I had been seeking the Lord for several long weeks about something very important. I wanted to quit what I had been doing for three years. I was someplace I believed God had sent me, but I didn’t really see any results from my hard work. I was tired of it! Stressed out! There were other things I’d rather do!
Finally, I realized God was saying, “No”.
For several days I felt really sad. What I thought I wanted and desperately needed was not to be, at least not right now.
Then yesterday, my daughter sent me a text that said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
It spoke directly into my life. I know God will give me the strength and enthusiasm I need to accomplish the task.
There are people all around us who need encouragement and support. They need inspiration and strength. Over the years, people have sent me a note or said something that was so encouraging to me. It was just what I needed that day.
I believe these acts of encouragement are orchestrated by God. The sender may just feel a nudge from God or hear the still, quiet voice. It is often unknown to the sender just how vital the message really is.
You may need the same encouragement that I did. You may pray and work hard in your mission field without seeing the results you so deeply desire. But, God’s Word challenges us to not give up.
Yes, we want to see big things happen. We want to see revival in our midst! That can only be accomplished by God. Our part is to be obedient, pray, and study His Word..
God’s timing is flawless. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
It is time for our hope and strength to be renewed. Remember! “… at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
With Love,
This is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus:Who Is Jesus?
A friend of mine lost her husband in a motorcycle accident. He wasn’t racing. He wasn’t even speeding. He was riding in a charity event for abused children. It happened in front of her eyes. The man she loved, gone like that in a freak accident. How quickly our lives can change.
Many of us have experienced great loss, or we will at some time in the future. It has happened to me. How does anyone survive without the Lord? He is the only one who can comfort and heal our hearts.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted … to comfort all who mourn … ” Isaiah 61:1-2
A broken heart is like a giant wave, drowning you in sadness and pain, but God’s word is a soothing salve that heals. Not only will God heal your broken heart, He will care for the wounds left behind. Healing may not happen overnight. It didn’t for me. Deep wounds heal over time, but they do heal. The Great Physician will bandage your wounds and heal your broken heart. Ask Him.
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him …. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars, and calls them each by name. Great is our God and mighty in power, His understanding has no limit …. The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:3-5 and 11)
He is able! He knows the number of stars and has called them all by name. How much more does He know every detail of your heartache! Sing praises to His name and put your trust in His unfailing love. I believe that praising Him and spending time in His presence delivers the soothing balm that heals. He is delighted when you put your hope in His love. Spend time with Him by prayer, studying His Word, and singing praises.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you..” Psalm 55:22
“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
I pray for my friend that she may know the comfort that only He can provide.
With Love, Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
One day, I was looking for a particular toy for my son. Stepping on my tippy toes, I blindly reached into a large box on a high shelf in my closet and scooped up a handful of small toys.
As I held it up to see if I had the desired toy, this is what I saw: Twined around the toys was a 3 foot-long snake skin! Startled and panic-stricken, I quickly threw it all into the air and screamed!
At this time in my life, I was terrified of snakes, mice, lizards, and all creepy creatures in general. I’m happy to report that 30 years later, not so much.
The problem was, I couldn’t sleep at night. What with (who knows how many) snakes loose in the house!
Now this happened during the days of heated waterbeds, and we slept in one. In my imagination, this would be the exact place a snake would slither into during the middle of the night.
What’s a waterbed, you ask? Well, you can google it. Now back to the story….
“Lucky” for me (tongue in cheek), I happened upon a Bible verse that set me free from this fear. “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
Every night when I went to bed, this was my prayer. I passionately thanked God for His promise and repeated it over and over until I went to sleep. I was putting my faith and trust in God and in His Word; it carried me through a very scary time.
This is why it is so important to make Bible study a priority. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart when I read this verse. God did keep me safe. I was able to sleep peacefully, and eventually we were able to move to a better house.
Wherever I go, and whatever comes my way, I will trust in God’s Word.
The more I study God’s Word, the more I trust in Him.
