This afternoon I took my two oldest children to the public library to check out some books and movies. They always enjoy doing this and I definitely want to do something with them that they enjoy doing. I feel it is very important to spend quality time with the blessings I have been entrusted with. Even though I have failed countless times in this area; I am doing my best to make changes for the better.
As we were leaving the library, I noticed a homeless man sitting in the foyer area eating a bag of chips. I have seen him multiple times around town digging through garbage cans looking for food. Today he looked healthier than he had looked in a long time and a lot of that I feel is through a contribution from a local ministry, Shawnee Rescue Mission and the local Salvation Army, that are providing food and shelter for the homeless and needy.
Many of us pass by the homeless and needy every day and do not do anything about it. Why is this? There are many who sit on the corners of America with signs asking for help or stating they are in need of something. The travesty in this whole matter is that many of these panhandlers are taking advantage of the generosity and hospitality of others when they truly do not need help. There are many of these indviduals whom I see regularly and even have their dog with them asking for help. My first thought is that if they are in need or homeless they do not need a dog or pet to care for. I understand the need for companionship, but in all seriousness, why do I want to help someone out that is trying to care for themselves and their dog?
There have been numerous times I have offered to buy gas and food for those who appear to be in need or have approached me in the parking lot of a local store and when they realize I am not going to give them cash they are not interested and refuse my hospitality. It saddens me that there are those who will refuse hospitality; however, I have been called to share the love of Christ and cannot get upset if they refuse what I have to offer. The best thing I can do is to pray for these individuals and ask God to touch their hearts.
When my children and I passed the homeless man on our way back to the car, I let them know that the man was homeless and that we had a bag of food in our car for this exact scenario. My daughter quickly told me that she wanted to give it to him and then my son chimed in and argued with her saying he wanted to give it to him. Both of my children wanted to help the man and give him the food we had to offer. As we approached the man, my daughter handed him the sack of food and he mumbled something to us. At the same time of our donation to him, another individual had just purchased him a soft drink and was dropping it off for him.
As I walked hand in hand with my children back to the car, I praised them and told them how proud I was of them for doing something so kind. I explained to them the importance of doing nice things for people that are in need and to never be ashamed to show God's love in different ways. While driving home I asked them how did it make them feel and they said it felt good. My daughter then proceeded to inform me that as she handed the food to the man that she saw him as God and that we had just fed God. Hearing this made me smile on the inside.
In Romans Chapter 12 and verse 8 it states, "If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." My daughter is definitely growing up and is showing the calling that God has placed upon her life and I find no accident in the name we chose for her at birth. Alexis means 'Helper of Mankind' and this definitely describes my daughter and the love she shows towards everyone.
Blessings to you!
Family Man
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Living on Tulsa Time
This past weekend, the family and I journeyed up the Turner Turnpike to Tulsa. It was a whirlwind trip, but one that was definitely long in the works. Michele's brother and his wife had their first baby in February and due to sickness and work schedules it took us a while, but it finally worked out where we could go and see them and have a family getaway.
The weather from the previous week had been pretty comfortable and so when we awoke in the morning we were disappointed that the forecast called for highs in the 50s. So much for the idea of enjoying the warm weather and sunshine on our roadtrip. We loaded up in our Toyota and headed to McDonalds to get some fuel for our stomach's and then it was on to Shell for some 89 octane for the car. Tulsa is normally a hop, skip an a jump up the Turnpike from home, but the fog and mist gave it less drive appeal.
We arrived in a safe and timely fashion at Michele's brothers home in Tulsa. The family was excited to get to meet Evan our newest nephew and cousin. After holding him and taking some pictures our brief visit was over. They quickly became bored with the scenery and for those with small, energetic children you understand what I mean. They were quarantined to the living room and forbidden to touch anything. While I understand there is a time for my children to behave themselves and have respect for my extended family and their house rules, it is only in their nature they want to explore and play and as adults we need to embrace this desire and allow them to be children and play.
We soon said our good-byes and were off again in our car headed off towards Woodland Hills mall for some shopping. With it being a Saturday and at the mall was a recipe for chaos and frustration. Our destination was to Children's Place to purchase some items with a giftcard Micah had received for his birthday last month. Since the store aisles were very narrow and not kid friendly, the peanuts and I ventured over to the Fossil store.
