Last year I had prayed to God  to "give me a voice."  At that time I was feeling shut in, not able to communicate as I would like to.  I felt I had something to say but no way of saying it.  Also fear. . .the kind of fear you feel when you stand in front of a group of people to speak.  So I prayed to God to give me the voice that I needed.

A few days later at work, I was offered a promotion - general manager.  This would put me in charge of everyone in the office.  I really could not believe it.  I thought, "This is not the 'voice' that I had been thinking of, but perhaps this is God answering my prayer."  After all, to lead others you have to have a voice!

I dived into this new position with excitement and enthusiasm.  Excited for this new opportunity but also excited that God had answered my prayer.  My excitement and enthusiasm did not last long.  As the months passed, I realized that I did not have a voice after all.  Most decisions were not mine to make.  My co-workers did not take kindly to their peer now being the 'boss.'

At the same time I was struggling to find meaning and answers to what I was doing at work, I became more involved in church.  I always loved to sing, so I was invited to join the praise team.  In August, I was asked if I would like to assist Karen in teaching Sunday School for the upcoming year - I was thrilled!  I found the best days of my week were Sundays and Wednesday nights (praise team practice night).  In the fall, I helped to create a new website for the church.  Learning that we are called to be a witness to the works of the Lord, I added this blog to the site so that others can share their stories.

I decided in December that I was not equipped to be a general manager.  It was a hard request to make, but I asked to go back to my previous position and part time hours as the marketing director.  In all honesty, I should have declined the position when it was first offered. . .I knew in my heart then that it was not what I should be doing.  But I thought God was answering my prayer and I needed to follow Him.

Just this past Sunday, February 19th, in a discussion with the children about the parable of the lost sheep, I realized that God had answered my prayer after all.  When we are lost sometimes the path back is not a straight and easy one.  There may be lessons to learn along the way.  We can pray for the answer, but what we think is the answer is not necessarily so.  God does show us the way back in a way and time that is best for us. 

Here is the voice that God has given me:  I am a member of the praise team singing out praise to the Lord every Sunday (and every day), I teach Sunday School to children where I learn more myself each week, I was asked to co-chair the Witness Ministry which is called to share the good news to others - what an amazing voice to have!  Some prayers are answered over time.  I am quite confident that God is still at work on this one for me because I still have much to learn about having a voice.

God does answer prayers.

Jean.

It's Valentine's Day today.  The day we tell our parents, children, grandchildren and spouses that we love them.  But today I want to say "I love you" to some that I would not ordinarily say "I love you" to.  To the UPS driver that got stuck in the ditch across from my house two weeks ago and admitted he was having a very bad day, "I love you."  To the man at Weis Market that collects the grocery carts from the parking lot who never smiles, "I love you and I will continue to say hello and smile at you each time I am there to shop."  To Kayla at Tops who does finally smile when I see her, "I love you."  To Heidi who I only just met a few months ago and who pushes on no matter how many times she visits the hospital, "I love you - you are amazing."  To the tenants that moved out of my apartment and still owe three months back rent, "I love you."  To the people that I disagree with and often find infuriating, "I love you."  To those I have met in the past and to those I have yet to meet, "I love you."
It's easy to love more than just the people you are closest to if you have Jesus in your heart. . .

Written by Russell Mee
2/11/2017
Teen/Adult Devotional
​Winter can seem so dark and depressing with all the sad and gloomy days and very little sun. The mud and dirt seems to follow you everywhere you go, it’s on your car, your shoes, on the road and everywhere around you.
But have you ever noticed in the morning after a fresh snowfall, how clean the world seems to be? The contrast is incredible, the morning sun glistens in the newly fallen snow, and everything seems to be revived and vivid with the fresh white blanket draped over it. The evergreens are low to the ground, heavy laden with the beauty of white snow. The children go outside and build snowmen and their gloom is lifted as they laugh and play. The once dark and muddy roads are now pristine. Finally all the mud and gloom seems to be covered and wiped away by the freshness of the snow.
Our sin is like the muck, mud, and dirt of a dark ugly winter’s day, it attaches itself to us and comes with us everywhere we go. We can become dark and heavy with the burden of it.
But we must confess our sins, just like David’s cry out to God saying, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” -Psalm 51:7. And if we do so we will receive the grace and forgiveness of God and he will clean us so that we might start the day new again. We are renewed and the sun reflects off of our bright new clean body and onto those around us. The heavy burden of sin is miraculously taken off of our shoulders and replaced with the freeing grace and beauty of God. We should feel cleaner and whiter than snow after a confession and repentance of sins.
But after a while the roads become dirtied and brown as we fall back into our sin. The only way to regain the cleanliness of the new snow is to repent of our sins again and watch as the Lord lets the snowfall of his grace fall all around us.
Let us pray- Lord please forgive us of our sins and make us whiter than snow, help us to stay clean but when we fail please help us return to you that we might be made pure again in your sight.