“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. Psalm 119:92
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119: 105
“You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114
This is My Journey Unscripted.
With Love,
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
It really hurt my feelings. It was like stopping by your best friend’s house only to discover she was having a big party and you hadn’t been invited! I felt so left out and hurt. I felt like crying.
That morning, I had walked in to the Women’s Bible Study and there were all my friends having a pot luck that no one had told me about! Maybe I was being overly sensitive, and maybe this was an area of vulnerability for me, but I was very offended.
The Bible study teacher recognized that I was upset, and the next time I saw her she gave me an index card with some Scripture references on it. She probably had no idea that it was going to change my life. As I opened my heart to God’s Word, something wonderful happened! The Truth set me free! These are the Scriptures:
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to OVERLOOK AN OFFENSE.” Proverbs 19:11
“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9
“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16
This happened to me over 30 years ago, but the devil has used the same tactics since the beginning of time to battle against God’s people. He has used it on me. He will use it on you. He used it in the past.
Read about David in I Samuel, chapters 16 and 17. Count the number of times David overlooked an offense before he slew the giant. Satan tried to stop God’s plan for David, but he couldn’t do it because David overlooked the offense.
Over the years, God has continued to reveal to me how powerful it is to walk in love, and that means overlooking offenses.
“(Love) is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.” I Corinthians 13:5 AMP
The devil will send offenses our way, but when we choose God’s way and walk in love, Satan’s attack will not prevail.
“Be of sober mind, be watchful. Your adversary who is a slanderer, namely the devil, as a lion roaring in fierce hunger, is constantly walking about, always seeking someone to be devouring.” 1 Peter 5:8 (Wuest)
Has anyone ever offended you? Insulted you? Put you down? If so, consider this: Love is strong spiritual warfare!
You may be thinking, “How is this spiritual warfare?”
Consider the evil attack on Jesus when he was crucified.
“… Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:21-23
It is following Him and walking in his steps that empowers us for spiritual battle.
The Bible says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28
It is only as we recognize that anger, resentment, self-pity, and unforgiveness are nothing but the attack launched against us by the devil, that we can refuse to be offended. This is spiritual warfare: Love vs. Evil. We can not allow our emotions to govern our life or we will be like a city without walls (defenseless).
The Apostle Paul said, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ … Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory…” Ephesians 3:18-20
With Love,
Cindy
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
I was blessed to spend 18 years as a stay-at-home mom. That was the desire of my heart. But my kids started growing up, so at age 47 I decided I would go back to school and become a special education teacher.
My “ministry” became teaching children with disabilities. I prayed for my students and prayed that God would use me in the public school system.
I hung a starfish on my desk lamp to remind me that I might not be changing the world, but if I could help even one child, my prayer would be answered. (See “The Starfish Story” below.)
Then suddenly my world was falling apart. I lost my job because of lies that were told about me. These lies tarnished my record and eventually ended my career. With my emotions in high gear, I could not stop crying. I was completely devastated and left with a long drive home.How could this happen? I thought I couldn’t go on. In an emotional state of mind, I made the decision to retire with only seventeen years of experience.
You can imagine the thoughts that went through my mind. I doubted everything I had previously believed. (Surely teaching had not been God’s will. I should have never done this! It was all in my head. I’m a failure. And worst of all: I never really helped anyone.)
Have you ever been there? Have you ever questioned everything? When you are hurt, you are vulnerable to the attacks of Satan and can begin to believe his lies. But God lifted me out of the valley of despair. This is what happened:
That very night, I met a friend for dinner, which had been planned several days before. She knew nothing about what happened to me that day, but she had a gift and a note from her son a former student from 15 years before). The note thanked me for all I had done for him. The gift was a beautiful sparkling starfish on a silver chain.
When I saw that sparkling starfish, I was overwhelmed by God’s love and kindness. God was speaking loud and clear to my heart and mind, “I know what is going on. I know your heart is crushed, but I am with you and watching over you. You are not a failure.”
