Advice From Artist, Tiffany Vartanyan

http://youtu.be/7SGqmdt-xCI

"The Look" by Sara Teasdale

"Stephen kissed me in the spring,

Robin in the fall,

But Colin only looked at me

And never kissed at all.

Stephen’s kiss was lost in jest,

Robin’s lost in play,

But the kiss in Colin’s eyes

Haunts me night and day."

— Sara Teasdale (The Collected Poems of Sara Teasdale)

My Challenge For Y'all: Are YOU ready?

Hey y'all!

Tonight I find myself with a vibrant green journal on one side, and a refreshing bottle of Tazo Organic Iced Green Tea on the other. As I listen to a beautiful prayer in the form of a song called "The Altar" by Tricia Brock (of the Christian rock band Superchic[k]), I am praying about what God's will is for me concerning technology at the moment. I've been asking God, "How long do You want me to take a break from social networking?", and I can feel Him say, "Forty days." And my answer? "WHAT?!!" Yes, Jenna is in fact quite a bit of an extrovert, BUT ya know what? I know that God knows what is best for me, and I am thrilled to be a part of this adventure of trusting Him, even if it means taking a break from social networking for awhile!

So, I'm gonna issue y'all a challenge, as well. This doesn't mean necessarily giving up social networking for forty days, but maybe, just maybe, you are feeling God putting that on your heart also. No, what I'm challenging you to do is this:  spend that time that you would normally Facebook and go, and dig into the Bible. If you don't normally do it on a regular basis, I'd suggest just starting with one chapter, and then seeing what God has shown you through that.

Haha, and for those of you who want to take "Jenna's June Challenge", feel free to read below:

1.  Read the Book of James.

2.  Journal daily throughout this month.

3.  Don't use social networking for ONE day. (Yes, folks, it sometimes can be harder than it sounds, especially if you're addicted to Facebook. XD But, I know you can do it!)

4.  Send an encouraging note/letter to someone. It really means a lot! They will be blessed. :D

5.  Please pray about sponsoring a child in a foreign country. For more info about child sponsorship, feel free to check out some of the following organizations:

-Impact Ministries International (tstamman.org)
-Food For The Hungry
-World Vision

6.  Please pray for the Babb family as they reach out to the people of Haiti with the love of Jesus, as well as for Kathleen Willet who will be the hands and feet of Jesus in Uganda from this coming Monday to late October, as she impacts lives for the Kingdom.

May you be blessed, and draw closer to the heart of the King!

all my <3 in Jesus,

Jenna

"The Cry of My Heart is To Bring Jesus Praise..."

http://youtu.be/CmSs1S7lTp4

Yes, this is random: what is your favourite flavour of yogurt? ^_^

Photo from www.3kidsandus.com.

Eowyn and Arwen--Two of My Absolute Favorite Female Protagonists EVER :D

Wormtongue:  O...he must have died sometime during the night. What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir. I understand his passing his hard to accept. Especially now that your brother has deserted you. [Wormtongue arranged for his banishment.]

Eowyn:  Leave me alone, snake!

Wormtongue:  O, but you are alone. Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness in bitter watches of the night when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you. A hushed, tremulsome, wild thing. (He takes her face in his hand.) So fair...and so cold. Like a morning with pale spring, still clinging to winter's chill.

Eowyn:  (Finally pulling away from his clutch.) Your words are poison.

from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

~

Arwen:  He's fading. He's not going to last. We must get him to my father. I've been looking for you for two days. There are five wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know.

Aragorn:  Stay with the hobbits. I'll send horses for you.

Arwen:  I'm the faster rider. I'll take him.

Aragorn:  The road is too dangerous.

Arwen:  I do not fear them.

Aragorn:  (Relinquishing to her, he takes her hand.) Arwen, ride hard. Don't look back.


from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring


(text from John and Stasi Eldredge's book, Captivating)



THIS Was Done For ME...For YOU...Thank You, JESUS!



From Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ (2004)



Why Is "Romeo and Juliet" So...Dramatic? ;P

"A thousand times 'good night'!" Hmmm...wonder how my friends would respond if I sent this in a text to them? They'd be like, "Jenna, what?"

Haha. I HAVE to try this! 'Cause I am that kind of girl! hehe. ;D

So, I am listening to a "fully-dramatized recording" of Romeo and Juliet. And let me tell you--they don't disappoint! Lol, why is it that after listening to this story, I feel more mature? Yuck, all of this infatuation in the story is making me internally roll my eyes. But, whatever. ;) I'm thinking that this story was a precursor, though by far, a better-written version of Twilight.