My previous experience with a Fossil store came within the Mall of America two years ago where I purchased my first Fossil watch. I will admit that I was disappointed when arriving at the Fossil store in this mall. When we walked through the threshold of the store we were greeted by racks and walls of clothing items. While I had previous knowledge of the Fossil clothing line, I did not realize they had changed their entire business structure. They did have a selection of watches in the back of the store, but definitely not the layout I had experienced in Minneapolis.
After letting the kids look at the different types of watches, I tucked my tail between my legs in disappointment and led the kids back to our origin where Michele was just checking out. It was a unanimous decision to leave the mall and go eat. After going against the flow of 71st and Memorial traffic we arrived at On The Border for some great mexican food. It was at this particular location where I had last worked as a server in college many moons ago. As we enjoyed a nice meal consisting of fajitas for the wife and I and enchiladas for the kids I began to daydream of days gone by when I was on the other side of the table serving the meals. Funny how history comes in cycles as I am once again serving meals, but in a more contemporary environment.
After our delicious meal we headed towards Justice to allow my daughter to purchase some items with her gift card and then it was on to Target for some more shopping. Can you see a trend developing? Our family loves to shop. :)
Once all of our shopping was completed we made one last pit-stop to QuickTrip to get some refreshments for the trip home and then it was back on the road home for us. While these trips generally leave us tired and ready for bed; they are definitely worth it and create some great memories.
Have a blessed week ahead!
Family Man
The weather from the previous week had been pretty comfortable and so when we awoke in the morning we were disappointed that the forecast called for highs in the 50s. So much for the idea of enjoying the warm weather and sunshine on our roadtrip. We loaded up in our Toyota and headed to McDonalds to get some fuel for our stomach's and then it was on to Shell for some 89 octane for the car. Tulsa is normally a hop, skip an a jump up the Turnpike from home, but the fog and mist gave it less drive appeal.
We arrived in a safe and timely fashion at Michele's brothers home in Tulsa. The family was excited to get to meet Evan our newest nephew and cousin. After holding him and taking some pictures our brief visit was over. They quickly became bored with the scenery and for those with small, energetic children you understand what I mean. They were quarantined to the living room and forbidden to touch anything. While I understand there is a time for my children to behave themselves and have respect for my extended family and their house rules, it is only in their nature they want to explore and play and as adults we need to embrace this desire and allow them to be children and play.
We soon said our good-byes and were off again in our car headed off towards Woodland Hills mall for some shopping. With it being a Saturday and at the mall was a recipe for chaos and frustration. Our destination was to Children's Place to purchase some items with a giftcard Micah had received for his birthday last month. Since the store aisles were very narrow and not kid friendly, the peanuts and I ventured over to the Fossil store.
My previous experience with a Fossil store came within the Mall of America two years ago where I purchased my first Fossil watch. I will admit that I was disappointed when arriving at the Fossil store in this mall. When we walked through the threshold of the store we were greeted by racks and walls of clothing items. While I had previous knowledge of the Fossil clothing line, I did not realize they had changed their entire business structure. They did have a selection of watches in the back of the store, but definitely not the layout I had experienced in Minneapolis.
After letting the kids look at the different types of watches, I tucked my tail between my legs in disappointment and led the kids back to our origin where Michele was just checking out. It was a unanimous decision to leave the mall and go eat. After going against the flow of 71st and Memorial traffic we arrived at On The Border for some great mexican food. It was at this particular location where I had last worked as a server in college many moons ago. As we enjoyed a nice meal consisting of fajitas for the wife and I and enchiladas for the kids I began to daydream of days gone by when I was on the other side of the table serving the meals. Funny how history comes in cycles as I am once again serving meals, but in a more contemporary environment.
After our delicious meal we headed towards Justice to allow my daughter to purchase some items with her gift card and then it was on to Target for some more shopping. Can you see a trend developing? Our family loves to shop. :)
Once all of our shopping was completed we made one last pit-stop to QuickTrip to get some refreshments for the trip home and then it was back on the road home for us. While these trips generally leave us tired and ready for bed; they are definitely worth it and create some great memories.
Have a blessed week ahead!
Family Man
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dive Right In
As published in the March 2011 edition of the Shawnee Outlook: dive RIGHT IN - by Anthony L. Gilbert
did you know while many pastimes are diminishing, scuba diving is becoming one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in America? Maybe that's because it isn't as expensive or as difficult as previously thought. No longer a "men" only technical sport, more families are enjoying scuba diving in tropical locations during the warmer seasons and across Oklahoma lakes.
