God’s Timing

“He never takes His eyes off of us or off the clock ticking over us.”  

God’s timing is perfect. It may not be OUR plan or on our schedule, but it is far more beautiful than anything we can plan for ourselves.

Installing Love

So as I was surfing the glorious wonders of the inter-cyber-space-web-connection (which can sometimes end terribly wrong) I found this poem. The author is unknown, but what a COOL way to look at God! Though it says it at the end, tech-support is God and we (sinners) are the customers. So I’ll let you read it, and then put my thoughts after. 🙂

Installing Love

Tech Support: Yes Ma’am… how can I help you? 

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I’ve decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process? 

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed? 

Customer: Well, I’m not very technical, but I think I’m ready. What do I do first? 

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart ma’am? 

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running? 

Tech Support: What programs are running ma’am? 

Customer: Let’s see, I have Past/Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now. 

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past/Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of it’s own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma’am? 

Customer: I don’t know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how? 

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have completely erased. 

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal? 

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades. 

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, “Error – program not run on external components.” What should I do? 

Tech Support: Don’t worry ma’am. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others. 

Customer: So, what should I do? 

Tech Support: Can you pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations. 

Customer: Okay, done. 

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the “My Heart” directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back. 

Customer: Got it. Hey!!! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal? 

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you. 

Customer: I promise to do just that. By the way, what’s your name? 

Tech Support: Just call me the Divine Cardiologist, also known as the Great Physician, or, just “I AM.” Most people feel all they need is an annual checkup to stay heart-healthy; but, the manufacturer (ME) suggests a daily maintenance schedule for maximum Love efficiency.

 

This is probably one of the most relatable  metaphors for Christ in this day and age. And there is so much good stuff in here, I dont even know where to start. The beginning I guess right?

1. “Well, after much consideration, I’ve decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?” One key word to me here is consideration. God’s love is always available to us but we have to accept it. And lets be honest, sometimes the decision is long. The other key word is guide. We need to ask God to really install love into our lives… and we can’t do it alone! We need his guidance and the answer will ALWAYS be yes.
2. Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past/Hurt from your current operating system….” This whole explanation on installing love hits hard. We have to allow ourselves to accept love, and do our best to “delete” anything that hinders the true workings of love: resentment and Grudge. To stop the hindrances, we need to forgive. Not just once… But over and over.
3. Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.” Again, we cannot really accept love by ourselves. We need a support system, a network of hearts.
4. Tech Support: Can you pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.” We need to love ourselves before we can love anyone else and, honestly, its probably the hardest process out of anything. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Realize you can’t always be perfect, that you are human, and that your worth is priceless to not only God, but many people around you, even if you don’t notice.
5. Customer: Got it. Hey!!! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal? 
   Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you”  Wow. That’s a pretty beautiful picture. With the ‘installment’ of love we get smiles, peace, and contentment. And God shows us that it takes longer for some people, but they will always come “at the proper time”. Big statement. We don’t know the timing God has for our lives, and sometimes we just rush trying to gain all of these things. They will come to you at the right time. Sometimes love takes a long time to settle into our hearts.
6. FINALLY: Tech-Support: the manufacturer (ME) suggests a daily maintenance schedule for maximum Love efficiency.” Say what! What a schmorgousboard (word or not?) of good stuff! Daily maintenance. Consistency… Love everyday. Allow yourself to be loved everyday. Allow yourself to see and encourage people to love everyday.

Man, What a gift I found today just searching the internet. How cool.

God, bless the people that read this and help them to install love into their hearts.

 

Middle School Advice…

My middle school publications teacher inspired me to get into journalism and graphic design. And gave my quite a bit of good advice. As I posted the link to my blog over Facebook, she commented on it saying that some of her advice better be up here. So here you go Mrs. Mitchell.

The most important thing I learned in my publications class is this…

Chewing gum in a professional setting usually ends in embarrassment. 

Every time we were caught chewing gum in class, we had to row our chair down the aisle and sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or had to serenade a visitor with the song from Barney (which I recently received while visiting from a not-so-sneaky-gum-chewer).

Thanks, Mrs. Mitchell. I now will never chew gum in an interview or at work.

Graffiti Advice

The other day my boyfriend Mat and I were driving around town and happened to come across this. When he saw it, he immediately wanted a picture of it so we stopped, I rolled down my window, and took a picture. Even though I rolled my eyes and found it a little silly to take a picture of it, I really took the concept to heart. Why are we always wanting to grow up so fast? As a kid you can’t wait to reach highschool, then college, then marriage. But then once you get to that point, you want to turn around and run. Growing up really IS overrated. However, I do think its funny that it was graffitied onto city property.

1 Peter 5:6-7

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God. He is most careful with you. (The Message)