In the Service of the King

Serve the Lord with gladness: 

come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2

Life is busy. We can all attest to the truth of that statement. Helping our siblings, meeting the needs of friends, running errands for parents, solving “technical difficulties”, visiting the elderly, using our musical and speaking abilities to comfort others—all these are examples of just ordinary life.

Sometimes, though, I think we get caught up in the actual doing of the work, that we forget what it really is: serving. We also forget Who we are serving: the King of Kings. And so, I hope that this will be a written reminder and encouragement to you to keep your focus on the One you are serving. The One who has called you out of darkness, and into His marvelous light. The One who modeled service as no man did, has, or ever will—and it is we who are called to be “little Christs”—to model that service here on earth.

Who are you serving?

Yes, we as believers have the head knowledge that “everything is done to the glory of God”, but do we really recognize that it is the Christ, the Son of the living God that we are serving? The One who is…

Highest of majesty

Brilliant in splendor

Jesus, Creator, Redeemer of man

Fullness of God, He is One with the Father.

Just realizing the complete awesomeness of the King of Kings, causes us to step back and rethink who we really are as finite humans. It is the Creator of our very lives Who sanctifies us for His use [Jeremiah 1:5; Hebrews 10:10]; the High Priest who lives to make intercession for us [Hebrews 7:25]; the One who knows our sin like no other, and yet chooses to use us in spite of who we are. [2 Corinthians 12:9] The God Who rescued us—yes, that’s Who we serve.

When are you serving Him?

As believers, we are Christ’s servants, not just when we feel like it, not just when life is going smoothly, and not just when we think we know the outline of the near future. After we have surrendered our lives to the Lord, our time, talents, and treasures are not our own anymore. Our service to Him is to be constant and everlasting. Even when we have passed through Heaven’s gates, we will join the thousands before us in serving Him and worshipping at His feet. For now, our service is here on earth.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord to Thee.

Take my moments and by days

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Our moments and our days all belong to Him--whether it’s doing the laundry for the thousandth time or answering the call to minister in another country. We don’t “belong” to ourselves. We are God’s, and He asks—no, He demands—that each and every moment be lived in service to Him. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

Where are you serving Him?

We can start right where we are. Some of us may be at home, at work, in church—wherever we may be physically at this present moment, that is where we are to serve Him. The Priests of the Old Testament were given the task of serving specifically in the temple. The church is commanded to serve each other. [Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10] We should not be limited geographically, financially, or in any other way, in serving the Lord. Sometimes this may call for us to be spontaneous, and temporarily leave off our own plans to serve someone in need. Service starts right where we are, and for many of us that should begin in our own homes, serving our family—siblings, parents, and/or spouses—while learning to surrender our own schedules to another’s in order to show the love of Christ.

Why are you serving Him?

Why are you serving Him? Is it so that others will see your good works and glorify you? Or is your work done heartily to the Lord? [Colossians 3:23-24] We aren’t to boast about what we accomplish, how much time we “give up” for someone, or about some great thing that we did for the world. Our reward lies in heaven—and inheritance with our heavenly Father. The unbelieving world should see our works, but our accomplishments should provide them a reason to glorify Christ. [Matthew 5:16] For it is nothing in us that accomplishes anything, but only by His strength that we can do all things. [Philippians 4:13] Unto Him we live and serve. [2 Corinthians 5:15]

How are you serving Him?

As Joshua commanded the Israelites, so we must also “fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth”. [Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:24] Our service to Him must be genuine—not a hypocritical sort or a habit forced on us by someone else—but in faithfulness to the Lord because of what He has done for us.

Mark 9:35 instructs us to be the servant of all; not showing partiality to those we “like” best, but giving to anyone out of love for God. This will involve humility, just as Christ took on the form of a humble servant—even to the point of death. [Philippians 2:4-8]

We are to serve the Lord with singleness of heart. Jesus quoted the Old Testament in His refutation of Satan’s bribes: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” [Matthew 4:10, emphasis mine] We will have to consciously destroy the sinful idols in our life on a daily basis, in order that we might take up our crosses and follow Him in servitude. We cannot serve the world and God, but must hate the one and cleave to the other. [Luke 16:13]

The service God requires of us, which encompasses all the tiny details of life, is summed up in Romans 12:1, which states: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Our ultimate service to God lies in our surrendering of our lives as a sacrifice to our Redeemer. When we have allowed Him and the Holy Spirit to indwell our lives, we are putting Him on the throne of our hearts and submitting our thoughts, actions, and motives to His control; it should be our desire to surrender all things to Him. We will fail, guaranteed; but by consistently surrendering all to Him, we can then serve Him as He served us.

