Love and Serve

God has been messing up my heart in many ways these past few months.

I thought I loved people well. I don't.

I realized my attitude towards a co-worker was not right. First, the Lord showed me that I needed to stop talking about her when she frustrated me. I was doing good with that...then He showed me that really loving her would be not even having the thoughts of frustration and negativity. So we're doing good with that...then He said, well that's good but now I want you to care about her and her story. WHOA! Ok, I've stopped talking/thinking negatively about her and now I'm supposed to be her friend! Well, as soon as I began to care about her story a release of compassion flooded my heart.

I have found recently that in the most unusual situations I am concerned about someones story. Do they know Jesus? Do they need some hope?

Most recently this occurred while in a restaurant with my family. There was a lady sitting at the table next to me rolling the silverware. I began to wonder about her family, her story, did she have the hope of Jesus? Then I became so overwhelmed as I realized, no matter what her story was, her job was to serve me. She took a job rolling silverware to serve me. I am still getting over that moment of humility.

I have continued to ponder this moment, thinking about how often I am served on a daily basis compared to how often I serve.

The Lord is really sharpening the way I love people and the way I serve people. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace because I need it desperately everyday to love and serve those around me.

Holiness

Several Sundays ago I watched a dear couple I've known for many years walk into church. Their lives and marriage exude holiness and love. I honestly have no idea what areas of the church they serve or what many acts of kindness they have done over the years. While watching them and pondering their legacy God continued to press into me something He's been teaching me lately.
"Holiness is a way of being, not a way of doing"
While holiness does result in doing - my doing does not result in holiness. The holiness of Jesus drew sinner's to their knees. He was perfect and pure and yet the lowliest came to Him in desperation. I want my life to exude this kind of holiness. I want sinner's to be drawn to Jesus in me. This is a great post about the holiness of Jesus http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/NOV10_article--what_kind_of_holiness_is_this--hirsch/

Seasons

Winter seems to be creeping in early this year. I love quiet winter mornings. Soft clouds blanket the sky, threaded with color as the sun quietly rises behind their warmth. It beckons me to slow down, to stop and rest. Winter is a season of rest. Though it is often harsh and barren it is a much needed time of pruning and restoration for the fruit bearing seasons of spring and summer.

Like the earth, our spiritual lives go through seasons. Though winter is often much harsher than the other seasons, it is vital for us to be thriving and fruit bearing for the Kingdom. I was reminded of this, this morning as I enjoyed a quiet early winter morning. Despite the barreness and ugliness that often surrounds winter, I find that I am drawn to the beauty of it. The beauty is not is what is seen, but in the closeness of the Father, tending to the soil of our hearts, restoring, pruning, preparing us for the beautiful Spring. So snuggle up with the Father during your long harsh winters, let Him have His way with you for there is always the promise of spring!