money_pit_yj
Well-Known Member
This will not be as eloquent written as power washing the drive way or as powerful as Casey's transformation, but I will proceed anyway.
One of my pet peeves is when friends and colleagues in ministry (both vocationally or as a lay person as myself) never let folks know what is going on in their life. I understand completely why they do not, as leadership we do not want to burden people with our needs when we are supposed to be ministering and meeting others needs., plus there are people who want details so they can gossip rather than truly lift you up in prayer. That being said, if someone does not share with others what they are going through, how are folks supposed to pray for them, right? I try to be the same person online (be it facebook or Hardline) that I am in person so I am going to share with you guys what I have shared with many of my friends and church members. I have two reasons for doing this. 1. I am struggling with some things and need the prayers and encouragement and 2. God is teaching me some stuff I feel like I need to share.
I lost my job on 9/8/2016. It was a job I had for 11 years and in no way shape or form does it make sense why they let me go. The reason I was given was my job was eliminated and was no longer in the budget. All of our executive leadership wrote me amazing referral letters and have all been keeping in touch with me and assisting me with finding my new career, so it is not like they just wanted to get rid of me. My wife has a great job and is paid all cash, no benefits at all, so I was the one who had insurance, retirement, PTO, truck, phone, computer, on top of my salary. My wife's office let her pick up a day and I have been taking care of the house and kids all while spending 3-4 hours a day reaching out, networking and looking for a job. We are now going on about 8 weeks and this past week was the most difficult week we have faced. We have argued over little things that are no big deal, big things that we agree on but say different ways, and we even argued about why we were arguing. I am struggling with my role as a man. I have let the worlds view of manhood overshadow my Biblical role as spiritual leader of my home and my wife is struggling with the world telling her to wear the pants while she is making the money while the Bible tells her to submit to her husband and be my helpmate. I am struggling with comparing to the two other people in my life who both lost their jobs around the same time and both have new jobs making more money. I am struggling that my wife works 5 days a week while I am either at home or driving a tractor for a few bucks. Finally I am just bored, and that leads to trouble.
Here is the part that I am excited to share. In the last 8 weeks, God has taught me more than I have learned at any point in my 15 year walk with Christ.
1. I am called to be the spiritual leader of my home, no matter if I make $150K like Tony and Pholman ;D or if I am a stay at home dad, my worth as a Godly father is not determined by the number of zeros at the end of my check it is determined by how I lead my family through this storm.
2. God does not need Coop or any other job to provide for my family. We have more than 95% of the people in the world, and He will give us what we need when we NEED it. I am foolish to think that God has to have me employed at a certain place to provide for my family.
3. The people you surround yourself with will make you or break you in a situation like this. We are constantly getting calls, emails, letters, visits form people just wanting to pray with us and encourage us to remain steadfast and allow God to get us through this. To have a group of folks stop Sunday school and lay hands on you and pray for your family is a powerful thing!
4. Don't pray for the storm to end without praying for you to learn what God wants to teach you in the storm.
5. Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray and when you are done, pray some more.
I am not trying to be a drama queen and make a big deal about losing a job, but this is the biggest thing my family has had to deal with so It is a huge learning opportunity for us. With all that being said, If you are a praying person please pray for the things I mentioned above and that we would be content here where God has us. If you are a believer and have a church Get involved with a small group of like minded believers of some kind and let your burdens be prayed over by your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The power of community and fellowship and prayer is amazing and life changing. Wake up daily and spend time with God and build a strong relationship with Him so you can face your storms with a peace that surpasses understanding. Let Him have your life fully and He will return the blessing 10 fold!
If you are not a praying person Please don't take this as me complaining, take this as me sharing with my buddies what God is teaching me and my family during a difficult time. God has blessed my family more than I could explain in 10 threads and it is only through him and his promises that my family is able to weather this storm. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." and Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Both of those verses have affirmed God is with us through this time. God never promised us this ride would be easy but living life for Him and His glory is a sweet sweet thing. James 1:2-4 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing".
