Watching Love on a Video

Tags

Desiring God, lesson, Marriage

I am not a big video watcher. I don’t scout YouTube for clips to laugh at. But someone posted this on Facebook yesterday, and I will never be the same. Truly, I wish everyone would watch this video posted on the Desiring God website. This beautiful, evocative glance into the marriage of Ian and Larissa won’t leave me, ever. Last night when I got home I read some of Ian and Larissa’s blog.

Precious, authentic, Christ-followers who have chosen what is greater even when it is so hard. That is something God is pressing into me, choosing the greater thing, clinging to Him alone, even when it is hard. This morning, I saw on Twitter a new post by Larissa on the Desiring God website: Why We Got Married. I just shake my head with tears in my eyes. How often do I choose something that I know will be full of sorrow? We/I choose easy lives with pretty packaging but miss the depth of life and God’s love.

My view of marriage is forever changed. It’s easy for me as a single woman in her late twenties to get dreamy and view marriage as a solution to all of life’s woes (though I know it’s not meant to be and is hard work). But it’s even more than that. Their story speaks on so many levels. The sorrow they endure, the shattered dreams, the choice to give thanks above all, the choice to keep giving. Only Jesus can make something of it all. I love the tag line on their blog: now I know in part; then I shall know fully. This is enough to change every life and every situation, to keep holding and resting in the One who knows our sufferings more than even we know.

So be blessed by them and join me in prayer for Ian and Larissa.

Oh hey, it’s May!

Tags

Guatemala, mission trip

How are you friends? Thanks for reading my blog that I don’t often update. Well I’ve been good, bad, and currently satisfied with being brave. I recommend being brave (which in my case is saying things I normally would not). I’ve been off of work for 4 days!! Ah. So nice. I went to Chattanooga to help my parents have a yard sale as they pack to move next weekend! They are moving out of the only house I ever remember growing up in to a newer house about 10 minutes away.

I also spent time with Joy, Jayden, and Kerrington while Jason is in Peru on a mission trip. It delights my soul to be with them, but on Sunday I was also T-I-R-E-D. Kudos to parents for your energy.

Also, so many of my people graduated from college this weekend. I missed it (but I didn’t really miss it), but oh I am so proud of how smart they are and where they are headed. I’m just a little sad that they are flying away into the world, away from me.

And because, I’m terrible about posting, Guatemala in pictures:

Our incredibly beautiful hotel in Chichicastenango, Hotel Santo Tomas. Flowers and parrots and antiques galore.

1st clinic day at a church with my gangsta translator, Andres.

I love cemeteries. I took a lot of pictures.

This personifies hipster college students…in the market, there was a pile of old prescription glasses for sale along with other randomness. These girls bought them for the frames. Hilarious.

Looking out a window from a church building we set up clinic in one day…we were up and down mountains all week.On the last clinic day, a lady dressed up in their traditional clothing. The headpieces were tied into our hair.

Getting my face painted by a child=a sign of a good day.

Me and Julie, my friend who knows all that is Guatemala and has such a huge heart.

Grace to you.

{Good} Friday Night, 4/6/12

Tags

baking, Good Friday, Hot Cross Bun, Passion

I made these Hot Cross Buns last night to celebrate Good Friday today. Ever since I first read about these little bready cakes on PW’s website, I’ve wanted to make them. But I went with Cooking Light’s recipe because I’m being health-conscious (except for the pizza and cookies I had tonight).

It may have been my first time baking with yeast AND using the hook attachment on my mixer.

Yeah, I’m not a bread-maker. I think you can tell…they didn’t rise enough (I don’t think) and taste kind of firm…I’m thinking if they rose more, they would have been more fluffy.

I didn’t use lemon zest because I never buy lemons (though I should for recipes) or currants (because I’ve never bought currants and don’t know really what they are)…I doubled my golden raisins. So the Cooking Light recipe is probably delish…the pics in the magazine look so, but mine are mediocre.

I think leaning side by side with a bread expert would help…kneading and rising is an art. Anyhow, I tried.

During the day, I read and was moved by several blogs and tweets focusing on Good Friday…I wish I had saved them to recall. I am so tired, I have my head leaned against the back of the couch. But maybe the best found its way to me straight from God during the Good Friday service held at the college I work at. Between old hymns, readings through the Passion in Matthew, and a few prayers for repentance bookended by periods of silence, this is what I heard:

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NIV)

How often do I really just want my will? What I pray is for God to honor my will. Give me_____, please Lord. All was surrendered: His body, His blood, and still more His will. As the other verses were read, I heard my story in His story. The dark days, the betrayal, the decisions, the anguish. Yes, He knows it. Although we mourn for the unbelievable gift of His body and blood, it offers the only hope we can have. Hope not just for someday when life on earth ends, but for today, right now in this moment. May you know that your story can too be found in Jesus going to the cross. Just read it. He knew your worst and took it just so you can know better days.

