Secret Saboteurs by Toni Babcock

I had a co-worker many years ago who discovered she was the victim of secret sabotage in the workplace.  She was an energetic salesperson with a pleasing personality, who had the ability to really connect with her clients.  She was attractive, magnetic, and her positive attitude brought true value to the company we served.  None of us knew why anyone would have her in their cross hairs. What we did know was a happy vivacious saleswoman, now began to appear frustrated, anxious, and defeated;  fearful as to when the next work place incident was going to unravel her success.

When she brought her suspicions to management,  it seems they initially balked.  How did they know for sure she wasn't imagining things?  The person she was implicating was an otherwise good employee that no one else would have suspected.  But as time went on, the evidence became too clear and irrefutable, and the saboteur was eventually called into question.  He was thoroughly grilled by management and presented with the evidence.  Finally, he was forced to come clean and confess  his outrageous schemes and mind-games used to destroy a fellow employee's sales success, while creating a negative image for the company.  He was promptly let go of his position and basically fired on the spot.  

In God's kingdom just as in everyday life, we humans can become a real hindrance to one another. Perhaps you wonder why you are dealing with a person who appears to be against you when you are "just trying to do your job".  You don't understand why they seem to seize every opportunity to discredit you.  These may be people who appear dismissive, overly critical, or discouraging.   People who, when you attain personal success are strangely silent, but who suddenly appear like flies on road kill every time you make a mistake.  Soon you begin to feel like road kill just waiting for the next truck to run you over.  If you have ever been there, this is precisely where the devil wants you, because when you begin to feel like road kill, you won't succeed in doing anything worthwhile in the world, or in God's kingdom.   Satan's strategy accomplished.

Here is my take on what is really happening.  When this becomes our experience, somehow we have gotten our eyes off of Jesus and onto people.  We are looking to the wrong source for spiritual strength and validation.  We've crossed the line somewhere, and now we are suffering the ill effects of our own self-sabotaging ways.  Yes, by looking to the wrong source for validation, WE have succeeded in becoming our own saboteurs!  In the process, we have begun to feel a bit too sorry for ourselves.  All is not lost however.  Jesus is still on the throne.

Learn to view these negative experiences in a positive light. Consider how God may have allowed this person into your life to make you a better Christian.  Stop feeling victimized.  Take a new perspective.   Humbly look for something your critic is saying you actually might need to hear (even if it comes across too judgmentally).  Who knows,  maybe they feel constrained to point out your mistakes for the good of God's kingdom.  If so, figure out what it is God may be trying to tell you, even if you feel like you're being run over rough shod.  Bury the hatchet.  It takes grace and humility to turn the other cheek and not retaliate.

The fact is, antagonists can come in handy.  The psalmist wrote "Let the righteous smite me - it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities," (Psalm 141:5 KJV).  Take whatever good you can out of the experience and grow in Christ without laying down and assuming  "road kill" status. Remember, God allowed this person into your life for a reason, and Jesus is watching how you handle it.

Paul's words to the church at Rome ring true for every believer in any stressful situation: " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which in in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:35-39 KJV).  Paul's theme is repeated to the Corinthians when he wrote:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  (II Corinthians 12:10 KJV).

Copyright 2016 (Revised from previous post of same title).

Toni M. Babcock is author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITER 

Atheist No More By Marijo Phelps

Through a series of events that God had put together, this atheist of nine years found herself praying. I was praying to the god I wasn't sure was really there. Life was a mess. I was hurting those I professed to love. I was drinking too much and making terrible choices.

My younger sister has changed tremendously. I had to ask questions. I scoffed and poked fun at her but underneath that tough exterior I was thoughtful. As soon as I put her on the plane, I found myself at the Christian bookstore getting the book on Bible prophesy she recommended.

Three weeks after reading the book, my husband and I had gone for a walk in a nearby park. I was crying but instead of release, the tears felt muddy as they dribbled down my face. Life was a tangled snarl and I was even more tangled.

Later that day, I found myself getting ready for work, taking a bath and talking out loud, to god, IF he was there. I needed help.

"I've made a wreck of my life. If you're there, I need you to forgive me and to have you take over." This went on for some time. I am not sure what I expected, but nothing "weird" happened. I felt calm and peaceful, like a huge bounder in a backpack was lifted off my shoulders.

"Hey, JO, are you ok in there, you've been in there an hour and a half now?" questioned my husband.

It was then I realized I was sitting in a bathtub filled with stone cold water. But I felt free for the first time ever in my life.

There was a born again nurse's aide at work. I spoke with her much. I began to read the Bible. I still had so many questions: How did I know this was really the literal Word of God? How could I believe every word? What was just "good stories" and what was real?

