My first day of working at the hospital as a volunteer. I was training with a lady I know who attends our church. We had a patient who had checked in to the out patient service! The call came over to the desk, that this person was to be taken to a room for a direct admit.
So my trainer and I were the two that answered that call, to take the patient to a room. We went to the out patient, got the paperwork and started heading down the hall, to the patients rooms. While we were walking, this patient asked us how much we were being paid. My trainer and I answered back, that we didn't get paid anything. He was like " I would like to get an application for your job, how much do you get paid"? Again we replied that we did not receive a wage, that we were volunteers.
He could not believe it. "No way" he said. "How much do you get paid"? Once again we both replied "nothing, we are volunteers". We even showed him the back of our id badges that stated volunteer. He then asked us "why do you do this"? We both replied in unison "we do it for the Lord"! "We are being the servants that He called us to be". He replied back "well that's cool". So we asked him, as we wheeled him into the room, "do you still want that application?" To our surprise (not really) he said no, that he was good!
This was my very first day. I am thinking to myself, "I am going to love working here." And I do! The comments from the people that we help, make our whole day! I am not doing it for myself, I am doing it for the glory of God. That His light may shine through me, to other people I come in contact with throughout the day. I love working in a public building, being able to share my faith, talk about God and pray with out fear of retribution! I praise God for that! God has me there for a reason, and that is to spread the Good News around. I have no problem doing that. After all, what are they going to do? Fire me!!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Practical application
My first class at ISOM was Relationships and Ethics. My home Pastor taught the class, and it was awesome. He told us that every time we meet someone it was an oppurtunity for relationship. So this is where the practical application comes in.
On Friday morning of ISOM, I had to work a shift at the hospital. I was supposed to work from 7-9. When I woke up to take my shower and get ready to head out, I noticed that I had a minor pain in my gums. I went on to work, and then went home and finished getting ready for our trip down to ISOM. Met my friend at his house and we started out on our four hour trip to Carlinville. The whole trip down, I noticed that my mouth started to hurt a little more. After our class was over, I asked my friend if he had any Advil. He told me that he did, so I took some, to see if that would help. I thought that I just had a scratch or a cut inside my mouth. We woke up Saturday morning to go to breakfast and I noticed that my mouth was hurting even more. So I asked for some more Advil. He was like "man, whats going on"? So we finished our class and headed for home. The whole drive back, my mouth was hurting more and more. It was hurting so much by the time I arrived home, my wife and I were looking for an immediate care that was open. Unfortunately, no place was open. I gave my dentist an emergency call, and he prescribed some anti-biotics and to call in Monday for a follow up. The next morning, when I woke up to go to church, my mouth was hurting like it never hurt before. I went to a walk in clinic and was told that it was a dental problem! Although, the doctor did prescribe some pain meds.
So after church and after all of the football games, I logged onto Facebook. I posted something on my wall about being in such pain from my mouth, that I hoped to get into the dentist the next day. I am friends with my hygienst on Facebook. She emailed me right away and asked me if I wanted her to contact the doctor for me. I told her that I would like that very much. She emailed me back a little while later and told me that they had an emergency opening at 8:00 in the morning. I did not have to call, just show up. She took care of everything for me. Plus she instructed them to take good care of me. I ended up having an absess and needed an emergency root canal. All is well now, praise GOD!!
So, all because of one post on Facebook and my relationship with my friend, I was able to get into the dentist right away and get my problem taken care of! Praise GOD! I was thinking back on our class at ISOM about relationships, and I thought that this was the perfect example of it! Here we are just learning about it, and here it is, making a life application right away. Praise GOD!!
