Some of you are too young to remember Keith Green, but he was both a musical and spiritual hero of mine growing up in the 1970's. He used a lot of Scripture in his lyrics, and to this day, when I read those words in the Bible, a song starts playing in my head. Such was the case this morning, as I was reading 1 Samuel 15.
The Lord told Saul to destroy the Amalekites completely, to leave nothing. Saul did indeed conquer the Amalekites, but he also plundered and pillaged, thinking it was okay because he sacrificed some of it to the Lord. The Lord was grieved because Saul did not obey him and sent Samuel to talk to him. Saul gave his explanation (i.e. excuse) for disobeying. "To obey is better than sacrifice," said Samuel to Saul.
I've been learning a bit about obedience lately. Sometimes, the Lord asks me to do things that are uncomfortable or inconvenient. Sometimes, I'm downright rebellious and refuse to do them. Other times, I might do them, but like Saul, I tweak the plan to satisfy my own desires.
A few weeks ago, I heard a teaching on the Lord's Prayer. The suggestion was made to pray through the prayer line by line, adding a personal tone to the conversation. I sat down to do this and immediately got hung up at "Our Father." My Father, my heavenly and eternal Father...the top dog for all time. I asked God to help me recognize Him as THE authority in my life, and I asked for the Holy Spirit to enable me to surrender to God's will.
What a powerful prayer that is turning out to be in the area of obedience! Now, when I am asked to do something I'm not excited about, my prayer goes something like this: "OK, Lord, I know you are asking me to do this, and I know You know I don't want to. But I will do it if You want me to." Admittedly, I have to work on the tone of my voice...I still sound like a pouty little child...but at least I'm sincere. :)
The cool thing about this: He doesn't always make me do it. For example, He will ask me to get together with someone who I know is going through a rough time, and because I'm tired/busy/stressed out, I don't feel up to it. But I tell Him I will if He wants me to. Most of the time, I have to do it and end up being glad I did. But sometimes, I'll get a call canceling the meeting (often for the strangest reasons), and I'm off the hook.
Isn't that just like a Dad with his daughter? 1 John 5:3 says, "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." I used to struggle with this verse because I did see some things as burdensome. Now I understand - behind those commands are His love. To obey is truly better than sacrifice.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Overflow
I hadn't intended to blog today, just because everyone and their grandmothers seem to be sharing 9/11 memories. Then I read a friend's blog, and she talked about sharing her memories for her kids' sake. I do think it's important for them to know how I felt because the initial hours of the attacks forever changed my parenting.
It actually all started two years prior with the Columbine school shooting. My oldest, Jeremy, was in middle school then, and although it did cause me to think differently about my kids' safety at school (and pray a lot more!), I wasn't overcome by fear. Still, it was the beginning of a long process of letting go. Each day, I let them go out the door to school with the hope they would return several hours later.
Anyone will tell you, the morning of 9/11/01 began like any other. Once again, Jeremy and Kelsey went off to school, Dan went to work, and I was at home with my preschooler, Emma. For some unknown reason, I had the TV on, which I almost never did. (Oddly enough, that happened to me one other time: the day the Space Shuttle exploded.) I was in the bedroom folding laundry when the first news reports came filtering in. At first, it seemed it was a horrible accident, but it quickly became apparent that something else was going on.
When the second building was hit, it was as if that plane had flown right into my heart. There was a gaping hole that was overflowing with emotion. My immediate thought was, "We are at war! Someone is attacking the United States!" I thought of old war movies with bombings and chaos, and wondered if that was how life was going to be from now on. I watched in horror as people jumped from the burning towers and people on the street ran from the debris. Growing up in the Cold War, I suddenly questioned why we had done away with bomb shelters. What should I do? Should I take my little one and go to the basement? Fear, anger, and grief gripped me as I realized my family was scattered in the midst of all this.
Then it hit me hard. I might never see my husband or two children on this earth again.
I went to my knees and prayed to the God of hope.
I was relieved to discover the phones were working and talked to Dan about what was going on. I was extremely concerned for Kelsey. She was in elementary school, and when I called there, they said the kids were huddled around the television just like everyone else. She was my sensitive girl, and I wasn't sure if she could handle it. The school told parents they could pick up their children if they wanted but reassured us they were doing fine. All I knew was, I wanted my family home. Together.
Dan went to the school to see if Kelsey wanted to come home, but she said she was fine and stayed. I had to endure hours before everyone was finally back at home. My heart was so heavy all day for those who lost loved ones. The attacks had stopped, so I worried less. But like everyone else, I wondered when or if it would happen again.
The next day, I had to send them all out the door again. It was different this time. My level of trust they would return safely was at an all time low. And I remember this clearly...Jeremy said, "Mom, Pastor Dan (our youth pastor at the time) always says we should never say goodbye. Instead we should say 'See ya later.' Because one way or another, we're gonna see each other later." From that day forward, that became the way we parted. "See ya later, I love you."
I said this day forever changed my parenting. My kids would probably tell you I worry too much. I make them check in when they are gone, I can't sleep until they get home at night...stuff like that. Mostly though, 9/11 changed my parenting because I learned not to take my family for granted. I learned to treasure time spent with them, and to try to avoid going to bed or leaving one another angry. Have I always been perfect with this? No. Not even close. But I think 9/11 made me better because I learned the value of hope.
Today, I've decided to mark this anniversary by trusting God. Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope." Each day, as my family scatters to work and school, I am going to pray this verse and wait for the overflow.
See ya later. I love you.
It actually all started two years prior with the Columbine school shooting. My oldest, Jeremy, was in middle school then, and although it did cause me to think differently about my kids' safety at school (and pray a lot more!), I wasn't overcome by fear. Still, it was the beginning of a long process of letting go. Each day, I let them go out the door to school with the hope they would return several hours later.
Anyone will tell you, the morning of 9/11/01 began like any other. Once again, Jeremy and Kelsey went off to school, Dan went to work, and I was at home with my preschooler, Emma. For some unknown reason, I had the TV on, which I almost never did. (Oddly enough, that happened to me one other time: the day the Space Shuttle exploded.) I was in the bedroom folding laundry when the first news reports came filtering in. At first, it seemed it was a horrible accident, but it quickly became apparent that something else was going on.
When the second building was hit, it was as if that plane had flown right into my heart. There was a gaping hole that was overflowing with emotion. My immediate thought was, "We are at war! Someone is attacking the United States!" I thought of old war movies with bombings and chaos, and wondered if that was how life was going to be from now on. I watched in horror as people jumped from the burning towers and people on the street ran from the debris. Growing up in the Cold War, I suddenly questioned why we had done away with bomb shelters. What should I do? Should I take my little one and go to the basement? Fear, anger, and grief gripped me as I realized my family was scattered in the midst of all this.
Then it hit me hard. I might never see my husband or two children on this earth again.
I went to my knees and prayed to the God of hope.
I was relieved to discover the phones were working and talked to Dan about what was going on. I was extremely concerned for Kelsey. She was in elementary school, and when I called there, they said the kids were huddled around the television just like everyone else. She was my sensitive girl, and I wasn't sure if she could handle it. The school told parents they could pick up their children if they wanted but reassured us they were doing fine. All I knew was, I wanted my family home. Together.
Dan went to the school to see if Kelsey wanted to come home, but she said she was fine and stayed. I had to endure hours before everyone was finally back at home. My heart was so heavy all day for those who lost loved ones. The attacks had stopped, so I worried less. But like everyone else, I wondered when or if it would happen again.
The next day, I had to send them all out the door again. It was different this time. My level of trust they would return safely was at an all time low. And I remember this clearly...Jeremy said, "Mom, Pastor Dan (our youth pastor at the time) always says we should never say goodbye. Instead we should say 'See ya later.' Because one way or another, we're gonna see each other later." From that day forward, that became the way we parted. "See ya later, I love you."
I said this day forever changed my parenting. My kids would probably tell you I worry too much. I make them check in when they are gone, I can't sleep until they get home at night...stuff like that. Mostly though, 9/11 changed my parenting because I learned not to take my family for granted. I learned to treasure time spent with them, and to try to avoid going to bed or leaving one another angry. Have I always been perfect with this? No. Not even close. But I think 9/11 made me better because I learned the value of hope.
Today, I've decided to mark this anniversary by trusting God. Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope." Each day, as my family scatters to work and school, I am going to pray this verse and wait for the overflow.
See ya later. I love you.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Love is blind
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone? If you live on this planet, your answer to that question should be "yes", if you're being honest. Whether it be a friend, a spouse, a co-worker or a neighbor, people are inevitably going to disappoint me at times. It's just a fact of life, and it should not surprise me when it happens. Yet, it always seems to catch me off guard, and as a result, sometimes it takes awhile to reach a place of forgiveness.
This morning, I was sorting through the remnants of those emotions from something that happened yesterday. I was over the anger, but holding on to the hurt the way a child holds on to their security blanket. As this thought passed through my brain, it became evident that I was, indeed, acting like a child.
