Three and a half years ago, I started my blog "We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ" as a way to share my faith with friends online and also to chronicle my journey to become a more sincere follower of the Savior.
Early into that journey, I realized that if I hope to become worthy of being called his disciple, then I need to do the kinds of things that he did with his life. In other words, I need to SERVE OTHERS.
But how would I begin? What could I do to retrain my desires so that thinking of others first became a way of life...and quickly? I realized that I needed to enlist in some sort of intense training program...I needed to immerse myself in service.
I decided to challenge myself to serve someone else every day for an entire month.
Could I do it? Could I really manage to serve someone else every day for 28 days? What if I failed? What if I fell flat on my face? I didn't know, but I knew that I had to try.
And so, Service Boot Camp was born!
During that first month-long adventure in service my children and I made things, we baked things, we held hands, we shoveled driveways, we even raised a substantial amount of money for those affected by the earthquake in Haiti by selling homemade fortune cookies!
It was so. much. fun! I was amazed by what our little family could accomplish by taking it just one day and one need at a time.
It was so. much. fun! I was amazed by what our little family could accomplish by taking it just one day and one need at a time.
Since then, we have held three Service Boot Camps, each with a specific theme. And every February we dedicate our time to serving others, making what can be a very dreary month in our part of the world, into the most heart-warming!
I once had someone question me about why I showcase our acts of service on my blog...in such a public way. Didn't I know that by doing so I was "losing my reward in heaven?"
I thought this was a funny question. I'm not doing this for a "reward", I am not doing this for virtual back-pats. I serve because my heart needs retraining. I am doing this so that the Lord can teach and train and mold me into the person that He needs me to become.
I blog about it, because I think that good deeds should be brought into the light sometimes in order to show that there is still good in this world and to inspire others to step up to the plate and do their best to "feed His sheep."
I thought this was a funny question. I'm not doing this for a "reward", I am not doing this for virtual back-pats. I serve because my heart needs retraining. I am doing this so that the Lord can teach and train and mold me into the person that He needs me to become.
I blog about it, because I think that good deeds should be brought into the light sometimes in order to show that there is still good in this world and to inspire others to step up to the plate and do their best to "feed His sheep."
And this is why I like the idea of the S.I.P project so much. DeAnn is offering up her skills and talents in order to inspire and assist others as they do good. I am all for that! With everyone doing their small part, we can accomplish something big!
A few months ago, someone in our ward gave an excellent talk about how the Savior's life was entirely predicated on service to others. He suggested that:
"Someday the joy of helping others progress will take the place of the pleasure that comes from selfish pursuits."
That "someday" can be today if you start now to make service a way of life.
So what do you say? Will you join us?
Service Boot Camp will reconvene on February 1st!
Come grab a button and join us for some really amazing, life-changing adventures!
"Rewards" come in many different spaces. Sometimes we need to be reminded that there is good in the world and around us to motivate to be better.
ReplyDeleteHere, here for being better!
True. :)
DeleteI am excited to do Service Boot Camp with you! This will be an interesting experience for me.
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks for joining Service Boot Camp! It's so much fun! You'll love it!
DeleteGreat blog! You have to share to inspire. Blogging is a different form of journaling, and I believe more people enjoy peeking in on others adventure than not. What an innovative way instill and appreciate the spirit of service!
ReplyDeleteYes,I think that you are right!Thank you!
DeleteROCK ON! I'm so in! :)
ReplyDeleteDeAnn,
ReplyDeleteYou give practicality to something ordinarily daunting and overwhelming to most. Mention the words "service" or "project" and cue the red flags and warning system bells. People assume that just because there is work involved, it means that it won't be fun, gratifying, and most of all worthy! I, personally, never feel as centered on Christ as when I am giving all of me to something not of me. I am a thinker, and very easily spend hours lost inside my mind -- not a safe place, always. :) Serving is way to escape the Kindgom of Cara and give back to the Kinddom of God.
Thank you for this! I wish I had read a little sooner, but I am going to do my best to get on board, even if only in small ways to start.
Thanks again, DeAnn!
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