Power Factor

My husband is in the electrical wholesale business. We had a discussion this morning on the term Power Factor. I thought, man that sounds like a great title to one of those self-help books! He saw that look in my eye...the wheels were turning and he went off to work. Then I started digging.

Did you know, Power factor is the ratio between the amount of energy supplied and the actual amount of energy used? The result is known as reactive power, and is essentially wasted energy capacity.

"A motor running with a 70 percent power factor is only using 70 percent of the incoming current for useful work. If you increase the power factor at the motor, more of the supplied energy will be transferred into useable work by the electrical system...Wasted energy capacity, also known as poor power factor, is often overlooked. It can result in higher energy costs, safety problems and, in some cases, additional financial charges." (Alliant Energy)

What's your spiritual power factor? Did you realize you have access to a Master switch that can light up the universe? That's a potential for major wow. How much spiritual power do you use? Are you a Sunday only church attendee? Do you only think about God as you sit down to eat and say grace? Or is it only when you suddenly find yourself in a real crisis...then you decide to "plug in" to God?

We're not using our power factor to it's potential! If we're using 70%, I'd really be shocked! We don't plug in to our Power Source and wonder why the cost of our choices are so high, our eternal life is at risk and why the heck we can't keep money in our pocket!

Did you know that the Bible says if we rely on Christ, we will do more than what He did on earth? (John 14:12-14) Our spiritual Power Factor is the ratio between the amount of energy God supplies (unlimited!) and the actual amount of energy we use in our day to day walk with Him. No wonder some people are able to move mountains!

Are you willing to try plugging in today? It's time to get reconncected to our Source. Get out your user's manual, the Bible, and give our spiritual Electrician a call.

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; {and} that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him {be} the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ask Dad

At a certain age, boys seem to stop listening to their mother. The simple phrase, “I’ll ask Dad,” pops up more and more every day. Some days I find myself hounding my son, trying to get him to do his chores, clean his room or do his laundry. It’s like trying to nail jello to a wall.

When I realize he’s not going to listen to me, I call his father at work and hand my son the phone. For now, only his dad can move him to action. I have to realize the days of “Because I’m the mom!” are gone. My boy is growing into a young man and I need to let go.

If any of you know my son, you know him as an exuberant, outgoing teen. He dances on the edge most of the time, flirting with breaking the rules and getting into real, life changing trouble. There are days when I hound him, trying to get him to fly right, clean up his life or read his Bible. Again, the jello metaphor comes to mind.

One day as I was dialing my hubby to hand the phone over to my son, God did one of those—HEY YOU moments. (Mind you, I don’t hear God’s voice; it’s more like an elbow to the conscience that makes your ribs hurt.)

I thought, “I should be dialing my son’s Father in heaven to get him back on track spiritually!” So before I get exasperated with his spiritual walk, I have resolved to hit my knees in prayer during the day, as a supplement to my regular prayers. I ask God to bless my son, to put a holy hunger in him for God's word and to keep him from temptation. And you know, I’m handling his behavior a lot better.

Do you have someone in your life that you can’t seem to get through to? Is it a relative, a neighbor or good friend that can’t seem to get back on track? Give our Heavenly Father a call in prayer…and then let God deal with them. In fact the prayer works both ways, you’ll start treating them differently.

Let me know when you start to see a change. Because if anyone can nail jello to a wall, my Heavenly Father can!