Welcome to Weekly Topic Saturdays!
Hello all, I pray that your week was filled with joy and love. Welcome back to those who have been with me here at A Golden Dream. For my first-timers, a great big hello there, if you haven't already please check out my previous posts when you get a chance.
Please don't hesitate to join the conversation, there are no right or wrong answers or questions. I'm not proclaiming to know everything, I am simply just discussing and picking topics on things that I personally have gone through and that I know would help someone.
What was your automatic thought when you 1st read the title of this blog post? This idea came to me when I was looking at a receipt from a previous purchase of mine. I thought “hmm...what if the holy experience was broken down like a receipt!” As I’m pondering on the idea, I reflect back on the last experience I had in a restaurant setting, (you know, pre-covid) and what takes place once a customer walks in to dine.
Follow me on this idea, I have a point that I'm getting at. As you know, once you walk into the restaurant your first encounter is with a Greeter/ Host. You are then asked, “How Many People Will Be Dining With You?” Once replied, you then follow them to your assigned table. This is when your service begins as your waiter hands you a menu and asks the table about their desired drinks. Taking in the atmosphere and others enjoying their food you now look at the menu, and Boy! Does it look good?!
At this point you can say you are nothing but a critic, evaluating the hosts, waiter, wait time, and the quality of the food. Once you have eaten your food now comes the bill/receipt, which is a breakdown of your desired order alongside an option to tip. You are now at the tail end of your experience, and it’s time to pay, review, and decide on your level of satisfaction overall, furthermore if you would recommend it to others.
So I ask the question, what would happen if we used this analogy in relation to having a relationship/ connection with God?
The Order of Service
*This is the typical rundown of a restaurant experience*
1. Greeter
2. Service
3. Quality of Food
4. Satisfaction
6. Receipt
7. Tips
8. Recommendations
Let’s take a deeper look…
1. A Greeter
WORLDLY VIEWPOINT: What is a greeter’s job? Is it important?
A Greeters's primary job is to meet/assist customers in various settings like restaurants, banks, stores, hotels, etc. The sole purpose is to greet ALL customers pleasantly and with courtesy, providing them with direction, information, and assisting them with anything they need.
SPIRITUAL VIEWPOINT:
I would think, in the spiritual realm of things, keeping in mind the restaurant analogy, greeters are more like Christians in the body of Christ. These fellow Christians (greeters) have previously been through the Holy Tab Experience and came out victorious despite the outcome. These people of faith see others struggling and should provide a helping hand, encouragement, a push, a little bit of reassurance, and offer guidance to others.
Are You A Greeter?
Have You Ever Been In A Situation and Came Out Victorious?
NOTES:
A Greeter's job is a very important and essential one. In the restaurant setting a greeter can and will set the tone of the whole restaurant experience. Don’t knock a greeter’s job, they’re the real MVPs of the operation.
When you think about it the Spiritual Greeter (Christians) is there to offer a warm welcome into the life that God would want us to live. They are there to set the tone for what the atmosphere is like in the Kingdom Of Heaven. Their purpose is to encourage you by telling the gospel of Jesus Christ and to always find refuge in the Word of God. Then taking that knowledge and sharing it with other people, creating more disciples of Christ in the process.
Being a spiritual greeter one must be in sync with practicing the fruits of the spirit. The bible says,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
These are the acts that we must have at ALL cost. Do everything in love and in order. Greeters help everyone, just like Christ did, no matter who you are, or what you do. There is no room for discrimination or judgment only the fostering of a relationship with God through Christ. Worldly and Spiritual greeters, both know the ends and outs of their jobs. Worldly greeters have a kiosk to provide them a breakdown of the entire restaurant. The kiosk displays for them the floor plan of the establishment there working in, how many waiters are on the floor to wait tables, how many customers the building can occupy until it reaches capacity.
Spiritual greeters know the same things but in a different aspect, they have an internal blueprint of what the bible holds in truth, word, and deed. They know that the world is full of lost souls needing God’s help. They have a working knowledge of prayer, worship, supplication, and the importance of consistency. These spiritual greeters know, without a doubt, where their help comes from. They have a solid and unshakeable foundation to stand upon when faced up against the wiles of the adversary.
There’s Purpose in ALL Greeter!
2. Service
Keep in mind the restaurant analogy throughout this whole process. Once you are assigned to a table your service starts there. Whether you are in an actual restaurant or not people really don't like waiting. They mind it yes, but if they can have it quickly it's all the better. I believe God pays close attention to what we do when we are waiting on something.
You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord’s coming is near
James 5:8
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry
Psalm 40:1
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly
Proverbs 14:29
Our waiting time refines our patience level
Typically, in this part of the service, you are given a menu and are asked what you would like to drink while you look over the menu. Once decided, the waiter comes and takes your desired order, and then you must wait.
Spiritually, what do you do when you have to wait on God?
What is your response and/ or position?
In Weekly Topic Saturday #23: Stop Asking God WHY and Ask God WHAT!, I mentioned that we get into a Why mentality and ask God questions like “Why did this happen to me,” “Why did I go through this,” why why why. Instead simply change your response to, “What can I do Lord,” “What did you want me to see?” “I know you don't make any mistakes but be with me as you guide me through your devined will.”
So I asked this question; What is my response when the desires of your heart (blessings) doesn't come in a timely fashion?
Let’s take a moment and talk about the waiter…
Worldly VIEWPOINT: What If I have a Bad Waiter? Does that hinder my experience? Does a Good waiter enhance my experience/ satisfaction?
A waiter’s responsibility is to take guests food and drink orders, and occasionally make sure the guests are taken care of. A waiter has an essential part in the satisfaction level of their guests.
Spiritual VIEWPOINT: What does the bible say about waiting? What do we do in the meantime?
Many think that waiting on something is a passive response when in actuality, when you are waiting on something you are actively doing it. It’s not a time for laziness or being lethargic. Actively waiting on God is a movement within itself.
Waiting and serving people is a holy thing. Even Jesus himself served others. To actively wait on people is a skill. To oversee the need of something before someone knows they need it. To stand proud and attentive to other people and their surroundings is all spiritual.
Moses therefore said to them, “Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.
Numbers 9:8
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22
NOTES:
Let's stretch this waiter situation even further.
What If, theoretically, the waiter that serves you could represent your trials and/or your blessings, based upon if they are a good or bad waiter.
No one knows whether or not they will have a good or bad waiter, that usually isn’t determined until your waiter shows up and displays an unprofessional attitude or is enthusiastically ready to serve. A waiter's performance levels can be like blessings and trials no one knows when they will come, but it’s how we respond to them that makes all the difference. Just like we discussed in a previous post about what our response should be when the temperature is rising.
When you are in a season of uncertainty, frustration, and pain, remember to rely on God to help you. Whether you are in the best season of your life or the worst, remember to wait on God, it will cost you if you don't.
3. The Quality of The Food
Once your food arrives, at first glance, you have to see if it's visually appealing. I don’t know about you but if it doesn’t look nice, I’m questioning it. Then it’s time to indulge . “Was it worth the wait?” “Is it rich in seasoning, ingredients, flavor and freshness?” How is the quality of the food?
Worldly VIEWPOINT: What does having quality food mean?
The Quality of Food is based upon the restaurant. The restaurant should be providing fresh ingredients by shying away from artificial shortcuts. It’s not enough to just have fresh ingredients, it takes a skilled chef to know what the ingredients are, how they taste, how to put them together, and how to plate them to provide a cohesive and visually appealing dish that is good to the palette.
Spiritual VIEWPOINT: What happens if we relate the quality of food that we count on to survive, to our connection and relationship with God?