I realize now that even if God had not sent me such a great encouragement, He would have been watching over me just the same. We must always remember that He is with us every single day and He knows our every care. Sometimes He will give us visible reassurance, but most of the time He wants us to believe His promises and stretch our faith.
The Starfish Story
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
Whether I feel defeated or victorious, strong or weak, praying God’s Word is always effective. I wrote the following prayer so that I could remember to acknowledge God’s promises when I pray, regardless of how I feel.
Lord, I pray that you will send your workers into ______’s life to plant the seed and water it, for You, O Lord, will make it grow.
I pray that You will open _____’s heart to pay attention to what is said. Take out his heart of stone and give him a tender heart toward You. Lord, make your light shine in his heart that he may know Christ.
I pray You will grant him repentance and lead him to a knowledge of the truth. I pray he will come to his senses and escape from the trap of the devil.
I pray You will rip away the bondage that holds him away from You.
I know You are not slow in keeping your promise, but you are patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Father, help _____ see his need for a Savior and to know he must confess his sins, repent, believe, and live a fruitful life. Help him choose Your mercy and Your gift of grace, to believe with his heart and confess with his mouth, Jesus is Lord.
Heal his heart and heal his mind, O God. for You heal the broken-hearted. You bring rest to the weary.
I pray you will guide me and use me to show the love of Jesus to _____. Give me opportunities to be Jesus to _____. Help me to be loving, kind, and forgiving, showing compassion and patience.
Help me to be persistent in prayer daily and to never give up or become discouraged. Help me to pray with faith and trust, knowing you hear my prayers.
I pray Your will be done in _____’s life, just as it is in heaven. I pray that You will be glorified through his salvation.
I pray with confidence, knowing that Your Word says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
Keep teaching me how to pray and make my ears attentive to your voice.
And I pray that _____may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that he may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Taken from Ephesians 3:20-21)
I ask these things in Jesus’ precious name. Amen
***************
Are you praying for someone who is openly rejecting Jesus as Savior?
With little observable evidence that my prayers have been effective, I will pray in faith.“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrew 11:1
Even though it has been almost 3 years, I know God is working. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 (He doesn’t say when.)
I pray God’s Word because the Word of God “is living and active and full of power. “Hebrew 4:12 AMP
God’s says, “(My Word)will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
And so, I wrote this prayer based on my faith in God’s Word. While still seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I will pray it everyday for someone I love. You can pray it, too.
With Love, Cindy
This is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
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Scripture References
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-6
” … in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 11:19)
“The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
“… the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
There have been moments when I literally began to panic. Thoughts racing through my mind … God didn’t tell you to write a blog! You shouldn’t be doing this! This is all you!
Have you ever experienced this deceitful kind of attack on your mind? God didn’t send you here! God didn’t say …
Do you remember what the Serpent said to Eve? “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
This is the Deceiver in action: making you question what God has said. It is nothing new.
The devil even tried his tricks on Jesus. But what did Jesus do? He said, “It is written …” (Matthew 4:4)
So the first thing I did was to look in God’s Word to see what He says about ministry.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12)
My Pastor’s job is to prepare ME for ministry. Your Pastor’s job is to prepare YOU for ministry. The entire Body of Christ is being prepared for ministry. We all have a job to do.
“6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8 NIV
Next, I took a spiritual gifts assessment on my church’s website. This confirmed what I already knew. It reinforced my understanding of what God is asking me to do.
Then, I heard the often-quoted verse: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
Do we know what it really means? Or, do we interpret it according to present day psychology?
Psychology says, “Vision goal setting is goal setting with a grand purpose. It begins with a dream based in your passion and inspiration in your work. From the dream comes a clear vision of where you want to be and what you want to do …” Jim Taylor, PhD (Psychology Today)
Is that what God meant in Proverbs 29:18 when He says “Where there is no vision, the people perish …” ? Let’s examine the second part of the verse (that is usually not quoted.
“Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].” Amplified Bible
The Living Bible translation says, “Where there is ignorance of God, crime runs wild; but what a wonderful thing it is for a nation to know and keep his laws.”
If the “vision” we speak of is the “… revelation of God and His word” then maybe our “vision” for the Church should look more like this:
A world where …
All Christians show a kind of love that gives them a reputation for kindness and mercy, patience and unselfishness.
All Christians ministering in the capacity that God has gifted them, edifying and building each other up, and praying for one another.
All Christians showing mercy and compassion toward their fellow man.
All Christians forgiving their enemies, their neighbors, and each other.
All Christians sharing the Gospel with a lost world.
All Christians seeking God with all their heart, unconcerned with fitting in with the world.
Now that’s a vision! What can we do? I can do my part. You can do your part. God has the plan. Our part is obedience and surrender.
With Love, Cindy
This is My Journey Unscripted.
References
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other” Ephesians 4:32
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
My job (and ministry) is in a middle school. You know, where kids know how to push your buttons and are exercising their desire to rebel against authority.
Maybe God hasn’t put anyone “hard to love” in your life, but I bet He has. I only know that what God has asked me to to do isn’t easy and even though I am willing – I keep failing over and over.
What is our mission?
It is to love!
Sometimes I wonder why He has called me to love those “not easy to love”. I’m not good at it! I lose my temper. I get angry. I lecture. I utter those horrible teacher words, “I’m done!”
The kind of love God expects us to show to others is not a feeling. It is an action. It can be very hard to show agape love. Where is your mission field? Do you sometimes find it difficult to show love to people there?
Over 20 years ago, God showed me something that I will never forget. At the time, I was very involved in women’s ministry, but I became increasingly disturbed by some of the teaching in my church. I asked God to show me where my focus should be.
I asked Him to show me the main idea of the New Testament. I felt like my focus was on the wrong things. In desperation, I read the New Testament through three times in a row.
In a notebook, I kept track of how often various subjects were discussed, such as hope, faith, prosperity, love, spiritual warfare, etc.
I discovered that love was the most frequently taught subject by far! There was no doubt about it. God was showing me, through my crisis, that love, agape love, was very important to Him and my focus should be there.
I began an in depth study on agape love, looking for every Biblical reference. I studied Greek and Hebrew definitions. I wrote. I read. I studied.
I Corinthians 13:4-8
I can’t do it in my own strength. God must do it through me. Every day, I must pray for God’s power to dwell in me. Once we realize that we can’t do it ourselves, we have passed Lesson 1.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11(NIV)
Lesson 2: Let our day begin with prayer. “Father, Show the Savior’s love through me today. Teach me to love.” And pray for them. Ask God to help you see the good things about them, not just what they do wrong.
Lesson 3: Study God’s Word about love and be changed. Start with I Corinthians 13. Meditate on it. Study it. How does it apply to my life?
“Love is patient.” I Corinthians 13:4a
(I don’t know about you, but I need to meditate on these 3 words for at least a week!)
The Greek word for patient is makrothumeo. It means “slow to anger”.
“Being slow to anger does not mean that one does not care, but rather that he has his emotions under control.” (Detzler)
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
According to Vine’s Bible Dictionary, “Patience is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate.”
Webster defines patience as “enduring … trouble with composure and without complaining; refusing to be provoked …”
Note: I wrote this post about a year ago, but I find myself once again needing His strength and His grace to do the very thing He has asked me to do – love those God has put in my path – and show them God’s unconditional love.
With Love,
This is My Journey Unscripted.
Click this link to learn more about Jesus:Who Is Jesus?
The first week of January, Christina Dawson’s downtown Bowling Green office remained a glittering silver and white Christmas wonderland. Everything was showroom pristine, yet warm and inviting despite the frosted decor.
The thoughtfully decorated house is the command station for a service that changes lives and is growing into something that also aims to build and promote regional community.
