It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. – John 13:1
He loved to the very end. One meaning of “the end” (telos in Greek) means aim or fulfillment. In John Chapter 13, Jesus exhibits the importance of loving our brethren, regardless of what they have done, unceasingly. If Jesus were not Jesus I have to believe that He would be in a complete state of panic. Jesus knew He was about to sit down and eat with his closest friends for the last time. He knew that time was short and that He would soon be betrayed by a man that was supposed to be his confidant; however, what did He do? He washed feet. He kept serving, and He kept loving. This act of selflessness paints a beautiful picture portraying that no matter how bad we think our life is currently going- we keep serving. Jesus didn’t let this act of sheer betrayal define Him. He didn’t let it take over His mind and heart and transform him into something that He wasn’t. Jesus didn’t let fear or a major time constraint stop him from completing His father’s will. He had a calling to execute and nothing was going to stop him. His whole life was based on ministering to others, and that is how He was going to complete it. He didn’t need a bucket list of fun activities that He had to achieve before passing from this world – He just needed to serve. This is yet another instance that authenticates that being Christlike means serving others in the most selfless possible way. It means to push all of our selfish tendencies to the side. It means that when we finish serving in one area that we are not finished. The race isn’t over. We have to keep pressing forward and looking for opportunities to show Jesus to people that are struggling and hurting. Hebrew 12:1 states, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” We can’t stop. We have to keep going until the very end. If it is God’s will for me to live eighty or ninety years, I hope that I am still serving and loving with my entire heart.
God, please help me to keep going. Help me see the opportunities that you place around me to serve others. I never want to think I am “finished” until you say I am. Amen.
It seems like a lifetime ago. Frank and I were fresh out of college, starting new careers, but still waiting tables to make ends meet. We had a toddler, childcare, and a month wait before we started getting paid from our new jobs. Money was clearly tight, and we were exhausted from working at our new careers during the day and waiting tables every evening. Then out of the blue, a sweet lady from our church showed up with a car full of groceries. I mean every item you could imagine: soap, detergent, milk, bread, meat, treats, even diapers. It was so unexpected, but exactly what we needed. It was a moment that someone listened to God, and in turn blessed a struggling, young family. She was on a fixed income, yet she wasn’t afraid to extend her hand to help someone else in need. She knew God had her back.
God wants us to serve. That is our sole purpose here on Earth – serve others and lead them to Christ. God also wants us to rest. If we don’t take the time to recharge, we will end up in a crash and burn situation. I know how it is. We are a go, go, go society. Sometimes we leave home at seven in the morning and do not return until after eight in the evening. We are in a constant state of hustle and bustle. That is just the way it is when you have children in various activities. We are full-time wives, mothers, homemakers, activity jugglers, entrepreneurs, and Christ worshippers. We are the heartbeat of our homes. We are strong in Christ, and He will absolutely give us the strength to keep going. Nonetheless, He wants us to set aside time to replenish our souls. We need to set aside days where we don’t venture out. We need days where we stay in our pajamas and nap. Sometimes we need to turn off all the devices and let them recharge so that we can, too. And we don’t need to feel guilty about resting. If you do not take care of yourself, then you will not be fully able to serve others. If you continue pouring all of your strength into different activities without taking a day off, you will end up tired and bitter. Resting gives us strength to keep going. Resting reenergizes our brain and lifts the fog we’ve been walking around in. Resting refreshes our hearts and invites peace to take over. We don’t have anywhere to go, no makeup to put on, and we can just focus on praising God for our many, many blessings. If you are like me, thoughts of growing laundry piles, meal prep, and being superwoman for your family tries to consume your mind. The to-do list taunts you. They tell you that you have to, that you can’t stop, that you are lazy if you rest. That is a lie from the devil. Don’t listen to it. He wants you run down and wore out. Take your day of rest knowing that God wants you to. Rest in peace and the hope that God is fueling your soul for amazing things to come. Rest now so you can serve tomorrow.
Practice what you preach. Actions are louder than words. If you are going to talk the talk then you better walk the walk. You have certainly heard all of these sayings time after time, but did you know that Jesus is the one that essentially coined these phrases? In a world driven by social media, so much verbiage is out there. It’s constantly being scrolled through, shared, re-tweeted, and hashtagged at a breakneck pace that will make your head spin. Don’t get me wrong – I love it! I love social media. I love all the bible verses. It means that God’s word is being spread. It means we are constantly reading His word. However, if we are posting God’s word one minute, and the next we are spewing filth – YIKES! If we are posting Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, but we are not actively serving in our community, whatever that community may be – YIKES! It is just painting such a bad picture of God’s people. We have got to set things into action. We have got to practice what we preach. If we are posting to love one another but at the next school event, we are screaming obscenities at referees – you get it! Words do not carry enough strength alone. They need a foundation to keep them strong and stable, and that foundation is executing what you say. The thing is – yes, spread God’s word, but don’t forget to get busy and get going. Feed the hungry. Clothe the poor. Pray for your friends. Visit the lonely. Go to church and fellowship. Don’t be stingy. Do what you can do where you are. And do it with a smile.
