Serving like Jesus did

Some of you may have read one of my earlier posts in this blog about the 30 Day Challenge. If you have and you've put it into use...good! It is something that I am doing in my own life and I try every single day to do something that helps someone else, whether it is at my job, my community, my local neighborhood, or even a loved one. Did you also make your own list of things you could do to help out? Did you share this idea with those around you? Now I want to share something else with all of you. The heart of a servant. To be like Jesus in the modern world. To walk as HE did, talk as HE did, take care of others as HE did, and to give instead of take.Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."Some of my dearest family members are out there now doing just this...being like Jesus. Along with some of their closest friends. They are out spreading the Word of GOD, sharing meals with those who don't have, giving their time, money, and material goods to those who have not. They have formed a missions team in their area to serve GOD by serving others. If we all in our own communities reach out like this what a better world this would be. View their new site at the link here: http://www.servantsheartnwa.org There are thousands of people out in your communities who struggle day to day to make ends meet, to feed their children and themselves, to keep a roof over their heads, find a way to work and so much more! There are those who just need someone to listen to their story, to say an encouraging word, to give comfort and solace to their aching hearts. Won't you take a stand today to reach out to those in need? Won't you live as Jesus lived? If you have clothes you no longer wear, or have never worn - shoes that are still new or like new - books and magazines taking up space - then find someone out there who doesn't have and give it to them. After you cook a meal, if you know you have leftovers, arrange with the local soup kitchen to pick it up or deliver it to them...or invite the hungry to a meal and conversation.If you see someone stranded on the side of the road, offer them a ride to help or a phone so they can call someone or if your like my husband help them fix it or push them off the road out of harms way. If you know an area where homeless people are and it is cool or even cold outside take them blankets, hats, mittens, and scarves. Offer a ride to a shelter that can help them out for a few weeks.Rake and mow your neighbors yard just for the fun of it! Pick up their trash. Watch their kids for them. Bake them some cookies. Walk over and say Hi. I could go on for a long time with this...it is one of my passions, helping others, serving others. Don't be afraid to get out there and do and to give!!! GOD is with you. Don't be offended if no one says Thank You, most times they have been so hurt and so disheartened they don't trust easily. Instead, Thank them for allowing you to give and to share what you do have for them!!

Being Like, Loving Like, Doing Like Jesus

Jesus tells us a new commandment. Not to abolish the old commandment but to enrich what already existed. Jesus became the unconditional love for all of us as He died to save us, to bring us into that forgiving grace for GOD to see us and love us. John 13: 34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another." Jesus did many things through out his short life on earth for us. He washed his disciples feet, he healed the sick, brought back to life the dead, prayed for us, prayed to GOD, but my favorite is, He came to live with us, to be on earth just as we are, and ate, slept, worked, went to church, spent time with His friends, just like we do today. Oh, how I long to walk and talk with my Savior. "Whatever you want others to do for you, do so for them, for this is the Law and Prophets." Matthew 7:12 This verse came from Jesus, telling us that if we want to be treated kindly and well to be sure we treat others just like we want to be treated. Now not all people, no matter how nice you are to them, will return to you the same kindness. Not that they are not able to, but maybe they were not treated nicely growing up and haven't seen alot of kindness in their life and just don't know what to say or do. But just remember, we are also to love our enemies. Not just the people who are nice to us but also the ones who hate us, who talk about us behind our backs, who go out of their way to be spiteful, who fake being your friend while stabbing you in the back, ...well Jesus tells us to love them also. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Wave at those who try to avert their eyes from you. Always be ready to say I'm sorry, have a kind word, and spread happiness and joy among those who have forgotten what love and joy are all about.

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5: 22-23 "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."Your words should not be filled with anger, hatred, rage, nor should your actions. For to be of the Spirit these have no place for these are of Lucifer, called Satan. As a christian we should be showing our own family, church members and the outside world what Christ is about by how we talk and act around others.We are to love one another, to offer help when needed, a hand-up when able, bringing joy to those among our own lives, being gentle and kind in word and action. Did you see the man or woman on the street corner today holding up a sign for help? Did you stop to say Hi, exchange names and offer them something to eat? Did you see the young child shivering in the cold because they had no coat? Do you have an elderly one on your very own street who needs assistant and just a kind word? Do you see a single mom struggling to make ends meet? Or the single dad raising his daughters who didn't even have time to clean his yard? What will you do? For Christ said if we do unto the least of these that we are doing for Him. So take the time to notice those around you instead of looking at the ground as you walk on by and get to know your neighbors.

