I am the Queen of my castle. Together with my handsome King, we make the castle rules and we get to enforce them. We are in control. We are in charge. We are… GREAT.

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There was a time when I seemed to interpret being "servant of all" as meaning I had to do "all the serving." What I know now is that, if I'd continued at that pace, it would have left me burned-out, embattled, bitter and ready to stop serving altogether.

It's a dangerous place to be, and perhaps you've been there too. It's easy to see all the things that need to be done (especially in the church) and assume you're the man for all the jobs.

That was the old me.

Then, thankfully, I learned something. In a fit of frustration, I asked the Lord what He was calling me to do--in this life, in the church, for the kingdom. I can't say whether the answer came quickly, but once it came, it completely changed things for me. Now, when I'm asked to serve, or I see a need, I filter it through the answer He gave me. If it doesn't fit, I say no. No guilt. No condemnation. No second-guessing.

Of course there have been times when an opportunity didn't seem to fit but I believed the Lord was leading me to say yes. It hasn't happened often, but when it has, I've seen the Lord's hand in it all the way. I have never felt free-er to serve or more blessed in serving than I have since learning this. Need this lesson as badly as I did? There's an empty seat in the classroom and it's waiting for you.

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Anitra Elmore is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.

This post may sound oddly familiar.

But due to our topic of the week, I'm being given a chance to expound on it a bit more.

Service: just as we all play a unique part in the body, we also serve in unique ways. You won't find me in the nursery. You won't find me on short term mission trips - at least, not right now. God can do whatever he would like and call me along with Him. But, for the purpose of this post - my feet are planted right here.

I serve as a connector.

A what?

I like to ensure that people feel connected and find a place to serve in the church. Or the community. Or, say someone mentions they are in need of something (an actual item, or assistance of some kind), I like to find a way to fulfill that. I'll sniff it out.

When my husband was in seminary, it was known about campus that I was a whiz at finding people apartments. And jobs. Honestly, I just listened and noted needs. And then listened some more to those who had . . . apartments to rent. And jobs to fill. I don't think what I did was that remarkable, but, apparently, it calmed the anxiety of many of a student.

Immediate needs are my hot button. I'm wired like that.

I pray for the ability to give freely and without hesitation or reservation. Both words seem fitting.

It's my whole philosophy of "giving towards", rather than "giving away." For really, the items I have aren't really mine to begin with, but rather a blessing, right? So, if I have the chance to give towards the needs of others, I want to do so. I like to find solutions to conundrums.

That's my service - giving towards. And like my beagles, who drive me insane, and yet I love them anyway, I always have my nose to the ground and my ear on alert for needs that God may have provided an answer for - through me.

(Amazing that as difficult and broken we are, He still chooses to use our weak and cracked vessels to help others.)

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Joline Atkins is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.

This week at the Daily Fast Fuel we take a journey on the pathway to greatness.  Jesus said we'd do greater works than He!  But before our heads get too puffy, let's take some time this week to consider the example Jesus gave us.  What does it mean to be great like Jesus?  

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Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.