 

 

Lag in Return

Tags

Guatemala, Spring cleaning

When I’m at work I think of lots of blog posts I would like to write. But I try to refrain from doing too much personal stuff on work time (which is difficult). And I don’t really like writing at night because I’m tired, which is the only free time I get. I keep thinking “before I write about ____, I need to write about Guatemala.” And sadly, this post isn’t going to be the Guatemala post. Just a shout out to say that I did get back two weeks ago (2 weeks ago?!) and enjoyed it thoroughly.

If you’ve ever been on a mission trip, maybe you’ll understand the processing process (hmm, that’s specific). Emotions and lessons can get complicated. Sometimes you don’t feel what you think you should. There’s also the risk of when I tell you the story, you won’t feel its significance like I did. I’m still rolling around what is best to share and asking myself and God what the experience taught me.

Now to life post Spring Break! I really made no major life plans past this trip, so I feel somewhat directionless. I’m working on making decisions, weighing options, and putting my feet out there. The plans I have in my head are more creative: sew a skirt, finish my living room curtains, take a cooking class, make a chalkboard something…and then some typical spring cleaning: organize my closet, clean out and organize the upstairs (again and for real this time), clean out the freezer, clean the windows (I don’t really want to do that one but should!).

This spring weather invigorates and brings refreshment. I’m reminded how thankful I am for seasons and that each has its blessings. Last weekend I found this verse on a calendar in Joy’s kitchen…she gave me the page and it’s on my desk at work.

“…in your presence there is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11. Yes. This I needed.

I’ll be back with a Guatemala overview soon I hope!

 

Guatemala Bound!

Tags

Guatemala, mission trip

I’ve been packing for hours. Do I have enough shirts, too many pants, am I packing my toiletries in the right suitcase? That’s been me the last two nights. Tomorrow morning, or rather later tonight (3 AM!!) I’m headed to the airport with 24 others en route to Guatemala. Looking back on my first trip there one year ago, I’m so thankful for the experience. My year, and life, were different because of last year’s trip and the people in it. I wrote about my first trip here around the time I started a blog…I’m not great at keeping up, I apologize.

Lots of beautiful things happened on the trip. I fell in love with a group of college students, but more I learned how to fall in love with God. Some lessons you learn immediately because they are right in front of you. Others infuse slowly…so that you don’t realize the lesson unless you slow down and examine your life. I realized several months ago that I felt different and with reflection saw how I had been living my life in a box of my own perceptions (or perhaps others’) of how I should be. I noticed how I felt more free to be myself now. The trip was the defining point.  Maybe it’s fuller dependence on God or just noticing the little ways He is working. Maybe it’s my dear friend from last year’s group who lives so freely out of God’s grace, I can’t help but claim it myself. I can claim joy, I can love others more fully, I can be honest because I know more of who I am in Christ.

This year, knowing how much joy I felt being in Guatemala, I am ecstatic about returning. Last year, I quietly joined the group of loud, cool college students, not knowing many before we landed in Guatemala (introverted much?). But by the time I got home, I couldn’t stand to not see them. I’ve told several people this time around, I fell in love with last year’s team in Guatemala, but I’ve already fallen in love with our team this year. Tears have been shed (already) over how honest they are in sharing themselves. They are quite beautiful. If you could hear how God works in their lives, oh I wish you could. If the plane never makes it off the ground, I’ve already been blessed by them.

If we make it to Guatemala City, I pray all the light that they we hold shines. Our plans are to go into villages with mobile medical and dental clinics, conduct Bible classes in the schools (Fruits of the Spirit is our theme), and do physical work at the clinic in Chichicastenango. Our last day we will enjoy in Antigua. My wishes for this trip, if you would pray for us that:

• each member of the team will connect with a Guatemalan
• we will be humble, not seen as Americans, but as Christ-followers
• the Guatemalans will be changed by Jesus
• we will be changed by Jesus
• there will not be language barriers
• God will provide for our every need
• healing could take place, physically, emotionally, spiritually
• we will make much of Jesus

Stories to come!

Grace and love to you,

Bethany