cool water

Ps 35:27
…may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.

When we serve God is delighted. I don’t think it is the magnitude of what we do as much as it is we are just doing something. Christians are held back if they sit around and wait for God to tell them what to do in service. If you can’t think of anything start simple. Fill a cooler up with ice and bottled water and hand it out to people who are panhandling. Everybody can use some cool water. (Matthew 10:42)

Pray for incentive from God to get serving.

John 4:27-39 Bible Study

the woman at the well experiences freedom and honesty before God

Jesus knows us

green

Psalm 8:6
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—

The created world is neither random nor meaningless. While some people might say they disagree with this, my hunch is they live as if it is true. They probably have checking accounts and insurance to say the least.
So, to care for the world takes a strategy that we humans live out in many different ways, from family to government and so on. Christians just happen to trust that God wants us to care for the world with love and justice. We are not called to worship nature nor exploit it. Who would have thought that the best, true, environmentalists could turn out to be normal followers of Jesus?

Where can you improve your own environmental sensitivity? Pray for guidance in this.

responsible

Nehemiah 5:15
15 The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.

When those in authority exploit their positions for their own pure gain, they are not serving, they are embezzling from God. God transforms criminals; he doesn’t assist them in their life of crime.

Pray for justice from those who have fiscal responsibility in our government.

serve

1 Kings 3:9
9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

In order to serve God we need God. This is different from the way we usually do things. Normally to serve means to fulfill a need that someone has for service. With God there is no need. He wants us to serve so others will be blessed, not him. He wants us to grow while we serve. We are never able to serve others the way God would have us serve on our own. That’s why for those who are open to his power, God shows up.

Pray for God to show you a new area of service.

unity

our identity in Jesus is what we have in common
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. highlight

serve together

2 Sam 11:11
Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

God’s leaders are servants. Just like Jesus. They share the life of the community along with others on the team. They don’t separate themselves and have standards for the team they aren’t willing to follow themselves. Leaders don’t ask people to do what they aren’t willing to do.

Pray for ways to join with others in service.

risk

2 Sam 7:8
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.’”

When we see God’s hand behind what we are already doing we are willing to stretch and accomplish way more than we thought possible. Don’t be surprised, however, when the willingness comes first. Many times when we come to that place in our faith journey when we have a willingness to risk, God showing up follows it. This is the way it works.

Where do you need to take more risks for the Lord?

mutual

1 Sam 25:41
41 She bowed low to the ground and responded, “I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!”

This doesn’t sound like much of an acceptance of a marriage proposal! Marrying a king has some interesting connotations. However, to be mutually serving each other is a solid principle to live out in any marriage. When each spouse focuses on the other spouse’s strengths and encourages him or her to build on them.

Pray for two married couples you know to be strengthened.

John 4:1-26 Bible Study

Jesus offers freedom from everything that keeps us from being our best true self

the Samaritan woman at the well

build

1 Sam 22:14
14 “But sir,” Ahimelech replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!

Loyalty is absolutely essential when we serve God together. I have to trust you have my best interests at heart, and you have to trust the same about me. This doesn’t mean we will always agree. We will focus on a common key mission and encourage each other to build on our strengths that will help further that mission.

Who do you need to develop more trust with? Do.

results

1 Sam 18:5
5 Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.

When it comes to serving the Lord, faithfulness is essential. Follow through is critical. But what about success? Results are in the hands of God. We are not in charge of results.

However, lack of success can mean many things besides waiting for God’s timing. Maybe you don’t have a passion for that ministry. It isn’t what God intends for you to be doing in the first place. You need more equipping to be effective.

What is a key area you can work on this year?

loyal

1 Samuel 16:21-22
21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."

When we serve those who lead, we serve God. In David’s case, it means even serving a leader (Saul) who is less than admirable. We aren’t the ones to decide to only serve people we agree with. If our service leads to sin, we can choose not to, but we must be willing to suffer the consequences.

Pray for government officials you tend to disagree with.

respect

1 Samuel 12:24
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Serving God is an all out effort. It certainly includes total respect and, yes, even a fear of letting him down. I sense a deep connection to God, but I am never laid back like we are buddies. I can be a friend of Jesus, but I can’t forget he is my creator after all.

How can you connect more intentionally with Jesus today?




