news) TV has always been such a distraction to me so it's been really nice to be out of the habit of turning it on the minute I come home from work. I hope I didn't mess up my challenge by turning my TV on. I don't plan on turning it on except for special occasions. I didn't think I could live without TV but I certainly can and can thrive without it!"

--Gayle

Fri,Jan 16 2009 10:09:45 AM

"I actually stopped my TV service April 2007. It had come to the point I could not accept the continual negative information that was against all that I believe and the cost. Now I read, listen to the radio and enjoy Christian help studies such as True Womanhood. I would not be in this wonderful study if I still had TV. I have so much more time to visit with family, friends and to be in God's Word."

--Patricia

Sun,Jan 11 2009 05:00:03 PM

"I acutally cancelled my cable subscription the other day (but not my internet service - my radio is not reliabe in the bedroom so I use my laptop to listen to all my radio programs when I'm home and through out the night.). Thanks for the challenge."

--Gayle

Fri,Nov 21 2008 09:11:37 PM

"I did not succeed in the 31-day challenge but I did turn the tv off earlier than usual and I have been reading more than usual. Thanks for the chalalenge."

--Mary

Fri,Oct 17 2008 12:47:32 PM

"I did not fully take part in the challenge they way you asked, but did turn the TV off (and all "screens" for that matter-TV, Computer, Video Games, etc.) every night at 6pm-after the news and only on school nights. It's been interesting in how much more my family reads now! Since we're gone all day, the TV wasn't even turned on each evening until 4-5pm anyway. It's also helped me to go to bed earlier each night-THANK YOU!"

--Sandy

Sat,Sep 27 2008 02:25:45 PM

"We've taken this challenge a step further by getting rid of our tv altogether. My son and I agreed that it was a hindrance spiritually. I've seen a change in our family. My son is more bold to pray out loud in church. There is growth, for both of us. We are spending more time together and the Lord has blessed by placing a replacement of the tv. It has been a sweet fellowship with the Lord."

--Jenn

Mon,Sep 22 2008 11:51:51 AM

"Okay you probably don't hear this alot but I did not go the whole 30 days without tv. But the time I did it was wonderful. I spent the time I usually have the tv on reading God's word and praying. Also listening to Hillsong praise and worship. It was awesome how close I felt to the Lord and how He filled me with His Holy Spirit. I am now taking it one day and week at a time with no tv. I hope to stay in close communion with the Lord. Thanks for the challenge even though I was not sucessful at 30 straight days it has opened my eyes to how much more fun it is to just spend time with my best friend God. Thanks Penny"

--Penny

Mon,Jul 14 2008 03:45:45 PM

"I have already been a tv-free person for several years but I wanted to take the challenge so that when friends/family ask me to watch, then I can tell them I took the 30-day challenge and not feel pressured to give in. :o)

I also took the challenge because I wanted to know what great ideas are out there of alternate things to do. So it has been great. I don't think I can spend the money for the Great Escape book yet, but hopefully that will work out some day.

Life consists of time, use time wisely."

--Nellie

Fri,Sep 14 2007 02:02:02 PM

"" Nancy, to be honest there were days I was not really aware of the challenge. However, I did not watch TV simply because I was in a time of fasting and prayer anyway. It is my habit during consecration to not watch TV at all. On a few days though I turned the TV on out of habit but really didn't pay attention to what was on. But I can say those days of consecration were well spent with our Lord of glory. That is always life changing." Praise God for all who were diligent." Doanita"

--Doanita

Sat,Sep 1 2007 08:03:57 PM

"What a blessing this time of being t.v. has been!!!! I've enjoyed more time with the Lord in prayer and reading His Word. I do have to confess I did have to watch the late news for about 4 or five nights because Hurricane Dean looked like he might decide to visit the Texas Gulf Coast!!!! Praise God he didn't!!! Anyway,Thank you Nancy and staff for making this challenge possible.
In His name,
Barbara"

--Barbara

Tue,Aug 28 2007 11:11:27 PM

"I was very reluctant at the begining of August when my husband asked our entire church to participate in this. I (thought) I needed the TV to drown out the anxieties and problems of the day. But HOW does God speak to you in the noise! it is now day 28 with only 3 days to go and we will be continuing. Twice during the month I was tempted to turn the TV on, the first time my devotional for the day stopped that and the second time my daughter and her 4month old son called and said they were on their way. Wow isn't God great. He knew just what I needed to keep me on track. Two of our daughters live close and during the evening they and their husbands come over and we eat together and sit outside and watch the wildlife, stars and talk. What a time of building relationships and memories. During this month of no tv, I am reading and studying Nancys book Lies Women Believe and I will be facilitaing this study to the women of our church soon. Thanks for this web site as an encouragement."

