Monday, March 1, 2010

How He Wired Me

TJ Max. Belk. JC Penny. And Walmart. Some of my favorite stores. The problem? No one wants to go shopping with me. I create a scene entering and exiting stores. It has something to do with how I'm wired.

Like sometimes when I leave a store, I set off the electronic security device.

For no reason.

You know how the alarm beeps if the cashier forgets to remove the tag on certain merchandise. Or when a customer forgets to pay for merchandise--aka shoplifting.

Well, I don't fit in the first category. Sometimes the alarm goes off when I don't have any merchandise.

And I so don't fit in the second category. Enough said about that. I hope!

Still, greeters, clerks, and assistant managers hear that familiar buzz, and they dash to my side. If I have a package, they check the receipt and the items; of course, they find everything in order. Then they say, "Uh, I guess we have a glitch in the system."

And like, if I don't have a package, they say, "Well, maybe your cell phone caused the alarm to activate."

But I know what they're really thinking. I mean, wouldn't you?

I can also set off the alarm as I walk into a store. Talk about weird looks. Like I'm an alien or something.

I've become accustomed to this phenomenon, but it's so embarrassing for my friends. Especially if this is our first shopping extravaganza. (And usually our last).

I don't how it happens. Don't know why it happens. It just happens. Not always. But frequently. It isn't my cell phone. It's not the wiring in their security system.

It's me. How I am. How God wired me, I guess.

You know, God created us. He wired each of us with unique--sometimes quirky--personalities. With different temperments. Goals. Ambitions. Dreams.

He wired me with a dream about writing. I have, like, this love for words. For His word. I always have. Even when I was just a little girl.

Words.

I love to read His word. Study His word. Teach His word. I love to share what He's teaching me through His word. I love to share my sweet Savior like this.

With words.

Like articles. Devotions. Bible study lessons. That I long to write.

But then He said to me: Be still, sweet girl. You've got more to learn about loving. About loving Me with all of your heart. All of your soul. All of your mind. All of your strength.

I think He said that to me because that's really how He wired me. Actually, that's how He wired all of us.

To love Him like that.

To trust Him like that.

To believe in Him like that.

Because while I believe He gave me the dream, my hope is not in my dream; my hope is in my God. The Dream Giver.

I don't trust in my dream--I trust in my loving God.

I'm trusting Him to shape me. To shake me. Sift me. So that I will fit His dream for me.

And He will.

He knows me:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5a).

Oh, yes, sweet friend. He knew me before my life began. He knew you before your first heartbeat.

He knows what He's wired you to do and to be.

Do you know what's on His mind? If you do, please feel free to share your story. If you don't know exactly what He has for you, I'd love to pray with you about it.

Oh, by the way.

Is anybody in the mood for a little shopping spree with me?

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19 comments:

  1. oh I would LOVE to go shopping with you. And LOVE to have coffee and chocolate with you after the fact and get all excited and encouraged and teary and giggly as we discussed the wonderful words of life. I love you.

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  2. Cracking up here. You actually ARE wired that way.

    All your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength, Deb. He doesn't ask for much. He asks for it all.

    Beautiful reminder, as always.

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  3. I love this line, "So that I will fit His dream for me." It makes me realize that I will attain my dreams faster if I put less effort into my dreams and more effort into God!

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  4. Deb,

    I would be more than happy to head out on a shopping spree with you. I have done the same thing myself and it depends on the sensitivity of the alarms and how they are set. The cell phones can set them off or just about anything from purses, and glasses. It has something to do the with the metallic makeup and the sensitivity of the alarm.

    If they go off, smile, and politely offer up your stuff. No one is really thinking you're a thief, we just feel like they are thinking it.

    Sometimes too, as it's store policy if the employee fails to confront you they could be fired.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  5. Deb,
    I love what you've shared here and I know that God must be loving that you are loving him and putting your hope in him and not the dream. That is really beautiful. I think he is really speaking to me about loving him too and letting go and trusting him. It is not easy and I'm stumbling and struggling through as I learn, but I do feel like he is trying to teach me.