Dawson is the founder and COO of SOKY Jobs. As is frequently the case, hindsight has revealed what she would call divine intention in her unlikely path. Fifteen years can propel a person light years beyond where they imagined they would be.
•••
At 17 years old, Dawson was attending a private school, but her family was going through a rough financial patch, and school was expensive.
“I felt bad, so I came up with this plan about how I was going to figure out how to finish high school online on my own … but then I kind of decided I was going to ‘take a little break’ and I got a job without having a diploma, because nobody actually asked me to produce it.”
During her interview for a sales position at Nextel Wireless, Dawson said she had recently graduated.
“… really I wasn’t trying to be deceptive, I was just embarrassed. And he thought I meant college, but I was only 18 years old, had no high school diploma, yet I was making more money than most of my friends who had graduated from college. So here I am with no debt making $40,000 a year selling cellphones. I thought I was hot stuff.”
It was short-lived, however. The secret was weighing on her, and after quitting the job at Nextel, Dawson realized finding another job without even a GED diploma was tougher than she anticipated.
“I ended up kinding of breaking down and realizing that I had to face the music. I was given the opportunity to enroll at Lighthouse Academy. I was 19 at the time. If I could get my diploma, I was going to get it.”
With only a semester of Algebra II standing between Dawson and her high school diploma, she buckled down and did the work from home.
Photo by Brandon Hesson
“The one thing that I always clinged to, and I think it’s what’s really gotten me as far as I have, is that I’ve failed time and time again, but I never give up. I pushed through it and barely eeked my way to a grade so that I could actually graduate. Back then I didn’t see it, but now I know that God had a plan for me in all of that because it gave me this really strong passion.”
Dawson spent a few years working different jobs before deciding she needed to get serious about her future. She knew her strength was in sales, so she searched online and applied for a position with Ashley HomeStore. The job was a leap in the right direction.
“I thought, ‘This is a great networking opportunity. Somebody is going to find me here.’ Well, that’s exactly what happened. A man walks in—I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life—(it) changed everything. I was back in the breakroom eating my lunch … somebody (over the headset) said, ‘Christina, you gotta get out here and help me.’ Had I said ‘No, I’m on my break,’ I would’ve missed the opportunity of a lifetime.”
The man who visited the furniture store that day was Bob Collier, president of Davert, a Canadian-based manufacturing company that in 2012 selected Bowling Green as its first U.S. location. Collier was shopping for everything he needed to set up short-term housing during times when he was in town on business. Dawson went as far as finding the floor plan for his apartment and selecting the best furniture for the layout. She pointed out that all the work would be easier for him with a personal assistant. He shrugged off the suggestion, but two weeks later Dawson opened an email that contained a job offer.
“I couldn’t believe it. I knew this is what I needed to do. It was not glamorous. Nothing about this job was glamorous. I was not a girl who ever would’ve thought I’d be working in a manufacturing company. But little did I know that God had a plan. And it would transform my life. I would go from being a living, breathing, walking misconception of the industry to becoming the biggest cheerleader in Southern Kentucky for manufacturing careers.”
Photo by Brandon Hesson
Over two and half years, Dawson progressed from executive assistant to director of sales to director of sales and marketing and finally to corporate marketing/public relations for the whole company.
“Everything I did every day was for the first time. Every day I had to psych myself up—here I am in this male-dominated industry, no women hardly at all. There were days that I would go hide in my office and cry. But I wouldn’t trade those days for anything. It developed my character; I had to rely on God a lot. It was stressful. But in a good way. These were all things I needed to experience.”
Then, in February 2014, Dawson read a newspaper article about a grant from the City of Bowling Green and Warren County to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce to hire a workforce coordinator.
“I literally thought to myself, ‘Did they create this job for me and forget to tell me?’ ”
Dawson took action, calling the Chamber president and setting up a meeting to sell herself for the position before it was even posted. Over the course of a few weeks, the job was posted and interviews conducted, but her lobbying paid off. Dawson was offered the position.
