I have a pretty awesome story to tell about God's grace...
Several weeks ago, Chris came home with a letter from the school... his intent to return form. He had to get the letter back to them within 3 or 4 weeks to let them know whether to plan on him returning to teach or not. Of course, last year it was a no-brainer... you have to give it a couple good years before you quit it. Well, he really is not happy teaching and I'm not happy with it either because of all the time spent away from home. Or, when he is home, he's still working on school work. So this year, we had some considering to do. It's really been taking away from simple pleasures in life because of his stress with teaching. So, when the letter came, we did a little soul searching... lots of talking and lots of praying. After a considerable amount of time praying about it, I had a total peace in my heart that he should stop teaching. Even if it meant being unemployed for a while, it would be worth it to get our life back. I made sure Chris knew that I stood behind him 100% no matter what he decided.
He called me at work one day during his lunch/planning period and said he thought he decided not to go back to teaching. He was going to return his form letting them know he did not intend to return. We got off the phone and I said a big long prayer for him, because I knew it would be stressing him out. I said a prayer for us in general, because this is sure to be no easy task. What if he's unemployed for longer than we can afford? What if he can't find any work at all, no matter the pay? We can make it on one income for a while, but not too long. We both began to worry a little about it. I kept praying, and Chris did too. We prayed together and separately.
The time came for his final decision and the deadline for the paper to be turned in, so he turned it in with his intent to leave.
A couple of weeks ago we were talking about it. He was expressing his concern and I said "I have totally accepted this as a blessing. We can get back to our normal selves and have a much more enjoyable life. If we have to live on one income for a while we will. We'll pay the bills, and even if we live off of rice and beans for a while, it will be worth it. God will provide us all of our needs, as long as we stay faithful." I was hoping this would make Chris feel better, but he simply said, "I'm just not there yet". He was still struggling with the worry about the finances.
Well, last Sunday night on the 11th, our nightly devotional we read together talked about how we need to be more specific with our prayers. We tend to generalize our prayers too much. So... Monday morning, Chris headed out for work, and as I sat down to eat my oatmeal, I had a long prayer before-hand. I prayed specifically for God to show Chris signs to help build his faith and know that we would be ok. I prayed for him to go into Chris' heart and give him a peace in knowing that everything would work out. I prayed for Chris to be able to accept what decisions we made and to live with the peace and comfort in that decision that I have. Then I turned it and specifically prayed for God to bring a job to Chris. For it to be a job somewhere in our area, local. Where Chris wouldn't have to drive more than 30 minutes or so to work and a job that he could enjoy.
That afternoon, I spoke with a lady I work with and she mentioned a county maintenance position opening. The pay wasn't great, but it's better than nothing, so that night Chris filled out the application. This could be his chance! We got excited about it and made sure the application looked nice. I took that and turned it in on Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, Chris called me at work again...
He asked "how would you feel about me turning in a two weeks notice today?" I thought, "that's a quick turn-around time, God! I didn't know he'd feel that good about it!" This, however, did concern me. I was banking on the rest of the school year to get some of our debts in order before he was possibly unemployed for a questionable amount of time.
Chris said he had this overwhelming feeling come over him. A feeling like he's never had before, that he needed to quit his job now. He needed to put in his two weeks notice and be done with it. It scared me, and at first I told him I wasn't sure. But after we got off the phone, I prayed about it, and felt much better. I prayed specifically for Chris' worries to be gone and here they were lifting right off his shoulders. (Not entirely, but enough so that he had that step of faith to quit now.)
That night Chris worked on his official request for terminating his position. Basically, he wrote up his two weeks notice in a nice letter. One for the school board, one for the principal, and one for the CTE head. We printed those up on nice resume paper and he took the day off Thursday to go turn in all the letters.
Thursday morning, out of the blue, a friend called and says "how bad does Chris want to quit his job?" I think, well, he's turning in his two weeks notice today, but I simply asked "why?" He had a good friend from Helena in Clarksville who he had just spoken with. He just happened to ask him if he was looking for any help, and it just so happened he was looking for someone. Our friend told the man about Chris and put in a good word for him... He was interested and wanted to talk to Chris that day! He said it couldn't wait for tomorrow, he needed to call "today!" So I told Chris about it. Here two different jobs are being thrown at him, right after he has this overwhelming feeling, which I believe was a huge step of faith to quit his job.
It just so happened the man from Helena, which is a company that sells seeds and fertilizers, was going to be traveling to South Boston and wanted to meet with Chris. Of course, Chris fixed up his resume and went to meet with the man. It all just seems too good to be true, and when we talked about whether or not he would accept the position if offered... all I could think is this...
