Serving – The Joyful Steward https://thejoyfulsteward.com Daily Living A Lifestyle Of Stewarding Wed, 28 Mar 2018 23:11:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9 Convenience https://thejoyfulsteward.com/convenience/ Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:36:00 +0000 http://dfbakerdotcom.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/convenience/ Continue reading Convenience]]> Convenience
Websters Dictionary Describes It Like This..

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈvēn-yən(t)s\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : fitness or suitability for performing an action or fulfilling a requirement 2 a : something (as an appliance, device, or service) conducive to comfort or ease b chiefly British : toilet 3 3 : a suitable or convenient time 4 : freedom from discomfort : ease

At dinner last evening my friends and I had a lovely debate about today’s conveniences. We were speaking in context of serving others and how sometimes we see folks participating in acts of service only if they are “convenient”.
i.e. – only if its close to home, or at a certain time, or an assortment of other conditions.
The one thing that I can see that is a constant is this..”Need is not convenient”.
As I think back to the times of Jesus and His Disciples I see clearly that what they did was not convenient. Many left homes, families, livelihoods, and positions in order to help with something that was bigger than them.
As we serve in our communities, lets try to emulate that characteristic that made such an impact in history. Service is not about convenience. It’s about a call, a call to something higher .
May you find blessing in your serving…
Shalom

]]> In As Much…”A life of generosity” https://thejoyfulsteward.com/in-as-much-a-life-of-generosity/ Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:51:00 +0000 http://dfbakerdotcom.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/in-as-much-a-life-of-generosity/ Continue reading In As Much…”A life of generosity”]]> I think when we live the lifestyle of servant evangelism the model that we should always look to is Jesus himself.
He cared for the sick, the hungry, the poor, and physically touched them and ministered to their needs.
The message at church this weekend was about living a generous life. I like the following verses from the sermon notes.

Philippians 2:4-8 NIV84

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!

“go the extra MILE”

]]> “The Art Of The Master” https://thejoyfulsteward.com/the-art-of-the-master/ Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:43:00 +0000 http://dfbakerdotcom.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/the-art-of-the-master/ Continue reading “The Art Of The Master”]]> “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
~Michelangelo

I believe as leaders our job is to take the people we are blessed to have influence upon and craft masterpieces of leadership out of them . Many times we are blessed with naturally gifted leaders who require very little chiseling ,but then there are those times when we have to roll up our sleeves and get dirty. Often times this process can be long and arduous to both the Mentor and the Mentee. Remember to look forward to the masterpiece and don’t get caught up in the dirt of the process.

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