I'm Obsessed!!!! (Part 1)

Three Cheese Bacon 'n' Cheese Fries

Spicy Buffalo Wings and Spicy Ranch

I'm obsessed with food!!!! Anyone who spends any amount of time with me knows this to be true. I love food. I love eating it, I loved cooking with it, I love baking with it. I love smelling it, I love looking at it, I love pinning it, I love....I think you get the picture.... =P

This summer, I gorged myself on the foods that make me soo happy. These two pictures are from Rib City. My favorite meal ever. Spicy and tangy, follow it up with their towering chocolate cake and you are halfway to a heart attack!! Endless cups of sweet tea though, make the process a dream.


Now, granted, my food obsession comes in handy for my roommates, pretty much on a daily basis, but I recently took a trip to Taipei to visit my cousin. I hadn't seen her in quite a long time and it was so good to see her and catch up on about a decade. :)  I had a great time touring about the city with her- seeing the Taipei 101 (I just like saying that, it sounds so rich and classy) at night and seeing all the lights at night, eating at countless Din Tai Fung styled restaurants, finding street food, and 24-hour breakfast diners and Applebees like places. And let's not forget :

I was so overwhelmed by the sheer delectability of the hummus and chicken pita that I ate here that I could not even stop to take a picture of my delectable Mediterranean salad with beets that I actually relished (did you like that pun?? ) , fresh warm pita to dip in the fresh, warm hummus, or chicken pita stuffed with hummus, yogurt, vegetables and meat. I think I glimpsed heaven for just a moment here as I lost myself in the creamy stuff. This pita bar extracted a reaction out of me that I do not recall ever having before for any other food. If I go back to Taipei, do you think that I will be visiting this place? (Was there even a need to ask the question????? You figure it out. I will be halfway there by the time you even ask the question.

Anyways, back to my roommate's benefits. I cook almost on a daily basis, and every Saturday I like to get up around 9a (sleeping in for me!!) and cook a big breakfast to celebrate the weekend and another week finished. Last week, I made French Toast with a vanilla pudding syrup and a SW bacon/cheese omelet. This week, I tried out Pumpkin Pancakes (with the pumpkin our import store recently started carrying) topped with cinnamon syrup and bacon cheese and onion eggs. I think they were a success cause even when we have left overs, they do not last more than 4 hours after the meal. I recently discovered a rosemary round loaf that should soon become a staple for my Italian dishes and I think I finally mastered cooking up a good beef dish with roasted veggies. And I think I just invented the perfect nachos. (I am making my own stomach growl now....)

I love food. I love experimenting with food. I love eating food.

But what if food was all there was to life?

.....to be continued

Maintenance

I realized the other day that many of you probably do not have a clue of what I am doing this year. This summer was a whirlwind, and I did not get to spend time or as much time with as many of you as I would have liked to.

This purpose of this post is to give you a little update as to what's up in Jo's life these days. :)

First of all, yes, I am still teaching. Last year I taught most of the spectrum when it came to teaching: 1-30 students at a time, 3yrs-58yrs old, phonics-advanced business English. I had a blast with all of these experiences, but long hours and several illnesses later, I decided to step back a little bit this year and really work on some personal/musical development.

This year I am working at one school- a middle school- which happens to be (academically) one of the top schools on the island (Yay me!). I only teach Junior One and I have a total of 800 students (I know, stepping back, right?) But I only work four days a week, four classes each day- so it kind of evens out. I do really enjoy what I am doing right now. I feel privileged that my Abba has seen fit to entrust these 800 souls to me and pray that He will reach with my hands to show them His love.

This week I taught the Golden Rule. Silly me, I forgot that they had probably never even THOUGHT of the concept of doing to each other like they wanted each other to do to them- it was a bit of a difficult concept to teach, but a few of them caught on.

In addition to teaching, I have been keeping up with studies and dinners for expats in my direct vicinity, using this time to utilize the gift of food that Daddy has graciously given to me. I am always so happy when I am able to provide a fun/relaxing atmosphere and meal where people can detox and be refreshed by His Spirit.

I have also taken the time in the afternoons to work heavily on my music. I am spending several hours a week working towards becoming proficient in three instruments and am having a blast with that. I am often tempted to give up, but knowing that He has given me a gift and if I choose not to use that gift for His glory, He can take it away as fast as He gave it. Past experiences with this concept has been my constant motivation to use these gifts for His glory.

I truly believe that God has called me to a time of rest and introspection for these next few months and am excited to see what He reveals of Himself to me. While it is more difficult for me to sit and be still than be working multiple jobs, I am glad for this season of rest- it was needed more than I care to admit.

I am thankful for the work He has started and I am so thankful for His faithfulness to complete that work. Perhaps it is time for you to step back and take a break- see what He wants you to see without the filter of business. What do you think? Willing to take that chance? Take the step with me, Take a few weeks- detox. Listen to Him alone- it just might rock your world :)

10,000 Reasons

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul, and worship His holy name. 
Sing like never before, oh my soul and worship His holy name!
...........................

