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In my line of work, it is easy to get lost in the responsibilities, overlooking this very important attitude AND position as God’s servant.

You see, working in a Christian environment definitely has its spiritual perks.  Praying in the hallways is more common than not.  Passing by a cubicle or office only to hear words like “I am praying for you; God is still in control; all things are possible through Christ,” and so many other words of encouragement are common place as well.  We even have a day (each Wednesday) set for Chapel, during which someone leads in a time of devotion and prayer.

Nevertheless, the spiritual pitfalls are there as well.  I tend to take Chapel time for granted, skipping it to finish just one more task; I sometimes fidget when a prayer has gone on for five minutes or longer, using the excuse that he or she needs to be more specific, and I can even mutter “I am praying for you” and forget to do it, showing how concerned I REALLY am.

In the mix of these two attitudes, I glimpse the little picture frame reminder that “You Are God’s Servant,” which sits in a particular-intentional spot on my desk.   It simply states:

He is the Love that is expressed through your heart, the compassion that is revealed through your spirit, the kindness that is demonstrated through your actions, the encouragement that is provided through your service, the blessing that is received through life.

Most days, I am thankful for my ministry, and my actions and attitude reflect this position.  It’s those “other” days that I want to lessen and loosen. 

Most weeks I display the “I am a servant” flag, waving it as I speak, listen and act.  Again, it’s those “other” days that servant flag flies half-mast or not at all.

Here’s the saving grace for me (and you):  God’s love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy are there ALL days.  Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (regardless of whether you and I are).  

Let’s remember that our servant attitude is possible because of our position in Christ, who has sealed us (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).  What an honor to have been given—God’s servant. 

“Father, forgive us when we fail to remember whose we are, what we have been called to do, and what we are in Christ.  Thank you for your patience.  Give us a passion for You so that our position in You is realized and lived out in a fresh boldness and renewed attitude each day. In Jesus’ name.”

Location is also important in other areas as well.  Let’s look at the position of earth.  In our entire solar system, there is only one planet in the inhabitable zone (area in which life has any chance of survival)-earth.

God placed earth at just the right position for life.  In other words, as one preacher stated, earth is in the safest place for physical life.

Location really is everything—even in the spiritual realm.  For example, there is a position in which one can be that keeps you in a place of peace, security, boldness, joy, fulfilling your purpose, etc.  The safest place for this type of life is in the will of God.

Even in the face of death, Jesus prayed, “not my will but Your will be done” for He knew that the Father’s will was the safest place to be no matter the circumstance (Matthew 26:36-42).

Where are you?  Consider these questions (not an exhaustive list) as you determine if you are in God’s safest place:

1.  have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, recognizing that wrong doing (sin) separates you from God? (See Romans 10:9-10, 13.)

2.  are you staying in step with the Spirit? (See Galatians 5:25.)

3.  do you have a trusted, Christian friend walking with God in whom you can confide and seek Godly wisdom? (Proverbs 27:6.)

4.  are you seeking Biblical instruction for daily living?  (See Psalm 119:11.)

5.  are you asking God for forgiveness (and when needed—that of others)? (See 1 John 1:8-9 and Matthew 5:24.)

6.  do you often ask God to search your heart and remove any thing that would hinder His work in, through and around you? (See Psalm 139:23-24.)

7.  are you sharing Christ as He provides the opportunities? (See Colossians 4:2-5.)

God’s will is the safest place, and “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3).  Let’s spur one another on and start living life to the fullest (John 10:10)!

I just finished the book of Leviticus.  It amazed me to read all the laws that God set before the people.   Not that they had to obey so many, but how these laws were set up for common hygiene and medical sake.

Back then they had no knowledge of germs, diseases, MRSA or other illnesses the way we do.  No modern medicine, yet God gave them the rules to obey that protected them from such.

He tells them not to lay in body fluids, not to eat dead animals that they did not kill, not to eat of meat after 3 days.  To cleanse themselves and their clothes if they have touched unclean animals or humans.  In chapter 13 He gives them rules for being around leprosy.  In chapter 14 He even gives commands about mold in the house.   God tells them how to spot it, remove it, watch for it and even to destroy the house if it can not be removed.  The same mold that makes us sick and causes horrible allergies and disease, God showed them how to take care of it.

We think that we live in such a modern medical age, and we do, but to see that the same techniques we use today and know that God gave them long before a doctor!

I stand in awe again at my Lord.  The Bible truly is an instruction book for every part of life.

On Friday our local community held it’s annual July 4th parade.  Jordan’s area recruit commander knew he was in town and asked if he would walk with the Honor Guard in the parade.  We had actually not planned on going to the parade, but hurried up and headed to town.

