Tag: Selfless Service

Why Do You Do It?

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Why Do You Do It?

What drives you as a person to do the things you do? Do you do things to serve yourself, serve others, or maybe serve God? From my own perspective over the last few years, it seems we as a country have become much more of a self-serve rather than service. While there are moments in history when it seems not all is lost with humanity. Recently during the tragic flooding from Hurricane Florence, we have seen thousands of people coming to the aid of those affected by the storm.

Aside from tragedy, what motivates you, what drives you to do the things you do? Matthew 6:1-4“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” In my own life, I can’t say my motives have always been clear. There have been times when I have done something for the accolades. We must remember though, it’s important to keep our hearts clean, our motives pure. We can do things, all kinds of things that on the surface look great. We can volunteer at church or other places like homeless shelters and such, but we must be careful to ask ourselves why we are doing it. We can do all kinds of things for the appearances of it. We can put on a mask, and go to church, smile and shake hands, but what really counts is what’s in your heart. So many people go do church because they are expected too. So many people (men in particular) go to church and put on a good show, and try to go out for deacon or whatever position they want, but why? People’s motives are always an interesting subject when you truly start to break down the why.

Why do you do it 2

When I was growing up, I knew I wanted to make a difference in this life. For a long time, I wanted to leave a legacy behind. I don’t think my motives weren’t in the right place as that legacy was to be reminded for something good. As I’ve grown in my faith, now I see that the focus should be living life in a way that people see Christ in you. When we do things for our own gain, even if we can fool everyone around us, we cannot fool God. Proverbs 21:2“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.” I think it’s important for us to challenge ourselves to ask why we do the things we do. Are we being drawn to temptation? Are we seeking notoriety? Are we truly doing our works to please God? Are we doing works to try and work our way into Heaven? Whatever the reason is, there’s only one that’s acceptable, and that’s to please God and bring glory to His Holy name.

I have seen a lot of people make decisions based on their own selfish desires. I have watched as lives have been torn apart from a selfish motivation that was acted upon. I think it’s time that we put the past to bed, and look at our hearts today. Whatever drove you yesterday, that doesn’t have to define you today. Stand up for Jesus today. Look into your heart and ask yourself if you can give yourself to Christ. It’s time to start changing hearts, and changing behaviors. God created you for a purpose and when we live in the purpose we will find that peace is no longer an unobtainable idea. Jesus Christ is the reason we have hope, and because of that we shouldn’t be afraid to trust, to give ourselves to that hope. We can find happiness in changing our motives, and we can trust that when we stop living for ourselves, we will be blessed for it. Sure, there will still be trials, but when you have your faith in Christ, those troubles instead of being a category 5 hurricane, will only be a small thunderstorm. Live for Christ, because Christ knows you, He knows your name, and what more can we ever ask for? We are famous in our fathers eyes, so nothing people can give you is worth more then the gift given to us by the blood of Christ. In all things work to bring glory to the name of Jesus.

 

Veterans Day Nov 11th

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Veterans Day Nov 11th

So many years ago, a young boy looked to the future and saw the stars and stripes. A young boys dream to wear the flag, and fight for this nation would be realized at the age of 19. Basic training was a challenge and tested the emotions and pushed the physical ability to the max. Nothing ever goes how we plan, but as far as experiences in service goes, mine could have been much worse. I started my service at Fort Knox Kentucky, and after 21 weeks I took the long flight to Korea. I was stationed at the small camp of Camp Hovey. I chose Korea as my duty station of choice to try and get some good training before deploying to Iraq. I knew I was going to go, but I knew Korea was a hardship duty tour so they didn’t deploy to a combat theater.

Three months into the tour of duty the word got out that for the first time in 50 plus years the units from Korea would again deploy. In our case the entire unit wasn’t just deploying, but was being moved out of Korea. The deployment would be quick, and much of our training would be split between the Korean training facility and Kuwait. A short visit home and then training, and then the long flight to the desert the dream would become very real very fast.

While the time in Iraq was both terrifying and awesome at the same time, the bible I carried in my breast pocket was a constant reminder that the Lord was with me always. When the bullets started flying, the bombs started to explode around me, the Lord’s protection was always there.

We fight for what we believe in. As for me, I fought because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to take the fight away from the backyards of those I cared for. I wanted to gain worldly knowledge and build a better life for myself. I wanted to build a better tomorrow for the kids I would hope to have one day. While life never goes according to our plan, sometimes what we’re left with is far more beautiful. While Iraq wasn’t a spring day in the park, it was a learning experience, a growing experience. While not every experience was a positive one, in fact there were many experiences that now haunt me in my dreams, but the growth and life altering views, gave me a broad scoped worldview.

Fighting for those who you left behind, from family, to a woman, a man, your kids, anyone you care about is only part of the equation. While you start of as strangers fighting the fight also turns into fighting that fight for the brothers and sisters to your left and right. The brothers and sisters you gain while in the service will often last a lifetime. In that time you grow close, close enough that you would often lay down your life for your friends. John 15:13 “13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We fight for those next to us. Politics, world problems, all go out the window when the bullets start flying. While in the pursuit of peace the table gets messy. Politicians make plans, soldiers live in the real world. The real world is messy, bloody, and ends in nightmares after dark. We bare our cross so others don’t have to. Veterans day is a day to honor those who have fought and served this great nation. We fight so the freedoms this country stands for can be upheld.

Upon each soldiers entry to the military an oath is sworn.

I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

We must remember that when we swear an oath it’s our word, and our word should be our bond. Our heart should be pure in our intentions. 1 Kings 8:61”Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” I was 19 years old when I swore my oath to the United States, and even though I’m no longer active duty, or reserved, or connected in any way to the military, I uphold that oath is just as important today as it was when I first raised my hand. To all those before me, and all those after me, I salute your sacrifice and service to the greatest nation on earth.