Agape Project

Lord, I have implemented what you asked. A person can now register themselves and create a new site for themselves. What is next?

Michael, stop thinking about the answer and just listen.

Ok, Lord.

You are doing as I ask – that is good.

I know, Lord. I’m looking for the next step from you.

I am pleased that I am being consulted step by step.

I’m listening… Is there something I’m not doing?

Michael, you’re not taking your own initiative.

I thought you wanted to be involved step by step?

I do.

I’m confused.

You didn’t listen and you assumed my statement was a bad thing.

Oh… so you want my initiative to be subjected to yours, correct?

Yes.

Ok.. that’s what I’m doing.

I know, Michael. But we need to talk through this.

Ok.. I’m listening.

Your will is different from my will. Your goals are different than my goals, even in this project. My goals are purely to use this as a way to express my love for my children and for them to reach better communion with me. You may say that our goals are aligned, but from a human perspective (which we both know you are far from being holy – and that’s ok, you’re growing toward holiness every day) you’re looking for impact and reward. “Impact” in the sense of saying “I did that” or “God did that through me“. That is not the right heart condition. This is not your doing, and you need to clearly recognize that if we are going to proceed. I’m willing to go as fast as you are ready – not necessarily as fast as you are willing.

I think I understand. What about reward – do you want to provide clarity there?

That was good Michael. You started to edit my word’s content, but did not and instead addressed the point as an issue to me. You are not to edit my word in any material way.

Understood. So about reward?

With your human intent on reward, your motive can be material things or recognition. While those may be results of my working through you, at my discretion, they are not the right heart condition.

So, I subject myself to your will. Which is why I am coming to you for step-by-step instructions. I have learned to trust that you are leading me in good and right ways.

That’s good to say, but difficult to actually do consistently if your heart is not right.

Is my heart right?

We’ll see. Part of your growth is finding out the answer to that question and making your own choices and dealing with the consequences (good and bad) of your choices.

Ok.

So what’s next with the site?

Themes.

Are you sure? Do you mind helping me understand the logic of creating themes as the next step?

I’d rather you trusted me, but I’m willing to provide the logic in this case. If you were to focus on the ‘call to action’ first, you would call people to join a site that is not ready for them. The point of this site, again, is to share my love, and to foster communion with Me. Fostering communion with Me will only occur if the person is presented with a clean, well organized, visually appealing, and most importantly easy to use interface for recording their walk with Me.

That makes sense – not that your direction needs to make sense to me in order to be trusted. Do you intend for me to be the one designing the themes?

Initially, you should. It will help you gain context for outsourcing the work later. Your long-term value is not necessarily in design, but through working through how the front end and the admin area will be organized, you will have clear direction to those you work with later. As we work on this, I want you to be 1) adding your prior entries from your Access database, 2) reading through your past entries, and 3) challenging what you’ve recorded with what is in my Word (the Bible).

I will, Lord. Thank you for your direction.