Soaking Up!

My wife made an interesting comment to me tonight. She told me that I was becoming quite the reader lately. That is a true statement. I have been reading a lot of books lately. That got me to thinking about that.

When I was younger, I was an avid reader. I could read a book from cover to cover in one sitting. As I got older, and started driving and working, my reading of books waned, dare I say it even stopped completely. Oh I would read the newspaper everyday, but that was the extent of my reading.

When I started my ISOM (Illinois School of Ministry) classes in January, I had to read a text book and take tests from the pages that I had read. I started soaking that information up. I realized that if I am going to be a pastor, I want to be one of the most informed. So I started picking up other materials to read. Other Christian books, to help along my journey towards being a pastor.

I'm not talking like other educational books. I mean like Christain authors like Corrie Ten Boom, Toby Mac, and even Albert Pujols! I have been reading these books to see how great God has been in their lives. It gives me encouragement to see what God has done for them. The struggles that He has pulled them out of. The bad situations, the horror of certain situations. God was there amongst it all!

I read my Bible everyday! I get up early in the morning to do so. My day just isn't right, if I don't start it that way! Besides the Bible, I am reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I want to be well rounded with good Christian influences, when I start my ministry!

Of course I am going to rely on God to give me the word, to deliver to the people. I would just like to have some other information to fall back on. Other stories to tell about how great God is!

I praise You Lord, for these Christian authors and the work that they are putting out! GOD Bless!!

Facebook Morphing!

Two years ago, when we first got our laptop, I heard about this thing called Facebook. I decided to check it out. My class from high school were having a reunion and in the email they sent out, it said that Facebook was a really good way to stay in touch with old classmates etc! So I checked it out. I nosed around a little bit and thought that it was interesting, so I joined. My wife was like "what! You are not the Facebook type." So the addiction began.

I added friends quickly. People from school whom I hadn't seen in many years, Classmates that were either ahead of me or behind me in school. It didn't matter. Soon to follow were family members, and then people from church. This went on and on, in fact it is still going on.

At first I posted very little. I just kind of watched other friends posts and then comment on them. Then one particular dangerous weather day on my way to work, I posted and thanked GOD for getting me to work safely. The response to that post was very positive to say the least. Well that got me started on posting more and more. Everyday I would post and thank GOD for getting me to work, or whatever happened to me that day. The responses kept getting better and better.

Then my Facebook page morphed into almost a daily scripture passage. I would pick out something that GOD had layed on my heart from the Bible and post it on Facebook. That was very well recieved!

So now, my Facebook page consists of Bible passages, uplifting messages, uplifting video's and prayer. I may make an occassional misstep and post something that isn't really me. Usually someone will call me on it and I'll re-think what I have posted and either remove it or appologize for it. I am not perfect by any means. Unfortunately I have had a few "friends" de-friend me because of my postings, and that is too bad. If people don't want to see my posts on my faith and beliefs then that is their choice. I will not change what I am posting. I am being a light to my Facebook world. I am spreading the Gospel to as many people as I can. If people don't like it, than they can de-friend me. I am not ashamed of the Gospel and I am certainly not ashamed of Jesus Christ! I praise Him for being able to do this. I praise the name of Jesus Christ for whom everything is accomplished! PRAISE GOD!!

Tired

I applied for two jobs in the last week or so. Today I recieved the rejection emails from both of them. I am getting tired of sending out resume after resume and getting nothing in return. I have been unemployed since June of 2010 and I have had probably a total of five interviews in that time span.

Every job I apply for, I am a perfect fit for it. They are for the same postition that I held at my other job. Yet no call, no interview. Today's rejection email was especially painful, because it was at a place that I have been volunteering at for the last 8 1/2 months. I thought that this was in the bag. I have been doing essentially the same responsibilites volunteering as I would be doing for the job. I have already had my immunizations for working with the public, I know my around the hospital, etc. They didn't even offer me an interview. I am not saying that they should hire me, but at least grant me an interview. All of the time that I have given that place, and doing all of the things that they ask me to. I took it as a slap in the face! I may just give up my volunteering gig there.

Jeremiah 29:¹¹For 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 have been standing on that verse for the last year and change. It is getting really hard to do now. I am getting tired of getting nowwhere! I have a lot to offer a job. I feel like my talents are just going to waste sitting at home! I sure hope that Bible verse is accurate! I have been and will continue to trust in GOD!

Foregiveness!

God's foregiveness is wonderful isn't it! I am reminded of this all the time. I have been hearing a lot of stories lately that remind me that I am forgiven.

Some people in my life have been making some bad choices, and then their parents have to bail them out. This happens time and again. I keep thinking to myself "when are they going to cut them off, and say no longer?" Then I am reminded of God's foregiveness. I think of all the times that I have made a wrong choice and had to have God get me out of it. He does it over and over, and never stops loving me. He gives me chance after chance to get it right. Praise GOD!!

I used to get some serious road rage going (I am getting better, but it is still there) when people would make a stupid move. Driving extremely fast or slow. Switching lanes without signaling, etc, etc. I would start to yell and complain, and then God would reveal to me that I used to do the same things. Uh-oh, convicted! By God's grace, I was forgiven for those offenses. So I needed to do the same to the other drivers. Not my job to judge. Praise GOD!