"OK, God...I'm ready to let it go." *sigh* I stepped out on the deck to enjoy the cool, quiet morning with a cup of tea, my devotional, and my Bible. I settled into a chair and opened the devotional. The first line read like this: "I AM YOUR BEST FRIEND, as well as your King."
My mind emphasizing the first word, "I", my heart took a direct hit. Often times we refer to people or even spouses as our best friends, but the reality is, none of them could ever be best. That description belongs to my King, the lover of my soul, my friend Jesus. He is best because He will never betray me. He will never let me down. He always keeps His word. And He loved me enough to give His very life for me.
As I let those words wash over me, I picked up my Bible and found the spot where I had left off in Song of Songs. Chapter 4 starts off with Jesus saying to me, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!" Ha, yeah right, Lord. You see me both inside and out right now, and you know perfectly well that's not true.
He goes on to describe my many features in glorious fashion, which nearly set me to laughing. Then he says, "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." OK, now You're just being silly!
That's when it hit me: love is blind. Remember when you first fell in love with your spouse, how everything they did was adorable and wonderful? Remember how defensive you would get if a friend or family member pointed out some character flaw in him/her? "Love must be blind!", they would say.
When Jesus hung on the cross, suffered and died for me, He willingly took all that ugliness away. In His eyes, because of the price He paid, God sees no flaw in us. He sees us as perfect, inside and out. He's not just blowing smoke when He says we are beautiful. His love makes Him blind to our sinful nature.
Now THAT'S what I call a BFF. The only best friend I will ever need. For once, I'm glad love is blind.
This morning, I was sorting through the remnants of those emotions from something that happened yesterday. I was over the anger, but holding on to the hurt the way a child holds on to their security blanket. As this thought passed through my brain, it became evident that I was, indeed, acting like a child.
"OK, God...I'm ready to let it go." *sigh* I stepped out on the deck to enjoy the cool, quiet morning with a cup of tea, my devotional, and my Bible. I settled into a chair and opened the devotional. The first line read like this: "I AM YOUR BEST FRIEND, as well as your King."
My mind emphasizing the first word, "I", my heart took a direct hit. Often times we refer to people or even spouses as our best friends, but the reality is, none of them could ever be best. That description belongs to my King, the lover of my soul, my friend Jesus. He is best because He will never betray me. He will never let me down. He always keeps His word. And He loved me enough to give His very life for me.
As I let those words wash over me, I picked up my Bible and found the spot where I had left off in Song of Songs. Chapter 4 starts off with Jesus saying to me, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!" Ha, yeah right, Lord. You see me both inside and out right now, and you know perfectly well that's not true.
He goes on to describe my many features in glorious fashion, which nearly set me to laughing. Then he says, "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." OK, now You're just being silly!
That's when it hit me: love is blind. Remember when you first fell in love with your spouse, how everything they did was adorable and wonderful? Remember how defensive you would get if a friend or family member pointed out some character flaw in him/her? "Love must be blind!", they would say.
When Jesus hung on the cross, suffered and died for me, He willingly took all that ugliness away. In His eyes, because of the price He paid, God sees no flaw in us. He sees us as perfect, inside and out. He's not just blowing smoke when He says we are beautiful. His love makes Him blind to our sinful nature.
Now THAT'S what I call a BFF. The only best friend I will ever need. For once, I'm glad love is blind.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Sweet freedom
| Freedom...what many mothers are experiencing today, the first day of school! I'm experiencing it too, though not in the same way. The first day of school for home schoolers means MORE work, and the kids are still around! A few months ago, I blogged about the word "freedom" (read the whole post here). For weeks after that, the word kept popping up in things I read, listened to, and saw. I really wasn't sure what I was supposed to be grasping, and quite honestly, I had forgotten about it until today. I took Molly for a walk this morning. This dog has sure been good for my spiritual life! Epiphanies seem to happen most often when I'm walking her. OK, so maybe it's not so much the dog, but the fact that I pray well while we are walking. So this morning, I was praying...thanking, petitioning, and confessing. Suddenly I was overcome with the reality that I am literally uncondemnable in the eyes of God (Romans 8:1). For the first time in my life, I was able to lay hold of that truth. And then this flashed through my mind: HOW FREEING IS THAT?! To know that God sees me that way, that I am the righteousness of God, is liberating beyond measure. It radically increases my love for my Savior, and in turn, makes it easy to make Him Lord of my life. Never has serving a Master been so sweet. Freedom. Sweet freedom. |
Sunday, August 29, 2010
God, prayer, and...motorcycles?
I've had what you might call "God experiences" in my life before. Do you know what I mean? Those moments when something has happened that just HAD to be God?
I had one of those "God is real" moments today, and I'm still reeling from it (in a good way).
About a year ago, my husband Dan said he would really like to have a motorcycle again. He used to ride back in his single days, and his best friend was hoping he would get one so they could ride together. I was opposed to this idea, but not for the reason most wives are. I am not worried about his safety - I trust God with that. I was more concerned if it was the right thing to do with our money. In fact, I think I may have told him I thought it was a little bit selfish, and it just seemed like we could do better (i.e. more spiritual) things with our money. I also rattled off a bunch of practical reasons why I was opposed, but told him he should pray about it. So he did. For awhile.
Every once in awhile, Dan would bring it up again, usually in a joking manner, saying that I "wouldn't let him" get a motorcycle. I figured he had come to terms with it and had decided it wasn't the best thing after all.
This week, we had been talking about what we were going to do with some money Dan is about to receive in a settlement from an auto accident. He never mentioned a motorcycle, and it certainly never crossed my mind.
This morning, I was walking my dog before going to church. Walking a dog in our neighborhood has proven to be dangerous at times, so I've become accustomed to praying while walking. I was praying about various things, when I was suddenly struck with this thought from the Lord: "You need to tell Dan to use part of that money to buy a motorcycle."
My reaction? "No way! NO WAY, God, did You hear that? I am so NOT doing that. That is ridiculous." And in that same moment, I was reminded of a powerful story our pastor told last week about hearing a message from God and reacting the same way. Yet, I blew it off.
I went home, got ready for church, and didn't give it another thought. We went to church, worshipped, and settled in for the message from Pastor Shane. He was finishing up a series of sermons on prayer (which, by the way, you should all go listen to at the First Free website).
He ended the sermon with a story. He said it was a story about a great prayer experience. And as soon as the word "motorcycle" came out of his mouth, I knew I was in trouble.
It seems he and his wife were discussing what to do with a large tax refund they received. He really wanted to buy a motorcycle, and he asked his wife if she was ok with that. She was, and that was the plan, until his children decided they wanted to undertake an intensive program of karate, which ironically cost the same amount as the tax refund. Being an unselfish and generous father, he paid for the karate, but he told his wife he decided to pray and ask God for a motorcycle. In fact, not just any motorcycle, but a Harley Davidson.
He prayed every day for a few months, but then he felt God telling him he was done praying about it. He interpreted that as God saying no to the motorcycle, so he stopped praying about it.
(Let me interrupt the story to say, at this point, my knees started trembling. I KNEW how the story was going to end, and I could almost HEAR God laughing heartily about how He answered my husband's prayer.)
A few weeks later, one Sunday after the worship service, a burly biker approached Pastor Shane and asked him if he was familiar with the passage of Scripture in which Jesus says if you have two robes, you should share one with your brother. Shane confirmed that he knew the passage, and this gentleman shared how he had two motorcycles, and he believed he was supposed to share one with his brother. He asked God which brother, and God told him it was Shane. The biker asked Shane if he knew anything about that, to which Shane shouted "YES! God is real, and He likes me!" Oh, and for the record, the motorcycle...yep, it was a Harley.
The service quickly ended after the story, but I almost couldn't get out of my chair. I was pretty freaked out that God spoke to me through someone else like that! I was shaking from head to toe, but managed to get myself out of the building and into the car. At that point, I turned to Dan and said, "I just want to know one thing. Have you been praying for a motorcycle?" He laughed and said, "Not for a long time now." Then I told him what happened, and I said, "Now you HAVE to get a motorcycle! I'm not going to get in trouble with God!"
I'm still in awe and wonder that the God of the universe not only answered my husband's prayer, but set me straight in a delightfully wonderful and personal way. What a great story we will have to tell about that motorcycle!
Does that mean if I pray for something, I will always receive it? Not if it isn't in my best interest, which is God's will for my life. But somehow I think I will do more asking than I have in the past, even for things that might not seem all that "spiritual". Why? Because God can work wonders through anything, including motorcycles.
I had one of those "God is real" moments today, and I'm still reeling from it (in a good way).
About a year ago, my husband Dan said he would really like to have a motorcycle again. He used to ride back in his single days, and his best friend was hoping he would get one so they could ride together. I was opposed to this idea, but not for the reason most wives are. I am not worried about his safety - I trust God with that. I was more concerned if it was the right thing to do with our money. In fact, I think I may have told him I thought it was a little bit selfish, and it just seemed like we could do better (i.e. more spiritual) things with our money. I also rattled off a bunch of practical reasons why I was opposed, but told him he should pray about it. So he did. For awhile.
