Multi-Tasking

When I was a telephone operator, we had a work technique called over-lapping.
The operator answered a call, took the information required, and placed a long-distance call. Then as that phone call was ringing, the operator clicked off that call, and answered another call. When the called party on the first call answered, a red light turned green, and if no further action was required, the operator started the timing on the call for the purpose of charging the calling party.
While the operator was starting the timing on the first call, she would also be taking the details and placing that second call. A good operator could have 3 or 4 calls going at one time.
I still do that. While I am downloading a computer program, I might have another computer running an anti-spyware program, and a third doing Windows Update. I go from one to another to check the progress, at the same time writing a weekly devotional, or going through photos.
This is over-lapping or multi-tasking. My brain is wired this way, but not everyone can do this. I have worked with some people who had a one-track mind. If they start trouble-shooting and were interrupted, they had to start over at the beginning again, but my mind is able to pick up where I left off and continue as though I weren’t interrupted.
My ability to over-lap or multitask is a strength, but also a weakness. In its very worst state, multitasking causes a person to be flighty, going from one task to another and never accomplishing anything concrete.
Paul said in II Corinthians 12:9 that the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
By presenting our weaknesses to the Lord, we can join our weakness with the Lord’s strength and receive His grace.
Then we will see that the very thing we struggle most to overcome will become our greatest strength.

Look to the Heavens

In the 70s while I was working as a telephone operator, I learned to crochet, like my friends were doing. I had learned to knit in home economics class in high school, but I liked the the cute crocheted sweaters better than the knitted ones.

I had tried to learn to crochet from Mom, but she crocheted doilies with thread and a small crochet hook. I just couldn’t seem to pick up the technique. Then when I saw my friends crocheting with yarn and big fat crochet hooks, I thought, “I can do that.” I had a picture in my mind of me holding the hook and yarn and putting the hook in the loops and pulling the yarn through.

I bought a skein of yarn, a big fat hook, and a crochet instruction book, and taught myself to crochet. My first project was a zigzag multi-colored afghan that I still have. Whether crochet or cooking or driving a car, I learned many things because I saw myself doing it. I formed an image in my mind.

“Then He (God) brought him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:5 New King James Version.

When God spoke to Abraham, He told him to look up to the heavens, count the stars, and that is the number of descendants he would have. At that moment, Abraham had no children. He was an old man and his wife was old, but she hadn’t been able to have children even when young.

Abraham looked at the stars and a vision formed in his heart of an old man bouncing a baby boy on his knee, teaching him to walk, and to hunt and fish. Abraham saw himself as a father. Then he put His faith in God to see it come to pass.

Is there something that you have desired for many years, like Abraham desired a son? Look up to the heavens and visualize it for yourself. Then put your faith in God.

Traveling to Heaven

Entering heaven
Heaven is Real
I’ve always wanted to travel, especially to Ireland. My ancestors were probably from Ireland (and Scotland and England.) I’d love to visit the countryside where my ancestors lived and listen to the people speak the Irish language, Gaelic, or English with an Irish brogue.


I have never been to Heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma. I was born in Oklahoma and have lived here all my life. Some people think Oklahoma is cowboys and Indians, oil derricks, flat plains, and the Dust Bowl, but Oklahoma around Vinita is hills and valleys, Grand Lake, the tail end of the Ozarks out of Missouri and Arkansas, lush hay fields, and cattle ranches.
I learned about heaven in Sunday school. I was fascinated with heaven. Streets of gold and the gates of pearl. Angels and cherubim are all around the throne of God, crying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” A great multitude of people, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, surrounding the throne are clothed in white robes worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The river of life flows out of the throne of God and on the banks of the river are trees with leaves for healing of the nations.
One day, like Paul, I will say, “The time of my departure is at hand.” II Timothy 4:6. New King James Version. I will step out of Oklahoma and step into Heaven.  “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
 
Heaven is as real as Ireland and Oklahoma.