In 1 Peter 4:10 it says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  I was thinking this morning that I need to strive to be better, a better wife, mother, daughter, friend.  I serve a different position for different people and they deserve the best I can give them. 

For the next few weeks I want you to wake up and ask God how can I better serve your Kingdom?  How can I better serve my husband?  How can better serve my friends?  Instead of waking up and thinking about how someone will help you today; why not think about helping someone else.

I have so many selfish ambitions; so many thoughts are about me.  I need to make my life about serving others.  I need to use the gifts God has given me to be a faithful steward of God’s grace.  I love watching the Liberty Mutual commercials.  It makes me think of what happens when we strive to be better.  One act of kindness flows out into another and then another.  It only takes one match to light thousands of candles.  Why because once you light the first, the rest can be lit by the previous one and so goes serving others. When we help out someone it reminds them they should do the same.  It reminds me that instead of hiding my talents and gifts I need to let them shine.  Once I do then it will cause others to shine. 

So for a week I’m going to take a position I hold in my life and think how I better serve in this position.  Each week a new position and a new joyful feeling of knowing we’re serving God and His people to the best of our abilities.

³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:3-5 (NIV)

When I was praying this morning Jesus brought this scripture back to my remembrance.  These men that lugged this man in could have turned around when they saw the crowd but they was determined to see him set free.  How many of us are as determined to see our friends or family members set free?  We say we want to help but when it gets hard we give up.  Your family could be running from God and because they have pushed you aside you have stopped praying for them.  God doesn’t answer those who give up; He answers those who persevere.  The bible says when Jesus saw their faith, not his.  It was them that tore off the roof to get him to Jesus.  Sometimes people are paralyzed by their circumstances that they can’t get to Jesus on their own.  It’s up to us to get them there.  What are you willing to do to get your friends or family set free?

I was watching this old movie the other day called “Dear God.”  It was about this con man who was sentenced to keep a job for 30 days.  He started working at the post office in the dead letters department.  They had an abundance of undeliverable letters from the Easter bunny, Santa Clause, and God.  The man began to open the God letters even though it was legal to do so.  He started answering the God letters by responding to the people’s prayers.  One girl wanted ride a horse so he made that happen for her.  Another woman cleaned a hotel all day and couldn’t find the strength to clean her own house after a long day of work.  They went into her house while she was away and clean her house.  Another guy was lonely after his wife died and wanted to commit suicide to end the loneliness.  They found him a companion.

This movie got me to thinking about what we can do to help others.  My church like many others helps the community in many ways.  We feed the jail and give out groceries to those in need.  Sometimes we pay people’s power and water bills.  We visit people in hospitals and just meet any needs that arise.  I want to encourage you to do the same.  You might say well I don’t really have the money to help but sometimes you don’t need money.  Sometimes just a hug will make a huge difference.  It doesn’t cost a thing to let someone know you care.  God uses people to help other people.  There’s not going to be something to fall from the sky to help that person.  You are to help.  Stop praying for God to meet a person’s need.  You get up and do it. 

When we help others, our needs too will become met.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4 starting with verse 15, “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  It was in supplying Paul’s needs that their needs would be met. 

Pastor James has been talking about reaping and sowing.  When we sow into someone else, it makes a reaping happen in our lives.  It’s something that can’t be stopped.  We as Christians should look for ways to help others.  We should want to do good for others not to receive anything in return but to help them have a better day.  There’s not greater feeling than to help someone.  So help someone today and see how it will change your life forever.

¹⁶ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.^[g] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
¹⁸ He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’^[h] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
²⁰ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.^[j] What do I still lack?”
²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
²³ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

After reading this scripture I think in my mind I don’t want to be rich.  I want to make enter into Heaven.  Most say I don’t have anything to worry about because I’ll never be rich.  I think we are missing the picture though.  I don’t think Jesus is saying that a rich person will not go to Heaven.  There are many rich people who are sold out Christians.  It’s the people who are like this young man who is rich and is not willing to give it up when God asked. 

