Reverse Values: Servants Shall Be First

Writing an acrostic poem for the word "servant" helps me to see what I think about having a servant's attitude, or heart.  It's a word association about my beliefs.  Try it yourself. You may be surprised by what comes to your mind as you write down phrases for each letter. 

Reverse values. 
Jesus was all about reverse values. He was a king with no storehouses full of possessions. He was a king who walked from town to town. Jesus was a Servant King who washed the feet of his disciples. Foot washing was a job given to slaves or the lowest of servants. Yes, Jesus had no riches or rich trappings. He was the opposite of what everyone thought a king should be. Jesus set the bar at being a servant. Yes, waiting on others is how you become first in the kingdom of heaven. 

Today, I try to be the best servant I can be, one day at a time. 
What does that mean? Before COVID-19, it meant at the store, I smile and look for opportunities to help others. I can carry bags to cars, return carts to the store, or give someone my cart. 

With COVID-19 concerns, I can carry disinfectant wipes and wipe off my cart handle before offering it to someone. I am still going to carry bags. I will just have to sanitize my hands afterward. I'm already doing that anyway.  

If someone stops to talk to me, I patiently listen. Everyone needs to talk.  

At the bank drive-through, I smile at the cashier. Smiles are contagious. No matter where I go, I look for an opportunity to tell others that Jesus loves them. Sometimes it is the smallest of gestures, that means the most to others.  


Matthew 19:29-30
29And every one that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Matthew 20: 12,14,16
12Saying, These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
14Take what is yours, and go your way: I wish to give to this last man, the same as to you. 
16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:26-28
 26But it shall not be so among you: but whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 13:14
14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. 

Quiet Yourself Beloved

The Lord spoke to my heart and said,

Quiet yourself beloved. I am your strength. I am your fortress. Do not listen to the words of man. My ways are not their ways.

The news is full of trouble and turmoil. Very little news shows the goodness and kindness of people. 

Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and the COVID-19 virus are covered from morning 'til night. Every time I turn on my television or go online there it is! Disaster and horrific events are in banner headlines with a good mix of celebrity life and misbehavior. Half naked and almost completely naked people are splashed across social media platforms and screens disguised as commercials and advertisements. 

God has his own ways. 
He moves in ways that my finite mind cannot grasp. The Creator of All is infinite. He loves you and I.  We can rely on Him. There are plenty of miracles happening in the world if we will just look for them. 

Remember, Father God works in ways that are not our ways. Turn to Him and let His strength empower you today. 

Psalm 59:7-8
See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords,
and they think, “Who can hear us?”
But you laugh at them, Lord; you scoff at all those nations.

Psalm 59:12
For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Let the Light Shine Out of Darkness

The Lord spoke these words to my heart this morning. 

You are mine now and forever. Be a light casting back darkness. Do not worry. Do not doubt. You are mine and I am yours. I will shine through you, a dayspring from on high.

I don't know about you, but I have been in need of some reassurance from my Heavenly Father.

It is so difficult to let my light shine and not worry when I see all the pictures from around the world concerning the COVID-19 virus, healthcare shortages and of all things, toilet paper shortages!

Who would have ever thought you'd have to stand in line to buy one 12 pack of toilet paper?

Think we will see a TP black market? lol I love seeing the posts on social media when a friend finds toilet paper. Humor and knowing that I belong to Jesus now and forever keeps me from worrying. I'm going to let the sunlight of the Son shine through me and keep the dark thoughts out of my head!

Here is some scripture to help you out:

John 17:6-10
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted  them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

Luke 11:36
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

James 1:6
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Lost in Life - A poem about living without faith

#NaPoWriMo2020

A Joyous Journey: Devotions from the Book of Psalms

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There is a Whole Lot of Waiting in the Bible

There are two bowls of cereal on the table waiting for the grandsons to sit down for breakfast. There isn't milk on the cereal yet. Who wants soggy cereal? Right? As I stand at the refrigerator door about to get the milk out, I tell them that breakfast is ready. Both of the boys run into the kitchen and sit down at the table. Do the kiddos see me about to get the milk out of the refrigerator? You would think so but no, both of them start asking where the milk is. Why does this happen? It's called instant gratification, or I want what I want NOW!

