ServeOneAnother | Kristi's Morning Devotional

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022

Making A Difference

I love my mountain home!

The campers have already started arriving. This weekend our campground and the others on the mountain will be filled with those who have fled the heat of the city for the cooler climates in the mountains.

I hated to be the bearer of bad news but there will be no campfires this year. The grasses are so dry – we need rain. But that really didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of each vehicle’s occupants.

Dads looked tired from the drive to the top of the mountain, they expressed their joy for being here and their anticipations for a relaxing next three days.

“This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do.” John 15:12-14 ERV

What an example Jesus gave us!

We can and should give our lives daily. Going the extra mile, denying our own comforts to serve others. In this way, we are examples of Christ.

“I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I finish my work. I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 ERV

“This is a true statement. And I want you to be sure that the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.” Titus 3:8 ERV

There will be a time, maybe years from now, when someone will remember the kindnesses we have shown, the going beyond the norm, and they will express thanks for the little sacrifices. And maybe, just maybe, they will realize those acts were expressions of God’s love.

April 4, 2022April 4, 2022

Loving Service

These two words were on my heart when I woke up this morning, loving service. What a wonderful combination.

I think each of us can relate a story of being served by a grumpy or unenthusiastic waiter or waitress in a restaurant. Their attitude was curt, sharp-tongued and even down-right rude. Even though the food may have been good we probably walked away not desiring to return anytime soon.

Now compare that with a kind and attentive server. One who anticipated your needs and greeted you with a smile and pleasant demeanor. They made your mealtime more enjoyable because they genuinely cared.

Our attitude makes a difference. We choose joy or grumbling, peace or turmoil.

Our daily chores – washing dishes, doing laundry, fixing meals, buying groceries, cleaning house – can be acts of love or drudgery. We can be grateful for opportunity to provide for those we love, or we may be tempted to feel taken for granted and unappreciated. I strongly advise against the second.

“Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. ⁴⁵Follow my example: Even the Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Mark 10:44-45 ERV

Jesus is our perfect example. He could have expected to be waited on hand and foot, after all he was God’s son. But He laid all that aside and came to lovingly serve those He encountered. Each act of kindness pointed to the compassion of His Father.

Embrace each task with an attitude of loving service.

January 31, 2021January 31, 2021

True Love

With Valentine’s Day only two weeks away I want to share with you some of God’s thoughts about husbands and wives. This is great advice for the waiting-to-get marrieds, the newlyweds, the middle weds and also for those of us “golden” weds.

When I was a girl, I dreamed of my life as a wife and mother. I don’t think I ever wanted to do anything else. It was a “Cinderella” fairy tale dream; Prince Charming, lovely dress, horse-drawn carriage, and flowers, lots of flowers.

I was eight years old when I met my husband. We attended the same church and he was the same age as my older brother. It did not take long for them to become friends. With their friendship came invitations for Dave to come to our house and hang out.

At eight, I was not infatuated with him. He was just another one of the guys but at thirteen, he was a hunk! Dave was a high school athlete, an outdoorsman and a horseman. What more could a girl ask for? (At this point, Dave is probably blushing and asking me to delete some of this.)

He was my Prince Charming, the man of my dreams. When he proposed my dreams came true. I was nineteen when we married. It was not a big wedding, just a simple ceremony in my parents living room. I had my gown, my prince and my horse-drawn 1973 Blue Chevy Silverado 4×4.

April 14, 1973, I became the beloved wife of David Wilson. However, long before this Christ shared His love with me and called me His wife.

“In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰And we are members of his body.

³¹As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ ³²This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” Ephesians 5:28-32 NLV

…The relationship of husband and wife has been held in high regard by God, the Father, since He established the first union of Adam and Eve in the Garden. This is a relationship of both separation and union. The husband and wife both give up things they felt were important to be joined in a new relationship.

Men, as well as women, will need to see themselves in the role of the wife in these verses. We need to see what Paul was really teaching; he was giving an example of the relationship between Christ and the Church.

We will study Ephesians 5:21-32 verse by verse and in those verses we will find the depth of Christ’s love for us.

“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Verse 21 NLT

A successful, life-long relationship starts with submitting to one another. There will always be areas of putting someone else’s desires ahead of your own and doing it without complaining. Love is about honoring the other person by giving them priority – wanting their happiness and well being. It is a mutual submission.

Christ gave us this example of true love – He gave all. He gave His life to show us His love!