Today I had my third interview for an employment
opportunity. This was my first round of interviews in the 6 months I’ve been
here. For those of you that don’t know, I recently moved to Atlanta,
GA from Ohio. This journey has been the most humbling experience of my life…I
have completely started over. I have gone from making roughly $13k-$17k
monthly to making $0 per month. I have gone from living in a $500k home
on the lake (in a million dollar community), having jet skis, motorcycles and
all the other perks that go along with that high dollar lifestyle. Please
know that this is not being written to brag but to encourage someone that may
be going through a difficult time right now, financially or otherwise. The Lord
has a plan for your life, like HE does for mine. Life is a series of test
and trails, which we all must go through, for the PERFECTING of our walk
with Christ and to build us for HIS PURPOSE.
Presently, I am living with a childhood friend. He has been
a gracious host not only for allowing me to stay, but for also allowing me to
stay rent free. Of all the perks I mentioned above, to my name, all I have are
my clothes, along with my bed and motorcycle, which are in storage. I no
longer have flat screen TV’s leather couches, stainless steel appliances, jet
ski’s or my truck; my car is currently parked at a repair facility with a
$2,800 price tag for said repair. Over the past two weeks, prior to another
friend offering me their car, I had to ride the bus to bible study.
Those “things” used to be valuable to me, but guess what; those “things” hold
no value to me now. I’m so much happier and at peace without them. I’ll move on
for now…I’ll talk about “THINGS”
in another blog.
My pride has certainly been challenged many times during
this 6 month period and as I previously mentioned, I have been tremendously
humbled, to say the least, but the lessons I learned while riding the bus ended
up being such BLESSING in disguise; I’ll save that for another blog, as well.
I want to talk about today’s TEST....
I was offered a job that would require me to work 55 hours
per week with only one day off, for a total of $125 a week. Oh, I
should mention I would have the POTENTIAL to make 30-40k a year. I
don't know where you are in life, my friends, but where ever you are, I’m
sure $125 a week won’t get you very far. However, when you have no income and
you have bills that are starting to pile up, any money is seemingly good money (as
long as it’s legal). Hearing this in my first interview it didn't
sit very well with me, but I felt I didn't have a choice since I hadn't had any
success with other employment opportunities. Oh, I forgot to mention the most
important part, by taking this job, I would no longer be able to attend church; it would conflict with my work days,
so I would no longer be able to attend Wednesday bible study or Sunday morning worship
service (TEST). Anyone who
knows me knows that GOD is the HEAD of my LIFE and I try not to make any moves
without HIS GUIDIENCE. The Lord is
my provider and lifter of my HEAD, MY Strong Tower, MY WAY OUT OF NO WAY, MY
BUCKLER, MY PEACE, and The SHEPHERD OF MY
LIFE. MY INSTRUCTIONS COME FROM HIM. Missing church would
deprive me of MY SOUL SOURCE OF LIVING.
I turn to HIS WORD to EAT and
LEARN SPIRITUAL TRUTHS FOR MY DAILY
WALK. HIS WORD IS MORE VALUABLE TO ME THAN
NATURAL FOOD.
So, today, I rushed to get suited and booted for my third
and final interview, mind you they called me an hour prior, expecting me to get
across town, but I made it. As I sat there and listened to them talk
about the mere pennies I would make and potentially make, I started to think
about my priorities and my values that I live by; I further thought about where
my STRENGTH comes from and WHO my REAL PROVIDER IS. As
I continued to listen to the interviewers speak, I thought about what a
job is really for and how it’s just one part of our existence to live, but not
the MAIN PART. I then began to think about the money
(which would barely meet my needs), and the hours (that would prevent me from searching
for better employment), but more importantly, I thought about the fact I would
be missing church indefinitely (MY
SOURCE OF POWER & UNDERSTANDING). All of a sudden the fear of not
taking this job got smaller; it got even smaller when I thought about how GOOD my GOD has been to me. I thought
about the UNFATHOMABLE things HE HAS
IN STORE FOR ME IF I ONLY CONTINUED TO BELIEVE!!!! I AM THE RIGHTEOUNESS
OF GOD AND I AM ENTITLED TO COVANANT FAVOR AND COVANANT KINDNESS. For those that
don't know what that means that means, let me explain…if you’re a BELIEVER IN CHRIST, AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT
CHRIST DIED AND WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD TO SAVE YOU FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION,
THEN YOU ARE PROTECTED BY HIS GRACE (HIS UNMERITED FAVOR). UNMERITED MEANING, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN
DO TO EARN IT as IT IS A GIFT FOR BELIEVING!!! With all that said, I then
realized this was a TEST. Thank
You JESUS; I have an ear to hear the SPIRIT of GOD! But, I wonder, how many
others don't? How many fall prey to the devils devices? How may have a fear of
failure; fear of not having enough of what you need to make it? My friends GOD
will never fail you. Our job is to only
BELIEVE that HE IS!!! That HE is the REWARDER to those who DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!!!
As I end todays blog be encourage friends and REST in the
REALAZATION THAT OUR WAY HAS ALREADY BEEN PLANNED OUT AND WAS MADE BEFORE
THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. So don’t be fooled by the devils devices, trust
GOD and know that you will be “TESTED”(it
just happens to be open book). JUST stand on HIS WORD and BELIEVE!! Be
BLESSED my friends and stay tuned for my next GOD inspired blog of the day.
