December 6, 1997. That is a day that I remember vividly. I was Purchasing Agent for Hunt Lumber at the Castor Sawmill. I had been there for almost 8 years, and was on vacation that week. The plant manager called me and asked if I would come in and help close out some things for year-end. He said if I would come in, he would give me another day off later. I went in that morning and found out that I had become the scapegoat for him, and he politely said, One of us is going to lose our job today, and it is not going to be me. I went home, fired from my job. I was not a Christian, so my focus was not turned to God, but my situation. I had the responsibility of my family, and also my character. My wife, being employed with the same company, had to deal with all the talk of the plant, while being the sole source of income for our family, and it was nearly Christmas. My self esteem was non existent. Even then, I did not turn to God. I began making calls and looking for work. A friend, Durwood Matlock, told me of a job opening at a new plant that was under construction at Simsboro for Willamette. I made a trip to that location on a Friday morning, and got to meet Walter Wagner, the Plant Manager, and he was cooking breakfast for all the folks at the construction site. He welcomed me and I can remember thinking, as I left the location, how I would love to work for and with someone like that.....that truly loved their work and the people there. I applied for the job, but had no idea that I would even be considered because of the amount of people within the company that would be trying to get the position. I was hired. I worked there almost 10 years. The people there became family to me, and during my time there, I got saved! Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. I worked with some of the most amazing people while there. Most of them were local to the Ruston area, but I was an import. I tell this story to say this: God has a plan for your life. What I thought was the worst thing possible, getting fired, was actually one of the best things that ever happened to me. God moved me forward. The truth is, God only moves us forward. If we go backward, that is our choice and not His!! I am thankful for those who influenced me at Simsboro, and they are too numerous to mention, but Im most grateful to God for His Son, Jesus Christ. We cant ever see very far ahead, but if we look back, we can see where God brought us from, and we can be grateful for His provision. So, its Christmas time again. I always remember December 6, and thank God for what He did that day, when I was so lost. Please, dont get so lost in the world that you dont recognize what Christmas is truly about! Jesus Christ was born in this world to be the sacrifice for our sins. Thats personal. Please allow Him to forgive you and save your soul. Merry Christmas, and thank you Jesus for coming. God Bless!
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:43:29 +0000
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