You might not have a mansion or drive the finest of cars but you still have things that you cherish.  You still have things that you value.  The main point Jesus was trying to make was if you are not willing to give up those things that you value then you can’t make it to Heaven.  It doesn’t have to be the finest of things.  It could be anything, anything that you value that you’re not willing to give up.  I know there are things in my life that would be hard to give up if God asked for me to do so.  I have to think hard about it myself and ask myself is there anything holding me back from the kingdom of God?  Could I really give all I have?  I believe we have to all ask ourselves that question.  We must be obedient to God and listen for His voice.  Nothing is worth losing a spot in His kingdom.

Honor the LORD with your possessions,
      And with the firstfruits of all your increase; Proverbs 3:9

God has been really dealing with me on this scripture.  We live in a trailer that I personally can’t wait to get out of.  It’s an alright place to live but now with Samuel here, we need something better.  We keep on believing God for a new house.  I know it will come but God also reminded me to honor Him with my possessions.  You see I’m not the best house keeper.  I can’t stand to do dishes.  I don’t own a dishwasher and I don’t know I just don’t like doing them.  Sometimes I let them go longer than they should.  God began to deal with me on that.  He says why would I give you a better home if you aren’t taking care of the one that I have already given you.  It’s true.  Just like we wouldn’t give our child new toys if all they did was destroy the toys they already have.  That would be senseless!  God is the same way.  Why would He give us something better if we are not honoring what He’s given us already?

It’s in everything.  Why would God give us more money if we are not using the money we have already wisely?  We have to remember to honor God with our stuff.  What if you gave someone a beautiful sweater that you spent time picking out to make sure if was just right, but a week later you saw that there was holes and stains all over it.  Do you think that you would want to buy them another sweater right away?  No you wouldn’t.  You would be more reluctant to buy them something down the road because they didn’t honor your time and thoughtfulness by taking care of what you gave them.  However, if you had bought the sweater and they took immaculate care of it, you would want to buy them something else.  You would feel like they really appreciated your time and effort.  They honored you by taking care of what you gave them.  God feels the same way.  He wants us to honor Him with what He has given us.

So we all know the parable of the talents, to one servant the lord gives five, another two and another one.  The one who had five went and made five more, the servant with two went and made two more but the servant with one went and hid his talent.  When the lord comes back He was pleased with first two but was disappointed with the servant who hid his talent.  We look at this parable and say it’s all about using the talents and gifts that God has given us.  I believe we should use the talents and gifts that God has given us but I believe this parable is more than that. 

You see the talents in this parable are talking about money.  He told the servant with one he should have put the money in the bank to at least gain interest.  The servants excuse was that he was afraid.  I believe God is talking to us about money.  A lot of people don’t give because they think what they have to give isn’t worth much.  They can’t give $500 like they see other people giving.  God isn’t concerned with how much a person is giving; He’s just concerned that he is giving.  Like He told His servant even if you would have made a few pennies off of what I gave you then I wouldn’t have been upset.  God wants the same from us.  We might not have much left over after we pay tithes and bills but He wants us to use some of what’s left over for His Kingdom.  Malachi 3:8 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”  Tithes and offerings are two separate things.  By not using what we have no matter what the value, we are not only robbing God but we are robbing ourselves blessings.

When the widow woman threw two mites into the treasury Jesus was moved and said she’s giving more than you all.  Jesus knew she had given her all.  Jesus doesn’t care if it is two pennies as long as you are giving what you can.  Don’t be afraid because it’s not rich in your eyes; it’s a lot in Jesus’ eyes.  When we give it will be given back to us in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
We just have to start the process.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 7 where Paul is talking to the unmarried, urging them to stay unmarried if they can. In verse 35 it says, “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.” I was talking to God about this scripture and how it upset me. I love my husband and I wouldn’t take anything for him. Yet I don’t want distractions in my life toward God either. I asked God about this. He said that if a husband and wife could become one flesh in Him that those distractions would fade away. When Kevin and I become one in Christ we can do some powerful things. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” So when we as husband and wife stand with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost then we will not be broken. The task is now to become that one flesh that Christ wants us to be. Sure when we get married we become one flesh with each other. One flesh is about letting go of our wants and desires and picking up our spouses. It’s about loving them the way 1 Corinthians 13 describes love. When we become one flesh with God though we let go of our wants and pick up God’s. We start doing what God has for us as a couple to do. We pray together, we fast together, we worship together. It’s up to us to do what we can to be what God needs us to be.

