Tag: help

SERVANTHOOD

“Serve as if it is the first time you served; Serve as if it is your ONLY time serving.”
It was so fitting for me to hear that saying while at the closing celebration of a weekend where I felt led to “serve” others in whatever capacity was needed in setting up the dining room for meals, with food preparation, and clean up from the meals.
I had never helped at this place before though my family and I have helped at a soup kitchen monthly for several years.  I went into this weekend feeling like I was there to be a servant; being available for whatever task was needed, no matter how menial.  It made me think about that is how Jesus was the ultimate servant, who came to this earth to SERVE, one of the most powerful ways being dying on the cross for you and me. Jesus came to serve, NOT to be served.
I envisioned Jesus doing even the most menial of tasks, liking wiping food off of chairs, vacuuming the crumbs off the floor, emptying the garbage, with love and in humbleness. I believe Jesus thought NO task was without value especially when done in love and humbleness.  Jesus did not think He was above anyone or think that He was exempt from doing any menial task.
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Photo credit by Sapphire Dream Photography under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND-2.0)
Whenever I work at the soup kitchen or in this kitchen, I try to be attentive to what others may need in whatever task they are performing and try to be there to assist them….maybe giving them a utensil they need when their hands are full, consolidating food into one container so the dishwasher person could get busy scrubbing the baked-on lasagna pan, etc.
I was truly blessed to be able to serve others that weekend especially since it ended up I was one of the younger people. I did not know any of the people there, but they certainly made me feel welcome, sharing hugs often with the main lady who was so happy I came to help. It is truly a blessing to talk with other people, try to see why they have the perspectives they have due to their life experiences, and to share the Christ in me.
There was one lady who was kind enough to take me under her wing, and filled me in as to how things worked, where things were and the history of things. She truly blessed me in our interactions, and we seemed to think very similarly in our serving of others. Her willingness to extend herself in sharing with me made me realize the importance of me doing that when I am in my local soup kitchen….reaching out to be friendly to any new comers who may be helping out.
Servanthood is a way of life. Looking for even the littlest ways of serving others is something I think Jesus did while on this earth.
No matter what we do, we need to do it in love and because of Christ in us…May we strive to be more like Jesus every day…serving others with love and humbleness.
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Are there places or ways God may be calling you to step out more and serve others? I think often we get so stuck in our routines that we might not step out and serve in some different way. It would be awesome to go help at this kitchen again, and to see some young faces there too….we are ALL called to serve one another in love and humbleness!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  –Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  –John 12:26 (NIV)

WHERE ARE YOU?

Jesus says,

“You are so precious to me

I have given you so much–

the land that you walk on,

the air that you breathe,

all that you have and are.

But, my friend, where are YOU?

I need YOU to be…

   MY hands,

   MY feet,

   MY heart,

each and every day.

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Photo credit courtesy of Maria Jose Bustamante under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Don’t let this world that I’ve given to you

take away from ME.

I know there are so many “things”

to pull you in different directions–

away from ME.

Be concerned with the things that will

last for all eternity; not the temporary

things of this world.

Make sure you keep ME first in your

life as you go along serving…

your families,

your church community,

your friends,

and everyone you meet.

I need mostly, YOUR HEART,

full of love and compassion

to give to others.

EVERYONE I place in your path

is an opportunity to share a part of ME.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  –Romans 12:9-13

Even though I have shared this song before, I still think it fits well with this writing. May you be blessed with listening to Offering, by my favorite Christian band, Third Day.

REACHING OUT

I am learning that we need to be more open to others, and not be so concerned with ourselves.  It is so important to be there for one another.  You can learn more about yourself and God in reaching out to others. It can help you gain confidence in yourself, and it is a great feeling knowing you are helping to build God’s kingdom on this earth.

Ultimately, people need to put the Lord first, then their families and then others. But, all our attention should not be fixed on one thing; there should be some balance.
 
We have the responsibility to love others and to be there for them. It might not even be someone that you  met in person, especially today with the different kinds of social media. It can be a great tool to touch another’s life.  Be aware of the people God puts in your path each day, whether in physical contact or through another avenue.
 
One example of the blessing of social media in my life was in following my favorite Christian band, Third Day, on social media.
 

Because of our mutual following of Third Day, I became “friends” with a lady & her husband who had been at a Friends & Family camp hosted by Third Day in Georgia. I saw the couple at the camp but did not really talk to them there. She reached out to me on social media after the event. Her husband had some medical issues so she would be asking for prayer sometimes, at which point I would pray for them and try to encourage them. One day, it was amazing as she happened to post something saying her husband collapsed and to pray. I thank God that I saw that post a few moments after she posted it, so I started praying. It was very sad to hear the next day that he ended up dying.  But, I thought how special it was that people were praying for them so soon in their time of need. To this day, the lady and I keep in contact, and I try to offer support to her when I can.

 
  
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From left to right: Members of Third Day: Mark Lee, Tai Anderson, David Carr, & Mac Powell, along with some special, long time fans.

Take a moment to see how you can be open to the needs of others, at least once a day….

 
  • Maybe it’s giving a smile to the mom you see who is trying to calm her screaming child.
  • Maybe it’s sending a card on the anniversary of someone who has lost someone special.
  • Maybe it is asking the store clerk how her day is going and taking time to listen to her.
  • Maybe it is giving up your seat on the bus to someone else.
  • Maybe it is helping an elderly person unload their shopping cart when you see it would make it easier.

We should take every opportunity to reach out and make a difference in someone’s life, before it is too late. You never know when it will be the last chance, or when someone needs it in their most desperate moment. You might end up with a new friendship or help someone bear a burden that was heavy on their heart.   Maybe a small sacrifice on your part will be just what someone else needed.  In reaching out to others, your life will be made more abundant and blessed from above.

 

“And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” –Matthew 25:40