Conclusion:

Think about this: the creatures in this universe—we who have sinned on every imaginable level—are some who have been redeemed, called out, and set-apart to serve the sovereign Creator. The Messiah chose to exemplify the ultimate example of service (dying for a sinful world), so we might understand, as best we can, how to lay down our lives for one other. The Beloved of the Father chose to give life to the earth and its inhabitants so that they might more fully glorify Him and serve Him—in spite of their sin. And not just to serve, but to love Him with all of our hearts.

“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, an d to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” [Deuteronomy 10:11-12]

May we all be able to say:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”[Joshua 24:15]

Blessings, 

Kaleigh 

*This article was originally written to be published in this newsletter. You can find their website here.

A Look Back at 2013

 

                                                    “Delight yourself also in the LORD,
                                                    and He shall give you the desires of
                                                             your heart”. Psalm 37:4

This is supposed to be the end-of-the-year post from me this time, and though we are already 18 days into the new year, I'm still going to write about 2013. I don't want to go into 2013 history and retell all the things that happened (or didn't happen as I had hoped); and this is because 2013 was probably one of the less rewarding years that I can remember. I became excited that 2014 was just around the bend and thought about all the great possibilities that it might offer. Because it's a fresh start to a new year! Also, you can check out my blog post here: Anna's Insights to find out what my big news update is for this year.

I would say that the brightest spot for me in 2013 was being able to purchase my reining horse, whom I enjoy very much. A lot of people need their “get-away-s”. Some go on vacation, some bury their heads in books, some go fishing, and some, like myself, go play with their animals. In 2013, I needed a lot of that “out” from all that was going on around me. It was indeed a challenging year that I would like very much to forget. As some—or perhaps most of you know—my Grandpa went to be with the Lord in October. We were all glad that he wasn't/isn't in pain any longer, but the occasion caused many negative repercussions in the family.

Perhaps, 2013 was less than desirable for you, too. But today is the day that the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24). God has granted us to see the start of yet another year. How we respond to the challenges is up to us, but be assured that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). God's not finished with you yet and 2014 is another chapter in your life. Circumstances, good and bad, are written in most of the chapters. How should we respond them? “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” Psalm 37:5. Commit this day to Him and let Him lead you by the hand. God was alive and well before time began (He was), He is still alive and well in today's, mixed up society (He is), and He will one day come back for His saints and purge this wicked world (He is to come)!

If we will only draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). When we commit our time and energy, our thoughts and our lives to Christ, He will never forsake us. For we are His children and God never forsakes His own (Psalm 94:14).

We only have this moment to make a difference, for we are not guaranteed the next moment, hour, nor day. We cannot belong to Satan and belong to God. Riding the fence or turning to God only in our desperate hour is not the right kind of relationship we should have with Him. If we only call out to God when we feel lost and hopeless, we cannot expect an answer! God is a jealous God and He wants our devotion on a moment to moment basis; not problem to problem. God shows us where we are wrong when we truly repent and admit that we are sinners. And when we partake of communion, we remember what Christ did when He shed His blood for us on the cross. Any man who eats and drinks, but does not belong to God, is only eating and drinking judgement on himself (1 Cor. 11:29). And God promises that if we come to Him, repent, and turn from our evil ways, He will wash those sins away (1 John 1:9).

If you have not yet committed yourself to the Lord, I urge you to talk with your parents, your pastor, or another family member. If you already have, my prayer is that you will walk closer than ever with Him this new year. If you want a resolution this year, don't just be convinced that it's important to trust God with every part of your life: be convicted. God's got great plans for you, friend! You have nothing to “fear, only trust and obey.”

“When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

“Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.”

God bless,

Julianna

P.S. Just to let our friends who aren't on Google+ know, Kaleigh and I have made our 2014 video, so please be sure to check that out on our “About Us” page.

2013

Photo credit

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: 
for the Lord will do great things. 

Joel 2:21

As another year closes out, I can with certainty look back and say "The Lord did indeed do great things, for He does all things well." This year will always hold numerous memories for me; the majority of them being very special ones. 

2013 marks the year when I earned 30 more college credits, met some online friends face-to-face, attended a conference in Washington, participated in several musical performances, saw increased babysitting opportunities, attended two funerals for close family members, and began teaching Sunday school. There are many, many more things I could list, but that would take far too long and that is not my primary intent for this post. 

The verse quoted at the beginning of this post would have been a good one to remember at the beginning of the year, perhaps. It looks forward to a future of good things. I could not have told you at the start of 2013 what kinds of great things I would encounter--and yet, I clearly saw this promised fulfilled. I can now look forward to 2014, knowing that the same promise holds true for each and ever one of God's children. 

