BLOCKED

I've heard it said that "all good things must come to an end". Well, I don't know how much of a "good thing" Facebook has been for me but I think that my shelf life has just about expired.

I'm done. Done with all the negativity and angry rants that people post! I mean...I'm no "Polly Purebred" but I like to keep things positive in my posts. That's just me.

Another reason why I think I'm about to bail is because someone who I thought was a good friend (a REALLY good friend) has BLOCKED me.

Oh to have been a fly on the wall when I confronted the person whom we'll call "Casey".

Casey: Hey, did you see that post about what I wanted for Christmas?

Me (thinking to myself...oh no you didn't just ask me about a post after you've BLOCKED me from your profile): Nope. Can't say that I did. It's kinda hard to see your posts since you've BLOCKED me.

Casey: BLOCKED you? What? Hmmm...now let's see...what could you have done or said that made me BLOCK you?

Me: Are you serious?

Casey: Yeah. I don't even remember BLOCKING you. When did this happen?

Me: A couple of weeks ago.

Casey: And you're just telling me now?

Me: Yep. I wanted to wait until we were face to face.

Casey: Wow. So...how did that make you feel?

Me: Hurt

Casey: Oh my God! What is it with people and Facebook. Why do people get so emotional about what goes on there?

Me: So...why did you do it?

Casey: I really don't remember doing it. Let's check it out.

So we log on, and sure enough...there I am on the BLOCKED list...along with about 10 other people...who "Casey" also didn't remember BLOCKING.

As we sat at the computer, I watched "Casey" unBLOCK me and "supposedly" send me a friend request. Funny...I never got the friend request, and I'm STILL BLOCKED from "Casey's" page. Yes folks...somethin' is fishy in Denmark.

So between the negativity and the fact that "Casey" is playing games...I think I'm done.

At the end of the day when it comes to "Casey"...I'd rather be "friends" in real life than to be "friends" on Facebook anyway.

And my 2 best friends know how to reach my outside of Facebook...so that's all that matters.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever been BLOCKED by anyone on Facebook?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Cha Ching!

That was the sound of $140.00 worth of DIMES that I cashed in yesterday.

I'm still unemployed and times are getting tougher so I had to resort to my change bucket for some much needed funds.

The day before yesterday I cashed in $38.00 worth of nickels. Yesterday I was right back at the bank with $140.00 worth of dimes. And I was so THANKFUL to have them.

Not sure when I'll be back to work so in the meantime I'm starting to sell anything that's not bolted down.

I'm not worried though. I PRAY. And since prayer and worry don't go together...I don't worry.

Jehovah Jireh is my Provider and He knows just what I need when I need it. So all is well.

That's it for now...gotta say this though...those coin counting machines are pretty darned accurate. I counted $140.00 worth of dimes while I was at home and that's exactly how much the machine said I had. That was reassuring.

Now...Let the DIALOGE begin: Do you have coins saved up in a container somewhere? Do you think you'll have to cash them in soon?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Urgh!!!

Okay folks...I'm frustrated!

With what, you may ask...with my job search.

You may recall from previous posts how I'm looking to "re-invent" myself and instead of the corporate cubicle job that I've always had, I now desire a CAREER in which I can help people and make a positive difference in this world that we live in.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Well here's the problem that I'm running into...most of the positions that catch my eye require experience in the field.

It's just HELPING people!!! I have LOTS of experience there. However, the ads for the jobs require "so many years of xyz"...or a degree in "abc". I don't have any of that. I just have a heart for service. Isn't that enough?

So...the search continues. That small voice (that I really don't want to listen to) is telling me to just apply for sales jobs (like I've always had) and do the philanthropic stuff on the weekends.

If I do that, I will be so unhappy and unfulfilled.

So for now, I will continue to pray and apply for positions. God knows my heart. He knows what I want next, and He knows that I need to pay my bills.

Perhaps this is just another one of those lessons in patience.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you re-invented yourself?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Gone Home

Yesterday I attended a homegoing service. That's what believers in Christ call a funeral, because we believe that when one who has accepted Christ dies, they go "home" to be with the Lord.

So as I said...I went to a "homegoing" service.

Kinda interesting.

The service was for a woman who I went to high school with. Haven't seen her since high school and I really don't think that I even hung out with her when we were in high school. Yet, something in my spirit told me to go anyway. After all, was her life worth any less just because I didn't know her personally? The answer...of course not.

So here's how the day went...

First...I wasn't going to go at all.
Then...10:00 rolls around and I'm ready to go so I look up the directions to the church only to find that the service STARTS at 10:00. Great...I'm still in my living room and no where near where the church is. So I wasn't gonna go.

