Hey, My Darling Ones!
Thank you so much for praying for our Bible study launch last night. God brought us such a great group! Lots of new faces and lots of familiar ones, too. I love a marvelous blend of both! It was my first time to teach in our newly renovated sanctuary. It was so beautiful and the quality of sound was the difference between night and day. I am profoundly humbled and blessed this morning that God would allow me, such a former pit-dweller, to serve a plate of His Word to a hungry soul. The way I see it, I’m a waitress.
Let me also give you a quick reminder that tomorrow is the 15th and you that are part of our Siesta Scripture-memory Team will need to be ready to sign in and give your 2nd Scriptures on that (not this) post. If God hasn’t pointed out a specific verse, you are also very welcome to share mine. I’ll give it to you tomorrow. You’ll know if you should share mine by whether or not it resonates with you as something you personally (“N” in our RENEW acrostic) NEED. Also, Siestas, thank you so much for your encouragement over the mini-tutorial! It built up my spirit more than you could know. You made me laugh over your comments about liking the rough videos because you could see the professional ones any old time. It was refreshing. YOU are refreshing. One last thing about the mini-tutorial. It meant the world to me to see you give so many shout-outs to Sabrina. She and the rest of this happy band of women (and one-lone man) at LPM work so hard. Thank you for always recognizing them. They are family to me. I could not esteem them more highly.
OK, now for how I’d like to hear from you today. I am very concerned about those of you who are suffering ramifications from our nation’s current financial crisis. Our unemployment rate is skyrocketing and the threat of further layoffs can be terrifying and demoralizing. I’ve already begun praying for servants of God who are suffering financial blows but my prayers feel more effective AND DIRECTED if I have some names and stories feeding them. If you are feeling the crunch and could use some powerful Siest-ercession (I just made that up. I made my own self laugh.), please post a comment so we can pray for you! Keep your comment limited to a reasonable one-paragraph length so we can read every single one of them and pray. It will really help if you’ll tell us your name and what part of the country (or world!) you are in, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, feel free! I know that we’ll all be tempted to write comments back to our Siestas who describe a need but it will be so much easier to use the comments to this post for prayer if we limit them only to the ones making specific requests. Thank you for your cooperation!
You are so loved and welcome here. You have become an extremely important branch of this ministry and all of us here at LPM are honored to be your servants. Keep fighting the good fight of faith, Sisters! Jesus is worthy!
PS. Girls, I’ve already been reading a number of your needs (over 200 at this point) and praying while nearly bawling. I have become so fond of you that your needs feel like my needs. The Apostle Paul told us that when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. I guess you could consider me the nose on this body. And it is really stinging. And running. I was nearly overcome by the one who is having to lay off 7 people today and is almost physically ill over it. Take heart, all of you! God never prompts us to pray with no intention of responding. It’s just not His style. He initiates prayer to initiate action…often first on Earth so that He can view love and obedience at work…then in Heaven where wonders reside then powerfuly descend in Divine timing. He loves you so much. ABIDE in that love. (Which reminds me, I totally loved the comment from the mom that ended with what her three year-old daughter says at the conclusion of her prayers: “Jesus love me, Amen.” HE DOES.)
I have been through this before. In fact, I write a blog to address the emotional and spiritual toll of a financial crises and God forbid, a bankruptcy. (I believe you can click on my name and get to the blog…”Hope for the Bankrupt.”) My message is that even if you must file, God can still bring you out, renew you, forgive, etc.
In the meantime…these financial times are crushing us as well. We are back in business, retail, of all things and praying for favor and daily provision. We see this as an attack, specifically to keep me from offering God’s voice of hope to others Satan wants me to believe I am a loser with nothing to say!.
Thank you for praying for us, that we experience God’s strength and provision, and that I hear and obey His words as I write a book of hope about our bankruptcy experience.
