Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Today, the death knell tolled. The office was like a funeral parlour with of red rimmed eyes and screwed up tissues, but no one had died. No one was even ill. I and three other members of staff were told we were being made redundant. The future now looks bleak for the others, but to me a bright, new prospect is on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, I do sympathize with my colleagues and I will miss the regular income. The difference is that I know I am in the Lord’s hands and “my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory” and “I’ll not want” (psalm 23:1). After all, He got me the job in the first place.

Three years ago this month I was sitting watching a recording of Joyce Meyer’s “Enjoying Everyday Life” when an advert came up for TV4LIFE subscriptions. There’s nothing usual in that, you may be thinking. You may even have seen the advert yourself and subscribed. The difference is, on that destiny-filled day, I noticed for the first time that TV4LIFE’s offices are in Colchester, three miles from where I live.

Ever since my youngest was born my husband had said, “When he starts school you will have to get a job.” In fact, I had already applied for one job as a part-time PR at Essex University but had been unsuccessful after putting myself through the wringer trying to get it. After all the tension and stress had subsided, I surrendered my future to Jesus and asked Him to find the job he wanted me to have. I asked him if he would get me a job without me getting myself all worked up and that it would happen in his timing. So you see, when I saw that advert appear with a Colchester address I felt God sitting next to me, nudging me with his elbow, saying “Go on then. Rewind it and take down the telephone number and ring up.” So I did, only to be told that there were no jobs going but if I wanted to email them my CV, they would consider it if a job came up.

A few days later, our car jolted and quivered to a final stop on our way up to Aldeburgh for a fish and chips luncheon on the spit. It was the last I thought of jobs for a while, after all, I had my husband’s 40^th birthday rendezvous in Brittany with his former college pals to think about. The Euro Tunnel was booked so we had to find a vehicle to transport us there. I pinned the crumpled note with the email address for the TV4LIFE offices to a bathroom cabinet with a fridge magnet. About a month later and six thousand pounds lighter, after buying a Kia and enjoying a fancy dress 40^th birthday party for the gang, I was cleaning my teeth and spotted the note. Again, it was as though God was standing next to me nudging me, saying, “If you don’t apply for that job, someone else will get it.”

I didn’t want that to happen, so I was obedient and sent off my CV the very next day. I got an email back straight away from my future boss, who said she had been impressed with my CV and did I want to go in for “a chat”.

 I hadn’t realized the “chat” was actually an interview so I hadn’t got all worked up like the last interview. Ten minutes into the “chat”, my boss said: “What are your salary expectations?”

“Can you tell me what the job is first,” I bleated.

“We’re looking for a new Editor,” she said. I don’t know if she noticed my jaw drop to the floor. You see, I would never have applied for an editor’s job. Yes, I am a trained journalist and had worked my way up through the male-dominated ranks of various regional newspapers and had even freelanced among the Oxbridge graduates at the BBC, but I never considered myself editor material. I didn’t, but thankfully, God did. After another interview and writing exercise, I was offered the job. It was meant to be a full-time job, but I prayed about it and my boss offered me the job part-time. Isn’t God good?

It was a bit nerve wracking at first, but once I was trained and got into the swing of it, it was a job meant for me. It feels like all of my skills and previous experience have been channelled for this job. As a teenager, I had first dreamed of working for a magazine and had won the star-letter prize in Jackie magazine. Little had I realised I would one day be working for the first international Christian TV listings magazine as the Editor!

When we celebrated the magazine’s 10^th anniversary a few months ago, I realized that God had started the plans for this magazine around about the time I had rededicated my heart to Him. Even then, he was thinking about my future. So as I view the exit door of redundancy, I see it as another door opening, not closing, because as one of my favourite Bible verses says: “I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

If being in His perfect will in this job is anything to go by, I can’t wait to see what He has planned for my next one!

I'M FREE TO SPEAK

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:31-32.

 

I used to be one of those Christians who let others “fight the good fight” while I sat back quietly in my corner, but I’ve been nudged - in fact pushed - by strong Holy Spirit-led convictions to start standing up for what I believe in.

 

Yes, Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) and being meek is a godly virtue, but in His next breath He said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled,” (Matthew 5:6).

 

I can’t sit back any longer and watch Christians being marginalised in British Society or persecuted across the world. If you feel led to wear a cross at work, you should be able to wear one. If you feel prompted to ask someone if they need prayer, then go ahead and ask them, as long as you do it gently?

 

 It’s been shocking to read recently that Christians are being persecuted for simple acts of faith, like Duke Armachree who last year lost his case having been sacked by Wandsworth Council for suggesting to a client with an incurable illness to try putting her faith in God. In another case, Jennie Cain, a Christian mother and part-time school receptionist, who was disciplined for sending an email to request prayer, had her case settled without going to court.

 

I am not alone in thinking that Christians should be able to act according to their beliefs. A new survey conducted by pollsters ComRes for Christian Concern found 72 per cent of the public believe that Christians should be able to refuse to act against their consciences without being penalised by their employers. It also found 87 per cent of those questions did not believe health care workers should be threatened with the sack for offering to pray with patients.

 

Sam Webster left a law firm to work for the Christian Institute which defended Jennie Cain because of his beliefs. In Christianity Today, he said: “In dark corners of the world today there are men, women and children whose lives are on the line simply for following Christ. They would leap at the chance to enjoy just one day of our liberty. We owe it to them to cherish our freedom, and to defend it against those who seek to take it away. There is not one inch of liberty that isn’t worth fighting for.”

 

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said in Britain hostility towards Christianity came from a combination of "well-meaning" political correctness, multiculturalism and "overt opposition to Christianity". As he launched the “Not Ashamed” leaflet in December, Lord Carey said: "I am proud of our tradition of tolerance and our historic commitment to welcoming the stranger.

"Yet what many people don't realise is that it is the Christian faith that underpins these great strengths and that has enriched our nation in so many other ways.

"This rich legacy is under attack. In spite of having contributed so much to our civilisation and providing its foundation, the Christian faith is in danger of being stealthily and subtly brushed aside."

The Bible tells us we should respect everyone, which I endeavour to do. It’s when people overstep the mark that problems can occur. Some people think that Pastor Terry Jones was being disrespectful to Muslims when he threatened to burn several Quarans last autumn. Even though he didn’t actually light the touchpaper (after being persuaded by Christians across the world), his threatened action is thought to have ignited the recent increased violence against Christians in Iraq, Egypt, the Philippines and Nigeria, which has led to several deaths.

 

In his Christmas and New Year messages Pope Benedict XVI appealed for world peace and an end to the recent persecutions. He is calling for a World Peace Summit to take place in October.

 

Here in Britain, we are free to play our part in whatever way we choose. For a start, we can unite in prayer for peace, support organizations like Christian Concern, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Open Doors and obey Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbours as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

 

After all, we should remember, that as Paul said, if I “have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).