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Category Archives: Books of the Bible

Find Characteristics of God in your favorite chapter in the Bible

My God is…the One who lifts my head high Psalm 3

04 May

Psalm 3 

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him. ”

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

I have an unusual laugh. Some say it sounds like a machine gun. I’m guessing some find it very annoying. In fact I’m sure of it. I remember coming into a new job. I climbed the stairs looking to find the woman who was going to train me. She was one of the people who had interviewed me. As I approached the office, I heard her say something like, “Wait till you hear her laugh, it’s crazy”. What to do! Should I turn around and walk out? How will I stop myself from crying? Should I walk in as if nothing has happened, when I feel so hurt?

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I chose the last option. Said a little prayer, put a smile on my face and walked in and introduced myself. The words she had said were still lingering in the air. You could see they all realized that I would likely have heard what was said. I prayed again, and the Lord lifted my head. He helped me to get through that first day. Of course I went home and cried, telling my wonderful husband between hyperventilating type breaths how much the people at my new job hated me.

Eventually I became a real part of the office. The people in the room that day came to accept me for who I was. The problem that first day? They didn’t know who I was. To them, I was loud with a funny laugh. I even became friends with the woman who said those things.

The Lord lifts my head high

Embarrassing moments happen all the time (at least to me). Sometimes they don’t even have to happen for me to drop my head in shame. I just think about what might happen and I start to feel down, letting satan get a foothold in my life. I begin to doubt my gifts, abilities and sadly even my Lord.

Avoiding eye contact

When my boys do something wrong, they walk into the room, avoiding eye contact with me looking at the ground. Sometimes they’re even shedding a tear or two. “Look at me”, I’ll say, as I lift their head so our eyes can meet. We talk about what went wrong and how to fix it. Then I look in their eyes, pronounce forgiveness for their sins, and tell them that I love them.

When we do things that are stupid, selfish or sinful, I think we avoid eye contact with the Lord. We start shifting our gaze from Him, because looking at His perfection reminds us how we’ve fallen short. But God doesn’t leave us shifting our eyes from side to side. He lifts our head high so we might look in His eyes and see His love. The love He showed by sending His son to die for us that we might be forgiven of our short comings and sins, and instead of death, spend eternal life with Him.

Keep your eyes on Him

Yes when you look at Him, you may be reminded of your sin, but keep looking, don’t turn away. God wants to tell you how much he loves you.

Are you avoiding eye contact with God?

 

 

 
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Posted by on May 4, 2012 in My God is the One who lifts my head high, Psalm

 

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My God is…My Victor Proverbs 21: 30-31

01 May

Proverbs 21: 30-31 

© Maridav File #: 16017479

Are you doing a Victory Dance?

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.

The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.

We know the outcome

Imagine going to a baseball game, bowling match, or any sporting event, knowing that your favorite was going to win. Others will battle against your favorite, trying to get him down off his throne of victory. But your favorite is victorious once again.

No plan can succeed against the Lord

The devil is continually coming up with ways to tempt us, control us and manipulate us. He wants to pull us away from our Lord. Satan wants to separate us from the Lord in the same way he’s separated from God. Satan knows victory is Gods, but keeps attempting to take over. But satan is the underdog that will never overcome the favorite. In John 10:27-29, Jesus says no one can snatch us out of His hand, and that no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand.

Victory Rests with the Lord

Jesus holds the trophy. He’s the victor. He went to the cross to conquer death. Because He sacrificed His life, we know that our coach, our MVP has a perfect record. He’s going to keep having a perfect record, and nothing can stand against Him. Because we are His children, we too are victorious. It’s like we’re members of His team, the winning team. Because victory rests with the Lord, and we are with the Lord, victory rests with us too.

Victory Dance

I don’t know about you, but I needed these verses right now. Money is tight, and it seems like there’s always something popping up to make things tougher. We’ve been stretching the usefulness of the boys glasses, and my husband said our insurance will pay for their next eye exam in July. Kid you not, this was the conversation we had this morning. While I was writing this post, my son calls to tell me his glasses broke in half. We’re going to have to figure out how to get glasses without the insurance. We’ve already been taping the glasses, re-gluing them and basically anything else that makes my boys look like total geeks. I can’t tape them in the middle. That’s just cruel. So I’m going to stand in the Victory. Hold on to the promises of the Lord and know that nothing can stand against me when I’m on God’s team. I’m about to do my Victory dance. So – soon my son will be sporting new glasses, and may even get contacts. How? I don’t know, but God does, and that’s going to have to be enough for me right now. Victory rests with the Lord.

Are you doing a Victory Dance?

