I wasn't a fan of being one of millions searching for jobs this past month. It was a huge test of faith for me. I'd always had things pretty "under control", if that term can even be used. I knew I would be just a name on a piece of paper, unnoticed by hundreds of companies. That was my perspective when I worked my final minute at my former company.
As I got home, all I could do was pray. I had never felt so dependent on God to provide for me. It began a stage in my life where I just spent time with Him, trying to understand the direction I needed to head in. I asked people to pray for me. Then an amazing thing happened. As I sat with little hope, I looked on some of my friends facebook profiles. Some mentioned me in their status, asking their friends to pray for me. Numerous people commented saying they'd pray for me. Some people I didn't know, others I hadn't seen in years. But as I read this, I knew that I wasn't alone. I knew that if that many people had me in their prayers, God would provide for me.
So today's post is a thank you to all who prayed for me. God provided a job, a dream job, and the passion I have for the industry I am in. I began to lose it after I thought nobody seemed to care about my experience, but it was totally re-lit as I went in for the interview for this company.
As I prayed for God to be with me as I figured things out, as I searched for a place to work, I now praise Him for the fresh perspective he has given me through this whole process. Prayer works. Depending on Him is a test, but when you give it ALL to God, knowing He will lead the way, you see God's power and vision for your life. Below is a verse from James that I read recently and based this post on. Sometimes we pray for things, and when we get an answer, we give thanks but we don't praise Him and continue to give Him our attention. My prayer is that I will always look to Him for direction, whether I'm going through the good, the bad, or the ugly.
James 5:13
13 Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Greatest Trade in History
If you enjoy baseball, you know that the Trade Deadline is this week. That's where the idea of this post came from. Have you ever traded anything before? I have. Some are great trades, some are not so great of a trade.
I remember when the Rangers have made horrific trades in the past. It's almost comical. I think they'd receive Worst Management of the Year if there was that award a few years back. They traded talent for up-and-coming talent that never materialized. I wasn't a fan.
A few years back, I traded in my Chevrolet S-10 pickup for a sportier Pontiac coupe. I was pretty excited, mainly because the truck was pretty beat up and didn't have A/C (although it was only 3 years old). What I hate about it is that I still have to pay for it. It's just part of the deal, part of life.
Have we ever been able to trade something of ours and get something that's so much better without "owing" anything? I remember when we traded Alex Rodriguez and we actually had to pay part of Rodriguez' salary for the next few years! Who does that???
What's the purpose of a trade? It's basically when a team says "These players of mine are great right now, but you've got something that's better for me in the future." It happens every year.
The video below talks about the greatest trade in the history of man. We are able to trade our lives, as worthless and selfish as we are, for an eternal life with the creator of the universe, the very one who enables us to live every day. We can put all of our sins, all of our ways, on the cross and give God our life, knowing that His way is so much better than ours.
Most trades are like this: Accept this awesome product and I'll take your awesome product. The trade with God is like this: We put all of our ways at the cross, accepting Christ as our Savior, and we become a new creation. We don't work really hard at being something so that we can get to God, no, we get to God by understanding that Christ is better than us, that we are a new creation in Him. We don't wait until we're "in our prime", no, we come as a worthless sinner who wants Christ to show us the Way. And unlike trading for a car, the only thing we can repay Him with is by worshipping Him. We cannot buy our way into it, we can only thank God for the gift of life, for the forgiveness of our ways through Christ. We worship him through every aspect of our lives by submitting to him in everything we do.
It truly is the greatest trade in history.
I remember when the Rangers have made horrific trades in the past. It's almost comical. I think they'd receive Worst Management of the Year if there was that award a few years back. They traded talent for up-and-coming talent that never materialized. I wasn't a fan.
A few years back, I traded in my Chevrolet S-10 pickup for a sportier Pontiac coupe. I was pretty excited, mainly because the truck was pretty beat up and didn't have A/C (although it was only 3 years old). What I hate about it is that I still have to pay for it. It's just part of the deal, part of life.
Have we ever been able to trade something of ours and get something that's so much better without "owing" anything? I remember when we traded Alex Rodriguez and we actually had to pay part of Rodriguez' salary for the next few years! Who does that???
What's the purpose of a trade? It's basically when a team says "These players of mine are great right now, but you've got something that's better for me in the future." It happens every year.
