Do We Have To SERVE Others?

Our church had encouraged us to participate in SERVE LEXINGTON, a project challenging our members to get into the community and serve others. It sounded like such a great idea when Steve & I signed up with Habitat for Humanity®.

But now here it was Friday night and we were exhausted. Neither of us was excited about our commitment for the following day. “Do we have to go?” We seriously thought about abandoning our commitment. Realizing it was not an option, we tried to encourage one another: “We’ll be so glad we did.” We went to bed dreading the following day. We were so tired and had so much to do of our own. How could we commit an entire day to serve another?

We showed up Saturday morning and the team so happily greeted us with smiles. We were given our instructions and directed to the small house on the corner where we would spend our day serving another. We worked hard! We laughed, we made new friends and we were incredibly blessed by the stories of the other workers.

A curious woman who had been driving by stopped and offered plenty of conversation but didn’t offer to help. She said, “I wish I had time to volunteer.” I thought to myself, “We’ve all put in a full week and have plenty of our own work to do but we have CHOSEN TO SERVE.” One of the other volunteers was bold in his reply, “You have time. You’ve had time to have three strokes in the amount of time you’ve been here talking.”

We were there serving because we chose to be there serving. We were there serving because Christ calls us to serve others!

¹⁶By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

We left the project exhausted and yet exhilarated by the experience. As we walked to the car to leave I glanced back at the homeowner. She was smiling ear-to-ear admiring the results of the day’s work. I knew we had made the right choice. We have the awesome privilege to serve others!

Photo by Mitch Lawrence

The Unsuccessful Attempt

The load is heavy and we cannot bear it on our own!

As I grow more aware of the need for Christ’s power in my life, developing a deeper prayer life has become a priority. I started my day at 5 am in an extended time of prayer.

Then read about a father who brought his boy who was possessed by a spirit to the disciples to drive out the spirit. The disciples were unsuccessful so Jesus rebuked the impure spirit and commanded it to come out of the boy and never enter him again.

Jesus had previously given the disciples the authority to cast out demons. They were attempting to accomplish one of the very things He had sent them to do yet they were unsuccessful.

They asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” (Mark 9:28b). He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

Is it possible the disciples, who had experienced previous success, had approached the task in their own strength rather than prayerfully drawing on divine power?

The Lord has called each of us as believers to specific tasks. May we not attempt to function in our own power or rely on previous success.

Let’s prayerfully depend upon the One who grants the strength and power to succeed!

What is your task at hand and are you relying on the power of prayer?

“To Do File Shows Organizing And Planning Tasks” by Stuart Miles

What I find ATTRACTIVE in MY Man!

We’ve walked down a few rocky roads to get here and after 27 years of marriage, here are a few things I find incredibly attractive in MY man and one that makes him IRRESISTIBLE!

He can bring home the bacon AND fry it up in the pan. As I’ve increased my working hours Steve has become incredibly helpful in cooking meals which frees me up to be his helpmate in other areas. Men, don’t be afraid to make your way in the kitchen. Ladies, get out of his way in the kitchen and let him do his thing even if it’s different than your thing!

He works hard to support our family and keeps it positive. He rarely complains and yet patiently listens to me communicate every detail of my day.

He is an unselfish lover. That’s all I need to say about that. Husbands, be unselfish lovers. Wives, give your man the opportunity to be an unselfish lover. It’s a gift from the Lord and healthy for our marriages.

He verbally expresses his love for me and tells me I am beautiful on a regular basis. He says it with such sincerity that I believe his sincerity. Men, sincerely tell your wife how much you admire her beauty. Ladies, accept & acknowledge his words as truth.

And here is something I find IRRESISTIBLE about MY man. Are you ready for this? He prays for me! A few weeks ago I felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities of my day. My stress had reached an unhealthy level. Sensing my heaviness he acted and what happened next made him irresistible! He wrapped his big strong arms around me and began to pray over me and my day. As the words flowed from his mouth I admired him all the more for his leadership!

Men, pray over your wife! There is little more appealing to us than to have our husband lead with prayer!

Ladies, what do you find attractive about your man?

“Couple Sitting Face To Face” by Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Would You Stick Your Hand Into This Trap?

I wanted to use a few of my husband’s foothold traps for a team building exercise at work. When I showed concern about my team members’ safety my tough guy husband purposefully chose to stick his hand into a set trap to prove to me that it would not hurt. It really caught me off guard and scared me. I took his word for it since I was not brave enough to try it on my own.

Had it been a larger foothold trap he would have never attempted such a trick since he is educated to know his traps.

