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Tom submitted two stories and their content follows. I think I was in the sixth grade and while I do not remember the exact details of this story, it still really affected me. As you will find out, the details are of minor significance, when a good friend of my mothers "Sandy" was going through a tough time. From what I remember, her husband left her and she lost her job. I remember that she was coming to the house and sitting down with my mom at a complete loss. She was crying and just didn't look very healthy. She had no money and could not pay her upcoming bills, including mortgage. I remember my mom asking that I pray for her as she would do the same thing. So I did, it was the first time really actually prayed for something other than that which would be of direct benefit to me. After a few days, or maybe a week, she came back to the house to talk with my mom. Things were looking better, I remember her actually smiling and that was huge difference from the last visit. My mom said that she had gone on an interview and that she felt fairly good about it but was worried because she didn't have a suit and was dressed fairly casual. The next visit, she was really sad again. She did not get the job. I overheard my mom telling her that she needed a suite; once she had she would look great and find a job with more ease. She was saddened again to her this and start crying. I remember hearing her tell my mother that she could not afford a suite and was worried about getting evicted. My mom later told me that we really needed to pray for Sandy, that she needed all the help she could get. I remember asking God to do everything in his power to help her. The next day, my mom told me she had taken Sandy out to lunch and what appeared to be a homeless man walked up to the two of them. The man handed Sandy an envelope and said "God told me to give this to you." After looking inside, it was full of money! She used the money to buy a suite and pay her bills for the month. Her next interview was a success and I believe is a job she still has today. She is now remarried and doing very well. The second story is regarding my recent job status. I started a new job to off the shift hours I had previously been working. I thought I had found the right group, they were enthusiastic and different. While at my new job I came to realize that the company I had joined, while the biggest company in the field was the most un-organized as well. Not only was the company un-organized from at the top, my small group was even worse. They had made several promises to me that turned out to be lies. When I caught them on lies, they lied again! I began looking for a new job while they continued to lie to me and promise me something they were not going to do. That Sunday, James was talking about standing up for what you believe in. As I listed to this, I realized I had to do what I had been threatening to do, even though my wife as well as others did not think it was a good idea…..quit! I was extremely frustrated, fed up, and getting a lot of interest from other employers. I didn’t have another job lined up yet, but I went ahead and quit anyway. The following week was bit rough. Many of my opportunities fell through and I began to get very worried and depressed. That Sunday James spoke about how good things and bad things happen to everyone. That just because you are a follower of Jesus does not mean that bad things can’t happen, they will. But that you as a follower of Jesus have to have faith and that goods can happen because they will. At least that is what I got out if it. That cheered me up because I realized that this message could not be more truthful. In fact that week I went on 6 job interview and came away with 3 offers. What to do now, I had to make one of the most important decisions of my career. Whatever job I took would have to last at minimum a year because I was only at the last job for 3 months and the job before that for 9 months. Future employers would question my movement if I left another job too soon. Two of my offers were from my previous jobs company. I thought how great, they want me back. That Sunday, James talked about the prodigal son. How fitting. Here was a man who left something, didn’t find what he was looking for, and went back. The grass was not greener on the other side. It was true for me as well. But what do I do with my decision? Where was my family? Was it the previous job? Was this the billboard? I did a lot praying and talking to friends about making my decision. I have been at my new job for two months now, and I know that I made the right decision. |
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Saint James United Methodist Church
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