Holy Spirit Tech

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

This past Spring, a tech-loving teacher at our elementary school inspired several of us to give up pen and paper note taking. We’ve gone digital!🤗 It’s taken some getting used to, but I’ve gotten pretty good at jotting down colorful notes—using an iPad and Apple pencil.

One of the favorite features, on my go-to digital note app, is the shape tool. I can underline text, or draw almost any shape freehand, and the app straightens it out for me. It’s fascinating to see my imperfect square morph into a perfect square.

The other day in the car–while my wife was driving–I attempted to underscore some text (using the shape tool). Folks, my underlining was about as straight as a snake’s back! Yet, when I got to the end, and didn’t lift my pencil, the wavy mark snapped into place–true as an arrow.

I then recalled a famous quote by the former president of the seminary I attended:

God can strike a straight lick with a crooked stick.

L.R. Scarborough


I don’t know the context of this gem, but I imagine Rev. Scarborough sought to remind some young preachers that a perfect God could bless their imperfect efforts in the service of the gospel.

Kind reader, today we are blessed to continue in the same partnership. 🙏 May our freehand lines–drawn pointing to God–be straightened out by the Holy Spirit, reaching souls for Christ. AMEN!

To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 (NIV)

Thank you for reading.  🙏❤️ prayers and love.


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37 responses to “Holy Spirit Tech”

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Truth! And we are blessed to join Him in his work—as he leads.

    Like

  2. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Amen
    God can do beyond what we can imagine through our meager efforts

    Liked by 1 person

  3. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Manu. Yes, whether our efforts be large or small, seen by others or not, God can bless and multiply them. Thank you sharing. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Blessings to you and your family!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Peggy. I still have a little paper notebook I keep in my pocket, to jot down my thoughts and ideas.
    I just remembered, my wife mentioned how God says in Isaiah that He will “make the crooked straight.”
    Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Good point, Crystal. No amount of technology, money, or time can replace God’s low-tech (but high cost) solution for the redemption of humans. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. peggywritesblog Avatar

    Love the story and the spiritual reminder, David! I’m still not as “techie” as I could be, but I’m working on it. Still like to put some things to paper and pen. And God will straighten out my crooked lines.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Nancy Ruegg Avatar

    I’ve been collecting quotes for over 30 years and have even indexed them so I can find what I’m looking for. (Another symptom of OCD, no doubt!). Included in the collection is even a quote about quote-collecting!! “Most collectors collect tangibles. As a quote collector, I collect wisdom, life, invisible beauty, soul alive in ink” (Terry Guillemets).

    Liked by 1 person

  9. K.L. Hale Avatar

    That’s so kind to say, David! I appreciate you so much! I feel that way of you! Many blessings to you and your family. Happy 4th of July! 🤗🙏❣️

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Crystal Byers Avatar

    As I stand in awe of our technology, I realize my awe is often misplaced. May I trust always in the ultimate straightener-out-er. 🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Manu Avatar

    Love this David. Be it serving or parenting it bolsters me to trust God with my crooked lines of effort.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks for sharing, Beth. It’s a big leap—trusting our imperfect efforts in God’s perfect hands, and going digital with note taking. One drawback I’ve found is that iPads and Apple pencil batteries tend to run down at the worst possible moment. 🪫Thankfully, God’s batteries are always charged!🔋

    Like

  13. Beth Alisan Avatar

    I love this David. A slightly wonky arrow drawn in our hands + the Holy Spirit becomes a well aimed, straight flying arrow in God’s hands. Makes sharing the gospel a lot less intimidating. Kuddos to you for embracing the tech version of note-taking. My colleagues get a kick out how I show up at every meeting with pen and paper in tow while they bring their laptops. Maybe someday I’ll make the leap.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I do believe you are a bigger quote lover and better source finder than me, Nancy! It’s plausible that Rev. Scarborough put his own twist on a John Watson original. The seminary is the most conservative in my denomination, and President Scarborough likely had strong Puritan leanings himself. Thank you for reading and sharing. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Nancy Ruegg Avatar

    I too love that quote about what God can do with a crooked stick. I have it copied into one of my quote journals with the attribution, John Watson, Puritan preacher. It’s also a bit different in form–not the tidy rhyme that your seminary president offered. “God can make a straight stroke with a crooked stick.” Either way the message is the same and offers delightful encouragement! (Have fun playing with your new tech-tools over the summer!)

