Thanks to Dave O'Farrell, of Jobseekers in Peachtree City, for the following:
"1. Inspiration: David Found Strength in the Lord His God
Sometimes the seasons of our life aren't always synched up with the seasons of the year. When many people are full of joy, you may be in the doldrums. Ecclesiastes says there's a time and a season for everything. It may be winter in your life now, but spring is just around the corner.
David had a rough winter in his life before he became King of Israel.
John Ortberg tells the story of how David hid in caves to escape Saul in "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." Although I'd read the story about hiding in caves before, I didn't realize that David was on the run from Saul for about 10 years. In my mind he went from the youth who slew Goliath to King David in a short period of time.
Here's what really happened: after being a shepherd and slaying Goliath, he was a musician in King Saul's court. From there he became a warrior and rose to become the most successful officer in the army. At that point Saul became jealous (see 1 Samuel 18: 7-9). He tried various ways of killing David, including using his daughter Michal as a snare. The trap didn't work; in fact, David married Michal.
As the story progresses, David loses his job (here's our link), loses his wife (she was given to another man by her father), loses his best friend (Saul's son Jonathan), loses his mentor (Samuel, who had anointed him when he was just a shepherd boy, and had continued to give David advice over the years -- he died of old age), he lost his friend Ahimelech and 84 other priests who had sided with him (they were killed by Doeg the Edomite because they had protected David), and he had survived a few assassination attempts (Saul himself hurled a spear at him, 1 Samuel 20:33).
Are you getting the picture here? Things weren't going so well for David.
David hid in caves; he was constantly on the run from Saul's army, just like Saddam Hussein did when he was hiding from the U.S. armed forces. David found 600 loyal men and their families who stuck with him. Things got even worse when David and his men returned from some raids on nearby towns to find that their city, Ziklag, had been burned to the ground and all their wives, sons and daughters had been taken captive by the Amalakites. Now even his loyal men turned on him. Ortberg says what David did next was one of the great statements in scripture (1 Samuel 30:6): "David found strength in the Lord his God."
The story ends well. David and his men killed the Amalakites and got back their wives, children and all their possessions that had been taken as plunder. The Philistines killed Saul and his sons. David was anointed king, and he became the greatest king in the Bible, a man after God's own heart. And he was the father (many generations removed) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ortberg says the cave is a wonderful place to find that you are loved by God. He says, "The cave is where God does some of his best work in molding and shaping human lives. Sometimes when all the props and crutches in your life get stripped away and you find you have only God, you discover that God is enough." (p.139)
How many of you reading this message today are in a cave right now? I've spent quite a bit of time in caves myself these past few years, and I am a better man for it. Use this cave time to allow God to mold and shape you. Like David, there are indeed brighter days ahead for you. It's God's promise to all of us.
As we begin a new year, listen to Jesus' words to us, the sheep of his flock:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." -- John 14:27
May the Prince of Peace fill you with hope and joy in 2010. Amen.
Copyright © 2009 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved
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2. Success Story: A Great Way to Start the Year
A discouraged job seeker wrote to me this week and said he wanted "some good news from the real world." Well, here it is! Six people have shared their good news with me since Christmas. Here's the bottom line: it doesn't matter what the unemployment rate is, all you need is ONE job. So be like those six and go out and get one too. My concern is that many of you are going onto the battlefield with a BB gun; swallow your pride and do what you know you need to do to win the war.
This was one of the first emails I read on Monday morning; a great way to start the year.
- - - - - - - -
Hi Dave!
Just in case you wondered if I vanished into thin air, I wanted to share that I found a job!
I was found on CareerBuilder -- a recruiting firm called Resolution Technologies found my resume (which I developed in YOUR coaching class) and they knew of a pricing job at McKesson, an international company that makes software and hardware for the healthcare industry, as well as pharmaceuticals. They are #15 on the 2009 Fortune 500 list.
After about five interviews (a combo of recruiter interviews, phone interviews and interviewing with five people directly at McKesson), I was hired as a contractor on a 6-9 month assignment. There is a possibility that I could be hired directly by McKesson after the contracting period, but that is till an unknown. The best part is that the pay is higher than I was making in my last position!
I am thrilled, and wanted to share. I am so sorry it will be very difficult for me to attend a meeting anytime in the near future, although I would love to share my experience and words of encouragement with all the JobSeekers.
Take care and I'll be in touch!