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read my blog and listen to podcasts at www.christcast.net

John 3:14-30 Bible Study

What is God's plan for the world?
What is your purpose in God's plan?
Dana explores the most popular verse in the Bible in context

seek

1 Samuel 3:9
9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' "

At this point, Samuel didn’t even know God. Eli is wise to teach Samuel it is still his responsibility to make himself available to God, even if he doesn’t trust in him, yet. Actually, the very act of calling himself a “servant.” is an indication that trust is coming.

Pray for people you know who are seeking faith.

reward

Ruth 2:12
12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

We don’t serve in order to be rewarded by God. We don’t have to. Through Jesus, we are already fully loved and accepted by God when we realize we are fully loved and accepted by God. We are rewarded when serving, however. How can we not help feel a sense of “well done” when we totally give ourselves for the sake of others?

Pray for God to guide you to a new avenue of service.

choose

Joshua 24:15
15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

To serve God is always a choice. Even within families it is a choice. If you have a spouse or children, they are ultimately responsible for their own faith.

However, with children, before they are old enough to decide for themselves, you speak for them when it comes to God. If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, you want to help them connect with Jesus any way you can. What kind of monster would keep this gift away from their kids? Best place to start is to model the faith yourself.

Pray for parents to nurture the faith of their children.

staying in the city

is God calling you to live in the city?
even if it feels like exile in Babylon?
well...

focus

Deuteronomy 10:12
12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

To fear (awesome respect), follow, and love God, you serve him completely. One out of three, or two out of three doesn’t work the way God intends. Focus, action, and affection toward God brings meaning, purpose and joy.

Pray for God to immerse you with his glory.

soldiers

Numbers 1:3
You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.

Absolute pacifism is not God’s biblical mandate. Yet, some day, when Jesus rules the wills of all people, there will be no need for a military. In the meantime, pray for justice and righteousness to rule in all governments.

Pray for soldiers you are acquainted with. If you aren’t, ask around until you find some you can.

pastor

Exodus 40:15
"Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come."

Unlike the judge, the priest/ pastor does not primarily serve the people. He/ she is nor a public servant; he/ she ultimately reports directly to God. If you think this is an easy yoke for a priest/ pastor, just ask them what this is like to have God being your final authority. Actually, God is the final authority for everyone…

Pray for pastors and priests to have the courage to follow God without compromise.

you are the light of the world

Jesus uses us to shine his light in the darkness of our world-

all people will be blessed and some will come to trust in the true light

public servant

Exodus 18:26
They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Being a judge, like all other positions of authority, is a servant activity. The moment a public servant becomes a rockstar, serving goes out the window- as does success.

Pray for your mayor.

tyrant

Exodus 14:12
Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

When God’s people are complaining in the wilderness they show a reoccurring theme in human history. Giving up freedom for the false security of the tyrant. It never works in the long run. We know how this always ends up without exception: choose the tyrant and choose death of everything God created you to be. We are created to be free and the only benevolent dictator that will ever work for all people is, of course, the only true one. We are free to serve the Master and, yes, that will work. Just have to wait to see it happen.

Pray for people who are not able to live free.

excited

Exodus 35:21
21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.

God funds his mission through the obedience of his disciples. It is not by accident that those who stay close to God will be excited by giving. It is the way God designed it. Even Jesus is thrilled to get to the cross, the ultimate gift (Hebrews 12:2)

Pray for God to stir you to increase your generosity toward his mission.

good God

Genesis 32:10
10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups.

When Jacob prays to God, he makes sure that though he is serving God, God knows that Jacob knows that it is God who blesses his servants. Anything we do for the glory of God is more than rewarded by the awesome life the God-led get to live. In a real sense, service is never really a sacrifice.

Thank God for being so good to you today.

later

Genesis 29:20
20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

God’s promise is behind the scenes of the Jacob and Rachel love story. Jacob doesn’t realize God’s hand here. Sometimes we do things that please us and we discover later it is all part of God’s influence in the first place. Who knew?

In your decision-making, play close attention to what God might be saying.

serving

Genesis 24:14
…let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.

When you are serving God, your connections with him are strong. You can expect God to be involved in your life in ways that might not be completely clear at the moment. So, if you are single and you would like to be married someday, start making progress in serving. Who knows?

Pray for God to be present in all your relationships.