We recently drove home from up North by way of the forest. As I gazed out the window, I was half-listening to a Christian music CD, it hit me ...
The Rodeo-Chedesky fire wiped out every living thing for so many acres, how could it ever be something other than a field of black soot and ash? I was saddened by the stark remains of burned trees stretching up to the sky for as far as the eye could see. Then God gave me an epiphany, my eyes fell to the ground where new green life was again forming a forest, beautiful and hand-planted by the Creator Himself.
My first understanding was the similarities between the forest and our lives. Many of us had to go through an ordeal by fire to find the true nature of God. We had to burn away the "dead wood" so he could prune us back for an amazing time of growth in our future. We left behind some family members, some old friends, some bad habits that made up our comfort zones, and in return, God gave us His light, and living water, so we could grow better and stronger than before. A changed being.
My next phase of understanding brought me to realize that now we're that new life but yet, we still live among the dying or dead spirits. The sadness I felt for the empty, naked trees reminded me of the deeply hurting people we see all around us every day who don't know how to regain strength and life. Only when we, the new creations in Christ, join together can we help the forest to become green again. Only if we allow God to use us to touch others can we stand among the living.
Dear Heavenly Father,
It always amazes us how you use the simplest, everyday things in our life to
teach us new lessons. We don't want to be just the few greens on the forest floor. We
know you love everyone as your own, even if they don't know or understand that. They
need you just as we did and still do. Help us to allow you to prune us back, so we can
grow and bring new life to a barren world.
Amen
Monday, September 18, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
The Nature of a Servant
Matthew 25: 21 "His Master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been
faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
While reading my Bible recently, I came across the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. I've read it before and I've heard the sermons on how this is about Spiritual Gifts, not just money God gives you, but that's not what struck me. What really seemed to speak to me was the word "servant".
Jesus didn't say "well done good and faithful worker, church-goer, parent, spouse, leader, friend, or even follower". Jesus chose the word servant on purpose. He showed us how to serve others when he washed the feet of his disciples. This made me dig a little deeper into what else Jesus said regarding being a servant.
What God kept bringing to my attention, and maybe to yours, is the nature of the servant. This doesn't mean the way he or she acts during church, or when others are watching, or when there's some-thing to gain. Someone's nature is who they are when no one's watching. It's a part of who they are, internally, that governs their actions. The good news is, taking on the nature of a servant is like playing a musical instrument, it can be learned. It's not something you must be born with or else you'll never have it. So let's figure out what traits to develop on this journey of following Christ and becoming a servant.
A servant:
humbles himself - willing to fill the needs of others, regardless of credit, praise, or status
submits - willing to give up control to God, and those in authority over him or her
is obedient - does what is asked of him because it is the right thing to do according to God
helps - finds needs of others and fills them joyfully, doesn't complain about own needs that
aren't being met by other people. Instead expects God to meet his own needs.
has joy from within - not resentful of the duties being performed, enjoys the gift of helping
respectful - refuses to quarrel with those around him, instead, seeks solutions to problems
rather than assigning blame, complaining or gossiping.
loves God - by serving Jesus' flock, a servant feels God's presence and love.
So how can we as His followers decide to be better servants? Sometimes the best way is to just jump in with faith and trust and fill the needs God presents to you. Pray about it. Ask the Lord for guidance (through His Word and the Holy Spirit) which areas He desires to see you serve. God doesn't ask for a few to try to please the crowds with false humility, or with busyness. He only asks that as Christ's body, we should serve one another.
The best example is the first church, mentioned in the book of Acts. It says in Acts 4 that all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed material possessions as their own, they shared all they had. There were no needy among them. Imagine if we all took on that servant nature! What kind of church would we have? What kind of group of people could we become? How would that impact those outside looking in? Let's all pray and ask how we can serve each other during this season of our lives. Let's take the focus off what we wish someone would do, or teach. Instead, let's focus on what God-given abilities and gifts we've been blessed with, and how we can bless our members with them.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending us such a perfect example of servant hood in your son, Jesus. We want to become better servants ourselves, but taking the first step in sometimes the hardest of all. We ask that you'd speak to our hearts and minds. Show us the needs in our church and community, and inspire us to trust you to teach us how to fill it, how to be a good servant, for your glory, and to further your kingdom here on earth. May we one day hear those wonderful
words spoken to us from your lips, "well done, good and faithful servant."
faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
While reading my Bible recently, I came across the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. I've read it before and I've heard the sermons on how this is about Spiritual Gifts, not just money God gives you, but that's not what struck me. What really seemed to speak to me was the word "servant".
Jesus didn't say "well done good and faithful worker, church-goer, parent, spouse, leader, friend, or even follower". Jesus chose the word servant on purpose. He showed us how to serve others when he washed the feet of his disciples. This made me dig a little deeper into what else Jesus said regarding being a servant.
What God kept bringing to my attention, and maybe to yours, is the nature of the servant. This doesn't mean the way he or she acts during church, or when others are watching, or when there's some-thing to gain. Someone's nature is who they are when no one's watching. It's a part of who they are, internally, that governs their actions. The good news is, taking on the nature of a servant is like playing a musical instrument, it can be learned. It's not something you must be born with or else you'll never have it. So let's figure out what traits to develop on this journey of following Christ and becoming a servant.
A servant:
humbles himself - willing to fill the needs of others, regardless of credit, praise, or status
submits - willing to give up control to God, and those in authority over him or her
is obedient - does what is asked of him because it is the right thing to do according to God
helps - finds needs of others and fills them joyfully, doesn't complain about own needs that
aren't being met by other people. Instead expects God to meet his own needs.
has joy from within - not resentful of the duties being performed, enjoys the gift of helping
respectful - refuses to quarrel with those around him, instead, seeks solutions to problems
rather than assigning blame, complaining or gossiping.
loves God - by serving Jesus' flock, a servant feels God's presence and love.
