Serving Others

Today, I was reading in Matthew 20 where the mother of James and John was asking Jesus if her sons could sit at his right hand and left hand in his kingdom. First of all, I really appreciate Momma still looking after her grown sons, but that's not what I was focussing on as I read.

It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,
Matthew 20:26 (NET)

The Greek word translated servant here is diakonos is probably the word from which we derive the word deacon. Looking at the definition on blueletterbible.org, I'm struck by a couple of things in the definition. Under "Root Word (Etymology)," I read "Probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands...)" Being a servant means running errands! Wow, I've really been being a servant lately. Taking the honey to the doctor. Taking one of the kiddos to get some new clothes. Sometimes it seems that my life is just one errand after another - not enough "me" time. I must remember that this is part of being a servant. Back to the definition again, under "Outline of Biblical Usage," I'm struck by a few things. Diakonos also refers to "a waiter, one who serves food and drink." Add "short order cook" to that and it sounds like another significant chunk of my life. Working my way up the sub-definitions, I come to "a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use." Ok, not really me - perhaps there is more that I should be doing in this regard. Another usage is "the servant of a king." I definitely want to be a servant of The King And as I look over my life and the different aspects of what diakonos means, I realize that even in the drudgery of my everyday life, I am being a servant.

Heavenly Father, I want to serve You with my life. Thank You that You are giving me ample opportunity to be a servant. Help me to be joyful as I do it. Amen.

Extending Mercy

I'll admit it, I got sidetracked. I'm back for now. It's not that I haven't been reading and studying God's Word in the interim. I've just gotten distracted by things that got in the way of blogging - things that got in the way of responding with my heart to what God was saying to me.

Today, I was reading in Matthew as I am working my way through reading the Bible through in a year. I was struck by the parable of the unforgiving slave. He owed his master a great debt and pleaded for mercy. His master forgave him the great debt and he was grateful, but then refused to forgive those who owed him a debt. Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ (‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ NET)

I am surely one who keeps accounts. I am not quick to let go when someone has offended me. And yet, I, like the slave in this passage, know that I have been forgiven much. How often have I prayed the Lord's Prayer and not forgiven those who have sinned against me? Far too often. I stand convicted!

Lord, Your mercy should overwhelm me, but I have become numb to it. Help me to realize the depths of Your mercy towards me. Break my heart for sin that I have committed and give me tears because of Your forgiveness. Show me those that I need to forgive and extend mercy towards and grant me Your mercy. Bring healing and restoration for Your glory. Amen.

Running away from snakes

As I continue through Exodus, a couple things about chapter 4 caught my attention. For now, I want to focus on the first thing. The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” The Lord said, “Throw it to the ground.” So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. (Exodus 4:2-3 NET). God has called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Moses wants a sign so that the people will believe him. God gives him a sign. Moses responds and then runs away. God surely had gotten Moses' attention by turning the staff into a snake. Wasn't Moses right to run away in fear? Aren't snakes scary? But Moses was running from the direct result of what God him to do. Should he really have run away? Or should his faith told him to stay?

Are you working on a "new you" in this new year? Has God laid on your heart changes He wants you to make in your life? Are you seeing results already? Do they make you afraid? If God has called you to make changes and you are seeing the results of those changes, fear not! God knows what He wants to do with your life. It is good. You can trust Him. Fear not! Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. (Psalm 139:16 NET)

I am reading through (and blogging as led) Exodus following the Good Morning Girls.

Take off your sandals

As I come to Exodus 3 and read the story of Moses at the burning bush, I am struck by God's first instruction to Moses. "God said, 'Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'" (Exodus 3:5 NET) God is telling Moses how to approach Him. Taking off your sandals was a sign of your dirtiness, your unworthiness, your sinfulness. I don't know about you, but I love a nice pair of sandals whether they be comfy or dressy. Sandals make me feel cute, free, and sexy. But take off my sandals and what am I? Just a sinful human being before a holy God. As I take off my sandals and confess my sinfulness, I am comforted. "But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 NET)

I am reading through (and blogging as led) Exodus following the Good Morning Girls.

Compassion

While reading Exodus 2 this morning - the story of Moses being pulled out of the water and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter - I was struck by the compassion Pharaoh's daughter had. She must have been well aware of her father's hatred of the Hebrews and his attempts to kill the Hebrew baby boys and yet when the basket was pulled out of the water, she had compassion for the baby. The Hebrew word used here chamal means to spare, to pity, to have compassion on. It's a verb - not an adjective. She didn't just feel compassionate, she acted! This baby was supposed to die, but she spared him. Not only did she spare him, but she adopted him into her family and raised him as her own. Isn't that what God has done for us? Our sins bring us the penalty of death. But God, in His mercy and compassion, spares us. Not only does He spare us, but He also has adopted us into His family!

Do I have that kind of compassion? Honestly, I think I come up way short in regards to compassion. My prayer today is that God would grow that compassion in my heart. I pray that it would not just be something I feel, but something I do!

I'm reading Exodus as part of the Good Morning Girls reading through Exodus. Join in if you will.

An introduction

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So I've started two blogs this year.  On this blog, I will be trying to write from the heart and reflect on my aspirations, my struggles, and life in general.  It is my hope that as I write this blog, I will find myself becoming more of a woman of God.  I don't really know what to expect, but I expect that it will be a worthwhile pursuit!