The video below talks about the greatest trade in the history of man. We are able to trade our lives, as worthless and selfish as we are, for an eternal life with the creator of the universe, the very one who enables us to live every day. We can put all of our sins, all of our ways, on the cross and give God our life, knowing that His way is so much better than ours.
Untitled from The Village Student Ministry on Vimeo.
Most trades are like this: Accept this awesome product and I'll take your awesome product. The trade with God is like this: We put all of our ways at the cross, accepting Christ as our Savior, and we become a new creation. We don't work really hard at being something so that we can get to God, no, we get to God by understanding that Christ is better than us, that we are a new creation in Him. We don't wait until we're "in our prime", no, we come as a worthless sinner who wants Christ to show us the Way. And unlike trading for a car, the only thing we can repay Him with is by worshipping Him. We cannot buy our way into it, we can only thank God for the gift of life, for the forgiveness of our ways through Christ. We worship him through every aspect of our lives by submitting to him in everything we do.
It truly is the greatest trade in history.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Generations
In today's generation, more and more parents are relying on the church as their kids' source of information on how to have a relationship and mature in Christ.
I'd contend I didn't grow up in that but did watch alot of friends grow up in that. Sure, I was at church twice a week hanging out with close friends and the youth pastors. But there was another part of me that was being led by my dad. The Bible clearly gives dads a responsibility to lead the family in the ways of Christ. That's exactly what he did for me. I saw him in alot of areas of life, how he acted, and I tried to model my attitudes like his and still think about those things today.
If my dad would have counted on my church for everything, to raise me and mature me in Christ, I would've had a pretty screwed up life. We went to a "megachurch" as they are called, and I was having a good time, though it was rough trying to get to know alot of people, mostly because I was shy. Then we went to a smaller church. I got to know the first youth pastor really well, but then he was fired. I questioned it, I had no idea why a church would make a pastor lie to his youth students just so the church looked good. Of course once he left, the whole program left and we had a new youth pastor a short time later. Again the church hated different things he did, so he left to become pastor at another church. The break in me happened when I saw two more things. One "business meeting" during church (Oh how we youths loved those), I heard the elders basically call youth worthless. There was a budget of "$0" for the youth department. Then, to top it off, a few months later I found out the pastor had an affair with the church's secretary. It really screwed me up for a bit. Of course, I haven't stepped foot in that church since then and probably won't unless God changes my heart.
The point of all of that is that, had my dad depended on the church to be my sole source of Godly information and the only source of learning to live a life in Christ, I'd have walked away after that (like many of my friends did). But because he guided me through different things without the help of the church, I have seen God's work in my life in so many ways.
If this generation continues to rely solely on the church for things, we will continue to see a decrease in the population of the Sunday crowd. We can build buildings, have great youth programs, have a Starbuck's, heck even a golf course, but if we don't have fathers willing to lead their families in their daily lives, very little will change. Sure, the church youth group may be more relevant when it comes to worship music and messages. But Christ's example can be followed by anyone, including a 99 year old grandfather. Christ's example is Christ's example, it is not dependant on the culture we live in.
In the end, God will not hold churches like The Village solely accountable for not ensuring the maturing of its people in Him. No, he will hold the Christian dads accountable. It is my hope that I'll remember how I was raised and not how the culture views raising Christian children and be a dad focused on raising my kids in Him whether or not my kids love their leaders or not.
Kids are a gift from Him. It is a ministry that every parent can take on, and it's my hope that my ministry (whenever that begins!) will be one that glorifies God.
I'd contend I didn't grow up in that but did watch alot of friends grow up in that. Sure, I was at church twice a week hanging out with close friends and the youth pastors. But there was another part of me that was being led by my dad. The Bible clearly gives dads a responsibility to lead the family in the ways of Christ. That's exactly what he did for me. I saw him in alot of areas of life, how he acted, and I tried to model my attitudes like his and still think about those things today.
If my dad would have counted on my church for everything, to raise me and mature me in Christ, I would've had a pretty screwed up life. We went to a "megachurch" as they are called, and I was having a good time, though it was rough trying to get to know alot of people, mostly because I was shy. Then we went to a smaller church. I got to know the first youth pastor really well, but then he was fired. I questioned it, I had no idea why a church would make a pastor lie to his youth students just so the church looked good. Of course once he left, the whole program left and we had a new youth pastor a short time later. Again the church hated different things he did, so he left to become pastor at another church. The break in me happened when I saw two more things. One "business meeting" during church (Oh how we youths loved those), I heard the elders basically call youth worthless. There was a budget of "$0" for the youth department. Then, to top it off, a few months later I found out the pastor had an affair with the church's secretary. It really screwed me up for a bit. Of course, I haven't stepped foot in that church since then and probably won't unless God changes my heart.
