“Give me a call. We have to talk about a lot of things…”
That was the call I intentionally did not pick up after asking why I never got a memo regarding these people wanting to stop my career as a Correctional Nurse. She said I seemed to have a lot of questions. That wasn’t true. I only had one from the start. And their answer was obvious right from the start. I lost my trust judging from their actions which were totally in contrast to their words spoken.
But I had no intention to give up. I had no intention to just wait and not do anything.
They said I lied. It was very clear I didn’t.
They were forcing me to work more than I could handle.
They made me feel I was incompetent.
But I don’t believe them.
God Who accepted me from the start told me otherwise…
“You can do all things through Me Who gives you the strength.”
“Don’t be afraid or terrified because of them, for I go with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me.”
“Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.”
And there are so many more wonderful and true promises that I know but don’t have enough space here. They can try to hurt me but they will not make me paralyzed in fear because I won’t face them with my own strength. I gave it to His hands as soon as this battle started. I have limitations. They know that but they don’t know that my limitations do not make me incapable of accomplishing things for His glory. He started this work in me. For where I am not capable, He sustains me. After all, He is God Who is able!!! He turns my ordinary abilities to extra-ordinary. He uses my limitations to make others know that it is His power that strengthens me. Through trials that break me and expose more of my limitations, it would be more foolish to run away from Him. People who have power at work who thinks that I am at my lowest point have no clue that it is in these moments when God lifts hearts that are broken at His feet.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT)
Friends, while you're here, would you please pray for me regarding my trial at work? The Lord knows what's going to happen. Please pray that all the lies be exposed to His light and whatever He wants me to do for Him at this time, I will not miss. Thank you for all of your encouragement and prayers. God bless you all.
Rosel,
ReplyDeleteGood morning to you, on the first day of a new week. I see your request for prayer, and I want to assure you that many who do not post a comment are among those who simply pray for you,....not TALK about praying for you. It is always being done, and at the oddest times as you are brought to mind. The Lord is with you.
A friend of mine has run two blogs for years and they simply disappeared. I was alarmed and wrote her an email. She had a high profile job, and her NEW employer prohibited blogging, so she took both of her blogs down. No one even knows yet.
You do not face that, but you face discernment on what you can say, and what you would like to say. So far, you straddle that fence well.
I have had trouble discerning if you are being snared in a local dispute, or if the state-wide tsunami of job destruction, in the public sector, underway in California, is sweeping you out to sea with it. It is hard to grasp from here.
Early in my years as a single dad, I was awakened with daylight so bright, I was sure we were all late for our day. The outside was totally bright, so I looked at my alarm and it was 2 a.m.
Baffled, I stepped outside to see very clearly, that the moon was so bright, it looked precisely like the sun. Only a gust of clouds passing by, gave hint this was a moon.
I ran inside and woke up both girls to see this amazing sight, and they came down and we all went out. They sat on top of the car, while I took pictures galore. It was an unforgettable evening to see mid-day, at middle of the night.
Years went by. One day, my older daughter asked if we could look at music at Media Play, an outlet we never went to, as she preferred another.
I told her it would be fine and we went.
To my surprise, they had a babysitting area, staffed for kids to play, so as one daughter went to look at music, I plopped my baby into the day care area, assured she was safe until I returned.
I headed for the cheap books section, just to look.
I perused the titles in several aisles, and then turned to a new one. I stopped dead in my tracks mesmerized. There was a book staring at me, called the "Promise of Prayer". On the cover was my attraction; it looked like the sun at mid-day, with a peculiar shaped cloud over it....like when the Challenger shuttle exploded and contrails came out of the mass of cloud.
I TOOK that picture years before, when I was woken up in the middle of the night to see a bright moon.
It was the same shape cloud, the same whites and blues, and the hair on my arm stood up that I was in a store we never visit, looking at a picture I took years before, on a cover of a book about prayer.
I opened the book at random and began to read a story, of a woman whose husband lost his job. He worked in a high position at a major firm and they laid him off.
The article was published in Guideposts, and was titled "Me? Lead a Prayer Group?". The woman wrote of their economic despair, and no coat for their daughter, Heidi, as dad was doing work for a cable tv firm at low pay...just to have work of any kind.