On Friday morning of ISOM, I had to work a shift at the hospital. I was supposed to work from 7-9. When I woke up to take my shower and get ready to head out, I noticed that I had a minor pain in my gums. I went on to work, and then went home and finished getting ready for our trip down to ISOM. Met my friend at his house and we started out on our four hour trip to Carlinville. The whole trip down, I noticed that my mouth started to hurt a little more. After our class was over, I asked my friend if he had any Advil. He told me that he did, so I took some, to see if that would help. I thought that I just had a scratch or a cut inside my mouth. We woke up Saturday morning to go to breakfast and I noticed that my mouth was hurting even more. So I asked for some more Advil. He was like "man, whats going on"? So we finished our class and headed for home. The whole drive back, my mouth was hurting more and more. It was hurting so much by the time I arrived home, my wife and I were looking for an immediate care that was open. Unfortunately, no place was open. I gave my dentist an emergency call, and he prescribed some anti-biotics and to call in Monday for a follow up. The next morning, when I woke up to go to church, my mouth was hurting like it never hurt before. I went to a walk in clinic and was told that it was a dental problem! Although, the doctor did prescribe some pain meds.
So after church and after all of the football games, I logged onto Facebook. I posted something on my wall about being in such pain from my mouth, that I hoped to get into the dentist the next day. I am friends with my hygienst on Facebook. She emailed me right away and asked me if I wanted her to contact the doctor for me. I told her that I would like that very much. She emailed me back a little while later and told me that they had an emergency opening at 8:00 in the morning. I did not have to call, just show up. She took care of everything for me. Plus she instructed them to take good care of me. I ended up having an absess and needed an emergency root canal. All is well now, praise GOD!!
So, all because of one post on Facebook and my relationship with my friend, I was able to get into the dentist right away and get my problem taken care of! Praise GOD! I was thinking back on our class at ISOM about relationships, and I thought that this was the perfect example of it! Here we are just learning about it, and here it is, making a life application right away. Praise GOD!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Reflections!
I ran into an old high school friend last week, while out running errands. I haven't seen him in over fifteen years. While talking with him, I found out that he is a Christian and also the worship leader at a local church. He invited me to come to one of their services. I thanked him for the invite, but I would not be able to attend, as I am an elder at our church! He was very happy for me, as I was for him! We told each other that it was nice to see each other again after so many years.
While driving home and still thinking about our conversation, I started to reflect on my high school years. I am friends with many of my classmates on Facebook. I'll take a guess and say that at least over three quarters of them are saved and Christians! Praise GOD! My class in high school was one of the hardest partying classes ever. I mean, we were in high school in the middle '80's. It was sex, drugs, rock and roll, and MTV! I mean it was heavy metal concerts on the weekends. Kegger parties, etc, etc.
So while I was reflecting back on those days and comparing them to the way we are now, praise GOD for changing our hearts and attitudes! Thank You Jesus for taking control of our lives and for ever changing them for the better. To serve You, worship You, praise You, to live for You! Nothing short of amazing! I pray that God will continue to change and save even more of my classmates lives. There are many more out there, that need to know the truth about Jesus and His saving grace; His tender mercy, if you repent and turn your life over to Him!
God Bless!
While driving home and still thinking about our conversation, I started to reflect on my high school years. I am friends with many of my classmates on Facebook. I'll take a guess and say that at least over three quarters of them are saved and Christians! Praise GOD! My class in high school was one of the hardest partying classes ever. I mean, we were in high school in the middle '80's. It was sex, drugs, rock and roll, and MTV! I mean it was heavy metal concerts on the weekends. Kegger parties, etc, etc.
So while I was reflecting back on those days and comparing them to the way we are now, praise GOD for changing our hearts and attitudes! Thank You Jesus for taking control of our lives and for ever changing them for the better. To serve You, worship You, praise You, to live for You! Nothing short of amazing! I pray that God will continue to change and save even more of my classmates lives. There are many more out there, that need to know the truth about Jesus and His saving grace; His tender mercy, if you repent and turn your life over to Him!
God Bless!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Helping hands
I am not posting this to say how great I am, or to brag about what I do. I am just trying to show by being obidient to the Lord, what blessings he will pour down on you! Trust me I am and continue to be blessed!
