Tag: servant.

July 12, 2025

July 12th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Judges 6:11-16

Highlight Verse:

“The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!””
‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately with heroes. I’ve been helping set up new printers in fire stations all around Denver this week.

Like many kids, I dreamt of being a firefighter or police officer when I was little.

But I never felt the call of God to make the sacrifices required to be a first responder.

I’ve always had a great respect for those who did hear that call and pursued careers that put themselves on the front line of danger and physical sacrifice.

The firefighters I’ve dealt with this week have all been humble, helpful, and grateful.

I’ve been impressed with their skill, speed, and good attitude, especially when calls came in and they quickly disappeared with flashing lights and sirens. One station I was at this week had their lunch interrupted twice for calls.

At one point I also saw a couple of them patiently entertaining a young boy who dropped in with a million questions.

Some ministries have nothing to do with church or religion.

Sometimes God’s true calling leads people to keep people safe and rescue them with they are in peril.

If you are a first responder, my respect and thanks go out to you.

If you are not, I ask that you let a first responder know how much you appreciate them.

Are you a first responder? What led you to that career?
If you are not a first responder, what sacrifices of service are there in your career?
July 8, 2025

July 8th, 2025
Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 44-45

Highlight Verse:

“When the palace manager caught up with the men, he spoke to them as he had been instructed.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭44‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you notice that Joseph had a right-hand man?

This man, known only as the palace manager, was a key player in Joseph’s method of bringing his brothers to a place of utter humility.

While his name is unknown, his character shines through.

He carries out Joseph’s directions to the letter, even reacting to the brothers’ responses like Joseph would have wanted.

To Joseph, this man was a huge blessing.

While it would be cool to have someone like that working for me, it is more important to me that I be someone like that.

The palace manager serves as a good example of a servant heart.

How great would it be to be that good of a servant to God?
- I want to be so close to God that I know instinctively how He would want me to react to those He wants to reach.
- I want my words and actions to be remembered even if my name is forgotten.
- I want my Master’s will to be done!
How do you think we can become like that servant?
What can you and I do to start along that path?
October 9, 2024

October 9th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – Nehemiah 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT

When I read this, I picture Nehemiah praying face down before God for days straight.

Maybe he did.

Maybe he was working and only prayed and fasted while off-duty.

Whatever he did, he did it with passion, giving his all to bring the plight of his country before God.

He waited 6 months to be bold enough to show his sorrow before the king.

I believe he prayed every day during that entire time.

And God answered by giving him favor with the king.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?
How about we try it and find out?
March 14, 2024

March 14th, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Hebrews 10

Highlight Verse:

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s simply do that today.

Share with us a way to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

I’ll start.

For those of us who are in Colorado today, a great act of love for our neighbors would be, when we go out to shovel the snow from our sidewalks, shovel the neighbor’s walks too.

You might not know them, and they may not figure out that you did it but if that act is part of a pattern of acts of kindness, they’ll see the difference in you and want to know more.

What are your ideas? Let’s share them and have a conversation about it.
March 4, 2024

March 4th, 2024
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Luke 10

Highlight Verse:

“These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I did a little background research for this and was encouraged by what I found.

According to a recent Lifeway Research study, 42% of adult churchgoers actively volunteer at their church.

That’s higher than I thought.

Our church has a couple hundred volunteers each week doing everything from directing traffic, greeting, serving coffee and donuts to production team and teaching children. The amount of participation is amazing.

Somehow it never seems to be quite enough.

I was asked to substitute teach the 4th and 5th graders for one service yesterday morning. As I am committed to serving with the student ministry, I limit the times I agree to that, but I knew there was need.

There have been other times when classes have had to be combined for lack of qualified teachers. (Background checked and trained).

I am not about judging anyone for how much or how little they participate. Each person has their own circumstance.

