The best job i've ever had.

If someone asked you what the best job was that you've ever had - could you answer it? I can - it's my current job at North Point for sure!

This week is my anniversary date at work. I have been on staff at North Point Ministries 4 years already. As I begin my 5th year at work here, I'd like to make a few comments. First of all, I can say with 100% confidence that I am a better person because of the investment North Point has made in me. Just to be specific - when I say I 'm a better person I mean I'm a better mom, wife, Christian, and friend than I was before coming on staff.

My story of how I came on staff:
Coming on staff was totally a "God thing." I had been in the mortgage industry and was tired of working crazy hours. So, I just submitted my resume into the hiring database. Ashley Jansen was pregnant with her first child, Hamilton, and was looking for a replacement. The role was the IT Admin Assistant to Sean Strickland. I thought this will be a easy job and I will be in the ministry so I'm interested. After applying, I ran into Ashley at GroupLink and she recognized my name. The next week I had a series of 8 interviews. I was exhausted after that and also humbled that North Point took such care in making sure they were hiring the right people for the right job. But 2 weeks later, Sean called me and offered me the job. And of course I accepted right away! I cut my pay in half - but it was totally worth it! God has blessed me WAY more than that extra money every did.

And that's the story - in the last 4 years, I worked in IT for 3 and now in Resources for 1. I loved working for Sean and I loved the IT team. But I do feel like the job I'm in now is the one I was always meant for. To be completely honest, I have found my dream job.

So, cheers to 4 wonderful years! Thank you Andy Stanley for your investment in making sure the staff is cared for. I have felt that from day one and this is definitely the best place I have ever worked.

Thank you Jesus for bringing me to work at North Point 4 years ago. I know it was all you. I love being part of a place that is spreading your name throughout the world. May everything I do here be to your Glory. I take credit for nothing - for it is all you. Thank you for growing me as a person and pulling me closer to you. I pray as time moves that we continue to get the word into as many peoples hands as possible. And also that others not us - but see you shining through. Amen.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. "Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Sean Strickland

I've starred at this blank screen now for the last 30 minutes not knowing what to write. Then I closed out the screen and came back to this still blank screen off and on for the last 3 days. But today I realized I need to get this post written. The world is too fast for me. I've been reflecting on a Jars of Clay song that says "To love you - take my world apart, To need you - I am on my knees, To love you - take my world apart, To need you - broken on my knees". That's how I feel right now. I just want God to take my world apart. Make it stop so I can catch up. I lost a very good friend and professional mentor to a car crash last week on Wednesday. I still find I am in shock. I've been through the visitation, funeral, and worked but yet i'm still stuck not accepting whats happened. I took this picture after Sean left North Point as a tribute to him. He was the best manager I had ever had. So he was the best boss (as the coffee cup says)....



I learned a ton from Sean. The biggest thing he taught me was that we may have personality flaws but they are not flaws. They are opportunities to grow. I am not a highly relational person (just like Sean). So he taught me how to be intentional about it. He taught me practical ways to apply this to my professional and personal life. The next biggest thing he taught me was to always put your family first. He modeled this to me which made it easy to follow. Sean loved his wife, Jana and daughter, Gabi with his whole heart. And last but not least, he always made me push for more. He would never let me settle for anything. And I know that shaped the employee, wife, mom to be, and manager I am today.

I was looking through some old emails and ichats the other day and came across a few that were pretty funny and some that were really sweet. It was bittersweet for me. I will miss him immensely, but I'm so happy to know he is chilling with Jesus right now. I really wanted him to meet my child. I pictured him and Jana coming to the hospital to visit me. I had already decided my child will call him Uncle Sean. But now, I know that I can talk to my child about his/her guardian angel Uncle Sean.

Anyway, thanks to listening to me this long post. My heart is heavy and I have a lot of healing to do. I also ask that you pray for his family. The last thing I will leave you with is a newspaper article about him. Go here and read this: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/obits/stories//2009/06/07/sean_strickland_obit.html

Have a blessed day and make sure you tell the people around you that you love them. I've lived 9,901 days today. I want my days to count, because I know that God has an ordained amount of days for me. Who knows when mine or your time is up. So make your time here on earth count!

Much love, Etc (that's what Sean called me)


(Our IT team last year at our retreat)