Phillipians 2:1-4

Today I was taught the lesson of humility. I was given an opportunity to examine myself, my life and to see where I am at. The day began with everyone getting together for a meeting with Kathy. She began by saying that she has heard many reports of complaining and attitude among us teens and it has got to stop. Yesterday, we spent the day working and preparing for the VBS we are going to run next week. Everyone was assigned tasks with leaders above them. Some girls had to dig a trench for a septic tank, some had to rake, some had to put up posters and so on. But when Kathy returned she got so many reports from the leaders of us mouthing off, telling them that they can't tell us what to do, and refusing to work that she the next day (today) had to say something. She told us that we are not to act this way, that we volunteered to be here. She told us that the leaders put above us were prayerfully considered and that we must obey them. She told us that she will not remind us again and that the next report she gets of someone complaining, that person will be scrubbing. She says we are going to work our mouths off. She even said that if we keep on complaining, and causing her to punish us, then that person will be not allowed to live at a placement, and their next placement will be working on the base. Although she did say that she loves us too much to have us continue this way. She said that she refuses to send any of us home and that she prays for us everyday. Well after her speech, she dismissed everyone to their tasks, and pulled me aside. She told me that Evany (my leader from yesterday) had reported to her that I had not been listening to her at all, that I didn't do what was asked from me and I was just really disrespectful. I did not freak out, I did not get mad, I knew that Kathy was going to talk to me, for yesterday, I did ignore Evany's leadership. I did what I wanted to do and ignored the rest. I allowed for Stan to do all the rake-ing while I made name tags. I continually walked off and did my own thing. In some things there was a misunderstanding such as my leaving to go to the bathroom, she took as me leaving with Rachelle to go get eggs, which she specifically told me that only one person should go. Anyways, the point was, she was right. I was told to go to Evany and apologize for not listening. Surprisingly, it was super easy. She did not rub anything in, she just smiled and said its alright, and then we hugged. It was awesome. Remember the punishment for mouthing off and not listening? Yep, that's what came next. I was given a bucket, bleach, detergent soap, scrub brush, and gloves. Kathy took me over to the office concrete porch and I was told to scrub it. It was odd, the way Kathy came to me, the way she talked to me, I didn't care, I just started, no arguing. I understand why she was making me do this. Growing up in Canada with all my blessings, I have never seen a day of hard work. Today, I had physical labour. The lesson of obedience is a good one to learn. While I was scrubbing I couldn't turn my mind off, all I could think of was the goodness of this lesson. I needed to learn to control my tongue. You know all those passages about the tongue being an open grave, etc. When I am an adult, I cannot be mouthing off to my boss. When I am an adult, there will be things I have to do, and I won't want to do them, but it will be easier if I learn the servants heart now. Even in my daily life now, I hear so many hurtful things come out of people's mouths. The amount of talking behind people's backs here is ridiculous. It makes me sick when I hear some of the things people say. It is so immature. They refuse to see the person's point. So many times I hear people mouthing off behind a leader's back because of what they asked them to do. They refuse to think of why they are asking that, refuse to think of where that person might be coming from. And it makes me sick. I want to control my own tongue. I don't want to talk behind people's backs. I don't want to be a brat. I want to be thankful for what I have. I want to enjoy the simple things in life. A lesson I learned today was that if I want to be a leader, I have to learn to follow first. I have to learn to be obedient. It is in our nature as human beings to want to rebel, to disobey. But when I go against my flesh, when I have a servant's heart, when I am humble, then I become godly. I guess you could call this step 4 of my walk with God. I learned first that I have to go back to basics with God, that he forgave me, and that he has met me where I am at. Then I learned that I cannot be ashamed of God any longer. Then I learned that I need to spend more time connecting with God, I need to read the word, and pray. To seek him in all that I do, to have his advice every day. Then today, I learned that I need to be obedient: follow, to lead. One might look at it as a sculpture, and God has the chisel. Another piece taken off. Another lesson learned. It wasn't even that hard really. I have to admit that by the end I was enjoying my work, because I was enjoying the satisfaction of seeing the white pavement shine through. The bleach really cleaned well. I need to work hard if I am to be clean, shiny and new before the Lord. It is such an amazing lesson to learn. It is so necessary in this world, this generation, we need to learn that it is not all about me. I need to learn to be glad in my work, to quit complaining, and enjoy the satisfaction of what I get out of it. It doesn't even have to be spiritual. It is just maturing. Becoming a mature adult. Mr. K said that we are already adults, but I think that I have a lot to learn still. Kathy was so impressed by me. She just gave me a big hug, thanked me for the great attitude, told me she loved me, and sent me off early to go shower. LOL. I am really grateful to Kathy. I could have continued, really she couldn't believe how hard I was working, I was actually enjoying it. I just remembered another thing that was going through my head while I worked: I am working for God, not man. That is somewhere in the bible. That I should take joy in my work, because I am not working for men, I am working for the Lord, and he sees me, and he is impressed. Well once again I didn't know where to start for devotions. So once I got myself into my room, I opened my bible to pages of old notes. Santie (YWAM director) told us a while ago that it is good to go over our notes. So I decided to do so. The second devotion I read was Philippians 2:1-4. I just think it perfectly fits with what I did today. It is all about imitating Christ's humility. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. I especially love the beginning sentence. Something about it is amazing. I just can read it over and over. It's beautiful. I have all these things from the Lord. ...Then make my joy complete.... by being like-minded... having the same love... being one in spirit and purpose. That is what I want. I want my joy to be complete. I want to have the same love. I want to be one in spirit and purpose with God. I pray Lord that you would join with me, one in spirit and purpose. Make my desires, your desires. Help me to love as you do, and to make my joy complete. Thank you for your encouragement, comfort, tenderness and compassion. Amen