Anybody else in a valley?

In my hall way hang photos and drawings of my family most I never know. On November 11th I take them down, dust them off. At dinner we pass them around and speak of them kindly. I know they are at peace and I wish them well. All service there country. Took three weeks for my Great Grandfather to walk home from Appomattox. Early on the 11th I take my M1911 out in the yard and fire two rounds. I hope they can hear me. Put it back in it holster and drop to my knees and pray. I have faith that God will bring me home when my days are over. These people when through the fire and lived. We shall too.

God bless you all and find God's love. Gather your family, friends and hold them dear. God has a plan for all of us.

I am never going to stop loving or fighting for what is right.

Someday I will be a photo on the wall I hope to be dusted and be spoken kindly of.

Thank you.
 
BigWaylon said:
Her mom passed a couple hours ago. She was in the house alone with her. Her mom told her she loved her last Saturday, and never spoke again.

We can take comfort in this:

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Greg, Thank you for posting these. My 97 year old grandmother who has been mostly independent fell last week at her home. She ended up having a stroke Saturday in the hospital. They have called hospice in and at this point we are just waiting. She has been a Rock in our family forever. My youngest daughter takes after her and it will be the hardest for her. Grandma would have been fine going in 2012 after my Papa died but she stuck around to give all of us some more wisdom and more laughs.
 
I hit the 6-month mark of being laid off over the weekend. Been in a crappy mood for a few days. This was the reassurance I needed this morning.

 
Two songs hit home today…one based on a classic hymn, and one more contemporary worship song. I’m not even going to go find videos for them, as I think the lyrics are all I needed today. First up, the classic:

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned, unclean

How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song will ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me

He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them his very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
He suffered and died for me

Oh, how marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love

Forever I will sing Your praise
Jesus, Risen King
Oh my God I stand amazed that You loved me

When with ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
It will be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me

How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love

How marvelous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me

And then the more modern one. I know I’ve posted the video before, but today just focus on the lyrics.

When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You

And if You are for me, who can be against me? Yeah
For Jesus, there's nothing impossible for You
When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty
Thank You God
When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night

Oh God, the battle belongs to You
Almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadow, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God

An almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadow, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God

An almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadows, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You

Oh God, the battle belongs to You


This is what I'm holding onto this coming week:

When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There's nothing to fear now for I am safe with You

So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I'll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
 
The valleys can be low and I have had my share of time in them. Just recently climbed out of the latest. Discovered one thing I have been doing wrong.

Praying!

Oh it was not the fact that I was praying that was wrong but rather the things I was praying for. Most of us see a situation and pray for it to be fixed. Problem with that is we don't always know how to fix it so we end up praying for the wrong things. Then I discovered the "I don't know" prayer. Recently I started praying that I don't know what I need so I just leave it to you Lord. Help me how you see fit.

Guess what? It works, sometimes amazingly quick. Not going to give the details but it sure looks nice up here on the peak.
 
Me too.

I know in the big picture, all is good. Good wife, good kids, good momma still with me, good jobs (yeah, I got two), reasonably healthy for a fat old guy, piles of stuff, I tell folks I am independently wealthy.

But there are some little things that just keep on nagging at me. Things that are outside of my control and I know that. A house remodel that we were told would take 8 weeks has turned into 11 months. Couples having trouble in their marriage. Friends in middle school dealing with kids in middle school. My wife is a teacher, she's not had a good morning with a kindergartener this morning. Folks just doing dumb stuff. A very good buddy in prison. Me doing dumb stuff. Like I said, just little nagging things.

I think I am beginning to understand what Solomon meant in

Song of Songs 2:15 NIV​

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
 
The God of the mountain, is the God of the valley.

That’s the lyric I needed today.
 
Needed this thread today.

Mother-in-law living with us; she's driving my wife crazy.

Biden letting troops die before he will respond is really really eating at me; been praying all morning.

"The God of the mountain is the God of the valley"...
 
Car0linab0y said:
Needed this thread today.

Mother-in-law living with us; she's driving my wife crazy.

Biden letting troops die before he will respond is really really eating at me; been praying all morning.

"The God of the mountain is the God of the valley"...
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I almost reposted this again, as it was stuck in my head. I’m going to now, in case you were the one that also needed to hear it.

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Fear. I can't think of a more powerful four letter word.
My wife came home the other day and said," I have had enough,I need to find another job". Mind you she has been with her company for 32 years this month. She has been through rough patches before but I have never seen her this defeated. I can tell her mind is made up.
My (selfish) fear is about money,health insurance,and not having what we need.
My job is not looking so rosy either.
It is time for me to get out of the way and "let go and let God".
I don't like being afraid. I haven't felt this uneasy in some time.
Going down the what if rabbit hole before any of it has happened has paralyzed me in the past.
God, I pray for your will for me and the power to carry it out. I pray my wife finds the peace and comfort she needs and deserves.
Amen.
 
confused said:
Fear. I can't think of a more powerful four letter word.
My wife came home the other day and said," I have had enough,I need to find another job". Mind you she has been with her company for 32 years this month. She has been through rough patches before but I have never seen her this defeated. I can tell her mind is made up.
My (selfish) fear is about money,health insurance,and not having what we need.
My job is not looking so rosy either.
It is time for me to get out of the way and "let go and let God".
I don't like being afraid. I haven't felt this uneasy in some time.
Going down the what if rabbit hole before any of it has happened has paralyzed me in the past.
God, I pray for your will for me and the power to carry it out. I pray my wife finds the peace and comfort she needs and deserves.
Amen.
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In case you’ve never heard this one before…you can break up with fear if you want. 😁

 
I’m coming part-way out of my valley. Accepted a job offer on Thursday. It’s contract work, which is why it’s just a part-way solution. Decent pay but no real benefits.
 
