I received this article from a friend ... made me think ... hope it is ok if I post it ... thought u might appreciate the read also.
“Computer Crashes, Silence & Renewal�?nbsp; Larry Davies
It took five days with a busted computer to teach me I was the one who really needed fixing. While doing serious soul-searching, I ran across a story by Arthur Gordon sharing a doctor’s advice for overcoming difficulties. “Find an isolated spot and follow instructions on four slips of paper.�?So, I settled down one long night to study each of the four prescriptions along with the book of Proverbs.
1. Listen Carefully was a poignant reminder that in this fast paced world, God is still very much in control. I was the one who needed to pause. “Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise.�?(Proverbs 1:23)
2. Try Reaching Back. A photo album represented precious memories and golden moments to savor and appreciate. Each moment became a treasure trove of memories offering reassurance that I am loved and shaped by family and friends. More than that�?“Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you.�?(Proverbs 6:22)
3. Reexamine Your Motives requires working for something bigger. Whether a call to discover God’s purpose or the comfort of knowing you are valued. Reexamine your motives will require courage and demand humility. “Those who search for me will surely find me.�?(P 8:17)
My motives subtly changed over the years and I needed to repent, so in the quiet early morning hours, alone in the study, I began to cry. For several minutes, I was trapped by an overwhelming sense of guilt. Yet, this is exactly where God wanted me. Because without discovering a need to change, I would never understand what would happen next. I was now ready for the fourth prescription.
Carefully, I opened the piece of paper and studied the six words: “Write your troubles in the sand.�?
For a long time�?I didn’t know how to respond. The idea of standing on a quiet beach and writing my troubles in the sand soon to be washed away by the incoming tide was certainly comforting. More than anything, I needed the reassurance that I could be forgiven and continually loved and nourished.
Could it be that simple? Actually, no! There is something missing. Troubles don’t disappear so easily. Melancholy is not so quickly washed away. I didn’t find much help in Proverbs either except for this: “Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me, finds life…�?(Proverbs 8:34-35)
Here is what I heard: …listen to Me, …watch for Me, …wait for Me, …if you find Me, you find life.
This verse contained the answer but I didn’t catch it until I noticed a painting by Thomas Kinkade entitled “A Lighthouse in the Storm.�?At first all you see are huge waves crashing against the beach poised to destroy all within their path: A bleak picture if not for the nearby lighthouse. Somehow the light continuing to shine in the midst of the storm looks reassuring�?comforting. You sense no matter how the storm rages, the lighthouse will continue to stand and provide light for the lost.
Write your troubles in the sand�?can only take us so far. The foaming waves still attack the beach. Where will I look to receive strength? The fierce winds still blow you off course. Where will you find a steady light to guide your way? We need a lighthouse to provide direction and stability.
God says: …listen to Me, watch for Me, wait for Me�?if you find Me, you find life. In other words:
1. Listen carefully. God is in control�?not you. “Come here and listen to me.�?BR>
2. Try reaching back. Look to your treasure trove of memories. “…they will protect you.�?BR>
3. Reexamine your motives. Serve something bigger than yourself. “Those who search…�?BR>
4. Write your troubles in the sand. God’s promise to forget and forgive. “Wait for Me…�?
5. Look to the lighthouse. God’s steady light to guide your way. “If you find me, you find life.�?/DIV>
As the early morning rays crossed the horizon, I realized it had been a long but satisfying night. I lost a computer but gained something far more precious: a restored relationship with my precious Lord. All in all�?not a bad exchange. “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.�?(Psalm 119:105)
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Jesus said: "You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)
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