Bear One Another's Burdens...and Fill a Balloon!

"Somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind
took the time and prayed for me.
I'm so glad they prayed, I'm so glad they prayed,
I'm so glad they prayed for me." -- Lyrics by Dorothy Norwood and Alvin Darling

Gotta love those rejection letters in the e-mail inbox.
Do you find yourself cringing when you see an email with HR in the "from" line?
You know the feeling well: It is deflating, seemingly the air is let out of your imaginary balloon. That job that you pictured yourself in. That position that seemed like such a good fit for your skills and talents. And the one where the work schedule seemed to be perfect for your family's busy schedule.
*sigh* Sometimes it's all I can do to open e-mails nowadays.
But we must continue to click on those emails because we need to have HOPE. Who knows? One day you could open an email and there is an invitation to come in for an interview.
But we won't know unless we keep applying, and keep hoping for the right fit.
I like to think that those rejections aren't really rejections at all, but God's way of saying "I have something better on the horizon."
And how do you gather hope? Through belief and prayer, and sometimes, if you're too weary to pray, the prayers of others.
Thank the good Lord for praying friends and family. Recently I've received simple text messages from loved ones saying they are praying for my family. **whoosh!** My balloon just got fat with air! And last weekend, a meeting with 2 friends about a children's event we're planning ended with powerful prayer and lots of tears.
We are called to bear one another's burdens. We don't know what people are going through, from unemployment to health issues to finances to personal challenges...
As the song lyrics above say, "Somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind, took the time to pray for me." Who is the Spirit of the Lord leading you to pray for today? It could make a world of difference. You never know whose balloon you could be filling.


Prayer: Lord, thank You for friends and family who pray for those other than themselves. Thank You for blessing me to benefit from the prayers of others. Help me to get my mind off my issues, troubles and challenges, and to remember to pray for people who are living in worse situations than I am. You said in James 5:16 that the prayers of a righteous man avails much--it feels good to know that my prayers matter! Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In the name of Jesus, amen.

When you need patience in the full-time search...

*sigh* Received 2 rejection emails/letters in one day...and on a Saturday, no less! On top of the perpetual job search, attempting to be creative in cover letters, and networking, I found this past week was particularly challenging due to various life issues. I thank the Lord for keeping my mind, and stoking the fires of hope in me. I found the following excerpt pertaining to work. It is from a devotional book that is encouraging. (Source: "From Faith to Faith: A Daily Guide to Victory," by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland)

"Patience (or being consistently constant) is the power twin of faith. They work together to see to it that the promises of God are fulfilled in your life.

Say, for example, you need a job. You can go to the Word and see clearly that God promises to provide your needs. You can see He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. Once you see that, faith takes hold and you shout, "Hallelujah, I've got the job I need."

But what happens to that faith tomorrow morning when you go to three interviews and get turned down all three times? Then what? That's when patience has to take over! That's when you have to make a decision to stay constant, to act as if nothing's changed.

The truth is, if you based your confidence on the Word of God, nothing has changed. It says exactly the same thing it said yesterday.

So, if you'll put patience to work, you know what you're going to say after those three unsuccessful job interviews? You're going to say, "Hallelujah, I've got the job I need!" just like you did before.

You see, faith opens the door to God's promise for you; and patience keeps it open until that promise is fulfilled.

Do you have your faith sights set on a promise of God today, a promise you've been waiting on for some time? Don't let the delay discourage you. Put patience to work. The Word guarantees you will receive your reward."   (Scripture reading: Hebrews 6:10-15)

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Hebrews 10:35-36

My Money is Looking Funny...

Everyday is a bank acount, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we've got 24 hours each. -- Christopher Rice

 I like to think I’m a person of faith. For years I have received encouragement from faith scriptures, such as “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)  “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7NIV)

Right now, it is imperative that my faith rest in my Lord, on the hope that my finances are subject to change and improve.

Only 3 years ago, I earned a fat salary, held a Christmas club account and purchased what I wanted – within reason – regularly. Now, I would venture to say that my account has not seen such low numbers since my college days more than 20 years ago.

I’d like to clarify that this blog is for the unemployed, but also the underemployed. I work 2 part-time jobs, and continue to search for a full-time gig with benefits.

In this country, we’re taught that furthering our education is the key to a better future. I spent four years working full-time and schlepping in graduate school. It was such an amazing accomplishment to graduate with honors last spring.

Call me naïve, but I really thought once I had this advanced degree, all would be right in my underemployed world: The job offers would come rolling in. I’d bounce back, replenish the dwindling savings, it’s all good.

But alas, it’s January 2013, and let’s assess: My 401(k) is wiped out. We’ve dipped into our sons’ college funds just to meet regular bills. No Christmas club funds.

It might sound bleak, but all is not lost. Yes, this situation is out of my comfort level. But my hope is in my Lord.

I heard this week that for every 100 reasons to cry, there are 1,000 blessings, or reasons to smile.

