Closed on Sunday

To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all entrusted to us.  To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

That is the mission statement for Chick-fil-A .  Always closed on Sunday's; Truett Cathy the owner has always honored God by having all his employees off to enjoy Faith, Family and Friends.  He wouldn't ask his employees to do anything he wouldn't do himself, and since he teaches Sunday School on Sundays for the past 50 years, he is determined to never be open Sundays.

He believes one of the reasons his chain is so successful is that since 1946 he has put God first willingly knowing that he is missing out on about a 20% business loss.  Truett says "I believe God gives life recommendations not to make life harder but to make it better...This is the formula God has given us to succeed rather than to work seven days a week and miss the blessing."

"We have to ask ourselves what's really important, I've seen people very successful in business be a total flop in relationships with their families and marriages and other important things in life."

We work hard, we sacrifice as we expend energy trying to become financially successful; along the way we are anxious to give our kids material things we never had, while failing to give them what's really important, right?  At some point we refocus our efforts  on significance; giving our experience, time, talent, and energy toward making a difference, and finally, in leaving a legacy.

7 minutes of Glory and A Sloppy Wet Kiss

As the sun was coming up over the distant hills behind me, I was listening to my ipod, specificaly some worship songs when I came across these songs.  I wanted to see if there were any corresponding videos...hope you have some headphones handy...and maybe some kleenex.

Here it is; enjoy the next 7 minutes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOY0mjjmx8Y

And then if you have just a couple more minutes; check out this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDImDqR9uA&feature=related

Pocketful of Acorns

When the kids were little, we went up to the local mountains so they could play in the recent snow.  amongst the towering oaks and pines, were little squirrels gathering up as many acorns as they could possibly fit in their little cheeks.  I picked up a pocketful of acorns and stuffed them in my jacket pocket.  I wanted to plant them on the property when we got home.

Out of a pocketful, only one ever grew; now, 10 years later, it is just now looking like a tree that birds can hang out in.  They all got water, soil, and sunshine.  Maybe some did start to grow, but got choked with weeds, or eaten by critters, don't really know.

Bing Crosby used to visit the hotel I worked at decades ago.  Every time I saw him, I was constantly reminded of his song in "Rudolph" where the abominable snowman would start to "Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door."

Isn't our Christian life like that?  We're not really expected to run a marathon at age 2,  The giant oaks don't grow to be massive over night.  Each takes time.  The strongest oaks are the ones that have seen fire, and flood, intense wind, times of drought, while for a moment, the times are tough, those roots grow strong.

We all grow at different paces, all experience drought, all have to fight off the storms of life, the weeds that can entangle and choke us of what God intends. I like what Dr Flores says "There aren't good Christians and bad ones, only growing at different paces still with poopy pants...compared to my wife, she's like Mother Teresa...only Hotter!"

Peace Please

Ever take notice to how easy it is to take God for granted?  Way too many things interrupt awareness of Him.  We are all about the senses; we live in a world of sight and sound that stimulate and overwhelm the senses.  The key then, is to tune in to what's happening around us.  He says to seek Him first, meditate on Him, His ways, and His Word.

Without forethought to what happens around us, unexpected events tend to throw us off course right?  I bet He loves nothing more than to hear from us through anything and everything that competes for our attention.  This allows Him to share in new found joys, and sad sorrows allowing Him to work through us while sharing the peace only He can give.

Life as a Fantasy

I almost drafted "T.O" in Fantasy Football last year.  After 12 rounds, he was still there. Surely some team would take a flyer and pick him up after having a pretty good year.  Nope.  No takers.  When reading reasons why from Football GM's, many of the responses were of the same ilk...."He's ego-centric, not a team player."  "He's a cancer to the locker room."  "While he may make some great plays, not worth the risk for team damage control."

David Robinson, former NBA star said this "NBA Championship teams have this in common: They play on the same team with one goal in mind.  Each player contributes his own gifts and efforts so that the greater goal- winning- can be reached.  But players who seek there own glory tend to drive the team away from success.  The goal is not for our own glory.  In fact, trying to make life all about us pushes happiness out of reach"

It's the me first, or me-centric thinking that can take a toll on our families, businesses and marriages.  For some, life's troubles, trials and tribulations, can be magnified when the belief becomes rampant that life is all about them.

In Marriage we're on the same team.  Expectations can run high, so can emotions when expectations aren't met. A house divided against itself cannot stand; so together, work towards the goal with the end in mind.

Perspective

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Whenever you get in a rut, or you feel like things aren't going your way, or you just feel like complaining, sometimes all we need is a little perspective...

She also said "Life has got to be lived-that's all there is to it!"

Check out this vid'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DxlJWJ_WfA&feature=youtu.be

Promises, Promises

Excitement...expectation...exasperation...discouragement...disappointmeny...despair...

That's the progression when we wait for something we fervently want or expect, only to wind up with something else--It's that something else that is the curve ball. It's times like these when worry, doubt, anxiety, and the ilk can overtake us emotionally and create a sense of self doubt and worth.

Francis Chan once said "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." Later he goes on to say "Stress suggests that the things we are involved with are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, and out tight grip of control. Basically communicating that it's OK to sin by not trusting God because the stuff I'm going through is somehow exceptional."

Another one of those Aha moments right. I am guilty as charged. The reality is we serve a God who is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere all at the same time. (Psalms 139) He's a sun and a shield-our light in this dark world and protector. (Ps 84:11) And that at any time He can do exceedingly abundantly more that we can ask or think! (Eph 3:20.) We can rest in the promise of his peace in lieu of anxiety (Phil 4:6-8)

Oswald Chambers, another favorite read of mine says "Take no thought of your life...what you eat or drink...Don't take the forethought on yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, but it is infidelity. Worrying means we don't think God can look after the practical details of our lives." (Matt 6:25-30)

We know that we can be confident and put our faith and trust in God, because He can change any situation no matter how dark or difficult!

Jeremiah 29:11 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.