Many feel that scuba diving is too costly, too difficult or entirely too dangerous. Local couples, David and Becki Powell and Larry and Shayla Menhusen were under the same impression several years ago before they started diving. Becki Powell, 8th grade Science teacher for Tecumseh Middle School, said, "I always was a little scared about it before going through with it and being under the water. After snorkeling a few times in Cozumel, I became more comfortable and decided to take a resort course in 2008. I really liked it. I decided I wanted to get my certification and passed it in Cozumel last summer."
Both couples wanted to do something fun and challenging that would allow them to travel and make memories. “The most memorable experience I ever had was when Becki completed her first dive and saw her experience everything for the first time,” Powell said. Through Becki’s eyes, her first experience was breath-taking, “Coming up from my first boat dive I looked up to see myself surrounded by jellyfish. The sunlight was reflecting through the water and the jellyfish. It was awesome,” she said.
Even for a sport as exhilarating as scuba diving, there are risks and precautions divers must follow to ensure safe enjoyment. Larry Menhusen, owner of Integrity Electric, Inc and scuba instructor said, “You have to dive within your limitations. Most accidents occur because of human error. The number one rule in scuba diving is to never hold your breath. Another rule all divers must follow is always use the buddy system. Everything can be worked out under the water. Stay calm and don’t freak out.”
Scuba diving, much like any sport or hobby, requires an investment. Most basic certification courses take less than a week and cost approximately $400 and include the basic scuba gear, class materials and instruction. Eric Hopkins, of Blue Water Divers, began an accredited course this past fall for OBU students. Divers can complete up to four certifications and gain valuable experience and skills. He and Menhusen also teach a course open to the public. This is an excellent, affordable opportunity for anyone in the community to become certified.
Once a diver completes their certifications and training, it’s time to explore a whole new world, that few have yet to experience. Over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water and 99% of that living space is under water. Both couples agreed that Cozumel is one of the best locations for family vacations. Family atmosphere, affordability, accessibility and the fact the 2nd largest coral reef runs through those waters is what makes Cozumel so attractive. “Experience is everything. You develop relationships with those who run the shops and the dives. With all the activities available in Cozumel it creates an awesome family experience you will want to do again,” Larry Menhusen said.
While tropical locations like Thailand, Okinawa, Hawaii, Bahamas and Belize were some of our couples most exotic dives, Lake Elmer Thomas and Tenkiller are amongst their favorites in Oklahoma. Larry Menhusen said, “I prefer warm water over cold water. Having a dry suit allows me to stay warm and dive year round in the Oklahoma lakes. I love diving Tenkiller. There’s so much history in that lake. When they built it they flooded the area. There are old school buildings, bridges, barns and foundations of an old town. There’s a lot of history in this lake. There’s nothing cooler than being under water and imagining what this town was like when it was still around.”
Being certified has allowed Powell and Menhusen some unique opportunities. David volunteers every month at the Jenks Aquarium and helps clean the inside and makes minor repairs. He has the opportunity to share with visitors about the Aquarium and the kind of marine life found inside. Larry promotes a PADI certified program that is known as the Bubble-maker program. It introduces children to the growing sport in a safe, birthday party environment for up to eight children. After the party, scuba gear is placed on each child and allows them to play games and breathe under water. As an added touch, the children have their picture taken while breathing under the water. This gives the children an opportunity to share with their friends and classmates.
If you’re looking for an activity that will take you to new depths and allow the opportunity to make some great memories and great friendships or if you need a hobby to cure the couch potato blues, then scuba diving is definitely for you. It’s a sport enjoyed by novices to well-seasoned veterans; whether you’re exploring the ruins beneath Lake Tenkiller or searching for large marine life in the warm waters of Cozumel, regardless of your experience, each dive is a new adventure.
For more information about scuba diving or the courses offered at OBU contact 405-275-2850 or visit www.padi.com or www.bluewaterokc.com.
did you know while many pastimes are diminishing, scuba diving is becoming one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in America? Maybe that's because it isn't as expensive or as difficult as previously thought. No longer a "men" only technical sport, more families are enjoying scuba diving in tropical locations during the warmer seasons and across Oklahoma lakes.
