IT'S ABOUT THE CROSS

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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IT'S ABOUT THE CROSS lyrics:
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Verse 1:
It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay.
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for Him that day.
It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star.
It's not all about the wise men
Who travelled from afar.
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Chorus:
It's about the cross!
It's about my sin!
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again.
It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday.
It's about the cross!
It's about the cross!
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Verse 2:
It's not just about the presents
Underneath the tree.
It's not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me.
It's not just about coming home
To be with those you love.
It's not all about the beauty
In the snow I'm dreaming of.
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Repeat Chorus
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Bridge and Different Chorus:
The beginning of the story is wonderful and great.
But it's the ending that can save you
and that's why we celebrate.
It's about the cross!
It's about my sin!
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again.
It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree.
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him
when it should have been me.
It's about the stone
That was rolled away.
So that you and I could have real life someday...
So that you and I could have real life someday.
It's about the cross!
It's about the cross!
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HOLD ME, JESUS: GOD STOP! GOD'S GOLD!

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

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Catch Up and Must Do Saturday

CATCH-UP:

Throughout the course of this blog, I have referred to the term GOD STOP or GOD'S GOLD. These are moments when you take time to see and marvel at the evident way GOD is working in your life and/or answering your prayers. At these times, you know that GOD is gifting you with some of the great riches of heaven. This past Wednesday, my friend and christian sister, Alana had a wonderful GOD STOP post. In her post, Alana introduces GOD STOPS in this way:

• "There are moments each day when we see Jesus and we recognize Him. I believe there are more moments in each day when we don't see Him for one reason or another. And still other moments when we CHOOSE not to see Him. I'm sad to say the latter two play more a role at times than I would like.Yesterday I made up my mind to see Him! I know I've been missing opportunities to show Christ. This has left me feeling a bit hollow and unhappy with myself. So, I hit my knees yesterday, for a good long while and poured myself out...asking God to fill me up. Late in the afternoon He answered a prayer..."

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Do you see GOD working in the moments of each and everyday? Do you see Him answering your prayers? Are you letting Him hold you until the time is right for His answer?

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GOD STOP #1: I shared with you on TRANSFORMING THURSDAY.

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GOD STOP #2: Many of you know about Jessica's 13 year battle with chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, and bouts of chronic fatigue. We've tried many treatments and therapies all over the country - both mainline and alternative medicine. Last Christmas season, Jessica was in the #1 treatment center for migraines in the world. The bill was very high and over this past year we had been getting not much help paying it from our Cobra insurance. Then, out of the blue, they paid over $7,000. We were thankful but I decided not to call and ask why that's all they paid, for fear I'd rock the boat. I just continued to pray. It was discouraging. I could not see GOD at work in this situation. But GOD has shown me once again that He's at work whether I can see Him or not. Last Tuesday, we opened a new bill to find that over $20,000 additional had been taken off our bill and all they are asking us to pay now is about $1,000. I'll tell you $1,000 looks real good compared to $30,000. I cannot thank GOD enough for this wonderful visual of His faithfulness. Through this past year, He has held me and I have held on tight!

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GOD STOP #3: This past Wednesday night, Melva updated some of us on Lily Grace after our devotional was over. She said, "I just feel the need for us to pray for this little family." We circled up, held hands and prayed. We found out the next morning that as Melva was "feeling the need", Lily Grace was being carried to heaven. Indeed her family will need comfort...need to be held...need to be carried... Read Lily's story at: http://www.lilyblessings.blogspot.com/

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PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT ALANA'S WEDNESDAY POST ON GOD STOPS AS WELL: http://mischiefx2.blogspot.com/

MUST DO:

Many of you have family and friends gathering for the holidays. Tonight we had a Christmas program at church that was truly inspirational. Thank you to all involved. Our company spent the day in NYC going to Times Square and Rockefellar Center to see the Christmas trees....and of course, Toys R Us. When they returned home this evening and we returned home from the Christmas program, I had a home cooked meal ready for us all. Here are a few pics of the NYC trip and dinner afterwards:

I won't finish this week without the ever popular poem about when Jesus does the "holding". .. "the carrying"...

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Footprints
One night I had a dream-

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord

and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,

one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that many times along the path of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest

and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me

and I questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you would walk with me all the way,

but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life

there is only one set of footprints.

