To be labeled as a teacher or a preacher, albeit quite the calling, has on occasion given me the willies. First and foremost I do not believe I am such, although yes I do speak from time to time, and yes I write devotionals with the intent of helping others. However, I see that which I do as more so of a testimony experience type of sharing, rather than a Joyce Meyers, Charles Stanley, or Michael Youssef teaching platform, not to mention the verse in James which speaks on teachers being held to a higher standard. I, for one, know I still have many, many, many more things to learn and I am just not down with being called such it (cue human emotional reasoning). Yet and still, I was searching unknowingly for a label of who I am … what I do.

SERVANT

That is what I was so eloquently called this weekend by my mom (the one who prayed me through my most darkest of times), and admittedly I do like it. As the Bible states …

Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Luke 22:24-30
 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials.  And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

John 13:12-15
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Undoubtedly to be called a Servant for/of God puts oneself is in unparalleled company with the Perfect One right there beside you. Not to mention it encompasses that which we are called to do, be willing and able to be used by God 24/7. So yes, this is one label I can totally get down with. ツ

It doesn't take a Catholic to realize that Mother Teresa is/was the BOMB DIGGITY! I admire her faith and her service. So in honor of the legendary lady, here are some of my favorite quotes from her. 

• If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
  
• I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.
  
• I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
  
• Intense love does not measure, it just gives.
  
• It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.
  
• Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
• I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.
• I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.
  
• The fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love is service.
  
• The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.
  

Recently I listened to a conversation from a woman who does not believe in God. She told a story of how she has (on at least one occasion) had to take issue with the school system for teaching creationism in science class. “Religion is belief and science is fact, they should not be taught one in the same”. Her story continued on with how both of her daughters were good, they knew right from wrong, and both excel in their own right academically and generally speaking they do not cause any trouble. Recently, she said, her youngest daughter (a sophomore in high school), approached her with some concern/question of her own, on the whole matter.

It seems there is a group at school called the “Christian Athletes” (something or other) and she noticed, that all of these people, who stood out to be different, where actually the ones who were getting smashed on Friday night foot ball games. With that being spoke the topic changed to more lighthearted things such as black Friday shopping, thrift store adventures and food, however almost a week later this has remained in my mind.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”! To this young woman, I imagine she looks upon this group as why? Why do I need this savior you speak of, if in fact you are doing things worse than I when I know nothing of Him? Of course, as believers we know the deep rooted answer to this, but yet onlookers merely see what we have to offer by our actions and our tongue.

Though none of us are perfect, I believe we forget sometimes that we, in fact, have the world watching. Those who do not believe will in a way, judge our savior and our creator through us. This is why we are urged more than a handful of times to be set apart, to lead by and be an example. In these times, this is of the upmost importance, I am sure as you look around at the world around you, we will all agree. Let your light shine, be bold – be quick to listen to the correction of the Holy Spirit, and continuously let the One who knows all guide your way.

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your word. Thank You so much for leaving Your letter of love to us, so that we might know how to live! We thank You for Your calling of us into Your court. Help us to continuously be an example of Your love and truth to all those that we meet, to all those that we see. May Your children cling ever more closely to You, for while the world around us is rioting away, You alone are the everlasting hope! In the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

SiC ♥

Ok – Ok so we have ALL heard a message on serving others right? About how it is not about you, but the one (or ones) you are serving and how it is commanded of us as children of God to serve our fellow man. Well, I would venture to say that this mostly true, however when you serve you do get something in return. It may be a content feeling, a kind word of thanks or God may one day reward you and though you think you will be volunteering for a trash duty job at a sold-out concert, turns out to be a “dream come true” instead. Likewise, there can be some negative aspects, as not always will 100% of the people will be ok with you and what you are doing. I am reminded of the first time I served food to the homeless. It wasn’t with *LoveIs*, but with another organization and as I am very giggly by nature, one of the recipients in the serving line was not all to happy with my demeanor. Harsh words were exchanged on his part, but alas it does come with the territory. Yet, more often than not, when you serve, you allow yourself to be open to the human race, and in turn they fill a space within you. It feels good to know that you have done good, by giving someone else good. You know?

