A New Start

Well January 7th 2013 was definitely a new start for me.

After spending 6 months out of work and using the Job Seekers Allowance system to try and simply "tread water" for my family and me, God delivered on His promise.

It is not the first time and it will not be the last time that I quote from Jeremiah 29 and verse 11:

" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

But when you are right in the middle of your life falling apart, your finances in rack and ruin (even if much of it was your own fault) when you receive nothing but rejection at job interviews for the strangest of reasons which are never explained ("We feel you would not fit our company culturally" - WHAT???!!!) and when you keep "trying" to do things your way, it's hard to embrace the truth of that verse, the promise from God and remember that God NEVER breaks His promises.

Whilst I did not experience anything approaching the things Job went through I do feel as though I was given a glimpse of the circumstances he was presented with. And Job remained firm on God's promise despite the circumstances he found himself in. And the truth is I am sure Job must have thought at times "what have I done??" he stood firm and trusted God.

Well I do not claim to be a Job, but I do declare that even with doubts in my mind at times I continued to seek after God, continued to ask Him to open the right doors to give me the right opportunities to show me the right path and I declared that I would hold onto the promises declared in Jeremiah 29.

The plans He has for us are to prosper us to give us a hope and a future.

Well PRAISE GOD that is exactly what He did. Not just giving me THE JOB (within the business world) that if I had free choice to walk into every job, this would have been the one, but to go beyond that. Isn't that just like a loving Father. Not satisfied with giving us what we ask for and what we need (a job, an income) He goes beyond that and blessed me with a salary that is the highest I have ever been paid. HALLELUJAH. I don't say that to boast I say that to give the glory back to God. And when I eventually finish the current story I am trying to write about where we are now, it can be clearly seen why that additional blessing is so important right now.

But then God KEEPS ON BLESSING:

During my last year with Heinz I worked with a simply amazing guy, a Christian, whom I miss and love dearly, Peter Eilers. We have maintained contact through Facebook and one day I truly hope that we can get together again. Peter and his wife have moved back to the USA and are living in Seattle. I cannot tell how fantastic it was to work alongside this Christian brother. Also during the last year I had discovered three or four other Christians in the wider procurement team, Peter had introduced me to a weekly prayer group that met and even amongst the new employees that came on board during 2011/12 a really strong Christian guy joined and tried to start a similar prayer gathering in the new European office in Zeist Holland. So things were really quite exciting in the company.

So last week during a "chat" conversation with a colleague at my new company IBM, I mentioned that we had been blessed with six children. This lady had just returned to the business after maternity leave hence the discussion around children. I had probably used the word "blessed" twice. She typed into the chat box "I hope you don't mind me asking but are you a Christian?" A very quick reply went back with "No I don't mind and Yes I am" - There was an almost audible hallelujah - "so am I" came back the message. I was the first other Christian she had found in the organisation - I just think it was another one of those very special Godincidencies.......................

So a promise from God fulfilled, a new start, a financial blessing and to top it off within the first 4 weeks I make contact with another Christian

Just hold onto His promises, His timing and His goodness will pour out into your life

Amen