Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Update...

Since my post just 2 days ago, the VP changed his mind and I start this MONDAY!!! James passed his military test and both boys plan on enlisting Monday. Their bootcamp starts after New Years! Ted is now thinking of cancelling his surgery and seeing if it will continue healing on it's own..... I have a possible busy schedule today, BUT I think I will take time to finish my new book! I already listened to a whole cd of southern gospel praise.... good way to start the morning...

Monday, September 23, 2013

How each piece fits in the puzzle

As a child I grew up with puzzles, usually relegated to the frame because it was the easiest to piece together. Many times we would agonize over where each piece fit and often had to walk away "puzzled" only to return to try again. In the last 20 years, God has blessed me with a variety of jobs that just seemed like puzzle pieces that did not fit in any particular puzzle.

I mentioned in my previous post that a new opportunity was presented to me, and I was praying about it. Let me brag on God, this is HIS doing, and none of me. When the door closed at my office job about a year ago, I was seriously in doubt if I had even been doing God's will at the time. Resigning my position there was definitely God's will, and He opened the door for me to be an answer to someone's prayer in the retail world. When that store closed, I was presented with 3 positions also in the retail field, and I prayed for the one that God would have me to choose. I was adamant that I did not want to work many Sundays or Wednesdays as that was very important for me to be in church. God immediately closed the doors to the positions that required - no demanded EVERY Sunday! This left me with the large retail store that was CLOSED on Sundays!

I giggle thinking about how obvious it was to me and to God as to which one I should choose. The only question left was.. "Did they want to hire me?!" God was already moving the puzzle pieces around on His table and shifting things around in my life. Three weeks ago, I was hired part time at that large retail store and began to learn my way around there. I confess I struggled with not being with my manager from LB, and the large store was a bit much to get used to. Every day I went to work, I prayed and prayed. Many various prayers, because at the time I still did not want to even have to work. I finally just poured my heart out to God and like I do with every job, I jumped in and did my very best while I was there. Many times I was able to pray for a coworker or customer and, or offer encouragement.

(When Justin started his process of deciding if he wanted to join the military, I strongly begged him to make sure it was God's will as I did not want him to be in doubt like I had been at this time last year. He looked at me and said that maybe God would find a way to put what I had learned in my previous job with what I was doing now. That maybe it had been God's will for me to be there at the office and then go into retail. I agreed that with God it could be possible, but I could not see it. These two different fields just did not seem to go hand in hand. I had puzzle pieces, but wasn't sure if they went in the same puzzle!)


Two weeks into the position, trying hard to just be usable and a blessing, the store manager approached me with some vague questions about my computer skills. She mentioned there might be a position in the corporate office opening up that I might qualify for. I did not think overly much about this although I did speak with Ted about it. Since it would be a full time position that would change the dynamics of what had been my work schedule for the last 3 years. He encouraged me to accept it, should it ever be presented to me. Again, I just went ahead and did my thing, praying that I would learn the different aspects of my job and be usable.

Barely 3 weeks into the new job, a manager came up to me telling me that the VP from the corporate office wanted to interview me within the hour! Now I had met this man on various occasions, but did not realize that he was the executive vice president!! In fact, one day he even helped bag merchandise as I checked out customers on a very busy day. I admit it was a good thing that I did not have time to stew over an interview, nor did I have to worry about how I had acted around this man as I treated him with the respect that I give to everyone - young or old.

We sat down and had a great interview and I walked back to work somewhat in a daze still wondering why I was even being considered and thanking God just for the honor of being interviewed! So that brings us up to now. The VP said he would let me know in a week's time.... well, before the week was even over, he brought me to his office again. This time he told me that the position was mine if I would accept it.
Praise the LORD!!

This position will tie in my office skills and my retail skills into a wonderful mix that only God could put together! Justin is not a prophet nor the son of prophet, but I am so glad God spoke through him to prepare me for the beautiful picture God is making of my jumbled life. I begin my position October 7th! I will have 2 months of training and then I will be in charge of taking care of the duties required to help the company expedite their services. This is a career not just a job. I will be at this position either until the rapture, retirement, or redirection from God.
Ted and I are so humbled that God would bless us so abundantly in this way. I will have Sundays off, but I won't work any nights or Saturdays! This answers every single prayer I had concerning working outside the home! Isn't God AMAZING!!!

James goes tomorrow to take his test in Charlotte to see if he qualifies for military service. He says based on how he does, he will then decide what he will do. Justin is nearly close to signing his enlistment papers.
I could be the mother of two military men and working in a brand new career all at the same time.

Ted saw the plastic surgeon today and his hand surgery is scheduled for October 1. I wanted to get it out of the way before my full time position started. He too is way too busy to keep postponing the needed procedure to help him heal faster.

With all the spinning on the hamster wheel, I took time today to get housework started, bought a new book, took a nap, listened to some wonderful praise music and cook my husband's favorite dish for supper. God will give me time to be the wife and mother He wants and still work full time. I will let Him figure it out.. it's HIS puzzle!