Wow- What an awesome offer. I have been feeling so desperate lately. My husband and I and our two little girls find ourselves about to lose our home. My husband has lost a lot of money at his job forcing me to start working and even with that we are still not able to make the bills. It is scary not knowing what is going to happen with us. I have been having a lot of anxiety and fear over the whole situation which I know is not biblical but I keep having it. We still tithe as I feel God should get the first fruits and yet our sitation keeps getting more dire. Thanks for your prayers!
Thanks for praying for our specific needs! We are on staff at a church, my husbands salary was cut in half…we are going to sink real fast! Also, I am getting myself caught up in something I don’t need to be a apart of…a “friendship” I have no business being in and I’m sinking real fast…..I will not let this overtake me..but I need some prayer partners. THANK-YOU!!!
Thank you for offering to pray!! I will definitely join in lifting these requests up to our Abba Father, but I would also like to ask that you pray for my family. My husband was laid off in October and hasn’t found anything else yet. Until recently, he was doing okay, but he’s starting to get depressed about not having a job. This is the first time in his life he hasn’t been working and I think it’s bothering him that he’s not “providing” for his family right now. Fortunately, my job is secure for now so we have health insurance and a steady income (Praise God!). We’re beginning to feel the crunch but we also see God’s hand of provision in our lives. My husband wants to find another 3rd shift job so he can continue to stay at home with our baby son during the day and save us from daycare expenses. We’re trusting God to open something up for him…We just don’t know where. Unemployment in our area is up to 10% so jobs are hard to find. My heart goes out to everyone in the same situation. Times look scary but we know GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Our house has been on the market for 20 months now. Our family of six has moved and has been living with a family member for all this time. We are asking God to work a miracle and SELL THIS HOUSE so we can make a new home of our own! Thank you for lifting this up!
Money is a little tight in our house with five children, we homeschool, and I stay at home. But, all of our needs are being met and I am not complaining or whining. I am writing today, however, about my brother Stephen. He is having a difficult time financially. He is divorced with two sweet girls. He works so hard at the family business he took over when my Dad died 20 years ago. It is a garage door business. Unfortunately, there is just not enough work right now. He has a lot of debt, and no matter what he does or how hard he works, there is just not enough money. My siblings and I have tried to help when we could. There have been days we have found out when he only ate one meal, or did not have heat in his home. This breaks my heart. Every where he turns he seems to hit another wall. The very good thing is that he is the strongest spiritually that he has been in a long time. But I know it is so hard for him not to get discouraged. He is 45 years old and the best garage door hanger that I know! Unfortunately, that does not help much in our economy right now. Please pray for him, especially for him to continue being strong spiritually to get through this. Thank you.
Thank you for the offer to pray for us! God bless you ABUNDANTLY for your love and service to His children. I would like prayer and to give a praise. We are a single income family by choice. It is getting harder and harder to be a single income family but my husband and I feel it is what God has called us to be, for our son. Please pray we will continue to make this a priority in these difficult times. I truly believe God has blessed our son, and our family by this decision, without going into all the difficult trials and details, God continues to be faithful to pay our bills and that is my praise. I will be praying for you Beth, LPM and all the siestas out there, God is faithful! I love to see God do His best work in the toughest of circumstances! ALL GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD! THANK YOU JESUS!!
lebanon, IN
Thank you so much for your prayers! My husband has been looking for work for about 8 months, so we've been cutting back on spending for awhile now. My part-time work brings in very little each month, and we have 2 children whom I'm homeschooling. The good news is that he had an interview with a company here in Houston yesterday (Wed.) that went very well, but it'll be several weeks before we get the final answer. Until then (and hoping the job will work out), we're trying to figure out how to pay the utility bills and for food & gas, as we've completely used up all our savings and investment accounts over the past 8 months. My earnings will just barely cover food & gas. We're asking the Lord to provide my husband (an attorney) with a little extra work to cover the utility bills and auto insurance. Thanks again!
Love,
Karen K.
