Loved and Living

(Source: nonelikejesus, via tofindlauren)

A TESTIMONY:

Remember when I blogged this?: 

“Dear God, Al and I are going through a trial right now. Thank you that You’re working on something great!”

Well, I’m here to proclaim that God did an amazing thing for us!  Al now works at Cedar Shore!  He’ll be doing what he’s good at - maintenance, remodelling, etc.  I got hired at Stepping Stones as a drug and alcohol counselor (Although I do not have a degree in counseling, but in paralegal, still they were willing to send me to training to get my certification!)

So here we are, 61 and 62 years old, and God has opened new doors for us!  I hear Him remind me, “I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

How I love our amazing, faithful, awesome God!

(Source: iminhistree, via tofindlauren)

Definition of INJUSTICE. 1: absence of justice : violation of right or of the rights of another : unfairness. 2: an unjust act : wrong.

You give your life to something you believe in.  Literally.  You leave your career.  You come to this town and take a lower paying, demanding job.  Because you believe you can make a difference in a life …. or lives.  And you ARE making a difference.  You have purpose.

Then suddenly.  It’s gone.  False accusations are made.  Lies.  The very people that proclaim to be an outstanding employer are suddenly accusing you.  All the honor and respect that was yours is gone.  In it’s place is a shame that is unwarranted.  First the shock.  What just happened?  Why?  How?  Then the reality sets in.  What will we do?  Are we even employable at our age, in our 60’s?  What about insurance? 

I hold onto the promise Jesus gave me as a Christian, I hold on so tight my spiritual knuckles are turning blue.  “So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33    

Then we make some phone calls.  Can they do this?  Yes.  This is a ‘right to work’ state.  An employer can fire anyone at anytime for no reason.  Really?  It seems like something from the dark ages.  Because we’ve always been respected and treated well by employers in the past, this experience is something we’re unfamiliar with.  The lawyer’s voice on the other end of the phone line sounds tired and weary.  He has heard this story before; dozens of employees over the years, all treated unfairly from this specific employer.  Even if you had a case, he says, it would cost you alot of money.  You’re better off to just let it go.

Okay.  Now what? 

How do we find closure?  My spouse says that they cannot take our respect, that we won’t give it to them. 

I don’t want to be bitter.  I want to move on.

I see nothing on this side of heaven to hold on to.  It’s like what the writer in Ecclesiastes says, “….when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”(Eccl 2:11)

You know, THAT’s why I love the Bible.  These are real people.  With real pains like ours.  And I know the Bible is full of promises for us, for times as these.  Yes, there are many, but this is the one I will hold onto tonight:

Psalm 42:11 - Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God