A few months ago, our youth Pastor headed up a group of people from our church to help pack up food for starving children around the world. The orginazation was called Feed My Starving Children. My wife and I were a part of this wonderful group of people. Our shift was two hours long. We had probably 10-15 people at our table. We had people pouring the food into bags, people bagging and weighing the food, people sealing the bags, people putting the bags into boxes and finally people putting the boxes onto a pallet. I was in charge of scooping out and pouring into a funnel, the soy and rice part of it. I was at the end of the production line. I have never had so much fun doing some thing so worthwhile in my life! Just knowing that every scoop of food you put into a bag was going to feed six children, somewhere in the world, AMAZING!! I think that the final count for people for our shift was something like 247. We bagged up over 280 bags of food that shift. Praise GOD! The total number of meals we provided over the course of the weekend was somewhere in the neighborhood over over a half million meals! Praise GOD!! The people from the Sycamore, DeKalb area turned out in droves. What an awesome event to be a part of.
A sister church in Chicago was collecting toys to distribute for Christmas. This church was broken into and all of the toys were stolen from them. They put out a call for help to our church. We started a toy drive and put a collection box on a table in the foyer. We had a list of suggestions on the table as well. We had to empty off that table three times, becasue it became so full of everyone donating items. Praise GOD! We collected the toys up to Sunday December 19th. Our youth Pastor and I, delivered a van full of goodies the following Monday, to our sister church in Chicago. The look on that Pastors face when he saw all of the toys and stuff, PRICELESS!! The people of our church are an amazing and very generous group! Praise GOD for all of them!
I have been layed off since June of 2010. I was ok during the summer becasue my daughter was home with me. We could do all kinds of things together. When she went back to school in the fall, and my wife was at work, I was at home all by myself. So I started thinking "what can I do, to get out and do something?" I recall, as I went to our local hospital with my Pastor to pray for a friend who was having a procedure, seeing a member of our church volunteering there. That started a thought process in my head, that maybe I could volunteer there also. A few weeks passed, but the thought persisted. So I picked up the phone and called to inquire about being a volunteer. I was asked to come in for an interview and then asked to come for orientation. After all of this, I started volunteering at the front desk in early November. The head of the volunteer department told me that I would get much more out of this, than I could ever imagine. You know what? She was right. The comments I hear from the people that I serve, make the whole thing worth it! Praise GOD!!
A few months ago, our youth Pastor headed up a group of people from our church to help pack up food for starving children around the world. The orginazation was called Feed My Starving Children. My wife and I were a part of this wonderful group of people. Our shift was two hours long. We had probably 10-15 people at our table. We had people pouring the food into bags, people bagging and weighing the food, people sealing the bags, people putting the bags into boxes and finally people putting the boxes onto a pallet. I was in charge of scooping out and pouring into a funnel, the soy and rice part of it. I was at the end of the production line. I have never had so much fun doing some thing so worthwhile in my life! Just knowing that every scoop of food you put into a bag was going to feed six children, somewhere in the world, AMAZING!! I think that the final count for people for our shift was something like 247. We bagged up over 280 bags of food that shift. Praise GOD! The total number of meals we provided over the course of the weekend was somewhere in the neighborhood over over a half million meals! Praise GOD!! The people from the Sycamore, DeKalb area turned out in droves. What an awesome event to be a part of.
A sister church in Chicago was collecting toys to distribute for Christmas. This church was broken into and all of the toys were stolen from them. They put out a call for help to our church. We started a toy drive and put a collection box on a table in the foyer. We had a list of suggestions on the table as well. We had to empty off that table three times, becasue it became so full of everyone donating items. Praise GOD! We collected the toys up to Sunday December 19th. Our youth Pastor and I, delivered a van full of goodies the following Monday, to our sister church in Chicago. The look on that Pastors face when he saw all of the toys and stuff, PRICELESS!! The people of our church are an amazing and very generous group! Praise GOD for all of them!
