Friday Focus: Serve in love
Serve in love…
No one enjoys having a cold sore- because they hurt, and whoever you speak to does not listen to anything you say because they are fixated on “that thing” on your lip. At least that is what we may perceive. So what do cold sores have to do with serving? Well let me take you on a trip. My son is such an awesome young man! I love him for who he is and who God is making him to be. This weeks focus is on serving with love. Anyway, he wanted a drink of my beverage, but I had a cold sore and my wife shouted “don’t use his straw! Look, Daddy has an ouchie on his lip!” To my surprise my son grabbed my cheeks, looked at my sore, then looked at me straight in the eye and says “I don’t see an ouchie, I see my daddy and I love him.”
I was expecting to hear an “ewe that’s gross”. He did what I believe our focus should be this week when we serve in our ministries or jobs. We should serve with love. Serving with love is not weakness. Serving in love is like, on the eve of your betrayal after dinner you grab a towel and basin to wash your students feet. Serving in love is waiting for the master to just say the word for your daughter to be healed. Serving in love is helping a victim even to the point where your’re paying for his expenses while others have passed him by.
Serving in love is healing the hurts, loving them through it, like Jesus.
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Friday Focus
In the spirit of blogging I am attempting a new project. It will be called ” Friday focus” and the intent would be to focus on serving the ones who serve highlighting a focus of servant leadership. This weeks focus is on the call of leadership.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)
If God be for us, than who cam be against us? Too often the question comes to the forefront of I am not able to carry out the task of _________. You get the idea. “I don’t think I’m able to support my pastor,” or “I don’t think I’m ready to begin ministry,” How can I lead? “. Well the answer lies in these words penned over two thousand years ago.
I want to share that apart from Christ, we can do nothing ………. That means nothing , NO thing, projects that have been completed without the leading and direction of his holy inspiration will come to ruin in time. This is why, in my opinion many “on fire leaders” soon burn out as a result of an unbalanced life style. But that is another focus.
I have a tool box at home and each tool has a function, even the brake bleeder kit with its rustic blend of hose and jar with a coat hanger to compliment the home manufactured asset. Each tool is designed for use to assist in the production of the end item. By it self it can’t do anything but in the hands of a mechanical ninja. It can breakdown or build. These tools have been designed for the challenges it will face and much like a butter knife it can be made versatile for other uses.
We can be referred to as tools in God’s tool box. Tools that can produce or destroy. In the hands of the master mechanic we can do many things but failure is not on the list. If The Lord who called you formed you and designed you for the purpose that only you can do, then what things can try to come against or better yet win against the armies of God. You are unstoppable because of Christ who lives and lives inside your heart. Because of whose you are you are able to do greater things that have been recorded in history why? Because you are a tool, used by God. When you belong to his toolbox you’re not alone you have other tools that can help bring change, to find hurts and heal them. And with a team that strong, who can win against you.
So as services begin and the people need a word. Know that you are not alone but part of a team. And we are behind you in your service to The Lord, together who can be against us.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)
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Never Give Up
There are three words that can encourage a person to greatness. You see it said in the movies especially towards the end. Whether it’s two more steps or four yards to freedom, the hero will not give up because victory is in his/her grasp.
What about about the average soldier in the army of the Lord? The soldier fights in prayer, the soldier studies the mission, (the word) for in it lies the victory, then the obstacle presents itself-thus begins the battle. The war rages and soon the Christian is faced with a decision to either accept the defeat of having their friend they have spent time sharing the gospel reject the Lords’ invitation or remember that the battle is not for the soldier to fight, rather it is the Lord’s.
Don’t give up friend, continue to share what the Lord has done for all of us, his saving message is what needs to be heard. Youth ministry is HARD and that can seem like an understatement, but you LEADER were called there for such a time as this. You were called to never give up, or throw your hands up when the going gets rough. Never give up being Jesus’s hands and feet. Complete the connection of your students heart to the heart of the father. Remember, in the end He wins…….. that is what was on my mind, how about yours?
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