^{John 6:15} Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. ¹⁸ Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. ¹⁹ So when they had rowed about three or four miles,^[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

I’ve read this story many times but have never noticed the last verse.  It says that as soon as they willingly received Jesus in the boat, they immediately arrived where they were going.  This is a miracle I think we overlook.  The sea at its skinniest was at least 7 miles across but the scriptures say they only rowed 3 to 4 miles.  They still at the least 3 miles to arrive at land but when they received Jesus into the boat they arrived immediately.  They had been struggling and fighting to get to where they were going but all they needed was to willingly accept Jesus in the boat with them. 

You might be fighting to get somewhere and you feel like you’re up against some crashing waves.  I encourage you to let Jesus into your situation and He’ll take you where you need to go.  There’s no reason for you to fight this battle on your own.  Jesus is ready and willing to get into your situation and bring you through it.  You just have to willingly accept Him into your “boat.”  He doesn’t go where He isn’t invited.

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money;^[h] take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Jesus was telling the disciples that they needed to pay their taxes.  It was the law and they should obey the law.  Jesus told Peter to go out, cast a hook in the water and whatever fish came up first would have sufficient funds in it to pay the taxes. 

That’s thinking outside the box.  I could see a pearl in a clam’s mouth but a coin in a fish’s mouth.  Jesus wanted to make a point here.  To me He wanted to point out that His Father could always provide not matter what. 

In your life you might be looking around not sure what to do next.  The bills might be piling up and there’s no money coming that you can see.  I encourage you to trust God that He will provide exactly what you need.  If He can provide for Jesus, He can provide for you.  Nothing is too hard for our God. 

The main thing here is obedience.  You have to listen to God to direct you what you need to do.  If Peter had never went out to catch the fish, he wouldn’t had the money to pay the taxes.  Be obedient to God and watch what He can do.

²⁹ Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. ³⁰ And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” ³¹ Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” ³² So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ³³ They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” ³⁴ So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Matthew 20:29-33

I love these passages of scripture, especially verse 31.  Here are two blind who hear that Jesus is coming by.  They start yelling for Jesus to have mercy on them.  The crowd tells them to be quiet, but they don’t listen at all.  It says they cried out all the more.  They start yelling louder.  They didn’t care what the crowd thought they just wanted to be healed.  I imagine they are dodging their way through the crowd trying to find Him.  The crowd is probably pushing them back, meantime they continue to shout even louder than before.  They must have been yelling extremely loud because even with the roar of the crowd, Jesus heard them.  Jesus stops the crowd and commands silence.  He calls them and asks what they want.  They tell Jesus they want their eyes open and because of their persistence, He has compassion on them and heals them.

It makes me wonder if they would have ever got their miracle had they listened to the crowd.  What if they would have closed their mouths in silence when the crowd demanded it?  I trust they would have never been healed.  They would have lived the rest of their lives in darkness.  Their miracle would have never happen.  I believe that’s what has happened to a lot of us.  We heard Jesus was passing by and we called out to Him but for some reason we stopped.  Maybe it was a friend who made fun of us, maybe it was the devil that told us to be quiet; whatever it was robbed us of our miracle.  Now we sit in darkness wanting to be free of this debilitating condition. 

It’s a condition that robs you every day of freedom, love, joy, peace and all the things that you so long to have.  Maybe your condition is an actual sickness or maybe it’s lust, fear, doubt, pride.  Whatever it is, it’s not to late to call out to Him.  It’s not too late to be free.  In those days Jesus didn’t pass by all the time but now He is waiting and willing for someone to call out to Him.  He wants to set your free.  It’s up to you.  Will you remain in your darkness or you will you allow Jesus to bring light to you?  It’s your choice!  Call to Him and He will answer.