And all of Romeo's pick-up lines? Ha, I have a feeling that after this was written, William Shakespeare was having countless young men writing to him, asking for HIS advice on girls. Yep, I will hold to that theory unless proven wrong. ;)

Romeo and Juliet by Frank Dicksee

A Book and A Song: Thoughts on Safety

Jesus, You are worth every risk in my life! :)

"He's not safe, but he's good [referring to Aslan from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]."

--C. S. Lewis.

~"Safe" by Britt Nicole~

You keep trying to get inside my head
While I keep trying to lose the words you said
Can’t you see I’m hanging by a thread
To my life, what I know

Yeah, I’m losing control and

Oh, no
My walls are gonna break
So close
It’s more than I can take
I’m so tired of turning and running away
when love just isn’t safe
You’re not safe

I’m strong enough
I’ve always told myself
I never wanna need somebody else
But I’ve already fallen from that hill
So I’m dropping my guard,
here’s your chance at my heart and

Everything you want, but it’s everything you need
It’s not always happy endings
But it’s all the in-between
It’s taken so long, so long to finally see
That your love is worth the risk

Oh, no
My walls are gonna break

You’re not safe
And that’s ok


Written by Britt Nicole, Jason Ingram, and Joy Williams © 2009 Britt Nicole Publishing / WB Songs / Spudnut Music / Shankel Songs (ASCAP) / Peertunes, Ltd. / Grange Hill Music / Windsor Way Music (SESAC)

Just read this tonight and have decided that Daniel Defoe is brilliant... ^_^

"Let this stand as a direction from the experience of the most miserable of all conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something to comfort ourselves from, and to set in the description of good and evil, on the credit side of the account." 

"Therefore it rested upon me with the greater force, that it must needs be that God had appointed all this to befall me; that I was brought to this miserable circumstance by His direction, He having the sole power, not of me only but of everything that happened in the world. Immediately it followed. Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used? My conscience presently checked me in that inquiry, as if I had blasphemed. Methought it spoke to me like a voice:  'Wretch! Dost thou ask what thou hast done? Look back upon a dreadful misspent life, and ask thyself what thou hast not done. Ask why it is that thou wert not long ago destroyed.'"

--Robinson Crusoe, from the classic book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

"Pray" by Justin Bieber

Coming from a person who is by no means a "die hard" fan of Justin, I still appreciate this song. :)

FACT: This Is the ONLY YouTube Video That Has Succeeded In Keeping My Attention for 18 Minutes and 32 Seconds (Thus Far...) :D

For those of you who've never heard of Julian Smith until you came across this on my blog, I will be honest with you and tell you that you have, in fact, been deprived of WONDERFUL humor. So watch it and be deprived no more!!!

You can thank me later... ;) :)

John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress": Christian and Hopeful's Views v. Ignorance's Views (Concerning Faith and Salvation)

In the book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, the protagonist, a pilgrim named Christian and his traveling companion, Hopeful, meet a man named Ignorance, who has come from the country of Conceit. All three characters are on their way to the Celestial City, although they all hold varying beliefs as to how their passage there should be obtained. For Christian and Hopeful, they have placed their faith and trust in the Lord for their salvation; whereas, Ignorance is depending upon his own good works to save him. “I know my Lord’s will, and have been a good liver; I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going,” explains the self-righteous, deluded Ignorance to the other two.

Christian tries to persuade Ignorance that since Ignorance did not come in at the wicket gate, but instead came in “through that same crooked lane,” that he should strongly consider to where he truly is headed, though Ignorance chooses to live up to his name, and refuses Christian and Hopeful, saying, “Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine.”

The two decide to part company with Ignorance, as they realize that Ignorance will not then take their counsel. Proverbs 26:12 gives the perfect definition of Ignorance when it says, “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” Later in the book, Ignorance still blinded by the fallacies that he has believed regarding faith and salvation, dies a lost man and is taken to Hell. Christian and Hopeful, still trusting in Jesus alone for their salvation, arrive at the Celestial City, and are taken inside, where they will live forevermore with the One who gave His life for them so that they may live.

Comparing Macbeth and Judas Iscariot...

