[dgbygrace]

It seems they have passed another extension for unemployment benefits here in America. I should be eligible for that. Thank you Lord for that provision! Now for the seemingly smaller things...a bit harder to understand. I thank God for this time that I have been unemployed; for the growth He has brought me through it. I started working and paying taxes when I was 14. That was 31 years ago. He always provided for me through that. I have never been laid off before, and never needed to file for unemployment before. Since I have been I have learned a lot about the words Jesus tried to teach us..."give us this day, our daily bread". The biggest lesson I have learned is that I place my trust and sense of security in what I mistakenly thought I had control over. I grew up in a pretty unsecure environment, as many children have to, and pretty much learned that there isn't much you can trust in. This time of being unemployed though, has been given to me to practice taking God at His Word. Amazing, but you actually in reality can!

Another small thing. Yesterday I went next door to my neighbor's house and spent a couple hours raking her yard. It looks much better (beautiful autumn where God has moved us!). The leaves are beautiful but kind of a lot of work to clean up. My neighbor is a single mom like myself, and I did this as a thank you to God. It struck me that in a way I am very blessed to have the time that being unemployed is giving me. God IS providing and I can either choose every day to "panic" because I don't have a regular job, or I can use this time to practice trusting my heavenly Father - who says He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. I have to admit that in the past I liked thinking that I could believe that, rather than having to depend on it! Turns out that is quite silly! Having to depend on it is the only truth there is, and learning that one actually, really, can is amazing! I am also so blessed to have the health to be able to do a small thing like this for someone. I found out while I was doing this that the neighbor is also sick with the flu. So I also prayed while I raked - for her healing, and humbly that I don't have the flu too, like so many do. I prayed again for all of those associated with the forum who have it right now. I ended up with my heart full of His presence, and praise...for so many things, most of all that time with Him. And best of all our God can use a tiny thing like this to actually touch another person's heart. Doing anything for another, and actually being freed from the prison of thinking only of ourselves is one of the most basic blessings I think there is. I think we often ask for blessings of which we have specific things in mind...not realizing that the best blessings God has to give come through means we would never think of ourselves. Doing even small things for others, does more for us than it does for them!! Thanking God today for all of you on this forum! Many of you have touched my heart in ways you would not even realize! All glory to Jesus.

[Miche]

wow,

Your message blessed me soooo much.

You are a precious child of a KING.

(that makes you a princess)

Wow!

God has great things planned for you.

amen

[rtkiii66]

dgbygrace, on Nov 6 2009, 09:50 AM, said:

It seems they have passed another extension for unemployment benefits here in America. I should be eligible for that. Thank you Lord for that provision! Now for the seemingly smaller things...a bit harder to understand. I thank God for this time that I have been unemployed; for the growth He has brought me through it. I started working and paying taxes when I was 14. That was 31 years ago. He always provided for me through that. I have never been laid off before, and never needed to file for unemployment before. Since I have been I have learned a lot about the words Jesus tried to teach us..."give us this day, our daily bread". The biggest lesson I have learned is that I place my trust and sense of security in what I mistakenly thought I had control over. I grew up in a pretty unsecure environment, as many children have to, and pretty much learned that there isn't much you can trust in. This time of being unemployed though, has been given to me to practice taking God at His Word. Amazing, but you actually in reality can!

