A Day in the Life

Looking at a page in my journal, the one that has room for thoughts on the same day over 5 years, here are the Bible passages that I recorded over a period of four years:

• For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. - Romans 8:5
• For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother. - Mark 3:35
• O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. - 1 Chronicles 29:16
• For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14

What struck me about these as I looked back at what I wrote was that I could see a thread running through the thoughts I wrote down each year as a thought about the bible verse for the day, that same day.

To me, somehow it was a about having the mind of a steward but the heart of a servant. Tending to the Lord's work and will as if it were the job appointed to, but doing it with a heart desiring to serve Him who is my master. Doing something as if it is my occupation, but doing it as if it is also my vocation.

I will try to go through the days ahead with the mind of a steward, the heart of a servant and eyes firmly fixed on the coming kingdom of God.

Here's a Challenge for You!

Peter P at Rediscovering the Church has a Christmas season challenge for you at The 12 Days of Christmas Challenge. I just started reading his blog but I love his heart. Check him out!

A Servant's Heart

I have been thinking quite a bit about having a servant's heart lately. Looking inside myself to see if I truly have one or not. Looking to see if I am kidding myself about where my heart really is (as I am the easiest person for me to fool).

I have gotten involved recently in some activities that touch upon the type of ministry work I feel I would like to do as I progress through seminary, looking to focus on:

• Working with other ministries sharing my financial and management experience
• Working with business people sharing my experiences as a Christian,and for a long time non-Christian (actually, often unChristian but that now sounds so uncharitable and well un-Christian) business executive
• Working with young men and women coming into the workforce as a mentor or coach as to starting and flourishing in a career
  

I have opportunities to do some of this, and I see the Lord putting more in my path in the future. I am thrilled.

But am I doing it with a servant's heart? I look at how I struggle with anger, pride, frustration and selfishness and I know i have a way to go. I look at my Lord Jesus and I know I have a LONG way to go.

I believe this struggle is natural and normal and we all face it in differing degrees at differing times. The key to me is to recognize the struggle and reach out to the Lord for help in overcoming it quickly. To me, my progress is measured in how fast I turn to Him, not in eliminating the feelings and behaviors I know fall short of His ideal. I am never going to get there.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

As Philippians 1:6 states I am a work in progress and I know when I am going to get to the finish line.

So until I do and become His perfect servant, let me struggle to have a servant's heart, a servant's hands and a servant's mind as I walk my narrow road towards Him.