I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to share something God just put on my heart.
First, I know my posts have been sparse lately – there has just been so much going on! We had a regional event here in Nashville for Wives of Faith September 15th, I have been trying to write for my upcoming deadlines, and there have been a lot of communications with military wives lately who have been struggling with different issues and all of that has taken away from blogging. But to be honest, if I can help one wife through a crisis, I’d rather do that then write a blog that may or may not be read. 
I don’t talk a lot about this but we are going on three months now that my husband doesn’t have a job. It hasn’t been for lack of trying. He has applied for jobs in his field (marketing and promotions) and out of his field (like Target and Lowe’s). He’s been turned down for several, and heard nothing back from even more. It has been disheartening at times but with the exception of a few meltdown days, we have both kept a positive outlook on the whole thing, and we’ve seen God provide when we needed it most.
We have seen God grow us during this season of our life together. He has grown us together as a couple and He’s also grown us both spiritually. We pray together almost every night now and I’ve noticed Cliff is actually taking notes on Sunday mornings in his Bible during the sermon- even brings his own pen!
Anyway, I am still continuing with my quest to read the Bible completely through. I started in Genesis last November and right now I’m in the book of Acts. It’s so exciting to be in the New Testament and actually be close to finishing!
I read something this morning though that sparked something and I thought it might help others today too. It’s the passage in Acts 10 where Peter has a dream which God uses to essentially tell Him that the old rules no longer apply (this was specifically about eating unclean animals, like the Gentiles did). As soon as Peter woke up, three men were at his door, inviting him to the house of Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man but still a non-Jew.
Here’s what Peter had to say after he was seated at the table with this group of people he didn’t usually associate with:
“You know, I’m sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don’t do this – visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked…” (Acts 10:28, The Message)
What I noticed here is that God prepared Peter for what He was about to ask him to do. Had he not spoken to Peter in the dream then Peter probably would have said no to the invitation, thinking he was in the right and following God’s will. (Click keep reading for the rest of this post…)
I’m sure that dream was probably very confusing for Peter. Here he’d known one thing, and now things were changing. He must have had a lot of questions, and maybe even felt frustrated a bit. Kind of like today, when we deal with layoffs and economy woes and uncertainty about the future, right?
But God knows. And God cares. And I believe He uses challenging and uncertain times like these to prepare us for something that’s coming. Maybe it’s an even better job or a new call to ministry or a time to strengthen our spirits and our faith to be ready for the next challenge that comes our way.
If God hadn’t prepared Peter, then Cornelius and his family and friends might never have heard the Gospel and experienced the blessings of baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit. And we might not know of those things today.
So if you’re dealing with hard times today, be assured. God loves you and He wants the best for you. But most of all, He just wants you. So be available and ask God to prepare you.
“It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from – if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.” (Acts 10:34-35, The Message.)
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WOW I really needed to hear that today. I absolutely love your blog and look forward to reading it each time there is something new. Thank you for uplifting me today, I really needed that!!
I’m Glenda’s sister, and she sent me your blog. Thanks Glenda.
Thank you for sharing that. Our situation is dh has been moved to Boston w/Coast Guard and we are still stuck in Fl. for months now because the house hasn’t sold nor rented yet. There are good days and bad days as you know. The thing that’s been highlighted to me in His word is that we have to fight the fight of faith, and it REALLY IS a fight sometimes! But God is who He says He is, and is all powerful.
Thank you for your blog today.
Thanks ladies and it’s great to hear from you both. I hope the house sells soon. Ask God to use this time apart to help grow you both closer to Him and to each other. It can happen!
Praying for you! May the ministering to others always bring a sense of encouragement to you as well. God does have something great in store, and even now in the difficulties you are seeing His greatness in different ways. What a blessing! God’s timing is perfect…and I’m praying you will experience job security for your family very, very soon! Love, Laura