A Servant's Heart

I just spent an incredible weekend at North Bay Adventure Camp, a beautiful facility in Northeast, Maryland! It wasn't a weekend away with the family or even a romantic getaway with my husband, although he was there. No, this was the weekend of Mountain Christian Church's middle and high school fall retreat. Two hundred and eighty middle and high schoolers, having fun and worshiping the Lord!

So why were two old people like us at this retreat? We were asked to come and help serve meals to the students and the leaders who were participating in the retreat. The prospect of a weekend away was appealing and it sounded like it could be fun. Besides this was an opportunity to show these young people what service to others was all about. But as the weekend drew closer, my resolve began to melt. Not only were there torrential rains, but physically I was feeling horrible. I have fibormyalgia and if you don't know what that is, take the worst muscle pain you've ever had; times it by ten and spread it throughout your body. I did not think I could serve, let alone, serve with a grateful heart. But I had made a commitment and didn't want to renege on that commitment, so begrudgingly I went. The ride to the camp was difficult due to the heavy rains and roads with standing water were treacherous. The skies were dark and ominous but as we drove I prayed that God would protect us and I asked that He provide me relief from my pain. Ahead of us in the darkest of skies was the faintest glimpse of a rainbow! I couldn't believe what I was seeing and snapped a picture with my phone. A rainbow, a symbol of God's promise and I began to feel a sense of peace about the weekend ahead.

When we arrived, dinner service had already taken place and after meeting the rest of the volunteers, we started to clean up the mounds of dirty dishes (not paper plates) and silverware. The men in the group manned what affectionately became known as "the pit", the dish washing and sterilizing station, while the women worked clearing tables and washing them down. After just half a service I was exhausted and wondered how in the world I would manage through four more meals and clean up over the next two days.

But God had a plan, bigger then my pain. Every time the dining hall filled with the laughter and excitement of all those kids, I found a renewed strength. My heart filled with joy as I listened as a teenage boy stood in front of 279 of his peers and offered prayer. Their genuine appreciation and gratitude was overwhelming and I was humbled to be serving these young people.

As I fell into bed on Saturday night, to exhausted to even sleep, I thought about the King of Kings and how He had come to this earth not to be served but to serve. Not because He wanted gratitude or reward, but because He loved. To be a servant with an attitude of love is the greatest expression of the love that is Jesus Christ. To serve without expectation of reward or accolades is to serve like Jesus. To serve others is to serve Jesus.

Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Work willingly at whatever you do as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving in Christ."

This is not to say that we should not take joy in or be proud of our work or service, but that we should be humble, expecting nothing more than our own satisfaction and to glorify God.
"My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor." Ecclesiastes 2:10

What I learned this weekend is that whether you are serving meals to 280 teens and pre-teens, sharpening pencils for your boss, or scrubbing toilets, if you perform that service to the glory of God with a loving heart, your reward from the Father is greater than any pat on the back you can receive and any pain or obstacle you face, is erased when your spirit is willing to serve in His name.

Thank you Mountain kids, for serving me by allowing me to serve you!

Until next time, in humble service...
God bless,
Cat