SCRIPTURE:
I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.  (Mark 9:41, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS/INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus' statement?
I found Jesus' statement so significant because Jesus is emphasizing to the disciples that it does not matter whether someone is in a leadership position like the disciples to act in His Name or someone is an outsider with no title or leadership position. What matters is serving those who belong to Christ in His Name. Those serving will not lose their reward because they served in Jesus' Name whether they have a leadership role or a servant role. What is more significant is that Jesus also emphasizes a miniscule task such as 'who gives you a cup of water  in my Name because you belong to Christ will not lose their reward.'  

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life here. What is important regardless of the task or role I have is whether I am serving others in Jesus' Name. Jesus cares about His flock being served by me no matter how miniscule the serving role may seem like and no matter whether I have a leadership role or not. I have a tendency so much to focus on leadership than servant hood because I feel a lot can be accomplished being a leader than a servant but Jesus was all about serving though He had the title of leader. Anyway, leadership is something bestowed or earned not asked for. The important thing is serving others in Jesus' Name even if it means giving them a cup of water.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.E.R.V.I.N.G:
I had asked my small group Living Acts from Oakland International Fellowship to pray for me that I would receive a ticket to the Pitt - Notre Dame game knowing they were sold out. I left the results in the Lord's hands. Because a sister in Christ asked around for me if someone has a ticket that I could buy, I received a ticket for free. This sister served a brother in Christ by keep asking until she found a someone who decided to give her ticket away. The one who gave her ticket away was a stranger to me and that made it that much more special.

I was speechless because a simple act of serving blessed me so much. It showed me also the power of prayer and nothing is impossible for our Lord if He desires to give us something. I went into another room, fell on my knees and just praised the Lord. When she helped me, she did not have a leadership role but served a brother in Christ.

The person who gave her ticket away, served me by giving her ticket to me. She also served me by going out of her way to get me the ticket and then came back to eat. More than that, she even refused the amount of money I was offering her. She did it as an act of kindness. I was so blessed and it reminded of the Scripture, I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.  (Mark 9:41, NIV)

I am so blessed for those the Lord Jesus has put in my life and what blessings they have been to me by serving me. Another person not knowing that I had already received a Notre Dame ticket came and surprised me by giving me a free Pitt-ND ticket. I was shocked and so blessed.

This week alone, three different persons blessed me so much by going out of their way to get me a Pitt - Syracuse ticket. Now, I have 4 tickets to the Pitt - Syracuse game when I had none two days ago. Each of them though they had no leadership position served me going out of their way. Thank you Jesus. I get teary knowing how our Lord blesses me through the service of others.

Others have served me so much and have blessed me. This reminded me of what Pastor Hugo and Edwin remind me time after time about serving. Serving is not about having a leadership role and being in charge of people but true serving is about serving others in Jesus' Name to bless them no matter how miniscule the task is even if it means cleaning toilets at church, etc. I have learned important lessons on serving because true serving started with Christ.

Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom"

Jesus came to serve and I want to serve others including you. I am so blessed that Jesus died on the cross, shedding His precious cleansing blood to save me. Jesus came to rescue me from my sin by serving me with His life. Thank you so much Jesus. After all Jesus did for me, serving the Lord should be an honor instead of a burden or looking for leadership roles. If Jesus wants to give me a leadership role for His honor and glory, He will make it happen. Until then I wait on Him and keep serving whatever capacity He wants me to serve in.

I ask you now dear friend, why bother serving in life?
Dear friend, the greatest thing we can do is serve others in Jesus Name because we are serving others in honor of our Creator! Serving in Jesus Name will not look prestigious most of the time because it could mean cleaning toilets for others, taking care of the weak and needy, giving a cup of water to a child, etc that are not seen as prestigious but to Jesus they are. That's why of all Jesus could have used, He used 'a cup of water' as an example. Serving does not have to be fancy but when done in Jesus' Name and blesses others, we have done our part.

Depending on a person's need the most miniscule task can become the most blessed opportunity for them to serve and others to receive. For example, when someone is so thirsty and dehydrated, a cup of water given can make a huge difference. For me, I could not get a press pass to cover the Pitt-ND game so to get a ticket to at least go to the game became a huge deal to me. I prayed for all those who have blessed me with a ticket. I am so touched by all those who have taken the time to serve me.

You can do that too friend in your own way by seeing where the needs are and the difference you can make.  My friend Justin Romeo saw a need and told me that he wants to serve the student body in Jesus' Name to make a difference in the lives of all students. I was so excited to hear that because I knew he had plans for grad school but he decided to give up one year if the student body allowed him to serve them. I told him that I would be there to support him in anyway I could as a brother in Christ.

Serving to make a difference in the lives of others can make such an impact in their lives. It happened to me time after time when others served me. Because of that I decided to give up law school to try to make a difference in the lives of students in different ways that I can in Jesus' Name.

When I was a sinner lost in my sin, Jesus came to rescue me and set me free. Jesus served me in my sin and weaknesses by taking upon Himself my own sin that I can be freed. I have experienced His love and the people He has placed in my life to make a difference that in Jesus' Name, I want to make a difference in the lives of others. That's why I want to serve whether it is at church, school, work, etc.

Jesus wants to save you too and serve you by guiding you and leading you by His love. Yes, He does friend. No matter where you are or what you have done, you are loved. Yes, you are. You can come as you are to the Savior and find help in time of need. He will forgive you of all your sin and set you free by His love cleansing you by His precious blood. He has done that for me and will do that for you. Yes, He will friend. So, come as you are and find help. hope, and healing in Jesus Name. As Jesus serves you by His love, you will learn to serve others in Jesus' Name whether you have a leadership position or not. We can serve because He first served us!

May you come to know that Serving Everyday Reveals Valiantly Immanuel's Nurturing Giving!

"Serving Everyday Reveals Valiantly Immanuel's Nurturing Giving!"(S.E.R.V.I.N.G)/"I ask you now dear friend, why bother S.E.R.V.I.N.G in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I love you so much. Thank you for loving me so much. Oh Lord, thank you so much for encouraging me regarding serving. When I am serving you, it does not matter what titles I have or don't have. Thank you so much Jesus you served me first by dying on the cross of Calvary and paying the price that I could not pay. You paid the debt that I needed to pay. Thank you so much. After what you have done for me, I want and desire serving to be an honor for your glory than for myself. Please Lord let me not do anything for selfish reasons allowing pride to cloud my judgment. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you that serving everyday reveals valiantly Immanuel's nurturing giving. You are my Giver and Hope. I want to serve you faithfully. Help me Jesus. Thank you for all those that serve without expecting anything in return. Thank you for parents, teachers, pastors, etc that go beyond their call of duty to serve you in so many different ways. You are my Yeshua who came to save me from my bondage to sin. You came to save the world from it's bondage by dying on the cross and shedding your precious cleansing blood so that all that receive what you did for them can be saved. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept what you have done for me and confess all my sins to you knowing you alone can forgive me and give me life. Help me Lord for I am weak and in need of a Savior and you are Mighty to Save. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!