 
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Posted by on May 1, 2012 in My God is My Victor, Proverbs

 

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My God is…my Light Psalm 119:105

27 Apr

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.Christian Family at the Cross Istock File #: 1673165 © Mike Kiev

The only thing I know about the dark is you can’t see in it.  ~ Roy Hobbs, The Natural

In one of my favorite movies, The Natural, there is a great discussion about the dark, between Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford), and the owner of the baseball team, after Hobbs enters the owners office to find it very dimly lit. The transcript below shows the conversation between the Owner and Hobbs. (If you prefer you can watch it here).
Owner: Please pardon the absence of light. You see, as a youngster I was  frightened of the dark…and I used to wake up sobbing in it as if it was  water…and I was drowning in it. As you will observe, I have…disciplined myself against that fear…that now I much prefer…a dark room.

Hobbs: The only thing I know about the dark is, you can’t see in it.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Roy Hobbs said it best. It’s true you can’t see in the dark, whether it’s literal darkness or spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness is the absence of the light, the word, Jesus Christ. The devil wants to keep us in spiritual darkness. He wants to keep us from turning to God. He wants to make it hard to find our way. I dare say he would like us to be like the owner of the New York Knights in the Natural.

The devil knows we fear the dark, but he hopes if he can keep us in the dark long enough, sobbing and drowning, that eventually we would prefer the dark. It is a slippery slope. As we push out the light of Jesus Christ, sadly our eyes adjust, and we get used to the darkness. But in that darkness we cannot see properly. We can’t see the truth.

I’m not afraid of the dark

I’m not afraid of the dark, because my Lord Jesus has claimed me from the dark through my baptism and dying on the cross to rescue me from the punishment of my sins. He made it possible for me to see the light through His Holy Spirit. It is important to keep your focus on the light. You need to make sure your life is full of light through God’s word, Jesus Christ. Spending some time with Jesus each day helps to squelch out the darkness and draw us closer to the light.

Are you going to the Dark Side?

Yes that’s a reference to another great film – Star Wars. The Dark Side is always pulling at us trying to pull us away from good, to pull us away from God. We have to protect ourselves with the full armor of God.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6: 13-17

Are you in the dark?

 
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Posted by on April 27, 2012 in My God is My Light, Psalm

 

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My God is…My Joy Psalm 43:3-5

24 Apr

My God is My Joy

Psalm 43: 3-5  Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me

I’m almost in a panic. Most people who know me would probably not think I’m shy. There’s something quite misleading about the loud shy ones. I am shy. I am nervous around people I don’t know. I get scared to break out of my comfort zone. I remember being told by someone I went to high school with that they had misread me. They thought I was a snob and wouldn’t talk to everyone. I wouldn’t talk to everyone, not because I was a snob, but because if I didn’t know you, it didn’t seem like it was worth the risk. I couldn’t handle the rejection. I’m not sure that much has changed.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? 

This weekend I’m going to be presenting a portion of Deb Burma’s “Beautiful Feet” retreat. I have wanted to have an opportunity to speak and get used to being in front of a crowd. I want to be confident, but then my cowardice and shy side starts to get the better of me. Thinking about it now nearly puts me in a panic. I feel called to be a writer and a speaker. A year ago I was doing neither. Now I’m writing two or more times a week. I am looking for opportunities to build my speaking skills and pray that soon both the writing and the speaking will used to the glory of God. I want nothing more than my whole life to be used for Him. (Did I really write that down – God can do some scary things when you give your life to Him – EEEK).

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

The Lord knows what He’s doing. He has given me opportunity and encouragement along these paths. I need to put my hope in Him and not rely on myself. I may not be the world’s best writer or speaker, but the Lord can make my speaking and my writing to be more than my words. Because I use scripture in my writing and speaking, the Holy Spirit is present, and His word will not return to Him void. I can trust and put my hope in Him. Most who know me would say I have the gift of speaking (or talking on and on and on). I hope that I do and that I put my hope in God and praise him with all that I do.

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.

God is my Joy and my Delight. I’m amazed every time I come to write my blog how I’m given a new verse telling me about who my God is. He is so multifaceted. He’s everything we need. I do delight in Him. He is my joy. Each day I find there are things that He points to, flowers, friends, verses in scripture. I am amazed at how involved He is in my life. Everyone has at least one gift from God. Do you know what yours is? I believe that when you start using that gift to God’s glory, He will use it to draw you closer to Him, so that you might have joy and delight in Him. You may find yourself seeing God in the details of your life. Take joy that He is there, and put your hope in him.

Have you seen God in the details?

