Heads or Tails?

I want to show you something revolutionary, something that will (or should) change your life and the way you think. In the word's of Switchfoot "Life is not what I thought it was 24 hours ago ♪"

Mark 9:33-35 - They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

When you make an approach to anything, you should think about this. Are you making the choice you are making, or doing what you are doing, knowing that it's going to make someone else come out of it bad, and possibly as well that you will come out of it good?!

Then you're thinking upside-down.

I can't judge, we've all done it, I'm just addressing something that I think could change the world if we change the way we think.

I think it's human nature to want to be liked. It's human nature to want people to admire you or say nice things about you. It's human nature to want recognition for things you achieve. But that's not what you should be thinking. Don't think you should have the credit, allow others to take it. Not in a "walk-all-over you" way, but step back and allow the glory to be passed to others :) And be happy for them, and proud of them!

Jesus says in that passage: "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
To be the best, you need to put yourself below everyone else. That's not just under a few people, with a few people below you who you "know" are worse people than you are. No, he means everyone.

I believe there are two reasons why God wants us to think like this:

Firstly, you feel better about yourself, and see everyone in a more positive light. You see the best in people, and so get the best out of people, and in return the best is shown in you.

Secondly, you need to practice serving. Serving is not easy, it is inconvenient. If it wasn't it wouldn't be serving it would be entertainment. God rewards those who serve others, and he will reward them in Heaven. That may not seem relevant or good enough for you NOW, at this point in time, but I've noticed a reward the second I do anything so much as compliment someone. I feel a sense of happiness that I've made someone else happy. Not in a boastful way, but in a way where I feel proud of myself that I've been nice to that person :)

 

 
There's also a third, but I feel seperate reason. Read this:

Deuteronomy 28:13 - The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Ok, so the "commands of the LORD your God" are as the previous passage explains - putting others before yourself. So tick that off. Once you've done that God says He will make you above others. I think he does this as a reward in heaven. Also NOW. People are impatient, especially me! But there are rewards NOW. Think of someone you admire, someone you think a lot of, and think they are a really nice person. Ok, now how do they treat other people? Do they help people? Make nice comments to people? Or do they talk about people behind their backs, or be really horrible to people? I'm guessing they're a lovely and kind person, yes? People admire nice people.

And the person being admired will most likely be very humble too, that comes with the practicing of putting others before yourself.

 

 

So, heads or tails - what's it gonna be?

Step It Up and Step Out!

It's all very well saying you have faith, but sometimes there's something you need to do... Step Out.
Sometimes it's hard to step out in faith, because you need to have more faith!
So step it up!

But it's not just about faith. Sometimes I don't think we realise there's more to it than belief. There's a little thing in the way called "acceptance"... you may know it as "willingness"... ring any bells for you?
I hope so, it should.

There are things you don't want to do sometimes. There are things you think "I'm not sure if that's definitely God (even if you are pretty sure it is) so I'll wait". Well I'll tell you something, God has an answer to that one too...

This is what David says in Psalm 119:60

"I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands."

And look what God did for David! If you don't know, then look it up or ask! Because it's amazing how much he did for him!

DON'T think that God will just "pick someone else to do it" because although He can, he is all-knowing, so he has chosen you for a reason. He knows these things:
How it will advance His kingdom for His glory
How it will test you, and allow your relationship with Him to build and grow
How you will benefit from it, and how others will too

He knows your attitudes, how you think, act towards people, and in different situations, and how you will do this job for Him.
He knows you are right for it. So you should know you are right for it too!

He also knows how much faith you have. He will still ask you to do things when you have little faith.
Here are some times He did just that, He doesn't beat about the bush this God! Seriously!

1) Matthew 8:23-26 - Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.


He expected them not to be afraid even though he said He knew they had little faith.


2) Matthew 14:30-32 - Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

He expected Peter to step out of the boat even though he said He knew Peter had little faith that it would work.
 
 

Jesus then says:

Matthew 17:20 - He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

 

 
 

"Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you" ~ God (Genesis 27:8)

We will shout for your glory

I love serving people. I'm still learning, but then again isn't everyone?
But I know that I of all people need to learn to do so more than I am doing already.
I need to not say things when it is really not necessary to say them - mainly things about people or to people that are forming a negative opinion. I need to get one thing clear, to you but also to myself - putting negative thoughts into words is just putting power behind them. And power behind them forms opinions in my own head and other people's heads that are negative, non-beneficial, and probably not true. God sees everyone in a good light, He chooses to see them at their best rather than pointing out their worst. I seriously need to remember to do this! That's what it's all about. I wonder if I saw some of the things people are going through, would I have the same opinion of them? Well, I know this is true. I have a story about this - ask me about it :)

I would recommened listening to these songs to get a deeper understanding of what I'm babbling on about ;)
Firstly, Beautiful Stranger by Rebecca St James
and With Everything by Hillsong





1 Samuel 12:24 - But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.