Musings and Nuggets

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  Mark 10:45, ( NKJV) Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash To Serve, Not To Be Served is the motto created by Ethel Percy Andrews. In 1958 at the age of 73, she founded the organization, AARP, to serve Americans 55 years of age and older.  Jesus modeled servanthood many times throughout His earthly ministry.  Here is one of many examples.  Although He was the son of God, He served the disciples by washing their feet. Why is that significant?  I'm glad that you asked. In Jesus' day, the custom of removing visitors' sandals and having their feet washed were expected because the roads they traveled were dusty.   This job was done by the lowliest servant in the home, yet Jesus did it for the disciples.  This act was a lesson in servanthood/humility for the disciples (and us), as well as, an expression of the Lord's love for them.  Unfortunat...

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!  And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.    Proverbs 4:7 , NLT                                                                         I shared the following earlier on FB,  and decided that it deserved to be revisited. This time lets use it as a tool to assess how well we measure up to these standards. Lets turn the search light inward.  What it reveals should be interesting. ☺ Search me, O God, and know my heart:  Try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.   Psalm 139:23-24 , KJV         Photo by Darius Basharon Unsplash * SIMPLE FORMULA FOR LIVING Live beneath your means. Return everything you borrow. Stop blaming other peo...

  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and the cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9 (NKJV)                                               Photo by River Fx on Unsplash                                                                            Are you a coffee aficionao?  Photo by  Levi Meir Clancy   on Unsplash Or perhaps you are an occasional coffee drinker or one who can not start your day without a morning "cup of joe."                                                        ...

I f you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  Luke 6:32-33,  ESV   Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash     1 Corinthians 13 , often called the Love Chapter,  describes what love is and what love is not.  It is a great example of unconditional love without any strings attached.   Unconditional love does not depend on whether we think that the recipient in worthy or deserving of love. Love is a wonderful thing, however, it requires the willingness to take a chance by being vulnerable. It's easy and safe to love someone who loves us in return, but  w hat are we to do when the love that we freely demonstrate to others is not only un reciprocated but rejected?  It happened to Christ and will happen to us.  Yet, He continued to love uncondit...

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  1 John 4:7, ESV Photo by Oziel Gómez on Unsplash "What's Love Got to do With It" is the title of a song made popular by Tina Turner, however, she was singing about Eros (romatic) love between a man and a woman.  The scripture above refers to Agape love which can be described as unconditonal, sacrificial, selfless                                                             or brotherly love.   1 John 4:16b teaches us that  "God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him".  Since love is God and from God,  then love should be an attribute/characteristic/virtue/fruit demonstrated daily in the life of anyone who is a Believer.  It is not a coincidence that t...

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows  is  God in his holy habitation.  Psalm 68:5, ESV On June 16th, those of us in the US celebrated Fathers Day,   honoring fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other men who have stepped up to come along side those who for whatever reason are without a father or a positive father figure.  Fathers Day started here in the US, and is now celebrated internationally. "Abba Father" is a term used only 3 times in the Bible (by Jesus and Paul) in Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, and Galations 4:6.  What exactly does the term Abba Father mean? When used by Jesus and Paul referring to God the Father, it was a reflection of their intimate personal relationship with God.  Similarly for Jewish children, Abba is a colloquail way of addressing their fathers. In   Aramaic,  it is translated as father, "Papa" or "Daddy".  El Roi, is one of the names of God that means "God sees me."  He not only sees us, and wan...

                                                     Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash   Hummingbirds are incredible creatures that can teach us many interesting lessons that we can apply to our lives.  Weighing about the same as a penny,  they migrate just like much larger birds, except they do so alone.    They are much smaller than most of their predators, yet they are able to fly 400 miles nonstop.  With brains about the size of a grain of rice and legs that are too weak to enable them to walk, God has equipped them to be able to survive and thrive.    The lesson?  Just because a situation appears to be really  overwhelming,  does not mean that it cannot be conquered.  God has given us His Word and the help of the Holy Spirit to equip us to survive, thrive, and be victorious.  It may b...