 
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Posted by on April 24, 2012 in God is My Joy, Psalm

 

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My God is…My Comforter 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

16 Apr

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

Who comforts us in all our troubles© Willie B. Thomas

I can be overprotective. Not in the sense that I don’t let my boys do anything. In fact in some ways I’m way more permissive than some parents. My boys are free to ride their bikes downtown, crossing the highway. They are able to stay home alone for long periods of time, but there are things that make me crazy.

If I am around and my boys are doing anything dangerous at all I get nervous. You know, dangerous things like; riding their bikes, playing football, walking on a ledge, exploring, hiking, climbing at a playground, or basically anything else that they could get injured in any way. Pretty much everything more than breathing makes my heart race a bit. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m very uncoordinated myself, and I know the likely hood of me getting hurt doing any of those things is high. My solution to my crazy over protectiveness? I send my husband.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. When I was a teacher, there was nothing I hated more than recess duty. I was nervous the whole time. Eventually another teacher (mother of 9) and I came to an agreement that I would do lunch duty, and she would take recess duty. Problem solved.

Outdoor school

So this brings us to this morning. I awoke at 4:30 am, anxious about my boys leaving for outdoor school this week. I thought about all of the things that could go wrong. Will they get along with the other kids, will they be safe, etc. I began to pray to God for comfort. I decided I needed a verse to focus on as I prayed, and I found the one above. I realized that I need to be comforted by God so that I can help my boys be comfortable with the situation.

So that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God

Many things in life seem uncomfortable. Like we may never have comfort again. Perhaps you’ve had a miscarriage, a child die, an illness, divorce, abandonment, or heart-break. When we’re going through these things it seems we might never recover. If we’re fortunate, the Lord will provide someone to walk along side us who has already experienced these troubling times. In time most of us do find comfort from the Lord. In fact true comfort only comes from the Lord. Our hope of everlasting life through Jesus Christ is often the comfort we need to help us to know that all things on this earth are temporary, but God’s love is forever. Let us not forget where we’ve come from, the challenges we’ve faced. The Lord has provided us comfort through those times so that we can comfort others.

How are you being called to comfort someone?

 
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Posted by on April 16, 2012 in 2 Corinthians, My God is my Comforter

 

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My God is…the Vine John 15:5

27 Mar

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I am the Vine

I am the Vine; you are the branches

Out here in Oregon, there are a lot of vineyards. It makes for some fantastic wines in the area. Quite a few years ago (the 60’s?) someone figured out that the soil in Western Oregon was good for producing Pinot Noir. Since that time this area has been booming with vineyards.

In the verse above, Jesus compares himself to the vine, and us to the branches. If Jesus is the vine, what was His soil? I think it’s God the Father. Jesus was always making sure his behaviors pointed back to the Father, and always wanted to do His will.

Nutrition is important

How do you get your nutrients? The branches on the vine get all the nutrients they need from the vine. When they’re separated from the vine, they wither and die. What you put into yourself is important. What do you nourish yourself with? Maybe you eat really well, and don’t have any of the struggles with weight and eating that I’ve had, but let’s think of a different kind of nourishment. What are you feeding your soul? Do you listen to the lies of the devil as he tells you you’re not worthy of forgiveness. The truth is we’re not. And that’s ok, because Jesus, our Vine, is, and has taken your place so even if we don’t deserve it, we’re given salvation. Why? Because He wants us to have everlasting life with Him. Because of that amazing love He has for us, we’re able to be changed and grow. He provides everything we need to produce fruit. He changes us. He gives us the nutrients that each of us needs individually. He meets our Spiritual needs.

A bit malnourished

This week I’ve been feeling a bit malnourished. I’ve been focusing on myself. Worrying about something the Lord has proven over and over again that he’ll take care of…Money. Funny thing is, I don’t even know if it’s a problem or not yet. My husband and I still need to let the dust settle and see if we’re able to make a go of it on his salary alone. While I love that idea, I have not been enjoying the possibility. Instead I’ve been worrying about the money. How is it going to stretch? How are we going to pay the bills at the right time. I’m not opposed to working, but would love to find something as flexible as I have had up to now. During all this fretting, I turned to the Lord at every turn. HA! No I didn’t. If I had turned to God every time I was concerned, He would have provided me with comfort and direction, but for some reason, instead I find myself lingering in the problem instead of the solution, Christ Jesus.

A New Diet

So feeling a bit malnourished, because I haven’t “remained in Him”, I need to start on a new diet plan. A plan that refocuses me on my Lord. I need to spend more time with Him through His word and His people. I need to allow the Lord to meet my needs, and not fret. Will that be through a new job opportunity or the opportunity to stay home, I don’t know, but I know that my nourishment will be found in Jesus, so I need to get healthier with Him.

