Love Pouring Out

Today was one of those glorious mornings that feeds life into my soul. The life that is necessary to sustain all the mundane activities that occupy my time.

A photo journalist is staying with a friend of mine here in Bogota for a few weeks. His purpose is to accompany the missionaries through their daily lives and record in photograph what their lives are like. From the every-day shopping at the grocery store or market to the ministries they are focusing their lives on.

I want to become a better photographer. I want to move from taking pictures for fun to becoming good and then really good. It's creative. Photography combines color, pattern and texture the same as designing a room or creating a quilt does. But photography goes beyond these other loves of mine to telling a story. A story of a person or a culture. I want to combine pictures with words to tell stories that people back home don't have the opportunity to experience. So I asked if I could tag along on a photo trip this morning. The photographer was wonderful, talking to me about cultural boundaries in different areas of the world and taking pictures. He talked about light and angles and respect of holy time. He talked about capturing a moment between two people that tells a personal story within the larger story of the missionary. Emotions, postures and interactions. I absorbed it all. I'm at the beginning of this journey and learning what I can when given the opportunity.

But I found myself loosing sight of the photography as I watched the people. What I saw was love pouring out. There was love from the missionaries to the people. Love in the greetings. Love in the teaching. Love in the serving. Love was evident through their voice, a gentle touch, a smile or an embrace.

We were at a Sr. Citizen outreach to provide teaching and food for the poor in the area. 50% of the people had a home. They had bathed. Their hair was done. They had taken care in their appearance. But the other half were people from the streets. A man passed by and the aroma about knocked me off my feet. A woman approached and as we kissed in greeting I felt the sticky grease of her cheek brush against mine. T-shirts with holes. Their hair is grey, their faces are weathered.

These people had come for many reasons. To hear the Bible taught - to receive a bag of food - to get a hug, a smile, love. People who are poor have nothing in this world to claim. But sadly their spirits are often as poor as their non-existent bank accounts.

They crave love from humans. The woman who began this ministry slowly walked around the room during the teaching. She stopped at different people and squeezed their shoulders. Placed a hand on their hands. She was touching, comforting, respecting.

I witnessed love in action today and it touched me deeply.  

Crazy Love

Crazy Love

By Francis Chan

Chad and I began reading this book together while he was in Pakistan. We would read the same chapter during the week then discuss it on Skype. I loved those chats. We didn't always see eye to eye or completely understand what the other was working through, but it kept us connected in our lives even though separated by continents.

We never quiet finished the book, so I picked it up and completed it this week, because for me, having an unfinished book on my shelf is outrageous!

Following are quotes from one chapter. They capture the essence of the book's message.

“People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.” Luke 6:32-36

“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.”

“People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.” 1 John 2:4-6; Matt. 16:24-26

“Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, 'there are two days on my calendar: this day and that day.'” Luke 14:25-35; Matt. 7:13-23

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough,' and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.” Matt. 5:16

“People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His People.” Matt. 13:44; John 15:8

“People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.” James 2:14-26

“A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.” Matt. 24:42

“A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.” Deut. 6:4-9

“People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.”

“People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.” Ps. 1:3

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately come from God.” James 1:2-4

“A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying 'Thank You!' to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God.” Rm. 11:35-36

Thank you Francis Chan.

Taco Seasoning

Here in South America you would think tacos would abound, but not so! Yet, I'm not willing to give up this favorite of mine. I ran across this recipe for taco seasoning that tastes just like my favorite from home, Old El Paso! There are 2 benefits to making your own seasoning: 1. You can make it anywhere even if there aren't pre-made packets for sale and 2. You can read and identify all the ingredients.

Number 2 is enough for me to make this seasoning mix even when I am living in the states! Who wants to be eating Maltodextrin or Silicon?? And do I really need to add any more “hydrogenated” anything to my diet? So enjoy this simple recipe for taco seasoning!

Ingredients

¼ cup flour

¼ cup chili powder

3 Tbs. Dried minced onion

1 Tbs. Garlic powder

2 ½ tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Dried oregano

2 tsp. Ground cumin

1 ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper

1 tsp. Ground coriander

Directions

Combine and store in air-tight container for up to 1 year.

Cook 1 # ground beef; drain

Add ¼ cup taco seasoning mix and ¾ cup water

Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

By Peter Scazzero

Several years ago a few friends told me the church we used to attend while living in Detroit was doing a year on this book. The sermons and small groups all centered around the book. At the point in my life the title didn't even interest me. The book came across my path again in several different ways so I felt the time had come for me to read it. Now that I've read the book I realize that I would have thought it was ok and moved on.

Today I am in a different spot. Today this book resonates with me. I have lived my life up to this point one way. That way was good and worked for a long time, but now it doesn't work. Life has happened and my old way of life didn't allow me to stick-up for myself, to say that my feelings were hurt, to grieve as things and relationships broke. My focus has always been straight ahead. I've shoved a lot over the years. God has given me a lot of grace to forge ahead and be the woman I needed to be.

But now I am in a spot where I have completed all the supporting roles I needed to hold. We have moved countless times, things in and out of storage. I have purged myself of the things I own only to have to purge again a year later and again and again. I have changed, my friends have changed. My kids are becoming quiet independent – they don't need a constant mom watching over them. My role is changing.

Many things have changed and I have not allowed myself the room to grieve as these changes have happened. I've sat here for the last 6 months feeling empty and constantly drained, but never allowing myself to look back, feel the loss, grieve, cry and mourn so that I can look forward with clear eyes.

This book made me realize how important it is to do just that. To mourn so I can heal.

I know this will take time. There is a lot that is now empty. So many questions about who I am now as past roles are completed. But there is hope as well. Hope in the future God has planned for me. The new role he has been preparing me to fill.

Big City Frustrations

Today I let the frustrations of living in a large city get the best of me. I was sloshing through puddles from the recent down-pour, dodging pedestrians, looking out for the occasional biker and lugging the groceries I grabbed at the store while walking home from the dentist.

With my mind on my “to-do list”, I paused at a curb, noted the taxi in the distance and stepped out. The taxi driver saw the “HIT ME” sign I was wearing and sped up to fulfill the request. I stepped back just in time to miss having my foot run-over and with lightning-speed reflex, grabbed the umbrella tucked under my arm and whacked the back of the taxi as he sped past.

I marched on as he yelled out his window at me. I focused straight ahead a little too shocked with myself to muster any type of response.

Sitting at home I realize that I should have some sort of remorse. I could have dented his car, which all taxi drivers seem to take great pride in. But it's just not there. Rather I sit here wearily on the couch wondering what is less stressful: walking to the store and risk getting run-over, or taking the car and loosing it in a pot hole only to arrive home with more flat tires.

You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know

Wow did I pick a looser book for my month to host book club! This book was advertised in the Grand Rapids press shortly before coming to Bogota. The author, Heather Sellers lives in Holland, Mich. She has a condition known as prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

Face blindness??? This condition totally intrigued me. How could you not recognize a face? Well sadly the book only minorly focused on the face blindness. It more majorly focused on the dysfunctional family Heather grew-up in.

Disfunction is not something I typically pick to read about in my spare time. I seem to find enough disfunction around me and run away from it when I can. Fortunately several ladies in my group really enjoyed the book. They don't mind reading about people with disfunction and said that this book actually topped the list of disfunction in books they had read. Whew!

Another thing that saved my butt was a special on face blindness done by 60 Minutes the week before our club. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50121783n&tag=mncol;lst;5 In this special I learned a lot about face blindness and found it much more resourceful than the book.

So, not a book I would recommend spending any money on.

P.S. - I have a copy if anyone wants it!