striving to serve.

 "..what if i told you you have the power to give someone hope beyond their wildest dreams? what if i told you it's right there in your hands? it's hard to imagine how something so small can make all the difference, tear down the tallest wall; what if december looked different this year? what if we all just give this Christmas away? if there's love in your heart, don't let it stay there, give this Christmas away and your life will be changed by the gifts you receive when you give this Christmas away. It's feeding the hungry, serving the poor, it's telling the orphan you're not forgotten anymore. it's doing what love does, even when no one's watching you...for God so loved the world that He gave his only Son so we could be His hands, His feet, His love..His love."

whoa. talk about an emotion-stirring song. i was youtubing christmas songs (yes, youtubing is a verb) and came across this particular song by matthew west featuring amy grant called "give this Christmas away". i know i have talked about my love for volunteering and helping others in previous posts, but in the past couple of weeks, i had been wracking my brain to try to figure out some big and well known volunteer opportunity that i could get into.

i know, how vain, right? 

yeah, God thought so, too. right after i heard this song, my youngest sister came home from school with two little pieces of paper she got off of the angel tree at her school. there was a 4 year old boy with a request for a toy and an 11 year old girl with a request for shoes. SHOES. an 11 year old worrying about shoes. wow. talk about putting things into perspective. i think when i was 11, i was more worried about what time boy meets world was coming on and how fast i could get my homework done to watch it. not shoes. i had plenty of shoes. 

so there was my slap in the face. so i'm praying and thinking on small things that i can do, just little things that would make a world of difference. and a few have been laid on my heart as of late and i do plan to carry them out. maybe you'll see me in the act, maybe you won't. truth is, it won't matter. my ultimate goal is to serve these people around me just as Christ served others. with a selfless disposition and a genuine love pouring out of my heart for them. i am so burdened for those people in my community, down my street, in the schools. and i get discouraged when i think that there is no big thing that i can do for all of them. and i realize now..it's all the little things. 

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." [matthew 25:34-40]

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." [matthew 7:12]

"This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." [john 15:12]

so this is my goal for the month of december as well as the next year of 2011...that i will strive to do my best to glorify God through all the little things that i can do for others. to give this Christmas away. to think about someone other than myself. someone who needs a big hug or a small chat. someone whose sole Christmas wish is to have a warm bed or a nice, hot meal. to help a neighbor in their yard or house. to babysit for the mom and dad who need a break. to do something without being asked to. to show a true servant's heart. that's my ultimate goal.

and i challenge you to make it yours.

randomosity.

i just have so much on my mind at the moment. so i'm going to simply bullet my thoughts and allow you to take a peek into my crazy active brain. :)

-i want a mini Christmas tree in my room. it will fit perfectly in the little corner by my closet. i'm yearning for the day that i have my own house and can go nuts with Christmas decorating. or decorating in general. two more years, lauren. two more years.

-homework blows chunks. thankfully i got most of it done already and only have last minute things to finish up, but it still stinks. senioritis has set in. :/

-i wish i was more organized. i do believe the little section in my brain labeled "lauren's creativity" has taken over "lauren's organization skills". i can doodle and write and paint til i can't anymore..but i cringe at the thought of labeling binders and organizing papers. although it would make my life so much more easier if i'd just do that to start with. ah well. 

-i'm so thankful for a willing young girl named Mary who followed God's commands and delivered my Jesus into this sinful world. i can't even begin to imagine how much ridicule she got for being an unmarried, pregnant teenage girl. we think it's bad today when things like that happen, but back then it was wayyy worse...she must have been shunned. her friends must have cut her off from hanging out. she must have gotten evil looks from the elders. but in the end, God blessed her incredibly for following Him and His ways. amazing what can happen when we obey Him willingly. wow.

-i miss sliding down the hallways in my slick socks on the third floor of bruce hall at cbc. that was a good year. i did a lot of growing up and finding myself that year.

-fall and winter are so awesome. i'm so glad that we're blessed with these seasons. even though arkansas doesn't believe in seasons. being able to wear my scarves and sweaters and toboggans is the bomb. :)

-i pray for my future husband. i have no idea who he is or what he's doing or going through, but i pray my heart out for him. i pray for his relationship with God and his ministry, whatever it may be. i pray for his safety. for his school or job, whatever it is he's doing at this point in time. i know that God has made all of his qualities and characteristics to fit mine just perfectly and i'm excited to see how it all plays out. and even though it feels like everyone around me is getting married or having kids, i know that patience is a virtue and this boy is going to be worth every minute i've waited. :)

-i love my family. i know there's times when we all want to strangle each other, but we are SO blessed to have each other. our relationship is one that i wouldn't trade for the world. i get all excited when i think about moving out after i graduate, but i really will miss being at home with these people. 

-bobby pins are wonderful. truly. :)

-i wish i could sing. adding on to the whole future husband thing, i hope and pray he can sing. because that's amazing to me. but really, i wish i could. my whole family can..and i think i would raise the dead if i sang by myself. i love that, however, i can sing praises to my God and King and He loves every minute.

-family life today in the mornings is something that has truly blessed my heart. i'm thankful for the sweet lady at church that recommended that podcast to me. some mornings, i really have to focus on what's being said, but in the end, it makes perfect sense why i had to hear it. and sometimes, it blesses my heart to the point i almost have to pull over because the tears are clouding my eyes. if you're reading this and you've never heard the family life today podcast, check it out. worth it, for sure.

-laughter is amazing. i know people probably look at me like i'm crazy when i giggle so hard sometimes, but i truly don't know what i would do if i couldn't laugh. it makes most everything better. i think God gets a big kick out of the different kinds of laughter. the snorter, the giggler, the loud laughter, every kind!

-i miss ACTS Jr! sometimes i'd get so tired on mondays and not want to go to practice after classes, but those kids absolutely made my day. i know that my calling in life is to be a pediatric occupational therapist. and being able to be a part of this program has confirmed that in so many ways. the kids bring joy to my heart and i understand them and what they're going through. i can't help but think of the "let the little children come" verse when i get to spend the afternoon with them...no wonder Jesus had such a big heart for kids. their eagerness, kindness, willingness and so many other traits are some that i long for sometimes. i'm eager for spring semester to come around so i can see my kids again. :)

-God keeps sending little reminders to me that my hearing is a gift that not everyone is blessed with. i'm not sure why He's been doing this lately and honestly, it makes me a little nervous. but i'm open and willing. it's all part of my testimony. :)

-i just can't get over how pretty daisies are. their simpleness, yet elegance is something that is so precious.

-i can't wait for my next volunteer opportunity! i know i get tired sometimes, but serving people is something that never gets old. i look forward to being able to bless someone and show the love of Jesus through my actions and glorify Him in a way that speaks to others. 

-i'm ready to graduate and take a getaway trip to ireland. yes, ireland. i think it would be an amazing vacation and i could embrace my inner irish spirit! ;)

..so, anyways. i think i've cleared out a tiny section in my brain and can think clearly now. ;) thanks for bearing with me through my rambling and not judging me! good night, all! :)