"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."

The Lord replied,

"My precious, precious child, I love you

and I would never, never leave you

during your times of trial and suffering.

"When you saw only one set of footprints,

it was then that I carried you."...Mary Stevenson.

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HOLD ME, JESUS: BECAUSE OF YOU, WE'RE FAMILY!

FAMILY FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY

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This week as I've talked about being held by Jesus, I've referred to the word enCOURAGE several times. You know, although many say this is "the most wonderful time of the year", it is also a very stressful time for many. Too much to do...too many unrealistic demands...not enough money...not enough time...not enough sleep...not enough...

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When I look around me at all the needs, I know that only JESUS IS THE ANSWER. I can not be all things to all people and neither can you. He does put people before me whom He wants me to serve...to hold...to carry. He says to love Him and love my neighbor as myself. My neighbor? That would be my family - both physical and spiritual...those who I live close to, work with... There's been a verse that His Holy Spirit keeps putting on my heart over the last 24 hours. I haven't been sure of where it is located in scripture but I know now...because it comes after the other verses I had planned to share with you today. He continues to amaze me at how He works in my life.

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In fact, over my life, JESUS has served me...held me...carried me... Sometimes, I just close my eyes and He's standing behind me with His hands on my shoulders. He wants me to know His presence at all times. As a christian and part of His wonderful eternal family, He wants me to know that He is there for me as my Spirit-led big brother who is full of...

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control
  

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As christians, most of us have read the following verses from Galatians 5 many times: 22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

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What about the verses following? I think, if you read them closely, that you will find that when someone has the characteristics listed above, that person is most likely Spirit-led, like her big brother. And, when one is Spirit-led, her life looks something like the following verses describe...

• if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit
  
• not boastful
  
• not challenging one another
  
• not envying one another
  
• restoring others caught in a tresspass with a spirit of gentleness
  
• bearing one another's burdens..
  

..and thus fulfill the law of Christ.... the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."

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Yep! That's what the Holy Spirit has put on my mind again and again. Today, as you look to the needs of your physical family, also look to the needs of your spiritual family. Is there anyone who needs good done for them over this stressful season? Isn't that what this season is all about? Isn't that what family fellowship is all about? Loving! Serving! Holding! Carrying! Encouraging!

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You're invited back tomorrow for another GOD stop!

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HOLD ME, JESUS: IT WILL GIVE ME THE COURAGE THAT I NEED!

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

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So you came back to hear my GOD STOP stories?!?! How about I just tell you one right now! I am not finished with grading papers and now it's almost Friday...oh, my! Yes, my brain is fried...my Christmas decorations are not up...my "Christmas company" begins arriving tomorrow...oh, and did I say my grades are not all in?!?!?!

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Let's see, can you take a minute and just hear the story? Thanks! I have taught three university courses this semester, all called DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION. Hmmmmmmm... remember my Wednesday post with the words DIFFERENT, DIFFERENCE, DIFFERENCES, DIFFERENTLY.... Yes! That is a big focus of mine. Let me say it again. Two of my favorite, non-Biblical sayings are:

• "Honor the DIFFERENCES!"
• "Not right! Not wrong! Just DIFFERENT!

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So, I had two FINALS classes on Monday and one on Tuesday. Each one I conducted the same. Every class this semester I have written 1, 2, 3 on the board to outline the 3 main things I have planned for class. This class period was no different. I wrote on the board each time something like this:

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1. Complete Dipositional Final Evaluation - then turn it in with Class Profile Portfolio and final Ah-Ha comments.
2. Two Video clips and comments
3. Share with group your Ah-Ha Learnings from this class and Discoveries that you have made about yourself this semester as a future teacher

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When we got to #2, I told the class that this was the most important part of their semester. I would show them two video clips about two people with learning DIFFERENCES and then I would make some comments:

