An Investment We Should All Be Making!

Back in November God blessed me with a part time job. I was convinced (and still am) that God put me in this job for a reason, and it wasn't all about making money. One of the prayers I had while searching for a job was that he would grant me a job in our target area so that I could meet the people of the area and begin to build relationships with them. I was so excited when I got the job because I know that God orchestrated the entire thing.

Fast forward a few months later.

I wasn't so sure I wanted to be there any more. Quite a few of my co-workers were very stand-offish towards me and I was even hearing comments about people had to be careful with what they said about me because I was the "minister's wife" or the "preachers wife". Not only was I branded with the "new girl" reputation, but I had to overcome the "she's a christian" reputation. Needless to say, some days/nights were very long as people did not want to really conversate with me.

I was starting to get pretty frustrated and wanted to start looking for a different job. Why was God putting me in a place that people wouldn't talk to me? What use was I if I wasn't able to talk to the people!!! I kept reminding myself that God put me there for a reason and I just needed to trust that he knew what he was doing.

This past week I've had some awesome conversations with the people I work with. I've been able to really get to know some of the girls - their pasts, their fears, their worries, and even laugh with them.

Jesus reminded me this week that relationships take time. Great relationships aren't built in just a week. I was being impatient and expecting to see "results" immediately. But that's not what we are called to do. We are called to invest in one another. To live in community with one another. To help carry each others burdens. This community takes time to build.

For any of you who are impatient like me - let me encourage you to invest your time and resources into the people God calls you to. Be patient and trust that the Lord knows what he is doing. We may not be able to see the miracles he's working up to, but I guarantee the blessings you'll receive for being part of His work will be amazing!

All that's left is to have faith!

Business at Belk has been pretty slow lately. This is both bad and good. It's obviously bad because less customers spending mean cuts in staffing. I've just found out that my hours have been cut ALOT for the month of February. I will now only work between 13 and 18 hours a week. I'm trying to look at the upside of it...more time to work on church stuff. God has been pretty faithful in providing financially, so while there is a tiny bit of worry in the back of my head I'm trying to not let it overwhelm me.

These cut backs are not just effecting me. Almost every employee is having to deal with this. From what I hear everyone is being cut at least 10 hours a week! This has caused a lot of discussion at work amongst the employees. And since business is slow...I've had the opportunity to really talk with a few of my co-workers. A few of them have really been opening up and sharing with me not only their fears and concerns about our bad economy, but about other personal life issues as well.

While talking to one of the ladies about the economy and what lies ahead for all of us she said something I found pretty profound..."people are going to have to have faith".

We are all going through pretty similiar situations. Whether christian or not. More and more jobs are being lost every day. More businesses are closing their doors. Bills are piling up and debt keeps accumulating. Families are struggling to make ends meet with less money every month. The economy is BAD...and it looks like it might get a bit worse before we see anything get better.

During times like this people are searching...they are looking for HOPE! What an awesome opportunity we have right now to share that hope with all that we meet!!! I pray that we will all take this opportunity to love on our neighbors, co-workers, and friends and that we would share with them the HOPE we have in Jesus Christ.

Speak louder...I can't hear you!

Lately I've been feeling like I'm supposed to be doing something and I'm not. Ever have that feeling?

Recently I've put off doing a lot of things ... some out of busyness and some out of laziness. I know God has been tugging at me...I just don't know what it is he's saying to me.

I know he wants me to devote more time to him. One of the things I've been neglecting is a REGULAR quiet time. I still do it..but not regularly. This morning Bagel did it again...woke me up earlier then I wanted to get up...and I was able to have my quiet time. I prayed, I read my bible, I read a christian "self help" book. So quiet time is done...Check!

Something is still missing...(and BTW, I know that things aren't just supposed to all get better because I read my bible ONE day...). I just have this feeling that God is telling me something..and I just can't hear it!

A million thoughts and ideas run through my head. And still nothing. I can't even "surrender" it to him...because I'm not even sure what "it" is!

I feel like God is saying something BIG is about to happen. I feel like he's about to use me in a BIG way. I just don't know how or when.

I know he's been showing me a few areas of my life I need to work on.
- Stop being lazy.
- Get over your materialism.
- Be content with what I've given you.
- Get out there more.

The list goes on and on. And I feel it...I feel it in my body. He's trying to get through to me. I feel like he's saying...be prepared. But be prepared for what?

I know...None of this makes sense...but that's common when it comes to God's plans. But one thing is for sure...when it's God's plan...it all works out.

