As You Minister To Others The Evil One Loves To Mess With You And Get In The Way!!!!!!

Romans 5: 3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts, by the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope and patient in affliction.

Psalms 40:1 Rest in the Lord and await Him patiently.

The above title is a refrain from a poem entitled, “Little Orphant Annie”…by James Whitcomb Riley. I was mezmorized in the 8th grade of Oct.’63, as Mrs. Rabe, my Literature Teacher read this to us at Halloween. The refrain has stuck in my brain for almost 60 years!

Three years ago, my adorable neighbor Jenn, believed in me whole-heartedly. She began my blog on Jan 9, 2017. Her comment: “Be prepared, my friend. As you minister, write, and put things out there for God, the evil one will somewhat mess with you.”

MESS WITH ME..HOW ABOUT 2 WEEKS WITHOUT INTERNET, 4 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH VERIZON, AND 6 TRIPS TO 3 DIFFERENT STORES!

Oh my sweet man helped to keep me calm, flushed my anxieties, and dried a few tears. Plus, God in His goodness found a way where there was no way.

Issue #1 Computer Fiasco
It all started with a simple trip to the London Store. My husband and I wanted some details on our bill. Simple? Should have been. The young woman seemed knowledgeable. NOT!

She offered me a new 99cent tablet. “Oh it won’t change a thing and give you faster speed plus unlimited.” Simple? NOT!

I came home and noticed that my hot spot was not giving me internet availability. “Oh it’s the weather!” I tried to convince myself. After two days, I noticed that my router was not working correctly.

I took my router to the same woman. “Oh I know nothing about these. It’s technical difficulties and you’ll need a new one.” Now you’re preaching to the choir here, lady! I’m a 70 year old very non-tech retired teacher. OK, I GET IT! I should never have come here in the first place! My patience was running thin.

Next place was Verizon Tuttle. “We’ll order you a new router and it’ll work for you.” Needless to say, I wasn’t happy with the way they blew me off, also.

Three days later, I took the new router and my computer to the Rome-Hilliard store. It’s more or less of a corporate store….should have gone there the very first time.

The gentlemen set up my router… instore WI-FI…”You have internet, Mam.” I came home…UGHHHHHH! NO INTERNET!!!!

I went directly back to the same guy…he smirked… “What now?” He showed me where to get the password. UGGGGGH! I came home….NO INTERNET. Do you think that anyone had checked my plan to see if it’s comparable to my new router?

UGGGGGGGGG! My sweet, sister friend Diane’s son… Mike the Chase Tech man……. Came to my house at 9 pm. He did everything that he was capable of: ” Sue, call them in the morning. It’s on their end!” Tears! No patience! I went to bed.

The next morning I spent 2 hours on the phone with 2 very kind Verizon Reps. “Mam, I’m going to place you on a major tech ticket. You should receive a call within 3 days.”

The 3rd day I got a voicemail. “Mam call back in to one of the tech plan specialists. As of Jan 20, that lady was clueless and screwed up your plan!”

I called back and had a 2 hour conversation with another kind rep. “Mam, I wrote a ton of notes to place you back on the correct plan. Go the store and tell them that you need a Wi-Fi Jet-Pack.” I went back to the Hilliard Store: God bless Tom the Hilliard Rep.! He read all of my notes, and went behind closed doors talking with his agents. “Mam, bottom line: This router will work, you don’t need a new Jet-pack, and all anyone had to do was to place you back on your original plan. Yep all of your problem started on Jan. 20”

As soon as I got home, I had internet.

Issue#2 Credit Card Fraud….. NEED I SAY MORE?
I had to cancel my card, get a new one, and go to my banker to make sure that things were on the up and up!

Issue #3 NOW REMEMBER: ALL 3 OF THESE ARE HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY.
I got up one morning last week after tossing and turning. I smelled something burning, or so I thought.

“Something’s wrong with the furnace!” I exclaimed!” ”No, Dear. Sadie made friends with a skunk,” my husband added.

Sadie, My Chocolate Lab who jumps into everything before she thinks. She must have had a taste of Mr. Skunkie, because she had this horrific slobber drooling from her mouth.

She paced for 2 hours, driving us both crazy. My vet assured me that there was nothing to give her.

“Ok!” I thought. “What do you give someone if they’ve eaten hot peppers?” I gave my Sadie milk and a big scoop of a Cool Whip, cream cheese dessert topping. Within the hour, she settled.

WHAT I LEARNED:
1. After 4 hours on the phone and 6 trips to Verizon Stores….don’t go to London’s store! Always make sure that your plan is compatible with
your devices.
2. Patience is next to godliness.
3. Thank goodness I had Mike to lead the way.
4. Surround yourself with some tech people that know what the heck they’re doing.
5. Don’t go store hopping….only one person can figure it out.
6. Write down everything that you place on a credit card.
7. Patience is next to godliness.
8. NEVER ALLOW SADIE TO LEAD PETIE NEAR A SKUNK….SHE LOVES COOL WHIP. LOL!

HEAVENLY FATHER: Assure me to rest in The Lord and await Him patiently! In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Sue Cutler
Fearless Faith