Christmas has come and gone, and although we celebrated the birth of Jesus yesterday, God was very generous to us. All the gift-giving and getting made me think about what it is I am doing to give back to the God who saved me.
I know my Christian faith is not about works but about faith, but the apostle Paul said, show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do. Paul isn't saying that we need to do things for God but that our lives should reflect the faith we have in Christ, who died for our salvation. I won't go through my list of "things" I think I am doing to serve God, and I don't need to, but my challenge to you - and probably more to myself - is to take some time before another year ends to reflect on what your life is about and whether it reflects to other people what you believe. I hope that mine does, but I know too often it does not, and I will be making a concerted effort to continue the change that is taking place in my life.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Plans
Who knew Chick-fil-A could be the source of so much love? Since I started working there two years ago, two dating couples have formed among team members, one has gone out with another mall employee, and if you ask my boss's wife, who also works there, she isn't done playing match-maker. And that's not to mention the man-love between me and my friend Joe.
Along with the friendships, I can also say that I really enjoying working there. I have my moments and sometimes even days of frustration, like at any job, but it's rare to find a place I look forward to going to every day, seeing my co-workers and catching up with them, and really serving right beside them as we try to give people more than just the best chicken sandwich money can buy.
It seems like a cheesy thing to say about a job, especially when my boss will likely read this, but it's true. We had our Christmas party today and his wife made several comments about how much she likes working with the tram we have, and I agree. That's really what got me thinking about this whole thing. At my previous jobs, I never saw how I fit there, always knowing there was more out there for me, wondering and hoping for what God had for me next. I never would have imagined it was managing a "quick service restaurant," but what do I know. What do any of us know as far as God's plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29).
He gave me hope and a future my freeing me of the chains of my old desk job and putting me into a place outside my comfort zone, making me an introvert in a very extroverted profession of service. It can be exhausting to interact with people on so many different levels for an entire day's work, on top of managing the day, the team, the products, etc.
But it is rewarding. Steve (my boss) has his mission posted on our door - changing lives every day. It is exciting to be a part of that, and I have to remind myself of that greater goal when things get stressful and people want their chicken two minutes ago and we don't have something because I didn't order it.
I posted a while ago about how I don't like things, but if I had to make a list, in no particular order, I would say that I like my wife, my son, Jesus, my job, writing, listening to music and sports. Until two years ago, my job would not have been anywhere near a list of things I liked. It probably wouldn't have even been on a list of things I hated. I would have had to make up a word for such distaste.
So to conclude the love-fest, I will say thank you to Steve for taking a chance on me, and thank you to God for saving me from a sad, dark office and taking me to a less-sad, much brighter mall where I get to work with some great people and serve God at the same time.
Jeremiah 29:11-14: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity."
Along with the friendships, I can also say that I really enjoying working there. I have my moments and sometimes even days of frustration, like at any job, but it's rare to find a place I look forward to going to every day, seeing my co-workers and catching up with them, and really serving right beside them as we try to give people more than just the best chicken sandwich money can buy.
It seems like a cheesy thing to say about a job, especially when my boss will likely read this, but it's true. We had our Christmas party today and his wife made several comments about how much she likes working with the tram we have, and I agree. That's really what got me thinking about this whole thing. At my previous jobs, I never saw how I fit there, always knowing there was more out there for me, wondering and hoping for what God had for me next. I never would have imagined it was managing a "quick service restaurant," but what do I know. What do any of us know as far as God's plans for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29).
He gave me hope and a future my freeing me of the chains of my old desk job and putting me into a place outside my comfort zone, making me an introvert in a very extroverted profession of service. It can be exhausting to interact with people on so many different levels for an entire day's work, on top of managing the day, the team, the products, etc.
But it is rewarding. Steve (my boss) has his mission posted on our door - changing lives every day. It is exciting to be a part of that, and I have to remind myself of that greater goal when things get stressful and people want their chicken two minutes ago and we don't have something because I didn't order it.
I posted a while ago about how I don't like things, but if I had to make a list, in no particular order, I would say that I like my wife, my son, Jesus, my job, writing, listening to music and sports. Until two years ago, my job would not have been anywhere near a list of things I liked. It probably wouldn't have even been on a list of things I hated. I would have had to make up a word for such distaste.
So to conclude the love-fest, I will say thank you to Steve for taking a chance on me, and thank you to God for saving me from a sad, dark office and taking me to a less-sad, much brighter mall where I get to work with some great people and serve God at the same time.
Jeremiah 29:11-14: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)