In the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the title-character was a noble general of King Duncan of Scotland’s army, greatly respected by all. However, after meeting three witches who prophesied that he would become king, Macbeth, not seeing how that was possible, as Duncan was king, allowed thoughts of murdering the ruler to linger in his mind, until eventually, he carried out the horrible act, with evil persuading from his wife, Lady Macbeth. Although his intent was hidden at first, the consequence of his giving in to the temptation of bettering himself—much like Judas Iscariot’s situation—was later made known.

Although the Lord Jesus knew the intentions of Judas’ heart, King Duncan had never suspected that Macbeth would betray him. In fact, no one had ever suspected the once-esteemed general, or, for that matter, the disciple of Jesus, to carry out such cruel acts. The displeasure in Macbeth’s heart and his main objective to become king and his thirst for power drove him to take the lives of not only the king, but also those of Banquo, a general in the late-king’s army; Lady Macduff, the wife of Nobleman Macduff; Lady MacDuff’s children; and others. For Judas, the promise of payment for his Master’s arrest was enough for him to hand his Lord over.

Although their motives were different—Macbeth’s was discontent and hunger for power, and Judas’ was love of money—both men are known throughout history as traitors; they both had so much potential in the beginning, but in the end, died as hated, condemned men.

Both stories illustrate the truth of James 1:14-15 when it says, “14But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Contrast of Essayist Matthew Arnold and Hymn Writer Augustus M. Toplady

Matthew Arnold and Augustus M. Toplady were men who were very prolific writers. Although they were not contemporaries, each man addressed serious issues of his day. Each differed in their upbringing and circumstances, had different writing styles, and held vastly diverse beliefs on the subject of reliance.

Arnold was a man who lived entirely in the nineteenth century, and became the Inspector of Schools for the British government, whereas Toplady lived completely during the eighteenth century and was a well-known hymn writer. Although they each reached different audiences, cultures, and time periods, each man’s writing technique was fruitful given the setting that the Ultimate Story-Teller had placed them in.

Arnold wrote poetry during the first few years of his writing career and later focused mainly on literary and social criticism, whilst Toplady only wrote hymns. Arnold is most known for his poems Thyrsis and “Dover Beach,” and Toplady for his beloved hymn, “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.”

Both men each held a different belief when it came to the subject of reliance, and to be more specific, upon whom or what they relied on. Arnold believed in self-reliance and finding one’s self, as reflected here in his poem “Self-Dependence”: “O air-born voice! Long since, severely clear, A cry like thine in mine own heart I hear: ‘Resolve to be thyself; and know that he, Who finds himself, loses his misery!” Although he recognized that the literature of his day was immoral, he did not acknowledge religion to be the answer, and called religion nothing more than “morality touched with emotion.” How more effective he would have been as a writer had he acknowledged, like Toplady did, the need for the Savior, and the change that can only come from a life that is being transformed by Him! Toplady recognized his desperate need for the Lord as his refuge, and penned the following words: “While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold thee on thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let my hide myself in thee.”

While diverse writing styles and circumstances are usually wonderful things to celebrate, Arnold and Toplady both had very dissimilar views on the imperative topic of reliance. It would not be fair in the least to say that they both were amazing men who had perfect views in their own ways. No, truth is never relative; therefore, Toplady, though a mere imperfect human being, just like the rest of humanity, was most in the right, as he recognized that apart from God, we can do nothing (see John 15:5), unlike Arnold’s view of self-dependence. When comparing and contrasting, one must recognize the Truth, and look upon everything else from that viewpoint.

Critical Book Essay: "Rachel's Tears" by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott :)

Rachel’s Tears is a biography of 17-year old student Rachel Joy Scott, a girl who was brutally murdered for her faith in Christ at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on Tuesday, April 20, 1999. Told by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott, Rachel’s parents, this book gives readers a look into the normal, yet not-so-average life, of Rachel Scott. While this book has a sad tone to it, it is poignant and moves the reader as they become more “acquainted” with the person of Rachel Scott. While she is most known around the world for her stand for Christ that she had taken before the gunmen who would take her life, Rachel was extraordinary in that she stood for Christ throughout her everyday life. Rachel’s Tears is a well-written book, filled with stories of fond memories of Rachel written by her family members and friends, journal entries by Rachel, and some of Rachel’s artwork that she had created.

“I am not going to apologize for speaking the Name of Jesus, I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put into me. If I have to sacrifice everything...I will.” These are words from a letter that she had written to a friend of hers exactly one year before her untimely death. Rachel’s passion for Jesus was evident in her life. She would go out of her way to help people and she would befriend the “loners” at her school. She believed in starting a “chain reaction” of kindness and compassion. Even after her death, her family founded a non-profit organization called Rachel’s Challenge, which has continued to spread Rachel’s message of hope and love to others.