Another small thing. Yesterday I went next door to my neighbor's house and spent a couple hours raking her yard. It looks much better (beautiful autumn where God has moved us!). The leaves are beautiful but kind of a lot of work to clean up. My neighbor is a single mom like myself, and I did this as a thank you to God. It struck me that in a way I am very blessed to have the time that being unemployed is giving me. God IS providing and I can either choose every day to "panic" because I don't have a regular job, or I can use this time to practice trusting my heavenly Father - who says He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. I have to admit that in the past I liked thinking that I could believe that, rather than having to depend on it! Turns out that is quite silly! Having to depend on it is the only truth there is, and learning that one actually, really, can is amazing! I am also so blessed to have the health to be able to do a small thing like this for someone. I found out while I was doing this that the neighbor is also sick with the flu. So I also prayed while I raked - for her healing, and humbly that I don't have the flu too, like so many do. I prayed again for all of those associated with the forum who have it right now. I ended up with my heart full of His presence, and praise...for so many things, most of all that time with Him. And best of all our God can use a tiny thing like this to actually touch another person's heart. Doing anything for another, and actually being freed from the prison of thinking only of ourselves is one of the most basic blessings I think there is. I think we often ask for blessings of which we have specific things in mind...not realizing that the best blessings God has to give come through means we would never think of ourselves. Doing even small things for others, does more for us than it does for them!! Thanking God today for all of you on this forum! Many of you have touched my heart in ways you would not even realize! All glory to Jesus.

Amen!


Mat 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]



Mat 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]





Heb 4:1 THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it.

Heb 4:2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).

Heb 4:3 For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world. [Ps. 95:11.]

Heb 4:4 For in a certain place He has said this about the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works. [Gen. 2:2.]

Heb 4:5 And [they forfeited their part in it, for] in this [passage] He said, They shall not enter My rest. [Ps. 95:11.]

Heb 4:6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience,

Heb 4:7 Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts. [Ps. 95:7, 8.]

Heb 4:8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day.

Heb 4:9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;

Heb 4:10 For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own. [Gen. 2:2.]

Heb 4:11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

[freedom]

PRAISE the LORD, for PROVISIONS! I'm so glad, you shared this with us. It reminds me, to be thankful for more of the little things, and by doing something for others, we are spreading some of the LORD'S GOODNESS! It's just wonderful. I'll be praying for your sick neighbor. We've seen some of our relatives getting that nasty bugger, but so dar, we've stayed healthy!

Your a BLESSING dgbygrace.

[Miki]

If only more people could 'get it'...

My son is unemployed..Such precious time to use to help others instead of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself..

This effort on your behalf is exactly what l as talking about under the string 'reparation'.

May God move you forward and bless it.

[TurnFromEvilAndLive]

dear dgbygrace,

this touched me.... thank you for sharing your heart.

You are so right too.... about the "little" things. I'm sure your neighbor felt a huge relief, having this done for her!

I'd like to encourage you in that with a similar story.

I babysat for a lady with 3 kids over a summer awhile back, until her kids went back to school. I also helped her get moved in across the street from us. Raising 3 kids and working at Walmart definitely left her frazzled... and not able to make all ends meet. I noticed one day that she didn't have a gas powered lawn mower... she only had one of those older style push blade mowers... and was only able to mow a small area directly in front of the house... her lawn was an acre!

Another one of our neighbors was a busybody... willing to call the city inspector over anything and everything. I stepped outside one day and there he was, sitting on his porch... complaining about this lady's lawn... the weeds had grown pretty tall.

Later that night, I snuck over to her place while she was at work and mowed her lawn, lol. The feeling of doing that was just awesome.

About 2 weeks later, I had to a chance to visit with her. Something told me that I needed to let her know that I had mowed her lawn. She sat there with tears in her eyes. She let me know that the city had been threatening to come and mow the lawn if she didn't do it... they gave her a certain date that they would come and mow... and charge her 100 DOLLARS PER HOUR to do it!

Guess what? That date was exactly ONE DAY after I mowed her lawn!

Talk about providence!

You know, there are so many people who judge others by outward appearances. This wealthy next door neighbor had all the time in the world... all the equipment... but would rather cause this poor woman a world of grief. I sincerely hate to say it, but I've seen christians with this type of judgmental attitude too.

If only we could step into our neighbor's shoes for a moment... and consider that their health may not be as great or maybe they really don't have the money for repairs or lawn work etc.

.... myrambles!

God bless you!