~ Serving Others, Serving Christ

~ ~ ~ ~

Make Me a Servant

Make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

For you are a servant

Make me one too

Make me a servant
Do what you must do

To make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

Jesus the servant

Got down on his knees

He washed feet that followed
So they would believe

Service to others

Is service to You

So make me a servant

Lord, make me like you

~ ~ ~ ~

Serving others is a wonderful privelege God has given us as Christians. For, by serving others we are honoring and serving Christ! Sometimes it's easy for me to grumble or complain when it comes to doing something I don't want to do. Instead, I should rejoice and be glad that I'm given the opportunity to serve my family (or others, whatever the case may be!) and therefore glorify my Lord in doing so. It's my desire to be a servant of the King of kings, and one of he best ways to serve Him is by serving others with a humble heart.

The song above has been one of my favorites for a long time. :) (Unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere online though. So I have no idea who wrote it!) I love it so much because it serves as a great reminder for me all throughout the day. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as well! Remember, whether you're serving your family in the home, working a job, volunteering your time, (or whatever the case may be! ;D) . . .

you are serving and honoring Jesus Christ! So,

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Colossians 3:23-24

~ Have a blessed Monday, everyone!

Picture credit: Google Images

And Mary Said...

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

LUKE 1:46-55

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What Child is This/Mary Did You Know

What child is this, who, laid to rest

On Mary's lap, is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary...

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know...

The blind will see.

The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.

The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak

The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

This, this is Christ the King!

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud

The babe, the son of Mary

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It's hard to believe that Christmas is finally here. Praise God for sending us his son, Jesus! What a precious, precious gift. He has most definitely done great and mighty things.

And holy is his name!

What Child is This written by: William Chatterton Dix

Mary Did You Know written by: Mark Lowry

A Beautiful Song

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~How Deep the Father's Love for Us~

written by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That he would give his only son

To make a wretch his treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns his face away

As wounds which mar the chosen one

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon his shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything--

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ,

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from his reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart:

His wounds have paid my ransom

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19

Picture taken at our church's Christmas drama 2008

Start at the Manger

I'm so excited now that Christmastime is here. I can't believe how quickly it has come! The whole month of December has always been my most favorite time of year! I just love the feeling it brings! But the greatest significance is definitely the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful that God saw fit to send His son to the earth to save mankind from sin. We have great reason to celebrate all month (and year!) long. I thought I would share a song that came to mind. We sing it at church, but when I searched for it online I couldn't find anything about it at all. Hmmm.... therefore, I have no idea who wrote this song! Oh, well. I'll have to type the words from memory! :)

Start at the Manger

Start at the manger on a cold winter night

Look for the star in the sky and follow its light

It leads to a Savior for a world that is lost

Start at the manger, then go to the cross

Start at the manger at the child in the hay

The gift from our Father in heaven, the price he would pay

To save all his children no matter the cost

Start at the manger, then go to the cross

Imagine that you owned the wealth of the world

All of its silver and gold

But what will you do if tomorrow arrives

And your heart is empty and cold?

Start at the manger where redemption began

When Jesus stepped down from his throne to die as a lamb

All of our riches, we will count them as lost

If we start at the manger, then go to the cross

I hope you all enjoy the month ahead, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord all the earth! :)

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me :)

I thought I would go ahead and post the video of this song for those of you who don't know it already. The first minute is Jeff Easter explaining how his dad wrote this song... so be patient!! :) May the Lord bless you and keep you always!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me

As the world looks upon me as I struggle along

They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong

In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see

Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me

CHORUS:
There's a roof up above me

I've a good place to sleep

There's food on my table

and shoes on my feet

You gave me Your love, Lord

and a fine family

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me

I know I'm not wealthy and these clothes are not new

I don't have much money, but Lord, I have You
And to me You're all that matters tho' the world may not see

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me

Let us remember to glorify our mighty God with thanksgiving as we celebrate this special holiday tomorrow. I pray you have a very blessed day with family and friends, everyone! God bless you!

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Song by: Steve Easter

God's Amazing Grace

"...He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

T'was grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come

T'was grace that brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

When we've been there thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we first begun

AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND

THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME

I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND

WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE!

This is such a beautiful hymn with a whole lot of meaning. I just love to sing this song! Praise the Lord for His amazing grace. It truly is... amazing.

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH! :)

Painting by Judy Gibson

Hymn by John Newton

Praise to the Lord

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have beenGranted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,Saints with His mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.Let the Amen sound from His people again,Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Jo­ach­im Ne­an­der

PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH

Be Thou My Vision

Quite a few weeks ago I sang this song for the first time at our church's women's conference. That night one of the ladies asked me if I would mind singing it for the church the next morning during service. I told her I'd be happy to, but unfortunately I woke up the next morning with a very sore throat and a sinus infection. So, obviously, I stayed home sick. Then a couple of weeks later she asked me a week ahead of time if I would mind singing it that next Sunday. Again, I of course told her I would. That happened to be the weekend my Dad went into the hospital. Therefore, us girls did not go to church and instead visited my parents at the hospital that morning. I felt bad about missing and not being able to sing it, but I knew that even though that might have been Satan's way of keeping that from happening, it was God's way of making it happen at just the right time! (I've been learning a lot about that lately!) So... this morning at church the same lady asked me "Can I put you on the spot?" . . .I knew what was coming! :)

Yes! I finally sang it! Haha! And what a blessing it turned out to be! That morning in class we discussed Hebrews 12:12-13 in great depth, which says, "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." We spent a lot of time discussing the fact that we are called, as children of God, to fix our gaze straight ahead and walk on the narrow path, not turning to the right or to the left. In many ways, this song applies! I was also astonished at how well the sermon fit with the song as well. I don't know why. God ALWAYS works things out that way, to where you know at the end that He had it all perfectly planned! Yet, I continue to stand amazed!

Another thing Dad mentioned in class was Job 4:1-4 which quotes, "Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: 'If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.'" It is obvious that Job's friends recognized that in him. They realized that God used him to encourage and uplift many others during their times of distress and trouble. The question that arises for myself from that is "Can people say the same thing of me? Do I do that for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ as well?" I pray with all my heart it's true!

Therefore, I just want to encourage you today to trust completely in God's promises. He does work all things toward the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose. And He is forever faithful. I praise the Lord that His faithfulness does not depend upon my own! (Then we'd all be in trouble... LOL!)

And now, after having mentioned ALL of that, I will post these meaninful lyrics:

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me save that Thou art

Thou my best thought by day or by night

Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance--now and always

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart

High King of heaven, my Treasure, Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Son!

Heart of my own heart whatever befall

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

Unfortunately, Satan tries so hard to distract us from keeping our eyes fixed straight ahead. He is very crafty and tries to replace our true Vision with other temporal and fleshly things of this world. We must be careful NOT to let him deceive us! Sometimes, he may have us feeling so downhearted and unhappy through the trials we may be facing, that we lose sight of our one true Vision, Jesus Christ our Lord. We may begin to seek out other material things and forsake our desire to live each day for God. I pray we never allow the evil one to prevail and triumph over Christ as number one in our lives. Christ is first! May God pour out his blessings upon us, and give us peace in the midst of such a chaotic world. Each day may we wake up with a hearfelt submission to our Lord, to make a concious note that we are alive to serve and glorify Him. May we be a pleasing aroma to God our Savior!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all!