July 20, 2007

• Interviews and some thoughts….

  Thank you for the comments and prayers.  Things aren’t what I expected, but some good things are coming out of it,too.  The teacher I was hoping to work with wants to keep corresponding, so it’s as thought I’ve “lost” a job but “gained a friend”.  And that is nice.

  I called the program specialist at the high school, and she has set up an interview for this coming Monday at 3 pm.  I’ve also been applying online for other jobs, and have an interview for one of them on Tuesday at 3 pm.  My prayer for Monday is not just that it will go well (I’d LOVE teaching sign language!), but that the principal of the school could also be there so we don’t need two interviews; I’m leaving for Germany and the program specialist is also going out of town on July 31, so it will help if we can speed up this process (assuming I’d get the job, that is).  It would be wonderful to leave for Germany with a contract signed.

  Pastor Phil and Dennis both have said that God knows about these jobs and so it might be that I’ve been “saved” from things I don’t know about the job I so much wanted.  So although I was upset for a day, my trust is truly in God’s wisdom and providing for me.

  Now to some food for thought.  I’m on a mailing list for daily devotionals, and some of them are pretty meaty.  Today’s was about I Peter 3:7.

  “Husbands in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and
  treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the
  gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”  I Peter
  3:7 

  The “equation” in this verse made a light go off in my head.  I have heard lots and lots of sermons telling wives to submit to their husbands, and several sermons about husbands honoring their wives as the “weaker vessel”.  I’d even heard mention of us being “heirs together.”  But I never noticed that how you treat each other in marriage can actually hinder your prayers!

  I was married for 23 years to someone who I now know never really respected me; he was abusive and selfish to the whole family. When I told him he didn’t respect me he said he did…but actions speak louderr than words.  But God was merciful and did take care of us.

  The devotional also tied in verses 1 to 6 of the same chapter, and showed how both aspects of the submission-respect requirement are really being like Christ.  Jesus submitted to the Father in His willingness to go to the cross for us (“not my will but your will,” He said.)  And husbands loving their wives is imitating Christ loving the Church so much he died for her (as it says in Ephesians 5).

  The article further mentioned that the urge to “be right” and win an argument isn’t worth risking that your prayers be hindered! The article said, “It reminds us that Christ did no wrong, he committed no sin (so much for the
  “but I’m right argument”).  It is a hard thing to get over right and wrong.  The
  rubbing it in, the high and lofty places we put ourselves in, but would you
  allow being right to close the door on your prayers?”
  

  This is a picture of the kind of marriage I hope to have.  Serving the Lord with a husband that is easy to submit to, because I know he loves and respects me, and daily reflecting the character and love of Christ to each other, our children,  and everyone we meet.  That’s what I want to be when I grow up :)
  

  There are other things that can hinder prayer (like not forgiving someone), but this one was new to me, and I thought I’d share it.  We want to be close to our Father and be able to bear our hearts to Him and know He listens, don’t we?
  

  Love to all, Gerrie
  

  • 1:30 pm
  • 11 Comments