On Being A Servant

photo source

John answered, saying to all,

"I indeed baptize you with water;

but One mightier than I is coming,

whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose..."

- Luke 3:16a

Blessed is that servant whom his master will find

so doing when he returns.

- Matthew 24:46

Where I live, it is normal for households to have one or more domestic helpers.

The domestic helper may be a young woman in her late teens, or a middle-aged woman in her fifties. Many families also have young men in their employ, working as drivers, assistant cooks, or gardeners.

They usually come from the rural farm areas where families are poor and the monthly wages earned by a son or a daughter working as a domestic helper goes a long way.

It is a give and take relationship. The servant girl, called a "maid," needs the job, and the family that she works for needs her precious services.

In a sense, the domestic helper becomes a part of the family, where she gets her own room, and is given free meals on top of her monthly wages.

But the work is not easy. From sun up till sun down there is work to be done, and the maidservant only gets to rest when the master finally goes to sleep.

Servanthood is never easy.

In olden times, a servant was required to do everything he could to make his master's life easy and comfortable. He was at the beck and call of the one he served.

It has been said that there were degrees of servanthood. The lowest ranking servant was called a menial.

In the middle-eastern culture of Jesus' time, menials were assigned the duty of washing the feet of guests before they entered the home. There were no cars in those days, and traveling was mostly done on foot. There were no paved streets either, just dusty roads made of gravel, dirt, and sand.

We can just imagine what a menial servant's work was like. Untying sandal straps, removing the dusty sandals, and washing dirty feet.

At the last supper, the twelve apostles and Jesus had gathered at the Upper Room to partake of their last meal together. As they entered the room, there must have been an uncomfortable silence as they began to take their places around the table and begin eating supper. There was no menial around, so they had all entered the house with dirty feet.

After supper ends, the unthinkable happens... we know the story by heart.

Jesus puts a towel around his waist, gets a jar of water, a basin, and begins to kneel in front of each of his disciples to wash their feet.

Jesus was their master, someone they held in high esteem, a rabbi they looked up to. They honestly thought He would be the King that they had all been waiting for.

So what was He doing on the floor, doing the job of a menial?

I have often thought of that night... how Jesus in all humility lays aside his outer garments and girds himself with a towel, and stoops down to do what none of the others had thought of doing.

John 13 begins this story with a very beautiful line: "... he loved them to the end." I love how an earlier version of the NIV puts it this way: "He showed them the full extent of His love."

This was the way Jesus showed them the full extent of His love... by washing their feet, just as a menial manservant would.

I understand that the act of washing another's feet is such a sign of humility. For us today, it would be very uncomfortable to have somebody else washing our feet. We think so because we regard it as a job beneath anyone's dignity to have to do.

I am sure we all have a clear understanding of just what foot washing really implies.



On the first night of our fourth Scarf Sisters' reunion, we were all gathered at Donna's cozy home in Canandaigua. The Canada girls, Terry, Betty, and Rachel, together with Cindy from Florida, had arrived and were finishing their meal.

In a soft voice, Cathy explained that she wanted to begin this year's reunion with a symbolic act... a foot-washing service.

I offered to share a few personal thoughts about footwashing.

When the people asked  John the Baptist if he was the Christ that everyone had been waiting for, his humble reply, in effect, went like this, "I am definitely not the Christ. He is much greater... so great that I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of His sandals."

Untying sandal straps was a job assigned to the lowest ranking servant... and yet John said he would not be worthy to untie the sandals on Jesus' feet.

What a humble attitude John had. Yet even more humble was the heart of Jesus... for He was the Master, and here He was, untying everyone else's sandals and washing their dirty feet!

And that night, as Cathy knelt on the floor to wash each of our feet... we were all silent, taking in the beautiful symbolism of the act of humility and love that Cathy showed each one of us.



Even if it was just a symbolic foot-washing, slightly wetting the top of our feet, and then wiping them dry with a paper towel, still the significance of the moment was not lost on us.

It was so sacred, so beautiful... and we all felt the presence of the Lord in our midst. When Cathy came to the last pair of feet, something in me stirred. A question in my heart quickly came, "Who is going to wash Cathy's feet?" And the answer came as quickly as I thought of the question, "I will."

Doing that completed the circle. All our feet were washed, and we all felt, somehow, a deeper sense of bonding and love.