Houston
I am blessed indeed! Ok, so in the last 8 months I got divorced (delivered), my house foreclosed, and I’ve had to try to turn a part-time business into full-time to support my children and me. Even so, I have seen God’s hand in so many unexpected and timely ways. That being said, I still don’t know where next month’s rent is coming from. I’m living by faith, selling everything I own but the children, and taking any odd job that comes my way on top of trying to grow my own business. I need your prayers for all matters finacial, including the best use of what we do have. I also ask for prayers to help me see where God wants me to focus my energy and resources. I want to serve Him, and I think I do with my work, but it’s not supporting us.
Help. Thank you and Thank God for hearing our prayers and lifting our burdens!
My husband and I own an electrical contracting business in Kalispell, MT. There is not enough work or money to pay the bills this month. My husband is starting to look for another job to try and suppliment some income, but our community has also had 1 Aluminum plant, a lumber mill and an major assembly line company close their doors, so jobs are scares right now. While it’s easy to complain or be worried that not enough money is coming in, when we really look around we see where other people are and that they are worse off then we are, we are thankful for what the lord has provided. We are resting in his promise that he will supply ALL our needs for the DAY! We don’t have to look ahead to the next week or month, just rest in him for the day!
My family owns a brick distributorship in TN and we are directly tied to the housing industry. We have sold a division and have laid off as many employees as possible and are looking at forgoing our own paychecks in order to pay the employees that are left. It is a frightening time as we have had some of the worst months in our history this past year. But I have watched God be ever faithful to sustain us in ways that I would never have imagined. I have cried and prayed and seen glories that are truly only Him. I would ask for your continuing prayers for protection and wisdom to manage the money He does send that we might honor and glorify His beautiful name. Some of my family are not Christians and I continue to pray that they see His hand in our situation. Sometimes when He answers prayers it can be painful but we have to believe that what is around the corner will be wonderful to behold. Let us not be fearful of the walk….just anixous for the joy that comes in the morning.Thanks for your prayers as I will be holding you and your family and ministry up as well. You are so loved by us all.
Sherri Adams
My daughter, Amanda, just graduated college and can’t find work.Thank you
Jan
It is so difficult for me to ask for prayer after reading so many desperate situations. My heart goes out to you, my Siestas. How do we pray for so many needs? Do we just lift up everyone as one big group?
Anyway my prayer request is for my husband. He was going to retire next year but our money is in the stock market so he is going to put off retirement. He has had to lay off so many of his workers. It’s a heavy burden to bear. Please pray that God will use it to draw him closer to Himself. Thanks.
Thanks, Beth! Last year my husband and I finally created a budget. He turned over part of the household finances to me. I have failed miserably. I must now tell him when we sit to revise things for 2009 that I have several thousand dollars in credit card debt. He will be so disappointed. His job is not in jeopardy, but things are tight – I am a stay home mom and he hasn’t gotten a raise or bonus (which we always depended on ) in 3 years. Now I have made matters worse, on expenses I thought we “needed”. On top of poor money management, we have some unexpected medical bills and upcoming braces for our son to pay for. Finances has been a struggle in my life for 20 years, and I am done with it. I have turned everything in my life over to God but my money. Please pray that I will come to understand how he wants me to handle the money he has entrused me with and that I will give to him what is his without condition or hesitation.
Thank you my dear friend.
Thank you so much for offering to pray!
On January 5th, I was laid off for the 2nd time in 6 months. This has been such an emotional roller-coaster for me. I had never been without a job, since high school! So, that makes 15 years with a 6 week break after the birth of my little boy that I’ve been working.
On January 6th, I had to have sinus surgery, which was really needed. I considered cancelling, but it is a great blessing to have it done and be able to breathe freely. We will have to pay approximately $2,000 out of pocket for the surgery, which we don’t have, and will likely be added to a credit card balance.
My husband and I have been trying to start a business (after my first layoff), which has driven us further into debt. Please pray that we’d be successful somehow in this venture, as we felt that God was leading us into it.
So, currently, I am recovering from surgery, job hunting, and trying to find some way to pay off a mountain of debt. We are in Ogden, Utah, and I am a career administrative professional with a paralegal certificate. I am looking for work close to home, but haven’t been called for any interviews as of yet.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING! 🙂 I wish I could give all of you a big hug!