Every once in awhile, Dan would bring it up again, usually in a joking manner, saying that I "wouldn't let him" get a motorcycle. I figured he had come to terms with it and had decided it wasn't the best thing after all.
This week, we had been talking about what we were going to do with some money Dan is about to receive in a settlement from an auto accident. He never mentioned a motorcycle, and it certainly never crossed my mind.
This morning, I was walking my dog before going to church. Walking a dog in our neighborhood has proven to be dangerous at times, so I've become accustomed to praying while walking. I was praying about various things, when I was suddenly struck with this thought from the Lord: "You need to tell Dan to use part of that money to buy a motorcycle."
My reaction? "No way! NO WAY, God, did You hear that? I am so NOT doing that. That is ridiculous." And in that same moment, I was reminded of a powerful story our pastor told last week about hearing a message from God and reacting the same way. Yet, I blew it off.
I went home, got ready for church, and didn't give it another thought. We went to church, worshipped, and settled in for the message from Pastor Shane. He was finishing up a series of sermons on prayer (which, by the way, you should all go listen to at the First Free website).
He ended the sermon with a story. He said it was a story about a great prayer experience. And as soon as the word "motorcycle" came out of his mouth, I knew I was in trouble.
It seems he and his wife were discussing what to do with a large tax refund they received. He really wanted to buy a motorcycle, and he asked his wife if she was ok with that. She was, and that was the plan, until his children decided they wanted to undertake an intensive program of karate, which ironically cost the same amount as the tax refund. Being an unselfish and generous father, he paid for the karate, but he told his wife he decided to pray and ask God for a motorcycle. In fact, not just any motorcycle, but a Harley Davidson.
He prayed every day for a few months, but then he felt God telling him he was done praying about it. He interpreted that as God saying no to the motorcycle, so he stopped praying about it.
(Let me interrupt the story to say, at this point, my knees started trembling. I KNEW how the story was going to end, and I could almost HEAR God laughing heartily about how He answered my husband's prayer.)
A few weeks later, one Sunday after the worship service, a burly biker approached Pastor Shane and asked him if he was familiar with the passage of Scripture in which Jesus says if you have two robes, you should share one with your brother. Shane confirmed that he knew the passage, and this gentleman shared how he had two motorcycles, and he believed he was supposed to share one with his brother. He asked God which brother, and God told him it was Shane. The biker asked Shane if he knew anything about that, to which Shane shouted "YES! God is real, and He likes me!" Oh, and for the record, the motorcycle...yep, it was a Harley.
The service quickly ended after the story, but I almost couldn't get out of my chair. I was pretty freaked out that God spoke to me through someone else like that! I was shaking from head to toe, but managed to get myself out of the building and into the car. At that point, I turned to Dan and said, "I just want to know one thing. Have you been praying for a motorcycle?" He laughed and said, "Not for a long time now." Then I told him what happened, and I said, "Now you HAVE to get a motorcycle! I'm not going to get in trouble with God!"
I'm still in awe and wonder that the God of the universe not only answered my husband's prayer, but set me straight in a delightfully wonderful and personal way. What a great story we will have to tell about that motorcycle!
Does that mean if I pray for something, I will always receive it? Not if it isn't in my best interest, which is God's will for my life. But somehow I think I will do more asking than I have in the past, even for things that might not seem all that "spiritual". Why? Because God can work wonders through anything, including motorcycles.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
It's Saturday, and I'm in love
The house is unusually quiet this morning. It's so quiet, I can hear the second hand moving in the clock on the wall. As I sit here and wait for my tea to brew, I pick up an old love letter.
The writer says this is the song to top all songs. Now that really means something to me, being an avid music lover. Music soothes the savage beast in me when nothing else will. Music moves me to deep, emotional places and calls me to be better. I don't care much for sappy love songs (unless they are accompanied by a double entendre) but this song is anything but sap.
This song reveals a lover who wants to know me most intimately. He sees my wrinkles, scars and unattractive parts and finds me beautiful in spite of them. He says and does all the right things. He calls me beautiful and exciting.
As I read and reread the letter, I wonder, "Why did I ever let him go?" I've reconciled with him over and over again; he takes me back every time. He endures my fickle heart and receives me with unbridled passion every time. What a cruel lover I am.
I am back in his arms this morning. Oh, that I will stay for good this time! Jesus, I will try not to run away this time. I will try to let you know me in the deepest parts and not be afraid. And thank you for the song, more wonderful than any other.
The writer says this is the song to top all songs. Now that really means something to me, being an avid music lover. Music soothes the savage beast in me when nothing else will. Music moves me to deep, emotional places and calls me to be better. I don't care much for sappy love songs (unless they are accompanied by a double entendre) but this song is anything but sap.
This song reveals a lover who wants to know me most intimately. He sees my wrinkles, scars and unattractive parts and finds me beautiful in spite of them. He says and does all the right things. He calls me beautiful and exciting.
As I read and reread the letter, I wonder, "Why did I ever let him go?" I've reconciled with him over and over again; he takes me back every time. He endures my fickle heart and receives me with unbridled passion every time. What a cruel lover I am.
I am back in his arms this morning. Oh, that I will stay for good this time! Jesus, I will try not to run away this time. I will try to let you know me in the deepest parts and not be afraid. And thank you for the song, more wonderful than any other.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Do people identify me correctly?
A recent poll conducted by Pew Research found the number of Americans who believe that President Obama is a Muslim has increased significantly since his inauguration and now accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation's population. (Washington Post article)
President Obama claims to be a Christian. So why does one-fifth of the population not believe him? In the article, the president's faith advisor (not sure what that job is exactly) said Obama's Christian faith plays an "important part" in his daily life. He then referred to six speeches in which Obama talked about his beliefs. Hmmmm. Well, we can all talk a good game, can't we?
Yes, we can say we are Christian. We can attend church publicly every week. We can be charitable with donations and maybe, if we're really brave, bow our heads to pray before a meal in a restaurant. Does that mean people are buying it? Apparently not.
This article caused me to pause and self-reflect. Most people know that I claim to be a Christian. I wonder what the numbers would say if I were to poll a significant amount of my acquaintances. Am I talking the talk without walking the walk? Do my actions bear witness to the world that I am a follower of Christ?
Proverbs 27:19 says, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Dear Jesus, I pray that today, and every day, my heart might reflect the Man living in me...You.
President Obama claims to be a Christian. So why does one-fifth of the population not believe him? In the article, the president's faith advisor (not sure what that job is exactly) said Obama's Christian faith plays an "important part" in his daily life. He then referred to six speeches in which Obama talked about his beliefs. Hmmmm. Well, we can all talk a good game, can't we?
Yes, we can say we are Christian. We can attend church publicly every week. We can be charitable with donations and maybe, if we're really brave, bow our heads to pray before a meal in a restaurant. Does that mean people are buying it? Apparently not.
This article caused me to pause and self-reflect. Most people know that I claim to be a Christian. I wonder what the numbers would say if I were to poll a significant amount of my acquaintances. Am I talking the talk without walking the walk? Do my actions bear witness to the world that I am a follower of Christ?
Proverbs 27:19 says, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Dear Jesus, I pray that today, and every day, my heart might reflect the Man living in me...You.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Created things and worship
On this adventurous journey called life, I've recently been led down a path of learning. I'm learning things I thought I already knew, which is a good lesson in itself.
I'm learning a lot about worship. I'm not talking about standing in church and singing songs of praise (though that clearly can be a form of worship). I'm talking about the worship Jesus described to the Samaritan woman at the well, worshipping in spirit and in truth. I'm talking about the kind of worship Paul described in Romans, spiritual acts of worship with our bodies.
I've been spending some time this week in Winona, MN. Winona is a beautiful city situated between the bluffs and the Mississippi River. There is a beautiful park by a lake, which faces the bluffs. It's one of my favorite places to hang out, and one of those special places where I sense God's presence.
Today I committed to spending one hour in silence at this park to hear from God and write down whatever came to my mind. Here is part of what I recorded today:
The lake is a place of worship. Everything here worships God. The wildflowers bow down before His majesty. Tree branches and waves dance to the music of the wind. The birds sing under the care of their God.
People come here to refresh body and mind in the presence of His created beauty. They may think of this place as an escape, but I prefer to see it as a place to run to.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
I watch the ducks on the water and ponder how similar we are. To most people, I probably appear to be calm and in control. In reality, I’m paddling like a maniac to keep my head above water. Thankfully, like the duck, my Father cares for me. He loves me with an undeniable, reckless, faithful kind of love. He keeps me afloat.
