But whoever would

be great among you

must be your servant,

and whoever would

be first among you

must be

   bondservant of all.

For even the Son of Man

came not to be served,

       but to serve,

and to give His life

as a ransom of many.

          Mark 10. 43-45

(Jesus turns the world

      right side up.

Serving not out of obligation

or to gain God's favor

   or recognition of others,

not what's in it for me,

but out of the

  deepest kind of love.

Not "I have to,"

    but thrilled that

    "I get to."

Great love in serving,

great joy abiding there.

When we love God,

we see others differently,

we see ourselves

  and what we do

            differently,

and grasp

   what really matters.)

O LORD,

Help us to not differentiate

between significant

       acts of service

and what we see as

           insignificant.

We have all been blessed

by the unrecognized

    faithful service of others.

There are

no small kindnesses

          in Your economy,

no act of love

that remains buried and

  that does not in some way

shift the tectonic plates

         of this world

and soften others

    --and ourselves--

   to You.

And bring You glory.

As we focus on Your love,

   align our hearts with Yours,

transform our affections,

order our days,

guide our steps,

direct our thoughts,

and help us to

       walk with You..