The point of all of that is that, had my dad depended on the church to be my sole source of Godly information and the only source of learning to live a life in Christ, I'd have walked away after that (like many of my friends did). But because he guided me through different things without the help of the church, I have seen God's work in my life in so many ways.
If this generation continues to rely solely on the church for things, we will continue to see a decrease in the population of the Sunday crowd. We can build buildings, have great youth programs, have a Starbuck's, heck even a golf course, but if we don't have fathers willing to lead their families in their daily lives, very little will change. Sure, the church youth group may be more relevant when it comes to worship music and messages. But Christ's example can be followed by anyone, including a 99 year old grandfather. Christ's example is Christ's example, it is not dependant on the culture we live in.
In the end, God will not hold churches like The Village solely accountable for not ensuring the maturing of its people in Him. No, he will hold the Christian dads accountable. It is my hope that I'll remember how I was raised and not how the culture views raising Christian children and be a dad focused on raising my kids in Him whether or not my kids love their leaders or not.
Kids are a gift from Him. It is a ministry that every parent can take on, and it's my hope that my ministry (whenever that begins!) will be one that glorifies God.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Brand Messaging
Put those two words together and you've got my attention. I love it. It's what I've done for the last three years.
As I sit here and wait for my next opportunity to write that awesome marketing plan, I began to take in all that I just finished at my last employer. My responsibility was to create the annual marketing communications plan and implement it through every avenue possible. It was working so well. We'd changed our name, re-branded ourselves from a government program into an independent agency that has numerous programs. The public began to notice and began to invest.
Then, beginning in the fall of last year, a change happened. Prior to that point, our focus was to concentrate on private funding and grant opportunities, thus the re-branding process. Suddenly, the agency had two different efforts. The other effort was to "advocate" and try to change our government, mostly in an attempt to get government funding again. I didn't understand it, but that was the chosen route. We tried it for several months and it crashed and burned. A huge decrease in funds across the board, a huge mess in brand messaging and things began rewind to the days of just a government-run program. My assumption for all of this is that private investors want their money to go to something that the government isn't in control of. They're already being taxed for government programs, so if we began to look like one, the money from them vanished. I never spoke up about it (at least not as loudly as I should have), and it led to me getting laid off due to a lack of funds.
As I sit here and ponder how it went wrong so quickly, I think about my walk with God. Before we ever confess a belief in Him, we can do everything we want to, because we aren't aware or don't have the love of God in us. Then we become believers in Him, and for a time our lives change dramatically (I often think about the church camp kids that are on a "high" for a month). We change life around us, we focus on Him. As the years go by, some things begin to change back sometimes, and we have to address the issue again. Often times, people will get so far away from Him again that they never go back to looking to Him for anything. But as outsiders begin looking into our lives, they may not see a difference between our lives before we accepted Christ and after we accepted Him. If there's no difference, it becomes this weird Sunday hobby that we do that they don't want to be a part of.
It's a huge "brand messaging" problem. If some of Christians are living a life dependent upon God for everything while others are only interested in getting to Heaven but living how they want to right now, is that not as problematic as having a Mr. Pibb and a Dr. Pepper and calling it the same? We first need to look at our relationship with Him and know that it is real, authentic. Once we do that, we need to make him King of us so that we do everything for the glory of Him and not for ourselves. Should we begin to do that, more people may begin to see the love of God through us and understand that, with Christ, life has meaning and purpose.
As I sit here and wait for my next opportunity to write that awesome marketing plan, I began to take in all that I just finished at my last employer. My responsibility was to create the annual marketing communications plan and implement it through every avenue possible. It was working so well. We'd changed our name, re-branded ourselves from a government program into an independent agency that has numerous programs. The public began to notice and began to invest.
