Real Leadership

Who's the greatest?  Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' disciples had a quarrel about that question at least twice.  (Obviously Jesus was the greatest, but amongst the disciples was the question) In both situations, what is Jesus' response? "...for the least among all of you is the greatest." (9:48b)  Huh?  That's an interesting paradox.  But it fits into the upside down kingdom that Christ is establishing.  But still, that's a very ominous statement...

The second time this question arises, Jesus, since they didn't understand the first example, gives them a second analogy.  He says, "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at table?"  This seems like the logical stopping point right? Well not for Jesus, he answers his rhetorical question, "But I am among you as one who serves." (22:27)

Jesus knows that the best way to make a point is to lead by example.  Jesus didn't come onto this earth with a mighty vengeance   No, he came through the lowliest of lowly people, times, and predicament   He didn't have a lot of money.  He never asked for anything from anyone.  He just served.  He just gave.  Gave with his life.

Jesus is the head.  But acted as the tail.  He is above.  But came from beneath.

One thing I'm slowly learning is that the things that this world cherishes, the Lord tells us to stay away from.  Money. Power. Greed. Influence.  That's not what being a disciple of Jesus is all about.

We are all leaders of something whether we recognize it or not.  The best leaders however, are the ones that put their constituents greater interests before their wants.  I urge everyone to reconsider how you lead.  Not only that, but to reconsider the motivation for said leadership.  Do you lead because it makes you feel important?  Or do you lead so that others may be drawn to the love of Christ through your actions.

I've said it before, and I am going to say is again, Jesus is the greatest man I know.  He set the bar extremely high for those of us that strive to be like him.

I like to think that I am a good leader.  But, my motivation isn't always in the right spots.  It's about the welfare of the whole, not the captain.

Another topsy-turvy Jesus example courtesy of the Luke!

Stay Blessed Everyone & Thanks For Reading!
--MJA

Happy New Year! (Surrendering Time)

My First VLog!  Enjoy it!  Happy a GREAT 2013.

--MJA

God's Got This!

So, I was driving back to Harrisburg from Erie gettin my Christian Jam on (Pop, Rock, Contemporary, & Gospel) when a song came on called: Your Will and it is written by a little known artist named Darius Brooks.  Now this song isn't what I would call recent, but Mr. Brooks is what we call a One-Hit Wonder.  Now I know I said that there is going to be a series on relationships, but once I started listening/singing (badly) the lyrics to the song I was hit.  Noooo, not by a car, but by the Spirit.  The song lyrics are soo indicative of how I feel soo many times that I just gotta put them on the page:

I wish I could tell you just what I want,

and you'd give it to me just like that.

The truth of the matter;

What I want just might hurt me

and you won't let me go out like that.

You know my end, before my beginning:

calculated blessings down to the penny.

So I'll cry 'till you tell me, "Let it go, let it be"

Cause Oh Lord,

Lord, Your will is what's best for me.

Wow....those lyrics describe me and my thoughts perfectly!  I know I've been a little harsh on my blogs recently but this...this has been placed on my heart to help people like me.  Constantly....I mean daily, I have a bunch of scenarios play in my head (another disadvantage of being an introvert).  With these scenarios comes questions...doubts.  One that constantly circles around my head is: Lord why doesn't any girl I'm interested in every like me back?  Is it the way I smell?  Do I look like roadkill to them? (You don't have to answer that).  And on the doubts spectrum I'm constantly worried...hoping that I'm doing the right thing with my life. Or, is my blog actually helping people...is it reaching people?  And I'm sure that my man Darius was thinking some of the same thoughts (probably not the SAME thoughts) when he wrote the first verse to the song.

"I wish I could tell you just what I want and you'd give it to me just...like THAT."  Wow, how many of us have these wants that we call needs.  I NEED this...I need a house...I need a significant other RIGHT NOW!  Whoa my friend..you don't NEED this right now because if you NEEDED it right now you would HAVE it right now.  How do I know this, because the Bible said it and I believe it.  "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory..." But wait...it doesn't stop there does it?  The verse concludes by saying: "....by Christ Jesus."  AKA all we NEED is Jesus. (Philippians 4:19).

Mr. Brooks continues, "The truth of the matter (is that) what I want just might hurt me and you won't let me go out like that."  God doesn't want us to hurt.  And we as humans, both male and female tend to think with our emotions/impulses which change ona daily/weekly/yearly basis.  We don't have the amazing ability of infinite foresight.  So, the things that might look good in the now might just hurt you in the long run.  I mean that's a complaint that the elders have about us, the youth.  We think too much about the present...gettin that quick bread (money).  Orrr for you practical people, think about the Stock Market crash and why that happened.  Since God loves us, He doesn't give us what we want all the time.  He won't let us go out like that.

Here's the part!  "You know my end...before my beginning (with) calculated blessings...down to the penny."  The Lord says in the twenty third chapter in the last "book" of the Bible that: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."  The author of John opens up his "book" by saying: "In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  I mean it doesn't get any simpler than that!  God knows what's going to happen in the long run...He knows how much money we are going to have..down the the penny.  Not to the dollar. Not to the quarter. To the penny!  And yet we still have a constant lack of trust in Him.

But I love this chorus because it's resolved. So I'll cry until you tell me, "Let it go, let it be." Cause oh Lord, Your will is what's best for me." Praise God!  I don't even need to say anymore.  Sometimes you are soo confused...so lost..that you cry.  But its in those moments where God, the Great Comforter, is just telling you to let it go.  Why?  Because the will that He has for our life...the plan that He has for our life is what's best for us.  Not what our finite minds see in the present.

Ya know, as I'm writing this a simple phrase just keeps poppin into my head...God's got this!  

God's got this!

God's got this!

God's got this!

That's how I'm going to end this blog.  With the reassurance in my heart...in my mind that God is still in control.  God's got the final say.  Yes, I'm going to have my doubts.  Yes, I'ma have my questions.  It's all due to my human nature but guess what??

GOD'S GOT THIS!

I Surrender All

There is just something special about hymns.  There's also something weird about random songs entering into my head at this time of night.  All the songs, surround one central theme, I am not in control of mine life.
My life is not mine own, to You I belong, I give myself to You.
I mean really God!  I thought we'd already had this discussion.  I'm doing what you want my to do.  But, I guess I haven't fully given everything to you.  I'm still trying to make it on my own.

You win, I've been trying to do it on my own...
But right now I gotta surrender...
you know what's best...
It's not easy waiting on you, 
It's not easy depending on you.  
But without faith, it's impossible to please you. 
So we'll stand right here...
You got Me...You Got Me!

Surrender. I. Surrender. The words of a broken sinner that has fallen in the pit and needs to be saved.  All You want to do is help me.  I just gotta say yes.  I need to recognize I need to be saved, forgiven, and loved.  Will you love me?  I already know the answer to that question.  Lord, I'm done.  I....Surrender

All To Jesus I Surrender,
All to Him I Freely Give
I Will Ever Love and Trust Him,
In His Presence Daily Live

All To Jesus, I Surrender, 
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, 
Take me Jesus, take me now!

I Surrender All! 
I Surrender All! 
All To Thee My Blessed Savior.  
I Surrender All!