“People listened and understood Rachel because she was very real with people about her Christianity. She was real about her relationship with God, and it impacted people in tremendous ways because they knew she was speaking from her heart. She communicated her concerns, her questions, and her triumphs of serving a living God...She spoke in a language of honesty that anyone could interpret as real,” Dana (Scott) Bollwerk recalls of her sister. This is just one of many stories about Rachel that are found throughout the pages of this amazing biography. “I will not be labeled as average”—these words described Rachel perfectly, and were written on the front of Rachel’s journal, the same journal that had been in Rachel’s backpack, and had been penetrated by a bullet from one of Rachel’s murderers. “He gave his life for me, so I will give my life to Him: JESUS CHRIST”—this was written on the border of one of Rachel’s art projects for school, and reflected the young woman’s deep faith.

The memories of Rachel told by her family and friends, her own journal entries, and her artwork that saturate this lovely biography--together these are perfect for an inspiring read. Once finished reading this story, you will not be the same. This book will, no doubt, continue to impact people and encourage them to reach out, just like Rachel did...like Jesus did.

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Essay: "Learning from Others' Mistakes"

First of all, yes. I really am posting this. All 918 glorious words of it!


The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a story about an Ancient Mariner who attends a wedding and decides to relate to a guest there his experience of going out to sea, and killing an albatross and the consequences of his doing so. At first the guest obliges the man by listening to his story, but quickly becomes apprehensive of the mysterious Ancient Mariner, when the seaman related to him how he had escaped death, whilst the rest of his crew was killed. But after the Ancient Mariner finishes recalling his experience to the wedding guest, the wedding guest leaves a sadder and wiser man. The wedding guest reacted in this way, because he realized the sacredness of all life, the consequence of the Mariner’s actions, and the presence of God in this matter.

The Mariner began his story with explaining his ship’s voyage out to sea, and how they became caught in a storm that caused them to be taken in the direction of the South Pole. It was a frightening time, and their location at sea was lonely and desolate, with nothing but the snow fog and ice to look at. Amidst all of this, there came an Albatross that befriended the crew. They fed it, believing this creature to be a good omen. However, without any reason at all, the Mariner killed the innocent bird. This heartless action would soon be the catalyst for many serious consequences. Surely the guest realized that this was an obscene act that his present companion had committed, and thought it inexcusable to kill a blameless animal who was not threatening, by any means.

The wedding guest realized that every sin, no matter how seemingly small it may seem, will have a consequence to it. In this example, the Mariner’s fellow shipmates were angry with him, but soon excused it, not knowing that their indifference would cost them their very lives. One may pose the question: why did they not do something earlier, such as stopping the Mariner from doing such a cruel thing? Or, why did they not somehow take away certain privileges of this man who thought it not wrong to commit such an atrocity? However, they reacted the way that they did. The men later became cursed and soon fell dead on the ship’s deck. The Ancient Mariner would still be punished, though in a different way.

The wedding guest must have been wondering why the Mariner had not been killed, but instead, had lived to recount his tale. He was most likely wondering why God would allow the Mariner to live, whilst his crew had perished. Perhaps it was because the Mariner, although he still lived, struggled continually with the guilt of the blood that was on his hands. His act that he committed of killing the albatross, as well as the part that he had played in his former shipmates’ deaths, and the remorse that had come from survivor’s guilt alone would be more appropriate for him than death. One may also wonder if God did not use the Ancient Mariner’s story in a way that would impact people who would have done the same thing that the Ancient Mariner had done, but upon hearing the story, changed their mind. Much like the character of the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic work, The Scarlet Letter, the Ancient Mariner lived with the constant reminder of his sin, as well as the devastating impact that it had caused. However, earlier something had happened that had caused the curse to begin to dissipate, though not completely disappear altogether. When the Ancient Mariner was still on board the ship, accompanied by the corpses of his late crew, he decided to exchange his attitude of contempt that he had had towards the slimy creatures that lived in the sea, and instead decided to appreciate them for what they were. The Ancient Mariner recounted, “Oh happy living things! No tongue their beauty might declare. A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware; Sure my kind saint took pity on me, And I blessed them unaware.” While this was surely some sort of reassurance for the Ancient Mariner, and perhaps a sign of the possible redemption to come, the he never fully lived in a state where he felt that the full depth of his guilt could ever be completely cleansed.

