This morning I began listening to a podcast from Grace Chapel Church in Tennessee. The family I am with right now in Uganda used to attend the church. A few weeks ago, I was encouraged to listen to one of their podcast. The last part in a 16 part series. Well, being me, I could not start at the end, so yesterday I downloaded all 16 parts of the series. It took forever, but it is already so well worth it.
So at 10 am, I grabbed my headphones, phone, Bible and journal and pressed "play" on Hallelujah Anyway. I was not really sure what to expect, but I was not disappointed in my lack of expectations. The series looks at the book of Philippians. Honestly, I rather enjoy the book, so it helped my decision in downloading all episodes of the series. The first podcast looks at Philippians 1:1. Yes, only one verse.
" Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and the deacons: "
Paul is currently in a Roman prison awaiting his sentence. The verdict that eventually has him beheaded. On average, the book of Philippians states every seven verses to rejoice or be thankful. Paul, in prison, writing to the church (men and women who are not imprisoned) to rejoice. Say what?!
Anyway, this episode focused on "bond- servant of Jesus Christ". A bond-servant in the Hebrew culture is someone who adores his master & through that love voluntarily commits to his master and his house to stay. (This is after they have already worked the first six years. See Deuteronomy 15: 12-17) After the servant voluntarily chooses to stay, an awl (metal spike) is taken to his ear. The awl then marks him for all of the community to see.
God looks for people to become bond-servants. Not merely, "Yay Jesus is alive" believers, but people who say everything I am is Yours.
This thing of "everything I am is Yours" was really convicting for me. See, since being in Uganda, I have had a really bad heart attitude. My heart has been saying 'this is not worth it to me'. I have had to constantly remind myself that the loneliness and lack of community I feel, the food that I am not a fan of, and the stress of not having all of my finances for my school is, well... okay. But it is not okay for my attitude to be ugly. I have had to say every morning, "Jesus is worthy. He is worth 10.5 months in a country I do not like being in. He is worth me leaving my friends that are more like family. He is worth me fundraising for another school. He is worth all of me." But the last week, I have not been saying this. I have gone back to complaining. 'Jesus, I'm lonely. Jesus, I do not want to teach math another day. Jesus, I do not like eggs. Jesus...Jesus...Jesus.' Whine, whine. Complain, complain. Basically saying 'Jesus, I do not want my ear against the door anymore. Take back the piercing because I am no longer comfortable.'
So based off of Hallelujah Anyway Part II, I have seven things I am wanting to start practicing on the daily. I am excited to see my attitude change.
1) I want to be a blesser. Paul always says grace & peace to you. He blesses people. I want to too.
2) I want to be thankful. In all things and for all things. There is always something.
3) I want to be prayerful. Pray without ceasing. That is how I want to be.
4) I want to be joyful. I want to be exceedingly joyful. Different joyful.
5) I want to be affirming. God is doing something fantastic in our lives, but sometimes we just need to hear it.
6) I want to be a "right- thinker". When you love right, you think right.
7) I want to be (*gulp*) affectionate. Able to say 'I miss you' or 'I love you' or whatever.
I know this post is choppy, but I had to get it out. Put it out there for people to see and hear what I am saying. Be able to say: Please pray. I am having a hard time, but I do not want to give up. I want my ear against the door and I want to be marked for the whole world to see that I voluntarily choose to follow Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth with a joyful, thankful heart.
So at 10 am, I grabbed my headphones, phone, Bible and journal and pressed "play" on Hallelujah Anyway. I was not really sure what to expect, but I was not disappointed in my lack of expectations. The series looks at the book of Philippians. Honestly, I rather enjoy the book, so it helped my decision in downloading all episodes of the series. The first podcast looks at Philippians 1:1. Yes, only one verse.
" Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and the deacons: "
Paul is currently in a Roman prison awaiting his sentence. The verdict that eventually has him beheaded. On average, the book of Philippians states every seven verses to rejoice or be thankful. Paul, in prison, writing to the church (men and women who are not imprisoned) to rejoice. Say what?!
Anyway, this episode focused on "bond- servant of Jesus Christ". A bond-servant in the Hebrew culture is someone who adores his master & through that love voluntarily commits to his master and his house to stay. (This is after they have already worked the first six years. See Deuteronomy 15: 12-17) After the servant voluntarily chooses to stay, an awl (metal spike) is taken to his ear. The awl then marks him for all of the community to see.
God looks for people to become bond-servants. Not merely, "Yay Jesus is alive" believers, but people who say everything I am is Yours.
This thing of "everything I am is Yours" was really convicting for me. See, since being in Uganda, I have had a really bad heart attitude. My heart has been saying 'this is not worth it to me'. I have had to constantly remind myself that the loneliness and lack of community I feel, the food that I am not a fan of, and the stress of not having all of my finances for my school is, well... okay. But it is not okay for my attitude to be ugly. I have had to say every morning, "Jesus is worthy. He is worth 10.5 months in a country I do not like being in. He is worth me leaving my friends that are more like family. He is worth me fundraising for another school. He is worth all of me." But the last week, I have not been saying this. I have gone back to complaining. 'Jesus, I'm lonely. Jesus, I do not want to teach math another day. Jesus, I do not like eggs. Jesus...Jesus...Jesus.' Whine, whine. Complain, complain. Basically saying 'Jesus, I do not want my ear against the door anymore. Take back the piercing because I am no longer comfortable.'
So based off of Hallelujah Anyway Part II, I have seven things I am wanting to start practicing on the daily. I am excited to see my attitude change.
1) I want to be a blesser. Paul always says grace & peace to you. He blesses people. I want to too.
2) I want to be thankful. In all things and for all things. There is always something.
3) I want to be prayerful. Pray without ceasing. That is how I want to be.
4) I want to be joyful. I want to be exceedingly joyful. Different joyful.
5) I want to be affirming. God is doing something fantastic in our lives, but sometimes we just need to hear it.
6) I want to be a "right- thinker". When you love right, you think right.
7) I want to be (*gulp*) affectionate. Able to say 'I miss you' or 'I love you' or whatever.
I know this post is choppy, but I had to get it out. Put it out there for people to see and hear what I am saying. Be able to say: Please pray. I am having a hard time, but I do not want to give up. I want my ear against the door and I want to be marked for the whole world to see that I voluntarily choose to follow Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth with a joyful, thankful heart.
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