Getting Through the Valley

Have you ever prayed the 23rd Psalm? For those of you who may not be familiar with this passage in the Bible, I will post.

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.

Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall not fear, Thy rod and staff they comfort me You preparest a table in the presence of mine enemy, You anointed my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever…Amen

Surely a beautiful picture of walking with the Good Shepherd, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Many of us are going through some very hard times, some of these hard times have been brought on by our own personal sin of being unfaithful stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us… some as a result of the sin of others, who in their personal greed for money, power and possessions have created a very devastating  economic crisis.

With the permission of a friend Stacey, I am posting a note from her relating to her husbands job loss a year ago. Please read over this and seek God’s face in whatever you or yours are going through. Please share you comments of how you are handling these times and especially how we may intercede on your behalf. Thanks Stacey for your heart and your willingness to share these words of Godly wisdom.

I’m waxing philosophical today since it was one year ago today that we learned Rick was no longer going to have a job! He’d been driving a forklift for 6 years and while he didn’t enjoy it he was paid well for it, it was a steady paycheck and it came with great benefits. We were devestated after he lost his job and it took awhile to pick up the pieces. But we have learned so much from this last year and I thought I’d share it with others who might be going through the same thing.

What we have learned since March 19. 2008.

1. God is faithful.
2. God WILL provide everything you need.
3. Sometimes the you don’t NEED everything you think you do.
4. That 5 people can live peacefully in a 2 bedroom house. MOST of the time anyway! lol
5. To let people help and not be ashamed that you need the help.
6. Satan loves to tear families apart and will use a job loss to try and do just that!
7. Placing blame and pointing fingers does no one any good at all!
8. An “old dog” can learn new tricks! Rick became a salesman at the age of 38!
9. It’s okay to go against the flow as long as you are following God’s leading! We have taken the road less traveled and it’s a beautiful road!
10. You can go through one of the hardest, most gut wrenching, terrifying years of your life and look back on it and see God’s hand and protection in it all! And that it is GOOD!

Many of you are out of work right now or experiencing other hardships. We understand and we are praying for you. God is good. He is working RIGHT NOW for your good. Trust Him! Love Him! Chase hard after Him!! He will see you through this!!

God bless!
Stacey