After his talk with the Ancient Mariner, the wedding guest “went like one that hath been stunned, And is of sense forlorn; A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn.” Perhaps the wedding guest had been personally struggling with knowing what was right and wrong in his own life, and the Ancient Mariner’s story spoke to him in a way that would impact some of his own future decisions. He now grasped, perhaps more than ever before, the fact that life is sacred and should be protected, and saw, that, in light of the Mariner’s actions, how God continued to be present. In the conclusion of the story, the Ancient Mariner calls the wedding guest to action in this: “Farewell, farewell; but this I tell to thee, thou Wedding Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well, both man and bird and beast.” The reader of this story can hope that the wedding guest heeded the Ancient Mariner’s advice, avoided destruction, and recounted the Ancient Mariner’s tale to others who needed to hear it, much like he did.

If you made it through all of this, I commend you, and hope that you obtained something useful from it! :)

"What is Our Motive for Serving God?"(Jenna's Message for the Youth Sunday Service) :)

Message—“What is Our Motive for Serving God?”
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Faith Temple Church—Jenna's Message for the Youth Sunday Service
Help From: Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Introduction:
Someone said, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God.” *pause* Did you know that “coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one or two degrees?” *pause* or, that “when you get goose bumps, the hair in your follicles is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat?” *pause*

We serve such an unbelievably amazing and wonderful God! Our Creator is brilliant! His handiwork is indescribably beautiful! Whenever I look at the hills, the sunset, the mountains, the stars—all I can think is, wow. *pause*

And our seasons! Talk about a God of variety! Well...maybe for us South Dakotans, it’s too much variety! I love our own Helen H.’s Facebook status that she posted earlier this past week. She wrote: “Dear Winter, I am breaking up with you. It's not me, it's you. You make me miserable. I think it's time I start seeing other seasons.” *pause*

And, our God has quite a sense of humor, as well. I mean, really! *shrug* He made us, didn’t he?! *smile*

So, last week, I went to a movie with my brother. Before we went to the movie, I had watched the trailer, and I had THOUGHT that it looked entertaining--*dramatic pause* I was asleep within the first 20 minutes of the movie... And the chair that I was 'reclining' in (thank you, West Mall 7 Theatre seats--enough said) didn’t exactly help, either. *smile*

Also, what I didn’t realize until later was that when I fell asleep during the movie, I had given Josh a scare. *pause* You see...Josh thought that I was...dead. *pause* Yes. *pause* Dead. *pause* *nod* As a doornail. *shrug* Whatever that means. So...*dramatic pause* Josh decided slap my face. I didn’t respond. So...*dramatic pause* He raised my hand and dropped it. *pause* But since there was still no movement, Josh decided to take my pulse. *pause* *perk up/brighten* Good news. *pause* I was, *pause* am, *pause* alive. *smile*

Yes, God definitely has a sense of humor.

I am so blessed to be able to serve our God with you, and to follow in the steps of Jesus, and be His Hands and Feet. As I think about our service to God, a couple questions come to mind:

First of all: Why do we serve Him? Do we serve Him out of obligation or out of love?

I. Serve for the Right Reason

Here is a short passage from a classic novel. In this excerpt from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, he tells about a woman who came to a priest, and how she explained to him why she didn’t think that she would be able to live a life of service as a nun. She said,

“But could I endure such a life for long? That’s the chief question—that’s my most agonizing question. I shut my eyes and ask myself, ‘Would you persevere long on that path? And if the patient whose wounds you are washing did not meet you with gratitude, but worried you with his whims, without valuing or remarking your charitable services, began abusing you and rudely commanding you, and complaining to the superior authorities of you (which often happens when people are in great suffering)—what then? Would you persevere in your love, or not?’ And do you know, I came with horror to the conclusion that, if anything could dissipate my love to humanity, it would be ingratitude. In short, I am a hired servant, I expect my payment at once—that is, praise, and the repayment of love with love. Otherwise I am incapable of loving any one.”