--Janice

Fri,Aug 24 2007 10:23:13 AM

"We have grown so much as a family since our tv has been off. The most wonderful thing of all that has happened would have to be what my seven year old son has learned and wants to share with everyone. We have been talking with him about how God made everything and how it all belongs to Him. Well, he came home from school yesterday telling me how he saw a bookbag in class and asked who's it was. When his friend Blain said it's mine, Andrew told him unhunh it's God's. :) He also wants to tell some of his friends at school about Jesus. I am very excited about how much a seven year old child can change and focus on God when there is no tv. My husband and I are trying to set it up where when it is over, our son and daughter will only have certain days for a certain amount of time that they can watch tv. This challenge has been an extreme blessing for our family. Thank you soo much!"

--Dallas

Mon,Aug 20 2007 06:02:55 PM

"Ok, day 4 of no TV and the house is really quiet. As a single person I have no family to play scrabble with through the evening and I think I would lose friends if I kept calling them or visiting them to have someone to talk to. I definitely see the advantages of this challenge. Last night I called a friend who is going through some difficult times with her mom (I didn't watch a favorite PBS show- I was tempted) and I think I was able to encourage her. This was definitely a better use of my time. If anyone has ideas for the single ones, please post a note."

--Stephanie

Sat,Aug 4 2007 10:56:29 PM

"It was a challenge to get started, but we are finally underway. We dropped the little bit of cable we had been getting when we moved this spring and that has made it much easier to transition to no TV for the month.

I wish that we could do without the computer for the month of August. However, as I am pulling together curriculum, etc. for the fall semester for our homeschool, the computer is an invaluable tool. However, we do limit our time as best we can during this time period."

--Melisa

Mon,Jul 23 2007 07:48:51 AM

"Nancy and crew please pray for all of us who are going to, by God's grace, take on this endeavor of turning off the TV and/or computer for a month. Please pray for the husband and children's heart to be receptive. These objects are relationship stealers. God has been working on my heart about this very issue of too much time on the computer and in front of the TV. Please just pray for us! Thank you so much dear Sister in Christ!"

--Shannon

Thu,Jul 19 2007 11:03:56 AM

"TV free needs to include the computer, too."

--Lisa

Wed,Jul 18 2007 01:30:31 PM

"We have been T.V. free for many years. it was a hard transition. but we will never go back. we do rent christian movies once in awile.we have 2 teenagers and thay do not miss it.a few years ago my oldest son had a friend over and we had a fire in the fire place and we all sat in the livingroom visiting and playing games,and she asked if we had ever done that before? when we told her we do it every day, her first words were 'Can i come back tomorrow"She said the T.V is on at all times at her house there is even a T.V at the diningroom table and thay are not allowd to talk during dinner because her dads show is on at that time and he doesnt want to miss any of it. It is sad to me that that father would rather miss out on his family's life than miss the reruns of his favorite show. I want to encurage anyone who is willing to take the challange. it will pull your family closer to God and eachother. Fill your home with Christian music and get to know each other. you will be suprised at how much you dont know about the person across the table from you every day. In Gods Grace, Cindy"

--Cindy

Tue,Jul 17 2007 12:34:21 AM

"I got rid of the tv many years ago and havent missed it yet. Christian Radio fills the void better every day and I believe it cleanses the airwaves coming to my house of all the filth and junk on the tvs nowdays. Maybe a lot of people could not do what I did with a Family, But anytime spent away from the One Eyed Monster and time spent with Family is Time spent the way the Lord meant it to be enjoyed. I remember when Tv started way back in the fifties and it was decent Family entertainment then. Watching that Ole test pattern a few hours a day did wonders for the Forming of Patience. Thank you for reading this and May Our Great Savior be the enlightment In Your Lives today and Forever. In His Blessing for you, Dale J Seiler."

--Dale

Mon,Jul 16 2007 11:54:10 AM

"We participated in the TV Free Month last year, for my family we had made the choice to not have any regular television programing in our home for the past 8 years so. We only rented appropriate movies or bought them from a Christian company, so we choose to stay away from movies etc. during this period and enjoyed the time as a family without the detraction of the kids wanting a video constantly. We also limited the computer to checking e-mails.. Time saved big time... this helped us reevaluate all the time we wasted... Let's do it again!"

--Tina

Wed,Jul 11 2007 04:29:22 PM

"We turned the cable off from Nov - April, and I started openning my bible 2xs a day. Things that use to bother me no longer bothered me. I could feel the Holy Spirit leading my life. Everytime a question came to mind I could hear the response of the Holy Spirit.

Amazing. TV does have a huge effect on our lives. It is the power of suggestion. We are very visual creatures."

--Kyra

Sun,Jul 8 2007 09:19:07 PM

"My Mother and I participated in the TV Free Month last year. The experience truly opened our eyes to the subtle power television had in our lives. Even though our flesh is already rebelling against the thought, we have agreed to go TV Free with you again this year! What will God show us this time?"

--Traci