Serve

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! :)

This week I simply want to encourage you, to testify what I have found and to share a few things I have learned this morning.

Serving others has been on my heart all week. I knew what I was going to write about early this week and yet, even as I start this Happy Friday, I am still not sure exactly what I am going to say. I spent some time last night looking up information, studying some sermons and nothing hit me as the things I want to share with you. So here we are...you are stuck with my thoughts/ideas! :) 

This morning I simply want to encourage you to serve others. Look for opportunities where there is a need and then use your talents, gifts, resources and time to meet them. There are countless needs in this world. Here is what I have found: When we have a receptive heart, God will use the talents and gifts He has given us to serve others. And, He will burden our hearts for the needs that exist. We simply have to be willing to listen and then be our pure, authentic selves.

I have found their are two real blocks to serving others:
1. We don't think we will have that great of an impact so we don't do anything. Sounds kind of crazy even typing it. So let me get this right, because I can't serve the whole world, I am not going to serve the one I can? Instead of focusing on what we cannot do, let's focus on each moment and simply serve when, where and how we feel God leading us to serve. I promise you, if our eyes, ears and hearts are open, if our spirits are willing, their are countless needs and opportunities to serve.

2. It will require a sacrifice. Perhaps this is where we get stuck. I have to give up something in order to give something. Whether it is time, talent, and/or treasure, serving another is going to cost us something. We spend so much time focusing on what we are losing, we don't even notice all we are gaining...let alone the profound influence we are having on the life we are serving and the lives their lives will touch and the lives those lives will touch, and on and on it goes. So, yes, Sweet Friends, serving others will require you to sacrifice something...not going to deny it. I am simply here to testify that I have not yet found the cost that is too great to meet the need of another by serving. 

And to encourage you with this encouragement - oh no, it is going to be one of THOSE kind of days!! :) - I want to share Matthew 20: 26 - 28:
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

I have had a great morning! As I read my Bible, did my devotional and read my leadership book, I came across three things that I found profound. I am going to share them with you and, as the saying goes, I am just going to leave them right here and let you ponder them.

Profound Thought/Idea #1
"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17: 7 - 8

Profound Thought/Idea #2
"But the most effective leaders are unique. They retain their individuality as they tap into their gifts from God.
Being different is attractive and makes you stand out from the crowd. The trick is: You must be you. If you try to be something you're not, people will recognize that pretty quickly, and there is nothing less desirable than a fake.
Get to know yourself. Dare to be yourself. And make sure others have a clear idea of who you are, too. When you are confident in who you are, you will have confidence to lead as God would have you do." - Unknown

Profound Thought/Idea #3
"We use our intentions to excuse what we actually did.
But here's a beautiful, life-changing truth: your intentions don't matter; your behavior does. No one can hear what you wanted to say; we hear only what you said. The impact you have on the world is what you're accountable for." - Levi Lusko

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, and please cherish your precious families.

Kev