Best regards and many blessings,
Beth Mulhern
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3. This Week's Meeting: Seven Search Strategies and Their Relative Effectiveness
How is your job search going? What's working? What do you need to change? I continue to be amazed at the number of people who place the majority of their time and energy on dead-end search strategies. There are seven ways to find a job; come tomorrow to find out which ones work (and why) and which ones don't (and why not).
Who: All are welcome; the topics are targeted for professionals, managers and executives.
What: JobSeekers is a nondenominational career ministry.
When: Friday mornings from 7:30 to 10:00 am.
Where: First Baptist Church in Peachtree City; 208 Willow Bend Road.
Why: We work with you to find a job, and we walk with you on your journey of faith.
Attire: Business casual.
Agenda: 7:30 coffee / 7:45 welcome and devotional / 8:10 introductions and announcements / 8:45 job search training module / 10:00 adjourn to the Atlanta Bread Company
We look forward to seeing you on Friday!
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4. Networking
Atlanta Bread Company
After the JobSeekers meeting, we go to the ABC from 10:15 to 11:30 for an informal gathering. There's no agenda; we just have fellowship and help each other out.
Newnan First UMC Job Networking Ministry
Come join us at our next meeting on Tuesday 12 January 6:00 PM.
Meetings are always held the second Tuesday of each month in the Parish Hall of Newnan First United Methodist Church. The church is located at 33 Greenville Street in Newnan. You may reach them by telephone at 770-253-7400 or click here and select "Job Network" under "Resources" on the left side of the home page. We look forward to seeing you there.
College Park Job Seekers
Have a family member, friend or neighbor concerned that they may lose their job, and they cannot take time off to attend a job seekers group? Attend the College Park Job Seekers Group which meets the first Saturday in every month from 9:00 am – 11:30 am. The next meeting is Saturday 6 February. This is a community service of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 5885 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 770-306-9922.
Career Seeker / Transition Workshop
Wednesdays, January 13th, 20th, 27th (3 sessions) 6-8 PM
New Hope Baptist Church – North Campus Mission Center
Childcare is provided
If you are looking for work or considering changing careers this workshop is for you. Free gift assessment and workbook will help you discover how God has equipped you. Resume assistance and interview skills are also extensively covered. This workshop is designed to help you find the job(s) that you are gifted for and make the best first impression to land that job!
Led by Bruce King
Register by calling Lesley Deyton 770-461-4337 ext 884 or email lesleyd@newhopebc.org.
Must pre-register and complete gift assessment prior to class.
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5. Job Leads
For Employers
Our goal is to help our members find good jobs, close to home, in minimum time. Most of our members are salaried employees from the professional, technical and supervisory level all the way up to general managers and other senior executives. If you have a job lead with the three criteria below let us know.
Please send a brief position profile and tell us how you would like to be contacted. We run the lead for three weeks unless we hear from you to remove or extend the listing.
This service is FREE!
1. The position is salaried; or it is a higher-level hourly position
2. The job is located on this side of Atlanta, especially in Fayette or Coweta County
3. The compensation is not 100% commission-based; this includes MLM's
If your job lead meets these criteria, please submit it before noon on Wednesday.
For JobSeekers
Leads are updated each week, or when I get a chance! Please forgive me if they are a little out of date. Click on this link (or copy-and-paste the following one into your browser) to view this week's jobs:
http://jobseekers-ptc.org/js/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=71
For more leads go to: JobSeekers of PTC on LinkedIn; go to the 'jobs' tab.
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7. Donate to the JobSeekers' Ministry
You could help save a career, a home or even a marriage.
Job loss puts stress on our health, our finances, our relationships, our churches, and our community. Ultimately is affects our walk with the Lord and the kingdom of God. Your donations have helped save marriages, health, homes, college educations, and cross-country relocations. You can help alleviate these challenges for someone else by donating to the ongoing ministry of JobSeekers. Please send your tax-deductible donation to:
JobSeekers of PTC
P.O. Box 2124
Peachtree City, GA 30269
There's another way to donate: with the generous gift of your time. We are seeking to add to our Ship's Crew. We need a group of dedicated men and women who can come to most of the meetings on Friday and establish relationships with our new and existing members. Let me know if you are interested.
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Published by:
Dave O'Farrell
O'Farrell Career Management, LLC
Career Coaching and Outplacement Consulting
21 Eastbrook Bend, Suite 217
Peachtree City, GA 30269
www.ofarrell-cm.com
dave@ofarrell-cm.com
770-486-6289 office
770-823-2710 cell "
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