I have been layed off since June of 2010. I was ok during the summer becasue my daughter was home with me. We could do all kinds of things together. When she went back to school in the fall, and my wife was at work, I was at home all by myself. So I started thinking "what can I do, to get out and do something?" I recall, as I went to our local hospital with my Pastor to pray for a friend who was having a procedure, seeing a member of our church volunteering there. That started a thought process in my head, that maybe I could volunteer there also. A few weeks passed, but the thought persisted. So I picked up the phone and called to inquire about being a volunteer. I was asked to come in for an interview and then asked to come for orientation. After all of this, I started volunteering at the front desk in early November. The head of the volunteer department told me that I would get much more out of this, than I could ever imagine. You know what? She was right. The comments I hear from the people that I serve, make the whole thing worth it! Praise GOD!!
Monday, January 17, 2011
ISOM
ISOM = Illinois School of Ministry!
My father in law was out visiting in August. He is a Pastor out in California. We were talking about God and the Holy Spirits leading. I was hearing some things, but wasn't sure exactly what it was. He told me to and talk to my Pastor, so I did. He told me to get away by myself someplace and pray for some revealation from the Holy Spirit. So I went hiking at Starved Rock a few times, by myself, praying.
My friend from church is
attending ISOM. He had been going since early in the year of 2010. While I was praying, I got the curiosity of asking him about ISOM. So I did. He gave me the link for the ISOM website, so I could check it out myself. I looked at it, researched it, and asked questions about going there. So I printed off the paper work I needed to enroll. I sent in all the forms and payments. A little while later, I recieved in the mail, my information packet. I was accepted! In this packet contained my student id, info on how to get to the school, some more general infromation.
I was excited about this! Was this the breakthrough that God had showed me while down at Starved Rock? I prayed some more, for more revealtion. The door keeps opening for these classes. I am not intending on being a Pastor, but if it is God's will, then so be it! Maybe this is the reason that I am still unemployed. If I had a job, I wouldn't be able to get off of work in time to go to class. The classes are one weekend a month, and start on Friday night and finish on Saturday afternoon. They are down at Lincoln, Il! That is at least a two or more hour drive for me. My friend and I are also able to be roommates together while we are down there. Plus my Pastor is teaching the first class. So I am praising God for all of this. I praise God for having the time off to be able to go down there. I praise God for having someone I know to room with. I praise God for having my Pastor teach the first class. If this all works out and I do become a Pastor or minister, I'll praise God for that also. If it does not work out, and I just get more educated with the Bible, then I'll praise God for that too!
So this weekend is my first weekend of ISOM! I am very excited to see what God has planned for me!
God Bless!
My father in law was out visiting in August. He is a Pastor out in California. We were talking about God and the Holy Spirits leading. I was hearing some things, but wasn't sure exactly what it was. He told me to and talk to my Pastor, so I did. He told me to get away by myself someplace and pray for some revealation from the Holy Spirit. So I went hiking at Starved Rock a few times, by myself, praying.
My friend from church is
attending ISOM. He had been going since early in the year of 2010. While I was praying, I got the curiosity of asking him about ISOM. So I did. He gave me the link for the ISOM website, so I could check it out myself. I looked at it, researched it, and asked questions about going there. So I printed off the paper work I needed to enroll. I sent in all the forms and payments. A little while later, I recieved in the mail, my information packet. I was accepted! In this packet contained my student id, info on how to get to the school, some more general infromation.
I was excited about this! Was this the breakthrough that God had showed me while down at Starved Rock? I prayed some more, for more revealtion. The door keeps opening for these classes. I am not intending on being a Pastor, but if it is God's will, then so be it! Maybe this is the reason that I am still unemployed. If I had a job, I wouldn't be able to get off of work in time to go to class. The classes are one weekend a month, and start on Friday night and finish on Saturday afternoon. They are down at Lincoln, Il! That is at least a two or more hour drive for me. My friend and I are also able to be roommates together while we are down there. Plus my Pastor is teaching the first class. So I am praising God for all of this. I praise God for having the time off to be able to go down there. I praise God for having someone I know to room with. I praise God for having my Pastor teach the first class. If this all works out and I do become a Pastor or minister, I'll praise God for that also. If it does not work out, and I just get more educated with the Bible, then I'll praise God for that too!
So this weekend is my first weekend of ISOM! I am very excited to see what God has planned for me!
