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Servant Leadership – 3rd F

April 1, 2021 / / 0 Comments

A devotion on Servant Leadership from Bible App You Version (Theology of Work)

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others – Mark 10:35-45 NLT

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”

36 “What is your request?” he asked.

37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. 40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

 

Leaders Must Be Servants

In the book of Mark, chapter 10, we see James and John asking Jesus to share in his glory by sitting at his right and left hand. In such positions, they would receive both honor and exceptional authority. Jesus seized this teachable moment to reveal something radical about his style of leadership. He explained that Gentile leaders “lord it over their people” and “flaunt their authority.” But followers of Jesus must walk a different path.

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you,” Jesus said, “must be your servant.” The Greek original of this reads more literally, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” The word translated here as “servant” is diakonos (the word sometimes used to refer to a table waiter). A diakonos cared for the needs of others rather than his or her own needs. It denotes a person who serves in some subservient and humble role.

Jesus’s vision of leadership must have shocked his disciples. How can a leader also be a servant? This question continues to unsettle followers of Jesus today. All people tend to seek position and power rather than opportunities for humble service.

Servant leadership is as countercultural today as it was in the time of Jesus. Yet when we are in charge of people, we are called to be their servant. We must treat others with respect, care for their human needs and seek what is best for them, even as we seek the best for the organization in which we are a leader. Following Jesus’s leadership is not easy, but it is our calling as Christians who seek to obey and imitate Jesus.

Reflection

When you hear the phrase “servant leadership,” what or who comes to mind? Have you ever experienced this kind of leadership from one of your leaders?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am challenged by your vision of servant leadership. This sort of thing doesn’t come naturally to me. Lord, transform my thinking and my attitudes. Help me to see the needs of my coworkers and reach out to care for them.

May I lift up those who are officially below me, seeking to honor them and acknowledge their contributions. Help me to exercise the authority given to me with humility, always seeing myself first and foremost as your servant, and therefore the servant of others. Amen.

 

 

Iron Sharpens Iron Pt 2 – 3rd F

March 24, 2021 / / 0 Comments

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
‭‭Proverbs 11:14

 

Multitude of Counsel

Who’s sharpening you? Whom are you sharpening? Proverbs‬ ‭11:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” In the multitude of sharpening — there is safety. In the multitude of sound and wise counsel you’ll find safety. When you receive advice from wise counselors, mentors, leaders, pastors, brothers, and sisters in Christ you’ll find safety. There is safety in sharpening.

Choose to receive sharpening from those who are more seasoned, wiser, and stronger than you. Cast down pride. Let God soften your heart. Let God lead your heart. Let God surround you with wise counselors. Let God lead you to wise counsel. Don’t isolate yourself. Submit to God-sent, iron-sharpening, wise mentors, and godly relationships. Who’s sharpening you? Whom are you sharpening?

Proverbs‬ ‭11:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Multitude” is, ‘rob’ (H7230) which means, “Abundance, greatness, or numerous.” Surround yourself with an abundance of wise counselors. Surround yourself with diverse counselors.

Surround yourself with counselors who don’t look like you. Surround yourself with counselors who have various backgrounds. Surround yourself with counselors who have varied experiences. Surround yourself with a wide range of counselors. There’s strength in the multitude. Let God surround you with seasoned, wise, and diverse counselors who are from His Heart.

 

A devotion from Vance Jackson – Iron Sharpens Iron

Iron Sharpens Iron – 3rd F

March 15, 2021 / / 0 Comments

This is a devotional reading from The Bible App; “Iron Sharpens Iron” by Vance Jackson

 

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Sharpeneth” is, ‘chadad’ (H2300) which means, “to be sharp, be alert, or to be keen.”

Who’s sharpening you?

Who has your back?

Who‘s in your circle?

Who‘s in your accountability circle?

Who‘s on your team?

Who has your blindspot?