Friday, September 20, 2013

??!!

That's right, I have no idea how to title this post.
Justin is going through the process that is a pre-requesite to joining the army.
James has an interview tomorrow for a job, but he too is getting ready to see if the military is in his future.
I had the most amazing opportunity presented to me, and I am sitting here praying for God's will and His glory. I should know in a week or so if this new opportunity is final.
Ted did not have surgery today, the surgeon referred him instead to a plastic surgeon who specializes in hands. He will have surgery on the 30th.

Then tonight while watching tv, James was messing around with his cat and captured this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQu2fURpm_o

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The World cries Peace, Peace, but there is no peace....

This is by far the best explanation of the Muslim terrorist situation I have read. His references to past history are accurate and clear. Not long, easy to understand, and well worth the read. The author of this email is Dr. Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist.

A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.

'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of
German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come.

My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.'

We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely
Irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant
To somehow diminish the spectre of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the
Fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. It is the fanatics who teach their young to kill and to become suicide bombers.

The hard, quantifiable fact is that the peaceful majority, the 'silent
Majority,' is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people..

The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers
Of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:
Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

Now Islamic prayers have been introduced into Toronto and other public schools in Ontario, and, yes, in Ottawa too while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?) The Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in our country until the fanatics move in.

In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them. Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local supermarket. Food on aircraft have the halal emblem, just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the nation’s shores.

In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of “no-go” zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon. Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim community in those areas refuse to acknowledge British law.

As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands, world-wide, read this and think about it, and send it on - before it's too late.
And we are silent...


PS - You can read more about how, over and over throughout human history, peace-loving people come under captivity by fanatics, hoodlums and outlaws:
See Chapter 30 of Richard Maybury's great little book "Whatever Happened to Justice?". Hopefully America will wake up in time ...... but will we?

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Learned Lessons

It's been a week of challenges for us here at Mountains and Valleys. Tuesday was a good day at work, and I truly did enjoy being there. Wednesday I was supposed to have off, but they were short handed and asked me to come in. It was NOT a good day, I was so close to tears, I just sat in the break room and prayed! I still wonder if part of the problem was that I really wanted and needed a day off and just was not in the right mood to be at work? I did have Thursday off and spent the day helping my previous boss and mentor do her job hunting and realizing how great we had it at our previous place of employment.

Friday, I prayed hard and I KNOW someone was praying for me too because it was a much better day then Wednesday, and I did not feel like crying. Thank you to all who prayed for me, I desperately needed it.
Saturday, we had bus ministry and my heart yearned for all the teens in my class who hear the Word of God, but they seem to have such stony hearts. My heart aches for them and for those who chose not to come.

Saturday night, I was placed into the second position for which I was hired and I had a great time! I really enjoyed that part of the job of being out on the floor and learning the department responsibilities!

So what did I learn from this week?
Lesson 1 - I will have good days and bad days
Lesson 2- My attitude may have alot to do with how my day goes
Lesson 3- I have to be thankful for this job even if I really don't want to be working
Lesson 4- Praying always gets an answer from my Heavenly Father - I won't quit- I hope you wont either!
Lesson 5- Oh and the next time I remember to take my Kudzu Momma's advice "Just Breathe", I should make sure I am not driving over a skunk at the same time! God has a sense of humor and I am so glad I could laugh between gasps!


On the masculine side of things, Justin scored high on his official test and is now interviewing family and friends who are or were in the military to get the nitty gritty of what he should expect. He is no closer to a decision then he was before.

James is still actively seeking a job and needs your prayers as he is feeling the weight and worry of this situation.

Ted had a very good report from his doctor on Tuesday. If he can continue what he is doing he can be diabetes free! He was also referred to a wound specialist for his finger. He saw that doctor on Friday. His wound is clean and healing, but he will need to have therapy and weekly visits to ensure that it stays that way. It will take a long time to completely heal since he burned off so many layers of skin.

Lord, make me a blessing and help me to be a beacon of light and truth for you this week.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Floating Rocks

Today was my first day with the new company. I swam the best I could, but many times I thought I would float like a rock. (I heard that today after work at a Labor Day picnic with friends and family, it made so much sense I just had to use it for this post!) I do not know what God has in store for me, with this position or anything after. I had a long text session with my Kudzu Mother who again reminded me to keep swimming and to remember that the Everlasting Arms are holding me up. I will cling to the Rock of Ages, and try to keep my eyes on Him or I will end up like a pebble at the bottom of the ocean!

If tomorrow comes, Ted will see his doctor, Justin will go to Charlotte with the Recruiter to take a huge test before he decides if he wants to commit to the military, James will continue job hunting (pray for him, losing yet another job has again taken a toll on his confidence- this learning curve is hard on younguns), and I will have day 2 of learning to swim, or tread water.....

Blessed, but stressed....