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. ²⁶ Not 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!”

Only today at Qdoba. That’s pretty cool, I may have to load up at lunch. I mean who doesn’t like Queso and who doesn’t like free!

Speaking of great free stuff check this out

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV)

That’s probably a better free combo then even Queso!

And then don’t forget these words from the book of Matthew:

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:18 KJV

Today give out what you received for free! No, I am not talking about Queso, but feel free to share that as well. Give what people love in you and give it for free! (plus a side of mercy and grace)

what, it is.. What am I supposed to do. I don’t know.  Oh no.  I ,, I ,, I ..

What do I do?  Where am I supposed to be? This is so stressful.

I don’t have a clue what Panic Day is, but it’s seems like a good time to just remind yourself about where to deposit all of that stress and anxiety.

 ^25-26“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

^27-29“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

^30-33“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

³⁴“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:25-34 The Message (MSG)

and this one as well:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

And then there’s this dude, who has worn a name tag like that for over 4000 days straight! Odd! His premise? Treat people like people!

Well, I can definitely subscribe to that thought, name tag or not.

So, today, I will be wearing a name tag, not because I want to, but because I am spending the day at an IBM training facility and their security requires me too! And I will attempt to treat people like people. And that has nothing to do with IBM security, but more with the suggestion of the Christ. How about you?

¹²Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about. Matthew 7:12 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Three times this week, this idea has popped up, and it has provided me a lot of opportunity to think about it.  The first time was early in the week in The Handwritten Blog’s entry In the Scheme of Things.  The next time was in preparation for this week’s ‘reduction in force’ that occurred at the place of employment, and the third was right in the midst of that day when I was able to hear the head of Covenant Transportation talk about having Christ as your focus and not your job.

It’s interesting that all of these provided an opportunities to think through the idea of what would happen if my employment went away.  What really matters? Is it getting those project’s complete, or is it the way you interact with those around you.  I choose to think that quality of work is important, as it brings glory to God, but that what is more important thing in the scheme of things, is your relationship with the creator and the way you treat his creation ( other people!).

I am really not doing this idea justice in these words.  But maybe these do:

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Matthew 16:24-27

Keep it all in perspective today!

“I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.”
― Eminem

Seems good enough.  But I have one question — what if they are not nice to you?  Then what are you going to do? Huh, Huh?? Yeah, then what are you going to do??( said in my best middle schooler voice)

But I say to you, love your enemies and bless the one who curses you, and do what is beautiful to the one who hates you, and pray over those who take you by force and persecute you.  Matthew 5:44 Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)

and sometimes a trip back to the King James is good:

⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Maybe the quote that we post all over Facebook should be something more like this

I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor or if you hate me, or use me.  I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.

Anyway, that song has rumaged through my head all morning, as the idea of giving and receiving mercy seems so strong with me today.  (Especially living with a 15-year-old son – more about that later this week.)

Today, since the topic of extending mercy seems right on the tip of my mind, it seems appropriate to remind you of the benefits of being a merciful person.  Oh, and quite simple reminder of a definition I found this morning – Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment.

¹⁷ The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm. Proverbs 11:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

One group could not stop talking about it

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.” Luke 2:20 ASV

and the second group decided they would leave a different way then the way they came:

¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:11-12 NASB

So after experience Christ this Christmas, will you keep him on your lips?  Is it time to go another way?

And so should it be with us, each day changed from a boring selfish person, to someone who emits that light of the Father.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

I have tried to read more this month and I found some great reading plans at the YouVersion Bible site.  I have actually been reading two different plans, one that is discussing a Christmas carol a day, and the other that is just discussed different areas surrounded the birth of the Christ.  Yesterday there was a question posed at the end of the both readings and interestingly enough they were both very similar. One asked this

How has your life been a light to those around you? Make a point to be light during this season.

and the other this

What one thing could you change to give those around you a foretaste of God’s Kingdom of peace?

Great questions, how would you answer them?

 ^14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16The Message (MSG)