• VIDEO CLIP 1: the first man who had "overcome" says that his teachers made him feel SMALL and he never learned to read or write...he pretty much has to make it on his own...
• VIDEO CLIP 2: the second man is still in a wheelchair and can not speak with his mouth, but his dad pushes his wheelchair/bike in IRONMAN races and he can type and the computer speaks for him. He successfully graduated from high school and college and is "probably happier and more fulfilled than 95% of the people on earth." It has been his father who has been the "wind beneath his wings", his number one encourager, his advocate, the man who carries him...
• I SAT ON THE FLOOR OF MY CLASSROOM WITH MY STUDENTS DESKS CIRCLED AROUND ME AND LOOKED UP AT THEM. MY COMMENTS paraphrased: "I am sitting here on the floor looking up at you to remind you that I am your teacher and that makes me your servant and you are more important than me. I have tried to be here for you this semester to teach, to guide, to inspire, to encourage, "to hold your hand"... I've messed up along the way...for that I am sorry... I'm still your teacher... I love you... I care for you...In my many years of teaching in the public schools, only about 25% of my students had parents who were really caring and supportive...many of that small percentage of parents were "over the top" advocates for their children with disabilities... the other 75% of my students only had an advocate if their teacher was their advocate... an accomodating teacher who knew how to differentiate instruction so that all learners could learn... a teacher who would "hold or carry his/her student if necessary..."

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There were tears in many eyes, in each class, as we finished sharing what we would take with us from this semester. Yet, something happened in the third class that I will never forget. One woman had more tears. Everyone left. She stayed behind. I closed the door. She told me the rest of her story. Last week after our class, she had left and gone by her grandmothers to check on her - only to find her very sick (I believe she said "passed out"). She carried her grandmother to the car and drove her to the hospital. She remained with her grandmother over the course of the next 5 days. Tuesday morning, my student was sitting with her grandmother in the hospital and noticed that something wasn't quite right. She asked her grandmother if she would like to be held. My student picked up her grandmother, carried her across the room, and sat down, continued to hold her in her arms, and began to rock her. It was then, around 11 a.m., that her grandmother died in her arms.

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There I stood holding my student as she sobbed in my arms. Five hours earlier, she had been holding her grandmother. I believe Jesus was holding all three of us.

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I believe that everyone needs to be encouraged. I believe that encouragement is a way to help put courage IN someone. Holding, carrying, advocating are all ways to encourage. When I sing the song, HOLD ME, JESUS...I sing it because I need encouragement. When Dick Hoyt carries Rick Hoyt in those Ironman races, it not only encourages Rick but everyone who watches. When I have taken my students by the hand and literally "carried them" through a school year, that is a great encouragement to them and to their families. When I offered my university students "a hand" several times this semester, it gave them courage to finish the semester strong. When my student offered her grandmother a hand on Tuesday, she gave her grandmother courage to die with grace.

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Have you offered someone a hand recently? Not just a hand-out...but a hand-up! I love this transforming scripture about four faithful friends who gave their hands... plus, they went the extra mile:

Mark 2:3-12 "And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. And being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." ......."I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

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When's the last time you went the extra mile to instill courage in someone?!?

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HOLD ME, JESUS: I'M DIFFERENT! WILL YOU LOVE ME, ANYWAY?

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WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY
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The last several weeks our focus has been on LOVE, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances. Two things happened yesterday that have been incredible GOD STOPS for me. Sorry, you have to wait until tomorrow to hear about them on TRANSFORMING THURSDAY:0) In the meantime, I need to set the stage.
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Throughout my life I have been connected with hundreds of people who were "down and out" for one reason or another. My father came from a family who endured unbelievable hardships during the depression. As I grew up and moved around with my family as an "army brat", I went to many DIFFERENT schools and met many DIFFERENT people in DIFFERENT cultures with DIFFERENT circumstances. I chose to major in Special Education in the early '70's when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was first established. Although I did not know it at the time, I would have opportunity over the years to be a trailblazer or an advocate for people with learning DIFFERENCES.

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Also, in the early 1970's I met and married Steve. Although Steve is the love of my life, he and I are VERY DIFFERENT. Beyond the fact that he's a male and I'm a female, we're both strong in our DIFFERENT personality types, DIFFERENT in birth order, DIFFERENT in giftedness, and DIFFERENT in many of our interests.

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Who would have thought that two such DIFFERENT people would have four children who are so DIFFERENT from each other!?!?! Who would have thought! Over the years, I've come to understand that DIFFERENT members of my family interpret or process things in DIFFERENT ways. We reason DIFFERENTLY! We express DIFFERENTLY! Oh, my! Not only did I go out into the workplace to work with people with extreme DIFFERENCES but I had a family full of DIFFERENCES.
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What I have come to understand is that my goal is not to try to make everyone like me, but to seek to comprehend how to love in spite of the DIFFERENCES. Two of my favorite sayings are:

• "Honor the DIFFERENCES!"
  