Hey! That's great news! Think of it as a networking bridge.
 
BigWaylon said:
I’m coming part-way out of my valley. Accepted a job offer on Thursday. It’s contract work, which is why it’s just a part-way solution. Decent pay but no real benefits.
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Congrats!

This can work. It’s like being self-employed, which is okay in my book. Prior to 2013 insurance companies could deny you insurance on an individual plan if you, or others in your family had pre-existing conditions. They can’t now.

I know this is not what you are accustomed to, but I left a stable job after 10 years and voluntarily entered this arena for the next 25, and looking back I wouldn’t change it.
 
fieldgrade said:
Congrats!

This can work. It’s like being self-employed, which is okay in my book. Prior to 2013 insurance companies could deny you insurance on an individual plan if you, or others in your family had pre-existing conditions. They can’t now.

I know this is not what you are accustomed to, but I left a stable job after 10 years and voluntarily entered this arena for the next 25, and looking back I wouldn’t change it.
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Almost 26 years at AT&T. For my last 19, I was a project manager (two different titles).

Took a job as a Project Manager-Telecom for a contract firm, working for Duke Energy. Two days a week in the office, and three at home. The office is ~12 minutes from home…and not downtown.

All kinds of positives to it…
 
BigWaylon said:
I’m coming part-way out of my valley. Accepted a job offer on Thursday. It’s contract work, which is why it’s just a part-way solution. Decent pay but no real benefits.
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Of the 50 years I work half was contract.
Loved it, good pay, no office politics, you're there to do a job and get paid only.

The no office politic BS was the best part after the increased pay for being contract.
 
ronn47 said:
Of the 50 years I work half was contract.
Loved it, good pay, no office politics, you're there to do a job and get paid only.

The no office politic BS was the best part after the increased pay for being contract.
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Yeah, I’d avoided contract work when I first started looking because I had a real good (I thought) possibility that ended up fizzling out for now.

Should’ve done this sooner and shopped around for even more money. But it’s something I should be good at, office is close to home, work from home 3 days a week, and a waaaaaaaaay better situation than washing streets full time!!
 
BigWaylon said:
Almost 26 years at AT&T. For my last 19, I was a project manager (two different titles).

Took a job as a Project Manager-Telecom for a contract firm, working for Duke Energy. Two days a week in the office, and three at home. The office is ~12 minutes from home…and not downtown.

All kinds of positives to it…
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Those are some good perks. Now you have a new base to leverage for your next role!

They always say it’s easier to land a new job when you’re currently working, whether that’s a recruiter’s bias toward the unemployed or our own emotions clouding our ability to sell ourselves and negotiate. You did the hard part, navigated and jumped through all of the hoops to land a new job after not being in the market for over 2 decades!

Bottom line that’s excellent news and I was excited to see the update on LinkedIn. Congrats again!
 
Jeppo said:
Did you negotiate to be off midday on first Fridays? 🤔
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After making 36 in a row, and then missing 7 in a row…my plan is to restart the “making” streak on 3/2.

If I’m getting paid by the hour, I ought to be able to go…especially if it’s one of my days at home.
 
Had two songs in service today, both of which may already be posted in this thread…but somebody here needs a little bit of encouragement. You know who you are, even if we don’t.

Here’s the lyrical nugget to soak up:

I don't know what You're doing
But I know what You've done
I'm fighting a battle that
You've already won

That’s from You’ve Already Won by Shane & Shane.

There's peace that outlasts darkness
Hope that's in the blood
There's future grace that's mine today
That Jesus Christ has won
So I can face tomorrow
For tomorrow's in Your hands
All I need You will provide
Just like You always have

I'm fighting a battle
That you've already won
No matter what comes my way
I will overcome
I don't know what You're doing
But I know what You've done
I'm fighting a battle that
You've already won

There's mercy in the waiting
Mana for today
And when it's gone I know you're not
You are my hope and stay
When the sea is raging
Your Spirit is my help
He'll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ
And I'll say that is well
Oh I know that it is well

I'm fighting a battle
That You've already won
No matter what comes my way
I will overcome
I don't know what You're doing
But I know what You've done
I'm fighting a battle that
You've already won

I know how the story ends
We will be with You again
You're my Savior my defense
No more fear in life or death
I know how this story ends

Here’s their video:



If you want to actually hear our worship band do it, it starts at 11:54.

 
And the second lyrical nugget is:

When everything around me is shaking
I’ve never been more glad
that I put my faith in Jesus
‘Cause He’s never let me down
He’s faithful through generations
So why would he fail now?

…which is from Firm Foundation by Cody Carnes.

[Chorus]
Christ is my firm foundation
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't
He won't

[Verse]
I've still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I build my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful in еvery season
So why would He fail now?

[Refrain]
Hе won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
He won't
No, no, no, no
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail

[Chorus]
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't (Ayy)
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail, no, no

Bridge]
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I’m safe with You
I’m gonna make it through
Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I’m safe with You
I’m gonna make it through
Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I’m safe with You
I’m gonna make it through
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through
'Cause I'm standing strong on You
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through
'Cause my house is built on You

[Chorus]
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't (Hey)
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail

[Outro]
He won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
No, He won't


It starts at 1:08:08 in our service video I posted above. Or here is Cody’s version:

 
Here’s a double-shot of encouragement for you.

FF to 55:35 of our service today. The first song is a classic straight out of the hymnal…Great is Thy Faithfulness. Immediately followed by There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do.

 
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