Feeling it here in Tucson. My husband was laid of from his job of ten years out of the blue in October. The sad part is that they treated him like he’d done something wrong and told him to pack his office, took his ID badge back and escorted him off of the premises. He was one of many who lost their jobs at his company. So proud of him for going out and doing odd jobs while applying for new ones in his field! He was offered a new job at a great company and a pay raise without haggling over salary! We are still playing catch up on our bills but are so thankful for his job. His name is John and could you please pray that he will establish good working relationships at his new company? That’s what he’s missing the most…the people he worked with before. I was so worried about what would happen and John kept the faith and did whatever work he could find. Look what happened!
Wow! I just read Twinkle’s comment. If anyone reads this one and hasn’t read hers, go find it. It’s around #300.
Twinkle, you are so full of encouragement and that’s what we all need right now. Thank you!!
What a blessing that you are willing to pray for those in need. Thank you so much. My brother’s (Mark)family needs prayer. He is a commercial-graphic artist/web designer in Billings, MT and his company is struggling. They asked that all employees take a mandatory, one-week off, without pay. OUCH! More than half of the company has been laid off and my brother fears getting that news any day. He has looked for other jobs, but the pickin’s are slim. Thank you so much for your prayers.
LPM staff, I understand if you do not publish this comment, but feel led to write it anyway. I have prayed and cried for all my sisters struggling today and fought against the urge to panic over so many struggling. God’s faithfulness has prompted my heart to encourage others.
I have been unable to work for nearly 3 yrs due to multiple health problems. It has kept finances tight. I confess we had not been tithing for most of the last year. In Nov. we decided we must obey God and tithe, even though I didn’t see how we could pay our bills and Christmas fast approaching too- however we trusted God to that. We have continued every payday since then and I want to encourage sisters that we have not only paid our bills, but had extra. I cannot explain it other than God’s miraculous provision. He is faithful. Take courage and strength in Him.
We lost our business last year due to a “friend/subcontractor” who took away our largest account and our employee. We are facing foreclosure as we have exhausted our savings and my husband had to take a job making 70% of what we were making. I’m trusting God for provision and it has been tough as Satan has used this in mighty ways which I am fighting with a verse God gave me Deut 31:6 which I have been clinging to “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Dear Beth Thank You so much for the prayers for My Grandmother She went to be with the Lord at 9:59 this morning. One more thing to share I was at gambino’s and a little bird as I was on the phone praying around the time she passed away flew on the side mirror of my car. I know in my heart that Jesus Has Her.
So how awesome is God? I got word yesterday, after posting here, from my soon to be new boss that the company, in which our job is so dependant on, is fervently working on doing all they can to ensure the renewal of our contract in June. I haven’t even started this job yet and God is already preparing for my blessings. He is so Faithful! PRAISES to MY KING, the great I AM!
My heart is thankful with tears in my eyes at the love you shower upon us. I am a single mom of a beautiful four year old boy. I am currently unemployed and do not often receive child support. I am looking for a job! God has provided for us in amazing ways and I am so grateful. I just want to provide for my son and shine Jesus to him. Please pray for us, and especially for my son Jonathan. No one is more precious to me. Expecting great things from our Great God, Jillian in San Antonio
Terrible struggle financially, husband lost his job…twice. No health insurance, but to the glory of God it hasn’t been needed! No doors seem to be opening.
Amber -Dallas, Tx
Dearest Beth, can we encourage and invite "Black Angle" to… at the very least, read over our m&m verses, to if nothing else see she is not alone, and that our Savior is true with just a mustard seed amount of faith? My heart has been moved by many, but it has mourned with her. (I’m at work at the moment and can not access my personal e-mail account or I would e-mail her myself.) Lastly, I have an unspoken prayer I humbly ask for all to lift up in Jesus name for wisdom and discretion for me on God’s will in a stewardship matter. (I’ve tried to give as much info as I possible can because I know you asked us to be specific… but this is all I am being aloud to say, for I must obey HIM!) Thank you!