Jordan was in full dress blues.  He looked so handsome.  The Honor Guard turned the corner and people stood to their feet and started clapping.  WOW!  Not only was I extremely proud to be his mother at that moment, but the feeling of patriotism overtook me.  Having Jordan represent our Nation really made me realize what it is all about.  The lives that have been given and the sacrifices that have been made. 

The flag passed by as people saluted.  The next few floats held Veterans from one branch or the other.  This is what Independence Day is about.  Not hot dogs, swimming, parades, games and fireworks.  It is about the men and woman who made this Country what it is today.

I am so thankful not only to have the freedom I have in the this great Nation, but to also have Spiritual independence.  I have been set free from the bondage of sin!  My Saviour paid the price for me!

I hope you had a great 4th of July and I pray that you too have the wonderful peace of spiritual independence too.

I can remember, as a high school student, being a part of the dance drill team.  There was something about the band that added to the festivities of the game.

It did matter whether we won or lost (said the non member of the football team!).  Yet there was something about the band that added to the excitement already in the air over the possibilities of a win. 

Last week’s victory or win was a distant memory, but this week, we were in the “face” of another team.  Oh the utter beat-down coming to them!  (Well, so we would silently hope.)

 The drums were my favorite.  Those guys would hit them so hard that my chest thumped to their beat. 

 As we marched on the field, there was a sense of strength, unity and enthusiasm in the mix.  The Drum Major looked so majestic as he stood tall, marched high and in an over-dramatic manner.  (We had a great Drum Major who would steal the show!)

I can’t help but think about the festivities of a people of God—the Israelites.  As a Levite, speaking (prophetically) on behalf of God, he would cause the people to think of God’s saving acts, which called the people to celebration.

Dear one, we have a cause of continuous celebration.  God’s saving acts in our lives; His continued faithfulness even in the midst of our wavering; His forgiveness just for the asking; His answer to our distress-call, and so much more of who He is, what He does, has done and will do are just the beginning call to a people to celebrate-God’s people of today.

Let’s celebrate our God who “brought you [and me] up out of Egypt [our own places of captivity]” (Psalm 91:10). Oh the utter beat-down of the enemy of our souls! 

The win is a done deal for Christ has “disarmed the powers and authorities (making) a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:13-15).  So, strike up the band!

“Father, this day, may we live a life of celebration because of the One who is worth celebrating. Move us beyond our circumstances to the place of abandonment to your Spirit.  May we be a people who listen, submit and be only satisfied with You!”

The Johns family is a close-knit family, and I am thankful for this tie.  I contribute the closeness to the wisdom God gave my daddy.  He always prayed with us, over us and in the midst of us.

The tie that binds, as daddy would say, is God’s love.  He always reminded me of how much God loves all people.  This love transcends what I could ever do. (I still need to be obedient and ask for forgiveness when I fail.)  In other words, love covers a multitude of sin.   Therefore, he would say, we are to love each other, no matter what. 

Sure he reminded us that we are still obligated to act respectfully toward each other and treat each other according to God’s Word and so forth.  Nevertheless, love should always be the tie that binds the Johns family.  This was  the Johns- family-call and our individual responsibility.  

In the midst of all that I am (a wreck some days; on task other days; loveable AND hate-able, etc.), I still try to live out of the tie that binds for all eternity–God’s love for me, my love for Him and His love for others. 

Let’s show the world the love that binds–God’s love.  Who knows…it might just be the very reason God allows a divine appointment with someone who crosses your path today. 

“Lord, you instructed us to love you with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourself.  Please help us allow this love to be all that You desire.  May we get over ourselves and our stuff so that You can get through to others and us with the only love that binds.”

I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and there is nothing I love more than being in the mountains.  The first time I moved away from them to live on flat land, I literally felt off balance.  When visiting my childhood home, I swell up with pride once I have the mountain range in view.  The tedious miles are worth the trip the minute I top the hill of Hwy 66 and see my beautiful mountains!  I immediately shout with singing and my heart is filled with excitement.

My love for these mountains may seem backward or odd to some, but I love them because they invoke wonder and amazement at God’s handiwork.  The songs I sing when the mountains come in view are songs of worship to our Creator God.  When in the foothills, you can look upon them and see each ridge (if the sun is shining just right), and you see what looks like a painting in the fall with leaves of red, yellow, and orange.  In the winter the snow caps are breathtaking.  In hiking these mountains, one can’t help but think of how small we are and how majestic God is! 