Many feel that scuba diving is too costly, too difficult or entirely too dangerous. Local couples, David and Becki Powell and Larry and Shayla Menhusen were under the same impression several years ago before they started diving. Becki Powell, 8th grade Science teacher for Tecumseh Middle School, said, "I always was a little scared about it before going through with it and being under the water. After snorkeling a few times in Cozumel, I became more comfortable and decided to take a resort course in 2008. I really liked it. I decided I wanted to get my certification and passed it in Cozumel last summer."
Both couples wanted to do something fun and challenging that would allow them to travel and make memories. “The most memorable experience I ever had was when Becki completed her first dive and saw her experience everything for the first time,” Powell said. Through Becki’s eyes, her first experience was breath-taking, “Coming up from my first boat dive I looked up to see myself surrounded by jellyfish. The sunlight was reflecting through the water and the jellyfish. It was awesome,” she said.
Even for a sport as exhilarating as scuba diving, there are risks and precautions divers must follow to ensure safe enjoyment. Larry Menhusen, owner of Integrity Electric, Inc and scuba instructor said, “You have to dive within your limitations. Most accidents occur because of human error. The number one rule in scuba diving is to never hold your breath. Another rule all divers must follow is always use the buddy system. Everything can be worked out under the water. Stay calm and don’t freak out.”
Scuba diving, much like any sport or hobby, requires an investment. Most basic certification courses take less than a week and cost approximately $400 and include the basic scuba gear, class materials and instruction. Eric Hopkins, of Blue Water Divers, began an accredited course this past fall for OBU students. Divers can complete up to four certifications and gain valuable experience and skills. He and Menhusen also teach a course open to the public. This is an excellent, affordable opportunity for anyone in the community to become certified.
Once a diver completes their certifications and training, it’s time to explore a whole new world, that few have yet to experience. Over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water and 99% of that living space is under water. Both couples agreed that Cozumel is one of the best locations for family vacations. Family atmosphere, affordability, accessibility and the fact the 2nd largest coral reef runs through those waters is what makes Cozumel so attractive. “Experience is everything. You develop relationships with those who run the shops and the dives. With all the activities available in Cozumel it creates an awesome family experience you will want to do again,” Larry Menhusen said.
While tropical locations like Thailand, Okinawa, Hawaii, Bahamas and Belize were some of our couples most exotic dives, Lake Elmer Thomas and Tenkiller are amongst their favorites in Oklahoma. Larry Menhusen said, “I prefer warm water over cold water. Having a dry suit allows me to stay warm and dive year round in the Oklahoma lakes. I love diving Tenkiller. There’s so much history in that lake. When they built it they flooded the area. There are old school buildings, bridges, barns and foundations of an old town. There’s a lot of history in this lake. There’s nothing cooler than being under water and imagining what this town was like when it was still around.”
Being certified has allowed Powell and Menhusen some unique opportunities. David volunteers every month at the Jenks Aquarium and helps clean the inside and makes minor repairs. He has the opportunity to share with visitors about the Aquarium and the kind of marine life found inside. Larry promotes a PADI certified program that is known as the Bubble-maker program. It introduces children to the growing sport in a safe, birthday party environment for up to eight children. After the party, scuba gear is placed on each child and allows them to play games and breathe under water. As an added touch, the children have their picture taken while breathing under the water. This gives the children an opportunity to share with their friends and classmates.
If you’re looking for an activity that will take you to new depths and allow the opportunity to make some great memories and great friendships or if you need a hobby to cure the couch potato blues, then scuba diving is definitely for you. It’s a sport enjoyed by novices to well-seasoned veterans; whether you’re exploring the ruins beneath Lake Tenkiller or searching for large marine life in the warm waters of Cozumel, regardless of your experience, each dive is a new adventure.
For more information about scuba diving or the courses offered at OBU contact 405-275-2850 or visit www.padi.com or www.bluewaterokc.com.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Serving up the truth
You pull into the crowded parking lot of a popular eatery and find the nearest parking space. You walk in through the double glass doors and are welcomed by an over crowded entry area full of impatient and hungry patrons. The hostess tells you that it will be a few minutes before she can seat you and scurries off to clean a dirty table. As your eyes scan the perimeter, you see the hostesses approaching empty tables with glasses and dishes stacked while the servers are busy taking orders and delivering food. There seems to be a buzz of urgency in the atmosphere and every table appears to be enjoying their meals while engaging in stimulating conversations. Within minutes, you too will be entangled within the euphoristic dining experience.