God Bless!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Alabama
My wife and I planned to take a trip down to see my youngest brother and his family in Birmingham, Alabama. We planned on leaving the Wednesday before the new year holiday. My Mom had already left with our daughter and two other granddaughters, the Sunday after Christmas. My middle brother and his family left to go down the same Wednesday morning that we were planning on leaving. So my whole immediate family was already down there waiting for our arrival. I picked my wife up from work, which helped us save over an hour of drive time. We stopped just south of Louisville for the night. We got up the next morning and headed out. We stopped just south of Nashville for lunch. We came out after finishing lunch and guess what.........Car would not start.
We tried and tried to no avail. We head back into the restaraunt, to seek out a phonebook. We call a local garage, the guy tells us we can get you in right away. We tell him that we need it towed. He gave us a number and set up the tow. The tow truck arrive in about 45 minutes and we had it towed over to the garage. We fully expected to get it in right away, but the guy told us that a lot of stuff had come up during the time from our call to him and finally getting there. He told us it would be about an hour before they could even look at it. Great! Ok, fine. God give us the patience to wait here for them to look at it. They finally got around to inspecting it, and told us that they could not fix the problem. They thought that it was the timing belt. We needed to take it to the Hyundai dealer. Great! Now we had to call back and have the tow truck come and tow us to the dealer. Another 45 minutes we had to wait. God just help us get through this! I am leaning on You to help us.
So while waiting for the second tow, I thought that I would go settle up with the garage for looking at our car. He had originally told us it would be $90.00 to even look at it. So I go up to the counter and tell him I want to at least take care of his part. He told me that he wasn't going to charge us a thing for looking at our car ( Prasie God). In my head I was thinking "that's what happens when you are patient and don't lose your cool!" So we get the car over to the dealer, finally! They proceed to tell us that they will not be able to look at it until the next day. WHAT!!!! Ok Jesus, more strength please! We are supposed to be in Birmingham by this point, our whole family was waiting for us to go out to dinner together, to PF Changs!
So we decide to rent a car and finish the drive to Birmingham. We get down there at about 8:30 in the evening. We went straight to the restaraunt to meet everyone. By the way, it was delicous! The next day we get a call from the dealer about our car. It is the fuel pump and it will not be fixed until Tuesday of the following week. Again, WHAT!!! Jesus, Jesus, help us in this storm! So we formulate a plan. My wife and daughter would ride home with my Mom, and I would stay behind and take the rental car back and pick up our car on Tuesday! It wasn't ideal, but it was the only way. So my wife, daughter and I were seperated for four whole days! It was bad! So I call the dealer on Monday to check and see if everything is still on track. The service manager told me that it was and that he would see me tomorrow. He said that it should be done around noon. So I leave Birmingham around 9:00 Tueday morning, to get to Nashville at noon. I pull in the dealer parking lot and there sat the car, all done. I went in and paid for it, unloaded the rental, took the rental back, got a ride back to the dealer, jumped in our car and off I went. I pulled in our garage about 10:30 Tuesday evening. Thirteen and a half hours after leaving Birmingham. Praise GOD!
So I guess the point of this post is that, although our car broke down far from home, and that me and my wife and daughter had to be seperated for a bit, God provided for us. We broke down in a major city! It happened while we were parked and not driving! The garage was a block away. They had a Hyundai dealer and it was only a block away. They had a rental car company. There was a car available to us. I Had my brothers house to stay at the extra days, instead of a hotel. Finally, God provided safe travel for me all the way home! No snow, rain or deer. Praise You God, for Your protection over me, Thank you Jesus for getting me back to my family!
We tried and tried to no avail. We head back into the restaraunt, to seek out a phonebook. We call a local garage, the guy tells us we can get you in right away. We tell him that we need it towed. He gave us a number and set up the tow. The tow truck arrive in about 45 minutes and we had it towed over to the garage. We fully expected to get it in right away, but the guy told us that a lot of stuff had come up during the time from our call to him and finally getting there. He told us it would be about an hour before they could even look at it. Great! Ok, fine. God give us the patience to wait here for them to look at it. They finally got around to inspecting it, and told us that they could not fix the problem. They thought that it was the timing belt. We needed to take it to the Hyundai dealer. Great! Now we had to call back and have the tow truck come and tow us to the dealer. Another 45 minutes we had to wait. God just help us get through this! I am leaning on You to help us.