What can keep me from worshipping Him with all my heart, mind, and strength? Only me. Oh sure, I can blame people and demons, but the truth is, it’s only me that gets in the way. My selfish spirit, my narcissistic focus, my sinful nature. The old me.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)
I'm learning a lot about worship. I'm not talking about standing in church and singing songs of praise (though that clearly can be a form of worship). I'm talking about the worship Jesus described to the Samaritan woman at the well, worshipping in spirit and in truth. I'm talking about the kind of worship Paul described in Romans, spiritual acts of worship with our bodies.
I've been spending some time this week in Winona, MN. Winona is a beautiful city situated between the bluffs and the Mississippi River. There is a beautiful park by a lake, which faces the bluffs. It's one of my favorite places to hang out, and one of those special places where I sense God's presence.
Today I committed to spending one hour in silence at this park to hear from God and write down whatever came to my mind. Here is part of what I recorded today:
The lake is a place of worship. Everything here worships God. The wildflowers bow down before His majesty. Tree branches and waves dance to the music of the wind. The birds sing under the care of their God.
People come here to refresh body and mind in the presence of His created beauty. They may think of this place as an escape, but I prefer to see it as a place to run to.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
I watch the ducks on the water and ponder how similar we are. To most people, I probably appear to be calm and in control. In reality, I’m paddling like a maniac to keep my head above water. Thankfully, like the duck, my Father cares for me. He loves me with an undeniable, reckless, faithful kind of love. He keeps me afloat.
What can keep me from worshipping Him with all my heart, mind, and strength? Only me. Oh sure, I can blame people and demons, but the truth is, it’s only me that gets in the way. My selfish spirit, my narcissistic focus, my sinful nature. The old me.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
God's faithfulness never disappoints
Funny how art imitates life. Tonight I was watching an episode of "Frasier." The main character, Frasier Crane, talked about how you not only love your children, but you fall in love with your children. How true.
And you don't even realize how much you are in love with your children until they leave you. I remember Jeremy moving away to go to college. I dreaded the summer weeks when Kelsey would leave for camp. And this week, Emma is spending time with her grandmother. Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder.
Remember how, when you were in love with someone, you wanted nothing more than for them to be happy? How you loved to make them smile? Emma sent me a picture message tonight, via the cell phone, of her smiling. How could I ask for anything more in life? :)
I remember this summer just three years ago. My father had passed away a few months before, as well as a beloved aunt and uncle and a nephew. My dog, just 4 years old, was sick with terminal cancer. No one in this house was smiling. I clung to this Scripture with all my heart: "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring up." (Psalm 71:20)
Tonight was a reminder of the faithfulness of God. He has restored my life from the depths. "I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed." (Psalm 71:22-23)
And you don't even realize how much you are in love with your children until they leave you. I remember Jeremy moving away to go to college. I dreaded the summer weeks when Kelsey would leave for camp. And this week, Emma is spending time with her grandmother. Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder.
Remember how, when you were in love with someone, you wanted nothing more than for them to be happy? How you loved to make them smile? Emma sent me a picture message tonight, via the cell phone, of her smiling. How could I ask for anything more in life? :)
I remember this summer just three years ago. My father had passed away a few months before, as well as a beloved aunt and uncle and a nephew. My dog, just 4 years old, was sick with terminal cancer. No one in this house was smiling. I clung to this Scripture with all my heart: "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring up." (Psalm 71:20)
Tonight was a reminder of the faithfulness of God. He has restored my life from the depths. "I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed." (Psalm 71:22-23)
Thursday, July 01, 2010
At least I'm not crazy
It started with a devotional in the morning:
"I am life and light in abundance. As you spend time "soaking" in My Presence, you are energized and lightened. Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders. By gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life. This time alone with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you. Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. " (from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young)
A little later, during a beautiful morning walk with the dog, I began meditating on a time in my life when God saved me from a dangerous, tempting situation, one I had placed myself in. I began to recall other times in my life when God had rescued me and protected me from consequences I should have suffered. I was in awe of His mercy.
Then I began to wonder at the things He has given me that I do not deserve. Family, friends, health, generous provision of every sort. I earned none of it, and in light of my previous thoughts, I deserved the opposite. I was in the grasp of His love, and there is no better place to be.
I went about my day and my to-do list, and as the day wore on, frustrations began to mount. People and computers and animals...none of them were conforming to the plans I had for my day. I found myself snapping unfairly at loved ones, when words from the devotional floated back into my brain: "transfer your heavy burdens", "unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day", "be willing to fight for this".
Looking at my never-ending list of chores, it seemed crazy to take more time away from work. Nothing would ever get done! But I decided to fight. I found the only sure room in the house to be quiet (bathroom) and hid myself away. I began to pray and pour out all my irritations and worries, and I was amazed at how many there were! No wonder my mind was so muddled and unable to accomplish anything! When I had finished, I didn't have any answers. I felt better though. Yet, I was still not ready to go "back out there."
I reached over and picked up one of my favorite books, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, which I'm reading for the third time. I picked up where I had left off, and this is what it said: "If one person "wastes" away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?"
If anyone in my family happened to be walking past the bathroom at that point, they heard me laugh out loud. As if I hadn't realized the fullness of His love that morning, I was now being treated to a combination of blessing and humor from the God of the universe. We will always be blessed by coming into His presence.
God, thank you! At least I know I'm not crazy!
"I am life and light in abundance. As you spend time "soaking" in My Presence, you are energized and lightened. Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders. By gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life. This time alone with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you. Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. " (from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young)
A little later, during a beautiful morning walk with the dog, I began meditating on a time in my life when God saved me from a dangerous, tempting situation, one I had placed myself in. I began to recall other times in my life when God had rescued me and protected me from consequences I should have suffered. I was in awe of His mercy.
Then I began to wonder at the things He has given me that I do not deserve. Family, friends, health, generous provision of every sort. I earned none of it, and in light of my previous thoughts, I deserved the opposite. I was in the grasp of His love, and there is no better place to be.
I went about my day and my to-do list, and as the day wore on, frustrations began to mount. People and computers and animals...none of them were conforming to the plans I had for my day. I found myself snapping unfairly at loved ones, when words from the devotional floated back into my brain: "transfer your heavy burdens", "unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day", "be willing to fight for this".
Looking at my never-ending list of chores, it seemed crazy to take more time away from work. Nothing would ever get done! But I decided to fight. I found the only sure room in the house to be quiet (bathroom) and hid myself away. I began to pray and pour out all my irritations and worries, and I was amazed at how many there were! No wonder my mind was so muddled and unable to accomplish anything! When I had finished, I didn't have any answers. I felt better though. Yet, I was still not ready to go "back out there."
I reached over and picked up one of my favorite books, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, which I'm reading for the third time. I picked up where I had left off, and this is what it said: "If one person "wastes" away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?"
If anyone in my family happened to be walking past the bathroom at that point, they heard me laugh out loud. As if I hadn't realized the fullness of His love that morning, I was now being treated to a combination of blessing and humor from the God of the universe. We will always be blessed by coming into His presence.
God, thank you! At least I know I'm not crazy!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Do my contributions to the world matter?
“I listened to Skillet during my run this morning,” Dan said. “But they just don’t do it for me anymore.”
A discussion about music, and my husband’s comment in particular, got my wheels turning about the contributions we make to the world while we are here. At first, I was a little offended for Skillet. I mean, they are a great band whose songs have impacted me at times in the last several years.
Then it occurred to me that most songs have a season in my life. They have meaning because of what I’m experiencing at the time. I can listen to them years later and still enjoy them but not be as affected by them.
I thought, “How depressing for music artists! They present these songs out of their own passion, and think of how few continue to move people for decades, years or even months?”
This led me to think about my own shared gifts. People have told me they were influenced by things I wrote, but I never stopped to think how long that influence lasts. It is most likely short-lived.
Does it matter? Should we stop producing because there’s no longevity to it?
Consider the farmer. He labors over his fields, tending to them with care and passion, just as artists pour themselves into a song or a painting. After weeks or months of hard work, he produces a crop which is then consumed, and his influence lasted minutes, at best. And yet that influence was crucial; it was necessary nutrition.
