November 13, 2004
-
I thought I’d better get on here and update before you all forget whom I am!
I have been pretty busy lately but I really can’t remember what it has been that has been keeping me busy. I guess one thing is playing a lot of backgammon on the computer! I also spend a few hours each week trying to get my son Matt through his on-line Algebra/Trigonometry course. He only needs that and one English class to get his Associates Degree in Architectural Technology but he seems to have lost his interest in completing his courses due to the lack of jobs available in his field. He works in construction right now but makes less than $10 an hour and has a tough time paying his bills. I’ve asked you to pray for him in the past and would appreciate some more prayer for him so he can figure out who he is and what he needs to be doing with his life.
All of my children (Matt plus my two daughters) seem to have a lack of ambition towards achieving any goals in their lives. The two daughters are both studying for an Associates Degree in Office Administration – Medical but would be content to drop out and work part time at the local Shop & Save. I am not the most ambitious person in the world but when I was 15 I started working at a gas station and continued there when I started college. When I dropped out of school I got a full time job in a local steel mill and also, for a while, kept the part time job. I’ve made my share of mistakes in my life but did finally get my degree when I turned 40 and have been able to achieve some sort of success in my career though I’m behind those who are younger but got their degrees sooner. That’s why I try and encourage my children to stay with it but it seems that my words of wisdom fall on deaf ears and that, in the end, I guess experience will be the best teacher. Why are we, as humans, too stupid to listen to the advice of those who suffered before us and have to be doomed to suffer the same mistakes and consequences of those who’d try and help us avoid those very things? Well I’m getting entirely too philosophical here!
I’ve been going through the same thing with the new worship leader I’ve been advising at church. They always have good reasons for their song selections and though I try and caution them about some things that have been stumbling blocks to myself in the past, they seem to have their minds set on doing things a certain way. I finally decided that I needed to back off and allow them the freedom to make mistakes as there is no character builder quite like screwing up before a large group of people. We want it done God’s way and not Dale’s way anyhow so He needs to be the teacher and not I.
This upcoming week will also be my last at my present job and the following week will be the start of my new assignment. I hate to be changing job descriptions and having to move from a filed office to the main office in Pittsburgh (a place I hate to have to go to) but others lost their jobs so I am at the least grateful that I still have a job even though I will now have to drive further and pay for parking. Pittsburgh also keeps talking about enacting a commuter tax, which will also dip into my earnings.
Well, I hope I’m not giving you the impression that my life is not going well because it is going well, all things considered. God IS good and He is in control and even when I don’t understand what is going on, I do have the hope and faith that He is behind the scenes directing all things that affect me and that they will all work together for my good and the good of His kingdom. You just never know what plans God has for you. There may be someone who needs to hear about God in the federal building and all this may just be for that purpose. God loves you and will manipulate circumstances as much as He needs to reach out to you and do the best for you if you will only allow Him that freedom in your life. Give Him that chance and be sure to thank Him!!
God IS Good!
Go Ahead! Say It! Believe It! Confess It!
You're Invited!!
Go to The Prayer List , don't forget the others in need!
"Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer." - D.L. Moody
Due to some confusion as to where to send prayer requests I want to clarify that you can use the email link at Isaiah56 (The Prayer List). Please include your xanga address so I know who you are!
Comments (8)
May God bless you and your family as you make these changes and may He give you peace and patience as you continue serving Him.
It was good to hear how you are doing. I will pray that your children see the wisdom of your direction with them in their lives. I suspect that when these issues come up with our children, it is really a conflict between the spiritual (follow God's plan and honor my parents) and self. At some point every child needs to start standing on his own feet and prayfully make decisions. The problem seems to be that our society is telling young people to speed up this process and make decisions that can affect their entire lives, before they really have the maturity to make these choices. In my work I constantly work with teenage girls that are mothers are young ages (14-17) with no ability to support themselves, let alone an baby.
I am sorry that you no longer have your field job. I will pray that the new one works out well, and God uses you for His purpose. Do you have a Christian radio station you can listen to as you commute? I am bless both morning and evening to have some good music and some of God's word at the beginning and end of my work day.
Carol
yeah... I can certainly understand what you are saying... in fact, it was just yesterday the sermon was about giving thanks... specifically when things don't seem to be going well.
Often the outward appearance of things would make people think that the circumstances would be something that would be bad, but it doesn't mean we can't give thanks for it... like you said, there could be a specific... no, there is a specific reason we are going through what we are going through... and God knows it, we just need to follow His leading.
Jesus loves you!
my eldest son is also going in the same direction. He slops around in the house and does not care much about the future.
I am worried for him but somehow deep inside, I know and he knows I am there for him if he needs me
It seems like our instant gratification society is taking a toll on the work ethic of our young people. They seem to be very short sighted when it comes to having goals. A pay check, meager as it may be, seems to make them feel "free". Free from parental guidance. I also think that it comes from a lack of respect for their elders. Remember when an older person was thought of as wise....just because they WERE older? Not anymore....but then there is a general lack of respect for any authority. I don't mean to sound like I think that the entire younger generation is doomed(even though Socrates thought that) but things are different now.
Hey, I just want to let you know I'm praying for your son and daughters. Thank you for posting in the info awhile back on spyware and virus protection. I needed to get a program on here to protect my computer but didn't know where to get something good. Thank you much.
Comments are closed.