Apart from me you can do nothing.

Instead of continuing to try to cling to my own ways, focusing on the negative, I need to find the blessings from the Lord in my family, His word and the life He has given me. I have big plans for myself. I want to be a writer and speaker, but apart from God I can do nothing. I must trust in Him to give me the strength, sanity and opportunity. Time to spend some time in His word and in prayer.

Are you malnourished?

 

 


 
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Posted by on March 27, 2012 in John, My God is the Vine

 

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My God is … The Good Shepherd John 10:14

21 Mar

John 10:14 – I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me

John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me

John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me

He knows me

So being called a sheep may not be the most flattering thing in the world. They’re not the brightest animal on the farm, and I’m not super in love with their smells either. I am grateful for the wool, and there’s almost nothing as sweet as seeing little lamb-i-kins bouncing across the British Countryside (Right Rachel?). But when being a sheep means that Jesus is your Shepherd  Good Shepherd, everything changes.

Not the brightest animal on the farm

We may not always make great decisions, say the right thing, or do the right thing, but like a Shepherd, God is watching over us, herding us back to safer ground. Ground filled with blessings and closeness to Him. When I’m in the midst of bad behavior (insert sin of choice here), I find myself lost, confused and unsure of myself. It’s in  weakness and insecurity that I’m no longer stubborn and going my own direction. I start looking around for a way out, a safe place to go, and I realize my Shepherd has been near by at all times, ready to lead me home.

Going my own direction

Have you ever made a wrong turn? You were sure you knew your way, but still ended up someplace other than where you wanted to be? In the song “The Good Shepherd” By Dave Horn (find it here #23 on the list), Dave sings about the Good Shepherd from the devil’s perspective. The devil says everything the Good Shepherd does; knowing their name and carrying their blame, shows how he, the devil, has lost this game. That’s a comforting thought.

God knows my name and carries me and my blame

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for His sheep. We are not in a relationship with a God who sets things in motion and then leaves us there floundering. He is there to help guide us out of trouble. He’s come to keep me from being separated from Him for eternity because of my sin. He’s laid down his life so that I can be free from blame. When we are weak, we find Him when no one else cares about us anymore. When we have burned all our bridges, Jesus became the Bridge to God the Father, allowing us a way to salvation, when all we deserve is utter destruction. Not only does he keep us from harm, keeping away the devil, but he also leads us towards His Father, while drawing us closer to Him. He seeks us out when we’re straying away from Him.

Embracing my Sheepishness

I said it earlier, I don’t think the description of us as sheep is very flattering, but it is accurate. I do make mistakes and end up taking the wrong path. Sometimes I don’t listen to my God and I end up in deep do-do. I find myself floundering, having separated myself from my support system, and ignoring the warnings of friends and family. I hear the devil trying to lie to me, telling me I’m not worthy of being used by the God I love, but like the Good Shepherd that He is, Jesus is right there to guide me back to safety in His arms, His word and His church.

Are you Sheepish?

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2012 in God is my Shepherd, John

 

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My God is … God Psalm 46:10

16 Mar

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be Still

How often are you still? Do you stop? Ever? Many of my friends hardly ever stop. Even when they do stop physically, their minds are still racing, and they don’t truly get any rest from their hectic lives. Being still takes focus. It’s not easy at all. You can start to feel guilty, wiggling around thinking about all of the things not getting done while you’re “being still”.

What do we miss in our hectic lives

In Psalm 46:10, God says to “Be still and know that I am God”. What a blessing of being still! For many years I had worked a 40 hour a week job. I actually worked a lot more hours than that, because I had a virtual commute. It always sounds so wonderful. I got to work from home! But that has its pluses and minuses. Yes I could run and get my boys when I needed to, and if something came up I could take care of it. The truth is, usually those things didn’t come up, but instead I would be more likely to allow my work to impede on my family time. I would be doing fine, playing a game or watching a movie with the boys when I would think of one more thing that I could get done before tomorrow (so that day would be “easier”). I would work on that while I was “with” my boys. I would not be fully present in either, not accomplishing anything of value in the end. The next day was not easier, as I had plenty more to worry about that day.

Each day my minds raced. I wanted to be sure that my work was visible even though I wasn’t in the office. I wanted to make my work successful for the business, my bosses and myself. I wanted to do well, so I could feel good about my work. What really happened, because I never took down time for my brain is I was not my best. When I would over work myself, in the name of dedication, I would push myself beyond what was useful for any of us.

