• Unemployment Part 2


    Time to just “be”

    Last week, I talked about one thing I’d learned from unemployment.

    Today, I share the second thing I learned:

    God is faithful.

    Now, whether you are a Jesus follower or not, most people tend to lean toward the understanding that “things will just work out” somehow. Someway.

    Right?

    Well, I’m a Jesus follower, so on the morning I was let go, I fell into, “Okay, God, whatchya want me to do now?”

    Then I patiently…okay, maybe not so patiently…waited.

    I’d get a sign, right? Like a big, bright light of some sort, right? I mean, that’s what being a Christian is all about . . . .

    Yeah, not so much.

    Sure, I prayed, sought His will, asked for people to pray for me. But after a couple months, no job opportunities.

    But you know the funny thing. . . I wrote two novels.

    Yeah. You read that right. Two.

    While I was unemployed the first couple months, I tried to keep a schedule. You know, like, wake up, work-out, then work. Well, since I no longer had a job, I turned to my passion . . . Writing.

    That became my job.

    Sure, it didn’t pay-unless you count the check I got for placing second in a writing contest-but still, I wrote.

    And wrote.

    And wrote.

    While doing that, I got to take care of my other passon–My husband! I had fun cooking him great meals, keeping the house spic and span, and I also got to help out friends when they needed it during working hours I’d otherwise not be able to help them.

    I LOVED IT.

    Alas, it didn’t pay the bills.

    So, two more months passed. . .

    Two more novels-but also two job opportunities!

    🙂

    Yep. Seems I needed a little time to just “be”.

    Now I’m blessed with a fantastic new career in the marketing industry for a great company working for a stellar boss.

    Sure, my writing is now done in the evenings and on weekends, but I’m right where I need to be-where God wants me.

    So, that’s enough for me.

    It’s been an interesting experience. Not one I’d wish on anyone, but God has been faithful through it all-even letting me get a little uncomfortable along the way.

    So, thanks for letting me share my story with you.

    I’m so jazzed and renewed, I’m even going to run a COUPLE CONTESTS on Light of Truth this week and next, so stay tuned . . . .

  • Unemployment


    August 31st, 2009 changed my life in a way I never expected.

    I was laid off from my job.

    Having been in the title and escrow industry since May of 2001, I’d come to enjoy the industry, despite its ups and downs. Heck, I was even a top revenue earner for my company one year, and usually in the top 10 of all the closers.

    So, I should have been safe from lay offs, right?

    Yeah, not so much.

    At first I was, like, “Huh? Why me?”

    That lasted for about five minutes. I knew why. I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. But it still scared me to be unemployed.

    Now, in January 2010, I am starting a new job-no-a new career with a fantastic company working with some great people.

    The past four months gave me plenty of time to think about things. I learned much about myself, my family, and my God, but two things stood out the most to me.

    First, I have a fantastic, godly husband who provides for me more than I had ever realized.

    Yep. You might think, “How can unemployment teach you that?”

    I’ll tell ya. He planned well with our resources. Now, he’s always watching Dave Ramsey, or reading other financial books because it’s something that interests him. I, on the other hand, have never been extremely interested in it.

    I’d been employed ever since I graduated from grad school in May 1998 and enjoyed contributing to the household with my salary.

    So to find ourselves with just one income was a dramatic change.

    Well, my hubby had been wise with our average incomes up until the point of my unemployment, so we were able to survive by making some changes to our daily habits. My losing my job did not devastate us as much as it easily could have had he not been wise with our resources.

    I’ve always admired my husband, Charlie, for his passion to be godly with our household income. And during this tough time and this tough economy, he has proven again and again that we can’t go wrong when we trust God to provide for our needs and seek His will in all we go through.

    Stay tuned for part 2 next week.

  • Musical Mondays


    Remember the movie Nine to Five?

    You might ask, “Why are you asking? This isn’t Throwback Thursday?”

    Well, I had to pick this song for musical Monday in honor of the fact that I start a new job today.

    Yep.

    I was laid off my from job back in August, 2009, and today, I rejoin the work force. So, I thought I’d put up this song for a quick chuckle.

    ~~~

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5i1aPaxwh8]

    ~~~

    Happy Monday, everyone.

  • Faith


    HaveFaith1~~~

    So, a Christian’s life should be easy, right? No problems. No worries. I mean, heck, you “found God” right?

    You know, I used to think that when I was young in my faith.

    Yeah, not so much.

    Sure, God’ll provide, God’ll be there with me, I don’t doubt that one bit. But the Life’s-gonna-be-easy-idea. . . again with the Yeah, not so much . . .

    During this economic crisis, many have lost jobs. Unemployment is at a ginormous rate. Well, I have joined the ranks of such.

    Although I loved my job and those with whom I worked, am I mad because I lost it?

    Nope.

    Well, some would say, “But you gave your heart and soul to that job, and look at what kind of thanks do they gave you?”

    Nope. Not thinking that either.

    “Okay, but you gotta admit, it sucks, right?”

    Yep, that I’ll admit. It’s a bit of an inconvenience. Lots of uncertainty and confusion and a little fear. Heck, before it happened, I’d wondered if I would have to experience unemployment since my industry had been shaky for a couple years now (mortgages).

    But never once did I think, “Oh God, how could you do this to me?”

    Really, you can chuckle all you want, but it’s true.

    Someone might ask, “How could you not think that? You’re a Christian, God shouldn’t allow bad things to happen to you.”

    God has not promised an easy road for anyone, Christians and non-Christians alike. He’s only promised those who have complete faith in Him that He will never leave our side through the good and the bad.

    **So, what do you think? What gets you through your struggles?**