Think about it. We need food. We also need God. If we treated God the way we need food, I can surely say God would be pleased. I believe the quality of our food can dictate the healthiness of our bodies. Just like our connection with God can dictate how healthy our faithline is. Some people choose to eliminate carbs, gluten, or substitute certain things for an organic choice all which your body benefits from. If we decide to start substituting (sacrificing) worldly things for spiritual things like prayer, fasting, and building a relationship with God it would eventually help to evolve and manifest our spiritual growth.
So what would happen if the importance of food, the quality of your nutrition, solely depends on the connection and relationship that you have with God? Are you full? Does your relationship with God satisfy your body with what it needs.
4. Satisfaction
Worldly VIEWPOINT: Are you satisfied as a customer?
In the worldly sense, satisfaction is the fulfillment of a person’s wishes, expectations, needs, or pleasure derived from whatever it is. In the restaurant setting, customer satisfaction plays a major role within the establishment because it is one of the leading aspects that help to measure customer loyalty, determine if there are any unhappy customers, and increase revenue.
Customer satisfaction is a determining factor that helps bring in more customers to the restaurant. The more satisfied the guest is, the more they will spend, the longer they will stay, the more they will return, and the more likely they will be to recommend to others.
Spiritual VIEWPOINT: Are you full with the word of God? Are you satisfied with what God has promised you in truth, word, and deed?
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Isaiah 58:11
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
Proverbs 12:23
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Psalm 91:16
Let’s dive deeper into the spiritual sense from a spiritual perspective. God has told us on several occasions throughout the bible that he can satisfy all of our desires, wants, and needs to survive here on earth. He only asked that we follow his commandments and that we give ourselves willingly to him. God tells us that we will never have to worry about a thing as long as we are willing to allow him into our lives.
NOTES:
With food, once ingested, the body takes the nutrients from the food and separates it from the waste. Once the waste has been separated the body discards of it.
Spiritually once we indulge in God and have read and experienced the benefits that he possesses we then become transformed from the inside out. Strengthening our faith, prayer life, walk with Christ, and relationship with God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1
5. Receipt
Worldly VIEWPOINT: Your wrapping up your experience, at this point, by now paying for your meal. Your receipt displays a breakdown of all the items that you enjoyed while dining in. Now it's time to pay. Cash or Credit?
Spiritual VIEWPOINT: One thing I love about being a follower of Christ is Jesus’ salvation for me. Going through this Holy Tab Experience I am forgiven from all of the debt that was once owed by me because Christ paid for it. Jesus died for my suffering, my sins, and my mistakes. Jesus dying on the cross was not in vain. We should live each day grateful for everything that we have, grateful that God chose to wake us up, grateful that he forgives us daily, and grateful that he pays the tab. The bible says,
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Roman 13:8
Jesus loves us and he will never stop. Great is your faithfulness that blesses us with an endless amount of favor, grace and mercy.
Our Tab is paid in FULL, and it’s up to date!
He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
2 Timothy 1:9
6. Tips
Worldly VIEWPOINT: What qualifies a waiter to get a great tip? What is the perfect tip?
Once handed the receipt, you are confronted with the option of giving a tip. The tip is based upon two things. One, the billed receipt balance, and two, waiters performance during the service portion.
When a waiter acquires these following skills, a customer takes note and is reminded of that when assessing to see if they deserve a tip or not.
Did they greet the table minutes upon being seated?
Offer specials on drinks and meals
Suggest any restaurant favorites
Wrote down order correctly and properly relayed it back for correction
Serves food professionally, from the left
Asked how the meal was moments after serving the meal to the table
Offered to refill drinks occasionally
Clears finished plates, from the right
In some way or fashion, a waiter should possess some if not all of this tasks and skills
Spiritual VIEWPOINT:
One thing I love about God is his endless supply of grace and mercy. Even when we do wrong and fall short, he blesses us anyhow. When you hurt people, or others hurt us, he still blesses us. When there’s no way out and it looks hopeless and then out of the blue there’s a breakthrough, that's blessings.
