Jobseekers

Thanks to Dave O'Farrell, of JobSeekers of Peachtree City, for today's message, shown below:
Helping People Find Good Jobs, Close to Home, in Minimum Time

Get out and about. Come to JobSeekers this week. Bring a friend.
If you're not looking, forward this message to someone who needs it.

In This Issue
1. Inspiration: Power in Jars of Clay
2. Success Story: It's God-Story How Gamblin's Job Comes About
3. This Week's Meeting: Enhancing Your Professional Presence
4. Networking: ABC from 10:15 to 11:30
5. Job Leads: Leads and Links in South Metro Atlanta
6. Contact: Chaplain and Ship's Crew
7. Donate: You Could Help Save a Career, a Home or Even a Marriage

JobSeekers of PTC Website | JobSeekers of PTC on LinkedIn

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1. Inspiration: Power in Jars of Clay
When I think about job seekers and the challenges we face during career transition, sometimes I think about potters and jars of clay. I have a beautiful watercolor painting of a clay jar in my office that was created by former JobSeeker Lori Withner. It's mentioned in chapter four of Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King. My church uses handmade pottery to serve communion to small groups.

Clay in the Hands of the Potter

Both the Old and New Testament use clay as a metaphor. In the OT, we are described as clay in the hands of The Potter. Isaiah 64:8 says, "Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." We are being transformed into the image of God and of his son Jesus. It is amazing what can be accomplished, and how we can be transformed, when we place ourselves in The Potter's hands.

Here's the same metaphor used in Jeremiah18:1-6: "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 'Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message.' So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?' declares the LORD. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.'"

We get marred on this journey of life, and yet The Potter forms us into another pot. What new pot is the Lord shaping you into?

Jars of Clay

In the New Testament, we are described as jars of clay. First Corinthians 4:7 says, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." It's only we when go through the kiln of life that we become shiny and strong. Yet our earthy bodies are nothing compared to the extraordinary bodies we will have in heaven. Paul makes one thing known for sure: these earthly bodies, fragile though they are, can hold God's treasure -- his all-surpassing power.

As you experience your job search, and with this in mind, ask God these three questions:

1. Lord, what do you want me to learn as I go through my job search?

Oftentimes, we put lids on our jars that prevent us from hearing God's gentle leading or from receiving His blessings. Open your eyes and ears, hearts and minds to the leading of His spirit. Respond to His call. For instance, here's what a JobSeeker wrote one time:

"He's TRULY A GOOD GOD, because even when I gave up on myself, He never gave up on me. There was one thing I especially learned through my journey: I had to give up on myself in order for Him to work on me. Please let everyone know that I am praying for all of them. God will move in our lives on His time, not ours."

2. How do you want me to change?

Allow The Potter to mold you into the person he wants you to be. Einstein's definition of insanity applies. To get a different result, we have to think differently, do things differently and become a different person. One fellow that I met with said "I am a spiritually changed man because of this 16-month job search." Shortly after that he received an offer out of the blue (or from Heaven above?) on a position that was dead two months earlier. God is good.

3. Who do you want me to serve in your name?

This job search is not about you only; it's about how you are going to use the talents God has given you to serve his purposes here on this earth. We receive blessings so that we may be a blessing to others. Whether it's through your vocation, avocation -- or just the selfless gift of your time and energy, serve others. Some of the best therapy I've ever experienced is when I've helped others. Ask God to fill your jar up so that you can pour his blessings on others.

If you do this -- learn, change, serve -- you will be ready to withstand the hardships associated with job search. Listen to the next two verses in 1 Corinthians 4:8-9: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." No matter how badly things are going at the moment, God will never leave you nor forsake you.

See you tomorrow at JobSeekers; the place where we fill our jars up!

Copyright © 2010 / Dave O'Farrell / All Rights Reserved



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3. This Week's Meeting: Enhancing Your Professional Presence
Peachtree City-based author and consultant Harry Chambers says employers make "egg timer decisions." That is, they decide in the first three minutes of an interview whether or not to hire you. Fact is, you may not have that long. Come tomorrow to learn how to make a great first impression in networking and interviewing scenarios.

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 8 June 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 5 June. This is a community service of Living Hope Christian Fellowship, 5885 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 770-306-9922.

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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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