Bam Wham Computer Down!

Nothing like starting the day with great expectancy and promise. Then all it takes is one major kink in the hose, so to speak, to stop the flow. And, in my case, it was bam, wham and my computer was down. That means a call for 911 computer help! Fortunately, that day last week happened after I posted my early morning blog. And, thankfully, I have a 24/7 repair guy. Well, he may not agree with that all-day-and-night hours of business, but he was there when I needed him that early morning. Twenty-four hours later (he pulled an all-nighter – well, actually, the computer pulled an all-nighter getting all my files and programs restored). BTW, if you’re local to me, I’ve got the whiz-older-kid repair guy for you! Reasonable, fast and efficient!

We know how productive we can be when our computers AND our lives are operating at top performance. And we also know how counter-productive we can be when our computers crash or we crash. Our computers are of such importance to us that we use security, filters, and firewalls to help protect them and we do regular back-up of our information. But what about us? We are like a sophisticated, advanced, powerful, intricate, masterfully designed and crafted, highly intelligent, capable of so much input AND output computer -- created by God. Nothing like starting the day with great expectancy and promise and then all it takes is one major kink in the hose, so to speak, to stop the flow. And, in my case, it was bam, wham -- computer down! That means a 911 computer tech call for help! Fortunately, that pivotal calamity unfolded after I posted my early morning blog. Thankfully, I have a 24/7 repair guy. Well, he may not agree with that all-day-and-night hours of business, but he was there when I needed him that early morning. Twenty-four hours later (he pulled an all-nighter – actually, the computer pulled an all-nighter getting all my files and programs restored). BTW, if you’re local to me, I’ve got the older-whiz-kid repair guy for you! Reasonable, fast and efficient!

We know how productive we can be when our computers AND our lives are operating at top performance. And we also know how counter-productive we can be when our computers crash or we crash. Our computers are of such importance to us that we use security, filters, and firewalls to help protect them and we do regular back-up of our information. But what about us? We are like a sophisticated, advanced, powerful, intricate, masterfully designed and crafted, highly intelligent, capable of so much input AND output computer -- created by God.

Our minds are really like a computer, and how we program them and what we input into them determines our output. Negative thinking and speaking is like a corrupted program or virus that comes from an external source (i.e., the enemy of our souls) that can make its way in and infects our thinking. That's when we need to use the DELETE button and reprogram ourselves with software that says "I am more than a conqueror"; "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me", "Greater is He Who is in me than he that is in the world", "If God be for me, who can be against me?" That is the input we need and then the output will be conquering, winning and being blessed.

It's time we get really good at hitting the DELETE button and then say, "I am who God says I am. My mind is alert and my heart is receptive to only God's voice. No one can make me feel inferior without my permission. Voices from the past are no longer a stronghold over me." When voices say, "You'll never get ahead." DELETE. "You're stupid." DELETE. "You're defective." DELETE. Say, "I am equipped, well able, I will fulfill my destiny. God says I am His masterpiece. I am not defective or flawed. God has crowned me with his favor. I am the apple of His eye, and one of His prized possessions. I am accepted, approved, and I am valuable."

Maybe, it's time to reboot, reprogram, re-input, and renew your mind (your computer). And, for goodness sake, we MUST keep our computer CLEAN, free from viruses of hate, anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, worry, and defeat. We must make sure our FIREWALL is working well -- the FIREWALL of God's Word that protects against the adversary's voice and his devices and tactics. And, remember to DELETE when necessary!

Procrastination – the Thief of Time

Thomas Jefferson said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today!” Seems I’ve known those words all my life. My Mom quoted them to me when I’d wait to study for a test until the last minute or wait to practice my piano until the day of my next lesson. But, here I am, many years later, still procrastinating on things I should get done TODAY!

My pal of over seven years is my workhorse laptop. I'm guilty. I've overfed it with tons of data input, word processing, graphics, and publishing projects. From a vast array of mistreatment, I noticed it was getting sluggish and its performance was lackluster. I started getting annoyed at my faithful friend and started whining about it instead of taking it in for a "medical" check-up. I kept waiting on it, sometimes up to 20 minutes, while the little circle on the screen, just spun. I procrastinated on getting something done about it….and it was stealing my time.