But just in case there is anyone out there who, for whatever reason, has felt they were unqualified to serve, I suggest that you pray about it for two reasons –
- First, serving brings about such growth and encouragement to the person serving and
- Second, the workers are few and there are needs that can be met by you.
Do you have any great stories of being blessed while serving that you could share?
If you are not currently serving at a church, have you asked God to show you where you could participate?
October 30, 2023

October 30th, 2023

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 17-18

Highlight Verse:

“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Once again, Jesus turns His disciples’ notions on their heads.

They were looking for evaluation of their merits to see who the best was. Jesus threw their merit system out the window.

It makes sense too. Think about it. Jesus is the Son of God, one with the Father, the Creator. He came from a position of supreme greatness to that of a little baby in a poor Israeli family. He was familiar with humility.

Humility doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me.

I remember a science fair in high school. I ran into some people checking out some of the displays. I bragged about mine to them. I won second place. Later I found out from my teacher that I would have won first place if I had not bragged to the judges. Oops.

We compete, we excel, and we thrive on the accolades. It comes naturally.

But it seems that life works out better when we approach it with humility.

That’s greatness.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example of that.

So, the way we can be most like Jesus is to be humble.

Do you struggle with humility (like me)?
What ways have you found to remind yourself to act in humility?
July 2, 2023

July 2nd, 2023
Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 80-82

Highlight Verse:

“Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭82‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the Old Testament, judges and kings were given this charge. They were to protect the poor, the orphan, and the widow.

While it is certainly the job of judges today to do this, it is also true that God has given us a direct relationship with himself. We do not need to go through priests or judges or kings. We are His children, thus we are His royalty.

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?
- We can find or be parents to the orphaned.
- We can be sure that those widowed are not forgotten.
- We can help provide for the poor and needy by donating to and volunteering for organizations who help them.
- We can stand up for those being treated unfairly.
Do you have stories of when others have stood up for you?
How have you been able to bless those who need it?
Where can you be helping now?
February 18, 2023

February 18th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading:

“But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Matthew 20:25-28 NLT

We’ve all had that one boss. For me it was the accountant who somehow became a service manager. He couldn’t understand how it could take me an hour to go ten miles. He refused to believe my explanation about the traffic followed by a mistake on the map that took me five miles out of the way. He accused me of lying.

I nearly quit.

In that case I was friends with the owner of the business who had the manager back off.

By contrast I’ve taken leadership training at a larger company that was owned by a believer. He and his brother taught the class and emphasized how important it was for a leader to serve alongside the employees.

My last two managers have been good examples of that, helping us field techs out whenever they could.

You might say, “this doesn’t really apply to me since I’m not a leader.” To that I would say,

Anyone who lives a life as an example of a servant attitude is a leader.

Jesus served His disciples.

We should serve anyone who may be influenced by our lives.

Have you ever had that boss who was a terrible example of servant leadership?

Have you been able to lead with a servant attitude?

Tag: servant.

Like many kids, I dreamt of being a firefighter or police officer when I was little.

Some ministries have nothing to do with church or religion.

If you are a first responder, my respect and thanks go out to you.

Did you notice that Joseph had a right-hand man?

He carries out Joseph’s directions to the letter, even reacting to the brothers’ responses like Joseph would have wanted.

How great would it be to be that good of a servant to God?

Whatever he did, he did it with passion, giving his all to bring the plight of his country before God.

I believe he prayed every day during that entire time.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?How about we try it and find out?

Share with us a way to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

According to a recent Lifeway Research study, 42% of adult churchgoers actively volunteer at their church.

But just in case there is anyone out there who, for whatever reason, has felt they were unqualified to serve, I suggest that you pray about it for two reasons –

Once again, Jesus turns His disciples’ notions on their heads.

Humility doesn’t come naturally, at least not to me.

But it seems that life works out better when we approach it with humility.

With that great privilege, the responsibility now falls to us to defend the poor and helpless.

How can we do that in today’s world?

I nearly quit.

Anyone who lives a life as an example of a servant attitude is a leader.

What would happen if we prayed with that same intensity and consistency for our country?
How about we try it and find out?