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***Here Am I*** · 10-17-2009, 09:18 PM

I have a hard time in this area. I worked for a couple of chiropractors for over eight years, and invited them to church and even talked about God when the subject came up.

One got saved at a revival I'd invited him to, the other to date continues to reject God's offer of salvation. I finally had to leave my job, and I think part of the reason was that I'd done all I could do in that place, that I might have been counterproductive if I'd stayed.

Now I work in a university setting with doctors all around me. I'm not sure how I can witness to them, most of whom are unsaved...if not all. Right now I'm living for the Lord, doing my work to please Him and being a light for others to see. I guess I'm sort of waiting for the Lord to show me an opportunity to actually talk about Him with some of them.

Lynne · 10-18-2009, 01:15 PM

I know, it is tough. I've worked for a father and son for the last nine years. I love them both dearly but they are stubborn little heathens.

The business has faced major challenges over the years and I always make a big deal about telling them I'm praying for them. At first they just looked at me. But then there were miraculous turn-arounds. I'd say things like, "Hallelujah and Praise the Lord" a lot, something I'm not wont to do in a business setting. Pretty soon, the dad started asking me to pray whenever we were in trouble. I thought it was progress, but he never moved on from there. I figured out he was reacting as my mom had: that my prayers were answered so I was the go to person for fixing things.

The son experienced a nasty, horrible, miserable divorce and suffered a near nervous breakdown. I saw my chance and sat with him for hours really, really witnessing. My back was soaked with perspiration by the time I was done. He came so, so close--within one inch. I watched him consciously put off surrendering to God to some later date. I wanted to scream and shake him, but what could I do? It is not up to me.

The latest was our recent IRS audit. I prayed and prayed and prayed and made sure the bosses knew about it because the IRS could have put them out of business in a heartbeat. The IRS came back with not one single thing wrong. Even my dermatologist, who was following along, was floored. You should have seen the look on his face: kind of jealous. Well, I shouted, "Hallelujah and Praise the Lord" per usual, but the bosses are getting jaded. My pastor warned me that if a person turns down God enough times, the heart becomes hardened. Cry2

graceforme · 10-27-2009, 07:28 PM

(10-18-2009 01:15 PM)Lynne Wrote: I know, it is tough. I've worked for a father and son for the last nine years. I love them both dearly but they are stubborn little heathens.

The business has faced major challenges over the years and I always make a big deal about telling them I'm praying for them. At first they just looked at me. But then there were miraculous turn-arounds. I'd say things like, "Hallelujah and Praise the Lord" a lot, something I'm not wont to do in a business setting. Pretty soon, the dad started asking me to pray whenever we were in trouble. I thought it was progress, but he never moved on from there. I figured out he was reacting as my mom had: that my prayers were answered so I was the go to person for fixing things.

The son experienced a nasty, horrible, miserable divorce and suffered a near nervous breakdown. I saw my chance and sat with him for hours really, really witnessing. My back was soaked with perspiration by the time I was done. He came so, so close--within one inch. I watched him consciously put off surrendering to God to some later date. I wanted to scream and shake him, but what could I do? It is not up to me.

The latest was our recent IRS audit. I prayed and prayed and prayed and made sure the bosses knew about it because the IRS could have put them out of business in a heartbeat. The IRS came back with not one single thing wrong. Even my dermatologist, who was following along, was floored. You should have seen the look on his face: kind of jealous. Well, I shouted, "Hallelujah and Praise the Lord" per usual, but the bosses are getting jaded. My pastor warned me that if a person turns down God enough times, the heart becomes hardened.

I'm really very blessed - so many of the people I work for and with are Christian. My supervisor and I exchange prayer requests a lot. And many of the other people who work there are also Christians. It makes it so much easier to go to work.

You are so right - you are not responsible for the decision your boss makes. Don't get discouraged - God doesn't call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful. It seems to me that you are being very faithful. We can't always "preach" to those around us, but I think people see as much witness by our very lives as they do by our words sometimes.

You just keep allowing Christ to live His life THROUGH you, and the folks around you will see just how "different" you really are.

Many blessings to you.

Lynne · 10-27-2009, 08:36 PM

Thanks so much for the encouragement, graceforme. It sounds like you have a wonderful work environment. Smile

graceforme · 10-27-2009, 09:24 PM

(10-27-2009 08:36 PM)Lynne Wrote: Thanks so much for the encouragement, graceforme. It sounds like you have a wonderful work environment.

You are quite welcome. We need to edify and lift each other up. The world sure isn't going to.

Have a wonderful, Christ-filled day.

***William*** · 10-28-2009, 01:32 PM

(10-27-2009 09:24 PM)graceforme Wrote: You are quite welcome. We need to edify and lift each other up. The world sure isn't going to.

You may be sure of that! I hope that this forum provides exactly what you've said: edification and a mutual lifting up. There are plenty of other things we could do here, but they pale into insignificance compared to these things.

Lynne · 10-28-2009, 02:43 PM

I'm so grateful to be here. Heart

***William*** · 10-28-2009, 04:00 PM

(10-28-2009 02:43 PM)Lynne Wrote: I'm so grateful to be here.

We're grateful to have you, and Grace, and everybody ... this is an unusual place, by the grace of God, because it was created to be an unusual place. Those of us in this one little thread have such different backgrounds, and even some minor doctrinal differences; but it's a really sweet fellowship, and not just a "mixed multitude." That has to be the work of God, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

graceforme · 10-29-2009, 07:44 AM

(10-28-2009 04:00 PM)William Wrote:
(10-28-2009 02:43 PM)Lynne Wrote: I'm so grateful to be here.

We're grateful to have you, and Grace, and everybody ... this is an unusual place, by the grace of God, because it was created to be an unusual place. Those of us in this one little thread have such different backgrounds, and even some minor doctrinal differences; but it's a really sweet fellowship, and not just a "mixed multitude." That has to be the work of God, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

I, too, am glad to be here. A place of encouragement, refreshing, and above all - TRUTH!

May God richly bless each one who visits here. I know He blesses me every day.

"grace"

Lynne · 10-29-2009, 10:14 AM

(10-29-2009 07:44 AM)graceforme Wrote:
(10-28-2009 04:00 PM)William Wrote:
(10-28-2009 02:43 PM)Lynne Wrote: I'm so grateful to be here.

We're grateful to have you, and Grace, and everybody ... this is an unusual place, by the grace of God, because it was created to be an unusual place. Those of us in this one little thread have such different backgrounds, and even some minor doctrinal differences; but it's a really sweet fellowship, and not just a "mixed multitude." That has to be the work of God, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

I, too, am glad to be here. A place of encouragement, refreshing, and above all - TRUTH!

May God richly bless each one who visits here. I know He blesses me every day.

"grace"

I crave TRUTH.