I'm Lovin' It

I'm not really sure if it's....right to use the McDonald's slogan to describe how I feel about working at Chick-fil-a, but it's exactly how I feel! I'M LOVIN' IT! Getting this job has been such a wonderful opportunity, and I really enjoy going to work! Not only are the people I work for nice, but the people I work with have been great too. It's a very positive, encouraging atmosphere - which is exactly where I want to be. So far I've gotten to do a little bit of everything: front register, drive-thru, dining room service, desert-making, cleaning at closing, etc.

The only place I'm not employed in is the kitchen, which I am very thankful for, seeing as I can't really cook! And definitely not at the speed that these orders come in. Making ice-creams (chick-fil-a calls them icedreams) and milk-shakes is hard enough. It seems like it would be so easy, but it actually takes some skill! It almost took me the whole night to finally be able to make a decent cone, but now I feel pretty proficient in it! So...altogether I've worked 4 days, which is how long the store has been open. Another GREAT thing about Chick-fil-a is it's closed on Sundays, which means I don't have to miss church to go to work! I am very excited about that, plus everyone needs a rest sometime. It's important. And I think it helps the business more than hurting it, actually, which is awesome.

So I just wanted to get the good-word out for Chick-fil-a! If you haven't tried it before, I highly recommend going in and trying our #1 combo meal to start out, or the #6 combo meal! And if you have been to a chick-fil-a before, I hope your experience was as great as a guest as mine has been as an employee. I can't wait to keep going back.

Outside Temp: 99°F

Countdown to end-0f-school semester: 83 days! (That actually doesn't sound that long!)

Verse of the Day:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

James 3

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement..." (vs 1)

Leadership forces responsibility. If we are in a position of authority or influence over anyone, the greater our responsibilities will be, and we will be held to a higher standard. Just something to be aware of!

"Look also at ships: although they are so large, and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how a little fire kindles a great forest!" (vs 4-5)

This is something I've struggled with a lot. I've prayed continually for God to help me guard my tongue, so that I will speak good things and not destructive things. Sometimes I have the tendency to want to speak before I think about the implications, and I've really been learning to hold back and consider. I don't always get it right, but the power of the Holy Spirit is working in me in this area! The tongue is such a powerful thing. It can defile our whole body, and it can steer the course of our life! It is not something to be taken lightly.

"Out of the same mouth produce blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so..." (vs 10)

To me this speaks so clearly of inconsistency. So often our lives just don't match up! We bless God one moment, but the next we are cursing others. Maybe not literally cursing someone, but so often what we do and say is not reflective of Christ...even though we claim to follow Him. When did we become so divided? We can't keep jumping back-and-forth over the fence. We're either for Him or against Him, no in between.

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom..." (vs 13)

The Bible clearly instructs us to be be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. We should be doing good works in humbleness, and seeking divine wisdom from the Lord DAILY. The Word says that those who have bitter envy, are self-seeking, and boast and lie against the truth are confused an evil. Their wisdom is from the world. Wisdom from above is what we should be seeking. This wisdom is: pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, bearing good fruit, showing no partiality, without hypocrisy...

"Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace..."

Saying Goodbye to...

As of today, September 1st 2010, I have decided to give up drinking soda for another year. This includes every type of soda, even Root Beer (AHHH!). I did this "soda fast" last year from May 1st 2009 until May 1st 2010, and I felt great! But ever since being back on soda over this summer, I just really feel like it is something I want to give up again. I'm definitely not a health-nut, but I truly felt a difference when I was off soda, and living in the desert...I need all the water I can get! So I'm doing it again, and feel free to join me if you want! Or maybe you have something else you'd like to give up for a year, or even 6 months? I know it sounds crazy, but there's a lot of fulfillment that comes from making a commitment and then sticking to it. There's so many things to choose from!

Anyway, I just wanted to get this out there so that I'd have some accountability, and maybe encourage you to try something different, too!

Outside Temp: 92°F

Countdown till Chick-fil-a: 15 days!

Verse of the Day:

As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God made him prosper. ... But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction.

2 Chronicles 26:5b,16a

James 2

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality..."

I think it's hard sometimes to remember the fact that God loved the WHOLE world, and He showed His grace and mercy through Christ without favoritism. Christ didn't just die for some, He died for ALL - because, whether we want to admit it or not, we all need Him! I think one of the things I struggle with the most is judging others, and it's usually fellow believers more than non believers. Without meaning to I start to think of some as "worthy" and others as "unworthy," but God commands us so clearly not to show partiality, and to love our neighbor (essentially, everyone) as ourself, and to love all equally.

"If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the law, and yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all."

He really doesn't leave any room for excuses or exceptions, does he? Sure, we may stumble and not always get it right (we're not perfect), but are not called to selective obedience. We can't pick and choose what we will obey, and discard the rest. This is a really hard standard to try to live by, but thank the Lord we don't have to strive for it alone. He is right here with us, and He will lead us to victory.

"So speak and do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy."

The "Law of Liberty" is the Law of Love. So if we, as believers, practice love and mercy from a sincere heart, and do not show partiality, we will be triumphed, through Christ, at the judgement seat. But if we judge and show no mercy, and practice partiality...it says that we will not receive mercy ourselves. This is a very serious issue with God.

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"

I think this verse goes back to the whole section about being doers of the Word and not hearers only. Salvation is not dependent on works; however, when someone truly believes in a cause, it will change the way they live their lives. So do we truly believe in what we say we believe? I wouldn't be too quick to answer "yes" in less you are willing to back up your words with your lifestyle, because a few verses further it says, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!" So obviously simply believing in God is not enough, unless we're okay with being ranked on the same level with demons!

So all in all, faith and works should go hand-in-hand. They shouldn't be separated. And if we truly love God, that love will show in the things we do, and not only in what we say.

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

So I would ask: What does your life's actions show about your relationship with God?