August 14, 2012 Issue #077

Can singles find joy in work?

Job recruiters tell you there's fulfillment in work. An older person may have told you there's satisfaction in a job well done.

For some of us, co-workers become like a second family. We socialize with them, tell them our problems, laugh and even cry with them. We can find some of our best friends on the job.

As we continue our year-long Journey to Joytown, we pause to consider what we do for a living and what we can realistically expect from it. We have to spend so much time there, we put a lot of effort in to make it enjoyable.

But joy? Can we find true, deep-down joy there? You may be surprised at the reason we can't. Here are some thoughts on trying to experience joy in work.

Understand

My dream lay in pieces.
This was not what I planned.
I said to myself,
"I don't understand."

Her rehearsed excuses
all sounded so grand.
I hung my head.
"I don't understand."

He was too soon gone,
like windswept sand.
I stood by the grave.
"I don't understand."

How many times
looking over the years,
Have we stood there wondering,
and blinking back tears?
Lost and alone
in that grief-stricken land.
Mumbling the words
"I don't understand..."

She turned away from the empty tomb
and there in the path stood a man.
He called her name, "Mary…"
She smiled and said, "Now, now I understand."

~ Jack Zavada, 2012 ~

Check out these new articles on the site

We all love quotations, those nuggets of wisdom that make us say, "Aha!" Here's a fresh batch of Quotes for Singles.

How you see Jesus has a profound effect not just on your life today, but on your eternal destiny. Do you see him as a good teacher? Wise philosopher? Or the Son of God? Think about how you see Jesus.

It's the one thing we can't live without, if we want to have a victorious life. Here are some thoughts on the importance of faith.

You may be facing this situation, or perhaps a close friend or relative. Here are some important lessons I learned when I was single with cancer.

August Quotomotive

We singles, who need encouragement so much, should be encouragers as well, simply because we know how much good it can do. Why are we so stingy with genuine compliments? Why don't we build people up more?

Look for opportunities to pick someone up, especially a young person. It doesn't cost a cent, and it may be something they remember and cherish the rest of their life.

Can singles have a life?

Single & Sure, my PDF ebook, will show you how to live above the crowd, enjoying what God has planned for you. It's heavy on the practical stuff, such as how to deal with depression, anger, and loneliness. How to build self-esteem. How to achieve your goals. And how to get over past hurts.

I had to figure a lot of this stuff out for myself. Why should you struggle with it when you can learn from my mistakes--and my successes?

Yep. Singles can have a life, and a pretty good one. Check out the real-world help you'll find in Single & Sure.

Journey to Joy Town!

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.
~ Peter Marshall ~

Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.
~ Alfred A. Montapert ~

There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.
~ Jack Hyles ~

If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently.
~ Bill Watterson ~

Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
~ Babe Ruth ~

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
~ Jack London ~

Every choice you make has an end result.
~ Zig Ziglar ~

Others may fail you, but God never will.
~ Woodrow Kroll ~

I really don't require a whole lot in life.
~ Jeff Foxworthy ~

If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
~ Dale Carnegie ~

Somebody's boring me. I think it's me.
~ Dylan Thomas ~

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
~ Thomas A. Edison ~

Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.
~ John W. Gardner ~

We have to take control of our bodies, and make them our servants instead of our masters.
~ Jerry Bridges ~

When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.
~ Helen Keller ~

Nothing gives rest but the sincere search for truth.
~ Blaise Pascal ~

Pray, and let God worry.
~ Martin Luther

You can never get enough of the things you don't need, because the things you don't need can never satisfy.
~ Marvin J. Ashton ~

R.I.P. to my Buddy

I hope to see Buddy again, just as I hope to see all of my loved ones in the next life. What a joyful time that will be. Nothing good will ever be lost there.

I hope you found this Inspire-O-Gram worthwhile. If you'd like to contact me, just use our static cling free contact form.

We'll soon be heading into autumn here in Illinois, and what a hot, dry summer it was. Sometimes our lives go through droughts, too, but God is good and he eventually sends the rain when we need it most.

Until September, fellow singleton, keep looking up!

Jack Zavada