Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! ~Psalm 105:1
Yesterday was a very interesting day. We were out all day from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We drove to drop my husband off at the new demo center because he was involved with moving some of the machines from the old demo center to the new facility. Afterward I had the van to do my usual errands: grocery shopping, paying bills, and piano lesson. After finding out we had some money in a medical saving account through my husband's work, we added an way overdue and much-needed chiropractor visit for both the Princess and me. Also, Shadow had broken his exercise wheel so we stopped at a pet store for a replacement, which the Princess bought with her own money out of the envelop for her hamster budget. (Great timing too as it was on sale for $2.00 off.)
It was raining with sleet mixed in and temperatures near freezing so traffic was terrible on the way home, as people were in a rush to get home and did not want to get stranded or abandon their cars as many did the last ice storm we had. Even though the roads were not at all icy, it took us over two hours to make the typical hour trip. Thinking it would be a long day, we had already planned to stop along the way at a supermarket to pick up a family dinner package of fried chicken, cole slaw, baked beans, and rolls (it tastes better and is cheaper than the fast good chicken restaurants). Unfortunately, I had developed an irritating headache on the way, probably from the combination of the day being too long, meals being too far apart, and my neck adjusting to being straightened to its proper placement. I kept thinking on the way that the job offer came that day, while we were away, but when I checked phone messages, there had not been a call.
After the flurry of unpacking, feeding furry ones, realizing that we forgot to put the trash out for the pick up that morning, eating, cleaning up, and washing dishes, we finally slowed the pace to our regular before bedtime routine. I was fussing in the bathroom, washing the day off my face, while the Princess was changing in her bedroom, when my husband came in to say he had received the offer by email, the job offer for which we have been waiting.
The way he looked made me think that we would have a tougher decision than we hoped. Maybe they were offering the lowest end of the pay scale? I should explain here that have been very concerned about our church. We committed to doubling our tithe for six months and we are in the sixth month, but we both knew that we honestly could not continue giving that much afterward. At the end of this month, we will be broke and may be able to pay just ten percent without having difficulties in paying bills. It bothered me that this also meant that the church might not meet its budget. I have been wondering how the Lord would work this out and I thought the job offer might be the solution.
Well, praise the Lord! The company offered more than we both thought they would. They actually matched what he said he would like to make! We had not expected that. I wanted someone to pinch me to be sure I was not dreaming, but then I was aware of that nagging headache so...it must be real! After four years of basically the same pay, even loss of pay; being in the sixth and last month of doubling our tithe to the church; and knowing that the end of this month we are going to be broke (not kidding here), suddenly we will be nearly back to what he used to make before all of this! It is almost too surreal and a bit scary!
They would like him to start as soon as he can give his present employer proper notice and arrangements. He will be going to the U.K. for training for two weeks soon, one of the countries he has not been to yet.
Again, I wish to thank you for your prayers. There will be many changes and procedures he needs to learn, of course. One thing most pressing is now we need the Lord to point us to the vehicle He has for us because we need another one for his work and I am sure He has this covered also. We are also asking for prayer and guidance about resigning on good terms...you see, my husband never has resigned from a job since the temporary jobs he had for college expenses, which is not the same. One more thing, we ask you pray with us about being very good stewards with the increase of income the Lord has blessed us. We feel that we need to give extra support to our church in some manner. We also have some serious issues with our house that need to be addressed...very serious issues that I will write about in the future perhaps. We will have to go further in debt for a vehicle because we literally have no reserves left, so it is going to take some time to build up an emergency fund, start over with a budget, and again work toward getting debt-free.
At this point in my life, I view having more money as having more responsibility to the Lord in how we use it. It is a blessing that, if not used to honor the Lord, could become a curse. We have been down that road before and we don't want to ever go that way again.
I am probably rambling, but I cannot tell you just how thankful I am right now...I just have to spend some time with my Lord telling Him!
~ Thank you, my Lord, for blessing us. Help us to use this blessing in the way that pleases You. Guide us to the vehicle You have chosen for us. Please help my husband to resign in an honorable fashion and that he be remembered favorably. Help him to excel at this new job and be recognized. Help us to be good stewards and generous givers according to Your will. ~
