"Jesus said...You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whosoever desires to become great among you, let him be you servant. And whosoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave- just as the Son of Man come to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
(Mat. 20:25-27)
"So when he had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me teacher and Lord...so I am. If I then ...have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet...I have given you an example...that you should do as I have done to you...I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ...blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:12-17).
Washing the feet of others was a servant's job in the New Testament, and for good reason. People back them wore sandals and walked on dusty, dirty, dug filled roads. One of the customs of the area was to have a servant wash the feet of people when they came to visit. Jesus had tried to teach his deciples about serving others, and they had not understood(Mat. 20:25-27). So he choose to gave them the perfect picture of what servanthood looked like by washing their feet(John 13:25-27). In doing so, he also gave us an example of how a leader should act.
Why do we become leaders at work or in ministry? Is it so others can look up to us and serve us? Or is it so that we can show others love by serving them? Jesus told us that we should serve others. If we want him to be pleased with us we need to do just that.
But how? You ask. Let's look at a play to understand this better. Putting on a play takes many people to do. Yes, there are the actors and actoreses that we see on the stage. But there are many people behind the scenes that are important too.
Here is a list of them...
The person who wrote the songs and play
The director
The one who teaches the dances to those in the play
Those who put together and painted the set
The people who made the costumes
The light and sound people
Those who promotes the play
Those who made and printed the tickets
The people who did the hair and makeup
The ticket sellers
And those who buy and attend the play
Now you will have to admit that a play would not be the best, if you didn't have these people all doing their jobs. As with a play, a ministry needs many people with different talents and skills doing what they are called to do, otherwise, it will not be as affective as it could be. WE need to all do our job, even if it is a job that no one sees you doing, like writing something that can be used of God or directing a ministry. Do all that you do to the glory of God.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
God uses our brokenness
A couple of weeks ago, I was ordained as a minister. The part that I was looking forward to the most was the anointing part. This was not your normal anointing where you just put a little oil on the head, but the Arron the priest type, where you pour lots of oil onto the head and let it run down over the body (Ps. 133:2). The plan was for a gallon of oil to be poured into a metal vase, we bought for this purpose, and have the pastor pour it over my head. but when the time came to fill the vase, we quickly realized that the vase had leaks in the bottom of it. but the Pastor was quick on his feet and had my Mother and sister hold the vase over my head as my Father poured the oil into the vase, while the pastor laid hands on my head and prayed for me. It was the perfect picture of how God the Father used Christ's broken body to cover me and make me worthy to serve him. Then the pastor took the oil that had gotten on his hands from my anointing and took the hands of two ladies that would be serving God with me and prayed with them. Showing how they would be blessed through my brokenness and anointing.
We often do not realize that God can use our brokenness to serve and minister to others. To us, this makes no sense. But Paul said, "God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things which are mighty"(I Cor. 1:27). Why? God knows that if someone is struggling with a certain problem such as a drug addiction that someone who has been there and been helped by Christ is the best person to help them deal with it. That is why Paul said,"To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak...This I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you"(I Cor. 9:22-23).
So you see, through our brokenness and testimony of how God has brought us through that we can help others. So don't hide your testimony, but use it and your brokenness to the glory of God (I Cor.1: 31).
We often do not realize that God can use our brokenness to serve and minister to others. To us, this makes no sense. But Paul said, "God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things which are mighty"(I Cor. 1:27). Why? God knows that if someone is struggling with a certain problem such as a drug addiction that someone who has been there and been helped by Christ is the best person to help them deal with it. That is why Paul said,"To the weak, I became weak that I might win the weak...This I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you"(I Cor. 9:22-23).
So you see, through our brokenness and testimony of how God has brought us through that we can help others. So don't hide your testimony, but use it and your brokenness to the glory of God (I Cor.1: 31).
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
We hold the tools to follow God
Ever wondered, what is my purpose in life? What is it that God wants me to do? I remember having that question After I finished a big job for God. "What do you want me to do now?" I asked God in tears, feeling tired and worthless.
"What's in your hands?" came the answer as clear as though someone was sitting next to me. I looked down and found I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift. I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we can't afford to take teddy bears there with us," they told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children wouldn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. These fit easily into the pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got up to 66 of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. Between the two of us, we made 100, we were told.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country the next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God was not finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had said. Not what's in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
"Make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said, "God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt," he asked. I didn't know.I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing for, he explained to me, a blanket was a very precious and personal item in that country. People did not share their blankets with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hands" God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry. With that simple tool God saved a nation.
Want to know what God has called you to do? Look down and see what's in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, or a business- the list could go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
"What's in your hands?" came the answer as clear as though someone was sitting next to me. I looked down and found I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.
At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift. I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.
I said something to the team about it. "No, we can't afford to take teddy bears there with us," they told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children wouldn't leave me, so I prayed about it.
In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. These fit easily into the pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got up to 66 of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. Between the two of us, we made 100, we were told.
Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country the next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God was not finished with me yet.
What's in your hands? he had said. Not what's in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.
