TOTIN'-A-TUDE

Some years ago I did an extensive study of the people of God in the Old Testament. One of the things I discovered was that their attitudes had a great deal to do with their destiny. When they were happy, thankful, loving and trusting, God opened opportunities and doors that were full of unexpected influence and victory. When they were complaining, unhappy, unthankful and fearful, doors were closed and, truth be told, lives were wasted. Sooooo, the big deal for me at this stage in my walk with Christ is, don't go "totin'-a-tude"!!!! I want to be what my Pastor has been teaching about these last few weeks in his series on "The End": a valuable leader and judge in the coming Kingdom. I don't just want to enter the kingdom; I want to inherit it. Soooo, it is critical that I keep my attitude in check all day every day. "Lord, the most difficult attitude for me to deal with is my own! Crush every ungrateful and complaining thought. Give me a long view, understanding that the attitude I allow now will have direct impact on the level of influence I can have when it really counts; in the Coming Kingdom! Come Lord Jesus! I'm not totin'-a-tude today! Knowing me, tomorrow may be different!"

SERVING, NOT SERVED:

Five years ago this year I awakened my bride at 2:00 AM and suggested she pack her cosmetic bag. Of course, the first question was, "Why?" And the second, "Where are we going?" I told her, "It's on a need to know basis!" Not many wives would have that kind of trust, but mine is so very special. Had I lost my mind expecting her to trust me like that? Not really. You see, she had raised three children, serving them 24/7. She had spent 35 years with me, putting up with all the ups and downs, never once failing to serve me. Her entire adult life was spent serving others. I determined to spend one week going where she could be served. Sooo, I planned a cruise. They served us 24/7. They cooked every meal and even washed the dishes. They made the bed every morning and turned the bed down every evening; even putting a chocolate mint on our pillows. They fashioned the towels into cute animal figures and often stood outside our door just to ask, "Is there anything we can get for you?" I think the thing we both learned was, that isn't real life. We have never been served like that anywhere else! It seems to me that, at some point, the mindset of serving rather than being served has been lost in Christian circles. It is as though many believe that the Christ-like-life is like boarding a cruise ship to be served, rather than boarding a battle ship to serve a cause greater than myself. If Jesus "came not to be served, but to serve", it seems to me that we who claim to follow Jesus should be looking for ways to serve until "that day" when we will be served by our Master.