How Real Servants Act

I'm going through a book right now, called "The Purpose Driven Life." It is an excellent book, and I have learned a lot from it! There are 40 chapters, and I am on Day 33, which is called "How Real Servants Act." I loved it so much, that I wanted to share it with you all here on my blog. Oh, and this is my 100th post, and I thought it was a good one for that, as well! :)

The Purpose Driven Life: Day 33 | How Real Servants Act | 10/23/12

We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with it's me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.
Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. This is so contrary to the world's idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, Christian leaders still jockey for position and prominence in churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.
Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant.We would rather be generals than privates Even Christians want to be "servant-leaders," not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That's what He called Himself.
While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant's heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs.
God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we're not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, "I don't have the gift of mercy or service." While you may not be gifted for a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one gifted at it is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you're needed at the moment.
Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant's heart. How can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, "You can tell what they are by what they do." (Matthew 7:16, CEV)
*Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty: "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him." (2 Timothy 2:4, NASB) If you only serve when it's convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Real servants do what's needed, even when it's inconvenient.
Are you available to God anytime? Can He mess up your plans without you becoming resentful? As a servant, you don't get to pick and choose when or where you will serve. Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to.
If you will remind yourself at the start of every day that you are God's servant, interruptions won't frustrate you as much, because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into your life. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.
*Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: "Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers." (Galatians 6:10, GWT) When god puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your "things to do " list.
We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long. They pass quickly, sometimes never to return again. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment. "Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." (Proverbs 3:28, TEV)
John Wesley was an incredible servant of God His motto was "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." That is greatness. You can begin by looking for small tasks that no one else wants to do. Do these little things as if they were great things, because God is watching.
*Reals servants do their best with what they have.
Servants don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never say, "One of these days" or "When the time is right." They just do what needs to be done. The Bible says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." (Ecclesiastes 11:4, NLT) God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention.
One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve. They have believed the lie that serving God is only for superstars. Some churches have fostered this myth by making "excellence" an idol, which makes people of average talent hesitant to get involved.
You may have heard it said, "If it can't be done with excellence, don't do it." Well, Jesus never said that! The truth is, almost everything we do is done poorly when we first start doing it-that's how we learn.
*Real servants do every task with equal dedication. Whatever they do, servants "do it with all their heart." (Colossians 3:23) The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done?
You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. It's a vital part of your character curriculum. The Bible says, "If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody." (Galatians 6:3, NLT) It is in these small services that we grow like Christ.
Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath Him, because He came to serve. It wasn't in spite of His greatness that He did these things, but because of it, and He expects us to follow His example. (John 13:15)
Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant's heart is revealed in little acts that others don't think of doing, as when Paul gathered brushwood for a fire to warm everyone shipwreck. (Acts 28:3) He was just as exhausted as everyone else, but He did what everyone needed. No task is beneath you when have a servant's heart.
Great opportunities often disguise  themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever He wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways. (Luke 16:10-12)
There will always be more people willing to do "great" things for God than there are people willing to do the little things. The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants. Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way, you develop a servant's heart when you're willing to do anything needed.
*Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don't leave a job half undone, and they don't quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.
Faithfulness has always been a rare quality. (Psalm 12:1; Proverbs 20:6; Philippians 2:19-22) Most people don't know the meaning of commitment. They make commitments casually, then break them for the slightest reason without any hesitation, remorse, or regret. Every week, churches and other organizations must improvise because volunteers didn't prepare, didn't show up, or didn't even call to say they weren't coming.
Can you be counted on by others? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfill, or commitments you need to honor? This is a test. God is testing your faithfulness. If you pass the test, you're in good company: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy, and Paul were all called faithful servants of God. Even better, God has promised to reward your faithfulness in eternity. Imagine what it will feel like one day to have God say to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!" (Matthew 25:23, NLT)
By the way, faithful servants never retire. They serve faithfully as long as they're alive. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God.
*Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don't promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they "put on the apron of humility, to serve one another." (1 Peter 5:5, TEV) If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don't allow notoriety to distract them from their work.
Paul exposed a kind of service that appears to be spiritual but is really just a put-on, a show, an act to get attention. He called it "eyeservice" (Ephesians 6:6, KJV; Colossians 3:22, KJV)-serving in order to impress people with how spiritual we are. This was a sin of the Pharisees. They turned helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for others. Jesus hated this attitude and warned, "When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:1, CEV)
Self-promotion and servanthood don't mix. Real servants don't serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for an audience of One. As Paul said, "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, NIV)
You won't find many real servants in the limelight; in fact, they avoid it when possible. They are content with quietly serving in the shadows. Joseph is a great example. He didn't draw attention to himself, but quietly served Potiphar, then his jailer, then Pharaoh's baker and wine taster, and God blessed that attitude. When Pharaoh promoted him to prominence, Joseph still maintained a servant's heart, even with his brothers, who had betrayed him.
Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to attention, unaware that being in the spotlight blinds you.
You may be serving in obscurity in some some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. Listen: God put you where you are for a purpose! He has every hair on your head numbered, and He knows your address. You had better stay put until He chooses to move you. He will let you know if He wants you somewhere else. Your ministry matter to the kingdom of God. "When Christ...shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity." (Colossians 3:4, Msg.)
There are more than 750 "Halls of Fame" in America and more than 450 "Who's Who" publications, but you won't find many real servants in these places. Notoriety means nothing to real servants because they know the difference between prominence and significance. You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your body that are indispensable. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant service is often the service that is unseen. (1 Corinthians 12:22-24)
In heaven, God is going to  openly reward some of His most obscure and unknown servants-people we have never heard of on earth, who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed AIDS patients, and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways.
Knowing this, don't be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God! "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, Msg.) Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded. Remember the words of Jesus: "If, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded." (Matthew 10:42, LB)