Few minutes later, I decide to go...I'll just be late. It's a homegoing service afterall...it wasn't ending any time soon.

So I hop on the freeway and head to the church. I get there and the lot and surrounding streets are PACKED. No where to park!

I circle the block once...nothing.
Twice...nothing.
Three times, and now I'm about to head home.

And there it is...that voice that said, "Go across the main boulevard, you'll find a place to part there".

So I did, and sure enough...there was a spot.

Then I get inside the church and...you guessed it...Nowhere to sit!

I find a spot against the back wall and wonder if I should just leave. Just then, an usher came over and directed me to the "overflow" area. Nope...I wasn't going anywhere. I was IN now.

And I'm so glad that I was.

The Pastor of the church delivered a great message.
Her friends and family gave lovely remarks.
And as I was listening to everyone describe her, it was as if I were at my OWN homegoing service. Her life so closely mirrored mine.

She loved the Lord.
She was a servant through and through, doing all that she could to meet the needs of others.
She loved God's Word...studying it, hearing it, teaching it.

Listening to what a great woman of God she was, I couldn't help but think that if she and I had stayed in touch after high school we probably would have been GREAT friends.

I may not have known her much in life, but in celebrating her life, I'm glad that I got a chance to know what I know.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever gone to a homegoing service (funeral) for someone that you really didn't know very well...or at all?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Time's a wastin'

So I've been unemployed since July 29th. Still no new gig. My heart knows that it's out there, it just hasn't met my heart yet.

It's gotta be meaningful.
It's gotta be life-changing (in a positive way).
It's gotta allow me to take care of my family financially.

Not much to ask for, is it.

So where is it?

Clock's ticking.

Tick.

Tock.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Are you unemployed? How long has it been?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Surprise!!!

I'll give you three tries to guess what we're talkin' about today...

Chocolate???
No

A new car??
No

Bunny Rabbits???
No

Give up? Good tries, but I'll go ahead and spill it.
Today, we're talking about Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks.

For most people, it's all about food and isn't much of a spiritual day.
For me, it's just the opposite...a day for spiritual reflection, and then we eat.

So I went to church today for our Thanksgiving Service and I gotta tell ya...there weren't a whole lot of people there. Maybe 30, tops. I remember the times when the church would be packed on Thanksgiving. Today...not so much.

But I thank God that I don't need a packed church in order to thank Him for His goodness and all that He means to me. Even if I were the ONLY one in the church today, I would have given Him thanks. He's been just that good to me.

I've been out of work since July 29th yet there is still food on my table, I still have a car to drive (that I'm still making payments on), I still have a roof over my head that is my own, and I am in good health (without medical insurance coverage).

I'm even thankful for this little blog of mine that nobody seems to read. I'm thankful for the four who have "liked" it on the Facebook page...just wondering what's up with the rest of the world & why nobody comments. It's okay though. If I write for the walls then I'm writing for something.

Yes folks...God is GOOD to me. And GOOD is an understatement. I've often said that the word does not exist that accurately describes how I feel about God. There just isn't a word that is sufficient. Thankfully, He knows...so it's all good.

I was close to going to get a free turkey this past Tuesday because one of the local businessmen was giving them out, but I thought about it and realized that I am blessed and can still afford a turkey of my own, so I wasn't about to take a turkey from someone who truly needed one.

All in all, it's been a beautiful day. I've been home alone for most of the day, and that's okay. In years past I would have been so sad to be spending Thanksgiving (or any holiday) alone. But I've done it so much it doesn't even phase me anymore. Sure, I'd like to have spent the day with a "special someone" but that hasn't happened yet. Hey...Christmas is just around the corner. Maybe things will be different then. And if not, like Paul said in Philippians 4:11, "I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in."

Now, Let the DIALOGUE begin! What are YOU thankful for?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Catching Up

So it's been a while...I know.

For an unemployed person I've been pretty busy. Busy with good stuff, and some not so good.

Really hoping to find a new gig soon. Money runs out pretty fast these days.

I just don't want to settle for the "same ol' same ol". I really want a career that matches my passion for serving others. Anything less will leave me unfulfilled and I just can't go back to that.

So the search continues, but I'll do my best to check in regularly just so that you know I'm still kickin'. Sometimes I wonder...do you CARE if I'm still kickin'? Can't really tell when you're silent. So leave a comment, would ya?!?

Let the DIALOGUE begin! What have you been up to? Are you working? If not, what fills up your unemployed days?

Talk to me!

Til next time...