Hosanna's Wish and her Jaded Mother

I've been married to a pastor for almost 9 years. The four years before that he was a Sem student with side jobs related to the ministry. We've met a lot of people with a myriad of problems, backgrounds, and personal stories. We've had the very great privilege of sharing the gospel with many people.  In some cases a seed of faith was planted and someone else may have had the job of watering it and watching it grow.  In other cases we were maybe a piece of the complex puzzle that God uses to build a person's faith.
And there are the great miracle moments Wayne as pastor gets to do -  God works through  Baptism to create faith in an infant's heart - such a perfect example of God's grace to a helpless human (aren't we all?). The cases are rare that we've met an adult, beaten and battered by life's storms that falls into the waiting arms of a Savior immediately upon hearing the good news of salvation. Most often, it takes years to develop a relationship to the point of the individual trusting what this Christian pastor has to say. The journey is taking FOREVER (from our perspective) but sooooooo worth the wait when joy fills me up to the brim hearing their public confession in church after years of taking the Bible information class. Hours dear husband spent with these souls getting to know them, patiently leading them through God's Word to show them what God says and not "what Pastor thinks". Angels sing when another soul is adopted into His family!!!


But .... you knew it was coming, right? .... more often than not we find people telling us what they think we want to hear, "sure, we'll be at church tomorrow" and then they're not. Why did we think they would be? Or they start classes, maybe even for months, years only to decide "I just can't believe it".  Yeah, I suppose we saw it coming. Or maybe they honestly have good intentions and circumstances get in the way. Sure, whatever. Someone calls the church and they're down and out - their health is shot, no job, no car - you get the picture. They want some money, something to get them by. We'd love to help out - come by church on Sunday for some food for the soul and then we'll see what we can do for you! They don't come. Yeah, we're not surprised. Jaded? You bet.

We've been having monthly potluck fellowships with the Chinese community over the last few years. It gives our Chinese members an event to invite their friends and acquaintances to. God's Word, prayer, food, getting to know one another - now we're seeing some familiar faces coming back more often. Friendships the kids have made. We get the awesome opportunity to be a part of some Chinese culture for one evening. Try out our limited Mandarin (i do mean limited), eat different foods (our kids are very adventurous eaters) and meet new people, many of whom no nothing about Jesus! 


So through these monthly evening get togethers, Zanna made a favorite friend. She has begun looking forward to seeing and playing with Maple. "Is Maple going to be there?" "When are we going to see Maple?". And she's so excited when she's there! They hug and hold hands and walk around together and sit and eat next to each other. Last month at the Chinese New Year fellowship, we invited Maple's mother to bring her to Sunday School to be in Zanna's class. "Sure, I'll think about it", she said. Uh - huh. Right.


Now the questions leading up to Sunday were "Will Maple be at Sunday School?". I started my eye rolling that gave away what I thought the likely hood of that happening was. Her little face was so hopeful. I stopped the rolling and explained that while Maple may want to come, her Mom would have to want to bring her. I advised her to start praying to Jesus that her Mom would want to bring her to Sunday School and stop asking what I thought. 


She didn't come that following Sunday and I encouraged my daughter to keep praying. Then the Sunday of daylight savings time rolled around. As we sat in the pew waiting for the service to start, Zanna came running around the corner, face lit up, hands holding Maple's hands! This jaded mother almost fell off her pew. I got myself together and stood up to see Maple's mother and other daughter in the back. I invited her to sit by me and stay for service, even though she intended to drop Maple off for Sunday School which she had missed due to the time change. She agreed and allowed me to guide her through the service that was completely foreign to her. Her broken English struggled to keep up with the fast paced service but tears were in my eyes to hear her read the Lord's Prayer and sing hymns. The girls were in heaven, playing with the treasures found in the church bag. And my daughter reminded me of an important truth I had forgotten somewhere along the way - God hears our prayers.

How we observe Lent

Just thought I would share some of the ways our family observes the season on Lent. We belong to a church body that follows a liturgy - and I tend to carry this into my home in what I like to call "liturgical decoration". Here I blame my mother. By this (the decorating, not my mother) I mean that things are looking kinda bare around the house right now during Lent. It's kind of depressing because as seen by my previous pictures of Valentine's Day, that is not usually the case. It helps me to remember at home - when I get up and when I lie down - to reflect on Christ's passion and remember His love for me. I so easily forget - sad, huh?
Last year, I made my first Lenten Garden - definitely a tradition I plan on continuing. Sort of like a diorama of the passion story - scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ's tomb, a pool of water with a shell depicting His gift of baptism and I still have to add the cross - all in a basket!

