Dealing with selfishness.

If any of you were at the River yesterday at the second service  you heard my husband give me a hard time about struggling when there is no worship music. He was being incredibly truthful. I HATE not having worship music. In fact, as soon as I entered the sanctuary yesterday and noticed that there was no one up on stage, I said in my heart, "Ahhhhhh! Bummer! I hate when there isn't worship!" It's at these times that I become very aware of my need for Jesus and his words. Left to myself, I would be negative, complain, pout and not get anything else out of the service, and can certainly understand the temptation people have to leave the church. Since my husand is the pastor and I don't think it wise that I leave the church (wink, wink, hee, hee....I really do LOVE THE River...just struggle occasssionally when I don't get what I want..doesn't that sound awful! ), I seek to take a different perspective.    It's these situations that arise that really do
provide opportunities for growth, for putting God's word into practice, for becoming more like Jesus, for really learning how to love and submit and obeying his commands.  Deuteronomy 8:3 says:

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and TO TEST YOU in order to know what was in your heart, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDS."So what are some of the Lord's commands???

1. "For I seek not to please myself (Jesus) but him who sent me." John 5:30

2. "Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself..."Romans 15:2 & 3

3. "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Hebrews 13:17

4. "Be joyful always; pray continutally; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

5. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your ATTITUDE should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became OBEDIENT TO DEATH- even death on a cross!.........Therefore me dear friends, as you have always obeyed- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling....Do EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING OR ARGUING, so that you may BECOME blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you SHINE LIKE STARS in the universe as you hold out the word of life." Phillipians 2: 4-15

6. "If anyone would come after me, he must DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow me." Luke 9:23

7 "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices (singing worship songs) as much as ing OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER  THAN SACRIFICE, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king." 1 Samuel 15:22- 23

8. "Submit yourselves FOR THE LORD'S SAKE  to every authority instituted among men..." 1 Peter 2:13

9. "Love is patient, love is kind....it is not rude, it is NOT SELF-SEEKING, it is not EASILY ANGERED, it keeps no record of wrongs....it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
1 Corinthians .13:4-7

10. "During the days of Jesus' life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he LEARNED OBEDIENCE THROUGH WHAT HE SUFFERED......" Hebrews 5:7-8 

May we, MAY I , be obedient to God's teachings when we don't get what we want at church or in life, believing He is the King and the King is always right!

 "I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Phillipians 1:25 & 26