Dan's Thankful Thoughts.

This time, I have many things to be thankful for. God has blessed my family and me richly over the past few months, and it just seems right to share some of what he's done for us.

Retirement from the Air Force, and getting a new job, was the major significant emotional event of the last few months. It was a stressful and faith-building time, for two reasons: the Air Force has about a zillion items of paperwork to be done for retirement; and I was looking for a job for the first time in 20 years. I wrote resumes, did interviews, and went to a job fair, which were all new experiences. I didn't know if I'd get a job quickly, or at all. I didn't know if we'd have to move to a new place. I prayed hard and often, and spent a lot of time in the Bible, leaning hard on God's promises.

I had a lot of encouragement, too. I have two friends in church who were especially encouraging. One, a contractor employee at Robins AFB, had his contract expire. He was a great example to me of not worrying--he stayed cheerful, and trusted God completely, knowing everything would come out o.k. Of course, it did--a new contract was awarded, and he was re-hired, and he hadn't wasted his effort by being anxious. My other friend told me his stories of changing jobs, often coming within a few days of the end of one job before another opportunity arose. I like what he said to me about moving from the military to the civilian world: "There's air out here!" (meaning that, even though it was a big unknown for me, there's life after military service, and it'll be o.k.)

God's timing was impeccable. I had sent out resumes, and interviewed companies for months, but had no offers. Then, I got one offer, but it fell through. As retirement day approached, people at work kept asking if I had a job all set up yet, and I had to say no. Then, I got a call from a company I didn't even know, because they saw my resume on a web site. They made an offer, and we negotiated for a while. Finally, three days before my retirement date, I accepted their revised offer!

Then something happened that just seemed like God's reassurance. One day before retirement, another company called to offer me a job. Then, on retirement day, a third company called to ask if I was available. It felt like God telling me, "Dan you didn't need to be anxious all those months. I provided what you needed, at just the right time. And, not only that, just to show you I'll always satisfy all your needs, here are three jobs! See?"

So, this Thanksgiving and Christmas season, I have a lot to be very thankful for!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Psalm 118:29

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7