After nearly 30 years of being in the ‘Secret Service’, I am finally coming clean, in a manner of speaking.   I can no longer withhold the facts of the service in clear conscience.  It is the most important work I have ever been honored to be a part of.  But it is not all as covert as you may think.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10

I have led a privileged life, one of meeting the most fascinating people as we have traveled to beautiful locations all over the world.  The greatest perk has been the grand adventure of faith as we have had to lean into God for provision, protection and peace along the way.

The only way I can serve God is by serving others.  For most of my adult life I have been entirely under the hidden service of Christ Jesus, my Lord.  Whether I have been up for nights on end caring for a sick orphaned child or running food to a hungry family in need, I have come to the hard conclusion that life is not about me, but about the One I serve.

I am not a Harvard graduate, as a matter of fact I never officially graduated from college.  Although I have many giftings and talents, I do not consider myself all that qualified.  I could easily fall into despair when I consider how little I have to offer.

It can be disheartening as well as dangerous to compare our lives with the accomplishments of others.

5 Great Quotes on Service

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” – Mother Teresa

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”  – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” Thérèse de Lisieux

“If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything.” Florence Nightingale

“Stale godliness is ungodliness. Let our religion be as warm, and constant, and natural as the flow of the blood in our veins. A living God must be served in a living way.” Charles H. Spurgeon

We serve God best when we gratefully bear the cross He has designed for our lives.

At the moment I am taking a break from making beds and cleaning toilets for the missionaries that we serve here at the Laredo Stepping Stone.  It IS a thankless job.   Admittedly I get depressed at times when I compare my present task with some of the seemingly greater things I have done for the kingdom of God.  Hold on, did actually say that out-loud?  Yes, in fact I did.  We all struggle with the desire for acknowledgement, especially for a job well done.  I am just being honest here.  But there is more to it than that.

When we focus on the task or how others view the task we lose our focus on what it should be.  Each and everything we do should be done from an over flow of gratitude to our Heavenly Father who has blessed us with more than we can ever think or imagine.  So whether you are barely surviving sleepless nights with little ones that need to be nursed and changed constantly, taking care of an elderly relative with dementia or cleaning toilets like I am, know that it is not what you are doing but rather the state of your heart while you are doing it.

May you know the extravagant riches of God’s love today!

 

 

Stasia is mother to six beautiful children and wife to a dedicated, loving husband.  They have served as a family together on the mission field on four continents for nearly 30 years.  Stasia’s passion is to share in true colors the grace of God in her life.  You can read more about her and the ministry of the Women’s Bible Cafe.  Stasia is the CEO of  LifeVerse Books and you can Subscribe to LVB to receive regular free and discounted book deals and timely reviews. If this article has blessed you in any small way, please consider showing your support by clicking subscribe in the upper right corner.  Copyright© 2015 Stasia Nielsen All Rights Reserved