It is interesting to note that God commands His people to "be glad and rejoice" in their present moment and not after He had done "great things". No, He called them to be joyful even when they could see what the future held. They were also commanded not to fear. Joyfulness in the Lord is a confidence that He holds your future in His hands. And confidence in the Lord replaces fear.

Our confidence comes from knowing that we have a *present joy...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:3-8)

 and a *prospective joy...

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

Sometimes I forget that I probably don't just have Christian readers, though. Maybe some of you don't have that joyfulness, trust, and confidence in the Lord. True, not all believers demonstrate those traits consistently, but they have the means of receiving it. 

True joy will only come through the Lord Jesus Christ—He is the Creator of it, and only He can give it. You may see happiness in doing “good works” or accumulating fame and fortune, and, while those things are not always inherently wrong, they will not provide you with eternal life. One day you will die…or the Lord will return before that happens, and in that final day when He judges the earth, you will either both fear and dread Him or you will join the thousands who will praise His name forever. You can choose to believe God doesn’t exist or that your good works will outweigh your bad, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that your life will be measured according to the righteous standards of God’s law.

There is no other name, person, religion, or method that will prevent you from eternal damnation. (Acts 4:12) Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Him. (John 14:6) Through the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross, He took your sins on Himself, and provided eternal life to those who confess their sins, turn from them, and believe in the Lord. You will die and you will be judged—where is your eternal destiny?

For those of us who have eternal confidence, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is faithful, and has promised that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Fear not—don’t give way to the devil’s temptations, disappointments, and doubts. May you enter 2014 with gladness and joyfulness, knowing that He who has done great things, will continue to throughout this next year and until the day of Jesus Christ.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)

May God go with you all.

Your sister in Christ,

Kaleigh

*Terms and quoted texts taken from my pastor's sermon.

Determination!

                                        "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;
                                     for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,            
                                         in the grave, whither thou goest."  ~Ecclesiastes 9:10


I'd like to share a couple of stories with you that I read in Devotions both this morning and a few days ago.


"Charles F. Kettering, a noted scientist and inventor, believed that the easiest way to overcome defeat was simply to ignore completely the possibility of failure and to keep forging ahead.  He once gave an address to Denison University on this theme.  He told how he had once given a tough project assignment to a young research worker in a laboratory at General Motors.  He wanted to see how the man would react to a difficult problem so he kept from him notes about the project that had been filed in the lab's library.  These notes, written by expert researchers, included various sets of statistics and formulas that proved the assignment the young man had been given was impossible to do.

The young research worker set his mind to the project, and worked virtually night and day for weeks.  He refused to give up or think the project impossible.  One day he came confidently to Kettering to show his work.  He had succeeded in doing the impossible!

A little extra time...a little extra effort...a little extra care...a little extra attention sometimes makes all the difference between success and failure, and not only that, but the difference between good and great."

                                                                           ~~~

"There once was a Louisville University quarterback who dreamed of playing pro football.  Upon graduation, however, no pro team drafted him.  So, he wrote to several teams and finally got an opportunity to try out for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He gave his best effort, but wasn't chosen.  His friends said, 'You got a raw deal...it wasn't meant to be...I guess it's time to hang up your cleats'.  But the young athlete didn't give up.  He continued to knock on doors and write letters.  Finally, he received another invitation.  But again, he didn't make the team.

Most people would have given up long before this point, but not Johnny.  He was fanatic about his personal dream.  From his early days of playing sandlot football, he had been obsessed with this goal.  So, patiently and persistently, he continued to pursue try out opportunities.  Finally, he was invited to try out for the Baltimore team...and he made the third string!  Through training and many long hours of drills and fitness building, he worked his way up to be starting quarterback.  Indeed, he became one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL.  The dreamer's name?  Johnny Unitas.

Keep driving until you arrive at your goal line!"



History is filled with determined people.  The 1984 USA All-Around champion, Mary Lou Retton, is another example.  She was in therapy constantly for five weeks leading up to the '84 Olympics after a much needed knee surgery had been preformed.  That year, she came home with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.  With her determination and positive attitude, she not only succeeded what seemed "impossible", she also became the first American to receive an All-Around gold medal.  I admire Mary Lou for that determination.  Not only for her fighting spirit, but because she was also born with hip dysplasia and still went on to perform amazing acts of agility and balance.  

Can you maybe think of some people in history who, though the thought of success seemed impossible, achieved it?  Those are the kind of people who are not willing to give up their dreams.  They have a vision and chase after it instead of expecting it to just be laid on their doorstep.

"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to."

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

In Christ,
Anna