A New Season

[Maryanne Winder Lester]

It’s a New Season

I have so many things to say today that I cannot type fast enough. The voice of the Lord awoke me at 6:00 am and in my quiet time, I prayed for guidance; that I would receive divine inspiration for the words I was meant to share with you. And just a few moments later I was bombarded with a multitude of things to share. So, this one will be a long writing. I beg you to take the time to absorb everything that the Holy Spirit has placed in my heart to share with you today. Those of you who know me personally, already know that I am totally transparent. I hide nothing. In difficult times, I don’t complain or whine. Instead I praise His holy name. In the best times, my response is the same. It’s because I have absolute faith that my Lord has a plan for me.

In August, 2008, I quit a job that was paying me a higher salary than I had ever earned in my life. I had achieved an income that allowed me to have the best that money could buy. I had 2 luxury cars, a 5 bedroom home, more fine jewelry than I could ever wear, a designer wardrobe, an envied collection of fine art, a multitude of musical instruments that I never had time to play and I was rubbing elbows with some top names in the entertainment field. I threw money away on material things and never put any away for that “rainy day.” And, I was an expert in my job. All of my staff did an excellent job too, because they saw my example and also because they wanted to please me. Whatever my employer asked me to do, I did it in an even greater way than was required. I was totally dedicated to my job, but, I wasn’t happy. I worked an average of 60 hours per week because that was what I felt was required to accomplish the tasks perfectly. I never took a lunch break and brought work home with me almost every night. I was neglecting my husband and my disabled mother, all because I enjoyed that big paycheck. The Holy Spirit was working in me then, even though I had not yet received Salvation. In my resignation letter, I informed my employer I could no longer make the necessary sacrifices I felt were required of me. In my own mind, I thought I had made the decision to resign because I was just simply burned out. I know now, that our gracious heavenly Father had another plan for me. I started sending out resumes and I was positive I would find another job immediately. My work history was impeccable; I had excellent references and 4 college degrees. But no employers were beating on my door to hire me. One of my cars was repossessed.

In October, I took a job in the same field at a huge reduced wage and I resigned 5 weeks later because my heart just wasn’t in it. By then, I had given up the 5 bedroom home, and my husband and I moved into my mother’s home. And to top it off, my husband was arrested. But at that point, I was eligible for unemployment. I was so embarrassed to be standing in the unemployment line. During one of the unemployment meetings, the counselor said they could offer training and education to help the unemployed transition into a better career. I was so excited! I went to her and told her I wanted to take advantage of that program so that I could go to Medical School. She looked at me like I was crazy. The education and training she was talking was teaching computer skills or getting a GED, (Georgia Equivalency Diploma). So I continued to send out my resume to every employer in my field of expertise, whether or not they had any job openings advertised. No responses, zero, nada, nothing! I just could not understand why no one wanted me. I became very discouraged and depressed. But at least I was receiving unemployment benefits. I had no insurance and unemployment paid less than 1/3 of the salary I was accustomed to. I couldn’t buy new clothes. I couldn’t buy new jewelry. My husband was incarcerated. I cried a lot!

Then on Thanksgiving day, I gave my life to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And, on that same day, so did my husband although he was still in jail. He was released the next day. Halleluiah!!! This is all in my Testimony that I have posted previously.

But I kept looking for that same job. Let me explain what my job consisted of. I managed apartment communities. I was responsible for everything that happened on the property. This included keeping every apartment occupied by paying residents. I was “judged” by how much income I could generate for the owners and how much money I could save by not spending money on things that were not necessary; like new carpet, new air conditioners or toilet repair. My employer’s philosophy was this: if the apartment had 2 toilets, the resident could wait to have the other one repaired. If someone was late on their rent, I would aggressively threaten them that they would lose their homes. If they were unable to pay the rent, regardless of the reason, it was my job to evict them and put their belongings on the street so that I could rent the apartment to a paying tenant. It didn’t even matter if they had children.