Sometimes we pray for things and they just don't happen. But then sometimes we pray for things, and God can blow us out of the water with his unending love and mercy and grace. I think this is one of those times where God is truly just turning around and specifically answering our prayers. It's amazing!
Chris is supposed to be getting a call today. Our friend said he spoke with the man the day after he met with Chris. He really liked Chris and as far as he was concerned he would offer the position to him. They'd been looking since November and haven't found the right person. He just had to ok it with his manager. So, Chris is holding tightly to his phone today and waiting to hear back. Whether or not they offer him the job, we truly see it as an amazing blessing from God that there is no need to worry. If we just have faith in him when we pray, he's going to answer them, whether it be our way or his.
So, keep praying and pray specifically, and sincerely. God will answer those prayers in his way and in his time!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
God's pretty awesome! :)
So I've been reading "The Resolution for Women"... a take-off from the "Courageous" book and movie. I thought it would a good read to kind of keep me on track, I guess. I loved the book and movie it's based off of, so I figured why not. Well wouldn't ya know that God is totally speaking out to me. I'll admit this, I'm a person that once I get an idea in my head that I like, I really want to fulfill that idea. I know I am very blessed and really couldn't ask for more, but I guess I get caught up sometimes in the things that I'd really like "now" and not a few years from now. I'm not talking materialistically, here... just personal things I guess. With the economy the way it is, it's a little scary to wonder what the future may hold. Chris is going to be leaving his job after this year so we'll be looking for him something new. I'm very happy for that. It's stressful, but it's a good thing. Anywho... so far the book has been pretty much screaming at me to be content. I've been reading it for about a week at a very slow pace so that I can really take in the message from it. Contentment, contentment.... contentment. I've been thinking about it, praying really hard about and for it, and really wanting to settle my life into a life full of contentment. I think we are generally brought up to always expect more and expect better. "Don't settle" those are words I heard often. They're totally needed sometimes, but at other times, you just have to learn to be content.
Well, after about a week of reading very slowly chapter at a time and praying daily about it... here's what my daily devotional reading was about today... ready??................CONTENTMENT!!!
Philippians 4: 6-13
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admireable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
I've sort of struggled for the past week... why can't I always be content? Why do I feel like I need more? Well, taken from my devotional "Our Daily Bread" ... "notice the phrase in verse 12... 'I have learned'. Learning takes time. It is a process marked by trial and error, and by perseverance. Aren't you glad that our teacher, the Lord Jesus, is patient with us?"
Shew... what a relief, huh? As with anything... Jesus is always patient. It takes time for our simple human minds and hearts. Jesus is perfect, but we most definitely are not! He loves us enough to give us the time we need to get everything straight. Halleluia for that!
Well, after about a week of reading very slowly chapter at a time and praying daily about it... here's what my daily devotional reading was about today... ready??................CONTENTMENT!!!
Philippians 4: 6-13
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admireable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
I've sort of struggled for the past week... why can't I always be content? Why do I feel like I need more? Well, taken from my devotional "Our Daily Bread" ... "notice the phrase in verse 12... 'I have learned'. Learning takes time. It is a process marked by trial and error, and by perseverance. Aren't you glad that our teacher, the Lord Jesus, is patient with us?"
Shew... what a relief, huh? As with anything... Jesus is always patient. It takes time for our simple human minds and hearts. Jesus is perfect, but we most definitely are not! He loves us enough to give us the time we need to get everything straight. Halleluia for that!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The glory of suffering
Romans 8:17
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Let me just say this... I really dislike suffering. I don't like to suffer and its even worse sometimes to see others suffer. It's a sure part of life though. We all suffer at some point. Whether it be in our relationships, our finances, our work, etc. Ok, if we're honest, we really suffer over things that are very unsubstantial. We all have worries, but are we really suffering or are we just being babies about it? What are the things in your life that make you feel like you're suffering? Is it that you had to stay late at work? Did you get behind a bus this morning that made you late? Did the dog jump on you and get muddy paw prints all over your work clothes, making you have to run in and change last minute? Is the line at the gas pump ridiculous or how about the price itself?...OR... Is your kid sick...really sick? Is your marriage failing? Do you have cancer? Did your spouse just die? Are you just lacking that something in your life to make you happy?
