Thursday, March 20, 2008

Urgent Help Needed!!

Looking for a new challenge? Would you like to join a growing family business? Do you want to work from your home? Are you a team player? A great opportunity awaits you. Looking for person(s) with caring, dedicated hearts. Limited short term positions available, both Full/Part time. Commitment needed now until June 23, 2008. This job offers flexible shifts, although weekend work is required. No time-clock. Hours on the honour system, however the CEO of the Company will be watching. Benefits paid daily in blessings from above, while still storing future treasures where moth and rust won't corrupt. A personal relationship with the Manager a must. Communication skills required. No age restriction. Positions for professional and novice. Understanding of fear an asset, but not mandatory. Residents outside of Canada welcome to apply.
Respond by comment below.

All fun aside, I'm going to be completely honest here: Friends, I need help. I'm not sleeping or eating and the gnawing ache in the pit of my stomach is unrelentless. Since registering for the "She Speaks" conference,(see post below), the fear that almost won and would have kept me from attending, has attacked with vengence. It's affecting my ability to do the smallest of tasks because of the overshadowing, looming, all-consuming panic of getting on a plane, travelling to North Carolina and all the unknowns associated with this trip. Instead of living in the delight of knowing I took a step of faith and followed God's call, like Peter, whose spontaneity had him walking on water for moments then struggling in uncharted seas the next, incoming waves are threatening to drown the joy of my obedience. Doubts are rendering me immobile. Thoughts of June are distracting me and I'm missing precious moments of being obedient today...right now...

After reading Charlene's devotional yesterday, "Stretcher Carrier for Christ" from Proverbs 31, hope awoke in my heart. She described so beautifully what I need. For those of you who didn't read her words of encouragement, she wrote about the strength of prayer warriors. Friends who come alongside and lift you to the Lord during a time of need.

I can't do this on my own. I need a team of "Stretcher Carrier's". Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually my body, heart and soul can't continue as it has over the past couple of days. I'll be a total wreck by June. I know many of you reading this can't commit to daily praying for me beginning today until June 23rd, but I believe God will place it on the heart of some and raise up a few who will bear this weight and carry me through the weeks and months ahead. Maybe you have never visited my blog before, but His Spirit led you here for some reason today. Don't feel bad if you can't respond affirmatively - God will call who I need - I just ask that you will listen and respond to His voice.

Placing my life in God's hands and surrendering it all.

2 Corinthians 1:11 "as you help (me) by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on (my) behalf for the gracious favor granted (me) in answer to the prayers of many."
1 Chronicles 5:20 "because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him."
James 5:16 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Philemon 1:22 "I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers."

8 comments:

Sue said...

Joy, I have been praying for you since I first heard of your desire to attend "She Writes", and I will continue to pray for you. Flying doesn't bother me, but I always try to remember in any new/scary situation that He is always right there with me, and nothing is a surprise for Him. I am SO glad for you to be able to attend this conference!
Love & PRAYERS,
Sue

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Joy,
I will be honest and not say that I will pray for you every day because I'm sure I would forget some days. But I will say that I will pray for you as the Lord lays it on my heart. I know SO well the feeling of FEAR! It is something that grips me in so many areas of my life and I absolutely hate that fact. I want to be a person who is fearless! I want to be like my pastor's wife who travels (flies) all the time and loves it, who can walk up to a pit bull and pet it (I am SO afraid of dogs!) and who can traverse the streets of a large city with no fear! But that's just not me! I have been a fearful person as long as I can remember....and have felt such guilt about it! I have taken this to the Lord so many times and HE has helped me come a long way from where I once was. But I know from experience that unless a person has some fears of their own, they can not understand the fears of others!
Joy,I pray the Lord will calm your nerves and give you a peace that "passeth all understanding" and that you will truly know that it has come from Him alone!
I am glad that you can share your fears, your ambitions, your goals, your JOY with us. It helps me face some of my own problems just knowing that I'm not alone in them.
Thanks for being honest!

Yolanda said...

Joy,

HE IS FAITHFUL! He asks for you and I to simply, trust Him.

One day at a time,
Yolanda

Yolanda said...

Joy:

I don't normally share things with my husband from the "blogging" world, unless they just really touch me. Your asking for prayer, truly touched me. This morning, three of my "new" friends have prayer requests and I know that the enemy is roaring.

I find it totally amazing, STILL, at how God is using you and I in this avenue of telling the world of what He does for us. And amazing how last night, here on vacation, that He put on my heart "Setting a Trap", and then today, how that ministered specifically to you.

Isn't God awesome? Isn't He just a total mind blower? Hallelujah!

Joy, He has great things in store for YOU!

pam said...

One night,after being horribly sick for 6 weeks, laying in the dark, crying out to God I asked for prayer warriors, no matter who they were, how often they prayed for me, but that night I needed them. It is good to have regular coverage and other times you can cry out for the special forces team to be called up. That was an image God gave me. I've been praying today over your request and while I do not yet sense God calling me to a fully committed coverage I will put you on my bathroom prayer board---each morning as I look at it I can trust Him to lead me how to pray for any or all.

Kelley said...

Joy,
Thank you for your prayers for me and my family. Of course I will pray for you. You really need to get that book I told you about by John Ortberg. I think it would help you. I am nervous about going too but right now I am just worried about how to deal with my Dad's situation. I don't know much yet but I will keep you posted if I hear anything. Take care and do not be afraid!

The Lord is my light and my salvation---whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

Love, Kelley

Charlene Kidd said...

Joy,
I would be honored to carry you in prayer. I can not wait to here the victory speech and to see you at the conference. Please keep me posted on your needs as we continue on this journey.
Much love,
Charlene

Jodie Wolfe said...

Joy,
I am so excited that you are taking that step of faith by going to She Speaks this year. I know that your life will be touched in a way that you can't even imagine. I know that God will supply all of your needs and address every fear that you have about going. He is so much bigger than what we can hope or imagine. I will be praying for you.

I was blessed to attend She Speaks last year. I would love to go this year too, but there is no way that we can do it financially. My heart will be with all of you ladies that attend this year (and part will be wishing that I could be there too!). It was a God changing time in my life. I pray it will be the same for you. I pray that He will surprise you with joy as you anticipate going, instead of fear.
Love,
Pearls