Should Our Servitude Be Selective?

"Should our servitude be selective?"

By that, I mean when the word of God clearly instructed us over and over again did that mean we can thoughtlessly pick and choose when we want to be generous and when we want to be selfish? I attended a blood drive recently and heard accounts of several "Christians" speak of how... they "just don't do that."

What exactly does that mean?

I understand if you have a medical condition or if you've been out of the country and they won't let you, but are there really any justifiable, BIBLICAL reasons? Of course not! We must learn to serve all in every way we can.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:33b-35)

If someone was passing around a bucket for money for a child with cancer, we would look at our brother/sister in Christ like they were crazy if they said "I have it, but I just don't do that." If you're a mechanic, with ample time on your hands and the means to change a tire and you see someone with a flat after class, would you really just say "I have all of the tools, but I just don't do that"?

Now, I am far from perfect and my level of servitude could definitely use an upgrade. So don't think I'm just tossing out fire and brimstone; this is also a "self check". Many chances have passed me by in my life where I could have served my brother or sister, and in return I would have be serving the God I so truly adore. But that's the beauty of the God we serve; He's a God of second chances! No single scripture says those exact words, but the Bible is filled with accounts of God watching us turn away from Him, or love Him half-heartedly and still come to our rescue when we are in need. He is patient with us and smiles when we stop, reevaluate our lives and serve others.

Now, this does not always mean we are serving financially. I know I mentioned in my last blogs ways to give up that extra dough we may be spending selfishly, but there are so many instances when what our brother or sister in Christ really needs isn't $$$, but instead they need some good Biblical advice, or someone to hold their hand through a tough time. There may be someone on the side of the road who is cold, and even though you may not have somewhere for them to lay their head that night (because where you lay your own head may be someone else's home) you might decide to stop and give them your coat. You might buy two grilled chicken salads at lunch instead of one and give one to the intern you know is scraping coins just to buy that double cheeseburger. You hook up with your local Habitat for Humanity chapter a become part of someone's dream of having their own home. You can serve with simply the love in your heart and your time.

In Galatians 5, Paul reminds us "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

He reminds us that Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. Those words are so powerful. If you were dying from a rare blood disease but had the power to put new, clean, healthy blood in yourself would you simply choose not to? If your own son was injured in a car accident and loosing blood quickly, only for the nurse to come in and say "We're out of O negative", how would that make you feel?

When it all comes down to it, God is not concerned about our fear of needles, or discomfort with blood, or preference to buy yet another $5 cupcake or $6 cup of coffee instead of giving it to a worthy cause. He is not concerned with our fears because they are a direct disobedience of His command to fear Him only. Not in worry, but in reverence.

We have to stop letting fear stop us from giving all we can, and stop allowing ourselves to get sucked into the self-centered mentality of our culture. But instead remember Who we belong to and what He has called us to do.


With A Servant's Heart,
Ashley Danielle

Give It Up!

So, I am definitely one of those people who is almost bawling in tears on my couch after watching one of those informationals on poverty stricken areas. I get sad when I see a stray dog, starving on the side of the road, seeing children with cancer struggle with losing their hair during chemo makes me want to pull a Britney Spears in my bathroom every now and then in hopes of making them feel better [hey, I did my big chop when I was going natural...not a big difference :-)].

Needless to say, I am a charity kind of woman who loves to volunteer...as we all should be.

Proverbs 3:27-29 tells us: "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”— when you now have it with you (NIV84)." And in Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus clearly instructs: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

We cannot hold on to the blessings God has given us by selfishly keeping them from sacrificially serving His kingdom. If I die as soon as I publish this post, I don't want to have to open my eyes on the day of judgement and find myself trying to explain why my bank account was flourishing while my sister was hungry.

I often run across people who say they are interested in giving to charities and volunteering, but do not really know which ones to get involved with. Personally, I say it depends on whichever one seems to be pulling at your heart the most. Before getting heavily involved with anything, I am a firm believer that spending some quality time seeking guidance from our Heavenly Father is a must. He has softened my heart towards the plight of our youth, and I believe that is why most of the non-profit organizations I am involved with are primarily geared towards children and teenagers.

In this blog post, I really just wanted to share a few of the non-profit organizations that are closest to my heart. Hopefully, they will be a good starting point for you...God bless!

1. Code BLUE Youth Mentoring

This non-profit may very well be the closest to my heart because it is the brain child of me and my eldest sister; it's my baby. We started the program in 2007 with only eight girls. To date, God has allowed us to provide mentorship for over fifty young ladies in the Mobile County Public School System.

We spend a lot of time teaching the girls the benefits of going to college and encourage them to take their academic careers very seriousl...y, even at such a young age. Assigned mentors are required to visit their mentee at school at least once a week, and are to call them regularly. 

For more information on how you can help out, send an E-mail to CodeBlueMentoring@ymail.com or visit our Facebook page by clicking the progam title above!

2. Compassion International
This non-profit is fairly new in my life. When my husband and I first got engaged, he was sharing with me all of the charities he gives to on a regular basis. He let me know that he sponsors a child through Compassion International and needless to say, I feel even more in love with him at that very moment.

According to their Web site, "Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training."

Click the link above to see how you can sponor a Compassion child!

3. charity: water
I absolutely LOVE this charity! When I first heard about while I was still in undergrad, it opened my eyes to a growing problem in our world that I was not aware of. I mean, of course I knew getting clean water was an issue in some countries, but I had no idea of how many people were affected by it and I could not just stand by and watch after putting faces to the epidemic.

Through charity: water, each $20 general donation the organtion receives one person to receive access to a clean water project...$20! I used to spend that on a night at Liquid Sushi Lounge with my girlfriends, or on a handbag, or some scrapbooking supplies. How beautiful that that Lord can change our heart so that we begin to understand how He really wants us to be a blessing to others.

Click the link about to see how you can start making a difference through charity: water!

Again, I pray this short blog tugs on your heart and inspires you to give more (in anyway you can) to the children of God.

With A Servant's Heart,
Ashley Danielle