Just Laugh a Little

During this first tour cycle, laughter was such a great medicine for the team.

I have had to cope with many a circumstance here in South Africa by laughing at myself. Taking myself too seriously is counterproductive to being a good leader. For people who know me, I have come a long way from my neurotic need for perfection. South Africa is good for me.

I have been reminded of this coping method a lot this past two weeks. My parents came all the way across the Atlantic ocean to visit me! It been such an amazing 2 1/2 weeks with them. Watching them navigate a new country (food, driving on the "wrong" side of the road, language, potholes, directions, etc.) has been a great reminder of how necessary it is to laugh at circumstances out of your control and enjoy the journey no matter how bumpy it may be. 

Sarah Young in Jesus Calling:

Learn to Laugh at yourself more freely. Don’t take yourself or your circumstance so seriously. Relax and know that I am God with you. 

When you desire My will above all else, life becomes much less threatening. Stop trying to monitor My responsibilities—things that are beyond your control. Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain.

Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into heavenly places. Your laughter rises to heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise. Just as parents delight in the laughter of their children, so I delight in hearing My children laugh. I rejoice when you trust n Me enough o enjoy your life lightheartedly.

Do no miss the Joy of My Presence by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Rather, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. My yoke is comfortable and pleasant; My burden is light and easily borne. 

Tour Begins: Learning to Serve

“The son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Matthew 20:28

On May 5 we packed the truck and the quantums and hit the road for OUR FIRST TOUR!!! The moment we had been waiting and training for, tour! We traveled to Eastern Cape for just over 3 weeks of shows and service.  

The year of working with 13^th Floor has taught me a new level of depth when it comes to understanding God’s call to service. I must admit, my service is usually not typified by selflessness. The following reading by Oswald Chambers speaks to the level of service I believe God wants to develop in my life and heart:

Oswald Chambers in His Upmost for His Highest

Serving the team: Running a rehearsal

           

We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a “doormat” for others—called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior.

Serving the orphaned: Teaching a dance to orphans in Malmesbury

Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference.

But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord.

If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.

Serving the each other during set-down

            Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…” (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ.

Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.

Serving the hosting communities through intercession