"Make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said, "God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."
"Oh, like a quilt," he asked. I didn't know.I just knew that I was to make a blanket.
He was very excited about the whole thing for, he explained to me, a blanket was a very precious and personal item in that country. People did not share their blankets with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.
In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.
"What's in your hands" God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry. With that simple tool God saved a nation.
Want to know what God has called you to do? Look down and see what's in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, or a business- the list could go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Be the salt you're meant to be
We are told to be "salt to the earth" by Jesus in Matthew 5:13. What does being salt to the earth mean? It means that we should be to the earth what salt was to their culture. To better understand that we need to look at the culture Jesus was speaking to.
Let's see what that says about Christians and how we are to impact the earth around us. First off, we need to be "in the world, but not of it." Salt and Christians are not effective unless there is contact.
Second, it means that we should help make the unpalatable things in life palatable. We should be fun to be around and not walk around with a long face or bad attitude.Salt is used to preserve foods. Our presence in the earth preserves the community we live in. Look at how Lot's presence in Sodom and Gomorrah kept god's judgement at bay. God did not judge it until Lot was out of those towns. When we live in a community, praying for it, God holds back his judgement on it. Also being involved in our community can make a difference. for people will see our good works and some may even do some themselves, which would make it a more pleasant place to live (Mat. 5:13; Mark 9:50; II Cor. 9:27).
Salt is used to make things clean. It was used to clean their homes much like we use household cleaners today. Our presence in society should do the same. We do this through evangelizing in our community (I Thess. 1:8). If those around us accept Jesus as their Savior they will be clean spiritually.
Salt was used as an antiseptic. It was put on wounds, used as mouthwash, and even rubbed on babies to "strengthen them" (Ez. 16:4). We live in a society full of physically, mentality, and spiritually wounded people. Part of our job is to help them heal with God's help.
Salt was so important to society that it was woven into their culture. Ways we see this is how it symbolized hospitality (Ezra 4:14), durability , fidelity, perpetuity, incorruption (Numbers 18L19). These are ways we, too, can make a God honored impact on our communities.
But what happens when we are not involved as Christians in our community in the way God wants us to be? let us look at the end of that verse I started out with"...But if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" This means that salt isn't doing its job. What happens when we Christians are not doing our jobs?
Our communities with out Christian involvement will leave it open to all kinds of evil. A good example of this is seen in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." In it we see a man named George who doesn't think that he made a difference in his community and wishes that he had never been born. He gets his wish. In the end, he sees that he has made a real impact in his community for the good.
Then there's the worse case scenario of how our community can treat us if we are not the salt we are called to be. We see this spoken of at the end of the verse where it does say,"It is thereforth good for nothing, bu to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This is what they did with salt in those days that was deemed useless. I have seen this happen to people who say that they are Christians, but do not act like it. Causing people to say," If that is a Christian, i don't want to be one." It has those who are not a Christian so upset that they poke fun at the Christian that they poke fun at the Christian and sometimes even beat them up. Why? Because they really want Christians being salt in their society today.
So there's the challenge. Are we going to be salt that makes a positive impact on our society, or are we going to do nothing and be useless to God and our society?
Let's see what that says about Christians and how we are to impact the earth around us. First off, we need to be "in the world, but not of it." Salt and Christians are not effective unless there is contact.
Second, it means that we should help make the unpalatable things in life palatable. We should be fun to be around and not walk around with a long face or bad attitude.Salt is used to preserve foods. Our presence in the earth preserves the community we live in. Look at how Lot's presence in Sodom and Gomorrah kept god's judgement at bay. God did not judge it until Lot was out of those towns. When we live in a community, praying for it, God holds back his judgement on it. Also being involved in our community can make a difference. for people will see our good works and some may even do some themselves, which would make it a more pleasant place to live (Mat. 5:13; Mark 9:50; II Cor. 9:27).
Salt is used to make things clean. It was used to clean their homes much like we use household cleaners today. Our presence in society should do the same. We do this through evangelizing in our community (I Thess. 1:8). If those around us accept Jesus as their Savior they will be clean spiritually.
Salt was used as an antiseptic. It was put on wounds, used as mouthwash, and even rubbed on babies to "strengthen them" (Ez. 16:4). We live in a society full of physically, mentality, and spiritually wounded people. Part of our job is to help them heal with God's help.
Salt was so important to society that it was woven into their culture. Ways we see this is how it symbolized hospitality (Ezra 4:14), durability , fidelity, perpetuity, incorruption (Numbers 18L19). These are ways we, too, can make a God honored impact on our communities.
But what happens when we are not involved as Christians in our community in the way God wants us to be? let us look at the end of that verse I started out with"...But if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" This means that salt isn't doing its job. What happens when we Christians are not doing our jobs?
Our communities with out Christian involvement will leave it open to all kinds of evil. A good example of this is seen in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." In it we see a man named George who doesn't think that he made a difference in his community and wishes that he had never been born. He gets his wish. In the end, he sees that he has made a real impact in his community for the good.