So while waiting for the second tow, I thought that I would go settle up with the garage for looking at our car. He had originally told us it would be $90.00 to even look at it. So I go up to the counter and tell him I want to at least take care of his part. He told me that he wasn't going to charge us a thing for looking at our car ( Prasie God). In my head I was thinking "that's what happens when you are patient and don't lose your cool!" So we get the car over to the dealer, finally! They proceed to tell us that they will not be able to look at it until the next day. WHAT!!!! Ok Jesus, more strength please! We are supposed to be in Birmingham by this point, our whole family was waiting for us to go out to dinner together, to PF Changs!
So we decide to rent a car and finish the drive to Birmingham. We get down there at about 8:30 in the evening. We went straight to the restaraunt to meet everyone. By the way, it was delicous! The next day we get a call from the dealer about our car. It is the fuel pump and it will not be fixed until Tuesday of the following week. Again, WHAT!!! Jesus, Jesus, help us in this storm! So we formulate a plan. My wife and daughter would ride home with my Mom, and I would stay behind and take the rental car back and pick up our car on Tuesday! It wasn't ideal, but it was the only way. So my wife, daughter and I were seperated for four whole days! It was bad! So I call the dealer on Monday to check and see if everything is still on track. The service manager told me that it was and that he would see me tomorrow. He said that it should be done around noon. So I leave Birmingham around 9:00 Tueday morning, to get to Nashville at noon. I pull in the dealer parking lot and there sat the car, all done. I went in and paid for it, unloaded the rental, took the rental back, got a ride back to the dealer, jumped in our car and off I went. I pulled in our garage about 10:30 Tuesday evening. Thirteen and a half hours after leaving Birmingham. Praise GOD!
So I guess the point of this post is that, although our car broke down far from home, and that me and my wife and daughter had to be seperated for a bit, God provided for us. We broke down in a major city! It happened while we were parked and not driving! The garage was a block away. They had a Hyundai dealer and it was only a block away. They had a rental car company. There was a car available to us. I Had my brothers house to stay at the extra days, instead of a hotel. Finally, God provided safe travel for me all the way home! No snow, rain or deer. Praise You God, for Your protection over me, Thank you Jesus for getting me back to my family!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Jump Start
My cousin called me one day to see if I was home. I told her that I was. She then asked me if I had a pair of jumper cables. I told her I would look to see, and that if I did, I would be right over with them. Well I looked in the trunk of my car, and to my surprise I actually had them. So I headed over to her house to help her out. I pulled onto the farside of their driveway, thinking that we could put her vehicle in neutral and push it out to jump it. I went up and rang the doorbell, she answered and out we went to jump start her vehicle. She climbs in the drivers seat, puts the key in the ignition, turns it, and nothing. She can not shift the car into neutral. Ok, so now what? Well I looked at the opening of their door and thought that I maybe could squeeze my car in far enough to get the cables hooked up. Sure enough it worked. (praise God). Then I had just enough room to open my door without dinging her car (praise God #2). Then the next question was, are our batteries on the correct sides for the cables to reach. Her battery was on the right side, my battery was on the left side (praise God #3). Ok, final question. Would the cables be long enough to reach from my battery to hers? We stretched them out as far as they could go, and guess what........It worked. Just enough length to hook up to each others terminals (praise God #4). So I hooked up the cables to the batteries and my cousin got in to start her vehicle. She cranked and cranked and still nothing. We both came to the same conclusion at about the same time. I was supposed to be in my car, reving the engine. So I climb back in my car, carefully and pressed the gas pedal down. Sure enough, within a couple of seconds, her vehicle started right up (praise God # 5). So my little Ford Focus started her gianormous SUV! So God knew exactly what we needed, how much cable and how much room to get my car in the garage to get the job done! It is awesome to see God working right in the moment that you are in! I give God all the glory for this event. It wasn't because of me that this all worked out, it was because of Him! Prasie God!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Funeral protest
I just read an article on the internet about a church planning on protesting the funeral of young girl who was killed in the Arizona shootings. I can not believe that they are claiming that God sent this sick indivdual to pass judgement on their idolatrous ways. I'm sorry, but in my Bible, God does not work that way. My Bible says that at the end of times, there will be the judgement day! He and only He will be the judge! This person who is the shooter, comes from Satan, not God! Jesus teaches us to love one another unconditionly.