Day Thirty-Three: Thinking About My Purpose.
*Point to Ponder. I serve God by serving others
*Verse to Remember: "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42 (NLT)
*Question to Consider: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?

My Testimony ♥

I don't know if I have ever shared my testimony on here or not. Anyways, I wrote it out September 25th, cause my Small Group leader asked me to share it with our Small Group Wednesday night, the 26th. So, I wrote it out, and then shared it at Youth Group with my Small Group. It's not only my testimony of how I got saved, but I also added where I am now, and how I got to the point I am today, in my walk with Christ. I hope you enjoy reading it! (oh, a couple times I say like last week or a couple weeks ago... Obviously I wrote this a couple weeks ago, so when it says that, it was more like a month or so ago.... but, whatever.) :)

I have had the amazing privilege of growing up in a Christian family for my entire life. I have gone to Church ever since I was born, and I have been taught from the Word of God from a very young age. I got saved at the age of just 4 years old. I don’t remember the date, I don’t remember the day of the week, I don’t remember the time (other than that it was at night right before bed time), I don’t remember who or what made me want to do it, or even what I said. All I know is that something inside my little heart, even though I was very young, wanted Jesus Christ to come and live inside my heart. Kneeling beside my bed, with the help of Mom, I said what is so often referred to as “the sinner’s prayer.” Being so young, it didn’t change or alter my life right away, in a huge way that I can remember, and it wasn’t until I was about 11 years old (the year 2006) when my sister Julianna asked Christ into her heart, that I really truly grasped what it meant to have Jesus living inside me. I wanted to know for sure that I was going to heaven when I died. So, on March 12th 2006 was when I “confirmed” my salvation, to have a date to remember and acknowledge my spiritual birthday. It was even later than this time, though, when I learned what it truly meant to live a poured out life for Christ (I am still learning even now, though, and don’t know even close to everything).
About a month after that, on April 16th, 2006, Easter Sunday, Susanna, Caleb and I got baptized. Sometime after that, I wrote about it in my Bible, and described it as “one of the best nights of my life.”
That was a long time ago, though, and I have come so far since then. I have gone through so much, and learned so much by reading God’s Word on a daily basis, studying the Scripture, memorizing verses, and reading insightful, and helpful books as well as going through many devotional books that have helped me in my pursuit of Christ.
The year 2011 was a tough year for me. No, it wasn’t all bad, but it was still tough. The separation of my parents, along with living at my Grandparents house for a while, as well as many other things, were what caused me to struggle so much. I sometimes failed to see God even in the small things of life, because I failed to look. God IS in each day, but we don’t always see Him, because we fail to look and fail to recognize Him. Although this time was tough, it was during that time that I learned what it meant to fully put my trust in God, and depend on Him for the strength I needed to get through the day. I learned and realized that He IS in control of my life, and I don’t need to worry or fret, because He has my future in His hands, and it‘s all planned out… I can let go of my life and let Him have full control! Also, during that time, I spent a lot of time with God. I learned that “In [his] presence is fulness of joy; at [his] right hand there are pleasures forevermore”, as it says in Psalm 16:11. John Piper once said: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” In spending more time with God, I got to know Him better, was able to draw closer to Him (James 4:8), and started striving to be more like Him each and every day. That makes me think of the song titled “Little by Little” by Olivia Collingsworth. It goes: “Just yesterday, I was so small… I’ve been learning new things as I grow. Some people say I’m getting so tall, where did the little kid go? Inside and out God is making me new, you may not see it happen until He is through. Sometimes it seems that I’m so far away, from all I want someday to be. But His Word says, that He’ll finish someday, all that He started in me. I look at me, and I don’t understand, but God has a vision, and God has a plan. Little by little, I’m changing, I’m growing. Little by little, I hope that it’s showing. I’m not who I’ll be, I’m not who I was, I’m somewhere in the middle; But, God is changing me, little by little.” Now, looking back at that year, even though it was a painful and trying time, I can see God’s hand at work in my life, and how He was using it for my good. Romans 8:28 says: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The year 2012, (so far, anyways) has been one of the best years of my life, for many different reasons. Not only were there many fun and exciting things I was able to do, new experiences I was able to have, and times of great joy, but there were also many times of serving, helping out, volunteering, babysitting during the summer, learning more about who God is, growing closer to Him, and just being able to be a blessing to other people, putting their needs above my own. That is truly what brings me the most joy, for it is when we put others needs above our own, and give to other people in need that we are truly blessed.♥ Proverbs 11:24-25, says: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Luke 6:38, says: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Benjamin Franklin said: “Who pleasure gives, shall joy receive.”
There are many commands that God gives us in the Bible, but there is one that God has shown me over and over again this past year, and that is becoming crystal clear to me just now. That command is found in the simple words of Luke 9:23. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Italics added by me.)
Self-denial, Surrender, I must decrease, and die to self are phrases that became (and are still becoming) very dear to me… Words that God wants me to embrace as my own.
At the beginning of this year, I read something on a girl’s blog that I thought was very good, and I shared it on my own blog, as well. It said this:

