Quote from Forum Archives on December 16, 2004, 11:28 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional

(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

12.16.04

Finding Stability

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were
taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting
consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in
every good word and work. - 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17.

Madeline Vaughn is almost a dinosaur when compared to the majority of
contemporary workers. Madeline is older but her job stability is what seems
so out of place in today’s world. She has been working at the same job for
60 years! Such job stability seems as strange to us as dinosaurs would be in
our backyards.

When Madeline found a job with the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas, Texas,
she was only seeking a temporary job and she was just 20 years old. However,
what she found was a career and when she retires on December 31, 2004 she
will be the employee that has served the Federal Reserve longer than any
other employee.

We are frequently told that the employees of the 21st Century will have to
continually upgrade their skills and even change careers because of the
rapidly changing technology. However, just because technology and skills are
changing at an exponential rate does not mean that everything in life should
follow suit. It is unlikely that there will be very many people who can hold
a job for 60 years. It does appear that this will be increasingly rare and
even more of an exception to the norm than it is now.

In the midst of a tumultuous living and work environment, we can still find
stability. Even though we may have to move from one state to another or even
one country to another we can still have stability in our lives. Our
spiritual stability hinges upon one thing and that one thing is in the
holding onto our spiritual heritage. God does not change and He is the same
today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow.

To have stability in the midst of change we must remember to put Christ
first in our lives (Matthew 6:33).

To have stability and the accompanying peace that it brings in the midst of
the storm of change we must look to God to provide what only He can give us
(Philippians 4:6-7).

In my lifetime, I have had to move from one place to another 19 times and I
have had 24 employers including those in my teenage years. One employer I
worked for on three different occasions. The church I now pastor has been my
employer twice and I have been their pastor for a total of over 10 years. In
the midst of change, and uncertainty God has given me the stability of peace
beyond human understanding. This does not mean that I have not experienced
stress, fear, doubt, and depression. It does mean that God has walked with
me and carried me through it each step of the way. He will do the same for
you!

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
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