Light Bulb Moments

(Part 1)
2 Timothy 1:7 "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self control."
God wants us to develop self-discipline that pushes us to do things, even if others are giving up. In business, we need to be self-disciplined in order to maintain a successful work ethic.
1. People with self-discipline master their moods. They live by their commitments, not their emotions. People who do the right thing even when they don't feel like it accomplish a lot. Proverbs 25:28 "A man without self control is as defenseless as a city with broken down walls."
2. People with self-discipline watch their words. They think before they speak. Proverbs 13:3 "He who guards his lips guards his life."
3. People with self-discipline restrain their reactions. How much can you take before losing your cool? Proverbs 19:11 "If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it."
4. People with self-discipline stick to their schedule. If you don't determine how you will spend your time, others will surely decide for you! Ephesians 5:15-16 "Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility...Make the best use of your time."

I definitely feel like I'm learning how to become a manager the more I'm involved with the bakery! Over the past week I've been chasing down delivery men (flour and yeast mostly,) distributed weekly wages, and general HR with some drama amongst the trainees. If the Lord is preparing me to start my own business or at least manage one, I'm taking the hint. So this afternoon I just completed my first devotional (above) and weekly business update/review meeting with Five Loaves Bakery. Richard and I have set up these meetings in order to get the bakery trainees to understand cost, business basics, planning for the week and selling. We showed them what the total production was based on the actual amount of bread sold. Then I sat with them and calculated the potential amount earned if everything sells, before expenses and wages. It was like a small little light bulb lit up. I pray that they are beginning to grasp that the more they produce, the more potential money they will bring into the business. In short, the bakery has been in the red and if they increase their production next week like we planned, the bakery will break even. One of the bakers asked if I thought they could do it. I told them I believe they can and asked him if he thought they could do it. He said, "I hope so."
I hope so too. I want to see them succeed. If anything, I want them to start putting the pieces together and have a general understanding of business that would help them become employed locally. I am praying that they start to take responsibility and apply self-discipline towards their business. It's pretty exciting to see God working on people like this.