What a beautiful way to begin the reunion. For indeed, we had all traveled from faraway places.

Figuratively, and literally.

Terry, Betty and Rachel had come all the way from Canada.

Cindy had come from Florida.

Cheryl had come from Georgia.

Deb had driven a long way, not an easy thing to do under her present physical condition, all the way from Pennsylvania.

Cathy had left her house before dawn and had several connecting flights before reaching upstate New York.

Pat had arrived a few days earlier to be with Donna in the final preparations, from Michigan.

Donna had been traveling back and forth the past months, being the gracious hostess of this year's reunion.

And me... well I had come all the way from the Philippines, the other side of the globe.

I am sure many of us were excited, and looking forward to this important event... but yes, we were tired and would have enjoyed the comfort of a foot spa.

Well we had our foot-washing.

What a fitting start to our get-together.

Beautiful feet... being washed in a beautiful, meaningful, symbolic act of foot-washing.




Guess what arrived in the mail a few days ago!

A parcel from Donna containing a pair of brand new mismatched socks...

a beautiful blue scarf (blue is my favorite color)...

and a lovely card.



I am really delighted to be given an opportunity to wear mismatched socks, and to have a photo taken, just like the rest of you!

Below is a song we used to sing at our church... a song I really love. It came to mind as I was beginning to do this post, and I think the message for each of us is really beautiful.  I also posted a video of it at the end. Hope you will find time to listen to it, and be blessed!


The Servant Song
(Richard Gillard)

Brother let me be a servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant, too

We are pilgrims on a journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear

I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh I'll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through

When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.

Beautiful Feet

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him

who brings good news,

who publishes peace,

who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

- Isaiah 52:7

It is a joy and a delight for me to be a part of this season's "traveling socks" adventure. The theme Beautiful Feet couldn't have been more meaningful to me.

My home is in the Philippines, but over six weeks ago, I arrived in the USA to spend some time with beloved family members whom I have not seen for some time.

Being here at this time enabled me to join the fourth reunion of the scarf sisters in upstate New York.

God, my Abba Father, has his own way of granting the desires of His children's hearts. We don't even have to beg or plead with Him... we don't even have to deserve it.

I have realized a long time ago that God loves to surprise us with His goodness.

We each have our own stories to tell of how good and how generous Abba Father has been, some are more vocal and share their stories more openly than others. I have shared many stories on my own Crown of Beauty personal blog, and some here.

But what I have shared openly is actually but a tiny fraction of the story that God is writing. The same is true for the rest of us. We really don't have enough words, let alone time, to adequately express the beauty of God's work in our lives.

It will take forever for us to share all our God-stories with one another.


The temps have suddenly dipped here in beautiful Virginia. I am not really used to temps being in the 40's, and this morning, they were in the 30's! But the love of family and friends truly warms my heart.

I literally traveled thousands of miles to reach where I am right now.

It took me thirty six hours before I reached my destination.

Went back twelve time zones and I reached this land the same day I left.

As I journeyed, there was only one major prayer in my heart - "Make me be a channel of blessing to everyone I meet." Not in a contrived, manipulated, saccharine-sweet kind of way... but His grace naturally and authentically flowing from my heart to touch another.

Give me beautiful feet, Lord.

Some people can be full of bitterness and self-pity, grumbling and complaining.

Focusing on the pain, the past hurts, and the ugliness... when really there is so much beauty all around.



Well, I've been on that road.

But gradually, God opened my eyes, lifted the heavy burden of religiosity and judgmentalism off my back... and put me on another road.

The road of Compassion.

Can't really say I did that on my own. And it's still an ongoing process.

But what I realized is that when we travel the road of Compassion, we meet fellow travelers on that same road!

Jesus says, be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving... because I've also done that for you.

When we travel the road of Compassion, we are in the company of travelers with compassionate hearts and Beautiful Feet, with Jesus leading the way.

Beautiful feet are bearers of good news... of peace... of  kindness... of healing... of joy.

They proclaim to one another, "Your God reigns!"

If you sow kindness and compassion, you also reap kindness and compassion. The cycle goes around so beautifully.


When I met Donna who was waiting for me at the Rochester airport on October 9, we hugged each other with gladness. I saw her face to face for the first time - but we had known each other heart to heart a long time ago.

