day 16 - big: serving

 31 Days Index 

Serving. We are called to serve. Always. And that doesn't have to mean go somewhere far away. So how can we be more intentional about serving others?

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You can serve in your home.

I think mommies are the most underrated and unrecognized servants in our world. I am pretty sure that when you have a baby, you commit to a life of self-sacrificial love.

I made that revelation when we were in England this past summer. Mark's mum (Hiii Debbie! I love you and miss you!!! xx) has one of the most beautiful servant hearts I know. Whenever we're at home in England, she is always asking Mark and I if she can make us some tea, do our laundry (AND she irons it all...even Mark's 358234 t-shirts), fix us a meal, suggest a place for us to go visit...and that's just the tip of the iceberg. It truly amazes me. She amazes me! Serving, serving, serving. All the time.

It reminded me that...even with Mark being her 27-year-old son...mamas never stop serving. 

That fact goes for my mama too! I suppose (sadly) sometimes it's easier to recognize servanthood when it's not your own family...or rather when it's not within the routine you are used to. So with that said...go call your mom (or anyone in your family) today and say "thank you!" (Thanks for your servant heart, Mommy!!!!)

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You don't have to be a mommy to serve in your home though! True story: when I was (begrudgingly) ironing Mark's shirts this weekend--I'm a horrible iron-er, by the way--I decided to look at the task as a way of serving my husband. It didn't help my ironing skills, but it did help my heart. :) There are tons of other little examples like this one!! Just exchange "ironing Mark's shirts" with "picking up his clothes off the floor"..."moving his dishes from the sink into the dishwasher"...etc. ;)

You can serve in your city.

Personally, this is one I need to be more intentional about. I look forward to serving more in our new city once we choose a new church home here. I tend to serve locally more through church...BUT there are plenty of organizations and outreaches everywhere that will help you serve your local community!

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Have you heard "God of This City" by Chris Tomlin? Love it. Go ahead and have a listen! It reminds me of driving to the elementary school where I taught, looking at the beautiful sunrise, thanking God, and crying while listening to these lyrics playing on the radio. All at once. (Yes, hi. I am a crier.)

You can serve globally.

Maybe God has called you to serve his people globally. It's important for us to remember that God's kingdom isn't full of people that have it just like we do.

God led Mark and I to Burundi this past summer. The funny thing about that was...those people wrecked our hearts for Jesus and served us with their presence more than we could ever have served them. (You can about our trip here.) I think of heaven and the people I will meet there a lot differently as a result of this trip.

Mark and I with one of our students.

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What about you...in what ways are you most intentional about serving? Or in what ways should you be more intentional about serving? This post has definitely got my wheels turning (and the conviction in my heart stirring!)!

I'll leave you with this:

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 Love y'all! Thank you for journeying through these 31 days with me.