“I couldn’t believe it, and it was a pay cut for me, but I knew it was the right thing. I knew it’s what God wanted for me. I took it. It would turn out to be the most transformative two years of my life. My path is so divinely orchestrated that nobody could make up what I’ve been through in the past five years to set me up for where I am today.”
There had been a disconnect between companies with available positions and skilled employees finding them. In her two years as workforce coordinator with the Chamber, Dawson tackled that disconnect and saw the local unemployment rate drop significantly. However, the position would not be funded longer than two years, and Dawson had some tough decisions to make.
“I was given the opportunity to really understand what workforce development means, to see what it looks like day-to-day from all different aspects. I’d love to say that I was smart enough to have been planning all of this since day one—I wasn’t—but what I was doing was market research to develop a product and a service, a solution for all of these needs, for all of these problems. I’m a problem solver. That’s who I am, that’s what I do. Do not give me problem you don’t want fixed, because I will not be able to help myself. So when I was told that the program I had worked so hard to build wasn’t going to continue, I had no other option. There were several companies that wanted to hire me directly, but that wasn’t enough … my passion was to help the person, the individual, find what was right for them.”
Out of this drive to help as many people as possible, SOKY Jobs was born.
“My last day as the workforce coordinator was the last day of the month—it was March 31, which happened to be a Thursday. And I remember everybody saying, ‘Well you’re going to take the day off tomorrow.’ But I didn’t. I started my company on April 1 of 2016, April Fool’s Day on a Friday, and I held a hiring event. I helped four people get a job that day.”
SOKYJobs.com posts open positions for regional employers, but Dawson touts the major difference between her service and the myriad national job sites that exist.
“Companies who invest in those sites, you are 100 percent relying on the jobseeker. That means you are going to wait for people who are going to go look for a job to go and look for it. SOKY Jobs—totally different ballgame. … We post ads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter; we drive unsuspecting candidates to the website to apply. If you’re not in the market for a job, you’re not going to pick up on the fact that such and such is hiring, so that’s why we just plop it right in their newsfeed. We market jobs like any other marketing company that advertises any kind of consumer-based product. We sell jobs just like somebody sells ink pens. Our reach right now averages around 170,000 people a month.”
Photo by Brandon Hesson
Dawson won’t stop there, however. She has a bigger picture in mind. SOKY Jobs is evolving into something more than just a job marketing service; it will promote the entire region. The company now has contracts with Butler, Allen and Simpson counties which allows companies in those counties to post their jobs for free.
“The contracts that we’ve signed with Butler, Allen and Simpson, we are doing marketing for their community. … People move across the country for a job every day. Why would they not move to Franklin? Not move to Scottsville? Why would they not move to Butler County? There are so many opportunities. … We are doing community profiles. We’re going to be attracting people based on the job. But what about the housing? What is it like to live there? SOKY Jobs will have a portal for each of our communities, and they can find all that information right there at their fingertips. It makes so much more sense to do it as a region because we have so much to offer as a region. … I’ve got this whole new passion for growing communities.”
In just two years, SOKY Jobs has gone from a one-person run website to a five-employee operation. Dawson dreams big. She hopes to expand the video production the company has begun; personally, she wants to delve deeper into her passion for music as a singer-songwriter; she also sees the possibility of replicating SOKY Jobs in other regions; but in all this she admits it’s only partly in her control.
“I believe God has a plan for all of us and instills in us a passion and a purpose for what we’re supposed to do, and if you can link together that passion with your purpose, the sky’s the limit for what He can accomplish in your life. I am so blessed to have been able to find both of those things.”
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, you can do it now. He loves you more than you can comprehend, and it will change your life forever.
“IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH, ‘JESUS IS LORD,’ AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS WITH YOUR HEART THAT YOU BELIEVE AND ARE JUSTIFIED, AND IT IS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU CONFESS AND ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.” ROMANS 10:9-11