    ..And even with a bunch alarms going off, I bet it would be lots of fun to go shopping with you! :)

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  6. Hi Deb,
    It's always so good to stop by here. (glad the Olympics are over so I can start visiting people again!) BTW~ how is your nephew or niece and family that was in the car accident?

    I am also sorry to hear that you spent Valentine's Day in the hospital sick. Glad you are hydrated and ready to go now though! It's amazing what a delicate balance God created in our systems, isn't it? Take some extra care for yourself though. A nap sounds good, you deserve it!

    And I will totally go shopping with you! I set those things off all the time too. I love that verse from Jeremiah. My youngest son has loads of heart problems, and that verse was comforting when he was in the hospital. That God knew we would be going through what we face before he was even born.

    Take care, have a wonderful week. Next time those alarms go off, I will be looking for you!
    Kate

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  7. I don't try to figure out what God has planned for me anymore. More often than not, I think I know what He wants, then I get thrown a curve ball. I just follow his lead, and know that as long as I'm in His will, everything will be alright.

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  8. Hi Deb,
    First of all, shopping? Forgot what that word means--have not gone 'shopping'--at least the personal kind in years!---so I'll leave that to your other buddyettes (;

    As for how he wired me---I freely confess that has been my biggest whine to God. "Lord, why on earth would you give me a bordering genius IQ only to be neutralized by my bordering moron emotional IQ"....learning to accept His overriding wisdom in all matters...

    Anyway, I loved how you focused on how your 'wiring' has given you your unique heart, passion for Him expressed in the way He wired you...wonderful...thank you for this...
    Love, Sita
    (P.S. How is everyone doing now?)

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  9. I think it must be your magnetic personality! As for me, I think I am short circuiting somewhere or mabye disconnected. I love words, writing, photography, creating, (none of which are a part of my job) helping hurting people ( I love helping hurting people), serving others, being an encourager. I like all of these things, but I don't see how they connect or if they are supposed to. But I do seek him daily and trust that he will put me in the right places at the right time to do what it is he has me to do. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. In a thousand ways, I'd love to set off a few alarms with you. That would be tremendous fun!

    In many ways, we're wired the same; maybe not with alarms but with our Jesus. Yes, yes, trusting in the dream-Giver, not the dream itself.

    Very powerful stuff here, friend. Love it.

    peace`elaine

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  11. HI Deb. you do have a gift with words...your writing is the best. And about that buzzing when you go shopping...Hey maybe they're picking up the Fire of the Spirit. YOu definitely shine for Him. Sarah

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  12. I'd shop with you in a heartbeat. Sounds like a blast!

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  13. Hi Deb,
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
    Kate

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  14. This made me laugh and tear up. It seems that every where I turn lately I'm reading about God's dream for me and that he has specfically wired me for His dreams. I've always known this in my head and have even verbalized this to my kids, but somedays I have a hard time of getting my heart around it:) You know what I mean? Self defeat, sin and insecurities get in the way.

    All that being said, I would LOVE to go shopping with you. He kinda wired me that way too:) lol

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  15. Deb,

    I would love to go shopping with you! And after we were done we could have lunch and share how HE has reached down and touched each of us.
    Before we enter the store though, I would check your coat or shirt or bag for a tag that says "remove this tag". I used to set off things repeatedly and finally I saw a small tag on the inside seem of my jacket that read: Remove tag after purchase.
    Have a wonderful evening.

    Deborah

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  16. Trusting in Him, not in the dream -- wise words, Deb.

    Even when the dream is underway, I'm learning you can't let the dream take over...still have to trust in Him. He's the author and director of our dreams, isn't He? He's done some exciting things with mine this week.

    Have a great week, Deb!

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  17. I'll go shopping with you! I agree with you - "I don't trust in my dream. I trust in my loving God." Amen! As a matter of fact, I love my God more than my dream.

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  18. wow great post
    Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.

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  19. wow, great post
    keep posting like this
    i really like it

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