I Went To Go Visit An Old, Dear Friend Yesterday, My Heart Was Moved With Compassion. Would You Like To Hear About It?

Oh my, Holy Spirit guided my footsteps yesterday afternoon to go and visit a dear and old friend of mine that was very good to me and my family/friends for 7 years. Would you like to know who this friend is? Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (the official title of Cracker Barrel.) I no longer work for them I resigned in the early part of 2020 at the time I heard Holy spirit speak to me that that season of my life was over and to prepare for the new season I am in right now. Remember my season scripture verse is "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Over the holiday season they had a great game employees could participate in online. I enjoyed this game when I had a window of time here and there. It was sort of a trivia type of game in which you could accumulate points for correct answers given. If you got to a certain point it was great point wise for you. If you did not have a correct answer and even though you answered prior question correct you then lost that set of points. I eventually began to write down the correct answers to questions I did get wrong so if it came up again I now had correct answers. I liked learning aspects of Cracker Barrel that I did not know before. Things like how long is the hold time for dumplings. Where is the most west Cracker Barrel location. I found that information interesting to me. Oh the most west location is Portland, Oregon. How many eggs a year does Cracker Barrel use? Good thing I jotted this down, did you guess correctly? Answer is 160 million. Now that's a lot of eggs do you agree? Pancakes a year?  57 million, that is a lot of pancakes. Their signature peg game how many pegs in it? The answer is 14 pegs. Can you see why this game was fun?  Oh, in this game you had a few choices to select from to give the answer.
I shared all of that to let you know I won a $5.00 gift card during this contest time that the game was open to play. There were other prizes but I won one of the daily prizes. You know what? Cracker Barrel is most generous to me I have found out. I retired/resigned near the end of January but I won the prize while still working for them. They honored that and gave me my gift card even though I was no longer an active employee when I actually received the gift card. Applause to Cracker Barrel. I had this gift card and I figured I should probably use it. It was yesterday that Holy Spirit prompted me to go and purchase the 2 lb. package of their bacon. I do get this on occasion because it lasts a really long time for me. Do you know how I make it last so long in the freezer? I open the package and cut it right down the middle. I then take a container and use plastic wrap in between the layers and I begin to take an individual piece of bacon and create layers with plastic wrap on each layer and then cover it with plastic wrap. I then place it in the freezer. Once frozen I then take the pieces and place in a gallon size zip type of storage bag and place back in the freezer. This way it is always pink in color and fresh when I want to take out some bacon to cook. I think a half piece size of bacon is just the right amount instead of a whole piece of bacon. I do not feel so bad when I take out 3 pieces because in actuality it is only 1 1/2 pieces of bacon .It is a 2 lb. packaged you purchase. Oh I do request to get a lean/meaty package of bacon. It was just the perfect type I bought yesterday, more meat than fat. Thank you for finding me a great package of bacon. You will spend a bit more for this bacon but is so worth it. Did I miss having my employee discount of 35% sure I did but I had a $5.00 gift card to put towards it. Praise God and Father I speak from my heart to Yours Bless them in a mighty way and place protection around them and give them divine wisdom and grace to get through this maybe a bit challenging time. They blessed me immensely so I speak forth the blessing to be placed upon them now in their time of need. You are faithful and true and I just know inside me you will fulfill this simple/sincere request. I thank you in advance because I know it is already taken care of by my loving Father in heaven Amen.
I was a bit shocked when I went into the 1st store and there were very little cars in the parking lot. I noticed store hours posted on the front doors. They did not have any bacon to sell at that store location. That was the location closest to me when heading home from work. I called the store I actually use to work at and they had bacon. I went there. Same scenario, hours posted on front door and very few cars in the parking lot. I saw my former boss in the gift shop and my heart went out to her it truly did. I saw a district manager that I really liked and I briefly said hi to him for he looked to be busy. Guess what shirt Holy Spirit had me wear yesterday? One of my Joan Hunter sparkly "Miracles Happen." It is no where near Easter and they had Easter display items for 70% off. I was compelled to buy a few items also. They blessed me so it was my turn to do a bit of blessing back. I did see a top I just may have to go and get.
After I was finished talking with my former boss and checking to see if some of my co-workers were doing ok I then felt compelled by Holy Spirit to go and find the district manager and give him a proper greeting before I left the store. I did, I found him at a table with a few managers and I greeted them. As I was about to leave I opened up my jacket and said miracles do happen look what my shirt says. I am blessed to be a blessing to bless others. I implore you to kindly remember to patronize the stores that blessed you in your life. Yes, I know we have to adapt some what in the times in which we live in but there are real people and businesses out there that can sure use our help. I think the hours posted on the door stated7AM-9PM maybe you have a taste for pancakes or their homestyle chicken or what about a dessert break with a warm cup of coffee along with the friendly smile of the one serving you. Do you like apple crisp then stop in and get their packaged mix and make some along with their filling that is sold in a jar.
Oh I know that if I was still working there I would have purchased one of their novel items I saw in the retro type of display. They had the cutest Mr. Rogers post it notes and even a package of lunch box notes you could put in someone's lunch. How cleaver, how creative. I know me and I know I probably would have bought them with my discount if I were still an employee.
I think we need a bit of music today what do you think? I found this video of Nancy Harmon singing this song, "I've Come Too Far To Look Back."

I've Come To Far Too Look Back - Nancy Harmon at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries