The Long and Winding Road to Functioning A/C - The Rest of the Story

 

The rest of the story...Donatus did come a week ago. He put freon in my a/c for the second time during the week. He put an Automatic Voltage Stabilizer on the unit so when the electrical current is low, the a/c motor will not get spoiled. If the unit is on and the electricity is low, it automatically shuts off. When the current is high enough, the a/c restarts. When I notice a lot of fluctuation in the current, I just shut off the a/c from the main switch. It usually works well between the hours of 11 PM and 7 AM. So, I need to learn to stay up late so I can close the windows and turn on the a/c. I have hade a few nights this week when I slept UNDER the covers. Oh, what a wonderful feeling that was. So, my a/c works & I am getting to know the signs of low voltage, so I won't even try to use it.

 

But, amidst all of this, God opened my eyes...one day, while the electric voltage was low and I was complaining that the a/c wasn't working, a woman died at the Lawra District Hospital...all because the voltage was low and the machines needed to keep her alive did not work during the low voltage. Hmmm...how can I complain when the voltage is low? I am blessed beyond belief. Instead if wondering when the a/c will work, I should be thanking God for the times that it has worked and will work again.

 

"LORD, forgive me for being so narrow minded. Help me to see the bigger picture. Help me to not just see, but really notice the plight of others and act with the gifts and graces You give me. LORD, enlarge my world. Let me see people as You see them, with Your eyes. Let me be Your hands, feet, eyes, and ears with Your heart. Amen"

Invisible

One of the books I have on my Kindle is Invisible byLorena McCourtney. I can relate with the main character, Ivy Malone, who in this chapter of her life seems to be invisible to many around her. No one really notices when she enters or exits a room. Her age and size is such that guys aren't chasing after her. The wisdom of her years allows her to be silent and watch others without being noticed. For her, it works as she tries to solve murders. But, in other areas of life, it can be difficult.

 

Have you ever felt invisible? How does it make you feel, deep down? I have felt that way, too. And, I still do. There are areas of my life where I just want to be noticed. I don't want to be in the limelight. I don't want to be on center stage. I just want to be noticed. I want my efforts and accomplishments affirmed. Yet, in many areas, it doesn't happen and most likely never will.

 

Usually, that's all right with me. Like I said, I don't want to be the center of attention. I don't want to be the one people see. I want them to see Christ in me. So, therein lies the paradox. I want to be affirmed in my accomplishements, to receive a "pat on the back," but, I don't want to be in the center of things. Is that possible? I guess I would rather be invisible than to be in the limelight. But, I also want to know that what I do or what I've done matters. Hmmm....

 

When it comes to what really matters, I'd choose being invisible so that Christ can be seen in me. And, I guess it shouldn't matter whether or not people acknowledge what I have done/am doing because it isn't me, it's Christ in me. It's that part of me that hasn't died to self that wants the pat on the back.

 

Lord, forgive me. I am so grateful to You that to You I am not invisible. You see me. You see me when I sit, when I stand, whatever I am doing, You see me. I pray, Lord, that my actions glorify not me, but they would glorify You. May I be an extension of Your hands, feet and an expression of Your love and mercy.In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Do Over

Have you ever played a new game with children? Or a game in which they aren't doing so well? Sometimes they ask for a "do over." Older kids and even adults ask for a "do over" from time to time, too. A bad mark on an exam, a child who got hurt, an illness, divorce...there are a lot of circumstances in life that happen that we wish would have never happened. It would be so nice to have a "do over," wouldn't it?

The good news is that we can have that "do over" whenever we want it. When we ask Jesus to live in our hearts and ask Him to be our Savior and Lord, we have new life, a "do over!" We make a bad choice and need to ask forgiveness, "do over!" We need peace in our lives instead of chaos, "do over!" Our lives have taken a turn for the worse because of choices and God redeems those lives and uses them for His glory, "do over!"

The Bible says in Psalm 30, "You have turned my mourning into dancing for me..." "Do over!" In Lamentations 3 it says, "His mercies never end, they are new every morning." "Do over!" We can have a "do over" whenever we need it, not just at New Year's with a New Year's Resolution. All we have to do is go to our Heavenly Father and talk with Him. He will hear and answer and He will give you that needed "do over."