Then there's the worse case scenario of how our community can treat us if we are not the salt we are called to be. We see this spoken of at the end of the verse where it does say,"It is thereforth good for nothing, bu to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This is what they did with salt in those days that was deemed useless. I have seen this happen to people who say that they are Christians, but do not act like it. Causing people to say," If that is a Christian, i don't want to be one." It has those who are not a Christian so upset that they poke fun at the Christian that they poke fun at the Christian and sometimes even beat them up. Why? Because they really want Christians being salt in their society today.
So there's the challenge. Are we going to be salt that makes a positive impact on our society, or are we going to do nothing and be useless to God and our society?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Staying connected to Jesus
"I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser.2.Any branch in me that does not bear fruit (that stops bearing) He cuts off (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.3. You are cleaned and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you)4.Dwell in me and I will dwell in you (live in me and I will live in you). Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5.I am the vine; you are the branches. Whosoever lives in me and I in him bears much(abundant) fruit. However, apart from me(cut off from the vital union with me) you can do nothing"(John 15:1-5 Amplified).
In the last week, a couple of storms came through a large part of the country and cut off our power. I don't know about you, but I found that there were a lot of things that I could not do without power, like take a shower or write this blog. Our spiritual life is much the same as electric power. Just as many of the machines we use can not work without being connected to the grid. We, too, can not do many things unless we are connected to Jesus.
What are those things, you ask. Things like having God's love for others. We see what that love is to look like in I Cor. 13:4-13. Let's look at that. "Love endures long, and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealously, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. it is not concieted (arrogant and inflated with pride): it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not selfseeking; it is not touchy or freitful or resentful; it takes not account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).it does not rejoice at injustice and unrightousness, but rejoices when right aand truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails(never faides out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end)." I Cor. 13:2, says that without love, we are nothing, and verse three tells us that anything we do without God's love gains us nothing. So we can see that love is important, but remember we can not truly have God's love unless we are connected to Jesus.
Another thing we cannot do, if, we are not connected to Jesus, is bear good spiritual fruit. We see this in John 15:2-4. And when we do bear fruit, He will continue to cleanse and prune us so that we can bear even better fruit!
So with this all in mind, let us make sure that we are connected to the power source of our spiritual lives- Jesus.
In the last week, a couple of storms came through a large part of the country and cut off our power. I don't know about you, but I found that there were a lot of things that I could not do without power, like take a shower or write this blog. Our spiritual life is much the same as electric power. Just as many of the machines we use can not work without being connected to the grid. We, too, can not do many things unless we are connected to Jesus.
What are those things, you ask. Things like having God's love for others. We see what that love is to look like in I Cor. 13:4-13. Let's look at that. "Love endures long, and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealously, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. it is not concieted (arrogant and inflated with pride): it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not selfseeking; it is not touchy or freitful or resentful; it takes not account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).it does not rejoice at injustice and unrightousness, but rejoices when right aand truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails(never faides out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end)." I Cor. 13:2, says that without love, we are nothing, and verse three tells us that anything we do without God's love gains us nothing. So we can see that love is important, but remember we can not truly have God's love unless we are connected to Jesus.
Another thing we cannot do, if, we are not connected to Jesus, is bear good spiritual fruit. We see this in John 15:2-4. And when we do bear fruit, He will continue to cleanse and prune us so that we can bear even better fruit!
So with this all in mind, let us make sure that we are connected to the power source of our spiritual lives- Jesus.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Finding new direction in your valley of doubt and confusion
"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? (Is. 43:19).
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just stopped you in your tracks, like the death of someone? I and a whole lot of friends recently had that happen to us, when a godly man who was president and co-founder of a fairly new ministry suddenly died. We were left with a big hole, not only in that ministry,but other ministries and our lives, as well.
When things like this happen, we are left standing in one place feeling at a lost as what to do next. You know you want to keep the ministry going, but you are not sure what the next steps should be at this point.
I believe that is when we should stand still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). I don't know about you, but I have learned that life may not be fair, but God is good. Don't ever forget that. If you will trust in him, he will lead you out of whatever valley of doubt and confusion, you may be in at this time, and lead you in a new direction.
As you do so, if you listen real close you will hear the Lord say," Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth."
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just stopped you in your tracks, like the death of someone? I and a whole lot of friends recently had that happen to us, when a godly man who was president and co-founder of a fairly new ministry suddenly died. We were left with a big hole, not only in that ministry,but other ministries and our lives, as well.
When things like this happen, we are left standing in one place feeling at a lost as what to do next. You know you want to keep the ministry going, but you are not sure what the next steps should be at this point.
I believe that is when we should stand still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). I don't know about you, but I have learned that life may not be fair, but God is good. Don't ever forget that. If you will trust in him, he will lead you out of whatever valley of doubt and confusion, you may be in at this time, and lead you in a new direction.
As you do so, if you listen real close you will hear the Lord say," Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth."
Monday, June 11, 2012
Need for strength in the race of life
He giveth power to the faint; and them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Is. 40:29-31).
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)