Break A Sweat For Jesus

Back-breaking,
drenched in sweat,
hard service work.

That doesn't sound very appleaing does it? A relaxing day in the pool or laying out, spending the day at the spa sounds more appealing than working out in the sun right? It takes a very different person to actually want to work and find joy in working instead of relaxing.

I've done service projects ever since junior high but I've never realized the joy from it until this passed spring break when I went to Joplin with the college ministry. I was on the debris pick-up team the whole week and that was the first time I realized that I actually ENJOY this kind of serving. My insecurity of my abnormally pit sweat I get on a normal day is gone when I'm during a service project (or even when I run). I love the feeling I get from serving in the work I do to help someone clean up, picking up debris, carrying heavy logs, raking, paitning, building, tearing down a house, building a house etc. It's the behind the scenes work that I like. I may or may not get to see the impact I'm making but God does. And you never know who God will allow you to meet when serving wholeheartedly for the Lord. When I work on a project I feel overjoyed in that work! It's like working on a task and the desire to complete it, even if it's a big project that requires multiple groups to come in to finish. And I may be the only girl in the group, or the only girl who sweats like a guy I don't care. I sweat anyways so why not sweat for Jesus?! :)

I love working with children and I have a desire to work and visit orphanges and to minister to young teenage girls and build relationships with them but I really, sincerely, find joy and satisfaction in working the whole day, drenched in sweat, picking up things I never knew I could pick-up, falling asleep at night out of exhaution only to do the same thing the next day for someone who needs help all just to show them the love of Christ through my work. That is why I love back-breaking, drenched in sweat, hard service work. That is the joy I receive in that kind of seriving.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
-Colossians 3:23-24