YOU DESERVE THE BEST................. NOT!

Much of what we accept today as self evident truths (truths so true they need no examination let alone defending) are in fact lies. A faux truth; sugar-coated by our flesh to make it indescribably delicious, so it's easy to swallow. Our truths sound good to our ear's, feel good to our flesh, taste fine to our souls, and look too good to be true. Which is what in fact they are: too good for our flesh to be good. Are you dying for the truth? Well these truths will kill you; in every way possible. We have held these long held truths so long, that letting go is near high to impossible. Why nearly impossible? Because it will cost you something you may cherish more than life: your pride. You will have to be willing to admit. that what you have clung to so cocksuredly all your life was wrong. The foundation of it's truth was not Rock solid, and, therefore no structure built on it. is trustworthy. Stay dwelling in that house and

truth, and in time it will crumble with you in it.

Real truths do not please the senses. They are anathema to our flesh. But the Spirit. in you longs to feed on true truth. You will never be holy satisfied (no, I didn't forget. the w) until you wine and dine on eternal truths. The one I'd like to tackle today is the," you deserve the best" philosophy of life. I deserve the best. When we say that we mean it. We also think." I deserve others to give me their best!" The faux (foe) truth: "I deserve the best"  The True Truth: "I deserve to give my best!" (as in give up not keep!) I deserve the least. or more uncomfortable still. I deserve nothing."

The sound of those words may chill your blood, the the truth of it will warm your soul. (I wanted to say cockles but I was afraid of what they might be) "I deserve to give my best!" Folks, we are here on earth to........... are you ready? to SERVE.  YEP. that's it. A new motto for living, "May I serve you?"

Yea, yea, I know everything around you is self-serve. Self serving. Why the very expression incriminates itself Helpy-selfy!. And that's just what we do. Non stop. Full speed ahead. No holding back. But you will be stopped dead in your tracks, if you don't loose the self in self serve. Accentuate the positive.........that would be to serve. Eliminate the negative.......that would be you! Drop the self...........seize the serve. That's right. May I say it stronger? Drop dead the self  Shall I say it Old English'?   Impale thyself!!!!! Stop spending all your time, energy. money. etc..........on little 'ole you!

You will be amazed at what a life of service can do, can fill (all of you with a. fullness you've never known), can accomplish (way more good than all your sell indulgence could never ever accomplish; why just look at the word indulgence. It means you will flood yourself with yourself. Boy I'll bet you catch a big selfish with that, can stretch (extend your love exponentially to more people than a self centered soul could ever reach), or can remove all negative life draining thoughts and emotions. Say good bye to your therapist and Prozac). Serving others can do for you what doing for yourself will never do. It can make you Rejoice! For those of you who have never known the delights of etymology that means joy over and over and over and over and over. It is a deeper higher high than any earthly substance can produce, and it's natural. or even better: supernatural! It's real and will last. It doesn't wear off after an hour or two. It is beyond happiness. That. is why He said, There is more happiness in giving than in receiving) Now here's a real conundrum: Fill my vacuous life tank with self and end up in the end still on empty, or fill my life filling others, and end up filled! Whoa, what a prolific paradox!

We all know how it feels to reach out beyond ourselves and try to help someone. We can all relate a few stories when we helped someone out in need. And don't we love to recount those stories! Why? For two reasons. one good. one not. Firstly, we tell others because it glorifies us. Come on admit it. It makes us look good. But the second reason, is that is makes us feel good deep inside. It's like when you were little and wished you could touch the skies by stretching on your tippy toes. Except now you stretched beyond yourself and really touched heaven! Good work. It was work, You expended you self for a price, and you received back more than it cost you. Careful you're peering into God's financial plan.

At times it can cost you more than what seems comfortable or fair to pay. Look at Job. His friends . who were really his enemies, made a tough situation even tougher. He had it all, lost It all in a horrific manner, and was finally restored even more than at the first of his life. But the situation didn't turn around until he began to pray for others. And not just any old others. In the midst of the mire he began to pray. Not for himself not for his friends, but for his enemies. It was at that point his circumstances began to change. The mire which engulfed him, turned into the fertilizer God would use to start a new crop of life even more fruitful than the first! There is quite a spiritual Lesson there for all of us who have lived a Jobish experience.

How would you like to get an Honorable Mention in the best published book of all times? Well here are three people who had the "I deserve the least attitude, and they caught the attention of a man who wrote the book on higher level thinking.

Honorable Mention No, I: In the book of Luke a chief servant told fellow servants what their attitude should be. Not only did he spend his whole life serving his master. but. he really new 

his master's heart in this area. He said. "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do. should say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty." If your attitude is other than that, YOU need to line it up with this expert. If you really care about yourself, you'll care about somebody besides yourself.

Honorable Mention No.2: A woman approaches the most important man on the earth to speak to him. He calls her a dog. Her humble reply. "Why sir, even the little dogs eat the crumbs from the table which fall on the floor.", touched this great "been there done that" teacher (He really had been everywhere and done all things) so thoroughly that he turned from his initial response, which he almost never did, and trumpeted her great faith! What a broad! 

Honorable Mention No. 3: A widow meekly dropped a coin of little value in the collection plate. What seemed the least was in fact the greatest of all the offerings made. because she gave all she had to give. She kept nothing for herself, and her reward was great, Save yourself for last; give to others first.  Enough read............. enough said!