...Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. John 13:8

Jesus 'took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist...poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"...Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me"...When he had finished...he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them "...I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master...'' (vv. 4-16 NIV). Observe two things Jesus taught: 1) In order to serve God, you must serve others. When Peter objected, Jesus said, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' To play your part in God's plan you must put others first. What you're doing right now may enrich you personally, but are you serving others and pleasing God? 2) When it comes to serving, nothing should be beneath you. Can you picture it? Jesus, who was God, stooping to wash the lowest, dirtiest and smelliest part of the body. Keep that picture firmly in mind next time you're asked to do something you don't want to do, or something you think is 'beneath you.' Christ saw so much value in the least, the lost, the last and the lowest, that He came to redeem them. And today He wants us to go out of our way to serve one another.

SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE

  OF GOD HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE

  CREATED THEM.

                              ( GENESIS 1:27 *NIV )

 

  

       We are indeed made in God's image.  When you think about

   that it means, God has feelings and emotions just like we do.

   Now that means that God can experience anger just as we

   sometimes do.  Remember Noah's Flood, as well as, Sodom &

   Gomorrah to just name two.  How about Jesus in the Temple

   with the money changers, now that was righteous indignation

   indeed!

 

       Then there is Love, who has more Love than our Heavenly

   Father: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE

   HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN

   HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 

   ( JOHN 3:16 )  AND WE KNOW AND RELY ON THE LOVE

   GOD HAS FOR US,  FOR GOD IS LOVE.  ( 1 JOHN 4:16 )

 

       God also experiences sorrow, remember when Jesus went to

   raise Lazarus from the dead?  Is it not written that first: JESUS

   WEPT, ( JOHN 11:35 ) then He raised Lazarus from the dead!

 

       So, when you think about God remember He is

   your Loving, Caring, Heavenly Father.  A Father who understands,

   and is always there for you no matter what.  One that you may

   always turn to with all of your troubles and sorrows, for He truly

   understands!

 

       Therefore always tell God how much you love Him when you

   pray, and never be afraid to share anything with Him!   After all:

   THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.

   HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU, HE WILL QUIET

   YOU WITH HIS LOVE, HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH

   SINGING.   Amen.

It is to a man's honour to avoid strife... Proverbs 20:3

When it comes to criticism: 1) Concentrate on your mission and change your mistakes! Most of us do the opposite; when criticism comes we change our mission and concentrate on our mistakes. If you run every time you make a mistake, you will never accomplish anything. Instead you'll live in constant frustration. The only real mistakes are the ones from which you learn nothing. So instead of dwelling on your mistakes, count on making some, growing wiser and moving on to finish the job. There's an old Arabian proverb that says, 'If you stop every time a dog barks, your road will never end.' Don't let your failures become roadblocks-turn them into building blocks. In Proverbs 27 verse 17, the Bible says, 'Iron sharpens iron...' (NIV). So pray and grow sharper through criticism. 2) Spend time with the right people. When you have optional time spend it with those who build you up, not tear you down. Quality time with the right people will strengthen your faith and fortify you against the effects of the worst criticism. It will also keep you from becoming critical yourself. When crows attack a hawk, the hawk doesn't counter-attack. Instead, it soars higher and higher in ever widening circles until the pests leave it alone. What a great strategy! Circle above your critics rather than stooping to their level: 'It is to a man's honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.' If your attitude is to have any effect on people it will be because of your example, not your defensiveness.

...The people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 17:6

There's no better depiction of our ego-driven nature than this: 'The people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.' Their philosophy was: 'Don't tell me what to do.' But that philosophy leaves you without checks or balances, exposing you to the dominating power of your flesh. We're all capable of becoming addicted to something. Recognisng that is a necessary first step to overcoming it. '...The sin that so easily entangles...' (Hebrews 12:1 NIV) may be a weakness for food, money, sex, drugs, alcohol, popularity, toxic relationships, power, workaholism, etc. When it strikes, you're much more likely to capitulate if you're alone and can act covertly. '...If you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble' (Ecclesiastes 4:10 CEV). You need to 'turn on the light' immediately by connecting with your support system and sharing your situation. Don't allow the darkness of isolation to overpower you. 'If you fall, your friend can help you up...' (v. 10 CEV). The pride that drives you to hide your weakness will keep you permanently weak. The humility to acknowledge it and ask for help is the key to breaking the vicious cycle. God has blessed us with mature, caring people who recognise our common struggles and will help us deal with them. We are part of Christ's church, and 'if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it' (1Corinthians12:26 NAS). God instructed Moses, 'Select...some...honest men who fear God...They will help you carry the load' (Exodus 18:21-22 NLT). Accept the help God provides!

