Call to Serve

Do Good Work

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Each of us can do good work that helps at least one other person in need.  We can’t be everything to everybody…yet we can be somebody who helps another.  Turn towards God in prayer and ask Him how you can help someone today…then pay attention to each part of your day and He will show you where you are needed.  God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10

(This photo was taken in May of 2020 at the High Falls in Tettegouche State Park in northern Minnesota)

Memorial Day

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Today, we honor those who have served and sacrificed themselves for the greater good.  These individuals knew that there are things much more important than self.  They believed in serving to help others and fighting for those who could not fight for themselves.  It takes courage and humility to do what they did and so we honor them with gratitude and respect for their sacrifice.  Amen.

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“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:1-4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota)

Help Wherever You Can

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There is a quote by John Wesley who was an English clergyman from the 1700’s that best sums up daily life and serving those in need.  If more people took the time and effort to help someone else in a way that they can there would be fewer people in need of the basics in life of food, shelter and clothing.  None of us can solve the whole problem alone yet we can help when we do whatever we can.  Amen.

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

-John Wesley

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“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40

(This photo was taken in May of 2014 at a lake in central Minnesota)

Our Call

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How do we know what God is calling us to do?  For life decisions and direction?  If we use the world’s measuring stick of ‘what we should do’ we risk missing God’s will entirely.  To follow our call is to surrender self-serving desires, to be humble and patient and to have a foundation of a faith that is built on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That is what I have learned so far…nobody ever said it was going to be easy.  We will face trouble and struggles of every kind in life and if we are willing to stand firm on the foundation of faith, we will persevere.  Amen.

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“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7

(This photo was taken in July of 2019 at a lake place in northwestern Wisconsin)

Compassion

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Care…concern…gentleness…tenderness…kindness…mercy…understanding…love.  God is compassionate.  If we would choose compassion over self-centered behavior more often it would make such a big difference in this world.  An act of compassion doesn’t have to be recorded and go viral to be meaningful…one act of compassion that benefits one person that nobody else knows about is just as valuable as one that encourages many.  Jesus Christ has set us the example of care, concern, gentleness, tenderness, kindness, mercy, understanding and love…let’s strive to follow His lead and show compassion to others.  May God’s love, joy and peace be with you.  Amen.

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“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 145:8-9

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Serve Those In Need

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Food, shelter, clothing, clean water.  Basic needs…these should be readily available to all people.  The world was created with more than enough resources to provide for everyone…yet the sinful ways of all humans in all parts of the world has created shortages.  If we have our basic needs fulfilled, we should take inventory of how we can help others and then give our time and resources to help those in need.  Ask yourself, ‘how can I help?’…pray about it, do your best and God will take care of the rest.  Amen.

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“…And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 at a park near Bayfield, Wisconsin)

Gifts And Abilities

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When you are unsure how you can best contribute…ask God.  How can I help?  Learn about yourself and your abilities.  What comes naturally to you?  What seems easy for you that others struggle doing?  What can you do that fulfills the need of another?  It can be anything.  God knows you and knows how He created you…don’t believe your value based on the world’s standards, let God be the judge.  Seek Him and His will.  Pray about it and pay attention for God’s answers in your everyday life.  Amen.

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“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

1 Peter 4:9-10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 – the statue is called “Our Lady of the Rockies” and can be seen near Butte, Montana)

A Servant Spirit

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Many of our frustrations, arguments and troubles in life originate in selfishness…either our own selfishness or because of somebody else’s selfish desires or wants.  The only thing we have the power to change is ourselves.  So how can anyone ever get along?  It starts with listening, compassion, and a willingness to work for the good of many not just a few.  None of us can attain this attitude of the Spirit without a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Seek Him, learn about Him and follow His example.  Amen.

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“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 9:35

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore)

Freedom Isn’t Free

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It takes humility, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of many before one.  Freedom is earned by human beings working together for a common cause…not by shouting and trying to tear others down.  Freedom is earned through courage and a belief in something greater than self.  Jesus Christ is the one who provided the example of sacrifice and the willingness to forgive…we all would do well to read about Him and His example of love.  Time to put down the flaming arrows of hate and to serve one another in love.

Thank you God, for all the people who serve and have served in the military services of this country…thank you for their willingness to put themselves in the line of fire so others can prosper.  I give thanks for them and their families that sacrifice so much in the name of freedom for all of us.  Amen.

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“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial)

Practice What Is Preached

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The faith journey has two main elements…the first is learning about and getting to know God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit.  It is a transformation on the inside, a redemption.  The second element is about making Him known.  Taking what we have learned and have experienced and sharing it by helping others in need, whatever that looks in your life.  Both elements are vital to our spiritual life and to the Kingdom of God, as either one without the other has little lasting value or impact.  Take time to know Him and create space in your life to make Him known.  Amen.

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“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”

James 1:22

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on a hike near Bayfield, Wisconsin)