Now of course, this by no means beckons people to go out among the masses and do things in the physical sense, where your heart is not at in the spiritual sense (aka all for the glory of being "seen" by other people). Do not go serve and expect something massive thing in return, as that is when you may get nothing other than being frustrated with the experience. God knows our hearts, He knows why we do the things we do, say the things we say and be the way we are. Yet, if you truly have a heart open to helping others and are obedient, God will reward that – I saw that last night.

Now, please do not get me wrong, I LOVE working in Little 5 Points, that is my mission; that is my calling; that is the “core” ministry that God has set in my heart for me to do. As I have mentioned before (and will undoubtedly mention again) to be able to give to people in need full-time, would be just the sprinkles on the proverbial cupcake of my life. Yet last night another dream came true and I truly believe it was a reward from God (and I am thankful to all who made this possible on "Earth terms"). ;)

So what exactly happened? Well I, a lover of concerts, attendee of many, got the chance to serve at a merchandise table for the “Welcome To The Well” tour featuring Casting Crowns, Matthew West, Royal Taylor and Lindsey McCaul. It has ALWAYS been a dream of mine to work at a merch table, ever since the first time I bought a band tee. Did I know before going in I would be working there? No, I honestly thought I would be on trash duty or some other type of dirty job. When the volunteer coordinator (for lack of a better term at this time) told me as I signed in I would be working at the merch table, I wanted to fall on my knees in front of everyone (however I opted for a silent prayer instead). For a sold out show, which estimated around 7,000 people (from one count I heard), I got to do something I had always wanted to do – serve merch. It was a chance of getting to know people in both an close encounter (we had roughly 8 – 10 people working our section of tables, 2 identical sections were sat up) and communing with others are they were about to, in the middle of or had experienced the show. What a blessing it was! I say just that because I am simply speechless to an extent. Having chats with one man who was there due to a gift from his mother, so he was buying her a shirt in return – to speaking to a lady, who was worried her payment wouldn’t go through, but it did, so we thanked God for allowing her the chance to worship on her drive back - to a mom who treated her daughters whole barrage of friends to tour T’s - to having a group discussion on patience and how God will teach it to you one way or the other (when the wireless credit card machines were a bit slow) – to exchanging quips with a boss-dog roadie who undoubtedly has been in the game so long, there wouldn’t be time enough to hear all the stories he could share. With all the experiences of this 6 hour event tallied up and written down it would probably be considered on par with a short novel, so for there I will stop, but you get the drift.

While yes serving is not about “being served”, but turning yourself over to others, you undoubtedly will get something in return to. So why do I say all of this? Because if you have never served anyone else ever, I humbly suggest that one day you do. You will simply be amazed of what an impact YOU can have on the life of another human being. Not sure on how to serve, basic way I define is “serving is anything where you fill a need whereas commonly that need would go unfilled, have to be asked to be filled or performing an action that would make someone elses life a little less stressful”. Perhaps you are saying, well ma’am that could be just about anything… well you would be very much correct there. Just think though, shouldn’t be so hard for you to find an opportunity now, should it?

Be Beautiful – Be You – Be Love 

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for not only counting us worthy enough to be redeemed back to You through the pure blood and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, but yet to also be used as tools - as vessels of your graciousness, love and kindness to others here on Earth. We pray that we all genuinely grasp what exactly it means to say "I have the Holy Spirit inside of me". This is not some empty calorie or temporary "good feeling", yet it is YOUR Spirit, the Spirit of the Almighty Creator allowing us - guiding us - comforting us along this journey called life. We thank You Father, Son & Spirit - Trinity in One and Trinity apart for all that has, is and will take place. May we align ourselves closer to Your will, as to not be a roadblock in the middle of it (either for ourselves or another). In the name Yeshua we pray ><>

SiC <3

Food For The Poor  is the largest international relief and development charity in the United States, feeding 2 million poor every day. Our Christian relief programs and projects are helping children and the poorest of the poor by providing food, housing, health care, education, water projects, emergency relief and micro-enterprise assistance in the Caribbean and Latin America. [Taken from website]





Such an inspiration - such a vital organization - such a blessing // We thank you Father for these people, thank you Father for allowing this ministry to serve people from all over, and bring together people under Your name, ><>


John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11


On a side note I would personally LOVE to do a missions trip with them one day! Meep :] It's on the "bucket list".