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Love & Worship

"...worship is a product of love."

When I read those words during breakfast, something rang true within me.  Two pages later, my mind was still ruminating on those six little words at the end of a sentence, in the beginning of a paragraph.  I can't tell you what else was written, though.  I didn't take anything else in.

So I pulled out my journal.  I wrote and prayed.  And after a page or two, didn't seem to be any further along.  Worship is a product of love.

First comes love, then comes worship.  I adapted that phrase to a silly children's rhyme.  So, if our hearts worship that which we love, then we should be able to identify our God (or gods) by the things/people/events we center our lives upon, our conversation topics, the thoughts that run through our heads... right?


Or, another take on it, worship flows freely from a heart that loves.  But again, what do I love?  How do people know what I love?  I'm evangelistic about the things I love.  If I've discovered a book or a recipe that I love, I tell everyone!  I love to talk about Mike. 

Hm.. there's something deeper to discover here.  I just know it.  Lord, open my eyes.  Show me the truth.  Teach me about my heart.  Give me insight into that which I worship.

1 Million Meals for Haiti

Spring Break is notorious for self-indulgence, over-indulgence and immediate gratification.  (Trust me, the scene gets worse every year! But that's a different post.)  But one of the bright spots all month long involves students taking an hour or so to assemble a nutrient-rich, "just-add-boiling-water" casserole mix for the people of Haiti.

Every week of Spring Break, the Campus Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ hosts a conference for our involved-students called Big Break.  This year, in addition to talking about life in Christ with other students partying on the beach, the conference students will invite others to join them in humanitarian aid relief.  

Partnering with GAiN, CCC's global relief aid, the goal is to assemble 1 million meals during all four of March's spring break weeks in Panama City Beach, FL.  At the time of the earthquake, GAiN had 1 million meals pre-positioned in Haiti in case of a catastrophic event.  They assumed that would be a hurricane, not an earthquake.

When Mike and I were in Panama City Beach last week, we spent two afternoons with the students packing meals.  I was in tears the first day as I imagined the hope and relief these small packages of soy, rice, dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavoring would bring.  The tears kept coming when I noticed students writing prayers, Bible verses and other words of encouragement on the outside of the shipping boxes!

After the conference, the pallets of food will be loaded on to a ship, then sent directly to Haiti.  The students packed over 157,000 meals in three hours!  We're well on our way to the goal of 1 million meals! 

I took some pics of people packing meals.  Can you find the shot of Mike with one of the bags (each bag feed six people)?  Clue:  He's wearing a hair net:

Big Break

For some reason, God often uses conferences and events to draw students to a deeper commitment.  That's why I've always been a fan of retreats, get-aways, and conferences.  I have friends who don't care for these events, but I love them.  I love what God does in people's lives when they pull away from their regular schedule and focus on what He has for them.

We're on our way to Panama City Beach, FL for Big Break.  Big Break is a student spring break conference with the aim of encouraging students in their relationship with Christ and equipping them with the skills, experience and practice of sharing their faith.  It's a week of faith steps and faith risks, of stepping out of a comfort zone and trusting God in big ways.

I'm giving three devotionals next week at Big Break, so I'd love your prayers. I have too much content for my timeframe, and I feel rusty. But more than that, I feel a great honor at getting time in front of 1200 students and I want to be a good steward of that time.

I know.  Realistically, how many people remember a conference talk 5 years later (ha, 5 minutes later?)? I don't put that kind of pressure on myself. It's more of a weight of responsibility to use the time well, and honor God with the preparation AND the presentation!

Next week the Big Break staff expect about 1200 students, with more than 2500 students cycling through the conference throughout the month of March (one spring break after another!).

Opposites Attract.... Mostly

Mike and I are opposites in nearly everything.   The mystery surrounding the other person is probably one of the things that drew us to the other in the beginning.  But, as you can predict, these differences can cause some friction in our marriage.  I keep repeating the phrase I learned regarding cultural adaptation when I moved overseas, "It's not wrong, it's just different."

Well, today I was just wrong.  Not different.  Simply wrong.  Yesterday Mike asked me to help him.  It was an easy task for me.  I knew in my head what he needed to think through and talk about at an upcoming meeting.  I thought the exercise of writing an outline was a good idea, but since it wasn't something I needed, it never made it to the top of my ACTION list yesterday.  

This morning he seemed a little tense.  I thought that was strange, but when I was in the shower I remembered how I failed to follow through on what he asked me to do. (He asked for my help and my insight!  Hooray!)

But I didn't follow through. I didn't intentionally NOT help him out, but my oversight led to his tension.  He thought I didn't care about his meeting (I do!), or the way he's wired (I do!).  Mike asked me in my strength to help him in his weakness.  And I can imagine that it felt like I didn't take his request seriously or think it all that important.

Ugh!  After my shower I was faced with a few choices:  ignore the tension, laugh it off as no big deal, or invite Mike to tell me why he was so tense and REALLY listen to his response.  I chose the latter (hooray!) and then asked for his forgiveness.  I want Mike to know that I love and respect him through my actions.  And in the midst of my failure, I want him to experience my humility.