As artists, I think we should view our work like that of a farmer. We produce a crop, and it is consumed. Some will enjoy it; some will not. Some will be fed with nutrients for their soul. Or maybe it was intended for just one person. Either way, it is life-giving and important, if only for a short season.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday Morning: A God Adventure
| I had two choices yesterday morning. One was to go to church, as I always do on Sunday mornings. And that is precisely what I wanted to do. We have a fabulous new preacher whose messages have been powerful for me lately. I didn't want to miss that! However, my best friend was participating in her first triathlon, and she had invited me to watch. I knew she wanted me to be there, so I started praying about where God wanted me to be. When the alarm went off in the morning, I did NOT want to get up. I was bone tired, yet I could not go back to sleep. Something (or more likely Someone) was nagging me to get up. So I got up and got ready, but I was moving slowly. I had aimed to get out the door by 6:45, but it was almost 7 when I did. Heading down the road, I realized I forgot my coffee at home...catastrophe! So I took a slight detour to McDonald's to grab some much needed caffeine. One of my daughter's friends was working the drive thru window. No one was behind me - not very many people up at that hour on Sundays, I guess - so we had to chat for a bit. I was already running late, and it now appeared doubtful that I would get there before the start time. I recently burned copies of our new pastor's sermons on CDs, so I popped one in on the way. My spirits were lifted by the time I arrived, only to find I would have to park at least 1/2 mile away, and it was raining. It was almost 7:30, and I knew if I ran to the park, I *might* get to see my friend before she got in the water. I prayed again for direction and felt compelled to sit in the car and listen to the rest of the sermon. So I did, which took about 10 minutes, and by then the rain had stopped. I made my way to the park, thinking it would be impossible for me to find anyone I knew in the crowd of people, and dreading the thought of watching alone. God took care of it. The first people I saw were my friend's daughters and in-laws. I enjoyed their company, and we had a lot of fun cheering and entertaining ourselves. Shortly after we got there, my friend came out of the water. She lit up when she saw me, and immediately I was glad I went. When she had finished the triathlon, she hugged me and started crying. She said it meant so much to her that I came. I apologized for not being there before it started, and she said, "Oh, I'm so glad you weren't! I was so emotional, I would have bawled if I saw you!" God knew. By the time I got back to my car, I thought I might still be able to make it to church. I would probably be a little late, but I could slip in and stand in the back, and still hear the sermon at least. I don't know why, but my car didn't head that direction. I pulled out of my parking spot and was mentally thinking, I have to turn around to go back the way I came. But for some weird reason, I didn't. I started heading out of town on a road I didn't know. It just looked really pretty, and I thought, well maybe I'll just take an exploratory drive. Now, you have to understand, this is SO not me. I have no sense of direction, I did not have a GPS or a map, and I had no clue where this road was going to take me. This is terribly uncharacteristic of me, and I'm still a little surprised at myself. I popped in another sermon and drove. I was ridiculously rewarded by the view. Stunning. Weaving through the hills, there were gorgeous views on every side of me. I started winding up one very high hill with tight turns and steep inclines. I had no idea where I was going, but I was sure enjoying the ride. At the top of the hill, the road narrowed to a very tight spot between basically two walls of rock. It was really cool but a little scary! At that moment, I recalled hearing something about a place called the Mindoro Cut. Apparently that's where I was because eventually I ended up in Mindoro. There I saw a sign for County Road D. I thought, hmmmm, I'm not sure, but I think County Road D goes into Holmen. I turned onto it and was soon on familiar roads. I pulled into my driveway just as the second sermon was ending on my CD player. I had read a devotional that morning before leaving home. It was about joy, particularly the joy found in His presence. I figured that meant I was supposed to go to church. Obviously, I enjoyed His presence everywhere else I went. I'm not quite sure how to describe how He directed me, or maybe it was that I wasn't trying so hard but just going with the flow. The word "freedom" kept popping into my head on the drive. Not sure what I'm learning right now, really, but I have to say, the morning was a great adventure. |
Thursday, June 10, 2010
I'm baaaaaack!
Obviously I haven't blogged for QUITE awhile, but I'm hoping with a renewed focus (accompanied by a schedule and people to hold me accountable to it), I can write here more often. I won't promise every day, since I'm also continuing to blog at PARENtEEN.
Today's topic: Acting Our Age
The Bible instructs us to have faith like a child.
Recent observations of women, including myself, reveals most of us acting like children, rather than exhibiting childlike faith. When we don't get our way, we whine and cry and stomp off to complain to the first person who will listen. Figuratively, we cross our arms and pout, effectively shutting out any real work God could do in our situation.
Why is our first instinct always to throw up our hands in despair? Why do we take our anxieties to Facebook before taking them to the Throne of the One who is willing to work things out for our good?
One of Job's friends rightly asked, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7) Certainly God is more than capable of handling our puny little problems.
The only reasonable conclusion I am able to come to is that we simply don't trust God, and trust is the cornerstone of childlike faith.
I don't have any answers about how to turn my temper tantrums into moving mountains, so for now, I'll just be thankful for a patient, gentle Father who loves me unconditionally. But if any of you have wisdom to share, let's hear it!
Today's topic: Acting Our Age
The Bible instructs us to have faith like a child.
Recent observations of women, including myself, reveals most of us acting like children, rather than exhibiting childlike faith. When we don't get our way, we whine and cry and stomp off to complain to the first person who will listen. Figuratively, we cross our arms and pout, effectively shutting out any real work God could do in our situation.
Why is our first instinct always to throw up our hands in despair? Why do we take our anxieties to Facebook before taking them to the Throne of the One who is willing to work things out for our good?
One of Job's friends rightly asked, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7) Certainly God is more than capable of handling our puny little problems.
The only reasonable conclusion I am able to come to is that we simply don't trust God, and trust is the cornerstone of childlike faith.
I don't have any answers about how to turn my temper tantrums into moving mountains, so for now, I'll just be thankful for a patient, gentle Father who loves me unconditionally. But if any of you have wisdom to share, let's hear it!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Living a centered life - Part 2
Day 2 of Forest Lakes Districts Youth Conference in Green Bay began with a total of 6 hours of sleep behind me. Woo hoo! That's actually a lot based on my experiences in prior years. I was blessed with a lovely trio of girls in my room, who unselfishly gave me a bed to myself and respected my wish for lights off at 1 a.m.
I also had a great group of young ladies in my small group. Sometimes it can be difficult to get middle school girls to discuss things beyond the superficial, but these girls seem to have a real desire to live for Christ. They are also honest about their struggles and want to know how to change. Not the norm in middle school girl world, so I'm excited to see this.
Another rally kicked off the morning with gut-busting laughter courtesy of comedian Daren Streblow. I highly recommend you check out his videos on YouTube. The guy is not only funny but incredibly nice. I saw him hanging out and talking to kids all weekend.
We heard another great message from Bill Allison about making Jesus the center of our lives, not just a piece. He drew a pie chart with a circle in the middle, and wrote Jesus inside the circle. The other "slices" were things like school, friends, work, sports, etc. When Jesus is in the center, we can then allow Him to influence every area of our lives. He also taught us (with actions) Colossians 3:23, which was the centerpiece verse for the weekend. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." He called it living the C323 life, and he illustrated how this looks with examples from playing football or volleyball. Working at whatever we do full throttle, but doing it for the glory of God, not the glory of man.
The afternoon began with a middle school rally, complete with a HIGH energy worship (never seen middle schoolers worship that way before! Wow!) and a "So You Think You Can Dance" contest. The comedian was one of the judges, so you can imagine the entertainment value. One of my girls, Nora, was chosen to compete in the dance competition. She didn't win, but she represented well!
Saturday afternoon offered a number of options for the kids. Some attended workshops, many went to the mall, and I imagine a couple took a nap. Kelsey and I spent some time in the booth, talking to kids and handing out more clothespins.
Saturday night was the "main event", so to speak. Bill Allison shared his personal testimony, which included a story about nearly being murdered at the age of 7, along with his mother and sister, by his alcoholic stepfather. Through a series of incredible events that could only have been orchestrated by a mighty and loving God, his mother became a believer. But I think it was his own moment of salvation in high school that really connected with the kids. He had been attending church with his mother but had this notion that you didn't really become a Christian until you were an adult. He believed that because he didn't know of any other Christians his age. One day in school, again through an almost eery chain of events, he encountered two young men (although through his description, sounded a lot like angels to me) who delivered the message of the Gospel and led him to salvation in Christ.
He went on to share of nearly giving up on his faith - twice. Both times, God pulled him back in the most extraordinary ways. He shared how God had broken the curse of alcoholism that had been in his family for generations. Not only was he the first in his family to graduate high school and college, he became an English teacher, then a youth pastor, and is now a missionary (and he joked about having all those high-paying jobs). :)
After sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he asked all the youth leaders in the room to stand. He told the kids they have no idea how much these people love them and sacrifice just to be with them. He then asked that any wanted to give their lives to Christ for the first time to go to one of their leaders and pray with them. I had the privilege of praying with two young ladies, one from my small group.
Then he asked that anyone who was already a believer but wanted to commit themselves to living a centered life to stand. Nearly the entire room stood. Wow. Over 3200 young people across the state of Wisconsin are now striving to live full out for God. I dare say we will see from fruit from that!
As we went into worship in song to celebrate, I glanced over and saw my daughter, Emma. She was in tears. She looked at me and walked over to where I was. She asked if we could talk in the hall. When we got out there, she hugged me and began to weep. I asked if she was OK. She replied, "Yes, I'm just so happy! For the first time in my life, I really know God is real, and He is here!" Then she said there was something else. "I think God is calling me to be a missionary!" Another 'wow' moment for me. She was so excited, she was ready to get on a plane for Panama right then. I encouraged to start with our neighborhood as her first mission field, and we'll take it from there.
