let go

Serving God: Listen To God’s Son
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Serving God: Listen To God’s Son

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day four in the tenth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Listen To God’s Son

“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’“
Luke 9:34-35 (NIV)

What does it mean to listen to someone?  Does that mean the same thing to you as hearing someone?  Why?  What types of things make you believe that a person has listened to you?  What would make you think they have not listened?  How often do you listen to God and His Son, Jesus Christ?  Would the people closest to you agree with your answer?  What evidence could you give to support your answer?  How does listening to God’s Son about everything help you as you serve?

Sometimes we give instructions to someone, perhaps someone we have served or serve with, only to get a response of, “I hear you.”  How we take that response usually hinges on a variety of variables including tone of voice, body language, and physical action that accompanies the response.  When someone says, “I hear you” and they are immediately doing what was instructed, we tend to believe they actually listened.  If there is no change in what they are doing, we conclude they may have heard but they weren’t listening.  God wants our listening to be put into action by the way we serve others.

As you pray, ask God to help you be an obedient listener to the instructions that come from His Son.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Listen For Reconciliation
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Serving God: Listen For Reconciliation

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day three in the tenth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Listen For Reconciliation

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.“
Matthew 18:15-16 (NIV)

How often do you find yourself at odds with someone?  What kinds of things tend to extend the distance between people?  What things help to bridge the gap when differences have divided people?  Have you ever been wronged by someone you serve with?  By someone you serve?  Have you ever wronged someone you serve with?  Someone you serve?  Have you ever resolved any of those issues?  How many of them were misunderstandings that a resolution was helped along by deliberate listening?

While not always a cure for every conflict, few conflicts are ever resolved without purposeful listening.  When you serve, there will always be a need for reconciliation because even in the best of circumstances, we do things that offend those we serve with and those we serve.  When we listen for reconciliation, we are able to hear beyond the facts and listen to the heart of the person we need reconciled with. 

As you pray, ask God to show you any situations in your life where you need to listen for reconciliation.  Pray that you would not ignore the conflict, but that you would listen for the common ground that you have in Christ.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Listen For Understanding
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Serving God: Listen For Understanding

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day two in the tenth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Listen For Understanding

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’   Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand.’“
Matthew 15:8-10 (NIV)

How much of what you hear do you think you really understand?  What are some listening techniques that would increase your level of understanding.  How does a growing relationship with a person help you to have a greater understanding of them when you listen?  How much effort is required to understand those you serve?  How is your serving changed when you choose to listen with understanding?

Years ago I was a team leader and cabin dad at a 5th & 6th grade camp where one of the campers I was responsible for was an incredible challenge from day one.  It didn’t matter what was said by me or the camp dean, this guy was going to do his own thing no matter what.  It all reached a boiling point the first night when we were out as a team doing a scavenger hunt and he couldn’t get his mind off a flashlight that was back in the cabin.  He ran off from the group and I was ready to give up and go home right then.  Fortunately, the camp dean sat down with me and helped me to listen with understanding as I served.  It turned out to be a great week for all of us.

As you pray, ask God to help you have a greater understanding of unseen issues as you listen to those you serve.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Listen For Truth
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Serving God: Listen For Truth

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day one in the tenth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Listen For Truth

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.“
Ephesians 4:14-16 (NIV)

How much of what you hear on a daily basis do you believe is true?  How would you know?  Of the things that you don’t believe to be true, is there often an element of truth in them?  Have you ever agreed to do something that sounded much different when explained than what it actually turned out to be?  How often do you exaggerate, or minimize, the truth when you are trying to get people to see things your way?  How does a person’s tendency to do that make it so important to really listen for truth when serving?

Most of us rarely put a lot of effort into listening, so we only hear what we want to hear.  We even go so far as to define the words we do hear according to how we want them to sound.  We are too often satisfied with the, “’How are you doing?’ ‘Fine’ ‘Have a good day’” exchange that fills our interactions with people.  When serving, it is important to listen beyond the words that are spoken, or not spoken, and hear what the heart and soul are saying.

