Stir Up One Another
I had a team meeting at work yesterday.
At this meeting we prayed, we read the scriptures, we talked about work things, we encouraged each other and then we prayed some more.
I don't know if I have ever talked about my job, but I work at Samaritan Ministries. I currently have a job that I thought I would never have. I talk on the phone all day long.
For 15 of my 24 adult years, I have been a cosmetologist. I love all things hair, skin and nails. And for a while I even taught other people to love hair, skin and nails. Cosmetology is a career that I can have anywhere. And no matter how bad things get, people will still need haircuts once in a while.
But life sometimes throws curve balls. And if you're not ready for them, you're gonna get hit.
A curve ball came in the form of deployment. We knew for probably 2 years that this deployment was coming. There is never anything set in stone when it comes to planning for a deployment.
When will you have your orders?
When are you leaving?
How long will you be gone?
Where are you going?
So, yesterday I came to work early to go to a department meeting. Generally department meetings involve department updates, goals and new developments within the department or within the ministry as a whole.
But my department is different. This ministry is different. In my department, we worship Jesus together. We share our hearts with one another and we seek the Lord in prayer together. We can shed tears together. We can be vulnerable with each other. We rejoice together and we mourn together. When one person is struggling, the others come together to offer support. Tangible support to lift each other up and take care of each other. We realize that before we are co-workers, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Since Derick and I knew his deployment was coming, we made plans to make home life easier for me. One of the things we considered was me moving away from teaching cosmetology. The only options that we considered were doing hair at home or applying for a job at Samaritan Ministries. The consistency of a job with business hours and having weekends off, were huge considerations. And because of those things, we decided that Samaritan was the best option.
I have been working here in Membership Development for 6 months. From the start, I have been assured that the Lord orchestrated this switch. I have received more prayers, counsel and tangible support from my department at work than I have ever received from any job that I've had in the past.
When I quit teaching, I grieved that loss. I enjoyed teaching more than anything I've done professionally. And to give that up, truly felt like part of me died. Almost like cosmetology was part of my identity. I should have given myself time between jobs. Time to realize where my true identity came from. Time to realize that I am more than what I do. Time to prepare mentally for a new direction in my life. But I didn't. We needed the money at the time, and I went straight from one job to the next.
Yesterday, I had a department meeting. Today, I had a one on one meeting with my supervisor. I work with mostly men. Godly men. In this department of men, I am able to come to work to a department full of men and share my heart freely.
From the beginning, these men have put these verses into practice and I am so grateful!
At this meeting we prayed, we read the scriptures, we talked about work things, we encouraged each other and then we prayed some more.
I don't know if I have ever talked about my job, but I work at Samaritan Ministries. I currently have a job that I thought I would never have. I talk on the phone all day long.
For 15 of my 24 adult years, I have been a cosmetologist. I love all things hair, skin and nails. And for a while I even taught other people to love hair, skin and nails. Cosmetology is a career that I can have anywhere. And no matter how bad things get, people will still need haircuts once in a while.
But life sometimes throws curve balls. And if you're not ready for them, you're gonna get hit.
A curve ball came in the form of deployment. We knew for probably 2 years that this deployment was coming. There is never anything set in stone when it comes to planning for a deployment.
When will you have your orders?
When are you leaving?
How long will you be gone?
Where are you going?
So, yesterday I came to work early to go to a department meeting. Generally department meetings involve department updates, goals and new developments within the department or within the ministry as a whole.
But my department is different. This ministry is different. In my department, we worship Jesus together. We share our hearts with one another and we seek the Lord in prayer together. We can shed tears together. We can be vulnerable with each other. We rejoice together and we mourn together. When one person is struggling, the others come together to offer support. Tangible support to lift each other up and take care of each other. We realize that before we are co-workers, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Since Derick and I knew his deployment was coming, we made plans to make home life easier for me. One of the things we considered was me moving away from teaching cosmetology. The only options that we considered were doing hair at home or applying for a job at Samaritan Ministries. The consistency of a job with business hours and having weekends off, were huge considerations. And because of those things, we decided that Samaritan was the best option.
I have been working here in Membership Development for 6 months. From the start, I have been assured that the Lord orchestrated this switch. I have received more prayers, counsel and tangible support from my department at work than I have ever received from any job that I've had in the past.
When I quit teaching, I grieved that loss. I enjoyed teaching more than anything I've done professionally. And to give that up, truly felt like part of me died. Almost like cosmetology was part of my identity. I should have given myself time between jobs. Time to realize where my true identity came from. Time to realize that I am more than what I do. Time to prepare mentally for a new direction in my life. But I didn't. We needed the money at the time, and I went straight from one job to the next.
Yesterday, I had a department meeting. Today, I had a one on one meeting with my supervisor. I work with mostly men. Godly men. In this department of men, I am able to come to work to a department full of men and share my heart freely.
From the beginning, these men have put these verses into practice and I am so grateful!
I Thessalonians 5:11
therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
This is my team, celebrating my boss's birthday at Pizza Ranch.
And this is Derick doing some weapons training. I can't post current picture of him, so this one from a couple of months ago will have to do. I do love a man in uniform!
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
This is my team, celebrating my boss's birthday at Pizza Ranch.
And this is Derick doing some weapons training. I can't post current picture of him, so this one from a couple of months ago will have to do. I do love a man in uniform!
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