Following God with a Servant’s Heart
I have been sensing a tug to put some thoughts to paper. The tug has not been coming from our board of directors, a staff member, an intern, a volunteer, or some community person; I truly feel the Spirit of God has been tugging on me to present some thoughts. So, as I sit here today, I am being challenged to comprehend the enormity of such a task. God asks you to do something – do you do it?
I have learned that if you do not do it, God will keep after you for a while to try to persuade you to make the right decision, but eventually the chore/job/task will get done by or through someone else. Do you want to miss that? Ignoring God – not a good thought or decision. Following God with a servant’s heart of obedience – now this is a good step to take.
Step one – look about you, what do you see? Take a really good look. Do you like what you see? I personally am tired of the news. I do not enjoy sensualizing. But that is exactly what I see. There has never been, in my lifetime, a greater need for mental health services. God knew this 20 years ago when He placed the Beacon of Hope vision upon Joan Crowe’s heart. Joan was obedient and the Beacon of Hope we know today is here because of that initial obedience.
Step two – be a change agent. We cannot change anyone, but we can do the right thing, model the right thing, and not judge the wrong things. Do you want to see change? Be the change you want to see.
Step three – support the good. Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little feet where you go. Be careful little ears what you hear. Do you know why Mordecai was elevated to second in command? Esther chapter 10 verse 3 tells the answer. Mordecai worked for the good of the people. Be a doer of good!
Step four – listen. I really enjoy the book of Esther; being the father of two girls it has always been a favorite of mine. One verse in chapter 4, has been a favorite of many; its verse 14. For a long time, my focus was on the last part of the verse, “for perhaps you have come to this position for such a time as this.” That is so powerful and uplifting. And Esther for sure rose to the occasion and was obedient. However, God was going to get His work done no matter if Esther listened and obeyed or not, “for if you remain silent at this time, help will still come for the people, but your family will perish.” God is serious when He calls His people to do something. We must listen to His words.
Step five – be the hands and feet of Jesus. Do not just merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves – do what it says! You can find those words in James 1:22. He who is obedient and faithfully carries out the commands of our Lord is truly the hands and feet of Christ. We must be about our Father’s business. Get to work!
If we were to all follow these steps, chances are things would look different from the current news reports. Its actually kind of simple, but unfortunately, its not easy. That is why competent Christ-centered counseling is available at Beacon of Hope. It does make a difference. In fact, we had a client just the other day ask their therapist, “Do you know the difference between me and the person that shot two people in Holland the other night?” Their therapist eagerly awaited an answer, which made us all pause and think. This is what they said. “I have access to affordable Christian counseling that helps my mental health.”
That is so true. Beacon of Hope’s mission is to be God's hand offering Christ-centered, inclusive, accessible and professional mental health counseling. At no time has Beacon of Hope ever charged a fee for the counseling provided. God has freely given to us and we freely give back. It really is as simple as that. And you can never out give God. Try it, write Beacon of Hope a check and see that God does not bless you in some way. He will do it. Go over those steps that God so easily laid before us. It sounds simple, but its not easy. But God, He can help us overcome the obstacle(s) that we are facing. Be praying for God to remove these obstacles. Just as He has removed all barriers at Beacon of Hope for people to receive competent Christ-centered counseling services without fees. Yes, no fees for 20 years. Only God can make this happen. We cannot explain His math, but God has faithfully provided every step along the way. Praise God for His faithfulness. All glory to our Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus! Beacon of Hope continues to be successful because Beacon of Hope is faithful. Thank you for your gift of faithfulness today!!
Being faithful,
Kyle L. Thompson EdD LPC
Executive Director
To give: I have been sensing a tug to put some thoughts to paper. The tug has not been coming from our board of directors, a staff member, an intern, a volunteer, or some community person; I truly feel the Spirit of God has been tugging on me to present some thoughts. So, as I sit here today, I am being challenged to comprehend the enormity of such a task. God asks you to do something – do you do it?
I have learned that if you do not do it, God will keep after you for a while to try to persuade you to make the right decision, but eventually the chore/job/task will get done by or through someone else. Do you want to miss that? Ignoring God – not a good thought or decision. Following God with a servant’s heart of obedience – now this is a good step to take.
Step one – look about you, what do you see? Take a really good look. Do you like what you see? I personally am tired of the news. I do not enjoy sensualizing. But that is exactly what I see. There has never been, in my lifetime, a greater need for mental health services. God knew this 20 years ago when He placed the Beacon of Hope vision upon Joan Crowe’s heart. Joan was obedient and the Beacon of Hope we know today is here because of that initial obedience.
Step two – be a change agent. We cannot change anyone, but we can do the right thing, model the right thing, and not judge the wrong things. Do you want to see change? Be the change you want to see.
Step three – support the good. Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little feet where you go. Be careful little ears what you hear. Do you know why Mordecai was elevated to second in command? Esther chapter 10 verse 3 tells the answer. Mordecai worked for the good of the people. Be a doer of good!
Step four – listen. I really enjoy the book of Esther; being the father of two girls it has always been a favorite of mine. One verse in chapter 4, has been a favorite of many; its verse 14. For a long time, my focus was on the last part of the verse, “for perhaps you have come to this position for such a time as this.” That is so powerful and uplifting. And Esther for sure rose to the occasion and was obedient. However, God was going to get His work done no matter if Esther listened and obeyed or not, “for if you remain silent at this time, help will still come for the people, but your family will perish.” God is serious when He calls His people to do something. We must listen to His words.
Step five – be the hands and feet of Jesus. Do not just merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves – do what it says! You can find those words in James 1:22. He who is obedient and faithfully carries out the commands of our Lord is truly the hands and feet of Christ. We must be about our Father’s business. Get to work!
If we were to all follow these steps, chances are things would look different from the current news reports. Its actually kind of simple, but unfortunately, its not easy. That is why competent Christ-centered counseling is available at Beacon of Hope. It does make a difference. In fact, we
had a client just the other day ask their therapist, “Do you know the difference between me and the person that shot two people in Holland the other night?” Their therapist eagerly awaited an answer, which made us all pause and think. This is what they said. “I have access to affordable Christian counseling that helps my mental health.”
That is so true. Beacon of Hope’s mission is to be God's hand offering Christ-centered, inclusive, accessible and professional mental health counseling. At no time has Beacon of Hope ever charged a fee for the counseling provided. God has freely given to us and we freely give back. It really is as simple as that. And you can never out give God. Try it, write Beacon of Hope a check and see that God does not bless you in some way. He will do it. Go over those steps that God so easily laid before us. It sounds simple, but its not easy. But God, He can help us overcome the obstacle(s) that we are facing. Be praying for God to remove these obstacles. Just as He has removed all barriers at Beacon of Hope for people to receive competent Christ-centered counseling services without fees. Yes, no fees for 20 years. Only God can make this happen. We cannot explain His math, but God has faithfully provided every step along the way. Praise God for His faithfulness. All glory to our Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus! Beacon of Hope continues to be successful because Beacon of Hope is faithful. Thank you for your gift of faithfulness today!!
Being faithful,
Kyle L. Thompson EdD LPC
Executive Director
