SHOULD I TAKE THE JOB?

Recently my mom was praying for a job. She knew she wouldn't be making the kind of money she used to make at her very stressful job...but with so many recent changes in her life she was ready to find a stress free work environment. She went on several interviews, all the while asking for prayer to receive the perfect job. A job that would put her exactly where the Lord wanted her.

After several interviews, she received an offer today and a promise from many others to be offering her a position within the next few days. Now she found herself in a dilemma asking, "Do I take the job which is significantly lower pay but somewhere I'd enjoy working or hold out for another offer that might be more money?" She was feeling very stressed and overwhelmed, asking the person to please give her a little time to make a decision. The employer however couldn't promise that the position would still be available. My mom knew she needed advice, she needed to spend some time in prayer, she was worried and didn't want to make the wrong decision. She took her chances and said she needed to wait to make her decision. With that, she began asking her older kids for their input, then she went to the One who could give her the absolute perfect advice and wisdom. She spent time in prayer. Waiting for the Lord to guide her in the right direction. She knew that Heavenly Father had a plan and that wherever He guided her she would go in faith and trust. She'd learned over the years that the safest place to be is in the will of God.

After much prayer, she felt strongly that she should accept the position. She called the hiring manager back the same day and asked if they would still be interested in hiring her? He then asked her to hold on a minute. When he came back on he said, "I need to talk to you." She thought, "Oh no!" He said, "I talked to another manager and we want to offer you a dollar more an hour than we originally told you." This offer came even though my mom was calling back willing to take the lower paying offer. She was so incredibly happy! She knew she had been blessed by listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and following where she was supposed to go, trusting in God. God blessed the entire situation...my mom starts orientation tomorrow!


Today, if you find yourself in a dilemma, a position of uncertainty, a state of perpetual confusion or worry, stop what your doing, put aside how things may look from an earthly viewpoint. Take your Scriptures and go to a quiet place to read and pray. Allowing the Holy Spirit to fill you up with wisdom, direction, guidance, security and an all knowing comfort that you are being guided to the perfect place, as you trust in God. Allow the love of Jesus Christ to fill you up, restore you, and lead you into all truth. The Lord is saying to you, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me" Jeremiah 32:27 

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

RISING ABOVE IT!

Recently I’ve struggled to find the joy in my day. Between my sickness, work and the rushing of everyday life, I seemed to have been slipping into a melancholy state, an overwhelmed feeling for no particular reason…just a general feeling of uneasiness. During these times in my life, when nothing seems exactly right, perfect or where I’d like it to be, I know that I need to rise above it. I am more than my feelings or fickle emotions, which seem to fluctuate moment by moment, minute by minute and hour by hour. I’ve somehow let the enemy sneak in and fill me with negative lies and thoughts. “Is anything ever going to change? Am I ever going to reach my dreams and goals? Is my life going to be stuck right where I am, no great accomplishment or achievement? You can’t accomplish anything because you are the worst procrastinator!”

Whoa…wait a minute! All the negative self talk is only serving to drag me down into a state of despair. God has called me and you to more. He wants us to know His truth. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37.  He has a plan that is perfect. He knows emotions can sometimes get in the way of TRUTH. “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36.  His truth about whom and what you are. Truth about what is in store for our lives…if we can only stand strong in HIM. “Does God listen to their cry when distress comes upon them? Will they find delight in the almighty? Will they call on God at all times? “I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal. You have all seen this yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?” Job 27:9-12

Alone, we are weak, given to self-defeating thoughts, feeling sorry for ourselves and depressed. The sooner we learn that we need to draw closer to Christ in those moments, not sitting in the pity party, but taking action. We need to pray to be released of the negativity, praying for God’s truth to fill us up, flooding our emotions and senses with HIS LOVE. Spend time in the Bible, just you and the Lord. Allow your mind, body and soul to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God’s wisdom. He has so much to teach and tell you, so much to share with you about what He has planned for your life. The more we struggle, the more we need to seek Him.

As I slowly reach a shaky, weak, worn out hand to Christ…He takes it, picks me up and wraps me in His arms, aware of all that I’m feeling, going through, and hoping for. I refuse to sit in a place of lies. I refuse to allow the enemy to keep me in mental chains and bondage. Each morning I will open the Scriptures and allow myself the necessary time to FEED MY SOUL. Then I will have God’s word speaking the things of faith, wisdom, trust and truth…lifting me to new heights, new adventures, new hope and most of all a new me in Christ!  

“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” 

Isaiah 48:16-17

A WHALE OF A TRUE STORY!

"What's that?" I shouted pointing out at the ocean!

Let me back up and preface what I stumbled upon before I get into my incredible story...

I'd had a rough week, nothing seemed to go right and I was looking forward to the Labor Day holiday. My hubby and I headed to Balboa, stopped and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed to find a spot on a less crowded beach. I needed some serious relax and unwind time. I needed to get my thoughts and emotions under control. 

We found a spot all by ourselves and sat down to enjoy the waves crashing in front of us. The next thing I know, we were surrounded in a semi-circle by seagulls...both sides and behind us, leaving only the ocean view in front of us open. It seemed very odd because we had no food with us at all. I looked up and down the beach and they were only around us. I know that this would probably irritate most people but I've had so many amazing experiences with birds lately that it only serves to remind me of the scripture in Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Young kids would periodically run up to chase the birds and they'd fly away only to return moments later. They sat quietly, not disturbing us at all just standing around us. My hubby also found this incredibly odd. I proceeded to tell him, "Maybe it's just God's way of reminding us that He's got us in the palm of His hand and we have nothing to worry about. He's taking care of these birds...how much more are we worth to Him?" We continued to sit silently as the waves billowed up, forming a turquoise tube before crumbling onto the shore. 

Now back to where I started this story...all of a sudden I see something dark and long pop up out of the water right next to the shore. "Did you see that? It was really big with barnacles!" I shouted in excitement.

It raised up again and we could tell it was a baby calf (Grey whale). It was so close to us that when the wave closest to the shore formed we could see his entire outline. 

I was so amazed, I jumped up and started following it down the shoreline, capturing pictures and video on my phone. A large crowd had now also noticed, along with a lady who had been called down from the Marine Safety Department who was also walking along following it. She said she had never seen a whale so close to shore. She had been following it for miles as it continued to head south up the shoreline. I followed the whale for a while continually snapping pictures before I realized I was pretty far away and reluctantly turned back. 

Then something incredible happened. I had walked about 50 feet back when all of a sudden I noticed the baby whale who had been traveling south for several miles had turned around with me. I looked out at the ocean to see it's head pop up and there we were, just the two of us alone staring at each other.

He ducked under as his small spout shot water up into the air before resurfacing to look at me again. 

(I later did research and found out it is called whale spying, they actually poke their head out to look at their surroundings.) 

I was in awe. I was speechless. It was a moment...an unforgettable, special experience where I couldn't help but stand there and thank God for His incredible creation. I thanked Him for His hand in my life and for this time of awesome wonder...me and the whale. I found myself fighting back tears. It was a feeling of knowing. God...yes...God had His hand on me, the whale, the birds, the sea and the entire situation. 

The whale then swam off and went back out into the ocean past the pier

There is nothing too big, too difficult, too impossible, too outrageous for God to accomplish. He brought a whale to the shore for heaven's sake. The Lord is always right there with each one of us. 

Today, if you are struggling with a burden, a weight, a sorrow, a loss, an addiction, a lack of faith or trust in anyone or anything...please stop and pray right now. Ask the Lord to come into your life, situation, heart and mind. Ask Him to show you the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness, healing and a renewed mind and heart. He is waiting to step into your situation and your life "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19