Please, please, please pray!! The company that I mentioned last night in my post (the home based business that I invested in) is meeting today to see if there is anything they can do to help me. Please pray for God’s will and grace, that their hearts would be softened and we would see a tremendous miracle. Thank you!
Bridgette
Panama City Beach, FL
Thank you for asking to pray for us!
My husband and I are doing ok but would appreciate you praying for 2 of our daughters. One just had her hours cut back to 2 hours a week. She also on Christmas eve had a miscarriage and she was having twins. Our other daughter does her job but they don’t always give her a paycheck. Both live in the south. We know God is good and he will provide!
Sandy in Montana
Dearest Beth,
we have a small business and we have been struggling for over 2 years now trying to stave off bankruptcy; retainer is paid but
God has not allowed it to happen yet; everyday God supplies our most critical needs. I cling to his promises and face the day knowing it’s in His hands.
We have had cut back to the bare bone and there is no other place to cut. We have learned to live on a whole lot less and its ok.
I lived through the fear and God has brought us to the place where we know IF it all fails He is still faithful. Everyday is a crisis but I have a peace in knowing He will not let his children starve. The best advice I can give everyone who is in the panic/fear stage is to keep as close to the Lord as you can.Stay in his word, it has has been my souce of hope. Thats why I am committed to memorizing scripture it has helped so much. He has brought us through when we thought it was all over but we are still going on. DON”T GIVE UP, God is faithful and though all these trials He will amaze you at what He is able to do. I have never been closer to Him in my life because I know He holds my life in His hands. What a joy to totally trust Him.
There are still bad days but when there are I run to Him and He’s always there. Whatever you think the worst may be, tust me it isn’t. God will take care of you. TRUST HIM and please pray for us as we walk day to day. We don’t know what the future holds but we know WHO holds the future.
God Bless,
Sally
DID YOU REALIZE, BETH, THAT THE 1st and the 15th are when most people’s bills are due?
Beth,
I would covet your prayers for our financial concerns. This has been ongoing and He has used this to teach many things. Hwever, I am weary. Please pray for wisdom and a clear word from Him as to how I should ‘go’. Thank you.
Thank you so much for taking time to pray for our needs! I am a mother of twin 2.5 year old boys plus a 14 month old son. I fractured my neck in 2 places on Nov 23 and had to undergo surgery. I am extremely blessed to be walking and moving and stand in awe at the hand of our wonderful Savior and Lord through the entire episode!! I have been out of work since then and undergoing physical therapy 3 times per week. I believe there will be total healing and restoration in my body to the point that I will come out stronger than before (physically & spiritually). I hope to be released to start work again soon as it is desperately needed financially. I know God will provide and restore all that has been "seemingly" lost during this time. We covet your prayers and thankfully stand in agreement with you on behalf of everyone's needs posted.
Wendy
Florida
I could use the prayer. I barely make over minimum. Had went to college as a single mom with three kids in hopes of a better life, finally grad in 06…and no better job. For a while I couldn’t even get a job at all. So now I have student loans and no way to pay them off. Now my ex is taking me back to court to have the child support reduced, and is telling my child that he wants him to just be declared emancipated even though he is still in school, so he won’t have to pay child support. So I have to pay an attorney. I now have medical bills, too, things in my house are falling apart, and my car has issues. I own nothing, have no retirement, no savings. I have only made as much as $18,000 once in my lifetime. I would love your prayers.
Thank you so much for your offer of prayer…I know it is so needed for our family & many others. My husband has been laid off since Mid-October and we are a one income family as we feel that God truly wants me to stay home and be with our son. We are trying to decide if we should put our house on the market so we can avoid foreclosure. God has been so faithful to our family and has proved time & time again that He DOES take care of our needs. We are so gratful to Him and to all of the generous people in our lives, but we would love some clarity as to what to do with the house, the payment is just too large and isn't allowing us to pay any of our other bills….Thank you.
Thank you for this opportunity.