Beets

Little did I know that I was about to post one of my most-commented on status updates of my many years on facebook.  And it was about BEETS.  Less than 24 hours after posting my original plea for help with beets, 22 comments were made.  22.  Who knew beets were such a conversation topic?

I don't have a long history with beets.  Make that no history with beets. To me, they've always been that odd, shiny, jello-like salad bar condiment that few people eat.  So how did I end up at this place of asking for beet advice?  Mike and I walked to the grocery store on Sunday afternoon.  As we perused the produce aisle, my husband's voice grew to surprising levels of animation and enthusiasm when he started reminiscing about beets.  Apparently my mother-in-law makes some mean beets.  (beets... that just sounds funny to me. I don't know why I'm giggling like a junior higher.)

But I know nothing about beets.  Nothing.  They are surprising with a vibrantly red, almost purple, stem and brilliant green, leafy tops.  But that bulbous root with a tail... odd.

Tonight's the night, folks.  For you beet-lovers out there, I'm going to make beets for the first time in my life.  I'm making them because Mike loves beets.  And I love Mike.  I'm combining the helpful tips from my mother-in-law and three friends who posted comments with cooking/serving suggestions on facebook.  

I'm going to roast them.  I'll line the jelly roll pan with foil.  I'll wash the odd root-vegetable.  I'll cut off the tops and tails, but not too much, so they don't bleed.  I'll wear an apron when I push the skin off the roasted veggies an hour later so that I won't bear the stains.  Then I'll maybe I'll dice and pickle some.  Perhaps I'll turn some into a yummy salad with goat cheese.  Yes, I have goat cheese!  

Can you make soup from beets?  Do they go with tuna?  Can you mash them like you mash potatoes, another root-veggie?  What kind of natural flavor do they have?  Are they chewy?  Or are they like tofu, taking on the flavor of the food they are cooked with?  

This is turning out to be a culinary adventure, exotic enough for the likes of Anthony Bourdain.

NYC Visit

It was a great introduction to life in New York City because it was unpredictable.  Details, plans, reservations, trains - nothing went the way I thought it would.  

Our first of three days in NYC was on President's Day, so the trains ran on the weekend schedule.  But I didn't know what that meant as I stood on the frigid elevated platform in Queens.  I found out what that meant when it took over two hours to travel two miles to Morningside Heights in Manhattan.  Yes, two miles on the NYC Subway took over two hours.  But that was, in part, due to a helpful New Yorker who took me under her wing.  In the end, it seemed like I understood how to read the train signs better than she did.

Snow, freezing temps, crowds, lost hotel reservations, learning the subway system, arriving two hours late for an appointment, wearing the "wrong" winter coat (but GREAT walking boots I found online for $22!) kicked started three good days of asking questions, exploring the city and learning about ministry in the Big Apple.

It reminded me of when I first moved overseas - the cultural adjustment, lifestyle adjustment, expectation adjustment, attitude adjustment!  But just like my international experience, I found the people of this City ready to help.  Within a 10 minute walk, two people asked if I was lost or needed directions.  Perhaps our tourist status was obvious:  dragging my suitcase behind me while Mike and I debated our route and looked for street signs!


Mike and I are transferring from the global headquarters in Orlando to join our ministry teams in New York City.  We hope to move in the fall.  Visit our blog for updates about our journey! 

Remembering Dad

WOW - a year.  It's hard to believe that it's been a year since Dad passed away.  I don't really know what to call this weekend.  Is it an observation or a commemoration or a remembrance?

Whatever it's called, we did the best we could.  We met for breakfast at a diner, then drove up to surprise Nana (Dad's mom) with a visit and errands.  One sister gave Nana step by step directions on how to use facebook, and now the 91 year old is hooked! It'll be good to have her more connected.

Later that night we pulled out the slide projector and Mom started telling stories that I'd never heard before!  The pics proved that my dad loved a snazzy outfit: flashy shirt or patterned pants when he didn't have to wear his uniform.

(Pic from Dad's Birthday, July 2007

Worship

"Every time Moses appealed to Pharaoh to let God's people go it was so that they might serve Him.  God wasn't releasing the Israelites from slavery so that they could join Club Med.  He set them free so that they would celebrate, serve and worship Him." - Elyse Fitzpatrick

Whoa!  Ouch.  I often think God set me free from slavery (to self, others, reputation, addiction, etc) so that I can enjoy what I call the cruise-lifestyle: a life of ease and comfort where it's always sunny and where I can be carefree and served, choosing between gourmet food options.  Sounds good, eh?

But God didn't set me free so I can live a life of self-indulgence.  What I long for is too small.  And it's self-focused. He set me free to live a life of love and obedience... a life of worship.

"Let us beware, lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore far from it.  The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him."  - A.W.Tozer

Westminster Catechism on Worship

"And God spoke these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20.1-3 

From The Larger Catechism:
Question 104:  What are the duties require in the First Commandment?

Answer:  The duties required in the First Commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous for him; calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him. and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.

WOW.  Take a look at those verbs!  Look at how "worship" is described!  Goodness, it's the majority of the answer.  Oh that my heart would respond to Jesus like this!