Im going to stop. I did not say half of what I wanted too but I have thought about this for days and this is what I ended up with
One of my pet peeves is when friends and colleagues in ministry (both vocationally or as a lay person as myself) never let folks know what is going on in their life. I understand completely why they do not, as leadership we do not want to burden people with our needs when we are supposed to be ministering and meeting others needs., plus there are people who want details so they can gossip rather than truly lift you up in prayer. That being said, if someone does not share with others what they are going through, how are folks supposed to pray for them, right? I try to be the same person online (be it facebook or Hardline) that I am in person so I am going to share with you guys what I have shared with many of my friends and church members. I have two reasons for doing this. 1. I am struggling with some things and need the prayers and encouragement and 2. God is teaching me some stuff I feel like I need to share.
I lost my job on 9/8/2016. It was a job I had for 11 years and in no way shape or form does it make sense why they let me go. The reason I was given was my job was eliminated and was no longer in the budget. All of our executive leadership wrote me amazing referral letters and have all been keeping in touch with me and assisting me with finding my new career, so it is not like they just wanted to get rid of me. My wife has a great job and is paid all cash, no benefits at all, so I was the one who had insurance, retirement, PTO, truck, phone, computer, on top of my salary. My wife's office let her pick up a day and I have been taking care of the house and kids all while spending 3-4 hours a day reaching out, networking and looking for a job. We are now going on about 8 weeks and this past week was the most difficult week we have faced. We have argued over little things that are no big deal, big things that we agree on but say different ways, and we even argued about why we were arguing. I am struggling with my role as a man. I have let the worlds view of manhood overshadow my Biblical role as spiritual leader of my home and my wife is struggling with the world telling her to wear the pants while she is making the money while the Bible tells her to submit to her husband and be my helpmate. I am struggling with comparing to the two other people in my life who both lost their jobs around the same time and both have new jobs making more money. I am struggling that my wife works 5 days a week while I am either at home or driving a tractor for a few bucks. Finally I am just bored, and that leads to trouble.
Here is the part that I am excited to share. In the last 8 weeks, God has taught me more than I have learned at any point in my 15 year walk with Christ.
1. I am called to be the spiritual leader of my home, no matter if I make $150K like Tony and Pholman ;D or if I am a stay at home dad, my worth as a Godly father is not determined by the number of zeros at the end of my check it is determined by how I lead my family through this storm.
2. God does not need Coop or any other job to provide for my family. We have more than 95% of the people in the world, and He will give us what we need when we NEED it. I am foolish to think that God has to have me employed at a certain place to provide for my family.
3. The people you surround yourself with will make you or break you in a situation like this. We are constantly getting calls, emails, letters, visits form people just wanting to pray with us and encourage us to remain steadfast and allow God to get us through this. To have a group of folks stop Sunday school and lay hands on you and pray for your family is a powerful thing!
4. Don't pray for the storm to end without praying for you to learn what God wants to teach you in the storm.
5. Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray and when you are done, pray some more.
I am not trying to be a drama queen and make a big deal about losing a job, but this is the biggest thing my family has had to deal with so It is a huge learning opportunity for us. With all that being said, If you are a praying person please pray for the things I mentioned above and that we would be content here where God has us. If you are a believer and have a church Get involved with a small group of like minded believers of some kind and let your burdens be prayed over by your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The power of community and fellowship and prayer is amazing and life changing. Wake up daily and spend time with God and build a strong relationship with Him so you can face your storms with a peace that surpasses understanding. Let Him have your life fully and He will return the blessing 10 fold!
If you are not a praying person Please don't take this as me complaining, take this as me sharing with my buddies what God is teaching me and my family during a difficult time. God has blessed my family more than I could explain in 10 threads and it is only through him and his promises that my family is able to weather this storm. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." and Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Both of those verses have affirmed God is with us through this time. God never promised us this ride would be easy but living life for Him and His glory is a sweet sweet thing. James 1:2-4 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing".
Im going to stop. I did not say half of what I wanted too but I have thought about this for days and this is what I ended up with