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
As far as protesting the military funerals, we are to hate the sin, not the sinner! We love the person, but do not condone their lifestyle. What kind of Christians go around passing judgement on each other! We are to gently show people the love of Jesus through us. Our actions and thoughts should be of Jesus! We are to be a light in this dark world!
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
-Proverbs 6:16-19
As far as protesting the military funerals, we are to hate the sin, not the sinner! We love the person, but do not condone their lifestyle. What kind of Christians go around passing judgement on each other! We are to gently show people the love of Jesus through us. Our actions and thoughts should be of Jesus! We are to be a light in this dark world!
Break through #2
I forgot to mention that when I went down again on the following Wednesday, that same waterfall was all dried up. No water to be seen! I am glad that I was obidient to the Lord! I could easily have missed that message, by being stubborn. I let God direct me and lead me! Praise You Jesus!
Break through
During the summer of 2010, I would go hiking at Starved Rock once a week. I would go down and walk the paths, alone, and pray and meditate. I would always pray the same prayer everytime I went down there. I would pray for revealation, for a job, college, whatever God wanted me to do. So I was doing this for about six weeks! The second week of November I figured it would be the last few nice days to go hiking, before the cold weather hit. So I drove down there on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All summer long, all the waterfalls were dry because of a lack of rain. I would still go there anyway, hoping to see their beauty. That Monday in November, I was going to walk on a different trail, when I heard God telling me to go to a certain waterfall. I argued with Him about going there. I was like "really God, there is nothing there, all dried up". He told me to go anyway. So I did. When I arrived there, the water was flowing like you couldn't believe. I couldn't believe! So I walk down deep into the canyon and really close to the waterfall. I was only there about five minutes when I noticed that the water was starting to pool up with a collection of leaves blocking it from going forward. In a couple minutes time, I noticed the water starting to break through the leaves and start flowing down to the next level of the canyon. The set of steps in the rocks that I used to climb up there, were starting to get covered with water. So I quickly make my way back down to the next level, before I got trapped in there. Then I noticed the water starting to pool up again, with the fallen leaves blocking it from moving forward. I wondered how long it would take the water to break through the leaves and start flowing again. It was only a couple of minutes at the most. So I climb out of the canyon and start heading for a different trail, when I realize, God just showed me something incredible. He was showing me that I am or that my family will have a break through with something coming up.
I should mention that I had gone to a job fair the week before, and when I got home from Starved Rock, I recieved a call, telling me that I had a second interview with that company. Could this be the break through? I was hoping and praying that it was! It wasn't meant to be. I went to the second interview and haven't recieved a call back.
So I guess the meaning of this post is, to be persistent in your prayers! Always pray for the same thing until it is answered! It may be one day, it may be one year or even ten. Keep praying anyway. God is listening.
I should mention that I had gone to a job fair the week before, and when I got home from Starved Rock, I recieved a call, telling me that I had a second interview with that company. Could this be the break through? I was hoping and praying that it was! It wasn't meant to be. I went to the second interview and haven't recieved a call back.
So I guess the meaning of this post is, to be persistent in your prayers! Always pray for the same thing until it is answered! It may be one day, it may be one year or even ten. Keep praying anyway. God is listening.
