Contentment in Serving

That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage. Mat. 20:28 (The Message)God is showing me how to serve- really serve from my heart. Not "serving" as in serving in the church or what you normally think of serving. But giving of my life to be a help to those around me. My husband, my children, my extended family members and aquaintences.To know there is no higher calling than to give of ourselves (by becoming a humble servant) and be like Christ.I am appalled at my own rebelliousness. I see how stubborn and rebellious I have been in wanting to give of myself- to others. I wanted to give of myself where I wanted to, not where I was commanded. Not where was it was needed most.I am becoming more content by accepting these things instead of bucking against them. When I buck against God's will for me, I get anxious and discontent.So many of us wish we were somewhere else, someone else, in another season, another time, waiting for the "right time". The Lord wants us to be content with today. To glorify Him with... today. To serve Him by serving others ....today. To love Him by loving others.... today.Who do you most not want to serve? Go and serve them today.Who do you most not want to show love to? Go and love them today.Sometimes the people closest to us, are the ones we are treating so unChrist-like. Swallow your pride. Lay down your life. Love them and serve them today.Lord, help me to be a better servant. To be willing to lay my own life down for others. To lay down my rights, my needs, my wants. You are what I want and what I need- and I already have You. :)In Him, Chanin

thanks sister, Who do you most not want to serve? Go and serve them today.Who do you most not want to show love to? Go and love them today.Sometimes the people closest to us, are the ones we are treating so unChrist-like. Swallow your pride. Lay down your life. Love them and serve them today.Lord, help me to be a better servant. To be willing to lay my own life down for others. To lay down my rights, my needs, my wants. You are what I want and what I need- and I already have You. :)In Him, Chaninthis hits me, because somethimes i forget the people around me who i can love and serve, looking too much at my own need etc.and i want to share with you a song, of Kutless, and the lyrics is about "serving"Kutless - Not What You SeeDo you feel the tensions riseDo you know why we always fightTo be better, better than youAnd you better than meI am not what you see, oh noNot much more than a slave I wish to beI am not what you seeNot much more a slave I should beNothing more, a slave I will beHow could I ever think to be morethan The One who created meI watched Him do all that He said, His words were"Be a servant to all"I am not what you see, oh noNot much more than a slave I wish to beI am not what you seeNot much more a slave I should beNothing more, a slave I will beOnly One deserves this exaltationOnly One deserves this elevationBut even He, He laid it down to serve on bended kneeI am not what you see, oh noNot much more than a slave I wish to beI am not what you seeNot much more a slave I should beNothing more, a slave I will beKeep looking at JesusWilliam

Sometimes the people closest to us, are the ones we are treating so unChrist-like. Swallow your pride. Lay down your life. Love them and serve them today.Isn't that the truth? The home is a great proving grounds of God. I'm slowly getting it through this thick skull that this Christian life has to be lived out first among our family. It's no wonder that the desired characteristics of church leaders in the Bible were people who were examples of godliness in their homes. That is one of the main places where God builds character.Oh Lord, give us wisdom and grace to see your hand at work in our every-day lives, in our closest relationships, in the most menial task. In Christ,Ron

Thanks for those lyrics William- awsome.Oh Lord, give us wisdom and grace to see your hand at work in our every-day lives, in our closest relationships, in the most menial task. Yes, I am realizing lately this whole thing about "menial" or trivial tasks- and about serving- and how so much of it has to do with our own pride.I wrote this on my journal the other day and have to keep reminding myself of it:Trivial things always need to be done- and it takes humility to do them. If we think we are only to do important things- we are full of pride.God is in those trivial or menial tasks that we do for our spouse and our neighbor who's dog barks at all hours :-) I think it was Oswald Chambers who said something about anybody can do great things for God, but not many want to "wash feet".I keep thinking that when I see the Lord will he say, "You loved and served many people, but did you love and serve your own family like that?"Just more thoughts, Chanin