And as I met the rest of the sisters that evening - I never for a single moment felt that I was among strangers... I was among friends who genuinely cared...

I was in the company of Beautiful Feet!


Yesterday morning in church, the Sanctuary Choir sang a very beautiful song written and arranged by Craig Courtney. It was my first time to hear this song and my tears flowed as I listened to it.

I have posted the lyrcis and a video of the song below.

It is a fitting song for all of us with Beautiful Feet - for aren't we all on a journey to His heart?

Abba Father says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare, not for evil, to give you a future and a hope... I will bring you out of bondage... to the land I have prepared... I will bring you home to Me."

Beautiful Feet is all about being led out of bondage... and being brought home to His heart.


If You Search With All Your Heart 
(Craig Courtney)

When you seek Me, you shall find Me 

if you search with all your heart

For I know the plans I have for you: 

plans of welfare, not of evil;

For I know the plans I have for you: 

plans of hope and a future.

I will bring you out of bondage 

to the land I have prepared

I will bring you out of bondage, 

I will bring you home to Me.

 

Past and Future....

I’ve been praying of all that God would have me share as I conclude  my journey of the sock adventure…He has walked me through an amazing  season of healing; a season  of silence and  solitude. He has shown me the “truth”  in what I have viewed in these past few years as a “not- so- beautiful” life. A full life lived yes, but by my ruthless scrutiny resembled nothing more than  destruction and a deep sense of loss. Help me Lord find purpose in all of it.

Tattered scraps sewn together, their varying colors, textures, patterns intertwined, forming nothing more than a larger scrap.  It seemed to take no form or have any chance of ending…it went on and on and on, pieces continually being added; there was no vision of what it was to become. 

As the sewing continued,  there were pieces I grieved over, pieces I rejoiced over; there were harsh reminders of the recklessness, the crawling up out of a rotten dirty pit….and although I wished I could discard those re-occurring  emotions of deep loss and sadness,  He reminded me that those glaring times of despair and ugliness  beautifully complimented the whole…

After many months,  I was beginning to recognize the necessity for me to end destructive behaviors and opinions about myself and begin to see me and my life completely through the eyes of God……there were times I questioned my own ability to move into this phase of healing, fearful I had become reluctant to embrace all He has to offer.

Now unto him 

that is able to do 

exceeding abundantly 

above all that we ask or think,

 according to the power that worketh in us.  

(Ephesians 3:20) 

Finally, one day with an overwhelming sense of God relentlessly pursuing me, I traveled  back into my past for Him to show me the truth that I was refusing to embrace. He wasn’t telling me to discard the scraps, to push the pile of rubble away, He was telling me He wanted me to see the beauty in the scraps, bring the pieces into the light. To be able to see, that even though my life’s been altered from my original plan, He is in the rebuilding business. All I need do is let Him put me back together and on my feet again.

  But the God of all grace, 

who hath called us 

into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 

after that ye have suffered a while, 

make you perfect, 

stablish, 

strengthen, 

settle you.

1st Peter 5:10

On several occasions there was hesitancy and much talk was necessary….I was reluctant, yet He was persistent to show me purpose.  There were several times when I wanted to run and escape, but He kept me…He kept me. I told Him most of the scraps represented a life lived without Him and He assured me, He knew that and even in those years when I was faithless, He remained….

Then I heard him say, tell me about each piece. Tell me what each one represents to you. He held me during some dark and dreary days, He held me when emptiness consumed me and gave me no reason to move on. He closed my ears to the lying voices and the continual noises of the world. The further along in the journey, the less I had to say and very few questions to ask by simply  allowing His Word to speak profoundly  to my heart.  I traced the steps of my life through the Bible, through His Word and surrounded myself with songs of praise and worship. 

He brought peace I had not known before by showing me how, where, when each scrap fit and the significance of each. With every piece of fabric, regardless of it’s  representation;  pain, heartache, loss, joy, or love in my life… He showed me there was  endurance, faith, courage, trust… securely stitched and woven in.

I carried you on eagles’ wings 

and brought you to myself. 

Exodus 19:4.

With the Fourth Annual Scarf Sister Reunion a few months away, I decided I would take the pieces and create something for each one of the ladies attending. The sisterhood was engaged in a sock adventure and although I rarely wear socks, perhaps I could create something “sock-like”. 

