Be A Servant

And Jesus concluded, “So those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 (GNT)

I had back to back meetings scheduled. It was one of those days where the list of things to do was longer than the hours available. So my mind went into “get ‘er done” mode. You know, super focused on the task at hand.

Right now, all my meetings are via Zoom or Teams. I joined the meeting scheduled with Andy. And I waited. And waited. Where was he? I checked the meeting invite and he accepted. So, I waited some more all the while thinking about how I had too much to do to sit here and wait.

After 10 minutes I disconnected. I sent Andy an email and said “Something must have come up since you didn’t join. Let me know when you want to reschedule.” I was polite because this was business but inside I was annoyed. This was not professional. A simple text if you get hung up will suffice or an email or something.

Two minutes after I disconnected Andy reached out and said “I got caught up on another meeting. Can you join now?” My first inclination was to say “No. My time is important. You don’t get to stand me up. You couldn’t text? You couldn’t connect? No! I’m busy.” BUT, I’ve been trying to practice abiding in Jesus and not my own thoughts so I asked God “Do you want me to join this meeting?” He said “Be a servant.”

Great. I didn’t feel much like being a servant but that was pretty specific so I told Andy I could.

As we talked he explained that he was in a meeting with someone who didn’t allow phones so he couldn’t text. The person was pretty high up in the food chain too so if the meeting goes long, you aren’t going to tell them you have to go. Then, he asked me about the project I was leading and offered to help in any way he could to make it easier for me. He also affirmed the work I was doing.

After I hung up, I reflected on the meeting and how positive it ended up being even when my attitude wasn’t. And then I realized something else. God didn’t say “Join the meeting because Andy has a good reason.” He didn’t say “Join the meeting because he’s going to affirm and help you.” He said “Be a servant.”

It reminded me that God isn’t as interested in my to do list as he is my heart. He is more interested in how I treat people even when I am feeling overwhelmed with too much to do. He is interested in who I am becoming on the inside. He wants me to become last in a world of people trying to be first.

I am sure I have a lot to learn on this abiding journey. I am sure I will become too task focused again in the future (that is how I’m wired) but I know He will keep teaching me and growing me.  PRAISE!

More Heart

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

When I started my journey with God....actually, that’s not accurate. I have been on a journey with God for a long time. How about this? When God decided it was time I went “All In”, Proverbs 3:5 became my life verse.

Life as I knew it was changing. It was falling apart all around me. My business lost our largest contract due to unscrupulous actions of others. I had to lay most of the staff off. I was not going to be able to pay myself. From where I stood, I was about to lose everything. And this is where I, in a panic stricken state, was numbly sitting. And trust me, numbly is the correct word. I think I was in shock. All I could do was pray “Help me.” I was sure everything was going to collapse around me. I imagined losing my home and all sorts of other things.

For three days I just walked around and prayed “God, please help me.” I didn’t tell anyone what was happening. Not even my husband because I felt like if I spoke it, it would become more real.

After about 3 days, I woke up and Proverbs 3:5 was the first thing I heard. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I’m going to be honest. I knew it was a Bible verse but I didn’t know where it was in the Bible. I got up, went downstairs and looked it up. I knew it was God talking to me. The rest of my “All In” journey is a series of awesome miracles with God showing up and teaching me to be “All In.”

Fast forward a few years. It’s been a roller coaster ride with God. We are definitely “All In” (Well, we think we are. I am sure God has more “In” in mind.) As we travel this journey, I pray. I pray that God leads us into a deeper surrender and a deeper walk. I pray that for us and our families.

Recently, my son came and told me God had been speaking to him. He said he needed to start his “All In” journey with God. Those are not his words. They are mine. And I said OK.

There are a lot of scary things in this that I am not going to share because it is not my story to tell but this Mama’s heart was in a knot. What if this? And what if that? How is this going to happen, etc.? And God gently says “Let it go Mama. I am his God. I love him and am calling him.” Trust me when I say “letting it go” is a constant process. 

Isn’t this what I have always wanted? Isn’t this what I have always prayed for? Here’s the really funny thing. When God walked me through the “All In” process, it was scary because depending on God and God alone is well....terrifying. But when it’s your son or daughter, well, it takes scary to a new level. We are always used to helping. And we can’t. Not this time. This is something I can’t do. This belongs solely to God.

And then my life verse shows up and I realize that in this case, when God says “Trust me with all of your heart”, I am. All of my heart includes my kids and my family. Suddenly, trust me is about truly trusting him with the most precious things in my life. And I do. With all of my heart and all of the people in my heart. I know that whatever God has planned for them is WAY better than what I can ask or imagine. 

