I've learned that God has the final say so on everything.
I've been frustrated with my 9-to-5 for over a year now. I have diligently looked, interviewed but to no avail. I'm still there. I made a promise to myself last year this time that I would not be here for the company's busy season between Dec and Feb. That I wanted out and could not possibly go through the wretched process again.
It's November.
So needless to say sometimes my attitude did not reflect that of the kind, powerful, Jesus-loving woman I am. I would get irritated and it showed. I'll confess I have not always been the best Christ-rep on my 9-to-5. A lot of murmuring and complaining. But nothing over the top. No outbursts of rage or anything like that. Just frustration and irritation.
In my quiet time, the Spirit has assured me that my time on the 9-to-5 is ending and will take place once we move. Thank you Lord.
People know I do something in church, my boss knows hubby and I pastor and am not sure how many other people know. I didn't broadcast the news.
We have a varied group of Christians in the office from all different denominations who meet for a weekly Bible study. I've been to one or two. I leave early on that day and work through my lunch so I have not been able to consistently participate.
The wonderful woman who teaches this class is amazing in my book. She inspires Lutherans, Catholics, and people who don't go to church at all to come together to share in the Word of God. I was impressed!
She became ill over the weekend and is currently in the hospital (prayers for her are appreciated). So we get an email letting us know where she is and then a request for a group prayer is made.
So I get to the group prayer and I am asked to lead prayer.
I pray.
And that's when people get teary-eyed, they hug me. They tell me they all got goosebumps as the prayer went forth. I'm going, "Thanks God! That was nothing but you!"
I then send one of the ladies an email and told her I'd be willing to teach the class if the group wanted me too. I told her my feelings would not be hurt if the group wanted to take a break. Apparently everybody is excited about me teaching this class. I get to share with these women and I am so thankful.
Here's why:
I love ministering and I know that God will do something wonderful.
It's redemptive: God will use me at my 9-to-5. He will use me at the source of my stress and irritation, the place where I haven't always been in my opinion the best example and He will get glory out of me.
That's when I realized this whole thing has been divinely set-up.
God is redeeming me in the presence of my coworkers before I leave. I'm so grateful that I will get to leave a good name, a good example of Jesus before I go. I thought my time there would be a lost cause because of my attitude some days and that I wouldn't really get to impact anyone for Jesus' sake. Now I do.
The Father loves me. I know this. He knew my heart and how it grieved that I let my flesh sometimes get the better of me.
Yesterday, my Sunday job bled over into my Monday job and I'm so grateful for that. I even prayed with a coworker who's mom is sick so I did a lot of ministering on my 9-to-5 yesterday.
Pray that God use me to speak a word that becomes alive to my coworkers.
Pray that lives be changed because of this encounter.