So how can we as His followers decide to be better servants? Sometimes the best way is to just jump in with faith and trust and fill the needs God presents to you. Pray about it. Ask the Lord for guidance (through His Word and the Holy Spirit) which areas He desires to see you serve. God doesn't ask for a few to try to please the crowds with false humility, or with busyness. He only asks that as Christ's body, we should serve one another.
The best example is the first church, mentioned in the book of Acts. It says in Acts 4 that all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed material possessions as their own, they shared all they had. There were no needy among them. Imagine if we all took on that servant nature! What kind of church would we have? What kind of group of people could we become? How would that impact those outside looking in? Let's all pray and ask how we can serve each other during this season of our lives. Let's take the focus off what we wish someone would do, or teach. Instead, let's focus on what God-given abilities and gifts we've been blessed with, and how we can bless our members with them.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending us such a perfect example of servant hood in your son, Jesus. We want to become better servants ourselves, but taking the first step in sometimes the hardest of all. We ask that you'd speak to our hearts and minds. Show us the needs in our church and community, and inspire us to trust you to teach us how to fill it, how to be a good servant, for your glory, and to further your kingdom here on earth. May we one day hear those wonderful
words spoken to us from your lips, "well done, good and faithful servant."
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Life is a Game
Remember back when you were a child. What did you do with your spare time? Especially on rainy days? Did you play any games? Ever play Monopoly? Remember the thrill of playing? You'd go around the board too many times to count, take risks and chances, hoping for a good roll of the dice and a good dose of luck. You spent money like it was nothing knowing you'd eventually pass go and collect $200. Either that, or you'd tell yourself "it's only a game". When you were winning, it was thrilling. When you were losing, it was suddenly "boring" and no fun.
You collected your deeds, built your empire, strategized how to make more money and lose less. Remember the first time you ever won against an adult? Remember that feeling of total victory? Then what happened...the saddest realization...it really WAS just a game and now you needed to pick it all up, put it all back in the box, place it in the closet, and it was over. Once it was over, it didn't matter anymore if you won or lost, what you gained, what you lost, only that you played your best and got a feeling of satisfaction from being honest and fair.
Now fast forward to your adult life. You go "around the board" week after week, month after month, year after year, telling yourself things will be better next time around because "sooner or later you'll pass GO and collect your $200", your paycheck. You decide to take more chances, yet minimize your risks. When you're winning, you celebrate. When you're losing, life's no fun anymore. You spend your days trying to build what you have, your "stuff" collection, desiring more and more every year. You enjoy the thrill of beating out the next guy for that position, the best deal, the corner office, a bigger house, a more expensive car, but then what happens?
You realize you've spent your life going around the board, it's almost over, and soon it'll be time to pack it all away - game over. What will matter then? The material things? I don't think so. The job title? I doubt it. What you owned? No one will care.
The only thing that will matter is who we helped, how we loved others, and what a difference we made in the lives of those who knew us. So let's live our lives to make them really matter. Not going around the board, but making a real connection - to God, to our family, to our friends, neighbors, and strangers in need.
After all, the other stuff won't matter once our box is put away. Remember, life is just a game.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word says that faith without works is dead. We want to live a life pleasing to You, so help soften our hearts and open our eyes. Help us to see the world through Your eyes - full of compassion and with a strong desire to tell others about you, whether it be with our words or through our caring actions. Guide us to the path You would desire us to follow, lead us to the people You would will us to care for. We ask this to bring You the glory and honor, and so others can have the relationship with You and Jesus that we already get to treasure so dearly in our own lives. We ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.
You collected your deeds, built your empire, strategized how to make more money and lose less. Remember the first time you ever won against an adult? Remember that feeling of total victory? Then what happened...the saddest realization...it really WAS just a game and now you needed to pick it all up, put it all back in the box, place it in the closet, and it was over. Once it was over, it didn't matter anymore if you won or lost, what you gained, what you lost, only that you played your best and got a feeling of satisfaction from being honest and fair.
Now fast forward to your adult life. You go "around the board" week after week, month after month, year after year, telling yourself things will be better next time around because "sooner or later you'll pass GO and collect your $200", your paycheck. You decide to take more chances, yet minimize your risks. When you're winning, you celebrate. When you're losing, life's no fun anymore. You spend your days trying to build what you have, your "stuff" collection, desiring more and more every year. You enjoy the thrill of beating out the next guy for that position, the best deal, the corner office, a bigger house, a more expensive car, but then what happens?
You realize you've spent your life going around the board, it's almost over, and soon it'll be time to pack it all away - game over. What will matter then? The material things? I don't think so. The job title? I doubt it. What you owned? No one will care.
The only thing that will matter is who we helped, how we loved others, and what a difference we made in the lives of those who knew us. So let's live our lives to make them really matter. Not going around the board, but making a real connection - to God, to our family, to our friends, neighbors, and strangers in need.
After all, the other stuff won't matter once our box is put away. Remember, life is just a game.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word says that faith without works is dead. We want to live a life pleasing to You, so help soften our hearts and open our eyes. Help us to see the world through Your eyes - full of compassion and with a strong desire to tell others about you, whether it be with our words or through our caring actions. Guide us to the path You would desire us to follow, lead us to the people You would will us to care for. We ask this to bring You the glory and honor, and so others can have the relationship with You and Jesus that we already get to treasure so dearly in our own lives. We ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.
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