Saturday, March 20, 2010
1:11 AM | 
Posted by
nb |
In 1998 I was working for AT&T. I had been there 23 years so I was making a REALLY good salary and 7 weeks of vacation.
One day, early in the year, they made an offer I couldn’t refuse. They made a “buy out” offer that almost everyone that was eligible, took. Like I said, too good to refuse.
However, I was still young and I would have to work somewhere, so why leave that large salary and lots of vacation?.... It ended up taking me 6 full months to decide! I put out about 20 fleeces, all directing me to leave. THANK GOD FOR HIS PATIENCE!!!
That night, thinking about his offer, I made a life defining decision. I told the Lord that going from $80,000 to $20,000 was huge!... BUT, if that was what the He wanted me to do, I was there! You have to know that was HUGE! If you know me now, 12 years later, that doesn’t seem so "out there", because I tend to say that constantly now, and leaving isn't hard for me anymore … not so then! I said it then, and I meant it! That opened the doors of heaven spiritually for me!
As it turns out, I didn’t get the job, because my "leave" date and their "need by" date didn’t match up… But, it really wasn't about the job, it was about my decision to step-out regardless of the pay difference, if that's what He wanted me to.
It took a few more fleeces before I made the final, final decision because I didn't get that job, I still wasn't sure if I was suppose to leave. And, I wanted a job lined up before I did "something stupid"!
That final "LEAVE" decision came when I finally realized that everytime I thought about leaving it was based on faith: "God WILL PROVIDE" and everytime I thought about staying with AT&T it was based on fear: "What if He doesn't!?!" And, like I said, I wanted that safety net, a job lined up before I decided, but HE wanted me to make my decision without the safety net.
That was the beginning of my Abraham experience:
Abraham had no clue where the Lord was taking him, he was just promised provision, so he had to step out in faith and go where the Lord took him.
Here, I am today, 12 years later with ZERO regrets! NONE! Wouldn’t go back! There have been quiet a few years where there was no full time job, or no job at all… but the Lord has ALWAYS provided! Thank You Father GOD!
---------------
Lessons Learned:
- If God has a job for you, He will give you Divine favor! Seriously, I wish you could have seen me that day! I did absolutely NOTHING to get that job offer, but there is was. Because I learned that, anytime I have gone on a job interview it has been completely stress free.
- You won't always know what is next. He may tell you to leave one place without letting you know what is next. My experience, so far, is that He RARELY lets you in on the next thing! NEVER has for me! He just keeps saying "OK! Time's UP here, time to move on." But Looooord!! (said with a whiny voice)
- Where God guides He provides. He is my provider! Listen, if YOU give me something, God gets the credit, not you! Because, I know he put it on your heart to give it to me.
One day, early in the year, they made an offer I couldn’t refuse. They made a “buy out” offer that almost everyone that was eligible, took. Like I said, too good to refuse.
However, I was still young and I would have to work somewhere, so why leave that large salary and lots of vacation?.... It ended up taking me 6 full months to decide! I put out about 20 fleeces, all directing me to leave. THANK GOD FOR HIS PATIENCE!!!
One of the things I did, in addition to the fleeces, was go to the church’s financial man, Mr. Burell, to get some “Godly Wisdom”. I told him why I was there in about one sentence and he went off … he talked the next 30 minutes non-stop… telling me he had been made an like offer and had taken it. Definitely the way to go he said! He had not regretted it even one moment. By the time he was done talking I was crying…not sure why…probably FEAR!
But, the thing that I wanted to mention about that visit was that he offered me a job! Now mind you, I looked AWFUL! I was there in regular, everyday clothes, no makeup and crying! Talk about God’s favor!
That night, thinking about his offer, I made a life defining decision. I told the Lord that going from $80,000 to $20,000 was huge!... BUT, if that was what the He wanted me to do, I was there! You have to know that was HUGE! If you know me now, 12 years later, that doesn’t seem so "out there", because I tend to say that constantly now, and leaving isn't hard for me anymore … not so then! I said it then, and I meant it! That opened the doors of heaven spiritually for me!
As it turns out, I didn’t get the job, because my "leave" date and their "need by" date didn’t match up… But, it really wasn't about the job, it was about my decision to step-out regardless of the pay difference, if that's what He wanted me to.
It took a few more fleeces before I made the final, final decision because I didn't get that job, I still wasn't sure if I was suppose to leave. And, I wanted a job lined up before I did "something stupid"!
That final "LEAVE" decision came when I finally realized that everytime I thought about leaving it was based on faith: "God WILL PROVIDE" and everytime I thought about staying with AT&T it was based on fear: "What if He doesn't!?!" And, like I said, I wanted that safety net, a job lined up before I decided, but HE wanted me to make my decision without the safety net.
That was the beginning of my Abraham experience:
"The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him;" (Genesis 12:1-4)
Here, I am today, 12 years later with ZERO regrets! NONE! Wouldn’t go back! There have been quiet a few years where there was no full time job, or no job at all… but the Lord has ALWAYS provided! Thank You Father GOD!
---------------
Lessons Learned:
- If God has a job for you, He will give you Divine favor! Seriously, I wish you could have seen me that day! I did absolutely NOTHING to get that job offer, but there is was. Because I learned that, anytime I have gone on a job interview it has been completely stress free.
- You won't always know what is next. He may tell you to leave one place without letting you know what is next. My experience, so far, is that He RARELY lets you in on the next thing! NEVER has for me! He just keeps saying "OK! Time's UP here, time to move on." But Looooord!! (said with a whiny voice)
- Where God guides He provides. He is my provider! Listen, if YOU give me something, God gets the credit, not you! Because, I know he put it on your heart to give it to me.