As I finished my third week of the new job, and even as I write this, I am reminded of God's mercy, love, and grace. Seven weeks earlier, I had told my previous employer of my intention to leave, and gave them three week's notice. Even with all the drug, credit, and other background checks, three weeks would have been enough time to verify my employment and education history, and see whether I had committed any felonies or was in financial trouble.

At the end of the three weeks--in fact, as I was leaving the building for the last time, my cell phone informed me that there was a message waiting for me; a couple of hours earlier, the recruiter has left voice mail saying they had to put off my hire date by a week because the verification agency had not given final approval. Now I was looking at a week of unpaid vacation. Did I mention this time off was unpaid?

I've already detailed the effort involved in getting the matter resolved. A final detail, which I did not learn until after I had started the new job, was that I had incorrectly marked a single box on the dozen or more pages of information and forms I had to read, fill in, and sign, so the agency had quietly ceased their work. I accept responsibility for not thoroughly checking my work on such an important matter, nut the employer was disappointed that the agency neglected to inform them they were asked on the last day of my three week notice.

About a month earlier, I had turned in weekly time sheets for the current week and the one preceding, which I had forgotten to get my boss to sign when he returned from vacation--I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here--so I was not paid for that week. I called my temp agency, and they had not noticed that the two time sheets I turned in were for different weeks, thinking the second one must have been a correction of the first.

Now we don't have much in the way of savings, but that's another story. I got the missing paycheck at the end of my impromptu vacation, and it was sorely needed. Work started the following Monday. The new employer pays twice a month, unless the temp agency, which paid every week. Cash flow was going to be problem, as none would come in for three weeks.

At the end of week one on the new job, we had just enough cash to make it through the next week and, even then, we could only buy groceries and gas. I spent my last $10 putting gas in my minivan so wouldn't run out of gas on the way home Friday of week two.

My wife has a very small business that pays once a month, and a $75 check came in, so we could go another week, buying just enough groceries and gas to survive. My first payday was to be the fifteenth of the month, but that was a
Saturday, so I might not get a check until early the next week and, even then, the bank might not make all the funds available for a few days.

Meanwhile, most bills were going unpaid, save for a couple that were paid automatically, and which I could not stop in time. Those two were the first and second mortgage on the house, the largest bills--by far--that I have. The auto insurance went unpaid, so they sent me a notice that they would draft two months of premiums on the fourteenth.

So by Thursday, we had about $20 between us, my wife and I. Oh, and our son had called the previous weekend, wanting to come home from college so he could buy a new suit for some interviews. Not only could I not buy the suit, but I could not make it to his school and back because there wasn't enough gas in the tank. He filled the tank was and bought his own suit, which I should have made him do, anyway.

Earlier, my wife had called saying the power was going to be cut because that bill went unpaid, and the gas company had sent me pink slip. Oh yeah, I was driving the minivan because I picked up a nail with the rear tire of my scooter and couldn't afford to fix it, and the minivan was leaking water almost as fast as I poured it in.

That's when God blessed us with a paycheck. Because it was the first, it was a real check we had to take to the bank, but more importantly, there where no deductions, as I more than a week before I had to get my benefit elections submitted (I finished that last night).

So now, all our bills are paid, the mortgage payments aren't due until October, and we are much relieved, grateful, and humbled. Early on, I had considered trying to get a title loan on one of our vehicles, but purposed in my heart that I was going to 'let go and let God' have His will and way.

Once again, we learn that God will provide. As the old song says, "He may not come when you want Him to, but He's always right on time." Jehovah Jireh. Hallelujah!