In the early years of our marriage and even before my husband worked as on offset pressman. He endured an unreasonable boss, to be the light of Jesus as he worked his way through seminary and then to provide for his family. Our needs were always met.
He always yearned to work with people and share the gospel (in college he would go down to the streets of Birmingham, Ala to "Prostitute Alley" and proclaim to the prostitutes, pimps and winos the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ).
He worked at the print shop for what appeared an eternity. Why did God have him at the Print Shop? In hindsight I believe God wanted us to trust Him to bring us through the experience to be able to comfort those who may be going through the same thing, II Corinthians 1:4.
He was given the opportunity in 2005 to become a Hospice Administrator in a small Hospice agency near our small town. He was finally getting paid for what we thought he wanted to do. A year later the Board (all of whom said they were Christians) began to do unethical "things". My husband, in love, went to them and asked them to reconsider, but they would not and became more adamant in their decisions. He felt the Lord was telling him to resign. What would we do without a job? We lived in a small rural town in Indiana and there was no job possibilities.
We were out of work for two months. The Lord did care for our needs. It was I who did not trust Him fully and began to pay some of our bills with credit cards (since then I have repented and do not use credit cards).
Two months after his resignation, and daily sending out his resume's he was offered a job in Gahanna, Ohio with a hospice agency as a full-time chaplain (he hadn't even sent his resume' there; God is so amazing!). During our three years in Columbus we found New Life Gahanna Church and I found life!
The Lord still working on me with the credit card issue, I continued to believe Satan's lie and use my credit cards. Thinking "We are giving to the Church, and we are paying the minimum monthly payment, what's the harm".
God is so amazing, forgiving and faithful. He in His love for me guided me to an understanding of the lie that I had believed.
Now, Len, is working for another hospice agency in Illinois. Our daughter had twin sons in October, 2009 and we felt the Lord leading us to be closer to our daughter’s family. LEAVE Columbus!! We loved Columbus, Len LOVED his job, We LOVED the Church, how could we leave. But we were resolved to do what God wanted us to do, we prayed that if God wanted us to leave then He would open the doors or if He did not, then He would slam them so tight that we couldn't get through.
Well He did blow those doors WIDE OPEN and here we are. Len loves being a Hospice Chaplain, he has seen many come to know Jesus before they pass into eternity.
Okay now about debt. I have repented of my sin of not trusting God and getting into debt. However, as with all sin there is consequences. My consequence is to pay our creditors. As each creditor is paid off I feel a sense of freedom. I am amazed that all our needs are being met and there is still money to pay much more than the minimum monthly payment. God takes care of everything.
I know I have made a long story even longer but I do want to mention one more thing - Before Len and I were married we ministered together; after we were married we wanted a relationship like Aquilla and Priscilla. And so it was for the first few years of our marriage but then my heart was distracted by the thoughts of an everyday housewife and mother.
Now in my 50's with all my children grown and with children of their own, I am less distracted and cry to the Lord to help me to love Him more and to be obedient to His word. I am handicapped so I cannot get out and spread the gospel like my husband does, but I, like you, use Facebook as my outlet to minister to people. Yes, I do play some of the Facebook games and some have said it is not for profit; however I disagree.
I have met people from all over the world while playing those games. Many are hurting and needing comfort. I have been able to share the Lord with them openly and they have received it. I have re-connected with relatives, old classmates, and friends of friends while using the social network. It is amazing, God has allowed me to counsel a friend who is going through an unwanted divorce, and pray for the needs of others.
I weep thinking about the years wasted, however I take comfort in the sovereignty of the Lord. My goal is to be a Titus 2 woman, not only to encourage younger women to love their husbands and children but to teach the truths that the Lord has taught me.
I know this is more than you probably wanted to know but I felt impelled to write it.
God Bless,
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