January 5, 2022, Wednesday
Joy in Serving
As I tiptoed downstairs early this morning, I quickly realized something was different. It was so cold in the house. The heat register read 59 degrees with a note from my husband that read “something has gone wrong, will call for service today”. I turned on our propane fireplace and our double oven to try and take off the chill. Yesterday it was 45 degrees. Today with wind chill it feels like -13. Oh heat! Why such timing? Hopefully tapping into abundant joy brings warmth.
Yesterday I had my second mammogram and ultrasound. The results indicated a biopsy. The radiologist says he can’t see the spot of concern good enough to classify it. So… here we go I guess. A part of me wants to say no! It’s nothing. Scrap the biopsy. The other part of me just wants to surrender to God and put my trust in the doctors He has placed on my path. I think I will go with option B – surrender and trust. Though running from it all sounds good too. The problem with running and not facing something is the storm we encounter. Much like Jonah on the ship when he ran from what God called Him to face. Running is never the answer. We must simply take the next right step.
Today, I turned to Philippians in the Passion Translation. The title: A Heavenly Letter of Joy! I love that!
We now know we can and should find joy in suffering, and that gratitude plays a role in finding joy. Knowing about joy and receiving it are two different things. We must not only believe, we must also receive. Receiving requires active participation. Believing is just the beginning.
As I proceed to chapter 2 today, I read that there is joy in serving. Immediately my brain says go big or go home. Yet I have so much on my plate today, I can’t fathom how I am going to serve today. I know I live in a world that needs Jesus and that the opportunities to serve are endless. But today Lord? How? It is there I feel His familiar whisper… there are so many to serve right within the walls of your home. We can serve our children and our husband, and do it well. The key isn’t how elaborately we serve, it is simply that we serve.
It is easy to be selfish when life is giving you lemons. It is easy to put on a sour face, feel sorry for yourself and expect others to serve you because of the hardship you have been dealt. A woe is me attitude will not result in joy. It will result in a selfish pursuit of expecting others to serve us, and disappointment when they don’t meet our expectations. The longing we have to be served, can only be satisfied through serving others. It is through the selfless pursuit of serving that we find joy!
3 Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. (Phil 2:3-4, TPT)
Today I will trust God and focus on joy. I will serve others with a joyful heart. I will smile. I will refuse to worry. I will pray for others. I will tell my husband thank you for being home to watch the children and fix the heat. Today I will choose the path the less traveled. The path with scenic views and heavenly perspectives. Today I will choose joy. Joy in the trial. Joy through serving. Today I will paint myself in revival and lift the mood of our home!