• "Not right! Not wrong! Just DIFFERENT!"

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So, why do we judge? Maybe, just maybe, because that's easier than becoming someone who loves enough to be a SUFFERING SERVANT SLAVE!!! That's what we talked about on Monday.

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LORD, your word says that LOVE NEVER FAILS! How do we love those who are so DIFFERENT from us? Is it really by taking the form of a servant? Is it really being patient and kind to even our enemies? Oh, my! This is hard! We'll read Your word today LORD, on Women in the Word Wednesday...we'll learn from You:

Ephesians 3:14-19 "For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God."
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1 Thessalonians 5:7-24 "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore...l
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• encourage one another
• build up one another, just as you also are doing.
• appreciate those who diligently labor among you...esteem them very highly in love because of their work
• live in peace with one another
• admonish the unruly
• encourage the fainthearted
• help the weak
• be patient with all men
• see that no one repays another with evil for evil
• always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.
• rejoice always
• pray without ceasing
• in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
• do not quench the Spirit
• do not despise prophetic utterances
• examine everything carefully
• hold fast to that which is good
• abstain from every form of evil

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."
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Thank you, JESUS!

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NOTE:

In the midst of our Love Never Fails focus, over the last few weeks, I have shown you several video clips of the father/son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt. The most recent one was this past Monday. Honestly, I believe that taking the time to watch this one video clip will be a win/win situation for you. It will ENCOURAGE YOU! It will prepare you for tomorrow's TRANSFORMING THURSDAY post!

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HOLD ME, JESUS: HOLD ME, DADDY! HOLD ME, MOMMY!

Hold me, Daddy! Hold me, Mommy! Can I tell you how much I love those words?!?!!! There's something even more special about them since our kids have grown up and we don't hear them as often. When I think of our theme song: "Hold Me, Jesus", I am confident that Jesus feels the same way as this Mommy when one of us says those words. The "hold me" factor is a needed part of a healthy parent/child relationship. It is a healthy part of the Jesus/me relationship.
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This fall our youngest daughter went off to a different college than she had previously attended. Over the years our "baby", Crystal, experienced being held - ALOT! One day a few months ago, she called and just wanted to talk. She told me about a new friend in her dorm who she was spending a lot of time with. This young lady had lost both of her parents in a motorcycle accident in May. She was having a very hard time. Crystal wanted to know how best she could minister to her friend. Crystal said, "Mom, she doesn't even have a dad or mom anymore who she can just sit on their laps and be held or rocked." Sobering words!
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Yet, just as sobering were the conversations I had later with a friend. I shared with her Crystal's words. My friend didn't say much, but the next time we were together she said, "Patti, I had a hard time with what you told me because as I looked back at my life I couldn't remember being able to just go climb up in my parents laps and be held...your kids are so blessed! I want to do that for my kids."
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Here is Crystal, this semester, with two of her new friends.

Crystal got home from college late Saturday night. I am so thankful for this 21 year old daughter of ours. I see how God is transforming her into His image! We have hugged, held each other, given back rubs and just enjoyed each others company.

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My friend, hold your children. Let them crawl up on your lap...they don't have to outgrow it! The outstretched arms of a parent really let a child see the possibilities for Jesus having outstretched arms. When Crystal was in first grade, her teacher took a picture of each student with his/her arms outstretched and then they wrote a caption down at the bottom saying, "I love you this much!" Each year since, Crystal has continued that tradition on Father's Day for her daddy. He now has many "I love you this much" Crystal pictures.
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Thank you, Crystal for teaching me so much about loving others. Thank you for teaching me more about Jesus. Please know that at anytime you can say, "Hold me, Jesus!" After all, He knows about outstretched arms. He stretched out His arms as far as they would go and then He died for you and me.

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Here Steve is holding Crystal

as we attempt a family picture

with our FAMILY T-SHIRTS.

Big brother, Jordan, holds Crystal

in place for the sibling/kitties picture.

Steve holds Crystal on a train ride at the Lincoln, NE zoo.

Steve holds Crystal on a return visit

to the state line where Steve was raised.

Mommy holds Crystal as we share our fast food.

Crystal still gets held and hugged by her

Daddy and her Mommy!

