For as long as I can remember, my dad has signed his letters "Peace and Love". Letters to his six children. Emails. Christmas Cards. He has not deviated. He has not changed with the times. He's been loyal to his signature line, "Peace and Love."

When I was in college, I didn't appreciate letters from my Dad. Full of advice, and columns clipped from the hometown newspaper, they did not seem relevant to my self-absorbed, sorority girl world. They were all signed, you guessed it, "Peace and Love." I remember thinking, "Why not just Love?" I concluded that the sixties had rubbed off on my dad. He was a peacenik, I guess.

Just a few years ago, I became wise enough to understand that Peace is a very important word. It denotes the calm in a storm. It is a gift from God. There is even a Scripture that says that the Lord gives peace that passes understanding. Literally, peace that we can't even fathom. I don't get how that happens. But I've received it. I know it's true.

Now my dad is in his final season. In his hospice bed, he's happy to see his family, but seems happier to see us leave. He doesn't need to be occupied by the TV or funny stories. He's at peace. Now "Peace and Love" is my new benediction. I say it to honor my dad, who always showed me the way. And I say it because it's not just a signature, it's a prayer.

I love you, Dad.

Romans 12:1--Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Scripture tells us to "Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice." Unsure of what exactly this meant, I studied the phrase. Clearly sacrifice means to give yourself up...your desires, your plans. We are called to sacrifice our will for God's purposes. I accept that. I try to do that. Well, most of the time.

Just yesterday, I realized that I put major time restrictions on my version of "living sacrifice." God gives me 24 hours each day. Yet I only want to serve when I feel like it. You see, yesterday morning, a friend called. She thought there might be a bird in her house. "Bats in the belfry is more like it," Dave quipped. I didn't want to go on a bird hunt. I wanted to get on the treadmill. I wanted to pay some bills. I wanted to stay in my house. I had PLANS!

Reluctantly, grouchily, I went. Guess what? No bird. Yet I learned something about myself.

I'm more like, "Living Sacrifice, 9-5." No overtime. No nights. No weekends. I want to give, what I want to give, at the times that are most convenient to me. I have even justified this attitude with scripture. "God lives a cheerful giver!" I'll exclaim. "No one should give under compulsion, only what he's decided in his heart to give." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

In other words, You Can't Make Me.

In Truth, God could make me. He just doesn't. God, in His graciousness, won't make me serve Him. He won't force me to give money, time, skills, or anything. He's not that way. He's watching, though. He's seeing who is truly offering themselves as a living sacrifice, and who is offering a piece of themselves, when it's most convenient. True, both are a sacrifice. But one is more genuine. Perhaps this is what is meant by being "whole-hearted" or "wholly devoted." Hmmm.

So my question to the Lord, and to my dear readers, is this. Is it okay to serve if your heart is not in it? To come to someone's aid, even when you don't feel like it? Is it true that action speak louder than words?

Recently Dave's sister Debbie and her husband Gary were visiting our home. They had arrived the evening before, and we enjoyed a nice meal. We had the morning set aside for coffee and conversation. Our cousin Tricia called to say that her dad was not doing well. Debbie said, "I'll finish this cup of coffee and be on my way." Within 10 minutes, Debbie and Gary were on the road, facing a 6 hour drive, to be with Tricia. They were at her side when her father, Lewis, moved to his permanent home in heaven.

That's a living sacrifice. They saw the need and met it. They didn't make excuses. They didn't say, "We've just gotten here." "We had plans today." "We can come tomorrow." Like the Nike ad suggests, "Just Do It." They did it. I want to be more like that.

Lord, make me a cheerful servant for more hours of every day you've gifted me with. I offer myself to you as a living sacrifice.....every hour, of every day. Lord, whether I'm tired, or exasperated, or my favorite show is on TV, help me to set that all aside. I do want to be wholly devoted to you. And I need Your Power to do it.