My husband and I have been suffering financially for the past 4 almost 5 years now. My husband had lost his job back in 2004 with a Production company, due to it going under unexpectedly. So on top of not having a paycheck, the company was suppose to reimburse us for company funds they requested my husband to put on our credit card for a project. But then the business went under and there weren't any funds to reimburse us with. Therefore leaving us with the company's debt & all the collectors on our back. He finally got a good job in 2006 and we have been trying to make ends meet ever since. We stay about 1k-2k upside down every month. We are just praying to keep the utilities on and keep essentials provided for and keep our roof over our heads.
We are praying that 2009 will be the financial breakthrough we have been needing for the past 4 almost 5 years now. We are praying that 2009 will be our time for "abundant financial blessings & favor." We want to be right side up and back on top again. The stress & strain, worry & fear is awfully tiring and we are MORE than READY to be out of this pit once and for all.
Beth you are so good to us.
My husband was laid off in September from a job he held since college in the construction industry. By God’s grace alone we saved for such a day, knowing it would come eventually, and I am forever grateful to say that we staying afloat because of that savings. My man is working on some different things but I’d say we don’t feel a clear direction or peace about what is to come next. Though I must give praise to sweet Jesus for the time we have had together, and with our dearest friends who my husband drove to the airport just yesterday morning. They are moving to Africa for full-time missions work. So the time my husband had with his best friend, without the restrictions of a job, has been a blessing. Still, we are looking forward to knowing what our future holds as far as work goes. But we know the right thing will present itself when the Lord is ready. His time is always the nick of time, it seems:) And we cling to this truth: “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry” prov 10″3
Thank you, Miss Beth!
Beth-
Thank you for this. My husband and I had a small business and had to sell it and declare bankruptcy two years ago. This has been such a blessing to me, I have grown so much in my trust in the Lord to provide and pay the bills. My husband started in Real Estate and so far every month the Lord has paid our bills and we are able to buy food, etc.. I just want to reach out to all the women that are going through what i went through the past 3 years. Just know that the Lord provides and will open a door for you. Please pray that the Lord blesses my husbands work and my work( i have a part part time jewelry business)and that we continue to stay strong in our trust.
Many Blessings-
Andrea
Lancaster, PA
Thank you so much for offering to pray for me. We recently moved to a new city 3 hours away from “home” for my husband to take a new job…one that he loves. Well, his job is to work for car dealers repairing new a used cars before they are sold. He is paid on commission and now is bringing home half or less than half of what he started off at just about 4 or so months ago. Praise the Lord that they still have some retail business to bring home what he is now but we are hurting. We can’t put anything back for retirement, finish updating the house we bought, and can’t put any back in savings. Thanks again for your prayers…I don’t want to say too much because I know others are hurting probably far worse than we are.
I’m not feeling the crunch so much finanically (although I did take a 10% pay cut last year) adn i am morally. Instead, I believe the Company, for economic reasons, has instituted a business model that is unethical. Or at least parts of it are unethical. Because of this I need to find a new job before I am forced to take a stand that will get me fired. I know I should have more faith and not worry about it, but I am a single mom with no other means of support. Pray that God will show Himself strong on my behalf.
Thanks
I’m asking for prayer for my sister and her family. My brother-in-law has been without full-time employment for 3 years now. He works as many part-time jobs as he can get. My sister works but has no benefits and therefore, is looking also. They have 2 teenagers. Refinanced their home hoping to avoid bankruptcy. In North Carolina, there are one if not more layoffs or closings every day. Lots of folks out of work and many hiring freezes, too. We are still Believing God but realize that things can get much worse. Only HE knows the plan and our future. Thank you so very much for prayer!
A reply to Anonymous post January 15, 2009 1:30 PM
Maybe that is exactally what God wants you to do… just remember, the big bad world is NOT bigger than our God!
