Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

We have Upward again. These are just a few photos. Paul is assistant coach for Jonathan's team and he also is a referee for other games. Abigail cheers and does a good job! Noah, Timothy, and I watch which is a little challenging because Noah wants to get on the court and play with the ball. It is a lot of fun! Timothy is not in to it too much. He's in the picture with his face covered with his shirt. Didn't want to get his picture taken.

Being a Servant

My friend, Mariel, has written and published a Women's Bible Study titled "Knowing God Through His Names". (Sorry Mariel I'm a little behind, but it's God's timing.) This lesson is on Who Is Adonai? The first thing we learn is that if He is our Adonai then He must me Master of our life and we are servant to Him. This is actually a beautiful picture. In Day 2 we start off looking at what the world view is of "great" and "powerful" versus Biblical view. As we see in Matthew 20:26-28 what the Bible's view of greatness is totally opposite of the world. Matthew reads, "...Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." This shows greatness as becoming a servant. V. 27 tells us to be first we have to be a servant. Then it ends up showing us that Jesus is an example for us. He didn't come to be served but instead to serve others and eventually giving his life for the payment of sin rescuing us from the wrath of God. So here is a question to ponder deeply-"are we looking for who we can serve, or are we looking to be served?" So confession time for me. This was a convicting question for me especially after the week I've had. The thought doesn't stop there. Mariel goes on to ask some questions for us to evaluate our hearts: "am I frustrated when I have to pick up my husband's socks for the tenth time today? Do I get short-tempered with my children when they interrupt my "me" time? Am I willing to joyfully cook a meal for a neighbor in need or serve in the church nursery, even though I don't "feel" like it? Do I live for "me"?" I wish I could say I was looking to be like Jesus and serve with a willing heart. Unfortunately, like my friend and probably many others, I often seek out to serve self rather than deny self. For me I find it easier to serve others more than my family. I think I'm more selfish when it comes to my family and serving them. This week really was an example of that. Here's how my week has been: during the previous weekend Noah, my 2 year old, began having a yucky, runny nose. On Monday after meeting with a friend, I was hanging out with Paul and Noah watching a little TV when all of a sudden I'm wearing vomit-nice soured milk and chocolate mixed with it. I thought maybe it was because he had too much cookie dough, but later in the evening he became sick again-thus the stomach bug has hit our family. I was up off and on all night. Then late Thursday night/early Friday morning Timothy gets sick. By this time now I'm really exhausted and just want to sleep. Now I'm keeping an eye on Noah hoping he is better and being close by for Timothy for the times he would get sick. So far I'm handling things ok. Not the total servants heart, but not totally into self yet. I'm still very tired though and really wanting to sleep. During all this time I'm not feeling so hot either; feeling very sick but not getting sick. Friday Timothy moped around and was out of it. You could really tell he was sick. Friday evening Abigail starts complaining about her stomach hurting. Oh no I thought. Of all the ones to get sick, I really don't want her to be sick because she whines a bit more. By now I've really had about all the whining I think I could handle from Noah. This week, also, Paul had the opportunity to help a gentleman out at his office, so he's been gone all day until bedtime and having to get up really early for the paper route. Now Abigail is sick and whining and I'm totally tired and wanting a vacation of peace and quiet. Now I'm looking at the thought of "when do I get a break". I now have no patience, and compassion went out the window when Abigail started complaining with her stomach hurting. So when I read this lesson today I was slapped in the face. I'm so into what I can get for me instead of serving my sick children and husband (who also is battling with some type of sickness). Definitely not a servants heart!!!

Then we see another beautiful example of servitude in Matthew 14:1-21. In verses 1-12 we see John the Baptist is beheaded. V. 13 & 14  says, "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." Jesus was trying to get away and be alone with God to deal with His grief and here comes the crowd. This crowd was full of people with needs-sick people, disabled people, dying people, possessed people. "Imagine the noise, the smells, and the depth of depravity closing in around Him, as His soul mourns for John. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He felt emotion, grief, and pain. He grew tired, weary, and hungry." (pg 93, Knowing God...) Verse 14 tells us that first Jesus had compassion on them and secondly he healed their sick. "In the midst of the deep needs of His own soul, He chose to deny self and serve others with compassion."(93)  Verse 15 & 16 tells us it was evening. The disciples wanted to send the people away so they could get food. What do we see Jesus do? Serve again! He fed the crowd. "Our Savior chooses to serve again. What a model for us! What a Master we serve that He denies Himself for our sakes, out of compassionate love." (93)

So how can I mimic Jesus' example of servitude in my own life as I live out my service to my Master Jesus? There are so many things in my heart that I have to work on. I'm so very thankful that Jesus is my example and shows me my own heart at just the time I need it. I pray that my heart would be to serve my family (and others) above myself no matter how I'm feeling at the time. Jesus had compassion; therefore I must show compassion. I need to become a servant like Christ.

(Thanks Mariel for being real and letting Jesus use you in so many ways and in so many lives! I love you dear friend!)