Clearing your mind

I don’t know about the other women out there, but clearing my mind is a foreign concept to me. Even when I am sitting still in a quiet room, my mind is not clear. I may be having 25 different thoughts in less than a minute. My mind is all over the place. Do you remember the scene in Ghostbusters when they’re told to pick what will destroy them by what they think, and their plan is to clear their minds so that nothing will destroy them? That was always such a ridiculous scene to me, because I couldn’t even conceptualize emptying my brain. Is that a man/woman thing, or just a problem I have? I’m not sure, but if it had been me out there, we would have had 20 or more things to fight off with our proton streams.

 

And Know that I am God

Being still, clearing our minds takes practice. One of the great benefits of having the hours you spend for work reduced is you have time to practice being still. Since I reduced my hours (and recently had them reduced again for me), I have been given the opportunity to work towards being still and knowing He is God. I have started to use the prayers I learned at the prayer retreat I went to (the Jesus Prayer and Lectio Divina) to get me closer to being still. Then I will sit after those prayers and just try to “be” in God’s presence. I’m not saying I’ve perfected it, but the promise to know God better is one worth doing.

Do you know how to be still?

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2012 in My God is God, Psalm

 

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My God is … My Supplier 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

13 Mar

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower & bread for food will also supply & increase your store of seed 

Have you ever lost a job? Have you ever wondered where your next meal will come from? Where your concerns valid? The past year has been a year of change for my husband and I. His job is quite secure, but I have gone from having the highest paid job in my life to basically no job at all. At first the reduction of hours was a decision I made to spend more time with my boys. It’s been blessed to say the least. We’ve been having great conversations, more time together and enjoying who the Lord made each of us to be.

Losing your income sucks

Yep, I said it, losing your income sucks. Yesterday my main client told me she couldn’t afford me anymore and would have to put our work on hold. She’s happy with my work, but because of the way some things are working out on her end, she won’t be able to keep me employed for a while. I feel like I should be worried, and to be honest, part of me is, but then I keep hearing “The Lord will Provide”.

Is this an opportunity

My sister said that she felt that this time might be an opportunity to even further explore my wish to be a writer and a speaker. To be honest that scares me, and to make it a profitable venture also seems daunting. But I will pray that the Lord will reveal to me what He wants me to do.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion

So I got my last paycheck for a while, and part of me is struggling with the idea of putting some of that money in the offering plate. 10% sure looks like a huge amount today. But in the verse above I’m reminded that the Lord is the supplier of my lively hood and my food. I need to trust Him today, tomorrow and always. I need to be reminded that my Lord can be trusted. To keep my focus on Him, and allow Him to direct my paths. Stay tuned as we see what the Lord has in store for me now. How will He turn this challenge into a blessing for this girl who loves Him so much.

Have you ever lost a job?

 
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Posted by on March 13, 2012 in 2 Corinthians, My God is My Supplier

 

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My God is… a Servant – Matthew 20:25-28

16 Feb

Matthew 20:25-28 – Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a servant

Ok, that’s not quite what I said to my parents, but my plan as a child was to become a Lutheran School Teacher (like my dad and mom). I wanted to be like my father who seemed to always be willing to help anyone in need (as long as my mom told him about it – he wasn’t so good at picking up on some of the clues that people needed help). If my father had any thought that someone needed help moving, a ride, painting a room, delivering something or almost anything else, my father would almost always be quick to volunteer.

Called to be a servant

My dad is gifted with a servant’s heart, but we’re all called to be servants. In the verse above from Matthew, Jesus himself tells us that whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. That’s some pretty powerful words. The funny thing is my father, when he does nice things for others, serving them with love, he doesn’t look for a thank you or pat on the back, but they come. People admire my father’s kindness. They are drawn to him, respect him and trust him. That’s an amazing thing to be able to say about your father.

Follow the example

I have been truly blessed to have a father (and a mother) who have lived their lives as servants. They want to help, and try to help as much as they can. But even without their example, we can all live by the example of Jesus Christ. Here he is the son of God, washing the feet of his disciples. He stopped, healed and talked with those no one else cared about. Ultimately he not only gave of His time, but He gave of His life. He was a Servant who was willing to give up His life that all of the stuff I had done that wasn’t so good would be washed away and forgotten. That I might have eternal life with Him in heaven. I understand that some might die for a great man, but my God died for me. Even though I continually make mistakes and treat those I love with unkindness, and those I don’t love even worse. I pray that I too may become more of a servant. That I might serve others and my Lord, not to get me into heaven, but so I might reflect the awesomeness of my Lord to all those I know. If they ask me why, I will be blessed to say it is because of the example Jesus set for me, and my earthly father who also followed Jesus example.

Whose servant are you?

 
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Posted by on February 16, 2012 in Matthew, My God is a servant

 

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