On a completely different subject I had been researching table settings, something unique I could make for the reunion. One day I came across a link titled “scrappies” and decided it was the perfect solution of what to do with this larger piece of scraps I had sewn together.   

And who better to share the fragments of my life with than my precious sisters in the Lord…..those whom God has so carefully chosen to walk beside me at this juncture of my life….not by chance, but by His grace and mercy has He declared me worthy of friendship, fellowship…this beautiful sisterhood.

“And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles’ wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise…..I will rise……

A  poem I shared during devotional the last day we were all together brought further confirmation of all that God had spoken into my heart the past year…

Past and Future

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My future will  not copy fair my past

On any leaf but Heaven’s. Be fully done,

Supernal Will!   I would not fain be one

Who, satisfying thirst and breaking fast,

Upon the fullness of the heart at last

Says no grace after meat. My wine has run

Indeed out of my cup, and there is none

To gather up the bread of my repast

Scattered and trampled; yet I find some good

In earth’s green herbs, and streams that bubble up

Clear from the darkling ground, content until

I sit with angels before better food

Dear Christ! When thy new vintage fills my cup

This hand shall shake  no more, nor that wine spill

When Old Becomes New....

How easy it is to nuture, to soothe over, to want to be the one to fix that which is not mine to fix......it doesn't seem right to sit idly by and do nothing....

not only that but it seems a severe test.......

Is it not the Lord who imparts unto us strength of character?

The Lord is my strength.....My sufficiency is of God. (2 Cor. 3:5) those words compelled me to sit quietly. For once..... listening to God, pleasing God became more important to me than listening to anyone else or pleasing anyone else....including myself.

If  I measure my journey this year, October to October, it's been a silent time...I accept it for what it is....a year of quiet meditation and resting under the loving guidance of my Savior. It's not that this Isn't the norm for me, but this particular season of my life drew me to Him with greater reverence and a heart more desperate for answers, earnestly seeking peace. Peace I knew only He could provide. Daily doses of the Bible accompanied by my own personal studies and some familiar writings of a few favorite authors gave me the necessary fuel to face each day.

still I asked ...."to what depths must I go to find this beauty You are speaking of.....It's futile to rely on my feelings because they lie to me. there's no purpose in clinging to emotions for they deceive me; what I must do is deny myself and begin some obedient walking; make measurable efforts and steps to find this so-called beauty in the mess of mine...

 "healing does not mean going back to the way things were before, but rather allowing what is "now" to move us closer to God. This quote from Ram Dass brought me comfort. To lean on God like never before, to pray more, break old behavior patterns, break away and draw new breath into my life...without losing sight of where He'd brought me from. Positive measures to take.

 "Broken things can become blessed things if you let God do the mending....I don't know who wrote that line, but I remember the day I read it....thinking how much He probably wanted to do something to fix me ....restore me to my original self or at least to a place where I might gain a greater perspective of myself......

looking across the room to a bin filled with pieces of fabric, my mind went crazy looking at the colors, shapes, sizes, the patterns and the textures. The varying threads woven into each piece....what would they look like put together as one....probably pretty ugly.  I decided it was a project I could work on in the physical realm as well my spiritual and continually ask God for clarity.

It's been a great experience....and I will share more on another day......

Bits and Pieces

tears streamed down my face

as he kept repeating over and over again

reminding me to

 listen to his words....

 take it into your heart

this is who you are...

broken, confused, alone, hopeless......

broken, confused, alone, hopeless.....

broken, 

confused, 

alone, 

hopeless....

you have made a mess
of everything
you've ever attempted

every dream, hope, ambition, 

aspiration, desire of my life 

unraveled into bits and pieces, 

nothing but scraps lying at my feet, 

tattered shreds of nothingness.....

 

my journey, my life....was

empty, 

empty, 

empty, 

empty, 

        empty.........

harsh words took hold in my mind and heart for days, weeks, months......lies of the enemy, yes I know.  I also knew the battle to overcome those lies would not be easy.

But I heard HIS gentle nudging, His tender loving voice telling me to pick up those pieces, there is beauty in what you call ugly, there is wholeness in all the bits and pieces and scraps......I will not leave you, I will be with you as we walk through this together, I am by your side as you put the pieces back together...and you will find the beauty
in your life......

