For the past four weeks now I have been working at Chick-Fil-A as a cashier/dining room hostess. ...And there is no way that words could ever describe how much I LOVE my job. It's kinda crazy to think that I'm actually being paid to serve others. After all, it's not Chick-fil-A I'm working for. My motive behind serving our guests (not customers!) is because Christ calls us to "serve wholeheartedly as working for the Lord and not men."
The other day as I was serving cust--guests--in the drive-thru, the woman who was next in line pulled up to the window. I greeted her with a smile and a warm welcome, and proceeded to give her the total. As she handed me her credit card, she asked, "Why are you so happy? Does your manager require you to be like this?" I had a very hard time coming up with an answer...my reply ended being, "Well, it's a new day, and that in itself brings me great joy." She was satisfied with my answer. This woman was not the first to ask me this. I've had various comments such as, "You are WAY too excited for this time of day" or "Were you trained to act like that? Do you really HAVE to or else you'll get in trouble?" (lol...I loved that one...)
1 Peter 3:15 says to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the REASON for the hope that you have." I've always thought of this verse as being 'on guard,' ready to defend your faith. But don't you think that it might also mean being ready to give a reason for your joy that is found in Jesus Christ? After all, it is through His grace that we are able to be renewed daily, and only through Him that we even have life! I would like to come up with a quick, thought-provoking answer to give these people who ask about my happiness or, as they see it, my 'fulfilled' sort-of attitude. Third Day describes their overwhelming desire to show the world what love is, in their song "Ready." The chorus reads: "I want the world to turn because of love and mercy to find each of us, doing what we can to just believe. I want the world to know that YOU'RE the One who FILLS ME UP and GIVES ME HOPE and BRINGS ABOUT THIS CHANGE THAT'S IN ME." What a perfect picture of what our attitudes should look like involving those who are lost in sin, those who are in need of hope! If you can come up with an answer to give these people, leave it as a comment. Should it just be, "Jesus Christ" or "I have been blessed with a new day to serve Christ"? Maybe something along the lines of "My joy is found only through Christ's forgiveness"? ..but that's a little long and could leave them confused. I'm ready for some answers!!
SDG
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Willing & Ready
Here we are already...almost 1/4 of the way through the year. Have you stuck to your New Year's resolutions?! Lately, I have been reflecting on the "resolutions" that I made back in January. My prayer was (and still is!) that God would give me more opportunities to build relationships at school, and somehow get one step closer to sharing the Gospel with them. Each day, I have made it my goal to be a light to those I meet and use St. John's River Community College as my mission field.
At the beginning of the semester, I was so excited about taking Anatomy & Physiology with my friend, Shannon. This was our second class together and I was looking forward to studying and spending that extra time with her. The first day of class came and we sat next to each other in the front row, like always. But that next week was a little different. As I walked into the classroom, there was a girl sitting in MY seat next to Shannon. She continued to sit in that seat for the classes that followed, and eventually it was too late to take it back. ..so I had to choose another seat. This not only made me very upset, but also disappointed because I wasn't sitting next to my friend. ..something I had looked forward to before the semester had even begun!
I could technically say it was by chance, but I'd be wrong. I came into class a week later and was forced to sit in the THIRD row back from the front of the class. I sat next to a girl who looked about my age and was also in my Composition I class the semester before. It was during that week that I was extremely upset (maybe even angry) about my situation. "How could that girl do that to me?? Does she not know that Shannon and I know each other?!" It was not until the following week that God began to open the eyes of my heart. I was completely avoiding an opportunity that God was giving me! ...in response to my own prayers!!! Lauren was my answered prayer. Recently, this has become even more evident. She went out of town and missed two days of class, and asked me if she could borrow my notes from the lectures. I gave them to her today and she was MORE than grateful. She couldn't believe how "hard" I worked at making sure the notes were as helpful as possible.
I am so excited to see what God has in store for me ...and for Lauren! God has changed the attitude of my heart in this situation. I was so blind that I couldn't even see the answer to my own prayer! I've learned that when we ask God for opportunities to witness to others, we must be willing...and READY! ..Ready for those opportunities, and ready to take action. I also didn't realize the opportunities that God might have for Shannon! God specifically chose those seats for me and Shannon..and for the other girls who would sit next to us!
"They will know we are Christians by our LOVE."
SDG
At the beginning of the semester, I was so excited about taking Anatomy & Physiology with my friend, Shannon. This was our second class together and I was looking forward to studying and spending that extra time with her. The first day of class came and we sat next to each other in the front row, like always. But that next week was a little different. As I walked into the classroom, there was a girl sitting in MY seat next to Shannon. She continued to sit in that seat for the classes that followed, and eventually it was too late to take it back. ..so I had to choose another seat. This not only made me very upset, but also disappointed because I wasn't sitting next to my friend. ..something I had looked forward to before the semester had even begun!
I could technically say it was by chance, but I'd be wrong. I came into class a week later and was forced to sit in the THIRD row back from the front of the class. I sat next to a girl who looked about my age and was also in my Composition I class the semester before. It was during that week that I was extremely upset (maybe even angry) about my situation. "How could that girl do that to me?? Does she not know that Shannon and I know each other?!" It was not until the following week that God began to open the eyes of my heart. I was completely avoiding an opportunity that God was giving me! ...in response to my own prayers!!! Lauren was my answered prayer. Recently, this has become even more evident. She went out of town and missed two days of class, and asked me if she could borrow my notes from the lectures. I gave them to her today and she was MORE than grateful. She couldn't believe how "hard" I worked at making sure the notes were as helpful as possible.
I am so excited to see what God has in store for me ...and for Lauren! God has changed the attitude of my heart in this situation. I was so blind that I couldn't even see the answer to my own prayer! I've learned that when we ask God for opportunities to witness to others, we must be willing...and READY! ..Ready for those opportunities, and ready to take action. I also didn't realize the opportunities that God might have for Shannon! God specifically chose those seats for me and Shannon..and for the other girls who would sit next to us!
"They will know we are Christians by our LOVE."
SDG
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