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN! (1)

'...Joshua...summoned all the men of Israel and said...'Put your feet on the necks of these kings...' Joshua 10:24

When Israel entered the Promised Land there were five kings with armies determined to stop them. But God helped Joshua to defeat them and all five kings ran and hid in a cave. So Joshua told his soldiers to bring them out and put their foot on each of their necks. That day God's Word to His people was: '...Be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight' (v. 25 NKJV). What a promise! Are the forces of fear trying to take up residence in your mind today? Are they causing you to think the worst instead of believing God for the best? Are they telling you that you're unworthy to receive what He has promised, that you'll never fulfil the destiny God has in mind for you? With God, your victory is assured, but you have a part to play in it. You must go into that dark cave, bring each king out, place your foot on their neck and put them to death. These five kings represent your five natural senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching, and God doesn't want you to live according to their dictates. Your senses are susceptible to every negative thing going on around you, but your faith can lift you above it and give you victory. But you can't just sit down and do nothing. Your passivity gives them the right to rule you. They have no power over you, except the power you give them. So put your foot down!

YOUR BIBLE-READ IT EVERY DAY

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.' Isaiah 40:8

Let's look once more at what some of the most notable people in history have had to say about the Bible. Matthew Arnold: 'To the Bible men will return because they cannot do without it. The true God is, and must be pre-eminently the God of the Bible, the eternal, who makes for righteousness from whom Jesus came forth, and whose spirit governs the course of humanity.' George Washington: 'It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.' Thomas Jefferson: 'The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty.' Horace Greeley: 'It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people.' Patrick Henry: 'This is a book worth more than all other books which were ever printed.' William McKinley: 'The more profoundly we study this wonderful book and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be the destiny of our nation.' J. Edgar Hoover: 'Inspiration has been the keynote of America's phenomenal growth. Inspiration has been the backbone of America's greatness. Inspiration has been the difference between defeat and victory in America's wars. And this inspiration has come from faith in God, faith in the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, and faith in the belief that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God. Reading it within the family circle is more important today than ever before. It draws the family together into a more closely knit unit. It gives each member a faith to live by.' Your Bible-read it every day!

"O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life" (Ps 17:14).
There are two types of people in the world. There are those whose activities are designed to generate a reward in this lifetime. And there are those who live to generate a reward when they meet our Lord in Heaven.
Not every Christian models the latter. How does one judge whether they are living for the future reward versus the earthly reward? There are several key indicators.
Future reward people tend to be givers. They make their time and resources available to be channeled for Kingdom purposes. They realize their sowing will ultimately be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ where what they have done on earth will be judged and rewarded by God (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Future reward people live a life based upon obedience-based decisions. They don't make decisions based on their perceived outcome. They realize a decision based on obedience alone may not result in an immediate outcome. Jesus was obedient to the cross, but the immediate outcome was His own death on the cross.
Future reward situations show up in daily life in a number of ways. Perhaps a person has wronged you and God calls you to forgive and even bless that person without expectation of their response. Perhaps God calls you to sow money into a ministry or another person's life without expectation of return from them. Perhaps you are called to serve another person without expectation of any earthly reward. The situations we might encounter are unlimited.
Are you living a life based on a future reward, or short term reward? Today, evaluate how you make decisions and how you allocate resources. This will reveal whether you are a future reward Christian.

"Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.”- (Ps 36:10).

Someone once said, "Success is when those who know you the best are those who love you the most."