So here we are.....going “All In” with “All of our heart.”

A Minute In It - Spoken To Your Heart

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100 (NLT)

One of the reasons it is important to read God’s Word for yourself is because the Holy Spirit speaks to us each differently. When I read this, I will see one thing God is saying. When you read it, you will see something completely different.

What is God saying to you in this text?
What pops out?
What speaks to your heart?
What convicts you?
How is God speaking to you through His Word this morning?

Making Room

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

What are the desires of your heart? Take a moment to think about it. Maybe write it down….

God knows what they are and he also knows what they should be for you to be really happy. If you examine your heart, you might unpack it and find these things in there.

A spouse or a mate
A happy family or marriage
Great job
New house
Health
For this problem or that problem to go away

Down at the very bottom is a tiny flame that is your desire for God. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit gives this to us. In the beginning, that flame is super small. To grow it, you have to focus on it just like you would a mate or job to make them what you want them to be. You have to fan the flame.

How do you fan this flame? Spend time praying. Not your cursory prayer to check the box but a conversation. That’s what prayer is after all. Listen a bit and wait for that “Ah God!” moment. That’s God impressing something on your heart.

Spend time reading the Bible. It doesn’t matter if you read one verse or 10 chapters. Read and think about what you’ve read. Often here you will have another “Ah God!” moment. This can also happen with devotionals or other spiritual books.

Finally, help someone. Love on someone. God will often put these people in your path. If he does, follow his lead and your flame will shoot into the air.

Pretty soon, as you fan your flame, it grows bigger and bigger. Eventually, some of the stuff you had packed in your heart falls away. When God is at the center of your life, it changes what you care about. The other things? Well, they get even better because you get better at loving, prioritizing and sharing.

God knew all along what would really make us happy. We just get confused sometimes about what that is. Luckily, there is always the chance to rearrange and uncover that little flame that we sometimes have tucked into a back corner.

One more thing, as you are unpacking and repacking, you get to go on these great God adventures! He knows that we love excitement and he’s ready!

What Is Your Job?

“The work of God for you,” replied Jesus, “is to believe in the one whom he has sent to you.” John 6:29 (PHILLIPS)

It’s Monday and for some of us in the US, it’s a holiday. For others it’s a work day. For some of us, it’s a holiday but we have to go to work. And for others, we have work to do even if we are not spending time at a “job”. It seems like there is always work to do or a job to go to. And if you do go to a “job,” there are usually many other tasks outside of that job that need to get done.

It seems like my “To Do” list is never-ending. And I often ask God how I am supposed to get it all done. There isn’t enough time in the day to do what I think needs to get done.

But then God says “Wait. There is only one thing you need to do today and that is love me. If you don’t do anything else all day long but you spend time with me, you will have done the most important thing. Believe and everything else will fall into place.”

This is quite a relief. Because even when I do a whole lot, at the end of the day it can still feel like I got nothing accomplished. But, if I spend time with God each day, I know I did.

The most important thing we each do every day is spend time getting to know Jesus. If we check nothing else off of our “To Do” list today except that, we will have accomplished the ONE thing God said to do.

Somehow, everything else always seems to fall into place…..

A Minute In It - Which Soil Are You?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Take a moment to read the passage below and answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.” Matthew 13:3-23 (MSG)

Which soil are you?
Why do you think you fit into that group?
Is there anything you can do to change your soil type?
If so, what?

Psalm 19

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.[a]
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
    It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
    and follows its course to the other end.
    Nothing can hide from its heat.

7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
    reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
    bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
    giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
    lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
    each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
    even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
    a great reward for those who obey them.

12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (NLT)

Home Is Where The Heart Is

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love." John 15:9 (MSG)

When folks come to our house we say to them, "Make yourselves at home."  What does it mean when you tell someone "Make yourselves at home"? For us it means "Take off your shoes. Relax a while. Rest. Enjoy the warmth, love and protection of this place."

What it doesn't mean is that you can destroy the house, hurt the people in it and disregard the guidelines we've put in place.

Interestingly, when Jesus said "Make yourselves at home in my love" maybe he was saying the same thing. The next line is "If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love."  In other words, "Come, rest, enjoy but please be careful to not harm or destroy the house my Father has built. Our love is for your enjoyment and protection. Please be careful with it. Sharing it with you is important to us."

Do you make yourself at home in God's love? If not, what's stopping you?