The Answer is No

 

Update: Result from Interview last week. No. Keeping my ears and eyes open. I usually apply to 5 jobs a week on line and talk to 3 or 4 people in my network. So appreciate your continued prayers for finding an opportunity.

Praise: Family worship, family time is rich and blessed.

 

A Thought or Two: Consistency is a wonderful goal to make improvements in every area of life.

 

 

Only One Guarantee / Forgiveness

Update: No news on last week interview. I am predisposed to think late news is bad news but…

Praise: Being w/o a steady task to do every day leaves you a little time to think. In an uncertain time you start thinking about the basics. The basics of life on this earth.  Well I started taking inventory of what one might think of as a ‘guarantee’ or what do I consider life owes me.  We all get used to or assume there are some things and guess we call that taking things for granite. You kind of get used to them. There is no guarantee that I should get a paycheck, no guarantee that I can find a job that fits me, no guarantee I can live in my home in Geneva the rest of my life, for that matter IL or USA, no guarantee that I can live with my family 7 days a week, no guarantee I can provide all I have up to now for my wife and children.  Well the list can just go on.  But I do have a guarantee.   And this guarantee plays trump to all the nons. It a guarantee that the effective calling of my soul to participate in saving grace of faith will allow me at the end of this short life to abide in the presence of God forever and not to burn in hell for eternity. So, if one were to say count your blessings, well I only need to count one and all other pseudo certainties and non-guarantees pale and come to nothing. Praise the mighty one for his salvation.

A Thought or Two:  Everyone can be callous and we expect that from everyone to some degree. We enlarge our heart as needed to deal with it.  It’s when someone is callous to you or someone you love when you did not expect it from them that cause us to stretch our capacity to forgive. You may have thought differently of them, expected more, etc.  You may actually attempt to approach them on the hurt caused by their action or words and how it has a much broader affect than just you and how you consider what they did inappropriate.  You may have a good conversation you may not.  There is a tension of how much do I love this brother to point out his callousness or am I protecting me or the ones I love to not be hurt.  O’ the power of forgiveness and the freedom to move on.  The proverb 10:12 rings so true, “Love covers all kinds of transgressions.” Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. Honesty is the true test of any relationship.

Interview Update: Quality Failure

Update: My Interview went fairly well. Unfortunately I neglected to do my own personal quality test and upon entering the building my belt broke. The buckle was totally detached and not able to be fixed except with a knife and and an extra set screw (which I did not have handy) After appeal to the receptionist I twice remedied a repair with a half roll of scotch tape and a too short safety pin. I did not want to try going w/o a belt since my pants were a bit on the loose fit side. So in all this added a few notches to the stress level and may have had a way of making me give up trying to hard. If the Lord causes this to move forward positively it will be of course doubly in spite of myself. Maybe know something tomorrow (?)

Praise: We are humbled by reception today of a generous check in the mail from my mother-in-laws church in Zearing Iowa! WOW


Thought or Two: Impatience never commanded success. (Edwin H. Chapin)

Prov 19:8 "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good."


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Net Benefits

Update: I have a face to face interview on Wednesday morning. I cheerish your prayers for peace and wisdom. 

Praise: We received a Net Benefit today from the Illinois Dept of Employment Security. Provided this continues, it will allow us to pay the mortgage plus most of utilities. I am thankful for it.

A Thought or Two: In principle I am shamed to take the money. Truthfully it takes a lot of 'remembering' and thinking right to not get depressed about the current overarching actions of the State compared to diminished role of the Church and Families. This is not restricted to monetary only but you might say dominance. I understand there are 28 benefits listed in Psalm 103.... time to read til I bleed.

Psalm 103:1-2
"Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits

Phone Interview Update

Praise: My phone interview went quite well and have been requested to come in for a face to face.
 
Prayer: Continued diligence in planning and patience..

Psalm 28:
⁷The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.



A Thought or Two:
“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”
 Winston Churchill

Please Pray for My Interview

Prayer: I have a phone interview on Friday. It is for a quality lab manager position in Carpentersville. Pray that I would rest in the Spirit to direct my words and have peace. Hoping this leads to an in person interview.

Praise: I received my last paycheck which included Personal Time not take. Nice to have that.

Psalm 25:
¹² Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

A Thought or Two:
“If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.” JMaxwell
I am certainly feeling out of any comfort being 'job' less. So I am officially GROWING! 
However, I am also digging into my 'comfort zone' of faith in the Almighty.