Then, beginning in the fall of last year, a change happened. Prior to that point, our focus was to concentrate on private funding and grant opportunities, thus the re-branding process. Suddenly, the agency had two different efforts. The other effort was to "advocate" and try to change our government, mostly in an attempt to get government funding again. I didn't understand it, but that was the chosen route. We tried it for several months and it crashed and burned. A huge decrease in funds across the board, a huge mess in brand messaging and things began rewind to the days of just a government-run program. My assumption for all of this is that private investors want their money to go to something that the government isn't in control of. They're already being taxed for government programs, so if we began to look like one, the money from them vanished. I never spoke up about it (at least not as loudly as I should have), and it led to me getting laid off due to a lack of funds.
As I sit here and ponder how it went wrong so quickly, I think about my walk with God. Before we ever confess a belief in Him, we can do everything we want to, because we aren't aware or don't have the love of God in us. Then we become believers in Him, and for a time our lives change dramatically (I often think about the church camp kids that are on a "high" for a month). We change life around us, we focus on Him. As the years go by, some things begin to change back sometimes, and we have to address the issue again. Often times, people will get so far away from Him again that they never go back to looking to Him for anything. But as outsiders begin looking into our lives, they may not see a difference between our lives before we accepted Christ and after we accepted Him. If there's no difference, it becomes this weird Sunday hobby that we do that they don't want to be a part of.
It's a huge "brand messaging" problem. If some of Christians are living a life dependent upon God for everything while others are only interested in getting to Heaven but living how they want to right now, is that not as problematic as having a Mr. Pibb and a Dr. Pepper and calling it the same? We first need to look at our relationship with Him and know that it is real, authentic. Once we do that, we need to make him King of us so that we do everything for the glory of Him and not for ourselves. Should we begin to do that, more people may begin to see the love of God through us and understand that, with Christ, life has meaning and purpose.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Bible Belt
Below is a clip from a message at The Village. Chandler talks about Bible Belt Christians and the dangers of being one.
http://blissthefamily.wordpress.com/tag/atheists/ (Go down a little and then press the play button)
When I thought about this, I began to think of our culture. We are so wrapped up in ourselves, living how we want to, but we all assume we're going to Heaven after it's said and done. As I watched the Michael Jackson memorial service, I couldn't help but think. A man who was so wrapped up in himself, from money to changing his physical appearance to everything else, I would never assume he was alive in Christ. But everyone acted as though he was in Heaven. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but I was amazed at what the people said about him. "He was a man of humanity", a "good man", who "gave his money to causes he thought worthwhile". Does that make him a Christian? I'd contend the answer is no.
Others of us are "churchgoers". We find a "chill" place we can go to church (I stole this from a girl I heard at church talking about some church that serves coffee), and we go home. If we go to church long enough, we begin to believe we're all set just because we live good and we live in the Bible Belt. We don't let the power of God work in us, we want our own stuff, do it our own way, tell God "You give me eternal life, then shut up and let me live my life how I want". Where's the submission to an awesome God who has a better life planned than we could ever imagine. Christians now want to do marriage however they please, men marry men for example, just because it's "equality". Where's the submission to that? We do the same with how we spend money, how we spend our time, etc.
My hope is that, for me and my family, we will recognize the power that God has in our lives and submit everything to him, doing nothing on our own. It is only then that we can rest assured that we are glorifying His name through our lives. Should we begin to do things on our own, but continue to believe in a "god", then we are dangerously close to being a functional athiest.
If a man has a baseball and a bat, but knows nothing else, is he truly a baseball player? He doesn't know any rules, he doesn't know how to play, he just has a way to play. Is he a true player? All the other baseball players would quickly correct the claim and say he's just a dude with a bat.
If a man says he believes in a God, but doesn't submit any area of his life to Him, is he a true believer, one who will spend eternity with Him? All that is.... just a thought.
http://blissthefamily.wordpress.com/tag/atheists/ (Go down a little and then press the play button)
When I thought about this, I began to think of our culture. We are so wrapped up in ourselves, living how we want to, but we all assume we're going to Heaven after it's said and done. As I watched the Michael Jackson memorial service, I couldn't help but think. A man who was so wrapped up in himself, from money to changing his physical appearance to everything else, I would never assume he was alive in Christ. But everyone acted as though he was in Heaven. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't, but I was amazed at what the people said about him. "He was a man of humanity", a "good man", who "gave his money to causes he thought worthwhile". Does that make him a Christian? I'd contend the answer is no.
