MY HEART

 

I DESIRE TO MODEL SERVING IN LOVE THROUGH THE GIFT OF TIME.

Time is my greatest resource, and I don’t want to waste it on frivolous things. I desire my time spent on other people, and I desire to be know for showing up. For being present. For using my time to help another.

At my funeral, I desire the theme to be: “Joanna modeled a life of bold faith and busy hands. I knew she cared for me, and she influenced me to care for others.”

My life hasn’t always been this way.

Three years ago talking with a friend, I described in tears: “God took my tiny, neat box filled with comfort and my wants/desires/dreams/plans, and smashed it with a hammer. God smashed my Joanna box into tiny little shards and my life is never going to look the same again.”

Wow.

The realization my life was chosen to be set apart – to be held captive from what I thought I wanted in order to gain something better.

That’s what I desire, and the LORD is who I desire. He desires me to use all of my time for good.

Paul wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish. – Phil. 3:7-8

I PRAY MY WORDS AND EXPERIENCES HIGHLIGHT GOD’S LOVE THROUGH GRACE.

This blog has been alive since the ninth grade. It existed then as a school project, and I have archived posts about fitness, eating, and gymnastics in it’s reservoir.

When I first learned about my gift of service, or really when I felt the need to start talking about serving, leading and loving, I started writing about my experiences using this blog.

Soon after I started, I stopped. It was hard to live on the internet – with my thoughts and my feelings out there for everyone to read.

Recently, a mentor of mine challenged me to start writing stories about my experiences again. Then, my leader at work affirmed my mentor’s words. Two highly respected people in my life urged me to go forward in talking about using my hands for good.

Maybe it will give people an urge to action? Maybe my words will change hearts? Maybe my words will be offensive to some? Maybe my words will go unread and unknown?

I have a lot of uncertainties in how exactly these public stories will be used for good, but I know only this: I want to highlight Gods love for all, and I want to give you (reader) a view into a simple life of serving others. Not to highlight myself, but to highlight my God of love through faith.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but in action and in truth. – 1 John 3:18

I DESIRE FOR THIS AWARENESS TO GROW AS A PLATFORM TO CHANGE CULTURE THROUGH FAITH.

I’ve been plugged into a church community in Athens that is different from anything I’ve ever known, and here I have seen and experienced a new understanding about my walk with Christ. This new understanding has taken root in my heart. The tiny seedling has sprouted into a baby tree – with roots that grow deeper day by day.

This burden is for the Church as we currently know it. This burden has changed in my heart from knowledge to understanding.

  • The understanding to get outside church walls.
  • The understanding to live radically.
  • The understanding to get our hands dirty.
  • The understanding and passion to serve others – and to serve alongside others.

If you’re interested in reading a good book about my heartbeat, read The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community by Hugh Halter.

I don’t want to waste money and time in a place where Christians are serving only each other. Yes, we are called to encourage each other, to live life together, and to come together to worship, BUT we are missing the mark in serving others not like us.

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” – John 11:40

Updated: 3/14/17