Computer

I would have bet it would be the kids that would trip over the cord and send my computer flying to the floor BUT it was me. And after a full day of assisted phone help from a remote call directed to India from Dell...we are running again. I did not have to sit on the phone the whole time...ran errands, did things around the house and we kept up via phone calls...did have to come home to restart computer...and babysit a while but it was worth every minute of it for my computer works even better than it did before.

I bet that many of you have had the same experience...where you literally turn the reigns of your computer over to an assisted technician. It is a little weird to see the sensor moving on your personal computer...and know that the helper is all the way in India. But because he is well versed in electronics of this nature...he knows how to negotiate his way through the different programs, analyze the problem areas, and make adjustments that will serve to not only fix the problem but make the computer run more efficiently. He did an outstanding job! I paid him a one time fee for the service and it was worth every minute of it.

But I must say it did come laced with frustration on my part here and there....because sometimes it was hard to understand him and communicate the problem. He thought he had it fixed but then I pointed out that the settings were not being saved and there was no point of restoration that was identified. That opened up a whole new avenue of problem solving.....but once the problem was identified and communicated to him....he was able to untangle it.

This experience has Jesus' name all over it. The "if only's"
1) If only I would give the reigns of my life over to Jesus...let him be move my cursor according to his plans.

2) If only I would be able to clearly communicate what my problems, fears, concerns etc are....Jesus will listen and help me to negotiate my way through them HIs way and help me see things clearer

3) If only I would set a "restore" place to go back to when things go awry...a place when I remembered that Jesus was there....a time when I wholeheartedly knew that Jesus' hand was upon me and his Holy Spirit was directing me...he is always there...I just need to open my eyes and my heart and seek his presence

4) If only I would make time to call on HIm and trust that he is one who knows how I work...how I operate...Jesus knows what "bugs"me and when I have fallen into a tangled mess...He knows when somethign of great importance "like my relationship with Him" has become disconnected

5) If only I would go about my business trusting God to be working through me and with me as I go...


6) If only I would quit trying to take control of the my life cursor....I can't tell you how many times I would take control of that cursor yesterday in frustration trying to override what he was doing.he was patient I was not.....Be patient and wait and watch....

7) If only I would have confidence that he was going to ultimately make it work...and work right....He told me he could and would fix it...I just didn't believe him

8) If only I would have been more careful in the first place...and walked a little slower...this would have never been an issue...but as it happened it is better than the original state....God teaches us lessons like that as we walk through trails and around obstacles and over mountains. He makes us better from the lessons he teaches us...he strengthens our faith and helps us to endure consequences with an understanding that we will ultimately be better trained for His purposes through the bending

9) If only I would truly learn to accept help...and relinquish my hold and my prideful grip on what I have claimed to be MY stuff.....it is all God's anyway!

10) If ONLY I would keep the face of Jesus as my focus in everythign that I do...and with the people whose paths I cross....he will succeed in transforming my life, reconnecting my disconnect with Him, help me to establish a restore point, make me better than I was and help me to run more efficiently as he has programmed me to do.

Isaiah 48:18
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

We all, who are reading these emails have computers... and you too have probably had a time when your computer had to be serviced for one reason or another. Computers are just man made machines...by smart men.... consider how smart the computer makers must be and how well trained the techs are...now think of how wise and wonderful our creator is to have come up with each of us.....and how well trained and well versed he is to know how each of us works and how we will respond, and where are trouble areas are etc.

Doesn't compare...yet how many times do we confide, call, confess and committ to his help and his ways. I can just say "never enough"...."never enough" to keep me from continuing to make mistakes, get tangled up and disconnect from a power source that is known to keep me running efficiently. But Jesus continues to work on me and through me, thank God, and ultimately one day in heaven I will be without these flaws...and these bugs that generate discontent and fear and insecurity will be only a vapor. I see them slipping away...as I spend more time and energy seeking Jesus who is good and right and wise and filled with grace that he pours upon me. I know you see it too...and how we are blessed to know Jesus and be able to trust in Him and his word.....we just have to call...and he will be there to help...

Dear Lord, Help me to change my "If Only's" to "I do's". Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

website:
www.cathyjodeit.com
email address: cjodeit@gmail.com
The blog link below has all devotionals from the beginning of the year:

http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/