No More

During our Bible study video this week, we heard a statement about heaven. “There will be no more tears, no more crying, no more pain.”

We were encouraged to make our own list of “no more’s” – the things we go through here that will be no more in heaven. So my list included:

No more medical bills
No more worries about finances – ever again
No more stress
No more physical problems
No more loss of jobs / income
No more aging bodies
No more losses of any kind
No more saying good-bye
No more rejection

The list could go on and on. Try making your own list and then thank God for the “No More’s” of heaven.

The Encouragement of the Geese

Several years ago, during a time of great suffering, God sent the geese. I was driving to work and fighting discouragement, when a flock of geese flew right over my truck. They were so beautiful, so fluid in their movement and so determined in their purpose – I felt encouraged. I knew that the same Creator who gave the geese an instinct to fly in a V, would also direct my life. Since then, every time I see geese, I praise God for his provisions and his direction.

During this job search, I have seen more geese than any time in my life. When going to an interview, geese were all over the lawn near the building. Driving to a job fair, 3 different flocks of geese flew over me. At least once or twice every week or so, I see more geese. None of these situations have resulted in a job, but I’ve felt encouraged by the geese that God keeps sending.

This morning, I met a woman for a networking meeting. She gave me some ideas, but no definite answers for a job. Later, I was driving to a luncheon appointment, and I thought about the networking lead. I wondered what God had in mind.

I turned into an access road and right in the middle of the road were four geese, just leisurely waddling along the asphalt. They seemed in no hurry, but completely comfortable to let me wait for them. I laughed out loud for several moments.

“Thank you, God. Here are the geese once again – not at all frustrated because I don’t have a job. Just doing what they do best – waiting for a signal from you to fly.”

God's Thermostat

A quote by Warren Wiersbe states, “When God permits his children to go through the furnace, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat. His loving heart knows how much and how long.”

I think God is standing right beside the thermostat now.

The past six weeks have been filled with one trial after another on top of spiritual and emotional testing. God has placed me in the furnace to temper me, teach me and toss me around. Besides the job search, there have been additional health issues – both for me and my son, another round of dealing with health insurance, a late night phone call regarding someone getting access to my credit card, concerns about my family at home, gloomy weather that makes me sad and on and on. Each day has brought something new, rather than any type of relief. I wonder how much higher the thermostat can go before I melt into a heap.

But maybe that’s where I need to be – in a heap of melted self at the feet of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:7 reminds me, “Your troubles have come in order to prove that your faith is real. It is worth more than gold. Gold can pass away even though fire has made it pure. Your faith is meant to bring praise, honor and glory to God. That will happen when Jesus Christ returns.”

The purpose of the heat is essentially to bring praise, honor and glory to God – to change me more into the likeness of Christ – to release the Spirit-filled life in me so that I can be an example to others. So let the heat come, let it melt off everything that hardens me. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

BENEFITS

As I look for a job, I focus on the benefits of each position: health insurance, life insurance, 401K, etc. These benefits are important in our culture, for the security we need – especially for a single mom.

But this morning, I read about the benefits that come from living the Christian life and walking with God. They are listed in Psalm 103:2-5:
• Forgiveness – the benefit God offers to us and we offer to others
• Healing – physical, emotional, spiritual
• Redemption – the freedom we have because of Jesus
• Love – that incredible compassion and caring that God shows to us each day
• Satisfaction – the fulfillment of letting God meet the desires of our hearts
• Renewed Life – living and breathing the Spirit-filled abundance
• Justice – as God vindicates us, we find hope for the future

The Bible is filled with even more benefits – all the promises we have in Christ. But this list gives me hope today, and that’s the insurance and assurance I need.

Delivered from Fear

About 3:30 one morning, I was awake and praying about the "job". The search has almost taken on a character of its own; constantly with me in my thoughts and even in my dreams.

But that early in the morning, I couldn't really do anything about it. So I opened my Bible to one of the best chapters about fighting fear: Psalm 34. And once again, I read one of my favorite verses for staying in hope.

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Ps 34:4.

Delivered from ALL my fears, including the fear of waiting for the job to appear, the fear of not being able to pay bills, the fear of wondering where in this city I fit in and why can't I find it.

Sometimes the fear of the unknown is harder to face than the fears right in front of us. But God promises to deliver us from all fears. So, I literally visualize taking that fear and placing it at the foot of the cross - then letting Jesus deal with it.

Praise God - He delivers me !