For most, this definitely paints a positive and ideal picture of what a dining experience should be when going out with friends or family and generally is what most will experience. But just like every conversation, there are two sides to every story and with my experiences and knowledge there is more to a meal than just the food and drinks. Have you ever thought about what goes on from the other side of the order?
Everyone has a bad day from time to time on the job and if there is no outlet the frustration levels can escalate quickly. When someone works in the restaurant industry they should be able to endure a large amount of stress and frustration. Not everyone who works in this industry is successful and generally the cream will rise to the top. You must be quick on your feet and be able to multi-task with the best of them or else you will be, as we call it in restaurant language, "in the weeds".
Most experienced waitstaff can handle an average of 4 or 5 tables with relative ease; however, it all can quickly change in minutes if you do not have the right staff in place during that particular shift. In order to have a successful shift you need hostesses who are good with people and have the ability to seat tables fairly and not overload one particular server. You also need a strong core of servers to handle the entire floor and all the business that walks through the door. Finally, you need a solid staff working in the kitchen. The kitchen is what is generally known as "the heart of the restaurant."
Much like our own bodies, if we have a bad heart, then the rest of our body will not function at full capacity or properly. If a restaurant has weaknesses in the kitchen for any shift, it can create many challenges for everyone and ultimately leave a bad taste in the mouth of the patron. Once a kitchen gets behind and begins to struggle, the ripple effect is quite noticeable by not only the rest of the staff, but especially by those who have come to enjoy a nice meal.
As I stated earlier, if you are not a strong server, you will generally be more sensitive to stress and frustration. Even the most experienced servers get frustrated and stressed due to one issue or another. It may be a table full of loud children who are making an obvious mess, a table who has finished their meal and are conversing or a long ticket time on a meal which is creating a frustrating experience for the customer. Regardless of the situation or who is involved, every server at one time or another has experienced high levels of stress and the only outlet they tend to use is their mouth. With this being said, it is not necessarily a negative thing, but in most of my personal experiences it generally takes a more vulgar and obscene side.
Very rarely will a server let the table know they are upset or frustrated, but body language is a huge communicator in the restaurant world and it will definitely reflect in the entire dining experience for both the customer and the server. Many servers will blurt out expletives towards their guests under their breath to another server or while they are trying to catch up on all their drink orders in the server station. Most of the time these insults are not directed towards anyone in particular nor are they sincere. It is just a matter of the server using their mouths as an outlet to vent their frustrations for some reason or another. We all have our moments when we are frustrated and have uttered something not so nice under our breathe towards a co-worker or customer. We just have to remember to not let things get the best of us and make the best of every situation.
As a server, it is our responsibility to ensure our guests receive the best service possible and ultimately have the best experience. While it is not always the case to give the guest the best experience ever, it is necessary to provide a positive dining experience even if things are not going as planned. The root word for server is servant and the responsibility of a servant is to serve others. If a server is not willing to serve with a cheerful heart, then maybe they need to reconsider the job they are doing.
I have found the more positive I am during the course of a shift, regardless how busy it is the more productive I am and the better my tips are. There will definitely be times when a server has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a table of guests have a great dining experience and the result is a poor tip. I have had many instances of receiving poor tips, but I keep my head up and continue to deliver great service to my guests. It is then when I am least expecting it that a table will bless me with a nice tip and it makes the shift that much sweeter. It isn't my intention to talk badly about servers and their inabilities to handle stress, but simply to give an inside look at what I have experienced and to enlighten the general public about what their server may be going through.
Just as I had said earlier that there are two sides to every story. Remember your server the next time you go out to eat at your favorite restaurant. If they have put forth an effort to ensure your dining experience is a good one, let them know through giving a smile and a thank you and finally blessing them with a respectful tip of at least 10-15%. Tips are the lifeline for servers and if they have done a good job, then they deserve to be taken care of as well. It goes back to the old saying, "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours".
For most, this definitely paints a positive and ideal picture of what a dining experience should be when going out with friends or family and generally is what most will experience. But just like every conversation, there are two sides to every story and with my experiences and knowledge there is more to a meal than just the food and drinks. Have you ever thought about what goes on from the other side of the order?