As the evening wound down, I felt the effects of the day: a physically exhausted body and mind, but a spirit that was still celebrating. After tending to some girl drama, I returned to my "rock-starred" room, found my pillow, and passed out. Ah, God is good.
I also had a great group of young ladies in my small group. Sometimes it can be difficult to get middle school girls to discuss things beyond the superficial, but these girls seem to have a real desire to live for Christ. They are also honest about their struggles and want to know how to change. Not the norm in middle school girl world, so I'm excited to see this.
Another rally kicked off the morning with gut-busting laughter courtesy of comedian Daren Streblow. I highly recommend you check out his videos on YouTube. The guy is not only funny but incredibly nice. I saw him hanging out and talking to kids all weekend.
We heard another great message from Bill Allison about making Jesus the center of our lives, not just a piece. He drew a pie chart with a circle in the middle, and wrote Jesus inside the circle. The other "slices" were things like school, friends, work, sports, etc. When Jesus is in the center, we can then allow Him to influence every area of our lives. He also taught us (with actions) Colossians 3:23, which was the centerpiece verse for the weekend. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." He called it living the C323 life, and he illustrated how this looks with examples from playing football or volleyball. Working at whatever we do full throttle, but doing it for the glory of God, not the glory of man.
The afternoon began with a middle school rally, complete with a HIGH energy worship (never seen middle schoolers worship that way before! Wow!) and a "So You Think You Can Dance" contest. The comedian was one of the judges, so you can imagine the entertainment value. One of my girls, Nora, was chosen to compete in the dance competition. She didn't win, but she represented well!
Saturday afternoon offered a number of options for the kids. Some attended workshops, many went to the mall, and I imagine a couple took a nap. Kelsey and I spent some time in the booth, talking to kids and handing out more clothespins.
Saturday night was the "main event", so to speak. Bill Allison shared his personal testimony, which included a story about nearly being murdered at the age of 7, along with his mother and sister, by his alcoholic stepfather. Through a series of incredible events that could only have been orchestrated by a mighty and loving God, his mother became a believer. But I think it was his own moment of salvation in high school that really connected with the kids. He had been attending church with his mother but had this notion that you didn't really become a Christian until you were an adult. He believed that because he didn't know of any other Christians his age. One day in school, again through an almost eery chain of events, he encountered two young men (although through his description, sounded a lot like angels to me) who delivered the message of the Gospel and led him to salvation in Christ.
He went on to share of nearly giving up on his faith - twice. Both times, God pulled him back in the most extraordinary ways. He shared how God had broken the curse of alcoholism that had been in his family for generations. Not only was he the first in his family to graduate high school and college, he became an English teacher, then a youth pastor, and is now a missionary (and he joked about having all those high-paying jobs). :)
After sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he asked all the youth leaders in the room to stand. He told the kids they have no idea how much these people love them and sacrifice just to be with them. He then asked that any wanted to give their lives to Christ for the first time to go to one of their leaders and pray with them. I had the privilege of praying with two young ladies, one from my small group.
Then he asked that anyone who was already a believer but wanted to commit themselves to living a centered life to stand. Nearly the entire room stood. Wow. Over 3200 young people across the state of Wisconsin are now striving to live full out for God. I dare say we will see from fruit from that!
As we went into worship in song to celebrate, I glanced over and saw my daughter, Emma. She was in tears. She looked at me and walked over to where I was. She asked if we could talk in the hall. When we got out there, she hugged me and began to weep. I asked if she was OK. She replied, "Yes, I'm just so happy! For the first time in my life, I really know God is real, and He is here!" Then she said there was something else. "I think God is calling me to be a missionary!" Another 'wow' moment for me. She was so excited, she was ready to get on a plane for Panama right then. I encouraged to start with our neighborhood as her first mission field, and we'll take it from there.
As the evening wound down, I felt the effects of the day: a physically exhausted body and mind, but a spirit that was still celebrating. After tending to some girl drama, I returned to my "rock-starred" room, found my pillow, and passed out. Ah, God is good.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Living a centered life - Part 1
I spent the past weekend at a youth conference in Green Bay with 3200 middle school and high school students. I've been to many similar conferences over the years, and they are always well worth the price I pay in sleep deprivation and exhaustion!
This year was no exception. I believe every adult should experience worship in such a setting at least once in their lives! The energy, the obvious presence of the Lord, and the sweet spirit of kinship among young people is really unique. It's really difficult to describe. If you ever get a chance to be a part of something like that, don't miss out.
I started journaling the first day I was there, deciding I would blog the experience in three parts. So here we go - day one:
Getting here was not easy. The past week has been filled with spiritual attacks - interrupted sleep due to a variety of unusual reasons, a sick dog, recurring sickness of my own, an exploding kitchen sink (yes, I said exploding), and a snowstorm which threatened travel plans. I sensed the enemy did not want me to go, which (to me) meant God was about to do great and mighty things. The attacks actually served to solidify my resolve to go, so I called in all my prayer warriors. After a brief delay Friday morning, we headed out for Green Bay. Thank you, prayer warriors - the roads were dry as a bone!
Upon arrival to the convention center, we found our booth and quickly set things up. I was surprised to find we had been given a booth in an excellent location. I expected to be stuck in a corner somewhere, since they were providing the booth for free! The director of the conference came by and introduced himself, giving me an opportunity to gush some words of thanks. He seemed excited that we were there, and that was encouraging.
After the First Free bus arrived with the rest of the kids and leaders, there was no time to relax. I was immediately met by several girls who wanted to switch rooms. Unfortunately I had to tell them "no", since we (leaders) had determined to not allow any switching, and instead rely on God's providence in placing them in the rooms they were in. I hated that my first words to them were negative, but they seemed to get over it quickly enough.
Following the chaos of checking into rooms, we headed back to the convention center. The booth was already surrounded by enthusiastic kids, all anxious to get these crazy clothespins we had designed. The clothespins had the website for our book's blog on one side, and we had written "Don't Freak Out!" on the other side (the name of the book). We had gotten the idea for the clothespins as a promotional tool from a band we met at Sonshine last summer. We had optimistically made 1700 of them, assuming we would have plenty left over to use in other places. Wrong! The clothespins became the hot item of the conference. All the kids wanted them, and they loved trying to sneak them on other people. They found the most creative way to wear them, too. Everywhere you went all weekend, you would see people with clothespins attached in various places. We ended up having to ration them in order to have enough for the whole weekend.
Before the night's first rally, I checked on all of the girls in my small group. We dealt with a lost wallet, improper swimwear, headaches, tiredness and homesickness. And yes, we had only been there a few hours! My thought was, "Wait a minute. Why did I agree to do this?" :)
The rally was thought-provoking and high energy. Rockin' worship with Floodgate Alive and an inspiring (and funny) message from Bill Allison. He defined what it means to live a centered life. The Scripture was Mark 12:28-31, Jesus' response to the question about the greatest commandment. Bill talked about how it is easier for us to love God than it is to love others, but that the Christian walk must include both. Loving God is the vertical line in the cross, loving people is the horizontal.
In our small group later, we all agreed that it is definitely easier to love God than others. I asked the girls to think of the most annoying person in their lives right now, and to think of some way to show love to that person next week. Then I asked them how they could love one another in their room tonight, knowing full well there would otherwise be arguments over bathroom time, sleeping arrangements, and temperature controls.
That was as much as I could get out of my girls for the night. They were far too wound up (and sugared up), and their main goal for the evening was to go back to the convention center to listen to a band. Fortunately, they were back in their rooms on time, so I knew I had some responsible girls. Of course, they had to tell me how cute the guys were in the band. *sigh*
The girls in my room graciously gave me a bed all to myself, which may have been due to the fact that I warned them about my snoring. Either way, I am thankful. Good night.
This year was no exception. I believe every adult should experience worship in such a setting at least once in their lives! The energy, the obvious presence of the Lord, and the sweet spirit of kinship among young people is really unique. It's really difficult to describe. If you ever get a chance to be a part of something like that, don't miss out.
I started journaling the first day I was there, deciding I would blog the experience in three parts. So here we go - day one:
Getting here was not easy. The past week has been filled with spiritual attacks - interrupted sleep due to a variety of unusual reasons, a sick dog, recurring sickness of my own, an exploding kitchen sink (yes, I said exploding), and a snowstorm which threatened travel plans. I sensed the enemy did not want me to go, which (to me) meant God was about to do great and mighty things. The attacks actually served to solidify my resolve to go, so I called in all my prayer warriors. After a brief delay Friday morning, we headed out for Green Bay. Thank you, prayer warriors - the roads were dry as a bone!
Upon arrival to the convention center, we found our booth and quickly set things up. I was surprised to find we had been given a booth in an excellent location. I expected to be stuck in a corner somewhere, since they were providing the booth for free! The director of the conference came by and introduced himself, giving me an opportunity to gush some words of thanks. He seemed excited that we were there, and that was encouraging.
