The crazy singing continued this morning with this little number.
Make me a waffle, Lord make me like you,
for you are a waffle, Make me one too.
Yes, ridiculous! But, of course, that lead into some serious versions of the Make Me a Servant song as well.
Like this:
So, really, this is a beautiful prayer, and something that we think about each day as we interact with others, especially considering these words of the Lords, from the book of Mark
“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 ESV
I am thinking about something the Christ said to his close knit group of followers when they ask him about granting them positions of power and authority.
He responded to them this way.
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 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.” Matthew 20:25-28 New International Version (NIV)
hm, that’s seems so wrong to our culture. So backwards? Become a servant? Keep that in mind as you deal with the many people ( or not so many when it comes to me) that you come in contact with today.( and every day!) May this be said about you: “Not so with you!”
Yesterday I was directed sort of unknowingly to this particular part of the ‘Christmas Story’ in Luke. It’s a short passage immediately after Mary has a simple but powerful conversation with the Angel of the Lord.
I had read this passage so many times in the past, but yesterday it seemed these words were a lot closer to home than before. No, I did not have an angel talk to me. And no, I am not pregnant!. But I do struggle with submitting myself to the commands and directives of the creator of the world. I do struggle hearing those commands and saying “sure if that is what you want!”
But, that’s exactly what that young girl, Mary did.
38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 English Standard Version (ESV)
Could you imagine if we actually responded that way to the commands of our Lord? I believe we would see incredible things happening! Her response, is quite an example. Might be worth following that example today?
It appears the James Durbin from American Idol must be a DB reader. Yesterday I wrote about “Don’t Stop Believing” and then last night he goes out on Idol and sings it. What influence this blog has! What control! What command!
Well, of course that’s not true, but it feels good to feel like you are in control. Being in control and in command of things is something that I think all of us struggle with. It is so hard to give it over and let others, or the Lord, take over and lead. It seems like it is so against our nature for that to happen, but never the less that is what we are asked to do.
It sort of reminds me of the song “Pierce My Ear”, which is a song about willingly giving control over to the Lord, which comes from this story in the book of Exodus
5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ 6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. (Exodus 21:5-6, New International Version)
So today, spend some time thinking about who or what is in control of your life?
WOW. After a day of inactivity the action really picked up on Thursday at the Passover got into full swing and the activity that leads the the cross begins moving in quite a rapid succession of events. There are so many great points to identify and to focus on in these events that it is a bit of a struggle to only pick one.
But there is an event that seems to define the evening activities of this Passover Thursday, as the Christ, the Lamb, gathers his men for one last meal, one last time to teach, one last time to give them the instruction they need before the show really starts. It’s a little like that last practice before the big game, as coaches struggle to find that one piece of information that his players should hold above all else they have learned. And look what Jesus tells them, after he washes their feet in an educational “hands-on” interactive instructional session:
10-12Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
12-17Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. (John 13:12-17, The Message)
He tells them, and through them he tells us – Be a servant, follow my example. Do what I have done, act like I have acted – give your life for the others. So, speaking of following, here is a little short video clip about following him.
Hm, follow him, imitate him, act like him. I wonder what would happen if we do?