I just woke up from a nap and started getting ready for the kid's lock-in event when I received a call from a dear friend. I knew from the sound of her voice my friend needed a listening ear. Fighting back the tears she shared her husband received notice he was being laid off from work. His last day would be the 15th of this month.
Have you ever been there? My husband and I were there a little over a year ago. For nine months during 2009-10, Eddie was out of work. He was laid off from his job and though he received unemployment, it wasn't enought to even cover the $750 rent. When times get hard finanacially, one can easily fall into depression, anger, or become easily frustrated at the smallest thing. It can be taxing on one's health, family and marriage among many other things.
I refused to turn to family or friends for sympathy or help. Is there a time for that? Sure. Except somehow I saw this as an opportunity to put all the preaching and teaching I've done over the last several years into action and allow the Lord to show off. It was an opportunity for me to put my faith into action. Could I trust God to see my husband and I through this? Could Eddie and I cling to eachother? Chase after God with bull-dog tenacity? Laugh harder? Love deeper? Become greater givers of our finances and our time?
There were several times I looked in the mirror, pointed the finger at the lady staring back at me with desperate heavy eyes and said, "You will bless the Lord at all times and His praises will continously be in your mouth. You will boast in God your Saviour. The joy of the Lord will strengthen you and you will see the goodness of God. Remember how the Lord provided for you while in school. Remember how the Lord fed you. Clothed you. You were never forsaken nor did you beg for bread. Faith is the substance of things hoped and the evidence of things not seen. Cling to your God and cling to your husband. You will slay this financial giant's head off ."
This is where you get your compact mirror out your purse, go to your vanity, look at your rear-view mirror, window, where ever you can see your reflection and start encouraging yourself in the Lord. What are your waiting for? Go!
Have you ever been there? My husband and I were there a little over a year ago. For nine months during 2009-10, Eddie was out of work. He was laid off from his job and though he received unemployment, it wasn't enought to even cover the $750 rent. When times get hard finanacially, one can easily fall into depression, anger, or become easily frustrated at the smallest thing. It can be taxing on one's health, family and marriage among many other things.
I refused to turn to family or friends for sympathy or help. Is there a time for that? Sure. Except somehow I saw this as an opportunity to put all the preaching and teaching I've done over the last several years into action and allow the Lord to show off. It was an opportunity for me to put my faith into action. Could I trust God to see my husband and I through this? Could Eddie and I cling to eachother? Chase after God with bull-dog tenacity? Laugh harder? Love deeper? Become greater givers of our finances and our time?
There were several times I looked in the mirror, pointed the finger at the lady staring back at me with desperate heavy eyes and said, "You will bless the Lord at all times and His praises will continously be in your mouth. You will boast in God your Saviour. The joy of the Lord will strengthen you and you will see the goodness of God. Remember how the Lord provided for you while in school. Remember how the Lord fed you. Clothed you. You were never forsaken nor did you beg for bread. Faith is the substance of things hoped and the evidence of things not seen. Cling to your God and cling to your husband. You will slay this financial giant's head off ."
This is where you get your compact mirror out your purse, go to your vanity, look at your rear-view mirror, window, where ever you can see your reflection and start encouraging yourself in the Lord. What are your waiting for? Go!
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