After the First Free bus arrived with the rest of the kids and leaders, there was no time to relax. I was immediately met by several girls who wanted to switch rooms. Unfortunately I had to tell them "no", since we (leaders) had determined to not allow any switching, and instead rely on God's providence in placing them in the rooms they were in. I hated that my first words to them were negative, but they seemed to get over it quickly enough.
Following the chaos of checking into rooms, we headed back to the convention center. The booth was already surrounded by enthusiastic kids, all anxious to get these crazy clothespins we had designed. The clothespins had the website for our book's blog on one side, and we had written "Don't Freak Out!" on the other side (the name of the book). We had gotten the idea for the clothespins as a promotional tool from a band we met at Sonshine last summer. We had optimistically made 1700 of them, assuming we would have plenty left over to use in other places. Wrong! The clothespins became the hot item of the conference. All the kids wanted them, and they loved trying to sneak them on other people. They found the most creative way to wear them, too. Everywhere you went all weekend, you would see people with clothespins attached in various places. We ended up having to ration them in order to have enough for the whole weekend.
Before the night's first rally, I checked on all of the girls in my small group. We dealt with a lost wallet, improper swimwear, headaches, tiredness and homesickness. And yes, we had only been there a few hours! My thought was, "Wait a minute. Why did I agree to do this?" :)
The rally was thought-provoking and high energy. Rockin' worship with Floodgate Alive and an inspiring (and funny) message from Bill Allison. He defined what it means to live a centered life. The Scripture was Mark 12:28-31, Jesus' response to the question about the greatest commandment. Bill talked about how it is easier for us to love God than it is to love others, but that the Christian walk must include both. Loving God is the vertical line in the cross, loving people is the horizontal.
In our small group later, we all agreed that it is definitely easier to love God than others. I asked the girls to think of the most annoying person in their lives right now, and to think of some way to show love to that person next week. Then I asked them how they could love one another in their room tonight, knowing full well there would otherwise be arguments over bathroom time, sleeping arrangements, and temperature controls.
That was as much as I could get out of my girls for the night. They were far too wound up (and sugared up), and their main goal for the evening was to go back to the convention center to listen to a band. Fortunately, they were back in their rooms on time, so I knew I had some responsible girls. Of course, they had to tell me how cute the guys were in the band. *sigh*
The girls in my room graciously gave me a bed all to myself, which may have been due to the fact that I warned them about my snoring. Either way, I am thankful. Good night.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Snow: A Different Perspective
If you are like many people here in the upper Midwest, you are a little sick of snow right now. I am often teased about my love of snow, but I offer that it's all in the way you look at it. Below is a little devo I wrote last year about this time. I hope it gives you a fresh perspective as the flakes swirl around today.
SNOW: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
I’ve always loved snow. Growing up in Minnesota, there was plenty of snow. I loved to watch those beautiful, magical flakes falling from the sky. It meant going outside to make snowmen , forts and snow angels, playing football with my brothers, and having snowball fights. It often meant school was cancelled, and sometimes the snow would literally trap us in our house for a couple of days. When that happened, we would have marathon Monopoly games, ping-pong tournaments, and card games. Being “snowed in” was a treasured family memory for me.
I still love snow, even though now it means shoveling and driving in it. We’ve had a lot of snow this winter. This morning, as I watched it fall, I marveled again at its beauty. The flurries pouring down from the sky were enchanting, calling me into a deep connection with the Creator of all. I watched in wonder as God poured out fresh mercy over the earth, and I discovered an amazing link that drew me closer to Him. As I considered the qualities of snow, God drew me a picture of redemption.
In order for snow to fall, you need two things: cold air and moisture. It’s easier for sin to creep in when we are cold and lonely; we are tempted to run to false gods for warmth. When that happens, we often feel the consequences of our actions. Sometimes that looks like a torrential downpour of moisture into our lives.
As the snow approaches the earth, you notice that each flake is unique, and each one knows just where it is to land. Each one of us is unique, and God sends just exactly what we need, when we need it.
In case you haven’t noticed, snow is white. When there is fresh blanket of snow on the ground, everything looks clean and fresh. It has a pure, cleansing quality. God’s forgiveness has this same effect in our lives.
Another quality of snow is that is helps prepare the ground for spring. As the sun begins to melt away the snow, the earth is dampened and provides fertile ground for seeds to be planted. As we receive His mercy, God prepares our hearts for the new things He wants to do in us.
Sometimes there are after effects to the snow. The roads become slippery and hazardous. When we are convicted of our sin and ask forgiveness, we sometimes forget the act of repentance. If we don’t turn away from our wrong actions, the road will soon become icy and difficult to navigate.
The winds will also occasionally pick up after a snowfall. Sometimes the white stuff is blown around so much you can hardly see two feet in front of you. Satan loves to blow in after we’ve had a great victory over sin and try to blind us from the direction God wants to take us.
Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s usually still cold after the snow arrives. We may still feel a little lost and lonely, but if we choose the right source of warmth, the spring will soon come.
“Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7b
SNOW: A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
I’ve always loved snow. Growing up in Minnesota, there was plenty of snow. I loved to watch those beautiful, magical flakes falling from the sky. It meant going outside to make snowmen , forts and snow angels, playing football with my brothers, and having snowball fights. It often meant school was cancelled, and sometimes the snow would literally trap us in our house for a couple of days. When that happened, we would have marathon Monopoly games, ping-pong tournaments, and card games. Being “snowed in” was a treasured family memory for me.
I still love snow, even though now it means shoveling and driving in it. We’ve had a lot of snow this winter. This morning, as I watched it fall, I marveled again at its beauty. The flurries pouring down from the sky were enchanting, calling me into a deep connection with the Creator of all. I watched in wonder as God poured out fresh mercy over the earth, and I discovered an amazing link that drew me closer to Him. As I considered the qualities of snow, God drew me a picture of redemption.
In order for snow to fall, you need two things: cold air and moisture. It’s easier for sin to creep in when we are cold and lonely; we are tempted to run to false gods for warmth. When that happens, we often feel the consequences of our actions. Sometimes that looks like a torrential downpour of moisture into our lives.
As the snow approaches the earth, you notice that each flake is unique, and each one knows just where it is to land. Each one of us is unique, and God sends just exactly what we need, when we need it.
In case you haven’t noticed, snow is white. When there is fresh blanket of snow on the ground, everything looks clean and fresh. It has a pure, cleansing quality. God’s forgiveness has this same effect in our lives.
Another quality of snow is that is helps prepare the ground for spring. As the sun begins to melt away the snow, the earth is dampened and provides fertile ground for seeds to be planted. As we receive His mercy, God prepares our hearts for the new things He wants to do in us.
Sometimes there are after effects to the snow. The roads become slippery and hazardous. When we are convicted of our sin and ask forgiveness, we sometimes forget the act of repentance. If we don’t turn away from our wrong actions, the road will soon become icy and difficult to navigate.
The winds will also occasionally pick up after a snowfall. Sometimes the white stuff is blown around so much you can hardly see two feet in front of you. Satan loves to blow in after we’ve had a great victory over sin and try to blind us from the direction God wants to take us.
Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s usually still cold after the snow arrives. We may still feel a little lost and lonely, but if we choose the right source of warmth, the spring will soon come.
“Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7b
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Loving the Giver
A few days ago, I read a devotional which really got me thinking about gifts. Not the kind we are all rushing around to purchase this time of year, but gifts we receive from God.
It's easy to be thankful for gifts like answered prayers, especially when God answers them in the fashion we had hoped. Often though, He gives us gifts we don't even recognize or acknowledge, not realizing it's for our good. Things are not always as they seem.
I began to ponder the characteristics of God's gifts. First, we know they are all good. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Second, all gifts are filtered through the Father's hand. He only sends gifts that benefit us. This is when we often miss what God is doing or are unaware until much later. I think about how the apostles grieved when Jesus told them He had to go away for awhile. Jesus said to them, "Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:6-7) In a situation that appeared to be tragic, the apostles didn't understand there was a purpose. How many times do we get caught up emotionally in negative circumstances and fail to recognize them as a gift from God? All the time. Right?
Third, God's gifts are free. They are not buy one, get one free. We cannot earn God's gifts, which is a good thing for us, because not even Bill Gates could afford them! He does promise rewards for the good we do (Ephesians 6:8), but the Bible does not say when those rewards may come. If you are a parent (and after all, God is our Heavenly Father), you know there is a difference between rewards and gifts you give your children.
Finally, God's gifts are always what we need. They may not necessarily be what we want. Think of children at Christmas. They squeal with delight over the things they asked for and received, but they ignore the gifts they aren't interested in, which is usually needed items like clothing. We often behave the same way with God's gifts. I don't think that's what Jesus meant when He said we should become like a child. :)
And, like a child, we are more interested in the gifts than the giver. The devotion I read challenged me to consider what I wanted more: Jesus, or just the gifts He has to give.