God is working on my patientence with people pulling out in front of me. People speeding. People doing all kinds of dumb things, which I was once a part of! God has forgiven me and he expects me to do the same!

I thank God for his forgiveness! Everyday! I do not want to be cut off from Him for something stupid I did! I want to live for Jesus and walk in His way everday! That should be everybody's goal in life!

ONE YEAR!

One year ago today (not actually the date, but it was the Friday before Memorial day), was my last day of working for my company. They had decided to close us down and move all operations to the East coast. I didn't know what to do. I had never been out of work before. Now I have been without a job for over a year now.

So the other day I started to reflect back on this past year of unemployment. What I have accomplished, how I have grown, the impact of it all. At first I thought it was cool to be off of work over the summer. I could enjoy my time off and spend the summer with my daughter. We took a family vacation to see my in-laws in California. We went hiking. I coached her softball team. Had all kinds of fun. Then summer gave way to fall, and my daughter went back to school, and my wife was working. I was at home all by myself. I thought what could I do, to get out of the house. I started volunteering at our local hospital! What an awesome position to work. The woman who interviewed me, told me that I would get much more out of this than I could ever imagine. You know what? She is right! This job is so fulfilling!

In the meantime, a friend of mine had been going to ministry school. He mentioned it to me one day, that he thought that I might be interested in going as well. He sent me the link and I checked it out and decided that he was right. I would be interested in going. So I enrolled, recieved my study materials and dove right in. The first class wasn't until January. So I had some time, since it was on November. I had originally did the pick four classes. You take four classes and recieve a Bible certificate. After I finished my fourth class, I knew that I wanted to finish the course and keep going. Is this what GOD has planned for me? Is this why I am still unemployed? If I had a job, I would not be able to attend classes, because the start at 6:00 pm on Friday evenings, and they are a two and half hour drive away!

So I have been sending out resume after resume. I have had about 4 interviews in the year that I have been off. GOD keeps on closing those doors, but He is keeping the ministry door open. Hmmmmmm, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Unfortunately, this isn't paying the bills. I hate being on unemployment, and I really hate having my wife carry the load of providing for the family. It's a man thing. I have pride, not the sinful kind of pride, but I have pride in taking care of my family. I feel like I am unable to do that, being unemployed. I mean I do the laundry, dishes, mow the yard, snow removal in the winter, vaccum, etc, etc. You get the idea. None of that is putting  money in our bank account. So I have learned to trust in Jesus! He will provide for us, just like he always does! He has something big in store for my family! I just have to wait patiently! Praise GOD for his provision, and everything in my life!

God's provision

For the last month or so, I have been in kind of a down mood. I just lost all of my joy and happiness. I have been laid off since June 1st, 2010 and haven't had any luck finding a job yet. For the first time since I was laid off, I didn't think that we were going to be able to pay our bills. That is a frightning feeling, let me tell you! As a result of this feeling, I was cranky towards everyone. My wife, my daughter, my friends, etc, etc. I didn't even feel like posting on facebook anymore.

Then came the dreaded Friday, payday! I sat at our desk and opened the check book and started paying the bills. I paid bill after bill, and the balance did not go down as much as I thought that it would. Praise GOD! When it was all said and done, we were way ahead of where I thought that we would be! I thought that we wouldn't even make it, and we paid them all! We even had some left over! Praise GOD!! He provided for us, just like He always does! I don't know why I even doubted Him! He kept giving me reminders during the week, to remember to put my trust in Him!

That Friday afternoon after all of this went on, My friend and I had to head out for our ISOM classes. The trip down there was awesome. Our conversation in the car is nothing short of amazing. The class I had over the weekend and the instructor that taught it, really lifted my spirits even more! I came home on Saturday on fire. Ready to get back to being the joyful, happy person that I am. The Sunday morning service at church, put more fuel on my spiritual fire! I am re-ignited for GOD, and I am rejoicing about it!

I praise GOD for it all. He pulled me out of my doldrums, put me back on solid footing and told me not to worry. He has everything in control! Praise GOD for that!

Explaining Sin!

Our daughter came home from school the other day, and told us something interesting. She told us that she explained sin to a fellow male student while they were waiting in a line. Apparently said student said a certain cuss word in front of her. She proceeded to tell him that using that kind of language was a sin. A friend of hers backed her up when she told him this news.

He asked her if she was one of those "whacko's" who go to church. She responded with a resounding YES! She told him as a matter of fact, I am a Jesus Freak!! My wife and I are both like "SWEET". That's our girl. Standing up for her beliefs and morals and not backing down! Awesome! We are so very proud of her. It's nice to know that we are raising her right and although, sometimes it seems she isn't listening, she actually is! Far to many students I know, would have just blown it off and went on their way. But not our daughter. It's awesome that she is standing up for what is right.

I told her to go in the next day and give him this Bible verse;
Ephesians 4:²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

May our daughter continue to be a light at her school. May she always have the boldness to stand up for what is right. A lot of adults could have learned from her boldness. I pray that we adults have that kind of attitude to do what she did.

We love our daughter very much! She is definately a gift from GOD! I thank GOD for her everyday, and I praise Him for her heart to do what is right!