Not just a dog...

As most you of you know, a few weeks back Chuck and I went to the Humane Society and got a dog. We didn't have any plans of getting a dog, or going to the pound...but we passed by a sign for it and decided to go in and "look". Less than an hour later we were the proud owners of an 8 year old Dachshund named Bagel.


As we called to tell people about our "new addition" to our family we were given mixed responses, from congratulations to why would you get a dog? I must admit that as we were discussing whether or not to adopt him I was a bit unsure if this was the right move for us. Chuck on the other hand was all about getting a dog the minute we walked into the place. He was sooo sure that it would be a good thing. I can't believe I'm about to admit this...but he was right. Getting a dog was a great thing! (I sometimes wish I had the confidence as he does in making decisions like this!)

At first I thought it was just a good idea because it got us walking around our neighborhood several times a day which hopefully would create collission points with our neighbors. I think it was on the third day we had Bagel that a lady two blocks away from our house saw him from across the street and BOOM a collission was made! I walked over and after a little cooing with the dog her and I started talking and it turns out she would be someone interested in our church....oh and she has a 14 year old son. She took down my name and phone number and times of our youth group meetings.

I figured that God gave us Bagel because he was going to be a ministry tool. This morning I realized God gave me Bagel for another reason.

I'm a HUGE procrastinator. Oh, and I am not really that much of a morning person. Bagel wakes us up most mornings to go out. It's not at an ungodly hour...but if it weren't for him I could probably sleep another hour or two. But now we have to get up or we'll have a little "accident" to clean up. This morning I got up, walked him, made my coffee and spent some quiet time with God. Usually I would sleep in until there was just enough time to rush and get everything done before I had to go work or take care of something. But now Bagel helps me get up and start my morning making sure I make time for the most important part of my day...spending time with God.

I've never really been much of a "pet person". I thought dogs were cute but was never one to really pet a dog, cuddle with one, take them for walks, etc. But there is something different about this one. I fell in love with him the day we got him. I'm not sure why he's different...but the only thing I can conclude is that God knew exactly what I needed...and he gave him to us.

Cheesy blog today...I know! But I thought I'd share how God works in all things...big and small...and I think he's working in our life through our dog Bagel.

New Year's Prayer

Today I received an online devotional from a website I subscribe to. It's about giving up on making New Year's Resolutions and writing a New Year's prayer. We can only do things with Christ...so let's start this New Year out right. Let's ask God to do things this year and see the amazing things he has in store for us!

Here's the devotional...hope you enjoy!

A New Year’s Prayer for You
"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.” Lamentations 2:19a (NKJV)

It’s a new year. What is on your heart? What would you like to accomplish? What would you like to change? Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions? A few years ago, I gave up making New Year’s Resolutions. I could never keep them. One year, instead of a resolution, I wrote a prayer. Throughout the year, I watched in amazement as God worked in my life and in the lives of others through my simple prayer.Today, I would like to pray for you. Below is the prayer that the Lord put on my heart. As you read it, I invite you to use it as a model. Sit with the Lord and ask Him to help you personalize this prayer for you.

Father in heaven, thank You that You are Sovereign. Thank You that You know each precious woman reading this devotion. You planned for her to meet You here today. You created her heart. You know her every need, her deepest desires, and her open wounds. Lord, I ask that in this new year, You would fall afresh on her. Father, You are Holy and call us to be Holy. Yet, we confess that so often our hearts wander from You, our speech does not glorify You, and our actions do not honor You. Soften our hearts to receive the words Your sweet Spirit has to speak to us. Clothe us with humility. Take away our desire to always be right and have our own way. Help us to seek Your Word in all that we say and do. Help us to submit to Your Word; allow it to penetrate those deep places in our hearts that resist change. If necessary, put us through the refiner’s fire to burn off those things that keep us from walking in step with Your character.Give us hearts that love and seek after Truth above all else. Give us wisdom and discernment to reject the lies of this world and the evil one. Guide us into all Truth. Guard our hearts and keep our eyes fixed on You. Grow in us those things that will make us more like You. As we study Your Word, fill us and saturate us with You!

Today, Father, we surrender our thoughts, our speech, and our hearts. Thank You that You are Faithful and True. We trust You will do a mighty work in us and through us this year and carry it on to completion until the day we step into eternity with You. Help us to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways so that we can hear Your voice as You say, “This is the way, walk in it.” Lord, we love You and thank You that You love us. May our lives be a living testimony of You. We ask this in the powerful and mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.