Posts with the category “serving-others”

Whenever a doctor comes into the room during an ultrasound and tells you that something isn’t quite right with your unborn child, your life changes; at that moment, my twenty-three years old self unknowingly signed up for a lifetime of “different.” My dreams of this little boy that would one day play baseball in the yard, ski with cousins, and be as tall as his dad came crashing down. My son was b...  Read More

Does serving others ever seem stressful, uncomfortable, scary, overwhelming, or even intimidating?A few weeks ago, the Youth Ministry from my church delivered cards and sang hymns to our elderly and sick church members. The first stop went off without a hitch. However, soon, I began to hear grumbles from our young people. “It’s too cold!” “It’s dark outside!” “This house looks scary!” “Is this the...  Read More

We’re into February 2023 and the hoopla is gone. Are you feeling a letdown?I challenge you! When did you last serve someone else? Christ said the two greatest commandments are: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31a ESV).It wa...  Read More

An old Bill Gaither song says, “I will serve You because I love You; you have given life to me.”That song tells the story of why we serve God by serving others. Because of His great love and sacrifice for us, we feel compelled to love others by serving them.Our ten-year old granddaughter is ornery, but she has a servant’s heart. While on a cruise last summer, Charlotte noticed Poppy standing in th...  Read More

Do those words "living sacrifice" make you think of one of the “Giants” of the faith, someone like the world-famous evangelist Billy Graham, the missionary/martyr Jim Elliott, or perhaps the saintly Mother Teresa?Although each one of these great ones became that living sacrifice and shared Christ with a lost and hurting world, and although I admire them greatly, they aren’t the only ones I think o...  Read More

Most people would say my love language is the act of service. It brings me joy to do for others. Whether it is making lunch for my son, dinner for the family, or taking my husband his supper in bed because he is so tired after a ten-hour day. My dogs even get served breakfast (egg and green beans).I think about others in my life a lot. If I care about someone or something, I make it a point to let...  Read More

Like most young girls, I dreamed about being in love. My hero would want to spend every moment with me. We’d look deeply into each other’s eyes, laughing endlessly. We’d hold hands and cuddle all day. He’d always bring me flowers and never tire of telling me how much he loved me. We’d travel together, every day better than the one before because true love is wonderful like that. Let’s be honest th...  Read More

One of my greatest blessings occurred when I was part of a Christian community that allowed me to serve others anonymously at a spiritual retreat. These ladies I served never knew my name or saw me during the weekend. I worked behind the scenes. However, I knew their names and prayed over each of them as I served.That retreat was filled with many people willing to give up a weekend to serve. I am ...  Read More

I love helping others and have done so most of my life. I’ve worked in fast food, customer service, and counseling. I have also volunteered in church ministry. All these jobs require giving of yourself and putting the needs of others first.Jesus says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each ...  Read More

Remember the days when the postman delivered mail to your letterbox, and it wasn’t just a bill in the envelope? Before mobile phones and email, people wrote letters and sent cards. Now it feels like a dying art.Today we have lightning-fast alternatives to connect with others: phones, instant messaging, abbreviated language – lol! We no longer take the time to put pen to paper and share heartfelt w...  Read More

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another" (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).When I was 14, I signed up to be a Candy Striper at our town’s hospital. For all those below the age of sixty-five, let me explain exactly what a Candy Striper is and does. A Candy Stripers’ duty was to volunteer each week to help the nurses with things like making su...  Read More