My bafflement continued, for this woman, man, and child, all lived in my town per the story.
I grabbed the phone book and looked up her name. It was not there, but then, I remembered her husband's name and he WAS there. Back then, I could hear, so I called the number and asked to speak to "Claire".
"This is Claire. Can I help you?", she queried.
I had not thought out what to say, as it was all spontaneous....so I asked her about her prayer group, and if it helped Mike (her hubby) get a job?
"Oh he's working and he's happy, but I wrote that article for Guideposts long ago.
I told her they had piled a bunch of articles together and published all in a book, and I bought the book. My problem was that I was majorly and unfairly let go of a job. And since she lived across town about 5 miles from me, could I join their prayer group, as I needed a job?
Claire answered:
"You will have to lead your own prayer group."
ReplyDelete"You don't understand. We found out about the prayer group from friends in Ohio. We prayed with 12 people and all people prayed for the others, not themselves, to get a job,.... from God. Everyone in the group has a job, and the prayer group was no longer needed, so you need to start your own group.
It worked for all of us!", she added.
My heart fell at new rejection.
"Well, did Heidi ever get her coat?", I asked (since our winters are brutal).
"Yes she did!".
Years later, I saw Heidi's wedding announcement in the paper, though we never met.
Years later, I saw Heidi gave birth, and it was in the paper, though we never met.
And the paper has never put an Obituary for any of the three, and we have never met.
This is so wierd..... my computer crashed last week and Microsoft worked on it from afar for 20 hours. "Send it back to Sony" was their statement.
Sony is under earthquake and water and producing nothing. The last thing Sony needs from the USA is my laptop, though being deaf now, it is a critical part of my life.
Saturday, I went out shopping to see new computers, laptops, printers, etc. I had intended to go to a particular place, and got lost. I have not lived here in years, but moved back to take care of my mom, who was then visiting a sister out west. She was to come home for her birthday, and arrive the day before. She made her birthday, but had a stroke out there and was hospitalized. She died on her 87th birthday, and I was now in a town with no reason to be here. (I had planned on caring for her, and bought a house).
Because I lived and worked in four different states, since my girls were raised, I get confused in my hometown, as it changed so much in the interim. I went to the wrong store, and they were a far better spot to buy, than where I was originally headed.
While looking at various models and prices, a man stepped forward and began to speak to me. I remember his eyes, but he never had a beard and mustache, which BOTH make lip reading by me difficult at best. But we DID communicate!
He said his name, and I asked if his wife was "Debbie".
"Yes!", he smiled in reply.
And everything came back to me as clear as if it just happened.
Claire told me to start my own prayer group, since everyone in their group was well employed now.
I did!
"Debbie" and her husband.....this man before my eyes on Saturday, were two of the twelve in the prayer group I prayed in, for all of us to get jobs....back in the 1990's! I haven't seen them since, as my jobs took me to PA, FL, OR, and Washington. The odds of us meeting were about as good as me seeing a book, with a cover picture on it, that froze me in my steps, as a picture I took a decade BEFORE that, was now in front of me. And opening it at random, led me to an author who lived 5 miles away, and prayed their way to work together.
Lead a prayer group of about a dozen, Rosel.
ReplyDeletePray for the others, and they pray for you. The original group in Ohio had 12; we did too long after. Use that as your starting point.
Seeing "Chris" on Saturday.....happily working.....made me think of that long ago episode with my daughters in the middle of the night, the finding of the book, the talking to the author, and the prayer group that got us all jobs.
Saturday was the first I have seen one of the 12.
I still have the book, and MY picture is inside of it, on the precise page I opened the book to originally. I often ask folks to look at the picture and tell me if it is the sun or moon.
ALL say it is the sun.
I laugh and tell them the entire story, and end by showing them the cover of the book....with a picture of the SUN and my same clouds wafting by.
Inside, on the page of the story, is the phone number I jotted down to call the author.
And...the original picture of the moon, in identical array, down to the cloud puffs.
"Me? Lead a Prayer Group?"
That was the title of the article in the book I opened up to. Consider that.
Meanwhile, a group now prays for you as originally requested, but we don't often talk about it, we just pray. I will see "Chris" today for the second time since mid 1990's. I told him to tell "debbie" Hello from me.