It is so important to be a witness and share Christ’s love wherever you go. We are called to minister to the lost. To plant churches. To show the world Jesus within us. However, we cannot forget how critically important it is to take care of the actual church and its members. A church building should be well taken care of. The upkeep of the church is a reflection of how much its members respect and revere God’s house. The building doesn’t have to be fancy, but we should take pride in the upkeep of the outside and inside. This is our safe place, our home. We want it to feel warm and welcoming to our current and future members. Our building is only as strong as its members, which is why it is so important to foster relationships within those four walls. We really need to form a vested interest in the families that we are fellowshipping with from week to week. We need to be faithful to pray for each other in the good times and the bad. We need to be ready and willing to lend a hand, and we need to really get to know each other. In the last year or so I have been lucky enough to grow extremely close to the ladies in my Sunday School class. They are always just a text message away when I have a prayer request. Their hearts are so good, and I am thankful for the friendships that God is nurturing through studying His word and opening up our hearts to one another. These ladies lift up my spirits. They are trustworthy, dedicated individuals that pour their hearts into the church, their families, and their community every week. We are all very different, yet we are all the same. Close groups like this throughout the church are so important. We are a support system like no other. We help each other grow, learn, love, and lean on Jesus. They are my flock. My tribe. I am so thankful that God has placed them in my life, and I pray that anyone reading this today will get connected with a group within their church that has their back. A group that loves them like a family. A group that will help them grow in Christ every single week.
I love the song that Hollyn sings where she says, “Don’t look to the left or right.” Some days I will sing that over and over in my head as a reminder to stay focused. I don’t want to be moved. I don’t want to let a bad day, a misunderstanding, or an ugly meme on Facebook shake me. I want to stand strong in God’s unwavering love. I don’t think this is something that just happens; rather, I believe this is a goal that we have to work hard at to attain. By faithfully reading God’s word we can build a strong foundation of knowledge and faith that will get us through any bad day that is thrown our way. When you are in a position where you are serving others, the devil is going to come at you because he does not want your works to come to fruition. He might use a sly tongue, an ugly look, questioning of your motives, or he may spread rumors faster than a wildfire. This is where you have to dig your heels in deep to the foundation of God’s word. This is where you have to cry out to God for guidance and support to keep going. This is where you determine that you won’t be rattled because you know that God’s work is good work. Because God is a good God. I want to be so in love, so in tune, with God and His word that I am not shaken. When the devil sees you serving in any area he is going to try and sway you. He will try to use devious tactics to catch you off guard; however, if you are standing firm on God’s word and steadfast in prayer, then you will be provided with the strength not to stumble. Don’t buy into the devil’s motives. Don’t believe the lies. Whatever work God has you doing is important. Whatever work God has you doing – there is a purpose. But if you crumble, then the work does not get done. Don’t crumble. Stand up. Pray hard. Serve on.
Sometimes it is so hard for me to imagine Jesus on Earth. That was so long ago, and it was such a different time. Although He walked among the poor, the defeated, and the sinful, I still tend to imagine Him sitting on a throne. After all, He is the King of Kings. Yet, He didn’t act like it. He got dirty. He rolled up his sleeves and worked hard. He was kind and meek. He never thought of Himself better than others, and He was the epitome of selflessness. He is absolutely everything that we should want to be. In studying how to truly serve others I have read verse after verse about Jesus’ character, the fruits of the spirit, and how Jesus interacted with the people around Him. It’s not easy, but it is attainable (with Christ’s constant help). This feat should be something that we strive for at the start of each new day. By reading our bible more, memorizing scriptures, and applying that scripture to our life, the closer our walk with God will be. As we draw closer to God we will be more readily aware of our actions toward our brothers and sisters. As we cling closer and closer to God, the more our actions will reflect His. We will start holding our tongue where we normally would spout off. We will start exuding patience when we normally would absolutely lose it. We will start looking for ways to help others even if it means sacrificing personal wants. We won’t be shaken. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” Jesus was not shaken. He held close to God, and God held close to Him.