Some of the best gifts in my life were ones I never even asked for (can you guess what the best one was?). Yet God knew the desires of my heart. He knows me better than I know myself because He created me.
This Christmas, our gifts are already under the tree - the tree of life, that is. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." All we have to do is accept His gift of everything. May we be thankful for all of it, and may we come to love the Giver most of all.
It's easy to be thankful for gifts like answered prayers, especially when God answers them in the fashion we had hoped. Often though, He gives us gifts we don't even recognize or acknowledge, not realizing it's for our good. Things are not always as they seem.
I began to ponder the characteristics of God's gifts. First, we know they are all good. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Second, all gifts are filtered through the Father's hand. He only sends gifts that benefit us. This is when we often miss what God is doing or are unaware until much later. I think about how the apostles grieved when Jesus told them He had to go away for awhile. Jesus said to them, "Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:6-7) In a situation that appeared to be tragic, the apostles didn't understand there was a purpose. How many times do we get caught up emotionally in negative circumstances and fail to recognize them as a gift from God? All the time. Right?
Third, God's gifts are free. They are not buy one, get one free. We cannot earn God's gifts, which is a good thing for us, because not even Bill Gates could afford them! He does promise rewards for the good we do (Ephesians 6:8), but the Bible does not say when those rewards may come. If you are a parent (and after all, God is our Heavenly Father), you know there is a difference between rewards and gifts you give your children.
Finally, God's gifts are always what we need. They may not necessarily be what we want. Think of children at Christmas. They squeal with delight over the things they asked for and received, but they ignore the gifts they aren't interested in, which is usually needed items like clothing. We often behave the same way with God's gifts. I don't think that's what Jesus meant when He said we should become like a child. :)
And, like a child, we are more interested in the gifts than the giver. The devotion I read challenged me to consider what I wanted more: Jesus, or just the gifts He has to give.
Some of the best gifts in my life were ones I never even asked for (can you guess what the best one was?). Yet God knew the desires of my heart. He knows me better than I know myself because He created me.
This Christmas, our gifts are already under the tree - the tree of life, that is. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." All we have to do is accept His gift of everything. May we be thankful for all of it, and may we come to love the Giver most of all.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Manhattan Declaration
One of my favorite Catholic friends tipped me off to this several days ago. I'm a little surprised I haven't heard much "buzz" about it, but then again, it wouldn't be fodder for the mainstream media. After all, I don't think any celebrities have endorsed it yet, and we all know celebrities are the final authority (removing tongue from cheek now).
It's called the Manhattan Declaration. In a nutshell, Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians have united to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
The Declaration was released eight days ago, and even without much press, there are already nearly 178,000 signatures (as of this writing), including a long list of notable religious leaders. In addition to its commendable purpose, this document has accomplished something Jesus prayed for and rarely seen: unity among His believers. It causes me to dream about the possibilities of continued solidarity.
To read and sign the declaration, click here: Manhattan Declaration
It's called the Manhattan Declaration. In a nutshell, Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians have united to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
The Declaration was released eight days ago, and even without much press, there are already nearly 178,000 signatures (as of this writing), including a long list of notable religious leaders. In addition to its commendable purpose, this document has accomplished something Jesus prayed for and rarely seen: unity among His believers. It causes me to dream about the possibilities of continued solidarity.
To read and sign the declaration, click here: Manhattan Declaration
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Jalapeno chicken casserole - fall dinner menu
This is the first year we've participated in the Harmony Valley Farms organic produce program. Overall, it's been a good experience, and my family is learning to love (or at least tolerate) more veggies in their diet. Each week, I try to plan menus around the box, which includes a bounty of whatever is in-season in Wisconsin.
Below is the menu/recipes I used last night. It was all yummy, so thought I would share with all of you!
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Casserole
Bok Choy cole slaw
Baked delicato squash
Caramel Apple Dessert Squares
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Casserole
1 c. chopped onions (I substituted leeks)
2 T. butter
8 ounces fresh spinach (or 1 10-ounce pkg frozen chopped, cooked and drained)
3-6 jalapeno peppers (I used the max, it was a bit hot for me, but everyone else loved it)
8 ounces sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 green onions chopped (I did not add these)
1-2 cups crushed tortilla chips (didn't have any, substituted Cheddar Sun Chips)
4-6 cups chopped cooked chicken (or turkey)
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
Saute onions in butter. Blend in spinach and jalapenos until spinach is cooked. Add sour cream, soup and green onions. In 9 x 13 pan, layer crushed chips, chicken, spinach mixture and cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.
Bok Choy Cole Slaw
3-4 stalks bok choy (chopped or grated)
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 leek, chopped fine
1/4 c. rice vinegar
2 t. sesame oil
Mix bok choy, carrots and leek in bowl. Add vinegar and oil, stir well.
Baked Delicato Squash
1 delicato squash
Slice squash lengthwise. Fill glass baking dish with 1/2 inch water. Place squash halves cut side down in dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
*Note: Serve with butter and brown sugar if preferred. Personally, I thought the taste was perfect without anything added!
Caramel Apple Dessert Squares
1 1/2 c. Bisquick mix
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
2 medium cooking apples, peeled and sliced (2 cups)
1 T. lemon juice
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 c. boiling water
Mix Bisquick and sugar in medium bowl. Stir in milk until blended. Pour into ungreased square pan, 9x9x2. Top with apples; sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Pour boiling water over apples. Bake 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Below is the menu/recipes I used last night. It was all yummy, so thought I would share with all of you!
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Casserole
Bok Choy cole slaw
Baked delicato squash
Caramel Apple Dessert Squares
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Casserole
1 c. chopped onions (I substituted leeks)
2 T. butter
8 ounces fresh spinach (or 1 10-ounce pkg frozen chopped, cooked and drained)
3-6 jalapeno peppers (I used the max, it was a bit hot for me, but everyone else loved it)
8 ounces sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 green onions chopped (I did not add these)
1-2 cups crushed tortilla chips (didn't have any, substituted Cheddar Sun Chips)
4-6 cups chopped cooked chicken (or turkey)
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
Saute onions in butter. Blend in spinach and jalapenos until spinach is cooked. Add sour cream, soup and green onions. In 9 x 13 pan, layer crushed chips, chicken, spinach mixture and cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.
Bok Choy Cole Slaw
3-4 stalks bok choy (chopped or grated)
1/2 cup grated carrots
1 leek, chopped fine
1/4 c. rice vinegar
2 t. sesame oil
Mix bok choy, carrots and leek in bowl. Add vinegar and oil, stir well.
Baked Delicato Squash
1 delicato squash
Slice squash lengthwise. Fill glass baking dish with 1/2 inch water. Place squash halves cut side down in dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
*Note: Serve with butter and brown sugar if preferred. Personally, I thought the taste was perfect without anything added!
Caramel Apple Dessert Squares
1 1/2 c. Bisquick mix
2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
2 medium cooking apples, peeled and sliced (2 cups)
1 T. lemon juice
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 c. boiling water
Mix Bisquick and sugar in medium bowl. Stir in milk until blended. Pour into ungreased square pan, 9x9x2. Top with apples; sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Pour boiling water over apples. Bake 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Cajun Meatloaf
I can't take credit for this recipe - it came from Mark Matlock of Planet Wisdom, which you all need to check out, by the way. Great stuff for teens, and there's even a section for "old people", which is awesome.
I should note that I made this in the crock pot instead of the oven, and it turned out great. Cooked it on medium for about 5 hours. I added the sauce on top from the beginning.
Cajun Meatloaf
Mix in a saucepan over medium heat:
4 oz. butter
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1 T. tabasco sauce
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
Let this saute for 5 minutes or so, then add:
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup ketchup
Cook for a few minutes, then remove from heat.
In a bowl, mix:
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
Stir in the seasoning mixture you cooked on the stove. Or use your hands (that's Mark's advice, he said it's awesome fun).
Form into a loaf in a glass pan and cook for 50 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees.
While it is baking, mix in a saucepan over medium heat:
15 oz. tomato sauce
2 T. chopped onion
2 T. chopped bell pepper
Bay leaf
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
Drizzle this sauce over the meatloaf about halfway through baking.
I should note that I made this in the crock pot instead of the oven, and it turned out great. Cooked it on medium for about 5 hours. I added the sauce on top from the beginning.
Cajun Meatloaf
Mix in a saucepan over medium heat:
4 oz. butter
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1 T. tabasco sauce
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
Let this saute for 5 minutes or so, then add:
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup ketchup
Cook for a few minutes, then remove from heat.
In a bowl, mix:
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
Stir in the seasoning mixture you cooked on the stove. Or use your hands (that's Mark's advice, he said it's awesome fun).
Form into a loaf in a glass pan and cook for 50 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees.
While it is baking, mix in a saucepan over medium heat:
15 oz. tomato sauce
2 T. chopped onion
2 T. chopped bell pepper
Bay leaf
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
Drizzle this sauce over the meatloaf about halfway through baking.
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