Friends sharpen one another. Friends develop one another. Friends are not stumbling blocks. Friends are not obstacles. Friends help accelerate destiny. Friends are not competitive. Friends help you grow and develop. Friends are not an hindrance — they help you build.

An iron-sharpening friend is a gift from God. They are godly and wise counsel. They will correct you — in love. They will build you up. An iron-sharpening friend will strengthen and sharpen you. Notice, Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “Iron sharpeneth iron”. Iron-sharpening friendships are two-sided. Friends support one another. Iron-sharpening relationships are strategically placed in your life to help develop, strengthen, and sharpen you. Don’t build alone. Don’t construct alone. Sharpen together. Build together. Grow together.

 

 

Service Project

March 5, 2021 / / 1 Comment

HIM-High Impact Man, Invigorate male community leadership. How is this coming through the PAX of F3 Gastonia? Not sure? Well I’ve got an opportunity for you. As a part of our monthly service projects, yes I said a part because we will continue to have others, we are going to start a year long one. We will begin collecting items each month starting in March and going through October to be handed out in November. I will send out the info of what items we will collect each month and at the end we will get together and bag these items up into kits then hit the streets ruck style to hand them out to the needy. Some of you may have seen this before or been involved in something like it. We will bag them in reusable gallon bags. The items will include perishable and nonperishable items along with a note of hope/encouragement, bible verse,  and maybe even a picture drawn by your 2.0 to help cheer someone up. There will be two items to collect each month. I ask that you get the same number of each item to help keep the bags balanced out as much as possible. These items can be given to Freight, Broke, and Sargento. Items to collect in March are reusable water bottles(something with a lid)  and socks.

 

Thank you for your impact,

Freight

3rd F- December 31

December 31, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

31 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine for those who are in anguish!
7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

Read that last verse again.  Pray for the upcoming year.  There will be highs and lows for sure.  Whatever the new year holds, God also holds.  We have no promise that it will be easy, but that is part of the reason we do what we do.  Happy New Year men!

Tiger

3rd F – December 30

December 30, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Proverbs 30

Sayings of Agur

30 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.

This man’s utterance to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God,
    but I can prevail.[a]
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
    I do not have human understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
    Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son?
    Surely you know!

5 “Every word of God is flawless;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
    or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
    whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords
    and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth
    and the needy from among mankind.

15 “The leech has two daughters.
    ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,
    four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
16 the grave, the barren womb,
    land, which is never satisfied with water,
    and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

17 “The eye that mocks a father,
    that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
    will be eaten by the vultures.

18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
    four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
    the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
    and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman:
    She eats and wipes her mouth
    and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

21 “Under three things the earth trembles,
    under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,
    a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
    and a servant who displaces her mistress.

24 “Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
    four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
    who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
    and a king secure against revolt.[b]

32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
    or if you plan evil,
    clap your hand over your mouth!

33 For as churning cream produces butter,
    and as twisting the nose produces blood,
    so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Pray for M’s and 2.0s

Tiger

3rd F – December 29

December 29, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Proverbs 29

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
    when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

5 Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.

6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
    but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,
    but the wicked have no such concern.

8 Mockers stir up a city,
    but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
    the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
    and seek to kill the upright.

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,
    but the wise bring calm in the end.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
    The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
    but the righteous will see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
    though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

21 A servant pampered from youth
    will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

23 Pride brings a person low,
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.

Pray for kotters and sad clowns.  Reach out to one of the former, EH one of the latter

Tiger

3rd F – December 28

December 28, 2020 / / 0 Comments

28 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
    one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good—
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict,
    but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Pray for frontline Covid workers

Tiger

3rd F – December 27

December 28, 2020 / / 0 Comments

27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird that flees its nest
    is anyone who flees from home.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,
    and neither are human eyes.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
    grinding them like grain with a pestle,
    you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

Pray for those impacted by Nashville bombing,

Tiger

3rd F – December 26

December 28, 2020 / / 0 Comments

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
    is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
    is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
    is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
    is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
    so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Pray for public safety workers.

Tiger

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