Tag: serve

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Hustle Like Ruth

There are so many inspiring stories in the Bible and I love that some of those stories are women.  There is something different about a woman’s heart and to see God honor the hearts of women makes me love Him so much more.  We are His daughters and, just like His sons, He loves us dearly.

One of those amazing women is Ruth.  Ruth had an unusual story.  She finds herself in the old testament and is not a Hebrew/Israelite.  No, she is from Moab and her descendants were the result of incest.  A very disturbing story – anyone from this pagan city looked less than great.  They were outcasts.

Ruth’s story in the Bible begins with tragedy – her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law all died very close together.  It is through this tragedy that God brought out the character of Ruth.  We can know her past and who she came from, but when she faced the unbearable, we see who she is individually.

Naomi – her mother-in-law told both Ruth and Orpah (her sister-in-law) to go back home to their families and culture because there would be no place for them back in Israel.  After much convincing Orpah said her goodbyes and did what Naomi asked.  But Ruth was stubborn – she knew what her assignment was.  Ruth 1:16-18 says: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!’  When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.”

When Ruth got to Bethlehem – Naomi sent her to glean barley – something widows did to get food when they had no man to support them.  She happened upon Boaz’s field – a man of integrity and a man who has heard what Ruth had done for her mother-in-law.  So he showed her favor.  She came back the first night with about 30 pounds of barley.  30 pounds!!!  After she realized that not only was Boaz a nice man, but was a blood relative, she was able to be redeemed.  Boaz became her husband and they had a son, Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David.  (Read her entire story in the book of Ruth – it is only 4 chapters long, but packed full of wisdom).  Her faithfulness, servant’s heart and willingness to do the hard things to help others got her in the lineage of King David and Jesus.

Ruth found her success by serving others.  It wasn’t because she had the best Instagram posts, she spoke the best in front of others or that she was the prettiest.  No, she didn’t go out to be the center of attention or to even get recognized.  Ruth found favor when she put others first.  The prize when she went the extra, extra mile was to find herself worthy to be a decedent of Jesus.

My challenge to you, reader, is to find ways you can serve others.  Serve others, not because it will take you places, not so you can get things, not so that you can be seen, but to just be a blessing.  Other people may not even see what you are doing.  Good, because God sees it.  An audience with God where He finds you pleasing is enough.  I will tell you from experience, serving others because you know that is the right thing to do will take you places far greater than when you serve only yourself.

Be a blessing to someone, y’all.  And do it from the heart!

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Carry

Life can get rough.  I get tired, I struggle, I have problems, I get busy, I don’t have time to do everything…I, I, I, I….  Too many times I get in a place where all I see is me.  For instance, right now, I have been given a new position at work and am currently in training.  Being tired and consumed with this new job, I have moments where I find myself only concerned about me…my issues…what I want and not concerned with praying, reading my bible, or serving others.  It is awful how I turn to wallowing when I get tired, hurt, or busy.  No matter what happens in this life, good or bad –  I need to remember one thing…I must continue to carry my cross.

When you look at the story of the crucifixion – you see how Christ could have easily backed off, became selfish for a moment, and walked away from the opportunity to save the world, but he didn’t.  Instead, he decided to do what he knew he needed to do, even though it cost him his life.  I am so very thankful for what his sacrifice did for this world and for mankind.  It also gives me conviction to do what I know I need to do rather than just what I feel like doing.  If Christ can hang on a cross for me, can’t I get up and serve in my church on a Sunday when I don’t really feel like it?  Or go feed the homeless despite being exhausted from life?  Or smile at someone despite me having a bad day?

Luke 14:25-27 says “Many people followed Jesus. Then He turned around and said to them,  “If any man comes to Me and does not have much more love for Me than for his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My follower.  If he does not carry his cross and follow Me, he cannot be My follower. “

To love God more than I love myself, to put Him first even before my own family, to die to self daily is what I must do to be His.  There are days that my entire being cringes at the thought that I must serve.  I have had moments that I so did not want to do anything…at all.  I wanted to lay in bed and not move.  But then He reminds me of what He has done for me.  So I reluctantly pick up my cross and follow Him.

I encourage you, when you have those days that you have to fight to get out of bed, do it anyway.  Carrying the cross is hard, but being His makes it all worth it.  He’s got you, he loves you, he sees you, and he won’t abandon you.  Keep going and don’t give up.

Pray this with me: Lord, I am sorry for all the times that I complained about things not being all about me.  Thank you for your sacrifice that set me free.  If I must carry my cross the rest of my life, I will do that because I know that there is nothing greater than being yours.  Thank you for loving me, even when I was my most selfish.  Help me be all that you want me to be and live my life for you.  I love you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Be blessed everyone.

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The least is the greatest

I have the honor to be a part of an amazing ministry that goes out every week and feed the homeless of Dallas – both physically & spiritually. It has become something that I cannot go without. Why? Because serving people makes you happy.

I spoke a few weeks ago about loving oneself as yourself (Wonderfully Made). I believe every word of this post, but I also believe that to love yourself fully & experience true happiness, we must cease self-serving behavior/thinking. We must not always think about yourself & your situation.

Am I calling everyone reading this post selfish? Well, yes I am. I am calling myself selfish too. You see, because we are all sinners, we all have a tendency to err on the selfish side of life. We must keep that tendency in check. How? By serving others without anything expected back.

Ponder this scripture:

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13-14‬ NLT)

I challenge you this week to serve someone. It doesn’t have to be way out of your way. Serve your family in a way you never have. Give a lonely person a gift or card. Make a selfless gesture in someone’s life without expecting anything in return. I fully believe that you will find great joy in this.

If your not careful, you may find yourself becoming addicted to it.

Be blessed.