Supplies - a basket fitted with layers of cellophane (from a nice lady at the local flower shop)
Moss - from same nice lady
potting soil
plants
tomb - made from clay from the dollarstore and shaped by dear son, complete with stone to roll away
empty plastic applesauce container filled with water and shell
stones from backyard 
cross made from branches tied into a cross

The great thing about this is that despite that fact that I have no green thumb whatsoever, I only have to get this to last 6 weeks. With God's help.
Special devotions and Lenten books that focus on the Passion deepen our appreciation for Christ's cross. I'm currently rereading - The Theology of the Cross, Reflections on His Cross and Ours by Daniel Deutschlander. I love this book and am attacking it with a highlighter this time around. In the past we've also read Up to Jerusalem by John Braun. This year we're really enjoying a new book titled He was Crucified - Reflections on the Passion of Christ by Gerard Joseph Stanley Sr., MD - written from the unique perspective of a medical doctor with focus on the mental and physical anguish of Christ accompanied by beautiful art from the masters and the lyrics of rich hymns. Wonderful!

Every Wednesday night throughout Lent we have a church service - this year focusing on different characters of the Passion story. These services are a bit different than the Sunday services that are all "mini Easters" and not included in the 40 days of Lent. 
What have I given up for Lent this year? Although not a requirement or even something I like to tell people (it's between me and the Lord) I've given up giving things up for Lent. He gave up everything for me! I used to give up wine because I really enjoy a glass of wine while I make dinner. This really backfired because to make up for this loss, I kept going to Dairy Queen (or rather, I'd send my husband). Not good. And I was REALLY excited for Easter to come ...... so I could have a glass of wine. NOT GOOD. Boy, self  really gets in the way doesn't it?!! If anything, I'm trying to give up complaining by writing down gifts. And not just the really fabulous gifts like trips to Mexico but little, almost invisible gifts if I'm not paying attention like little hands in mine, 10year old boy noises with spit flying, and the smell of freshly ground flour. I even try to be joyful for the gifts that are seemingly crummy but bring me back to Him like fights with my husband, rash on vacation, and a messy house. I deserve nothing - so EVERYTHING from Him is a gift. And I'll miss it if I'm not paying attention. As my favorite pastor preached on Sunday the gift is bigger than the curse. The ultimate gift of course being forgiveness and salvation - but also all the little gifts he gives me every day  that reminds me He loves me. Even the "crummy" gifts that make me miserable but lead me back to Him. OK, can you tell I've been reading Deutschlander? 

The Big 0-5

And there she is .... a vision in pink! The birthday girl had a very special day thanks to all the effort her Oma put into the day (her parents were on their way back from Mexico). Oma (grandma in German) threw a tea party fit for a princess. And Zanna was more than happy to play the part. This is what she wore the whole day - a birthday gift opened in the morning and enjoyed throughout the day.

The streamers decorated the kitchen area and the centerpiece put together with Zanna's tea sets. Too cute! My mom made little tea sandwhiches and invited Zanna's godparents over to join in. The kids were thrilled Auntie Karen and Uncle Skip were there!
We arrived home that night and continued the celebration the next day. We went out to lunch - her pick- and then went to the mall for a trip to Build a Bear. Kind of an outing/present kind of thing - and she picked out Hello Kitty complete with outfit.

Two days of celebrating and she was getting used to being the center of attention and receiving gifts. Can't believe my little girl is 5!

The time of Lent

Sometimes we Forget. We forget birthdays, anniversaries, important dates. We forget names. We forget memories, songs, the voice of a loved one now in heaven.

We forget to turn off the light, to close a drawer, to lock a door. We forget why we went in a room or what we were going to say next. We forget assignments, directions, engagements - we forget to look at our calendar. We forget why it is we’re doing what we’re doing. We forget where we put it. We forget what matters.

We forget to pray. We forget to praise. We forget to worship. We forget to make time for the one that created time. We forget we need Him in order to breathe, to wake up everyday - to simply be.

It seems like we’re in the business of forgetting. It’s something we do well. Our Abba Father says - don’t forget. He know this about us. He had the Israelites tie tassels on themselves as a reminder of his commandments knowing they’d forget. He commanded they celebrate the Passover celebration so at least they would tell their children once a year of how God protected them from the angel of death in Egypt. He knew in one generation He could be forgotten.  We forget why we need Him.

 Easter rolls around every Spring in its predictable way. We’re ready to whip out our spring clothes and white shoes. The easter baskets are filled with candy, the ham is in the oven and an easter lily graces our table. At church we sing all the familiar Easter hymns and enjoy the sermon filled with good news - Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Then why does it feel like we’ve forgotten something? Oh, yes .....

He had to die. 

The season of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday on March 9th. It is 40 days long, not including Sundays. Lent is the time in the church year that allows for reflection, repentance and preparation for Easter. It’s the time to Remember. Remember we need Him to forgive us. Remember we need Him to live a perfect life for us. Remember He suffered and died - for OUR sins. Remember that He humbled Himself on this earth - and He didn’t forget us. Remember all that and THEN come celebrate on Easter Sunday and shout from the rooftops Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!