Years ago a self-assessment tool was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingram called the Johari window. The Johari Window helps us realize where we are in our ability to know who we are and for others to know who we are. Real transparency in communication takes place when those we associate with us know who we are after we discover who we really are. See if you can identify what category you might fall among these four:

Transparent Life The transparent life is the life we should desire. I know who I am and others know me. There is nothing hidden. I have come to know who I am as an individual and basically people get what they see in me.

Bull-In-The-China Shop This person is blinded to the things that others recognize about him. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us about the blind spots in our personality. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to their input.

Aloof/Hidden Secrets This person lives in a secret world. They don't allow others to know about themselves. They know themselves but are fearful of letting others know. Those around them do not know them either. What do others really know about you? Have you allowed yourself to get close enough to others to share who you really are inside?

Hidden Potential This is a combination of Bull-In-A-China Shop and Aloof/Hidden Secrets. It is the saddest of all conditions. These people don't know themselves and others don't know them either. This means both parties have to invest the energy to communicate and get feedback from one another.

How about you? Why not take a step to find out who you really are in the eyes of others. It could change your life. 

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS. ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

Today being St Valentines Day, a day when we honor those we love, let us not forget to honor our Heavenly Father as well!

After all, there is no way humanly possible to measure the love that GOD has for each of us. The Prophet David explained it best when he wrote; Your love, O Lord , reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. YOUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS, YOUR JUSTICE LIKE THE GREAT DEEP. O LORD , YOU PRESERVE BOTH MAN AND BEAST. HOW PRICELESS IS YOUR UNFAILING LOVE! BOTH HIGH AND LOW AMONG MEN FIND REFUGE IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS. ( PSALMS 36:5-7 )

  Therefore let us do as JESUS CHRIST taught us when HE said, 'LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.  ( MATTHEW 22:37 ) For after all, THE LORD WATCHES OVER ALL WHO LOVE HIM BUT ALL THE WICKED HE WILL DESTROY. ( PSALMS 145:20 )

  So tell GOD how much you love HIM when you pray, today and every day! Also thank HIM for all of the Blessings that HE has given to you as well. Then before you know it you will be saying, I WILL SING OF THE LORD 'S GREAT LOVE FOREVER WITH MY MOUTH I WILL MAKE YOUR FAITHFULNESS KNOWN THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS.  ( PSALMS 89:1 )

Have a wonderful Valentines day, and know that GOD smiles every time HE thinks about you, for you are HIS Valentine Forever. Amen!

KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GOD; HE IS THE FAITHFUL GOD, KEEPING HIS COVENANT OF LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDS. ( DEUTERONOMY 7:9 *NIV )

"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matt 4:19-20).

Do you recall how good it felt when you were chosen to be on a team? It makes one feel special to be preferred over another.

During the time of Jesus rabbis' were well known in their community. Each rabbi had a following of students. Jesus was developing as a "superstar" rabbi. He was unlike the others. He did things differently. He often confronted the accepted thinking of other rabbis and Pharisees. The younger men had great respect for Jesus, the rabbi. To be selected by Jesus would be a great honor because most rabbis would usually select only the cream of the crop in the community as their disciples. By these standards, Peter and the other disciples would not have qualified. But Jesus had a purpose in mind for Peter and the disciples.

God is the one who calls people into relationship with Himself and to their calling in life. It is for His purposes, not ours. Jesus chose each of his disciples from the workplace instead of the rabbinical schools. They did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose them and it was deemed a great honor in their culture to be chosen by such a rabbi (Jn 15:16).

Jesus called you into relationship with Himself because His desire is for you to be a faithful priest in your work life, family, and city. "I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind." (1 Samuel 2:35). He desires that you be a willing participant in his agenda. He has not called you for your purposes, but His.

Sometimes we think it's all about us. It has to be all about Him in order for us to fulfill what is in His heart and mind for His overall plan for His Kingdom. He doesn't need us, but He has chosen to use us.

God has an agenda for planet earth. He has chosen you and me as the primary instrument for accomplishing His plan. Are you willing to be his faithful priest and king to do what is in His heart and mind? Why not say "yes" to His agenda.