A few good friends.

A suite mate!

Roomies!
Here is Crystal holding a young boy

with special needs who

she worked with for over a year.

She loves to connect with children

and they know that she loves and cares for them.

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Thank you, Crystal

for shining your life before others

so that they can be more open to Jesus' outstretched arms.

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Hold me, Jesus!

You are My Prince of Peace!

You are my Deliverer!

You are my Redeemer!

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HOLD ME JESUS: IT'S HARD BEING A SUFFERING SERVANT SLAVE!

MEDITATION MONDAY

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I am often "knee deep" in people's lives. Occasionally, if not more often, I am neck deep. Just this month...that would be 15 days...I have either had someone tell me what they were thinking / feeling / experiencing which included these 12 things:

1. Overwhelmed
2. Life doesn't make sense
3. Small faith
4. Insomnia
5. Anxiety
6. Non-surrender
7. Unsubmissiveness
8. Resistance
9. Captive / enslaved
10. Brokenhearted
11. Self doubt
12. Hopelessness

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As I listened to our three playlist songs for this week yesterday and followed along with the lyrics, I was amazed that the songs addressed every one of these 12 things. I look at the 12 things and I know that I cannot overcome any of them on my own and neither can you. Oh, how I need a Savior who is My Very Own Personal Prince of Peace, My Very Own Personal Deliverer, and My Very Own Personal Redeemer!

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Yesterday morning, my husband, Steve preached another sermon from Isaiah in a series of sermons on HOPE AND COMFORT. Steve emphasized our WALK! He used examples of the correct way to walk, jog, or run to keep from getting shin splints and other injuries. He connected the physical walking with our SPIRITUAL WALK which he says includes SUFFERING, HOPE, SERVICE, OBEDIENCE. (So as not to confuse you, I'm sure you can link up to his sermon in a few days on the sidebar and get his multitude of connections made from the physical to the spiritual. For our purposes here, I will give you some of it to meditate on today!).

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INTRODUCTION:

• Where are you putting your confidence? Money? Health? Relationships? Materialism? (most toys wins) Self? Eat, Drink, and be Merry?
• I John 2:6 says, "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
• Where did Jesus put His confidence?

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1. CHRIST SUFFERED - WE SUFFER: Isaiah 53 includes more than 12 things, but here are 12 things about Jesus:

1. nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him
2. despised and rejected by men
3. a man of sorrows
4. familiar with suffering
5. despised
6. took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
7. afflicted
8. pierced
9. crushed
10. oppressed and afflicted
11. led like a lamb to the slaughter
12. poured out his life unto death

We are called to be like Jesus...called not to be happy but to be holy! The Bible shows us that bad things happen to good people! What do we do when the "bad" comes?

1 Peter 2:20-21 "But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

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2. CHRIST GIVES HOPE - WE HAVE HOPE!

• God Acts 24:14-16 "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."
• Christ 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Our Salvation 1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."
• Our Righteousness Galatians 5:5-6 "But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope."
• Jesus' 2nd coming Titus 2:12-14 "...while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..."
• Resurrection 1 Peter 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you..."
• Eternal Life Titus 1 "... in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago..."

3. CHRIST SERVED - WE SERVE!

Take the position of bowing, praying, washing feet, serving...

• Philippians 2:5-8 "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
• Mark 10:42-45 "And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 "But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.""

4. CHRIST OBEYED - WE OBEY!

John 5:30-31 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

Romans 6:17-19 "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

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Our Hope is NOT in suffering!

Our Hope is NOT in serving!

Our Hope is NOT in being a slave!

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"...in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, saying, "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 "He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 "A battered reed He will not break off, And a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory. 21 "And IN HIS NAME the Gentiles will HOPE."

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IN CONCLUSION, Steve showed a video clip of Stanley Shipp in our living room about 7 years ago, talking to Audrey and Jessica who were both in their teens. He was telling them that the only life worth living is to be a SUFFERING, SERVANT, SLAVE! It is then, that we are walking as Jesus walked....Need Him to hold you right now? Need Him to carry you? Need Him to Deliver you? Need Him to Redeem you? He will! Come back each day this week as we talk about how this transformation happens...

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Watch this amazing video clip and see how great a love a father can have for his child. This is my favorite story to show how we are to show our love through servanthood:

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