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Something I’ve been praying lately has completely changed my outlook toward others and life itself.  I’ve been praying along the lines of something like this:

God, give me YOUR EYES to see the injustice, the hurting, the hopeless and the helpless around me.  Give me YOUR Heart to love with.  Give me YOUR MIND to think with.  Let me be attentive to the One who already lives through me.  I want to step into YOUR STORY and join whatever you’re already doing and whatever you want to do.

This may or may not be related to my recent prayer but a week ago Julie and I went to a local produce market to pick up some groceries.  We ran into an elderly lady who was noticeably frail in her speech and in her walk.  She asked if I could lift a bag of oranges into her cart.  As I was assisting her–she went on to explain, “I just had a chemo treatment and I can’t do much.”  I asked her if there was anything else I could help her with.  She said, “No, my husband is waiting for me out in the car.”  I hope that as I performed this act–Jesus radiated through me.  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her or praying for her.

A thought that hit me last night at High School Church’s Home Invasion.

Sometimes, when you’re on your hands and knees in the filth and chaos serving others you’re taken advantage of by the very people you’re trying to show God’s love and grace to–especially, when you’re serving QUIETLY and behind the scenes.  It’s like, while you’re on the ground attempting to build Christ’s Kingdom you’re being kicked in the ribs over and over again…but you continue serving and submitting anyways because you know it’s what God is calling you to do.  It’s insanity!  Same act–same result.

Then, I think about Jesus!  He served QUIETLY while being kicked in the ribs over and over again and hung on a cross to rescue mankind.

Is this what it means to share in Christ’s sufferings?

What’s the hardest thing about serving to you?

*By the way, I’ve written and re-written this post and cannot figure out the clearest way to demonstrate this thought.  Maybe you can help me out

So, because of Christmas money, birthday money and some money I’ve received from some design work I’ve done–I made a huge investment.  A couple of weeks ago, I gave in and bought a Nikon D90 dslr camera.  So far, I love it and can’t wait to do some more photography stuff as well as test its HD video functions.  Here are a couple of initial pictures I’ve taken.

I read this quote in Collide Magazine.

“The church has a responsibility to be innovators, not duplicators.”