I may not be willing to purposefully stick my hand into that trap but I recently found myself tempted by another sort of trap!

During a routine internet search, a pornography website popped up on my computer screen. After my initial shock I immediately closed the website. How could I have become so completely ignorant of the danger right there under my fingertips? It was a trap that I chose not to engage.

There are two important insights we can learn from James 1:12-14 concerning traps:

¹²Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. James 1:12-14 (NKJV)

1. Each individual has his/her own individual desires.

The phrase “His own desire” refers to each individual’s nature. Our own nature lusts and desires after that which will bring satisfaction to the flesh.

Thankfully, pornography has not proven to be a strong temptation for me but my list of individual temptations is not short.

2. Temptation promises something good but turns out to be harmful.

Take a close look at the following words used here:

Drawn away. This Gr. Word was used to describe wild game being lured into traps. Just as animals can be drawn to their deaths by attractive baits, temptation promises people something good, which is actually harmful.*

Enticed. A fishing term that means “to capture” or “to catch with bait.”*

Whether your temptation is with pornography, pride, unkindness, self-centeredness, impatience or lack of forgiveness, sticking your nose where it does not belong, cheating, stealing, overeating, gossiping, lying, telling half-truths, or laziness it is all a TRAP brought on by our own evil desires and we don’t have to stick our hand into the trap!

What traps are you tempted to stick your hand into?

* The John MacArthur Study Bible pg 1927

My Husband Said I Look FAT!

After my husband and I attend an event, when we leave the building he will often tell me “You were the prettiest woman there.” He is constantly praising me and has long convinced me of his sincerity in believing I am a beautiful woman (both inside and out).

This week as I dressed for work, he sat on the edge of the bed talking. He said, “Baby, you look incredible in that dress.” I continued with my task and did not give any recognition of his words. So as I slipped on my sweater, he said: “That sweater makes you look fat.”

I immediately turned with a look of shock! He definitely got my attention. He smiled and brought to my attention how often his praise falls on deaf ears. He was testing me to see if I would notice a negative comment.

It served as a great reminder to me that I need to recognize his praise and appreciate his attempts at lifting me up as his wife.

Why is it so easy to overlook praise and appreciation and yet negativity goes right to the heart?

Just in case, I went ahead and changed my sweater!

Suprised Young Woman by David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How Do You Measure That?

I’ve been running for several years now and to be honest I’ve been perfectly content to go out for a run and just be satisfied that I accomplished the task and often give little regard to my actual performance.

My very generous & thoughtful sister gave me a Baby-G (a device worn on the wrist to measure distance and speed). I find that the days I wear this device my performance significantly increases. I become more aware of my pace and the distance I run. I feel more accomplished (or disappointed) at the end of the run because I am able to measure my performance.

The same runs true in the issues of life. If there is no source for measurement we may be content to go about the business of our day, finishing the task at hand with no regard to our performance. However, if we measure our progress as we go we tend to strive for a better performance and we tend to be more productive.

Do you have a resource for measuring your daily walk? I sure do! The Bible is my most valued tool. I can compare my daily activities to what the Bible teaches.

For example: I can measure my love for others based on the description of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails…

When I find myself tempted to be impatient or rude to my spouse, sibling, friend, or co-worker I can say to myself: “I choose to respond with patience because love is patient and love is not rude.”

What is your source for measurement?

“Woman Hand Measure By A Cartridge Meter Isolated On White Backgr” by num_skyman/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

All Cracked Up!

Spring cleaning has hit hard at the Stucky house. We cleaned out the basement last week and this week we conquered the attic. I see window cleaning in our near future. In our cleaning frenzy I found a beautiful pot that has a crack in the bottom. I thought about tossing it in the trash but it’s such an attractive piece. Does the crack make it worthless?

I can relate since I certainly have a few cracks of my own. Do those cracks disqualify me or discredit the less flawed areas of my life?

Paul specifically prayed for the Christians in Philippi to be “sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:10) The word sincere means genuine. One commentator suggests “sincere” may have originally meant “tested by sunlight.” In the ancient world, pottery makers would fill cracks in flawed pottery with wax then glaze and paint the entire vessel making it difficult to judge the quality of the piece. Upon purchase, to avoid being defrauded, the only way to know if the pot was inferior was to hold it up to the sunlight.

I recently had a “sunlight” exposure and sure enough my cracks were revealed.

We can all strive to cover our cracks and make a pretty outward appearance, but once exposed to the sunlight they become obvious.