In January of 2009 I went back to an old employer and I was offered an apartment community to manage. Once again, my salary was reduced. This time, I took the job as a child of God. But, I was required to perform the same exact duties as before. At that time I believed that God had put me on that run-down, dilapidated ghetto property so that I could bring souls to Him. I discussed God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit with many tenants when they couldn’t pay their rent. I invited them to church. I gave them names of agencies that could help them with their money problems. But in the end, I still filed eviction if they didn’t pay the rent. That was what I was being paid to do. But my Spirit grieved every time I had to do this. Then, the office was broken into. All the office equipment and maintenance tools were stolen. A tenant threatened my life for telling her she had to pay, and my employer was not at all concerned for my safety. Other residents came to me and told me I was in danger. The next day I quit that job and had to hand write my resignation letter because my employer did not want to replace the computer, knowing that it would probably be stolen again. Because of God’s mercy, I was able to qualify for unemployment benefits again. I haven’t worked for a salary since then. But I have been a servant to God and He has sustained me.

At this point in time, we are in a very difficult financial situation. All my jewelry is gone, so are all my musical instruments except my piano, we struggle to pay our bills and sometime our utilities or phone are cut off for non-payment. We lost the other car and we were using my mother’s car until the engine blew up. We had to rely on a neighbor to take us to the grocery store. Fellow servants of God came to pick us up for church and when they were not able, we were still able to watch via Streaming Faith. Our water heater burst and we were without hot water for almost a month, until a ministry heard of our situation and brought us a new water heater and installed it free. Through a sister in Christ, we were able to find a car and we just got it Saturday. And the most difficult tribulation we are currently facing is that my mother’s home is in foreclosure, scheduled for sale on the courthouse steps May 2. We have a Christian organization working with us and I have faith that our home will not be lost, if that is the will of God. This is why I sing, “Until it works, until it turns around, until it happens for me, I’m going to praise Him anyhow!”

I know this has been a long story just to give you the history of what I want to share with you today. I was meant to do God’s work, not man’s work. I started sharing my writings about God with you just a week ago. My writing has caused me to reflect on His Word more and more. I hope you have enjoyed my writings.

Yesterday was an exceedingly beautiful, glorious day as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because we had a car, we were able to attend church for the first time in a very long time and we brought a guest. The words placed in our Bishop’s heart by the Holy Spirit were awesome and these words were confirmation for what the Spirit had already put in our own hearts. It’s all about FAITH!!! Let me say that again, IT’S ALL ABOUT FAITH!!!I’m so excited about this that I have to say it one more time. IT’S ALL ABOUT FAITH!!!!! This is a new season. It’s time to let go of the past. It’s time to stop worrying, stressing. crying, doubting and feeling discouraged. God is sending us a new message in this new season and we need to listen. God may be telling us to do something that we think is impossible. But if He tells us to do this new thing, we won’t be doing it alone. He will be with us. We must have faith that He knows what is best for us to accomplish His perfect will for our lives. And when He gives us this new thing, it’s a divine opportunity. If we believe, truly believe and have faith that He knows where to lead us, He will take us there. He promised us He would lead us in the right direction. I pray that you let Him lead you. At Jesus’ resurrection, He got up and the enemy was defeated.

I realize now that I can send out a thousand resumes, but no one is going to hire me unless the position I apply for is created especially for me, by God to do His will. My Bishop posed the question yesterday, “How many times am I going to wait for something that is never going to come?” Since I received Salvation through Jesus Christ, people have criticized me, spoken ill words to me, looked down on me, stopped communicating with me, told me I was a failure or a burden, or to get a job at McDonald’s, get rid of my pets, told me I was not walking in the path of righteousness and even that the Holy Spirit was not in me. I don’t condemn any of them, even those who are family members or members of my church. I am God’s perfect creation and He loves me unconditionally. He loves me so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that I could have everlasting life. There is no greater love. And those who spoke negative words to me are in my prayers because I forgive them and love them as He forgives and loves me.

I have received the precious gifts that Jesus left after He ascended into heaven. These gifts are the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Of all these gifts, the only one I struggle with is joy. And I am working on that daily. I pray on this because I don’t understand why people’s words, loss of material things and financial troubles effect me enough to steal my joy. These things are my Achilles Heel and the enemy knows it. So, that’s how he strikes at me. And, when I become aware that I am not joyous, I immediately turn to God. Sometimes, I start to sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all my sins and grieves to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” He is the source of my strength and I know His mercy covers me in everything I do. I have faith that whatever obstacle is placed in front of me, God has already cleared the path. I look forward to my divine opportunity in this new season.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Maryanne Winder-Lester 4/5/2010