I know it's a lot easier said than done, but I'm gonna say it anyway... turn to Jesus! I went through a pretty rotten rut in my life about a 16 months back and every day was a suffering challenge for me. Time.. I had absolutely no time for me, no time to do anything I wanted or needed. No time to sleep... no time to relax... no time to have a life of my own. I gave up my life and was really living a life for someone else. Time became a precious thing and an enemy all the same. I stopped going to church. Hey... I didn't have time for that, remember? I stopped reading my Bible... a time issue! And at one point I even stopped praying. I was so angry with God. Why, if he could do all these wonderful miraculous things, couldn't he just make my life just a little better, easier?!
Then, one day, he did! It wasn't anywhere near the time I wanted him to, but in time, he did. There was the wonderful, miraculous God I used to know! Then, not only did he fill my rut in, where I wasn't living quite so deeply in it, but he started filling that rut full! Instead of living in a rut, I had a daggone heaping mound to live on!
I went through my suffering stage. Who doesn't? Who's to say I won't have another rut some time? But I know God will always see me out of it. He'll always be trying to fill that rut in and give you a heaping mound. It's just a matter of whether or not we're seeing what he's doing in our lives. Are your eyes open to see God's wonderful miraculous signs? Mine weren't for a long time, and that was my fault. Now Christ has opened my eyes and I can see the fullness of his glory!
I suffered, allright. But when I find myself so-called "suffering" through something now, I try really hard to think about Christ. I try to see that mental picture of him bruised, swollen and bloody hanging from the cross. For me! We will never in our lives suffer the way Christ suffered. And he went through all of that suffering for me... for you... for US! ALL of us!! When we go through our sufferings, as hard as it is, we have to have faith and know the suffering will end and Jesus will rise up and bring joy in our hearts again. In suffering, trust and have faith in Him. Only then will you see the real glories of all God has done, all Christ has done! When we share in his sufferings, we also will share in his glory!
God Bless You!
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Let me just say this... I really dislike suffering. I don't like to suffer and its even worse sometimes to see others suffer. It's a sure part of life though. We all suffer at some point. Whether it be in our relationships, our finances, our work, etc. Ok, if we're honest, we really suffer over things that are very unsubstantial. We all have worries, but are we really suffering or are we just being babies about it? What are the things in your life that make you feel like you're suffering? Is it that you had to stay late at work? Did you get behind a bus this morning that made you late? Did the dog jump on you and get muddy paw prints all over your work clothes, making you have to run in and change last minute? Is the line at the gas pump ridiculous or how about the price itself?...OR... Is your kid sick...really sick? Is your marriage failing? Do you have cancer? Did your spouse just die? Are you just lacking that something in your life to make you happy?
I know it's a lot easier said than done, but I'm gonna say it anyway... turn to Jesus! I went through a pretty rotten rut in my life about a 16 months back and every day was a suffering challenge for me. Time.. I had absolutely no time for me, no time to do anything I wanted or needed. No time to sleep... no time to relax... no time to have a life of my own. I gave up my life and was really living a life for someone else. Time became a precious thing and an enemy all the same. I stopped going to church. Hey... I didn't have time for that, remember? I stopped reading my Bible... a time issue! And at one point I even stopped praying. I was so angry with God. Why, if he could do all these wonderful miraculous things, couldn't he just make my life just a little better, easier?!
Then, one day, he did! It wasn't anywhere near the time I wanted him to, but in time, he did. There was the wonderful, miraculous God I used to know! Then, not only did he fill my rut in, where I wasn't living quite so deeply in it, but he started filling that rut full! Instead of living in a rut, I had a daggone heaping mound to live on!
I went through my suffering stage. Who doesn't? Who's to say I won't have another rut some time? But I know God will always see me out of it. He'll always be trying to fill that rut in and give you a heaping mound. It's just a matter of whether or not we're seeing what he's doing in our lives. Are your eyes open to see God's wonderful miraculous signs? Mine weren't for a long time, and that was my fault. Now Christ has opened my eyes and I can see the fullness of his glory!
I suffered, allright. But when I find myself so-called "suffering" through something now, I try really hard to think about Christ. I try to see that mental picture of him bruised, swollen and bloody hanging from the cross. For me! We will never in our lives suffer the way Christ suffered. And he went through all of that suffering for me... for you... for US! ALL of us!! When we go through our sufferings, as hard as it is, we have to have faith and know the suffering will end and Jesus will rise up and bring joy in our hearts again. In suffering, trust and have faith in Him. Only then will you see the real glories of all God has done, all Christ has done! When we share in his sufferings, we also will share in his glory!
God Bless You!
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