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When the Lord Hits CTRL-ALT-DELETE
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I updated the BIOS on my computer (version F6 to version F13) and it corrected the problem where the system would boot from the wrong hard disk. That, however, caused my currently installed OS to longer boot. Long story short, I had to rebuild from scratch. The good news is that everything works wonderfully now and there's nothing like a fresh start on a PC.
God works in similar ways I think. The Good Lord has just reinstalled my OS so-to-speak. He's installed a new driver (divine inspiration?!) within me that made me realize that the my old configuration (lifestyle) is no longer compatible with the new configuration (God's plan). Naturally God always provides, so he installed a new operating system that will be the fresh start of me. Jim version 4.6 perhaps.
OK, so that analogy was clearly written by Captain Lame, but you get the idea.
God was practically shouting at me, nay, screaming at me over the past two weeks. Let me recall the ways:
1) Last week, my children had their first experience with spite and malicious behavior. They apparently told the neighbors kids that they loved them. The neighbors kids responded with jeers and thrown dirt. My eldest daughter was devastated as she had never experience such blatent rejection before. She told me with sincere tears in her eyes that she wished we could move back to our old house to she could be with her friend Marie (previous neighbor). I realized that if I didn't provide an outlet for my poor child to make good friends, I was going to be one failure as a father. I decided to finally find a local church and go to it. Needless to say, it was a rousing success and my kids had a great time and were very excited about the new friends they made.
2) Jonathan, my Intern made me realize that my life was way off track. He's a 17 year old man who is a more mature Christian than I am. His daily life does more for God's Glory than my past year has. Although he's worked for me for several months, this all hit me yesterday like a ton of bricks and needless to say, I was quite depressed and disappointed at my failure. Here I am, filled to the brim with God's gifts, and I don't even honor Him once a week. I've been a Christian for almost as long as he's been alive and yet he could school me on the ways of the Lord all day long.
3) The Great Provider has poured His bounty out upon my family over the past few years. We want not for the necessities of life and have much blessings beyond that. Our new home is just the latest in many gifts we've received from God.
4) The Holy Spirit has never stopped speaking to me, but I got really good at not listening to Him. My heart was not receptive to the Word and when he finally broke down some major walls, His righteous Glory filled me like flood waters.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
I'm ready for life and peace.
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Jim said...
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Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the above text posted by my crazy mormon friend. :)
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said...
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The statement is still true regardless of origin. :)
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said...
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Wow Jim- Amen.
God Bless you and your family
-Lisa
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