I am not the only one in history to swell with praise at God’s creation.  King David writes in Psalm 19:1-2, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.“  God created the universe to show His glory.  Creation demonstrates God’s power and wisdom.  The intricate detail of creation is more than any creature could have imagined.  Creation is dependent upon God, Job 12:10 reads, “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.“  Creation should remind us of our need for the Father; it should drive us to know Him more, and to revel in His glory.

Let us go out today and enjoy God’s creation.  We should be challenged to look around and enjoy the goodness of His work.  Look for ways to be a better steward of that in which our Creator has entrusted us.  Let us cry out with Revelation 4:11, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you have created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 

 written by Lauren Helfenbein, guest blogger

Recently, while watching a particular movie, one character (a doctor of the patient who died) couldn’t understand why another person (husband of the patient who died) was so mad at him (the doctor)–even when the husband knew the doctor was not at fault.

When he (the doctor) finished explaining his thoughts to a friend, she said to him (and I loosely paraphrase), “you don’t get it do you?  You are a part of the worst thing that has happened to him.”

Just like that, the light was on, and the doctor glimpsed the man’s pain, understanding the state (the heart-felt position) of the man. 

This is when it hit me.  Jesus not only glimpsed our “state,” He “bore the sin of many (you and me), and made intercession for the transgressors (us)” Isaiah 53:12, and changed our (all who accept Him as Savior and Lord) state.

He, who had nothing to do with the worst thing that happened to mankind (through the disobedience of one), gave His life (the obedience of the One), which is “the best thing” that could ever happen.

I had to ask myself, “how’s your sharing, Shelly?  Are you allowing God to use you to be a part of “the best thing” that has happened (and will ever happen) while on earth in the lives of many?  In other words, am I living out the standards of His Word and sharing Him as He provides opportunities?”

Are you?

“Father, far too often, we are a part of some of the worst things that happen in the lives of others:  we gossip, cheat, steal, hold grudges, and often do not speak to others for petty reasons.  In light of the cross, any reason is petty, Father.  Lord the list goes on.  Forgive us.  May we be a part of the best thing instead—sharing in the eternal, life altering change of  Your forgiveness in the lives of others.  In Jesus’ name.”

Being the Internet savvy mom that I am as soon as I got home I started researching this particular cyst.   Everything I found was not good.  At 16mm people had died from it.  Surgery was the common cure for the cyst, but of course it had complications to.

The doctor ordered an MRI to get a better look at the cyst.  We had 4 days to wait and worry.  We called, e mailed, and text the prayer request out and then we waited.

We have been in the ministry a long time and it seems like every time the church seems to grow, my health gets bad.  I have blamed it on the devil trying to get my husband’s (Tom) eyes off the Lord’s work.  I have always told him to keep going and let me tend to me.  Soon enough the devil gets the picture and quits.  I always feared the day that he moved on to our children.  This, I felt, was the time.

Today as soon as medical records opened I ran down there and got a copy of the MRI results.  NO CYST!!!  That’s right-NONE!  There is a small area that had been misdiagnoised has the cyst.  The spot is fine and will not cause problems and he can do whatever he wants!

Oh how the Lord answers prayers!!  With much joy I called everyone to tell them the news.  Elation spread throughout!  Thank you is just two small words, eight tiny letters, but to me it holds the weight of the world in gratitude to my Saviour!

My favorite part of the message was in how he related an eagle’s response to a crow’s pestering.   He does not stop flying.

According to this minister, often times, when a crow pesters an eagle, the eagle will simply spread out his wings and soar to higher heights. 

He continued by stating that an eagle can even soar to 20,000 ft-the height of many planes!  The crow cannot do this, as he is unable to breathe (exist) beyond a certain height.

I recalled the many times that I have let someone else disturb me to the point that I have changed altitudes-lowering my attitude because of “crows” such as a negative comment, a disapproving look for no apparent reason, a gesture that was obviously done out of total disrespect for me as a human being, or someone’s jealousy (or my own!).

As a child of King, we have a position because of a Person-Jesus Christ.  This position obligates and the Holy Spirit empowers us to be imitators of Christ.

When we govern ourselves according to the Word, we soar above the ridicule, jealousy, anger, negative situations, hurt, failures, etc.  The things or concerns of this world are rendered powerless over our attitude because of our focus, which allows us to soar.

So, let’s give those “crows” a shake the next time we are “pestered” by the things of this world.  Let’s “prepare [our] minds for action; be self-controlled; [setting] our hope fully on the grace to be given… [for we] are a chosen people…belonging to God” (1 Peter 1:13; 2:9).