Others of us are "churchgoers". We find a "chill" place we can go to church (I stole this from a girl I heard at church talking about some church that serves coffee), and we go home. If we go to church long enough, we begin to believe we're all set just because we live good and we live in the Bible Belt. We don't let the power of God work in us, we want our own stuff, do it our own way, tell God "You give me eternal life, then shut up and let me live my life how I want". Where's the submission to an awesome God who has a better life planned than we could ever imagine. Christians now want to do marriage however they please, men marry men for example, just because it's "equality". Where's the submission to that? We do the same with how we spend money, how we spend our time, etc.
My hope is that, for me and my family, we will recognize the power that God has in our lives and submit everything to him, doing nothing on our own. It is only then that we can rest assured that we are glorifying His name through our lives. Should we begin to do things on our own, but continue to believe in a "god", then we are dangerously close to being a functional athiest.
If a man has a baseball and a bat, but knows nothing else, is he truly a baseball player? He doesn't know any rules, he doesn't know how to play, he just has a way to play. Is he a true player? All the other baseball players would quickly correct the claim and say he's just a dude with a bat.
If a man says he believes in a God, but doesn't submit any area of his life to Him, is he a true believer, one who will spend eternity with Him? All that is.... just a thought.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
1 in 6 Americans actively looking for a job
I heard this the other day. It's pretty astonishing to think of that number while hitting the submit button all day, knowing I'm probably 1 of 100 applicants each day for that position.
It made me think. When I was young, I didn't use the word "Father" for God. I always used God, Lord and so forth. But now that I've grown and matured a bit in my walk, I have come to understand what it means to call him "Father". I always understood the Trinity, it was just a mindset I had I guess.
My dad has always provided everything I need. I was a pretty rotten kid, but he worked his tail off to make sure I was taken care of. Whether it was making sure we had food, entertainment for me or anything else, I fully trusted that my life would be taken care of here on earth. He would always answer questions I had. Sometimes I hated those answers, sometimes I still hate his answers, but I can trust that they are true.
But now I can't rely as much on my dad. He can't force that hiring manager to consider me. He can guide me through it, but he can't full out provide me a job that will enable me to take care of my family. Knowing this, I have to rely on my Father who will provide me that job. I need Him to have my full trust, my full attention.
My Father gave me eternall life by sending His Son to die for me, my worthless self. It's time for me to call out to Him for everything, be it a job or answers to other prayers. I need to ask my Father to show me the way and be assured he will show me.
Life is not easy. But if it is in Christ... it is so worth it.
It made me think. When I was young, I didn't use the word "Father" for God. I always used God, Lord and so forth. But now that I've grown and matured a bit in my walk, I have come to understand what it means to call him "Father". I always understood the Trinity, it was just a mindset I had I guess.
My dad has always provided everything I need. I was a pretty rotten kid, but he worked his tail off to make sure I was taken care of. Whether it was making sure we had food, entertainment for me or anything else, I fully trusted that my life would be taken care of here on earth. He would always answer questions I had. Sometimes I hated those answers, sometimes I still hate his answers, but I can trust that they are true.
But now I can't rely as much on my dad. He can't force that hiring manager to consider me. He can guide me through it, but he can't full out provide me a job that will enable me to take care of my family. Knowing this, I have to rely on my Father who will provide me that job. I need Him to have my full trust, my full attention.
My Father gave me eternall life by sending His Son to die for me, my worthless self. It's time for me to call out to Him for everything, be it a job or answers to other prayers. I need to ask my Father to show me the way and be assured he will show me.
Life is not easy. But if it is in Christ... it is so worth it.
Monday, July 6, 2009
What is your legacy?
How will we be remembered? That's a haunting question. I don't like to face tough questions, but I can't get rid of this one. Think back to your great great great grandfather. Do you remember his name? What was his favorite hobby? What was the one lesson in life he passed down to you... or did he pass one down at all?
It's amazing to me that we are so wrapped up in ourselves and making ourselves think we're so important. I often get so wrapped up in thinking that I'll be remembered for something I did. While I think that, I don't know one simple fact about my great great great grandfather. I don't even know what city he called home. The fact that I most likely will not be remembered in 70 years creeps me out.
So what's the point of all of this? I've taken a look at where my efforts are going everyday. I may not be known seventy years from now, but if I can make an impact in raising my family to know the love and message of Christ, I've done something that He'll remember. I suspect that's something that my great great great grandfather might have done, but only God alone knows if it's true.
I can spend my life building a business empire like Donald Trump, watching sports until I vomit, obtaining new things but, in the end, they won't matter and there's not a chance I'll be remembered.
