</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I can't take it anymore"

"I am giving up"

"Why bother? No-one cares"

"I'm not gonna try anymore"</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Catch-phrases of the moment? I think most of us have had these go through our heads in the last month, and if we're honest with ourselves, just in the last week or days. I find myself going through these ruts as well, more than I wanna admit at times.

the flip-side:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
"Pain is weakness leaving the body"</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some of us put on a facade of toughness, that nothing bothers us. We build a shell of disinterest, unfeeling, shallowness, and a mask of coldness.

"Jesus is irresistably drawn to the weak."
- I've heard that a few times over the last year or so, it being one of the favorite phrases of my ex-pastor Philipp and Russ, the guy who leads our recovery classes. I love it too

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The whole premise being that He knows His power is more than sufficient.

When I finally do give up and say "God, it's yours...I can't do it anymore", that's when things start to happen! I finally get out of the way...

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm ............. PREACH BRUTHA!!!!!!!!!

Amen and Amen brutha! /

Amen whut? Post a situation in which when you finally got out of the way, things began happening

My most recent time was this past week... those of you who really know me know that I have been living on a barely subsisting salary for a few years now - always one paycheck from losing my home and vehicle. This after a bachelors and masters degree.. well, let's just say things weren't going as planned I work constantly, but remain at ~1/2 my salary before quitting hospital work to finish my MBA. Since graduating in 1999, it's been difficult to find a job because I had apparently educated myself out of the job market. Hospitals wanna hire new nurses so they can pay as little as possible - definitely not one with 16 years experience and a master's degree. It didn't help that I really didn't want to start back at the bottom rung again and work my way back up.

Recently it seems to have gotten worse. My internet work had dried up and along with it the supplemental income I was able to pay bills with. My phone doesn't ring here unless it's a bill collector And this past week this one lady took to calling me sometimes twice a day. I went to work on Tuesday in old clothes with holes in them because I can't afford to buy new stuff. Running errands for work, I met a couple of guys I hadn't seen in a while, they were doing well it seemed, certainly much better than I, and they had never attended school after high school.

It just didn't seem fair.

Standing outside a building waiting for a vehicle to be finished so I could bring it back to work (I went out there because the 2 guys inside were Christians and way too happy for the mood I was in ), I had time to reflect on things not accomplished by my own work in the last few years. It really seemed that I was on a road to no-where and getting there at a snail's pace. I can't even fail spectacularly, it's that quicksand talked about in "the replacements".. slowly dragging me down. I told myself: "God, I just can't do this anymore. If things are gonna get better, I need Your help". I don't think anyone saw the sweat in my eyes

No bright light shown.. I probably wouldn't have seen it because the sun was just beaming downon me and sweat was pouring out there. The vehicle was finished and I went back to work.

The next night after church I went to DQ with Lara (our worship leader) and treated her to my "buy-one-get-one-free" coupons - wheee! . She's in school right now and probably as broke as I am... In walks a couple of homeless people hitching a ride to el paso. They wanted 3 tacos... now DQ charges more for 3 tacos than they would charge for 3 seperate tacos (1 for 89cents and 3 for $2.99 ) and I didn't wanna pay the extra money - we already had to scrape together change for our food we ordered. I got them one taco each and didn't mention the 3rd. They thanked me profusely, ate, and started to leave. On their way out I gave them my extra chicken sandwich (they had kept saying "God Bless You, Sir" and other things that made me feel guilty about having that other chicken sandwich ). An elderly couple obviously from a local church walked out after them but not before stopping and saying something about "entertaining angels" - it's possible, but I am not so sure, I saw the same couple by the highway intersection the next day and he was holding a sign that said: "visions of a chicken sandwich - $4.20 - God Bless".

Anyways, the very next day, after I had finally said "It's Yours Lord", He said "OK". I was called for an interview and given a job I hadn't even applied for. That night and the next day I got 3 internet jobs that will help me pay bills until this new full-time position starts.

He is ever faithful... if we'll allow Him to.

Post a story of my own? That would imply that at some point I actually let my grubby claws go of a situation......

Really tho' what a testimony! I will think and see if I have one myself.

Well....

Allen, first off, I just wanna say...that is truly awesome. God is everso faithful. /

I guess there have been alot of divine appointments in my life if I just sat down to think and be thankful for them.

The one that had the most signifcant impact on my life and that of my children was when I was working with an internist in a small country office. A former employer happened to be a patient and on one visit she asked me if I would consider coming back to work for her. She had moved to a new company and wanted to expand her department. At that time, (7 years ago) my ex had just left and we were still in the sorting out stages. He wanted to work things through (so he said) but was still living away from home. I decided to change careers and return back to planning. I worked for about 18 months with her when my ex (after two years of promising he was changing) told me that he decided he didn't want to be married to me any longer. He was moving out of state and wouldn't be seeing the kids so much.

I didn't know what I was going to do. We had a mortgage that was past due and a house that was in need of many repairs. I had a huge day care expense and credit card bills beyond our means. He was just leaving it all behind. I fretted and fretted over where to turn. I could not make it on just my income.

I had always believed that God would repair our marriage, that my ex would be convicted and he would accept salvation, but it wasn't in God's plan for that time. I finally just lost it. I needed and prayed for some direction, that I couldn't do it on my own anymore. I needed God to take complete control of my life and work it as He willed.

The next weekend as I was on my way to visit my parents out of town, I stopped to pick up some goodies and I ran into a woman that I had worked with about 12 years earlier. Neither one of us shopped in this store but we met and she asked where I was working. She told me that there was an opening for a materials planner at her company and to send in my resume. I was so nervous about applying because I was making only $22,000 and I knew this position was a higher paying, more responsible job. I didn't think I was capable. I had lost all confidence in myself. But a brother in Christ told me, if you don't apply, you've tied God's hands. You won't know if this was His will for you. If it isn't you won't get the job. So I applied and I got it.

My salary doubled. /

We still ended up losing our home, and my ex didn't return, but it was through His grace that I was able to remain sane (not one comment Steve or Allen ) provide for my family and make a good life for all of us. My children are growing in Christ now and they see His wonder in so many aspects of our lives.

The Lord has His hand on our lives. Nothing happens in the world that hasn't already crossed His desk first. I still submit my life to His will. I just wait for His next calling.

Awsome stuff Embie and Allen!

I can't think of much save what God has done most recently. As you all know my marriage was on the rocks earlier in the summer. It got to a point where it looked like it was headed to the lawyers It seemed final one night and I told God that this was his testimony from the word go, not mine and I would be satisfied with the end result as long as it was of his authoring, not mine or my wifes. The next morning when I returned from work I recieved a call and was asked how soon I could pack and move in her place!!!!!

Those are the stories I am talking about / - thank you for sharing

*bumping* for the new people

My most recent example happened this morning... having tried to force job positions that may have not been what I needed, I kept hitting roadblocks This job was offered to me without me asking for it. What happened to the other job I posted earlier? I'm not really sure, several events out of my control kept the paperwork from going through, but it did put me in touch with the people who offered me this position

hey Allen congratulations in order? sorry bout the other crappy positions...I guess that's what happens when you have undependable people in positions of authority...anyway I'm happy to hear bout your new offer..I have somewhat of an idea what happened with the other I'll talk to ya later about it..not on here..next I cya..anyway..thanks for the uhhh help last nite..today was a pretty good day I am finally at peace with myself and the decisions I made last nite to let go of old, worn out stuff and I just needed to vent a bit...thanxs much my friend :-)you are really quite "nice" time to go work it out at the gym...later

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">you are really quite "nice" </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">???You know the same Allen we do?? Just kidding!