    Liked by 1 person

  16. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    Thank you my brother 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

    Liked by 1 person

  17. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Pencils with batteries! My how far we’ve come!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. davidsdailydose Avatar

    That’s the truth. And the digital pencils have batteries too!😳

    Liked by 1 person

  19. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Plus I never have to charge my paper notebook!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Understood, sister Super-C! Thanks for stopping by. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Love it, but never gonna give up my paper journals and pens!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Digital writing takes some getting used to. At least it did for me. The wonderful thing is all my scribbles are in one place—rather than on scraps of paper from all over the place. Thanks for stopping in, Deborah. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Jesus is the ultimate straightener-out-er! Amen!! And we don’t have to fix ourselves before coming to Him. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  24. deborah wenzler farris Avatar

    What a wonderful Saturday morning blessing, David. Thank you. And btw, I have an Apple Pencil sitting on my desk I tried once and put it back in the box. You have inspired me in more ways than one! ❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Good point, Andy B. Sometimes God does all the work and we just watch and pray. In these cases, prayer IS the work. Brother, this will preach! 🙏Blessings to you, and the Berry bunch.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes sir, my brother! I was just replaying in my mind some things I said and did in the past. It wasn’t malicious, on my part, but definitely wonky and not necessarily Christ honoring. I ended up praying, “Lord, you know all. Please guide and guard my heart—and what overflows from it.”
    I hear you on the heat, brother! Nancy and I went for a walk early and ran some errands, and it’s already baking out there!
    Blessings to you and Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. davidsdailydose Avatar

    You have such insightful comments, Karla! And posts, too. 🤗 God is an excellent editor. So true!

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    And this reminds me, too, of how our sin can immediately be washed away, and we can have a brand new life, as soon as we turn to Jesus.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    My drawing, much like yours it seems, is never gonna win medals for straightness

    So I’m glad God can straighten my journey, regardless of my own helping Him with it 😂

    Andy B

    Liked by 1 person

  30. K.L. Hale Avatar

    Happy Saturday, David. Thank you for this beautiful reminder that God uses our imperfections—he is the ultimate editor!

    He’s using you and I appreciate your words of wisdom. “God, straighten out my crooked lines!”

    P.S.—my oldest son convinced me to take notes on my IPad. I’m typing this to you on it. I have a “knock off” version of the Apple Pencil and a cover on here that feels like I’m writing on real paper. I’m enjoying it and still using to learn all the tools! God is still teaching me daily, too! Every hour!

    God bless you, brother! I hope you have some time off to rejuvenate this summer! 🙏

    Liked by 3 people

  31. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar

    I’m glad God uses us crooked sticks, cracked vessels, and wonky lines. Great post, brother. May the Holy Spirit continue to work on us to make us more Christ like. Enjoy your weekend—stay cool.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, brother! Nancy is a careful driver, more so than me. That’s why when we’re together (which is often) she usually drives. I make her nervous when I’m behind the wheel. 😳
    The quote could be a reference to the cruelty of dying on a cross, but the context I heard it used (by the current seminary president) was a reminder that God uses us for his perfect will—despite our imperfections.
    Thank you for reading and commenting, brother. God Bless, always! 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

    Liked by 2 people

  33. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen, sister! Or, like one Christian writer says, “God uses cracked pots.” Thanks for sharing. 🙏 His best to you. Continuing to lift up you and your family in prayer.

    Liked by 2 people

  34. Alan Kearns Avatar

    What an excellent illustration David, I can see you trying to draw a straight line while Nancy drove…not that she is a bad driver at all. I have often tried to text while someone else drove, it is not easy at all, lol. It is reassuring to know that our Heavenly Father straightens out our squiggly lines – I know I have a few. Do you think the stick in the quote may refer to the Cross? Thank you for sharing this post with us today. God bless you and Nancy today 🙏 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Liked by 2 people

  35. Bridget Avatar

    Such a great reminder. Although none of us is perfect, God can still use us for His Kingdom. 🙌🙏

    Liked by 2 people

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