This Sunday’s sermon was about service to others and how it is exactly in keeping with God’s Word and His example lived as Jesus.  I could not agree more.  My ancestors were once knights.  While many knights have received a bad rap and many for good cause, I want to share that “knight” means servant.

That is how it was intended to be .. and I’d liked to believe it is how my ancestors were.  That whole code of ethic has wrongfully or rightfully so always been ingrained in my heart, mind and soul.  Oh, I’m the first to admit that I too often fail to live up to these standards.  I own that with full responsibility.  No one knows my many faults better than I.  Still, I believe in doing the right things to my utmost and have managed to live my life in service to others.  I am grateful that God has given me these opportunities.

So long ago, yet seemingly yesterday, I had prayed that God might make me His surfer.  Someone retorted to be careful what I asked for.  And then, of course, got on me about not using the right word.  Looking back over the good and the bad but mostly the good, I think God has made me both of these and that my life has been all the better for it.  I don’t believe in a humorless God.  I think He has a brilliant sense of humor.  Look around you if you wonder why I think that.  Or, just go ask and okapi…. 😉

The sermon this morning was based on Romans 12:1-8.  The passage may be read here:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-8&version=NIV

And my sermon notes aka my Sunday morning poem is below:

Sacrifice of Service
by Michael Romani

So this is it 
This is where we're at
Finding the fit
Players at life's bat
Working it out
Beyond our doubt
Doing our best
While God does the rest

Gotta stretch; Gotta warm up 
To gain the winner's cup
Preparing to take the field
Taking a moment to yield
It's all in the preparation
Tuned up in our dedication
One tenth of preparation
The rest lived in inspiration

Taking steps to perform
Even now as we reform
The ways we live
Giving all we can give
In that proper worship
With our Holy kinship
Reflecting on all this goodness
If only we would do this

Anything less than praise
Is a step down moment
Lifting up God in our days
Should be our living comment
Holding up God as a witness
I wouldn't want to miss this
Gotta give it our very best
Evaluated in this private test

Keeping my mind in the right place
Before I even enter this Holy space
Presenting my body in surrender
My mind and soul given up so tender
Everything laid upon God's altar
Learning not to stumble and falter
Totally given up to the let go
Allowing my path to be in God's flow

Every moment lived in total surrender
Is how we best live in what we render
Giving up ourselves so He might increase
Willingly surrendering me in decrease
Putting on our best face that of Jesus
Who sacrificed so much for all of us
We in turn must now give our life
Living now; witnessing as living sacrifice

We are here to seek out the very truth
Then pass that on to our living youth
Time to lay off thinking too highly
Of ourselves and becoming more priestly
Living ambassadors as we represent
Unabashedly willing to turn and to repent
Lifting our words to His Holy praise
This is how we need to live our Holy days

It's true that we live this at our very best
When we live to serve and put us to rest
Thinking of what we can do for others
Loving and serving our sisters and brothers
Knowing that which we do for the very least
Is what's necessary to overcome the beast
Giving our all, doing our all in worship to him
Living more consciously instead of in whim

(c) May 28, 2017  Michael Romani
All Rights Reserved