Monday, June 28, 2010
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We serve God by serving others
by Rick Warren |
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The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our me-first culture, acting like a servant is not a popular concept. Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, people still jockey for position and prominence. Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself. While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs. God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, “I don’t have the gift of mercy or service.” While you may not be gifted for a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one who is gifted at it is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment. Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character. It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant’s heart. How can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV). Let us pray……. Lord, Let us soak in all the words written here today at the cup……….Lord I pray that many will shed a tear over the state of our Country…..that we will repent………..that the Church will once again be Your Church, and not of man. In the name of Jesus, AMEN! In the Love of Christ, Dewey Sharon and family Please keep us in your prayers……..please pray for son Lars and brother Daryl We love you all, thanks for stopping by for a CUP! |
4th of July CUP with Dewey KKIM/DDC
Dear KKIM/KARS Family,
May the Strength, Wisdom, and Peace of our LORD be with you and yours forever and ever!
Happy 4th of July to you and yours………
Thanks for stopping by for a CUP! We love you all!
Our Special 4th of July programming started last night on KKIM. You can go to www.mykkim.com and get all the details. Remember all you readers out of state can listen to KKIM, our streaming audio is available to you anywhere in the World at www.mykkim.com!! For God’s Glory Alone!
I turn 54 on the 4th and I am so blessed to be able to preach on the 4th of July!!! How about that!!! I would love to see you on the 4th at the Los Lunas Church of God at 11am. I wish my Mom and Dad, Grandma Caraway and Uncle Joe could all be there! They played such a role to get me to this point in my walk with Jesus Christ!
I shared some of these quotes last night on NM News and Views………..To reflect on what July 4th means and the roots of our Country in being founded by God, One nation under God…….The lessons we can learn from our History!
Near the end of Dec. 1862 President Lincoln spoke with Rev. Byron Sunderland, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington DC, where Lincoln had attended. Lincoln shared…….
“The ways of God are mysterious and profound beyond all comprehension—“who by searching can find Him out?” God only knows the issue of this business. He has destroyed nations from the map of history of their sins. Nevertheless, my hopes prevail generally above my fears for our Republic. The times are dark, the spirits of ruin are abroad in all their power, and the mercy of God alone can save us.”
I really believe that God is giving us many warnings here in the United States of America to get our act together as a Godly nation. Pay attention to what Lincoln said….God has destroyed nations from the map of history for their sins….We must stand with Israel! We must stop abortion! It’s in God’s Word……..but then again many of our leaders do not read God’s Word or believe in it. That is how far we have fallen as a Country.
When is the last time a President of the United States worshiped God on a regular basis?
During 1862, tragedy struck the Lincoln’s as their son, Willie, died at age 12. “Many noticed that he was seen more with a Bible in his hand and that he spent more time in prayer—-From this time on, Lincoln regularly attended the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sundays—–often even going to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting—-until his untimely death three years later. Dr. Phineas Gurley, who was Lincoln’s Pastor (When is the last time you have heard of an American President having a Pastor?) Dr. Gurley confirmed that “the death of Willie in 1862 and the visit to the Gettysburg battlefield in 1863 finally led Lincoln to personal faith in Jesus Christ.”
I only know our current President by his ACTIONS, and my prayer is that he will come to have a Personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Yesterday on KKIM Dr. Charles Stanley (Weekdays at 8:05am) was calling out the Church, to call it the way it is..to be the Salt and Light of the World……..For Pastor’s to be BOLD IN CHRIST!!! Too many are hiding behind the pulpit, afraid to stick to God’s Word!!!
The Church as a whole is not even teaching right from wrong anymore!!!! Much of the Church wants to be Politically Correct!! Stick to God’s Word!!
This Weekend on Open Doors we have Pastor Steve Smothermon as our guest and if you have heard Pastor Steve, you know he is BOLD IN CHRIST!!! KAZQ Ch 32 Saturday night at 6 and Sunday night at 7. You will be blessed by Pastor Steve’s message!!
Now if we as God’s people don’t get our act together………then what???
Read this from Gen Douglas MacArthur……..These words are so profound……
“History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline.(That is America Today) There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.”
So, My friends, what will it be a Spiritual Awakening? or Progressive deterioration?
It is up to us to be the Salt and Light of the World.
Let us pray this July 4th that we learn from History………and that we have a Spiritual Awakening in the United States of America led by folks like you and me.
We are at a very serious point in our History……..Will we allow the darkness to continue that will lead to the destruction of the United States of America as we know it?
The following message by Rick Warren ties in with July 4th……Our Country would not have been founded if it were not for those that serve others…..Service to our Country………most important serving God…….