February 11, 2005
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Well, I certainly appreciate all you great guys and gals who have stopped by to encourage me. I haven't had nearly the time to stop by your sites that I once did and it was great to finally get around to visiting most of you this past week. You all write such interesting things and I miss getting to be involved in them. Amidst the circumstances I have been going through I jave been trying to keep my head held up high knowing God is in control but this past week was another trying one. After complaining for two months about not having enough to do, the wise leaders we have at work decided that they needed to get to work on some contracts and told me I had to have three of them done by the end of February and that I should plan on working overtime to get them done. Well, I don't get time and a half for overtime and with my wife working it most likely pushes us into a higher tax bracket if I do much extra work, so it is not something I cherish doing, especially after all the indecision at work over the past two months. I was told this on Tuesday in the midst of trying to resolve some lingering problems from my old positiuon and by midday I was ready to have an anxiety attack. The stress was really pouring on and I had a tremendous neck pain and headache. I just wanted to get up and walk out. After lunch I took a couple of asprin and regained my wits and was able to calm down a bit. The last three days I've put in an extra couple of hours but I told them I couldn't work Saturdays (lead worship!) unless they let me do it at home. For some reason my boss didn't seem too crazy about that though she allows another person to do it. I'm not sure, at this point, what that was all about.
In the midst of this, I had visited most of you and one in particular that I thought I had a good relationship. It was a site where I used to try and leave a short comment when needed and remember being thanked for doing so. The person's Mother even commented to me once that my words were a help to their child. So, I was kind of shgocked to receive a comment that said, "You only ever comment one very simple, though positive, thing. Please refrain from commenting to me if you are going to be so entirely impersonal." Hmmm, that really set me back. I guess we aren't even allowed to nice anymore. I know this person is most likely going through a rough time right now but it certainly has me a bit timid about returning to that site. I guess time will tell.
I had a great phone conversation with the gentleman who was placed in the position of leading the transition at our Saturday Night service until such time as we hire a replacement Pastor for that service (actually an Associate Pastor for the entire church). WE are struggling with the fact that people just won't understand that this all takes time and it is heart breaking to see them either storming off mad and either going to Sunday service or not going anywhere at all. We just get so caught up in thinking that church is for us and it should be done our way that we forget that church is our opportunity to join together as one, in unity, with one heart and one mind, to glorify God. If you really step back and consider what church is all about, I can go buy some books, videos, CD's, get out my Bible, etc. and study if I want to learn, but church is my only opportunity to join with the saints to worship God as a body. Why is that so hard to understand? I know the enemy is behind some of this because it has turned people against people, which thge ploy of the enemy, in placing blame and finger pointing. No one ever considers that maybe God has called us on our past pledges to Him and is manipulating the situation to see how we will respond. How can we minister to the unsaved with such selfish hearts? How can we dare take the chance to attribute to the enemy work that God might be doing? Lots of unanswered questions but few answers at the moment. It is that helpless situation when God has the chance to be our strength in the midst of our weakness but we are probably allowing the opportunity to pass by while we bicker and moan. It brings to mind the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years because they continually bickered and moaned. Enough on that for now.
Well, that is about all I can think of at the moment. You are a great and diversified bunch of people here on xanga and I pray you have a great weekend and week ahead and that your life is blessed!
God IS Good!
Go Ahead! Say It! Believe It! Confess It!
You're Invited!!
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"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 (9)
My week has been trying and stressful as well. The Lord is with us, though, as hard as that can be to believe at times.
You're in my prayers, and may you have a nice Valentine's Day!
God bless,
Jennifer
I'm glad you checked in
You again spoke a blessing into my life....thanks! It sounds like you have been under spiritual attack on many fronts. I pray that the stress of the job lessens and that those in administrative positions will remember when they too had to answer to someone else and create more of a team effort.
I so agree with your comments on worshiping with fellow believers. It is a precious time. Our music coordinator gets the sermon a week early and prays and works hard to get the music and its words to fit the weeks study. My favorite part of Sunday Service is the time after the sermon when we give back to the Lord songs of praise for who He is and what He is doing in our body of believers.
Lastly, I hope that you had a great Valentine's weekend with your sweet wife and your kids!
Hey, thank you very much for your comments. I don't get around to your site like I would like to. Sorry for that. But I really, really appreciate your comments. *hugs* Vaya con Dios mi hermano de Cristo.
~Christine~
hello,how are you?hope all is well with you out there!:) keep in touch and God Bless!:)
We had the most wonderful sermon Sunday evening about why we go to church. Based on scripture, the answer was to do the work of the holy spirit. That is to encourage and strengthen our fellow believers. As we worship together and hold one another up in prayer and seek to meet individual needs, faith is built.
I am so sorry about the rude comment you received. Was it my daughter? If so, you are correct that she is having a very hard time, but that is absolutely no excuse for rude behavior.
I am praying that the job situation will settle down for you.
Carol
dale, i appreciate it any time you take time outta your busy day to provide encouragement~!
~janny
I'm relating strongly to your work frustration. I can't believe some of the weird e-mails that my colleagues and I have gotten from one of my supervisors. She is such a micromanager! I actually picked up an application to work at an Office Max while I was out buying more envelopes for wedding invitations tonight. I was that frustrated! Luckily, my supervisor at the other hospital is the polar opposite, praise the Lord! What is with upper management these days? Is there some kind of national contest to find out who is the biggest jerk? Hugs, Claudia
It's nice to see you stopping by. I pray the rest of your week goes well.
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