Welcome to the beginning of our guest blogging series called “Everyday Jesus.” (Are you excited?? I SURE AM!!) To kick things off, today we feature an inspiring and wise friend of mine, Susan. She has incredible insight when it comes to walking with Christ and always has her eyes open, looking for Jesus in everyday life. I pray that her sweet and genuine words touch your heart and inspire your life– she is quite a gal and I am blessed to introduce you to her today.
Looking for Him Daily,
SGK
PS: Be sure to show Susan the love by leaving a response/comment below!
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I’ve worked since I was 16. Always made good money, received excellent evaluations, consistent promotions, loved to offer solution and innovation . . . a “model employee” of sorts. I was bulletproof.
Recently in my professional role of seven years, I started feeling itchy . . . not quite fulfilled in my work. I played with thoughts of what I might do next . . . and wondered if God was calling me to something new. Then the unexpected happened . . . half the staff was laid off… including ME! I was propelled from what I might do next and into what will I do now.
Sadly, the circumstance stole my confidence and what I know to be true about myself. I forgot that I am loveable, capable, smart, an encourager, strategic, creative, a good problem solver, blah, blah, blah . . . yeah I got talents. The layoff translated into depression and isolation. I’m upbeat, high energy, not someone trapped in despair. During that time, I not only forgot who I am, but also Whose I am!
How is it that God can get through our muddiest pity-party sitting-in-the-dark eatin-worms times?!?
One Saturday morning I received an e-devotional that said, “It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it.” (II Corinthians 8:10-11) God jolted my heart with this reminder that I had a desire to pursue something new in an area of my greatest passion, and now was the time.
Sunday in church the pastor said, “God told me to speak to some of you about ashes. What are the ashes in your life? A lost job? A lost love? God wants you to finish your grieving and rise out of the ashes. He wants to give you beauty for ashes.”
And there was a rose.
The next day I met with a woman who asked if I would teach at a retreat for her leadership team. Teaching topic: How God speaks to us. Ha! Could this really be happening?
On the way to the retreat, the group stopped in a little mountain town for lunch. I found myself in the same restaurant, sitting in the same room, in the same seat where only months prior I had been for my ex-employer’s planning retreat. Coincidence? In the middle of the table sat a huge gorgeous rose. Again God jolted my heart and said almost audibly, “Nothing has been lost. This is my timing. I will give you beauty for ashes.”
At the retreat, I presented my teaching on how God speaks using my fresh examples. What a blessing to see the Holy Spirit minister to those in attendance! Their positive feedback was good for my soul and a nice reminder of God’s gifting and call on my life.
Another presenter at the retreat handed me a little slip of paper as we were leaving. She said “God prompted me to give this to you.” She was a woman I had just met. She had no knowledge of my life or current circumstance. That little slip of paper simply said Ezekiel 36:26. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees . . . you will be my people and I will be your God.”
JOLT! This was the same scripture God placed on my heart 20+ years ago when I launched Insights, my first consulting firm. It was the Biblical foundation of my business and life calling. God assigned me to gently tap on the hard-hearted to bring them closer to God. The Lord reminded me in such a powerful way that His call on my life has never changed, and that we still had work to do! Time to get going.
REFLECTION: When is the last time God got your attention in an UNEXPECTED way? How did you respond?
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Susan Parks is a coach and consultant for Christ as founder of her first consulting firm “Insights” that she launched 20+ years ago. She specializes in ministry and leader development, values-based strategic planning and hiring, ministry multiplication and marketing/community outreach. If you are interested in being coached by or experiencing Susan’s services firsthand, contact her via email at susanpark1214 {at} gmail {dot} com.