30 Days Challenge

30 Days Closer to GOD. What will that look like? How can you participate? Below is an idea just for this challenge. Get your calendar out and choose your 30 days and listed below are some suggestions to get you started on a life changing course. Write down what you do on each of the 30 days, tell your friends and family and neighbors, get them started on it and perhaps our world will not only be cleaner, but we all might learn a little more about how Jesus lived.
Pick up the trash in your neighbors yard
Give a ride to an elderly person so they can pick up groceries, mail, etc.
Help a child with their homework
Leave a cold bottle of water out for your mailman
Help the hungry by donating food to your local food pantry
Visit the sick in the hospital
Give toy donations to a local women's shelter
Knit baby blankets to give to a local hospital for the premature babies born
Rake the leaves up for a couple of your neighbors
Offer to babysit for a couple who doesn't go out much
Provide a sack lunch to a homeless person standing on a corner holding up a sign for work
Donate your old clothes in good condition to the local thrift store or salvation army
Volunteer at your church to be a door greeter, or to care for the young children
Help a neighbor repaint their home after a damaging storm or offer clean up help
Offer to care for a neighbors pets while they are gone on vacation
Have a potluck dinner and invite all your neighbors
If you see someone broke down on the side of the road offer to lend a hand to help them out
Well this should give you an idea...try to fill up each day with one thing you can do. God Bless

Building up Others

Building up Others
Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."How does one break the cycle of cursing? The LORD clearly tells us to not let any "unwholesome talk" come out of our mouths. We are to put on our "new selfs" as GOD commands in Ephesians 4:22-23. We are not to let our old self alive in its deceitful desires but to be created to be like GOD in true righteousness and holiness.I hear so many say words that have no place in our language other than to be derogatory to who they are speaking to and about. Where is the kindness, compassion and forgiveness we are to give to people as Christ gave to us? In Ephesians 5:1 we are to be "imitators of GOD", living a life of love just as Christ did. How can one say they believe in GOD in one breath and curse another in their next breath? What has happened to common courtesy? What of "Yes,maam," or "sir", or "May I help you with that?" "Let me carry that for you." "Please.", "Thank you." and a simple, "I'm sorry." Or opening a door for someone, whether it is your man opening your car door for you or house door, or a perfect stranger who you hold a door for as they enter or exit a restaurant or store...where has that courtesy gone to?We must also not have "Any" hint of any kind of impurity, no sexual immorality, no greed, no obscenity, no foolish talk, no coarse joking, for these are all things that belong to an idolater and GOD tells us these people have NO inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of GOD. Ephesians 5:3-5.How far we have fallen from our inheritance as I watch how our world behaves today. We have young kids who swear and curse not just at their friends but at their parents. Young kids who steal things not belonging to them just because they are "bored" or "want what their neighbor has". There are preteens involved in beatings, & sexual immorality. Young teen girls becoming pregnant without a thought to how to care for the baby they create. Young teens murdering each other over what they think is love but is so far from that they endanger their spirit. Then of course we have adults too who commit every sin imaginable, stealing, raping, killing, drunkeness, cursing, and many others. This should tell us how far away from GOD these people truly are.As a believer in Christ, isn't it our duty to spread the word of Christ, to those who live this way, to reach their hearts with the truth and to help them become saved and a child of GOD also. We must never stop praying for the lost, we must never stop sharing the word of GOD with all we meet. It is our calling now that we are saved.Take a stand today to commit (or recommit) yourself to your KING, our living GOD, who wants each and everyone of us, for HE does not want to lose any of us. HE wants all of us as his children. Take 5 minutes out of each of your day to pray and talk with someone about Christ, sharing with them the knowledge you have, bringing them to their own rightful inheritance in Heaven.