Thank you for your prayers for each one of us. I am so thankful you chose to be obedient to Christ. I have reaped many blessings from your obedience. Which leads me to my personal prayer request. I need prayer for obedience. The financial mess I am in is of my own making due to poor decisions and lack of obedience. Christ has shown me in one week how obedience makes a HUGE difference not only in my life but those around me.
I literally have tears streming down my cheeks right now. I just had a much needed confrontation (not mean-spirited, not degrading, just facing the facts) with my husband and came into my office, turned on the computer to keep from crying…headed to your blogsite, and then the tears came. Before I even read the post, I bowed my head and cried out to God about our situation as the tears would no longer stand to be held back.
My husband was laid off in July (a week before his birthday). We thought he would be able to find work fairly quickly, but it is now Jan. and nothing. He had taken a job delivering pizzas to help supplement our income in May of 08. Little did we know it would be our main source of income (aside from unemployment checks).
All in all, I’ve never seen God work more miraculously. Our bank account has, for the most part, remained ok. I know God has worked to show us to have faith, because multiple times when the numbers started becoming scary, money would show up. Not once, but 4 or 5 times. It has been amazing!!!!
But, we’ve had to drain our savings (not that it was a huge amt), my husband’s small 401k, etc…There is nothing left to drain and his ONE job lead seems to be stalling.
We thought that this was a path God wanted him to follow. So, we have followed, but now it seems so uncertain. We’ve gotten God’s directions wrong before and have truly prayed and sought not to again, but that fear is there within us. We know the Lord has a plan. We see some amazing things God has done through all of this, but where and when is the job going to come…and when it does, how do we know it is what God put in our lives.
We have four childre, Molly (13), Joshua (11), Elizabeth, (8), and Jonathan (5)(he’ll be 6 on the 23rd) and we live just N. of Cincinnati. We remain faithful, but are beginning to be a little fretful.
Thank you for your prayers.
Mindy Banks
Please pray for us.
Thanks so much for your offer to pray. I am a day late… a more than a dollar short for this post but I wanted to share and receive your prayer as well.
Our crunch started over 2 years ago. My husband had a full-time job and a small business on the side. The company that he worked for closed… so there went his full-time salary. We barely made it on his income from his small business and my income… but we were still above water. Last May he lost a huge contract that lowered the income he had left by more than one half. It has been down hill since then. We had to file bankrupt several months back. With our payments to the court… we are still not above water. As a matter of fact… they came to turn off our water this morning. I paid a payment to them and the electric company with a debit payment that will have to be covered by the bank so that we will have water and power in the morning when it is about 16 degrees outside. My husband is more than stressed. His trip to the mailbox today (with no checks in there) just about put him over the edge.
I do have to give God praise. He has taught ME so much through this trial about trusting Him. I am walking so much closer now than before. I have learned to trust Him no matter what… even when things do not end up like I want them too. He is worthy of my praise.
I will have to leave this anonymous… my husband is still wearing his “pride panties”. I took mine off a long time ago… (of course they are pretend panties) God blessed me with this scripture some time last year… Philippians 1:18-20. It has carried me through. It will turn out for MY deliverance. Thanks so much for your prayer and concern.
SC
Thank you for praying for us. My husband is self employed and we have a house that he built to sale and we really need to sale quickly. The business is really struggling but I that God is in control and he knows what is best for us. Again thank you for praying for us!
Angie-North Carolina
Beth, I have many tears for the posts left here about the financial crunch we face during these days. God will show himself victorious and I can hardly wait to hear the testimonies on the other side of this. My husband and I pray constantly for so many who are stuggling so severly with loss of jobs, retirement plans etc. We are humbled and grateful we still remain stable and able to help some who are in need great need. My prayer request would be that my husband and I would be good stewards of what God has provided so that we many continue to help others as HE asks and directs. That our hearts would remain open to whatever God ask us to do in His name. God has always placed the scipture verse of “whatever you do for the least of these you do for me”. May it be so!!!!
Humbly in His Service,
Isaac’s Mom
Hi Beth (and gals),
Thanks for asking how we are. My husband was laid-off from his position as a computer programmer in a small local company on September 30th. It was a SHOCK! We are a one income family (I stay home and homeschool our two boys). Anyway, despite our initial shock we definitely felt God’s peace– the kind that passes ALL understanding.