When my patience was at its limit two weeks ago, I decided to rid myself of the daily laptop burden I was carrying. I searched and found a computer technician in my community. I had to release my devoted, faithful laptop for a week, but today I am typing this post on my completely healed and whole, refurbished computer with a new solid-state drive, upgraded operating system, cleaned out from the seven years of gunk build-up inside, and it is now moving faster than a speeding bullet – well maybe not quite that fast, but let’s just say, what took 20 minutes before, is less than a minute now. Whoo Hoo! My faithful pal has been restored and I'm its happy user again.

Why oh why did I wait so long? I “put up with” my pal's flaws and procrastinated. I thought I was just too busy to stop and “smell the roses”, or rather, stopping to find a technician. We may not stop to go to the doctor about an annoying physical issue, or going to the gym to work off some of those Christmas treats, or better yet, stopping to have a little talk with Jesus to make everything right. Instead, we just keep “putting up with” issues and procrastination gets the best of us!

It's time to come to a screeching HALT and evaluate those annoyances and do something about them TODAY. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. It’s the little things that have a HUGE impact on our energy, how we feel, and even on how much we produce. It's time to stop complaining about this or that and do something about this or that TODAY! When we change our old patterns from “putting off till tomorrow", we’ll be more productive, having better time management, better health, having more friendships, more quality family time, and business success.

It’s a Computer Miracle!!!

Knowing we were heading out the next day for Beaver’s Bend, OK for a family fishing trip, I knew I had to write/type my daily posts in advance. Thus, this Hoot Suite-driven post today! Aww! Gotta’ love this world of technology that solves so many timing issues. I type the post and Hoot Suite provides the scheduling and posting for me when I’m out of wifi range! And we are! Beaver’s Bend is in a bowl that prevents a good wifi connection so you have to go for miles if you absolutely need one. My mind will be on fishing – not on driving for a connection. So, hopefully, this one is coming through loud and clear.

Back to my “computer miracle”! There’s a lot to be done in preparation for a fishing trip. Getting all the fishing gear together: getting the rods all together, restring reels with new line, getting all the bait and tackle organized and ready to go, planning the meals, buying the food, cooking some of the food (cookies, cake, lasagna, etc.), and gathering all the kitchen and food items (these cabins are great, but supplies are needed). Then there’s getting our fishing clothes, hats, camp chairs, weiner/marshmallow wires, bug spray, etc. together. It’s worth it all for the family fun that awaits us. So my plate was full and of most importance to me, is getting my blog/facebook posts ready to go for the next several days.

At about 7 pm on Sunday, I sat down to start working on my posts, when all of a sudden; my laptop’s touchpad and cursor became completely frozen and inoperable. Rather than panicking, I began to call on God for “HELP!” and then go through the normal routine, do a power reset….several times – nothing. I called my son and asked if he had a stand-alone keyboard or USB mouse – nada! I opened my Chrome Notebook and proceeded to google support help and everything that was recommended, I tried it, but it failed to work. At 1 am, I went to bed, thinking “I’ll take my computer in somewhere in the morning or get a USB mouse for a temporary help.” But I was also thinking “My day is so full already besides needing to create posts (which typically take me one to two hours each) and needing to bake and gather things together, how am I going to do it all?” I prayed my mind be at peace so I could sleep for a few hours. And, I did sleep well until my usual 5 am – up and at ‘em!

Next morning, Monday, I went into my office, and was hoping and praying that an overnight miracle would have taken place, but, no, my computer was still frozen. I thought I’d try my Google Chrome search one more time, and immediately there was a YouTube video that said “mouse pad light fix” on my screen. I clicked and watched the video which offered a simple solution “Fn + spacebar” and whoa-la, touchpad AND cursor were SET FREE and so was I. I couldn’t help it! I had a hallelujah hoedown. I cried and praised and gave God the thanksgiving He deserved. Was it a coincidence or was it the favor of God or was it divine intervention? Maybe all of the above.

Isn't it amazing how much God cares about even the smallest desires of our hearts? Yes, there are those times when we look up to heaven and say, "Thanks, God. I know you did that!" It is truly a miracle that the God of the universe surrounds our tiny, little lives with His loving care. Maybe we should look for the miracles of answered prayers and desires of our hearts. It's not always big and showy, but it is no less a miracle when the God of the universe shows up to kids who just happen to have a computer problem!
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3.