Everyone has a bad day from time to time on the job and if there is no outlet the frustration levels can escalate quickly. When someone works in the restaurant industry they should be able to endure a large amount of stress and frustration. Not everyone who works in this industry is successful and generally the cream will rise to the top. You must be quick on your feet and be able to multi-task with the best of them or else you will be, as we call it in restaurant language, "in the weeds".
Most experienced waitstaff can handle an average of 4 or 5 tables with relative ease; however, it all can quickly change in minutes if you do not have the right staff in place during that particular shift. In order to have a successful shift you need hostesses who are good with people and have the ability to seat tables fairly and not overload one particular server. You also need a strong core of servers to handle the entire floor and all the business that walks through the door. Finally, you need a solid staff working in the kitchen. The kitchen is what is generally known as "the heart of the restaurant."
Much like our own bodies, if we have a bad heart, then the rest of our body will not function at full capacity or properly. If a restaurant has weaknesses in the kitchen for any shift, it can create many challenges for everyone and ultimately leave a bad taste in the mouth of the patron. Once a kitchen gets behind and begins to struggle, the ripple effect is quite noticeable by not only the rest of the staff, but especially by those who have come to enjoy a nice meal.
As I stated earlier, if you are not a strong server, you will generally be more sensitive to stress and frustration. Even the most experienced servers get frustrated and stressed due to one issue or another. It may be a table full of loud children who are making an obvious mess, a table who has finished their meal and are conversing or a long ticket time on a meal which is creating a frustrating experience for the customer. Regardless of the situation or who is involved, every server at one time or another has experienced high levels of stress and the only outlet they tend to use is their mouth. With this being said, it is not necessarily a negative thing, but in most of my personal experiences it generally takes a more vulgar and obscene side.
Very rarely will a server let the table know they are upset or frustrated, but body language is a huge communicator in the restaurant world and it will definitely reflect in the entire dining experience for both the customer and the server. Many servers will blurt out expletives towards their guests under their breath to another server or while they are trying to catch up on all their drink orders in the server station. Most of the time these insults are not directed towards anyone in particular nor are they sincere. It is just a matter of the server using their mouths as an outlet to vent their frustrations for some reason or another. We all have our moments when we are frustrated and have uttered something not so nice under our breathe towards a co-worker or customer. We just have to remember to not let things get the best of us and make the best of every situation.
As a server, it is our responsibility to ensure our guests receive the best service possible and ultimately have the best experience. While it is not always the case to give the guest the best experience ever, it is necessary to provide a positive dining experience even if things are not going as planned. The root word for server is servant and the responsibility of a servant is to serve others. If a server is not willing to serve with a cheerful heart, then maybe they need to reconsider the job they are doing.
I have found the more positive I am during the course of a shift, regardless how busy it is the more productive I am and the better my tips are. There will definitely be times when a server has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a table of guests have a great dining experience and the result is a poor tip. I have had many instances of receiving poor tips, but I keep my head up and continue to deliver great service to my guests. It is then when I am least expecting it that a table will bless me with a nice tip and it makes the shift that much sweeter. It isn't my intention to talk badly about servers and their inabilities to handle stress, but simply to give an inside look at what I have experienced and to enlighten the general public about what their server may be going through.
Just as I had said earlier that there are two sides to every story. Remember your server the next time you go out to eat at your favorite restaurant. If they have put forth an effort to ensure your dining experience is a good one, let them know through giving a smile and a thank you and finally blessing them with a respectful tip of at least 10-15%. Tips are the lifeline for servers and if they have done a good job, then they deserve to be taken care of as well. It goes back to the old saying, "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours".
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Less is More
After two years off and on again employment I thought my big break had come. After six interviews and an all expense paid trip to Washington state, I was sure I would get the position. So when the recruiter called me the following day I was expecting to hear, 'we cannot wait for you to come be part of our team' instead the words 'we are moving forward with other candidates' shot my confidence full of holes. My heart sank. Anger smouldered and I started to feel God betrayed me...until I remembered my Bible reading two weeks ago.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:4-5 NLT
The people of Israel were in the wilderness and constantly complaining. They felt betrayed by God and instead of having a positive attitude, they chose to bicker and dwell on the past. Ultimately, their pessimistic attitudes prevented them from reaching the Promised Land in a timely manner. Much like the Israelites, I have displayed my own displeasures and disobedience and through selfish actions have put myself first and often times have closed doors that God had opened for me. And even after putting myself first and getting in the way, He has still poured out blessings upon my family. The Lord has truly shown me patience and humility during this season and while it is not the most exciting time, I am learning a lot and am eternally grateful for His provision and protection.