I think about Michael Jackson. He died a week or so ago. We're so enthralled by his life right now, but he'll be vaguely remembered in 100 years and he's supposedly an American Icon. We may remember his music or little facts like that, but what was Jackson all about? What did he live for?
Tell the message of Christ to someone and help them mature in Him, then God alone will reward you and maybe your impact will be greater. I don't want my kids thinking life is about trinkets, fun sports and all about the money. If I can teach them that Christ came to give us life, then maybe they'll see a fuller life and pass that down to their kids. I'm sure I'll stumble alot but I want my "legacy" to relate to the power of Christ and what He has done for me rather than what I did for myself.
It's amazing to me that we are so wrapped up in ourselves and making ourselves think we're so important. I often get so wrapped up in thinking that I'll be remembered for something I did. While I think that, I don't know one simple fact about my great great great grandfather. I don't even know what city he called home. The fact that I most likely will not be remembered in 70 years creeps me out.
So what's the point of all of this? I've taken a look at where my efforts are going everyday. I may not be known seventy years from now, but if I can make an impact in raising my family to know the love and message of Christ, I've done something that He'll remember. I suspect that's something that my great great great grandfather might have done, but only God alone knows if it's true.
I can spend my life building a business empire like Donald Trump, watching sports until I vomit, obtaining new things but, in the end, they won't matter and there's not a chance I'll be remembered.
I think about Michael Jackson. He died a week or so ago. We're so enthralled by his life right now, but he'll be vaguely remembered in 100 years and he's supposedly an American Icon. We may remember his music or little facts like that, but what was Jackson all about? What did he live for?
Tell the message of Christ to someone and help them mature in Him, then God alone will reward you and maybe your impact will be greater. I don't want my kids thinking life is about trinkets, fun sports and all about the money. If I can teach them that Christ came to give us life, then maybe they'll see a fuller life and pass that down to their kids. I'm sure I'll stumble alot but I want my "legacy" to relate to the power of Christ and what He has done for me rather than what I did for myself.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Where is our hope?
I have been boggled by that question lately. What am I hoping for? Where am I looking for hope?
As I watch so many Americans lately, it is amazing that we think one man can change the whole world, give us all hope. How many signs have you seen about "there is hope". It's as if hope didn't exist prior to the 2008 election.
When I lost my job, this thought arose. I have been putting too much hope in the economy and secondary things. I put my hope in a boss who I could trust. I put my hope in my salary to pay for the new house.
This week, I began to think of the worst thoughts. How will I provide the money for bills in a few months when savings disappear? How can I ever trust someone so seemingly trustworthy? A thousand questions came.
Then I heard this song we sing at The Village. It just reminded me that my hope needs to always be in God. Why would I put my hope in someone who is a sinner like me? Why would I even think that hope can be found in anything but Him? I always have to be reminded that life is not about houses, jobs and other secondary things. It's about living for Him. My hope is that I will continue to put my hope in my Savior, the one who provided me life for eternity and a purpose-filled life on earth.
When we put our hope in man, we set ourselves up for failure. Man looks out for himself. Man does what man thinks is best. Man does what is in his best interest. How much more is it worth it to put our hope in the God who created everything? When we put our hope in a man, things go sour and we blame man and panic. When we give ourselves to Him and things don't work out, we know there's a purpose for all of it.
Instead of putting my hope in the day that I will finally find a job, I need to put my hope in God that he will provide and give me direction to find the job he's already designed for me.
As I watch so many Americans lately, it is amazing that we think one man can change the whole world, give us all hope. How many signs have you seen about "there is hope". It's as if hope didn't exist prior to the 2008 election.
When I lost my job, this thought arose. I have been putting too much hope in the economy and secondary things. I put my hope in a boss who I could trust. I put my hope in my salary to pay for the new house.
This week, I began to think of the worst thoughts. How will I provide the money for bills in a few months when savings disappear? How can I ever trust someone so seemingly trustworthy? A thousand questions came.
Then I heard this song we sing at The Village. It just reminded me that my hope needs to always be in God. Why would I put my hope in someone who is a sinner like me? Why would I even think that hope can be found in anything but Him? I always have to be reminded that life is not about houses, jobs and other secondary things. It's about living for Him. My hope is that I will continue to put my hope in my Savior, the one who provided me life for eternity and a purpose-filled life on earth.
