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!

I Could Sure Use a Tune-Up

Ever felt that way? If our car isn't getting good gas mileage or something just isn't working properly, we'll take it in for a tune-up. If a musician’s instrument isn’t tuned correctly, it won’t sound right. If we’re out of tune or “alignment” in our life, we'll start making uncalled-for blunders, forget appointments and we will start to feel off-kilter in just about every area of our lives.

The last couple of days I was single-handedly hosting my own garage sale, dealing with crowd control, being on point to calculate item prices, and hustling to get the leftovers boxed up for charity. Time for body and soul "tune-up"! A tune-up is taking a closer look at what is going on. We can settle for "it's just my age" or "I never was good at that anyway" or "where did THAT come from? This blog is from my own need to fine-tune. Case in point: my daughter told me something confidential. Carelessly, in a casual conversation with a loved one, I shared that confidence. Didn't even think about it being confidential. The next thing I hear is my daughter telling me the loved one asked her about it. Oh me. I need to be fine-tuned.

I was at a women's meeting last week when I knew this blog would be written. I talked about fine-tuning when one gal spoke about her friend who continued to lose their temper and even curse around her. Of course, her peace is affected. It was in that instant that I thought: "She needs to evaluate that friendship and even needs to realize her peace needs to be fine-tuned from those things that cause her to lose her peace. I know me and if I'm not in peace -- then it's time for a tune-up!

There’s an old saying, and I’ll admit it’s a little cheesy, where the guy says to the girl: "I think we could make beautiful music together.” If we could strip away the cheese factor, can we ask ourselves this question? "Are we making beautiful music in our life? In our relationships? In our thoughts and actions? If not, maybe we need to seriously think about getting a tune-up!

I'm purposing to clean-up and tune-up my act! Here's what I'm doing! Hopefully you'll learn from my mistakes and my adjustments:
~ Fine tune negative thinking. It's time to zero in on all the good in our life and turn that negativity into gratitude. Tweak me, Lord! If we pay more attention to the hustle of life instead of our relationship with God, our health, our family, our friends, and helping others, then we should pray "Tune me up, Lord, so the things that matter most will get my top-priority attention."

~ I know when my body and the foods I eat need to be fine-tuned. I feel it. I know it when I've had sugar-overload and not paid attention to eating right. Purposing to be fit and healthy
Even Jesus needed to withdraw to a quiet place for fine-tuning in prayer. He is our greatest example for spending time in solitude for the purpose of fine-tuning. It's what we need for the long haul. Shouldn't we be treating our life as a fine-tuned piano and beautiful gift that God made us to be?

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Think Before You Speak

Oh, how I want to put my finger to people's lips and say "Shhhh -- don't say that!" when I hear then say things like “I’m so stupid", "I can just look at a cookie, and I gain weight", "I get a cold this time every year", "I could never win at that", "I’ll never be able to afford that", "I’m too old to do that", etc. And, you know what…..they will continue to get what they are saying and thinking.

I am an optimistic and quite experienced, positive thinker. I wasn’t born that way, but through conscious effort and repetition, it's now, my mode of operation. In all seriousness, I anticipate happiness, good health and success, and I sincerely believe that I can overcome any obstacle and difficulty. Optimistic and positive people really do experience happy feelings; their eyes are bright, they're almost always smiling, they have more energy and their whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even their health is affected in a positive way, and they walk tall, their voices are more powerful and their body language shows the way they feel.

Positive thinking is contagious, but so is negative thinking. And, my heart is to inspire others to stop having stickin’ thinkin’. Thinking positively and speaking positively really works. We really can control and change our thoughts. It’s like changing the channel on a TV – we see a program we don’t want to watch, so we change the channel. In the same way, when a negative thought comes to us, rather than continuing to think that negative thought….change the channel to something good and positive. Those who think themselves a failure or unworthy of success and live in fear of what tomorrow may bring, will encounter stumbling blocks, closed doors, being late to appointments because of losing their keys, and other distractions that will keep them from succeeding.

But, if we make a conscious effort to speaking positive, writing positive, reading positive, watching positive and take actions that make us feel positive, eventually, it will be second nature for us to shift any negative focus to positive. It doesn't matter what our circumstances are at the present moment. If we think positively, expect favorable results, then our situations and circumstances will change. If we persevere, we will transform the way our mind thinks, as well as the beautiful things that will start coming our way. So, let’s start “THINKING BEFORE WE SPEAK”. Who knows? Those positive thoughts just might produce the harvest we’ve been believing for!”