Did you really inspire these writers? Is every word literal? Can I trust this book?

I found myself reading in the Old Testament and came across Isaiah 40:22


"It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in." (RSV)

Then it "popped into my head" that when we studied history "in 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue" they all thought if he went too far, he'd sail off the edge of the earth this scripture was written way before Columbus. Yet, whoever inspired this writing knew the earth was a circle and it sounded like he was sitting above that circle.

Next I found Psalms 103:11-12: "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his great steadfast love towards those who fear him, as far as the east in from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." (RSV)

I started thinking about this. If you go north pretty soon you are going south because the earth spins on its axis which is from north to south

However, if you go east you keep going east forever and never go west.

The lights were coming on just like the sun rises each and every morning.

The person who inspired this knew that the earth was a circle and rotated on an axis. Who but God?

Shortly after this I was reading in the New Testament and found two scriptures regarding end times: Matthew 24:40-41 "Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left."

And Luke 17:34-35 (speaking of the same end times event) Í tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left." (RSV)

I mentally checked this out too. It was too early in time for electricity in the fields, no night lights, so those in the field and grinding had to be in the daytime. And those asleep, looked like it was nighttime. Showing the concept of an earth with part of it in day and the rest in night when this event happened.

Again, who but the Lord God knew about this at the time in history when these scriptures were written.

Thank you, Lord God, for caring enough to help me with my "issues" about the Bible. Thank you for looking upon my converted atheist's heart and teaching me, answering my questions and giving me much to think about in the years that followed.

I no longer wondered which parts of the Bible were "just good stories" and which were literal. I knew from that day on I could rely on what was written within those incredible and wonderful pages. And I knew that I would have these examples to share with anyone else who was questioning, like I was.

How much more could I be loved? How much more personable could my Lord and savior be? I came to find out that this was just the beginning, the very beginning. All these years later I am still learning and growing, daily thanking my incredible raboni, the Lord Jesus Christ.

About Self

Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news

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The Temp Job By C.M. Erickson

"You should take the accountant temp job." Lisa stated firmly.

Josh hadn't held down a steady job in over a year. Right now he was taking some work as a fill in UPS driver getting paid about eight dollars an hour. Lisa's full time job as a church secretary garnered a paltry nine dollars an hour. They had three young children at home and one on the way, and no insurance among the 5.5 of them. Winter was coming, and the price of heating gas was going up.

"The temp job is only good for a year, and they might not renew. Shawn promised me if I went for the permanent accountant job, he would guarantee me the slot. I've worked with a bunch of them before, and they even requested me. I want to provide some financial stability here for the family." Josh countered, desperation written on his face. The shame of not providing for his family ate at him every time he walked into their run down farm house with broken windows. The landlord never fixed anything, but at the same time, she never complained when they were late on the rent.

"I think you should take the temp job. We need the money. That's forty grand a year!! With that kind of money, I could quit at the church and be with the kids. We only have one car, and getting up early enough to drive you half an hour one way for your shifts, and then still getting to church at eight thirty in the morning is painful for the whole family. They could renew the temp job. You'd have a year to build a solid track record at work." Lisa stuck to her guns. Looking at her husband's face, she relented a little. "But you have to make the choice. You need to do what you think is right. I trust you to make the right decision for the family."

Josh applied for the permanent job. The interview was great, and Shawn told him afterwards that he was a definite shoo-in. Lisa was so relieved to hear the good news. She had never worked all the way through a pregnancy before, and wasn't sure if she could make it all the way. She'd had complications on her last pregnancy, and the reassurance that the rent and utility bill wouldn't be dependent on her was a massive burden off her shoulders. Relief was in sight.

Months passed. Christmas came and went with still no word. Lisa remained faithful, praying for patience and the peace that passes all understanding. Everyone knew the hiring office was slow. Then one day in mid January, Josh came into the church office visibly furious.

"I was the accounting office today on a UPS run, and I ran into Tim. I asked him what he was doing there, and he told me he had been accepted for the permanent accounting job and was getting the standard tests done before his taking the job became official. He told me Shawn had promised him the job and had really come through. I tried to track down Shawn, but when he saw me in the hall, he turned around and went the other way." Josh snarled.

Lisa decided this was not the time to bring up past conversations. She told her husband that God just had something better in mind for the family, trying to hide her disappointment. Josh refused to be placated and returned to work. Lisa prayed once again for strength to face the coming months of late bills, no heat, and a burgeoning pregnancy. God had carried her through worse storms, and she knew he would carry her and her family through this one as well.

Carolyn Erickson has lived a storied life, from graduating the United States Military Academy, to living in Germany for five years, to a tour to Iraq, to now an Army spouse. She is a freelance writer and personal trainer in her free time.

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