What God Has For You Will Be! (Part 3)

So there the four of us were being shifted around again, some voluntarily. Eventually two of the four of us joined the IT department – they were not only intelligent, but just altogether phenomenal human beings who I came to love dearly. I was asked to apply for a position in Business Relations. Oh my! Business Relations! But I was up against some tough candidates – one of which was my Team Lead from the Leadership department. I admired this person and how hard they worked to get where they were, but their heart like most of us needed a lot of softening and a lot of changing and growing. I met all types of challenges going up against him for that particular job position, including gossip and slander, attempts by the Lead’s Supervisor to undermine me to the person who would soon become my new boss! It was disheartening and disappointing to see how low some might sink so low to discredit and hurt another person, especially someone who had worked very hard and added value to their team. But God was in control. I didn’t know it at the time, but God had been at work way ahead of me. God walked me through the interview process, Him knowing that He had already given me the job, but by faith I had to move through the process. I got the job! There were a few more attempts to undermine and discredit me, but my new boss put a stop to it by confronting my old supervisor’s behavior. He pointed out how faithful of a servant I had been for her and the team and never could he have imagined someone in her position would do such a thing. God is good! I can look back and see exactly what God was doing, however it was still very unpleasant.

What God Has For You Will Be! (Part 2)

In April I reentered the workforce after what seemed a very long layoff. I later learned through experience that it wasn't such a long lay off compared to the one I experienced many years later, but that is another chapter of my story for another time.

I showed up for my first day and entered into an environment that my spirit immediately rejected because of some of the types of people that I encountered. It simply was not the type of place that I expected to work. But God had a plan and there were many things that He desired to teach me - things I wasn't prepared for! Kicking and screaming, I went along with God's plan as this was the door that He chose to open and I really had no choice, single parent and all, in need of a paycheck! Everyday I wanted to bolt, but I stayed and pressed through. I was miserable to say the least. I began connecting with some wonderful people and encountered some not so wonderful, but I stayed the course. After a few weeks of training I was placed in Sales Support and then moved to Customer Service to handle sales and customer complaints. Time went on and God began to shift things around again. Four of us were selected to move to what was called the Leadership team where it was supposedly such a privilege to be on this particular team. They were a terrible group of people, and that is putting it mildly. It was a challenge to remain on the team because they did not welcome us nor want us - we were beneath them. I imagine they worked very hard to get where they were; however we too worked hard and for whatever reason we were chosen. It was a very unpleasant experience, but we encouraged one another to not give up. We met their demands and jumped through their hoops. None was pleasing to them whatsoever. The supervisor looked down her nose at each of us daily. In fact she would stand in her doorway with a disdainful glare making her contempt very obvious. But God! I couldn't have imagined what God would do, but He was faithfully at work. He caused some immediate changes. There was no more separate, hidden area for the Leadership team. He literally tore down the walls of that place and they were placed out in the open with the rest of customer service. The four of us who were selected to join the team remained on the team throughout all the changes. Eventually God began promoting each of us and opening doors from other places!
Not only did we survive, but we thrived! Stay tuned...Part 3 to come!

What God Has For Your Will Be! (Part 1)

Today while speaking to a friend about her son and their process of walking through a challenging season where praying and trusting the Lord was their only recourse, that ultimately led to her son's very successful job interview, I was suddenly reminded of a time that God affirmed that what He has for me will be and sometimes it requires His shifting things around to get us to the exact place that He wants us to be. I hope this will encourage you so that you will not lose hope or tire of doing what is good and right before our Lord, because in due time, if we persist in doing good for our Lord's Kingdom, we will reap a great harvest!

In the past, reflecting on that particular season of my life was tough because there were so many challenges that I had to face and walk through. But today God allowed me to look back and see a very different picture! Today I can look back and see what God did so systematically and how He so perfectly aligned all things to work together for good - and that certainly encourages me!

The story is too long to go into every detail from beginning to end in one post so I will divide the posts into parts.

There I was in the midst of the storm, in deep distress after having been laid off from the airlines a few times, single parent, and no additional financial support. Out of nowhere a car accident totaled out my car and I didn't know how we were going to make it. After several weeks I had been able to get into a rental car. Then the process began of having to work with an attorney, go through physical therapy to recover from the car accident, and eventually received enough cash to purchase a used car. Although I didn't see it at the time, the blessing in that was actually no more car payment! I only had to pay monthly insurance. I still did not have a job. The airlines wanted to bring me back but the only offer was a part-time position in Las Vegas. I was desperate and began making plans. Well things were not coming together and I began to realize that I could not possibly relocate to Las Vegas on a part-time salary and I could not imagine living there as a single parent, so I sought God for another way. I went to my regular church service Sunday morning and sat sobbing throughout the service. After praise and worship ended, I was immediately brought up before the church by a sister in Christ (La Nelle Parker!)where she pleaded with the church to help me find a job. I was mortified as I stood there sobbing and looking out into the congregation as their eyes were fixed on me. The following month (February) someone reached out to me. God had opened a door! The process took a few weeks and by then it was the month of March, things were so tough by then; however as I look back I can see that God was sustaining me through the process.

Joshua 1:8-10

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Two Kinds of Rest – Earthly Rest with God & Eternal rest with God

Hebrews 4:9-11

Through Christ we receive many spiritual blessings including a day of rest. In fact there are two kinds of rest – one we might call an earthly Sabbath - observed on a particular day, usually a Sunday, but technically should be a Saturday, and one that we might call a heavenly Sabbath – which is a true and lasting spiritual rest, an eternal rest, but so often we are busy about doing what is right in our own eyes, we miss the opportunity to enter into either rest. Hebrews 4:9 – 11 says that when you enter into God’s rest, you cease from doing your works; therefore strive to enter into that rest. God commands us to take a day of rest now and at some point He will call each of us to an eternal rest, but if we continue going our own way, we live a life of disobedience, doing what is right in our own eyes, and in doing so we may miss out on both our earthly and heavenly rest. We must relinquish the right to do what is right in our own eyes and be submitted to Christ. Recognize that the only valid activity that counts stems from the indwelling sovereignty of Christ.
Consider the Sabbath on earth when best observed and extend the idea to eternity, void of imperfection, and that would be heaven! The Sabbath is holy; so is heaven. It is a period of worship; so is heaven. It is for praise and for the contemplation of heavenly truth; so is heaven. The Sabbath is appointed that we may lay aside worldly cares and anxieties for a little season here; heaven that we may lay them aside forever.

Think about how we currently spend the Sabbath – in idleness; in business; in traveling; in sports & recreation; in light reading and conversation; in sleep; in visiting; in exercise; in lounging; in revelry – partying and dissipation – overindulgence – greed; in any and every way "except the right way;" in every way except in holy communion with God.

The psalmist wrote long after the days of Joshua; there is another rest, a state of blessedness, for the people of God; and this is the Gospel, the blessings it procures and communicates, and the eternal glory which it prepares for, and has promised to, genuine believers. As God finished his work, and then rested from it, so he will cause those who believe, to finish their work, and then to enjoy their rest. It is evident, that there is a more spiritual and excellent Sabbath remaining for the people of God, than that of the seventh day.

The"rest" in Heb 4:8 is rest from weariness, but the "rest" in Heb 4:9 is the nobler and more exalted "Sabbath" rest. The two ideas of "rest" combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God's new creation (Re 21:5). The whole renovated creation shall share in it; nothing will there be to break the Sabbath of eternity; and the Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zep 3:17).

Praise Him for you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well! Psalm 139:14

I am doing a new thing... Isaiah 43:19

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.