When we put our hope in man, we set ourselves up for failure. Man looks out for himself. Man does what man thinks is best. Man does what is in his best interest. How much more is it worth it to put our hope in the God who created everything? When we put our hope in a man, things go sour and we blame man and panic. When we give ourselves to Him and things don't work out, we know there's a purpose for all of it.
Instead of putting my hope in the day that I will finally find a job, I need to put my hope in God that he will provide and give me direction to find the job he's already designed for me.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What you do for a living
My first post is about what "power" we have in determining what we do for a living. In so many areas of life, I have found I am powerfully powerless, and none has been more evident than this area. About six months ago, my wife and I began debating when I should begin to look for a new job.
The bigger question was: What exactly do I want to do now that I have two years of experience outside of college under my belt? I could work for a marketing agency, start something on my own, work directly for a company doing marketing, go back into the golf business or do something completely different. I threw around a hundred ideas before coming to the conclusion that I should stay at the nonprofit I was at. Many clues came that I should find something, but I waited, waited and waited. Hah, that ended up failing a few days ago. I do that alot.
As I sit here and apply for job after job after job, talking to close friends and family, I began to question what kind of power I have to get a "dream job". Is there one? Could it be that I'll never really find joy completely in my career? I wasn't always happy where I was at, but I enjoyed the people, the experience and the money and time it gave me to spend with my wife.
If we have power in deciding our next career path, why am I stuck here? Why would it be that my brother-in-law was convinced that his path was to teach, only to be searching for a teaching job for well over a year now? Why would so many college friends get specific degrees but go down a totally different career path? Why? Theories also say that "if you work hard, give it your best, you'll be fine", "You can only depend on yourself, cover your....".
Those theories are totally false. I did all of those, yet I am here searching full-time for a job. My theory is that we are perfectly powerless in our career. Sure, try as hard as you can, do everything you are told, be the best you can be, but if it's not supposed to be, it won't.
Truth is: We exist not for ourselves, but for God. We are called to worship Him in every area of our life, including our career. If you work so hard that you have an ego, think again. A man with an ego has a tougher time worshipping the one who gave him that job, those skills.
I can only hope that my job search worships Him. It's probably the single biggest test of faith I've faced. Buy a house, get laid off a few months later. It was never MY plan, but I know it is HIS. Instead of relying on myself to find my next opportunity, I pray that God will provide and give me clarity in knowing what that opportunity is.
I can be bitter, angry, upset, whatever. But there's really no point. God has me in this place for a reason, so I'd effectively be bitter toward Him.
The bigger question was: What exactly do I want to do now that I have two years of experience outside of college under my belt? I could work for a marketing agency, start something on my own, work directly for a company doing marketing, go back into the golf business or do something completely different. I threw around a hundred ideas before coming to the conclusion that I should stay at the nonprofit I was at. Many clues came that I should find something, but I waited, waited and waited. Hah, that ended up failing a few days ago. I do that alot.
As I sit here and apply for job after job after job, talking to close friends and family, I began to question what kind of power I have to get a "dream job". Is there one? Could it be that I'll never really find joy completely in my career? I wasn't always happy where I was at, but I enjoyed the people, the experience and the money and time it gave me to spend with my wife.
If we have power in deciding our next career path, why am I stuck here? Why would it be that my brother-in-law was convinced that his path was to teach, only to be searching for a teaching job for well over a year now? Why would so many college friends get specific degrees but go down a totally different career path? Why? Theories also say that "if you work hard, give it your best, you'll be fine", "You can only depend on yourself, cover your....".
Those theories are totally false. I did all of those, yet I am here searching full-time for a job. My theory is that we are perfectly powerless in our career. Sure, try as hard as you can, do everything you are told, be the best you can be, but if it's not supposed to be, it won't.
Truth is: We exist not for ourselves, but for God. We are called to worship Him in every area of our life, including our career. If you work so hard that you have an ego, think again. A man with an ego has a tougher time worshipping the one who gave him that job, those skills.
I can only hope that my job search worships Him. It's probably the single biggest test of faith I've faced. Buy a house, get laid off a few months later. It was never MY plan, but I know it is HIS. Instead of relying on myself to find my next opportunity, I pray that God will provide and give me clarity in knowing what that opportunity is.
I can be bitter, angry, upset, whatever. But there's really no point. God has me in this place for a reason, so I'd effectively be bitter toward Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)