When the sunlight exposes our sin – instead of covering it with outward appearances – we can go to the heart of the matter. There is a Potter and He is in the business of fixing cracked pots.

⁸Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)

Rather than striving to hide our flaws, let us expose them to the sunlight and submit to the hand of the Potter!

“Making Pottery” by Photokanok/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Very Unusual Knock on My Front Door!

There was a knock on my front door. I answered to find a very classy woman 15 years my senior. She was beautiful, very well dressed, awkward and obviously flustered. She was struggling with her words, unsure how to say what she needed to say. She looked at me then glanced at my two children standing beside me and I quickly realized what would follow would not be pleasant. I directed the children off to a task and invited her to sit on my porch. I closed the front door behind me to allow privacy as she asked me if I were having an affair with her husband!

She had found my business card in his wallet and tracked me down suspecting me as the adulterous woman. I didn’t know how he possessed my card and I didn’t recognize him by name but since we were in the process of filling a rental property I suspected he had come to our open house.

She explained how a community leader – someone close to her family – had an affair with a mutual friend and their sin had not only destroyed two families but rocked the entire community. She now questioned her own husband.

I had not even dressed for the day, combed my hair or put on makeup and here she was intimidating me with her beauty and class. I quickly assured her how blessed I was in my own marriage and had no need or desire for another. I explained how mine and my husband’s commitments went deeper than our own relationship because we were committed to the Lord.

As we continued to sit on the porch, I comforted her with scripture, we prayed together and I became thankful that she had come. Had she gone elsewhere they may not have pointed her to Christ, the great comforter. We embraced and said our goodbyes and I continued to pray for her throughout the week – grieved over the consequences of sin of those I had never even met.

We may think our sin is private and no one will know or be affected but the Bible says “you may be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

” For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Luke 8:17 (NIV)

We never know when an opportunity will knock to share our faith and comfort someone, even if that person may feel hostile towards us at first. So we need to have our eyes open to opportunities, even when we aren’t seeking them out. You never know who will knock on your door!

“Woman Covering Her Mouth With Both Hands” by photostock/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is it the right time & place for battle?

It looks like I may have to go to battle and fight for something of importance to me.

I’ve often heard the saying “pick your battles” and never given much thought as to the importance of choosing the right battlefield until reading about the treason of Absalom, King David’s son.

When David heard of the treason his first response was “Arise, and let us flee or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 2 Samuel 15:14b

David had been a fighting machine and experienced many victories. Instead of standing his ground to fight he fled toward way of the wilderness. At a later time he would number the people and set captains over them. He then sent them out to fight where they would find victory.

“The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place that day. For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.” 2 Samuel 18:7,8

David’s wisdom in choosing the right time and place to fight the battle saved lives of his own people and brought victory.

Some battles cannot be escaped and we too must use wisdom in timing our battles and choosing the right battlefield. Timing and location can make all the difference in who wins the victory.

“Woman with Boxing Gloves by Ambro”/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”

Chasing Lost Donkeys

When asked, “How are you doing?” (This question was concerning a specific area of my life.) I replied, “I feel like I could be doing something more significant.” He commented back, “I think most of us feel the same way.” The reply startled me since I didn’t realize he felt that way. How did I miss this? He does an incredible job of humbly accepting this stage as part of his life. The conversation stuck with me for days. Then while reading 1 Samuel chapters 9-10 I found great encouragement concerning the matter.

Saul’s father sent him on a mission to find lost donkeys. Did Saul think he could be doing something more significant than chasing lost donkeys?

In his day, lost donkeys represented lost wealth. Saul’s father could have sent the servants to collect the lost donkeys but he put Saul in charge of this effort. Three days later the lost donkeys still had not been located but before giving up hope he sought the assistance of the prophet Samuel.

What happened next leaves me in awe of God. God used the 3 day donkey search to place Saul in the right place at the right time. Saul would approach Samuel in search of donkeys. Samuel would pour oil over Saul’s head anointing him to be the first king of Israel. In an instant he went from chasing donkeys to the promise of becoming the future king. WOW!

I admit I feel like I am chasing donkeys. My search has gone on a bit longer than three days. How about you? Are you chasing donkeys? How long has your search taken?

I find great comfort in knowing our donkey chase is setting us up for the fulfilment of the next thing God has for us! Rather than wishing the donkey chase away, let’s use this season preparing for the next step.

My life verse for 2014 is Psalm 37: 4-5. Let’s use this time to delight in the Lord, committing our ways to Him and trusting He will bring it to pass!

“Donkey Family Image courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”