How tragic! Every time I read this passage, two thoughts go through my mind. First of all, how could a person be so inconsiderate of others and so self-seeking? *pause* Of course, that thought is soon followed by: why do I serve? *pause* Is it only because I wish to receive something in return, something that will benefit me personally? *pause* Or maybe I feel obligated to serve? OR *pause* do I serve because I love the Savior, and want to share in the work that He is doing of blessing others and reaching out to them so that they may know Him as I do? *pause*

Serving God out of love for Him can be so much fun! *pause* I don’t know about you, but every week I so look forward to the opportunity of heading to the Armory to help give out—not only food, but also hope, as well as share the love of our Savior—to those that come through the food line. *pause*

I find that I have been the recipient of many blessings that have come in unexpected ways, and I’m sure that you have, as well. *smile* *pause*

I know that I am blessed when *pause* an older Russian grandmother (babushka) whom I have befriended comes over to me and gives me a hug, as well as speaks kind words in Russian to me, and occasionally treats me to Russian chocolates. *smile*

Or I am blessed when: *pause*

I am listening to my Arabic-speaking friends who are having a lively conversation with each another, and recognize MY name being spoken in their conversation. *smile* *pause*

It definitely touches my heart. And I think *pause* it touches God’s Heart too. *pause*

So, for those of you who haven’t been out to the food giveaway to volunteer yet, I would have to strongly encourage you to do so! Not only do you bless others, but you become blessed as well! *pause*

Serve for the right reason. *pause* Mark 10: 45 says: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus was the Ultimate Servant! *pause*

In John chapter thirteen, He washed His disciples’ feet! God Himself *dramatic pause* washed men’s dirty, disgusting feet! *pause* Can you imagine? *pause*

Jesus was the Ultimate Servant. He served out of love! Because He served out of love, we should also.

II. Be Jesus to Others

Philippians 2

He Took on the Status of a Slave

1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

So, what would it look like if we served like Jesus did? *emphasize each word* What if we humbled ourselves and put ourselves with our concerns and needs, last? What if serving Him required us to leave our comfort zones, and step out and embrace those whom society wouldn’t consider approaching? *pause*

God isn’t afraid to reach out and meet people where they are—so why are we? *pause* What if we followed Jesus, our Leader, and lead others to Him? It has been said that the greatest leaders are servants. *pause*

“A noncommissioned officer was directing the repairs of a military building during the American Revolution. He was barking orders to the soldiers under his command, trying to get them to raise a heavy wooden beam. As the men struggled in vain to lift the beam into place, a man who was passing by stopped to ask the one in charge why he wasn’t helping the men. With all the pomp of an emperor, the soldier responded, ‘Sir, I am a corporal!’

‘You are, are you?’ replied the passerby. ‘I was not aware of that.’ Then, taking off his hat and bowing, he said, ‘I ask your pardon, Corporal.’ Then the stranger walked over and strained with the soldiers to lift the heavy beam. After the job was finished, he turned and said, ‘Mr. Corporal, when you have another such job, and have not enough men, send for your Commander-in-Chief, and I will come and help you a second time.’

The corporal was thunderstruck. The person speaking to him was General Washington!” *pause*

So, with God’s help, may we lose our pride, and submit to what He has in store for us. *pause* May we serve like Jesus served and go where He leads us to go. *pause*

There is a song by the band Willet called “And Shout from the Roof Tops.” A few of the lyrics from the song are:

“When poverty and wealth collide, it hits harder then a plane crash/And spreads love to the lonely and forgotten places/I found God today, He was right where He said He would be…/Here in the brokenness, right here in the brokenness.” *pause*

So where do we fit in? Where are we willing to go to carry the Name of Jesus? *pause*

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to interview Jeremy Willet, the lead singer of the band Willet. I inquired about the last song on Willet’s latest album "Teeth of a Lion, Fangs of a Lioness" called "Steps." The lyrics to the song are: "The more steps you take/The more that you leave behind/So who is following you now?" With this in mind, I asked Jeremy how he hopes to impact and influence others by the way that he lives.

He said: “My goal is this—songs are important, music is fun, touring the world is a blast, but ultimately, all of that will pass away and be replaced by the ‘next thing,’” he said. “What really matters in this life is our relationship with Jesus, and how we love those around us. We do a lot internationally, but one of my favorite things to do in the U.S. is to go and meet homeless people under a railroad track in my hometown and take them out to dinner and talk to them. People living in poverty—domestic or international—deserve to be shown love. That is what The Bible is all about! That is what Jesus did! And...I want my life to look like Jesus.” *pause*

Serve for the right reason. *pause* Be Jesus to others.

Worthy of Worship

"Sometimes I go to God and say, 'God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already.' God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me." -A.W.Tozer.