When God does what he promises by paying it in FULL then adds extra on top, for a little razzle-dazzle, of his promises, honey that blessings on blessings on blessings. When we do what we are supposed to do, and follow God's laws, his works, reading his word, and then applying it. God will pour out blessings and shower them on us.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." He also told them this parable: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
Luke 38:40
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Sometimes God’s blessings come through other people and he brings forth confirmations as well as reassurance. When we are unsure and need some encouragement and guidance, God sees and knows that. God sometimes sends others our way to ensure that we are headed in the right direction.
7. Recommendations
Worldly VIEWPOINT:
Recommendations from the worldly perspective are what people rely on when deciding to purchase, participate, or try something new. Without the recommendation, a lot of people would be hard-pressed to try new things for fear that it would be a waste of time. Me, I am people. LOL. I will be the first to let you know that I will look at the reviews on everything before I make a single purchase to see whether or not it is worth my money. In today’s society, we base everything on the recommendation or the testimony of someone else.
To put it in the perspective of the restaurant, when we sit down to place our order we may ask the waiter what they would recommend, and based on what they say and our own personal preference we will make a decision. Testimonies or recommendations about the restaurant can make or break the establishment because it has the power to sway whether or not customers will return or recommend others.
Spiritual VIEWPOINT: Would you recommend God to others? Would you share your testimony unabashedly?
Recommendations from the spiritual perspective are all about the testimony. Our personal testimony about our personal experiences in life and how God stepped in and helped to bring us through. Our experiences in life are powerful whether they are positive or negative because they have the power to be a help to someone else that is going through a similar situation. God wants us to share our testimonies to help bring people closer to him. Let’s face it, as I mentioned above in the worldly viewpoint, people in today’s society make their decisions based on positive reviews and their recommendations.
Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:39
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
2 Timothy 1:8
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Psalm 71:15-18
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
Psalm 66:16
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
Matthew 10:32
Like we discussed in the post Trials and Tribulations ALL Have Expirations, our trials are meant to test us and teach us a lesson so that we are able to minister to others. God wants us to share with the world all of the amazing and wonderful things that he has done for us. We should not be ashamed of him or of sharing him but rather accept him, as he has done for us, and do his will. If we walk around and we are ashamed to acknowledge God to others he will not acknowledge us. No one likes to be ignored, rejected, discredited, or disregarded especially God. Do not be ashamed of your personal testimony, declare it boldly because in your suffering and in your pain there is purpose. Remember that those experiences were necessary to make you who you are today.
Questions To Consider:
Are you a spiritual Greeter that spreads God’s Love?
What is your response when waiting on God? Is your patience refined?
Do I have a solid relationship with God and his Word?
Does God satisfy me? Is my soul transformed by how full I am?
Are you full with the word of God? Are you satisfied with what God has promised you in truth, word, and deed?
Would you recommend God to others? Are you ashamed of God?
Would you share your testimony unabashedly?
Has God showered you with blessings on blessings on blessings? Does God tip well?
How can you relate the Holy Tab Experience to other aspects of your life?
Do you trust God when you are in a season of waiting? What's your response when God extends the waiting period?
With Love, Remember, in this post I used a worldly experience that everyone can relate to like dining at a restaurant to show a spiritual perspective. I wanted to offer an eye-opener that demonstrated how God can and will use anything as a teachable moment to prepare us for the next phase in life. My hope was that by giving you both a worldly and a spiritual perspective of the Greeter, Service, Quality of Food, Satisfaction, Receipt, Tips, and Recommendation, you would be able to understand the purpose of a process and each process has meaning and is essential to work as God intended it to be.
The Holy Tab Experience is meant to be a testament and an analogy of that. So the next time that you are in a restaurant, shopping, or interacting with others try and think about what it is like from a spiritual perspective. Remember that in all situations God has already taken care of the bill.
HE PAID IN FULL!
~Just Breathe...A Golden Dream~
Amen.
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