Back to the Heart of It All

This summer has been crazy and extremely fast paced.  I don't think that I have been home for more than 10 days at a time.  It has been an amazing summer where I have seen God move in the hearts and lives of students and strangers.  I have returned from this summer a changed man, shaped and molded by the examples of others and the experiences that I have shared with them.  Thank you to all who were sensitive enough to sense the moving of the Spirit in their lives and acted upon it.
With all of the wonderful things that happened this summer, it was easy to lose sight of what is most important.  Have you ever had one of those moments where you actively see God's hand moving all around you, but it feels like after you leave that moment and that place, you can't see how that movement will continue?  This summer, I witnessed so many different people step outside of their comfort zones and serve their God as they served others.  There was no complaining, no whining, no arguing, just serving with all of their hearts, souls and bodies.  As I witnessed this unabashed service for God, I could not help but wonder why this does not happen when we are in our own community.  Why do we struggle to step outside of our comfort zones and serve God with all of ourselves on a daily basis?
I believe that it is a matter of the heart.  Anyone can step outside of themselves for a week on a mission trip.  It is just seven days.  It is a different story when we look at serving each day in the same way.  That kind of commitment to service begins to cramp our style.  It takes regular sacrifice.  We prefer temporary sacrifice.  This year, my commitment and my challenge is to step up and take up my cross daily to serve him.  I want to step outside my comfort zone each day.  I know it is cliche, but I want to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.  I want the movement of God this summer to not remain in a specific moment or place, but I desire it to be a starting point of change in my life and I pray in the lives of those who witnessed the same movement of God.  Let's get back to the heart of it all.  We were designed to serve and worship our Heavenly Father.  Let's do just that with all of our being each and every day.  May each day be defined, not by our plans or feelings, by our desire to serve our Lord.