What does the Bible say about instant gratification? I know the Bible doesn't say instant gratification, but it does say to wait. It says that a LOT. 

My quick Google search for, "How many times is wait in the Bible"  revealed this factoid from Quora.com,

" ...there are at least 7 words in Hebrew and Greek that can be translated "wait"... (a Bible) word search for "wait" results in 106 hits."

There is a whole lot of waiting in the Bible. 

• Adam and Eve waited on God to visit them
• Miriam waited for Pharoh's daughter to find Moses.
• The Israelites waited for 40 years in the wilderness.
• Samson had to wait for his hair to grow out.
• Jacob worked and waited for Leah for seven years. 
• Abraham waited for a son for years and years. 
• Noah waited for the flood and waited for the water to recede.
• David waited for years to become king. He even wrote about waiting while he was waiting. 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD          Psalm 27:13-14

I'm seeing a theme here. How about you? I know it's hard to be patient and wait. As a believer in Jesus, I am fixing my focus on the future and I will try to wait patiently on the LORD.  Now, to try and get the grandsons to wait patiently on the milk for their cereal!

Standing on Psalm 91

Bill and I have adopted Psalm 91 to stand on as the world goes through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pray this scripture prayer with us.

Psalm 91 Prayer

The LORD is my refuge and my fortress. I will trust Him. He will keep me from the traps of Satan and from the perilous pestilence. He will cover me with His feathers and keep me under his wings. His truth will be my shield and buckler. I will not be afraid of the terror by night. I will not be afraid of the pestilence that walks in darkness. I will not be afraid of the destruction that lays waste even if thousands fall by my side and ten thousand falls by my right. I will not be touched. I will watch with my eyes and see the reward of the wicked. Because I have taken refuge with the LORD, no evil shall befall me, nor will any plague come near my home. God has given His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. The angels will bear me up so that I will not injure myself. I will keep God on high because he has set his love on me and he has known my name. He shall call on me and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will live a long life for him. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior. Amen. 

Psalm 91

1. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
4. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler
5. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 
8. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 
9. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 
10. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 
11. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name.
15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Faith Times Three : An Acrostic Poem

Full of love and adoration for the Lord

Adore Jesus Christ and his sacrifice

In a relationship with a living God

Testifying about the Good News

Honoring the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Finding a strength beyond myself

Acknowledging my weakness - to accept His strength 

Invisible belief without physical proof

Trials are no longer to be feared

Help and healing are mine to receive, as long as I believe

Faith in the Bible as written

Announcing God's Glory to all

Intent on following the narrow path

Telling Jesus all my troubles, listening to the Holy Spirit, appealing to the God of all

Helping and encouraging my brothers and sisters in faith

©2014 Sallee Bonham

A Motorcycle Ride Lifted Our Spirits!

The hubby and I took a motorcycle ride Tuesday. 

Bill asked me if I could plan a route that would keep us in the rural areas. I did just that. 

My spirits lifted as we rode through the twisting turns of Highway 42 that took us through valleys and along ridge tops. One word kept coming to my mind, GREEN - emerald green grass, yellow-green tree buds, and every other shade of green. Then there is the purple-red beauty of flowering redbud trees that flourish in the rocky soil that flanks our roadways. I found myself wanting to be able to take pictures with my eyes that I could download later of particularly beautiful sights - the section of road on Highway 17 where the oaks tried to meet overhead and blooming redbud trees lined the roadside; the coyote that dashed across the road: the scenic view that greeted our eyes as we topped a ridge and saw gently rounded, green hilltops stretching out for miles. 

God sure knew what he was doing when he created this world! 

Not once did I think about COVID-19 as Bill and I followed each other through the rural, scenic beauty that announced spring has arrived. It was a much needed mental health day that focused our attention on God the Creator. When we returned home, we both were relaxed and smiling. 

Thank you, Lord, for giving us a day like this! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3