Friday, September 21, 2007

The Seed



A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided todo something different.

He called all the young executives in his company together.He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. 'The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued.' I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring,and the one I choose will be the next CEO'

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story.She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds andthe plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, butnothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn'thave a plant and he felt like a failure.Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of life, but he knew his wife was right Hetook his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.Jim just tried to hide in the back.

'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said the CEO. 'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!' All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!'When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down exceptJim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive!His name is Jim!' Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said?Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!'

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
What we are is God's gift to us; what we become is our gift to God.

Author Unknown.
If you know the author of this story, Please contact me so I can give them proper credit. Thank you.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Focus!

Heavenly Father, when my life is moving along at break-neck speed, I feel so distracted from the things that are really important to my heart and soul. It seems like my lack of focus keeps me from paying attention to what really nourishes me. Help me learn to give less priority to what only leaves me feeling empty. Remind me that when I give priority to what is really important everything else falls into place with greater ease. I ask this for the sake of your love.

Thank you Jesus!
Love, Lori

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

No Time.....

How can it be?? no time to blog? this week has been a little crazy. I have been putting in a few extra hours at work. Trying to get a few extra things done around the house. Doesn't that seem never ending to you too?

Today I have to work from 9-3 and then go back one more hour at the end of the day to close. We have one girl out for vacation. *fun for her!* I hope she enjoys her days off. :) I work with a group of very sweet ladies. I love my work envirment. I love what I do there. It just seems that some days I am there too much! My house is missing me this week.

In the mornings I bring my dear sweet husband to work, then I come home, take the Dog out for a bit of a walk. I come back in and do some devotions. After I finish that up, I log on to my computer and read some blogs (of which I really enjoy!)

Today, I looked up Ken Davis's site and saw that he too has a blog! It was so exciting to read that. I am a big fan of his lighten up and live splats on our christian radio station. I will be adding that to my blog roll for you to enjoy also.

Well, that is all the time I have for now. I am off to get my youngest moving for school!

Be Blessed today and remember! spend time with God today!!!