A new beginning...

Well, I am no longer an employee of my former employer. And since that's about as clear as mud, let me rephrase it... I lost my job last Tuesday.



It's not like it wasn't expected... my company announced in January there would be layoffs sometime this year, and it finally happened! That in itself was a blessing. Now, the only question I have is what to do next? And isn't that a good question?



I wish I knew the answer to it! There are a million different things that I want to try, so this news is both exciting and frightning. I'm definitely going to persue a teaching career, but I also want to explore the possibility of selling my artwork and designs. It's exciting because this is a new beginning. I had a very stressful job... or at least it was for me... but the money was great. Greater than great. But since it's gone, we have a large amount to make up for in our budget... and there in lies the frightning part of it.



Last night at church, we had a visiting preacher who's sermon was on faith. (Isn't it funny how God sends these things to you right when you need it?) More specifically, faith when you are put in an uncomfortable situation. His Biblical example was when Jesus told the disciples "Go to the other side" when they were perfectly happy to stay where they were. If this wasn't enough, the pastor even cited job loss as an example we might face. Believe me, I was perfectly happy to stay where I was, but now, God has nudged me and told me to "Go to the other side". The preacher explained... like he was reading my mind... that it's not so much the "other side" but what's on the other side that we have a problem with. What was on the other side for the disciples was a demonic possessed man, whom Christ healed. What's on the other side for me? Well, that remains to be seen.



Isn't it so much easier to say, "have faith, God will take care of you" when others face adversity versus when you are met with your own problems? It really is... Satan loves to take those opportunities to place seeds of doubt in your mind. But you have to stay strong... I have to stay strong in my faith. Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is so comforting to know... no matter how bad things may get, I'll never be separated from God's love. So, really, if that's the case, things can never be that bad, right?



1 Corinthians 1:9 says that "God is faithful". I've seen that in my own life. The last year and a half hasn't been good. My husband lost his job, we lost another pregnancy, there have been several family issues I won't go into, and chroninc sickness with another family member, and to top it off, I've now lost my job. But GOD IS FAITHFUL. Always has been, always will be.