For 2012...I have no resolutions other than...
to love a little deeper~
to stand a little taller~
to laugh a little louder~
to speak gently~
to give more profusely~
to live with reckless abandon~
to let faith grow stronger~
to smile in the face of adversity~
to wipe tears from weary faces~
to speak a little less~
to listen a little more~
to carry His burdens for this world~
to rock children to sleep~
to live for Him alone~
to point others to Him~
to radiate with His glory~
to pray more at His feet~
to dance a little freer~
to sing a little stronger~
to be an encouragement to those around me~
to die daily~
to surrender more freely~
to battle with more determination~
to give joy in all circumstances~
to love Him more.

~to be utterly transformed by His renewing grace~
evermore.
daily.
to be changed.
made stronger.
lift Him higher.
forget self.
abandon sin.
lay it all down,
nothing in my own strength
to know the truth
to draw closer
to Him
Daily.
~to see the beauty~
in the colors; taken for granted
in the rainbows that boast of a promise
in the laughter, that shows His heart
in the unknown path of the months to come
in the giving that holds nothing back
in the songs of birds
early spring rain
crisp autumn leaves
snow-capped mountains
desperate prayers
brokenness
surrender
but joy.
my journey home

~to learn to see...
the world with His compassion
to hope with absolute confidence
to serve with His kindness,
His gentleness,
His self-control,
His patience,
and to
abide in His peace
to learn a quiet heart
~to be still~
to radiate with an inner quiet grace
quiet grace
{All in all?}
To live a life that is not in vain.

Also, at about that time, we started up the meetings for the people going to Mexico in April, and we started going through the book “not a fan.” The main theme in that book was about denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Him. In March, I started a book called “Experiencing God” the youth edition. It had Luke 9:23, as well as the call to deny self, and surrender your whole life to Christ, many times throughout. It was about that time that the “Surrender” series were started here in Youth Group. What were they about? Yes; Surrender, self-denial, and the like.
The words of the hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus” have become dear to me the past couple weeks, saying: Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Those simple yet profound words beckon us to die to self, surrender, and give up everything for the sake of knowing, and loving our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A couple weeks ago, Pastor Landon started the series on Colossians. Then, last week, he talked about God having the preeminence in your life. He asked if we were willing to give up other things, in order that God would have the first place in our lives. Since then (last Wednesday), this past week, I have seen or heard those words (either Self-denial, Die to self, Surrender) multiple times each and every day,. Whether in a book, an article in a online magazine I read, a sermon I listened to, someone posting it on Facebook, an email from a friend, a song, or anything else, God is clearly speaking to me. He wants me today to die to self, surrender, and give up everything my flesh desires, so that I may know, love, and serve Him better. And it’s not a one time decision. It’s something I have to decide to do on a day by day, moment by moment basis. Elisabeth Elliot said this: “One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime.” (The verse Luke 9:23 and the words I mentioned came up many more times as well, I just can’t think of the specific times right now.)
My greatest desire as I seek to be more like Christ, and desire to know Him more, is that others see His light shining through me. I want others to feel His presence when they are around me. I want others to be able to look at me, and see His glorious face-not mine. As Hannah Thomas said: Lord I wanna be like a glow stick: bend me and break me until your light shines through me. Isaiah 64:8 says: But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. May I be moldable, so that He may mold me into the person He created me to be-all for His honor and glory. No, I’m not perfect, although I never will be. I’m still learning, and I still have a long way to go. Hebrews 12:1-2 says: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.” ~John Newton