We are truly blessed and have learned to live on less. Going from a job making more than $70,000 a year to living on an unemployment income of $435 a week has definitely taught us to be faithful with less. We have had to learn to stretch our money and live on less. While this definitely limits your extracurricular activities and eating out it teaches self-discipline and creativity. One of the most important lessons I have learned during this season is that in order to truly see the hand of provision from God you must truly allow Him to have full control. You cannot lie down and quit and just expect God to give you something because you are one of His children. He expects us to put forth an effort. When you are out of work, you have to look for work and be willing to put away your pride and find employment. We must take care of our families and provide for them; especially if there is no money coming in.
When I finally received that call from the recruiter, even though it crushed me and left a sour taste of disappointment in my mouth, I quickly was reminded that when one door closes another will open. This closed door was an answered prayer and God reminded me that He had something else in mind for me. I remembered something that God had spoken to me over 2 weeks ago and He said that I had to quit trying to do it myself and let Him take control. I had spent countless hours trying to get the job through my works and had drained myself to a point of complete frustration and doubt. I finally surrendered all of my efforts to God and told Him I was done and He was going to have to take over.
It came down to either finding employment or ultimately suffer even more difficult times with no income. Last Thursday I walked into a local restaurant and after meeting with the General Manager, I was offered a position on the spot. Finally, an opportunity for employment. While it is not the ideal position, pay or hours that I would want, it is no longer what I want, but where God wants me. I am truly blessed to have employment. God knows what we need and is providing the avenues for this to happen. He is still teaching me to trust in Him and to let Him line things up. I know that greater things are yet to come and I am excited to see what He has in store for us next. If we truly trust Him, He will see us through these times of wilderness and guide us to the promised land.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” Exodus 16:4-5 NLT
The people of Israel were in the wilderness and constantly complaining. They felt betrayed by God and instead of having a positive attitude, they chose to bicker and dwell on the past. Ultimately, their pessimistic attitudes prevented them from reaching the Promised Land in a timely manner. Much like the Israelites, I have displayed my own displeasures and disobedience and through selfish actions have put myself first and often times have closed doors that God had opened for me. And even after putting myself first and getting in the way, He has still poured out blessings upon my family. The Lord has truly shown me patience and humility during this season and while it is not the most exciting time, I am learning a lot and am eternally grateful for His provision and protection.
We are truly blessed and have learned to live on less. Going from a job making more than $70,000 a year to living on an unemployment income of $435 a week has definitely taught us to be faithful with less. We have had to learn to stretch our money and live on less. While this definitely limits your extracurricular activities and eating out it teaches self-discipline and creativity. One of the most important lessons I have learned during this season is that in order to truly see the hand of provision from God you must truly allow Him to have full control. You cannot lie down and quit and just expect God to give you something because you are one of His children. He expects us to put forth an effort. When you are out of work, you have to look for work and be willing to put away your pride and find employment. We must take care of our families and provide for them; especially if there is no money coming in.
When I finally received that call from the recruiter, even though it crushed me and left a sour taste of disappointment in my mouth, I quickly was reminded that when one door closes another will open. This closed door was an answered prayer and God reminded me that He had something else in mind for me. I remembered something that God had spoken to me over 2 weeks ago and He said that I had to quit trying to do it myself and let Him take control. I had spent countless hours trying to get the job through my works and had drained myself to a point of complete frustration and doubt. I finally surrendered all of my efforts to God and told Him I was done and He was going to have to take over.
It came down to either finding employment or ultimately suffer even more difficult times with no income. Last Thursday I walked into a local restaurant and after meeting with the General Manager, I was offered a position on the spot. Finally, an opportunity for employment. While it is not the ideal position, pay or hours that I would want, it is no longer what I want, but where God wants me. I am truly blessed to have employment. God knows what we need and is providing the avenues for this to happen. He is still teaching me to trust in Him and to let Him line things up. I know that greater things are yet to come and I am excited to see what He has in store for us next. If we truly trust Him, He will see us through these times of wilderness and guide us to the promised land.
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