My husband was going to pursue some independent contracting jobs while looking for another job. The kinds of jobs that kept coming his way were all ministry related (creating a website for an orphanage in the Congo, working on our church’s website, etc.). Although they didn’t pay well (or anything) he took the work gladly. We were okay financially, but things would begin to look a little scary in January without some income.
On the Sunday before New Years my husband received an email from the CEO of Logos Bible Software. He had found my husband’s info on Twitter and checked out his website. His email suggested they go to coffee and discuss some projects they are working on at Logos. By Wednesday afternoon (New Years Eve) my husband accepted a position as a Web Applications Developer for Logos.
His first day is today! We are SO thankful and feel incredibly blessed! God is good.
This whole experience has been such a learning/growing time. Trusting God with it all and knowing that no matter what — He is in control.
Thanks for letting me share!
Betsy
Thank you for posting this. As a struggling small business owner, I feel so alone, and it’s wonderful to see so many fellow sojourners (though I wish we all weren’t struggling). I’d love prayer for our business; prayer for our staff; and prayer for my husband and I as we navigate the choppy waters of a huge A/P, a reduced income (we sell fine art reproductions…no one is buying fine art right now from our customers, so they aren’t buying reproductions from us); and having small children to care for. We laid off one employee in November, which truly felt God-directed, and we’ve been blessed by how the rest of our staff has stepped up, and really own their jobs. We just want to keep everyone employed, pay off our vendors, and stay in business..or follow God to the next road marker, whatever that may be…
Also…this is something really on my heart…there is a ton of pressure in the Christian community from women who don’t work…they look down on those who do, as if they are not doing their true calling (caring for your home and family). I do put my home and family first…but I also must work. It’s hard to feel like others treat me like a bad Christian woman because I work part time and put my kids in daycare/preschool while I work…when I am just trying to help my husband stay in business…pay our mortgage…keep our 15 employees employed…I feel defensive of our life, instead of resting in the fact that God is providing for us, and He has shown me that part of my role right now is to help my husband.
Thank you!!!
Your California Siesta
We are a family that has gone through 3 knee surgeries (two ACL replacements, a femur break and all ligament replacements) and a DNC and Ablation surgery. We also have 2 boys in college and my husband coaches and teaches in one of the lowest paid districts in Oklahoma.(You might say “Why don’t they move where there is more pay)We feel as though he was called there as well and we are praying about that as well) I work at the church(they are tightly budgeted as well) God is definately meeting all financial responsibilities but we are at the end with VERY little savings. Don’t know if I am just used to more in savings and need prayer for my whisps of anxiousness or need prayer for an extra fill of money supply–God knows. Thanks for the sister prayers. Love, Sally)
Thank you Beth,
We are struggling also, we have our married daughter and family (of 4) living with us as they are unemployed.(Not for lack of trying to get jobs either, they both spend all day pounding the pavement.)
We are trying to sell our homes before we lose them, this is so hard and we want to do the things God wants from us.
Thank you for inclusing us in prayer.
I an going to take the time to read every word of the post later. But I want you all to know I could write VOLUMES about being unemployed!!!!! I always include prayer for those in financial and job problems.
We have been out of work 5 times. Once for 2yrs and boy to I have some GOD stories! I undersatand when Beth talks about crying out with no words to say because the pain is so great!
Right now we are in a temporary job after 7 months of unemployment that nearly destroyed my marriage! And believe me I have a good one and a guarded marriage.
All that to say that I am still here..still been fed…yes I have lost cars and stuff… but in the end GOD did provide the basic needs for us and more. While it is hard just repeat to Him …”I will trust you no matter what!” and believe He will hear you.
Siestas we have been mostly out of work and in poor health with no insurance since 2002. I don’t even know how the lost deal with such things and not lose hope. I don’t think I would do so good with out my faith in God.
Sherry
Marietta GA