Trust in God
In January of 2005, our company shut down manufacturing operations and became just a distribution center. They let over 40 people go, but kept four. I was one of the four. I went through all of the questions of why me. Why did they keep me and not some of the more experienced workers. Then in June of 2007, I met the woman who would become my wife at the company co-ed softball league. I didn't know it then, but I found out later, God wanted us to meet. That is why He kept me on at my job. That following fall of 2008, after we returned from our honeymoon, my wife found out she was losing her job. Then in the spring of 2009, I found out I was losing my job. So God kept the door open at this company long enough for us both to meet, then He closed that door and has something else planned for us. My wife found a job after about four months, I on the other hand have been layed off since June, 2010. I am just trusting God and waiting patiently on Him. I know that he has something awesome for us! The first few weeks of being layed off, I have seen or have heard the following Bible verse.
Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
I put all my trust into this verse, that God does have something amazing planned for me and my family! I keep praising Him, and glorifying Him!
So I am trusting GOD!
I put all my trust into this verse, that God does have something amazing planned for me and my family! I keep praising Him, and glorifying Him!
So I am trusting GOD!
It's a God thing!
We wanted to start looking for houses, instead of moving into one or the others apartment. We contacted a real estate agent, and she went to work for us. We told her what we were looking for, school district we wanted to be in, etc, etc. We looked and looked at probably ten houses or more, with no luck. One day while we were at my sister in laws house, we were searching houses online. We noticed one that wasn't on our viewing list. We contacted our agent and asked why we hadn't been shown this one. She didn't have a clue as to why she didn't have that listing. So we looked at it the next weekend. Come to find out, the price had been reduced AGAIN, right into our price range! We walked in, took a look, and knew that we had to make an offer that day. So we did. Our bid was accepted in less than 24 hours. Praise God!
On top of all of this, while we were trying to get our house financing together, my car died. We did not and could not afford this at the moment, but I needed a car. So off to car shopping we went. It was February and very cold. We went to about 5 - 6 lots with no luck. I had a car in mind and no one had it available. Then the very last lot that we went to, there sat the car that I had been looking for all day. It looked brand new. No way we can afford this, I thought. We decided to go in and check on it anyway. Thank God that we did. The car was right in the middle of what we could afford, without throwing our house financing out of whack. Praise God once again. He provided a house and a car for us, on the same day!
Then on the way to take my old car to the dealer to trade it in, I did not have any brakes. So for the whole trip of about 45 miles, I trusted God to protect me and keep me safe. Guess what? He did. He had His arms of protection wrapped around me. Praise be to God!
On top of all of this, while we were trying to get our house financing together, my car died. We did not and could not afford this at the moment, but I needed a car. So off to car shopping we went. It was February and very cold. We went to about 5 - 6 lots with no luck. I had a car in mind and no one had it available. Then the very last lot that we went to, there sat the car that I had been looking for all day. It looked brand new. No way we can afford this, I thought. We decided to go in and check on it anyway. Thank God that we did. The car was right in the middle of what we could afford, without throwing our house financing out of whack. Praise God once again. He provided a house and a car for us, on the same day!
Then on the way to take my old car to the dealer to trade it in, I did not have any brakes. So for the whole trip of about 45 miles, I trusted God to protect me and keep me safe. Guess what? He did. He had His arms of protection wrapped around me. Praise be to God!
Monday, January 10, 2011
History
Let me start with a little history of starting my walk on the narrow path. Three and a half years ago, I met a woman at our company's co-ed softball game. I asked her out and she accepted. We went on a four mile hike at Starved Rock. Later that night, as I was laying down to go to sleep, I prayed to a God that I really didn't know. I prayed that if because of our age difference, God did not want me to date her anymore, He would tell me. That was not the case. I woke up the next morning with a clear definate yes from God! That was the first of many blessings! That was June 10th, 2007. The middle of July of that same year, I asked the woman that I was dating if it would be alright if we attended church with her. That date, July 22nd, 2007 I accepted the Lord into my life! It has been a decision that I have not regretted! From that point on, God blessed us with physical custody of my daughter, we got engaged, got married, and bought a house! God has blessed us immensley. I am going to attempt to share my walk with God in this blog. It will be personal and heartfelt posts. Probably with a lot of spelling and gramatical errors, but straight from the heart.
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