Had a bad day at work today... am disturbed by gossips and divisive people. Used to talk to x when married, but now all alone and no one to unburden to.

Include me in your prayer today, will you? I need God to hold my hand and tell me it's OK. I need to remind myself He loves me and He is in control.

Ruffled Today

Consider it done.
TT

Hello TT!! ((hugs))

How are you? It's been a long time.

Things are ok Ruffled. My husband came home over a year ago when he and OW fell apart. I don't know if you remember but he has kidney failure and OW dumped him when he started dialysis. I have worked my way through a whole load of resentment and am starting to appreciate having him back home. The girls are pleased to have us all under one roof and even the dog seems to have accepted him! He used to growl at him and come and sit by me! Smart creature.

Despite his illness, he continues to work and provide for us. Life could be much worse so, today at least, I'm not complaining.

Thank God, TT. May He continue to bless and keep your family... dog including!!

I had my divorce a year and a half ago. Am thankful. Most days are good. Once in a while I get a lousy day, and find I have no one to talk to, without prejudice. Am glad that I can still come here.

If I remember correctly, you are in Asia, aren't you?

Loving and gracious heavenly Father,

Thank you for the restful and peaceful weekend. Lord, I come to you today to help me walk in patience and compassion towards my colleagues.

I am where you want me to be, Lord. I have had two wonderful years of learning and productivity at work, Lord. Thank you for assigning me to work with G. Lord, my workplace is now topsy turvy with people who craves recognition, position, money and power more than a good day's honest work.

Help me to be like you -- wise, slow to anger, gracious, compassionate and merciful. Help me develop these qualities in my life, Lord. Let my Holy Spirit be watchful of me, so I do not bring shame and guilt by losing my temper. Help me be humble and wise. Help me hold my tongue when my heart is on fire.

Without you Lord, I can do nothing. Without you, I will become someone even I, will not like. You hold the power to mould me, and all I want is to bring You glory. Only You, Father, give me great comfort. Your Son has died and resurrected in atonement for my sins. I am no longer a sinner in your eyes. I wish to walk right with You every day, Lord, and I know because you are righteous, walking with You will be right with others too.

Help me be of good counteance and give me a merry heart during trying times, when I am in the midst of difficult people.

I ask all of this in Jesus's most precious and holy name, amen.

Ruffled Every Monday

Another unbearable day at work Lord.

I can't hold the reins anymore.

You take over please.

Thank you Lord, for sending me friends to remind me this warfare is not mine, it is Yours. Thank you for giving me rest.

Thank you for this week, which has been good, and despite all the shouting and backstabbing at work, you gave me comfort. Thank you also for enabling me to complete my work in a satisfying manner. Thank you for enabling me to rest and sleep and thank you for each new day.

R

Hi Ruffled....

Are you doing well? Are things better at work? Sometimes it helps to go out of your way to be nice to people... the kind and the unkind. I'm trying to think of the various places that I have worked. Any place I worked, I just made it "my business" to go out of my way to do things for others and to think about them and what it is that they wanted and needed from me. When I gave it to them... out of a sense of friendliness and sincere care... well, it was easy to make friends. I'm not sure how "rough" your work sitch is.

Like, today, I walked in and a person was there I haven't seen in a while. No one said where he was... but, for some reason... , I asked him if he'd been out of state. (He has gone out of state before that I knew of...)

Well, he had been out of state. So I asked him about how nice it was there (warm state... and quite beautiful)... and listened to him tell me about it. I was interested, I did care, and I listened.

I wonder if this might help you? Just some "friendly hints" at how to make friends... no matter how bad it is at work right now?

Just really be interested in people... and what they like... and show interest... and care... and listen to them tell you things.

And smile... and help them to feel good about themselves by how you listen to them. Really care. Show interest. Listen. Smile. And always try to make others feel better about themselves and their situations... making it your goal to cheer, comfort, and encourage them.

You will have so many friends... everyone will "light up" to see you... when you make your work life about... them.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(And you will be amazed how you will "rise through the ranks".)

As you've seen, backstabbing doesn't work too nice.

Try "patting backs".

(I'm really quite serious.)