As you pray, ask God to help you be one who is quick to listen.  As you listen to those you serve, ask God to help you hear the truth in what is being said and in what is being left out.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Teach With Integrity
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Serving God: Teach With Integrity

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Teach With Integrity

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.“
Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

Do you teach others? Are you sure? Do you teach more by what you say or what you do? In serving, is it possible to separate the two parts of teaching? Why? Have you ever been asked to teach something that you didn’t believe in? Were you able to do it? How effective do you think it would be? How careful are you in making sure your actions match your words to those you serve?

Whether we like it or not, our service to others teaches something to those who hear and watch what we do. Unfortunately, there are times when what they see is very different from what they hear. When we serve others and tell them things have to be done a certain way and then we don’t do it that way ourselves, we plant seeds of doubt in the minds of people regarding everything we attempt to say and teach.

As you pray, ask God to help you be aware of the teaching that takes place through your life. Pray that a life of integrity would help you to have words and actions that match. Pray that the people you serve would learn good lessons from you as you represent One who always does what He says. Pray that people would trust your teaching because of your integrity.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Guided By Integrity
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Serving God: Guided By Integrity

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day six in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Guided By Integrity

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.“
Proverbs 11:2-3 (NIV)

What determines whether you do a particular thing or not? How much influence does peer pressure have on you? Would the people closest to you agree with your answer? How much influence do you have on those around you? Is it a positive or negative influence? Why? How likely are you to finish something difficult just because you said you would? Do you have a tendency to give up on things that you once committed to? How will integrity guide the way you serve today?

What you choose to do when no one appears to be watching says a lot about your integrity. Sometimes when we serve others, it is tempting to take short-cuts when we believe no one would notice. When our serving is guided by integrity, we find ourselves being fully invested with our time, ability, and resources in those we serve. We then make decisions based on what is right rather than on what is easy.

As you pray, ask God for the courage to allow integrity to be your guide as you serve others.  Pray that you would choose to do the right things even when no one would notice if you didn’t.  Pray that your decision to be guided by integrity would be contagious to those you serve and those you serve with.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Leading With Integrity
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Serving God: Leading With Integrity

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day five in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Leading With Integrity

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.  And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.“
Psalm 78:70-72 (NIV)

How easy is it to follow someone who doesn’t seem to know where they are going?  How about serving when your leader can’t seem to make up their mind about what needs done?  How do you feel when you do something to help others and later find out you had been misled and the help didn’t go where it was supposed to?  How does integrity help you to lead people in a way that serves others rather than yourself?

Very few, if any, of us like to follow a “wishy-washy” leader. When we begin to have doubts about a leader’s commitment to doing what they say, it isn’t long before we hesitate to follow. When we lead with integrity, those we are serving are more likely to benefit because they have a confidence they will not be let down by our lack of follow-through. When we lead with integrity, it means we will make every effort to do what we say we will and simply apologize without making excuses when we can’t.

As you pray, ask God to help you be a person who leads with integrity as you serve others. Pray that you would be careful with the words you say and with the promises you make so that your integrity is not questioned.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Upheld By Integrity
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Serving God: Upheld By Integrity

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day four in the ninth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Upheld By Integrity

“I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.  In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.“
Psalm 41:11-12 (NIV)

Do you know people who say one thing and then turn around and do something else?  How consistent are you at keeping your word?  When the going gets tough, are you more likely to finish things because you said you would or make excuses for why you quit?  Where you serve now, how often have you felt like giving up?  What has kept you serving?  How does the integrity of God hold you up when you are weary?

I think that most people have many times in life when they just feel like giving up.  Often, for the person of integrity, we keep going simply because we said we would.  We persevere because of our integrity and we are upheld by the integrity of God.  As we serve, even if it is just a cup of cold water to one who is thirsty, we can be assured by the integrity of God that He notices.

As you pray, ask God to uphold you in the hard times of life.  Pray that your integrity will lead you to follow through with what you say you will do.  Pray that your commitment to integrity would be a reflection of the integrity of God.  Pray that those you serve would be upheld by you as you serve with integrity.

In prayer,

Tom