Let’s assess: My family is intact. The doctors years ago gave my husband a bleak diagnosis, but he’s got a resolve of steel. The Lord’s healing is upon each member of our family. We are still in our home (our mortgage company is working with us, HALLELUJAH). An anonymous donor(s) is assisting my children with school tuition. (Lord, thank You for their sweet generosity.) We have gas in our vehicles. We have heat, electricity, food (my hips can attest to the latter!). I could go on and on.

I believe in giving tithes and offerings. It is this action, I believe, that is helping to give me peace. The Bible instructs us to give toward the Lord’s house and the things of Him, then encourages us to watch how the Lord will “pour out a blessing that we won’t have room enough for.” (Malachi 3:8-12 KJV)

Bottom line: God is GOOD, ALL THE TIME. Who am I to question this time in my life, this possible test, this for sure challenge? Trust in the Lord, the Bible says, with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. It also explains that God’s ways are higher than our ways. He has not brought us this far to leave us. I cling to the hope that things will look up because I am His child. He knows how much I can bear, and His timing is perfect.

Until then, my unemployed/underemployed friends, we will strive to keep our heads up.

 Affirming scripture: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 KJV)

Consider the Ants!

I recently had a frank discussion with one of my students outside of the classroom. He wanted to debate that he shouldn’t be punished for non-payment of child support. After all, he was a non-traditional college student who once held a factory job, but was now striving to better himself. I told him to explain that to the courts. “The judge won’t understand. They always side with the females.”

No, I said, your issue is that you don’t want to work. He looked at me in horror when I mentioned “work” and “job.” See, he’s a self-proclaimed “gamer,” and the truth is, this grown man doesn’t want to tear himself away from video games.

I know it sounds harsh, but I had to explain to him that the judge, or the powers that be, will likely see him as an able-bodied man who could juggle a job and school. People do it all the time. So he reasoned that it would not make sense for him to work because there is a small child in the home, and he and his girlfriend would just work to pay childcare. “I’m not having my kid being raised by someone else.”

Really, now? And you’re providing quality time plopping little Johnny next to you while you play video games?

I think there are a lot of people similar to this student. They make excuses for why they can’t work or find a job. But I think there are a great many more who honestly want to work, who find satisfaction in earning a living.

The Bible encourages us to work, and to have an attitude to want to work. It says if we are not willing to work, then we should not eat (2Thessalonians 3:10).

Proverbs shares the following illustration: “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Proverbs 6: 6 (Life Application Bible)

I don’t believe anyone reading this is a sluggard or a lazybones. We all want something better, we want to feel valued and that we can make a contribution to a workplace. We want to earn a living doing what we enjoy.

Affirmation: I am thankful that I am able-bodied. I resist the urge to give up, or to be apathetic about my career future. I recognize when I may need a breather from the job hunt, but I am diligent in my search for the position that suits me. And there IS  position out there just for me. 

There's a job out there for me...right?

I can relate to this guy.

It's not that he isn't looking -- his eyes are likely weary. We job hunters, job seekers, potential employees well know the feeling because most jobs require you to use a computer. That's understandable, but when you spend hours looking for postings, writing cover letters and submitting information, the eye strain can be a bit much.

I was downsized in December 2010  from a 16-year professional writing career. Since then, I've been working part-time as college instructor (that's a whole OTHER blog that's in the works) and am now underemployed. Been looking for a job for months now, with little to no results.  Sometimes I wonder if a full time gig with benefits is an elusive dream.

I have no hard feelings about the downsizing, because I had wanted to leave for quite some time. I knew and am still holding out hope that something better is on the horizon.

I pray about this subject. A LOT. When I first started my job search, my prayer included these words: "Lord, if a job is not meant for me, if it is not good for me or my family, don't let me get it. Don't allow that door to open."

Now when I pray, I feel like saying, "Wow, Lord, really? Of all the jobs I've applied for, none of them are appropriate?"

I feel that my faith is being tested. I've had some down moments with many tears. Please bear with me as I attempt in this space to vent, and try to encourage some of you who are having similar experiences with your employment situation (or lack thereof).

My purpose in this space is to share my challenges, but also to remember to focus on the positive. After all, the positive is what propels us to continue to search for that job.

Even though I am out of my comfort zone right now in this season of underemployment, I am clinging to hope. I trust God. I believe God. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He knows our end from our beginning. He knows every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30). He cares for us, He wants good things for us (Matthew 7:10). He just wants us to believe Him and serve Him, to seek Him and His word. Relationship.

Be encouraged, and know that as I write to you, I am writing to myself. As I strive to encourage you, I am endeavoring to keep myself encouraged.

I wanted to start this blog months ago. Today, I stepped out in faith. I look forward to the day when I can share that the Lord has blessed me with the job that He has for me. He gets all the glory.

"Lord, there are so many hurting people in this world. There are people with skills, talents and gifts who want  to put them to use. We ask for Your help. We know that You are well able to help us, because Your word says that You are able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we may ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). We don't want to spin our wheels or waste time, so please show us where to look for jobs. Put people in our paths who may assist us. Encourage our hearts today, this moment. I have seen so many friends around me get blessed with jobs. What you have done for them, I know you can do for me and all those who are reading this blog. It is done. Thank You for the victory! We love You. In Jesus' name, Amen."