God planned and did all of the above over three decades, beginning with me being awakened in the middle of the night with a moon so bright, I thought I overslept, and unless I showed my girls, no one would believe me.
Everyone believes....especially since my picture was taken of a moon, and is identical to the book cover of the sun.....years later.
To randomly open the book to a story penned by a woman literally in walking distance from me, yet put out by a major publisher, leaves me in awe.
I have so much to tell you that we must spend a slice of eternity in heaven gabbing on it all.
See you there!
A season of stretching, for sure! Oh, if only we could see around corners.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but think about what the Lord has planned here. Behind the scenes He's working something out for you, or in you. You know it's a marvelous thing, so I can only hope it's revealing with be soon.
Praying you have wisdom & peace today,
Kathleen
Dear Rosel, if you only knew how I identify with you in your spiritual warfare. And that is what this is. We know who we are in Christ and the enemy is threatened. I pray for you daily and will continue. The promises you list are the ones I stand on for myself, too. So I know the pain of waiting for victory, but it is on its way to you and me! We can't walk this journey alone and be reminded that you have an army of warriors standing with you!
ReplyDeleteRosel,
ReplyDeleteI speak peace and confidence to you, the same kind that David had when he faced Goliath.
No matter what the externals seems to be, He will keep anyone in perfect peace whose heart is stayed on Him.
Praying that God will put His hedge of protection around you in this season of intense warfare that you are in.
Love
Lidj
@ Keystone: Another beautiful, true life story you shared here that I always treasure because every time, it is a source of encouragement for me...Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know deep inside that many of my blogging bros/sisters are praying for me because my back had never felt stronger than now. But all the glory to the One Who answers/hears our petitions!
In His perfect time, if He wants me to write about this trial, I will...One thing is for sure, it's not about me being laid-off because of the economy. It's about those people in power who are hungry to squash those people under them that they perceive as weak. But I know one truth because it's the Lord Who said it:
" 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent." - Psalm 91:9-13
God bless and keeping you all in my prayers...
@ Sassy Granny: Yes, I agree, there is some "pulling" but I'm always grateful that at the other end, I know Who's got the better hold of me.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you sister and thank you also for your encouragement and prayers. Always.
@ Sister Mary: Knowing how you went also through many battles as I had prayed with you in the past and currently, I don't take your comments lightly because you are comforting me at this time. I treasure all those (cyber)cups of coffee and the pies we share...But most of all, I truly love the bond we have in the Lord! Blessings and love.
ReplyDelete@ Sister Lidj: Distance doesn't really matter despite us, being oceans apart. It is His unity that fills that gap. How I treasure your prayers, encouragement and all your Spirit-anointed posts that help me remain standing up in this journey.
ReplyDeleteI know and I believe that our prayers are truly moving the Mountain...not the mountain of trials, but the Mountain Whose ways and thoughts are higher than ours! Because of Him, I'm not afraid. Because of Him, I have everything I need. Glory be to God. Love to you sister Lidj...
Wow, seasons come and go. Some more painful than others dear one. May God's peace continually surround you Rosel. Here listening and supporting you. Blessings.
ReplyDelete@ JBR: Thank you for always being there for me. It lifts me up. Everytime. Back at you. God bless.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to work in an environment where not everyone follows Christ. It makes these types of situation all the more difficult. One of my favorite quotes is ... "life is not about waiting for the storm to pass ... but, learning to dance in the rain." Don't let anyone take your smile away ... God Bless your work day.
ReplyDeleteStill praying for you Rosel! There are times when God draws us out of situations before those situations implode and explode, harming all in there path. When I am threatened, I always pray pslams over the situation, about God protecting me and closing the mouths of my enemies. There have been times I have not been vindicated during the season of attack. I have peace leaving that in God's hands, of forgiving and moving beyond the situation. Knowing God knows the truth and that God punishes the unjust - well, it allows me to let go. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. But God heals those wounds.
ReplyDeleteYour story reminded me of an incident that brought a lot of pain. For some reason, I just wanted to share it with you.
Still praying for protection, for vindication, for truth revealed - and for peaceful and restful sleep during this attack! Praying joy and blessings for you this week!