I can tell you that I so enjoy caring for others and showing interest in them and listening... that it becomes quite effortless and enjoyable.

Everyone will see, know, and appreciate that you are caring for them.

And never take sides.

Just show care for everyone... and a person can't "take sides"... when the person they are against you are for... just as you are for them, too.

Just some friendly "tips"...

(do so much to "add" to people's lives.... that people don't ever want to see you go... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You'll love your job. Cause you will create your own environment... and it will be fun, upbeat, and positive...

Well, just some words.

(I'd just go in and start making friends. And if any doesn't want to be friendly... just still smile and say hi. Just do a little something nice and kind... to everyone.)

(hope that's an encouragement. never mind all the negatives... none of that can stop you... when you decide to do something "different"... )

Praying for you.

"back"

Dear back,

Thank you so much for your kind advice and prayers!

Things are much better at work-- both last week and this week.

I read your advice with care. I must admit that I have not been a nice person lately... my co-workers have been unnecessarily unkind and petty, and I reacted badly -- I was angry, and my anger showed and this made things worse for everyone, including myself. On top of that, my boss was under a lot of work stress, and while others get away with not doing their bit of work, I get yelled at.

All the bosses went away last week for a regional meeting and the office was in slumber. When my boss came back, he spoke to me real nice, which made me distrust him even more, after all that shouting the week before!

I will take your advice... I will try to be nice to people at work, to both the 'kind' and 'unkind'. The second one is harder to do, I don't wish to be superficial, I want to be kind, sincerely, and it's hard to do in an office full of cold shoulder old gossips and slanderers! Jesus is amazing, how does he do it?

Be nice, put away my pride, be a willing servant at work... and smile!

Thank you again,
R

Amen, R!... Amen and amen!

Great words... great heart revealed thereby in the Lord.

Well, what's great is this... God has created the world and us in such a way that when we make a decision to love others and be kind... the love of God in our hearts... "springs up oh well!"

We DO have a sincere love for all people in our hearts... Jesus Christ... and the sincerity of the love in your heart will rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise... and all the superficial stuff that is not really even you (like reacting back to people) will disappear... imo.

You will gain strength by commitment and action... and get stronger and stronger and stronger in the situation... making the real difference in sincerity from your heart in the Lord... that really will change your situation.

Expect a promotion.

I'm serious.

I don't know what the promotion is... but it's on the way. If it's there... so be it.

But you have "signed on" for a promotion... I can tell already.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here's a song:


River Of Life

There's a river of life flowing out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.
Open prison door sets the captive free,
There's a river of life flowing out of me.


Spring up oh well...
Within my soul!
Spring up oh well...
And make me whole.
Spring up oh well....
And give to me.
That life abundantly.

There's a fountain flowing from the Savior's side,
All my sin's forgiven in the precious tide;
Jesus paid the price when for me He died,
There's a fountain flowing from the Savior's side.


Spring up oh well...
Within my soul!
Spring up oh well...
And make me whole.
Spring up oh well....
And give to me.
That life abundantly.


There's a risen Savior at the Father's throne,
Ever interceding for His very own;
Pouring down the blessings that are His alone,
There's a risen Savior at the Father's throne.



Spring up oh well...
Within my soul!
Spring up oh well...
And make me whole.
Spring up oh well....
And give to me.
That life abundantly.


Words and Music by L. Casebolt and Betty Pulkingham




God has great things in store for you. YOU are an agent of CHANGE... an ambassador of peace... a peacemaker... a child of God... an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(That's your job! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

And God will empower and train and equip you to do it with excellence.

Keep getting up and walking... no one can hold you down!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

God bless.

Awesome!

Please everyone pray and agree with me in the Lord for the OW to dump my ex!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

God bless.

Dear back,

Hahahahahahaa... Thatsa kinda funny request prayin for ow to dump your ex... OK, I'll pray for the Lord to open their eyes.

***

I took your advice and although I had two or three episodes where some lazy bum pushed work across to me, I was nice. A customer service staff was looking unhappy and I asked her why.

That's all I can afford this week.

I got yelled at again. My boss is volatile.

His name is Stan. Probably short for Satan.