Be strong and take heart 

all you who hope in the Lord..... 

Psalm 31:24

 But they that wait upon the Lord 

shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; 

and they shall walk, and not faint

Isaiah 40:31

I serve a God who is all powerful, all knowing; a God whose love covers me, shields me, protects me, comforts me.  I am not afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to share my story, my heart, my doubts, my fears or my desperate search for answers.  He knows I am weak, I am vulnerable and most of the time I find myself unlovable and unworthy of forgivenesss...yet the miraculous ways in which His grace and mercy reach me...extend far beyond anything I imaginable.

to be continued.....

check back to read more about the journey

 the Lord and I have been traveling this year

My Sock Adventure

Firstly let me give you all sincere apologies. I have taken awhile to get here. This is because I was away in Paris and the box arrived and I was not at home to get it. Arranging delivery took more days. It seemed to take so long to get to me. I am also in the middle of a house move and was attending various family functions.

 

I attended my brother's wedding in Ipswich Suffolk and I know not  many of you will know where this is?

it is about 15 miles from where I was born and grew up in a town called Bury St Edmunds. I also trained as a nurse at the West Suffolk General hospital there.

 

 

 

 

 

It was while I was at my brother's wedding my socks came with me and my sock adventure began for me. At the table I was assigned to was two couples. The lady sitting next to me was called Diane and we started up a conversation. As we chatted I felt as if I had known her for a very long time-I am sure you all meet people that you feel the same way with.

 

 

 

 

Meet Diane.

 

As we chatted she talked of her health problems of which there were many. One was a car crash that had happened when the driver was on their mobile phone and crashed their car into hers. This accident had left Diane with some memory impairment and dizziness and other problems. She also suffers from Osteo-arthritis and is in constant pain and taking painkillers daily.

 

 

 

 

My brother Trevor and Shirley's wedding cake.

 

 

 

 

 

The table centrepiece

 

 

 

As we continued to talk she then  told me she was scheduled for the upcoming Wednesday for surgery. She told me that she had breast cancer. I immediately said to her how sorry I was and that she was amazing in that she was so upbeat about all her problems. She replied that she felt it was not good to be negative or to worry and that so very many people have way worse problems than she does. That her problems fade away compared to what other people suffer.

 

 

 

I found Diane so inspirational.

 

Sometimes we notice some  Christians tend to have small difficulties and trials but they are so defeated. Here was a lady who was dealing with and undergoing much more than I could ever comprehend but she was so upbeat and positive! Her face radiated joy and happiness.

 

As we continued to chat  we talked of what we would do the next day. Michael and I had a 3 hour car journey back to Oxford after we left. Diane then said she would be up early to go to Church. It  was then that I realised she like me was a Christian. God had brought us together. This was not by chance but by God's grace. She told me of her bible groups and her work in the church. I felt so blessed to know this lady.

 

 

 

 

 

A photo of me in the beautiful grounds of a stunning venue.

 

 

So you will be perhaps wondering where this is leading to?  I want to let you know that my sock adventure brought me a new friend and a time of reflection.

 

Devotion to God during our valley times does bring some challenges. It made me think about prayer and how sometimes when dealing with a crisis we go quickly to God, pray and seek Him. I am reminded of the quote that asks "is prayer your spare tire or your steering wheel?" I want prayer to be my steering wheel-how about you?

 

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 Psalm 46:1

 

 

 

I thought about the times I rush off to work and my prayers are rushed. I want to make sure I maintain my prayer at the beginning of the morning even when experiencing difficulties. Always to remember to be grateful and give thanks. God is still on the throne and working for us and still hearing our prayers. I want to give thanks during those painful times as well as when all is going well.

 

 Psalm 34 tells us that Praise is to be continual.

God protects and is faithful to all who follow Him.

Praise can encourage others.

Praise can be a testimony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice: let them ever sing for joy and spread your protection

over them, that those who live your name may exalt in you.

Psalm 5:11

 

 

 

 

 

In my day of trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

Psalm 86:3

 

 

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.

Psalm 37:5

 

 

 

 

 

My brother Trevor and his wife Shirley.

 

 

Back home and reflecting on a wonderful day! Thinking about my new friend and how the Lord

is ever faithful and always there for me! Remembering my blessings and answered prayers. Thank you Lord.



Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
                                    Proverbs 3:5-6