Burdens: Death, divorce, losing a job, parenting troubled-teens, strained relationships, drug addiction, alcoholism, and financial instability to name just a few. These circumstances can wreak more havoc on an individual than they can possibly handle on their own. The only way to survive from day to day is a relationship with Jesus and a very strong support group. When Jesus asks us to bear one another’s burdens He meant it. There is no doubt that without help these roads on life’s journey would simply be impassable. This is where we are called to serve with a heart like Jesus. A heart without judgment or condemnation. As humans battling the flesh, it is easy for us to become a critical Christian, quickly forgetting that we too have sinned. Jesus didn’t make people feel bad when he helped them through troubles, and we shouldn’t either. If we are “serving” with a haughty spirit then we really are not serving at all. Rather, we are breaking people down more than they already are. We are shattering their already feeble spirits and painting a picture of false Christianity. We are basically boarding up the doors of the church because who in their right mind would want to be a part of something so ugly? And when we are judging our fellow brothers and sisters that is exactly what it is – ugly. I like (love) what the bible says in Matthew 11:28-30,”Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus said to come to Him when you are buckling under the pressures and burdens of life. He said that He is gentle and lowly in heart. That’s how, as Christians, we should be. Gentle in heart. Not judgy. Not ugly. We have all been broken by life. We have all tripped, or maybe even belly-flopped, along the way. So instead of throwing out banana peels to make people slip again, let’s mop up the floors, hold their hands, and boldly walk through this messy, but beautiful, life together.
The controversy. I know. Women have equal rights. We are strong and fearless. We can conquer the world. Yes! This is all true, but how are we using the traits and characteristics that God gave us specifically as women to support our husbands? God has called us to be a helpmate, not a burden. Remember when you first started dating and you were so in love? You wanted to go out of your way to help your partner, you wanted to surprise him, and you wanted to show him in different ways that you were thinking about him. In modern day America this type of behavior is expected when you are dating, but when you get married all of a sudden the consensus on what is acceptable or not acceptable changes. If you do all of the laundry in your household then you are weak. Never mind your husband is doing all of the yard work. If you get up early to iron for your husband then you are being taken advantage of. Never mind that he runs the family budget and bank account. If you stay home instead of going out on the town every weekend then you are powerless. It’s really a bizarre mindset. It’s seriously time for us to change our thinking on this subject. Your husband has great qualities or you would not have fallen in love with him in the first place. Y’all chose each other. So why can’t we proudly serve our husband because we love him? Why does this whole submission thing have to have such a negative connotation affiliated with it? Where we get caught up, and I know because I’ve been there, is in our own selfish expectations and attitude of entitlement. 10 years ago, even five years ago, I had a much different mindset about marriage. Why should I do the laundry today? Why should I do the dishes? Why do I have to get the groceries this week? I could only see myself. Making a checklist in my mind of all the things I was doing was not Christlike, especially when I wasn’t mentally writing down all of the things that my husband did – which is a lot. Thank goodness that Jesus isn’t keeping a tally sheet of all that He did – and that we don’t do. I wouldn’t want to see that list. Serving and loving our spouse the way that Jesus does means putting our spouse first, and that is ok with me. Throw the attitude of entitlement and selfish expectations out the window and watch God move. Let’s serve our husbands in love. Let’s serve him because that’s what Christ did (does) for us.
u love someone you go out of your way to show them that adoration. You make it a priority to spend time just with them, or at least you should. When you are in a relationship it is important to show the other person that you are in fact devoted to them. We should love God more than anyone else. He should be the one person each day that we have to spend time with. Reading God’s word is the perfect way to walk and talk with Him. And the more you read His word, the more you’ll know. The more you know, the more you’ll grow. His word will become so deeply embedded in your heart that when it’s time to make a decision, or when something tries to tempt you, you will have the strength to do the right thing. His word will guide us through life’s ups and downs while constantly steering us closer to Him. I like rules and procedures. Knowing that there is a certain way to do something makes me feel calm. I love having things lined out clearly for me, and I certainly don’t like confusion or not having a plan. I am absolutely the opposite of spontaneous. That is just one reason I am so thankful to have God’s word as life’s road map. I would absolutely be lost without it. There are so many decisions to make each day, and by having a solid foundation in Christ we are more apt to make the correct choice. Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If we do not faithfully immerse ourselves in God’s word then we will never fully experience the magnitude of his grace, mercy, hope, strength, guidance, and love. By hanging out with God each morning we are serving him through love and obedience, and I know without a doubt that He will honor that. He will be our light on a sometimes dark path.
Rays of Sunshine inc 