Jess sat down in the hall in the middle of all our rooms and started asking about what she could pray for us for. Ray gave her answer, what seemed to be very quickly to me. Then she asked me. I was dreading it honestly. I'd been feeling a little mopey and really did not know what to say short of whining and complaining. So I just said I needed to work on my focus. That my focus this week would be so totally God-saturated. We moved on shortly after hearing her requests and continued on with the evening.

A  couple hours later Ray came in to my room and called Jess in and we spent some good time before the throne, lifting each other up. I went away from that time feeling much less mopey and much more at peace. Again, we moved on with what we were doing (going to bed for me!!)

I awoke the next morning and my devo was on looking to the things that are above. Focusing on heavenly things rather than the things that pass away.

The day after a 4 day holiday + typhoon day is not the most exciting morning to be waking up and going to work. But as I walked to the bus stop to get on my bus for work and did NOT get to listen to my worship music because my iPod was dead, I kept thinking about putting my mind on the heavenly things and how cool it was that this reminder came the day after I requested prayer for my focus.

Matt Redman's song 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) kept playing on replay in my head and the thought occurred to me, "Have you ever tried to find 10,000 literal reasons to bless the Lord?"

So I texted the girls and all morning long I was either sending a text with another reason to bless Him, or receiving one from them. What a focus adjuster! It put new meaning to the verse, "Let Your praise continually be on my mouth". I found my whole attitude much more joyful and peaceful. I even stopped in one of my classes and randomly had my kids think of ten things they were thankful for. (This is how I keep them on their toes- random assignments in class :P )

I find myself wanting to despair about the mundane, or worry about things out of my hands, but today I am reminded- there are 10,000 reasons out there just waiting to be discovered as to why I should be blessing - not cursing- the Lord this day. (really there are more than 10,000, but let's just use that number for now)

I challenge you, write down 10,000 reasons today- or see how far you get. I dare you. Do it. It will rock your world.

Thank you, Daddy for every reason you've given me today to bless Your holy name!!

If You Search

Why can't I see you working, Lord? Everything seems to be going wrong and I just want to feel you near me. I want to see you at work. I want to see your love. Show me the God that once swept me off my feet and set them on high places. I want to know the One that captured my heart and made me know love as I had never known before.

...............................

Life is  a journey. 

How many times have we all heard that phrase? We all know it is true, and if you are like me, you hate the phrase because it seems like an excuse to the easy way out. No real answers, just the excuse that life is a journey. It is going to be hard. 

As in all journeys, there are traffic jams, mountains to climb, miles and miles and miles of boring flat land, short drives through lush green areas with brilliantly colored flowers, stretches with no rest stops or restaurants, and pieces of road that could be paved with hamburgers and pasta for the number of restaurants on them. Sometimes though, when you are going through those bare and empty miles of highway you have to search for a restroom, or a place to eat. And what do you do when you are STARVING on a road trip? You search FERVENTLY. (Well, I do anyway :)

Life with God is similar. We have our ups and downs, our times of closeness and distance. Always moving forward, but sometimes discontent with what we have. I have been struggling through a time of seeming distance with my Lover and heartbroken by it, knowing that I have been the one neglecting to hear and see Him leaving love notes all around. You know what that realization does? It leaves one feeling worthless and foolish, unworthy of the love that He so lavishes on us.

Tonight we went down to the beach to see some sea turtles. Apparently on the East Coast of Florida, that is what people do at night...Kinda cool, I have to admit ~although we did not see a single turtle tonight.... Maybe another time. As we were walking down to the beach, I looked up and was instantly struck by the beauty lying there before me. Right in front of my eyes was a breathtaking scene: A boardwalk and palm trees framing a star-strewn sky that reached down into the velvety darkness of the ocean. As we approached the beach I could see the white caps of the wave glisten under the stars, reflecting the glow from the city behind us. We sat down on the beach and looked up. There were just multitudes of stars! As we sat, I was reminded of how much the night sky used to be my sanctuary to meet with my Lover every night when I would take the dog outside before bed.

I remembered a chapter I recently read in Captivating about the messages of love that God had left for the authors in such unique and specific ways for each author and began to pray that He would give me a shooting star as my note for the night. I lay down and stared up at the night sky, overwhelmed by the vastness of it, drinking in every seeming galaxy I was sure I could see up there. Time was ticking, and I started to fear that perhaps He was going to choose to give me my love note in some other way and that because I was so obsessed with shooting stars, I would miss it. My heartbeat quickened, but I was determined to keep asking and waiting. And watching. 

Suddenly Raychel exclaims, "Did you see that Jo?? How could you miss THAT???" 

Yes. I was staring at the vastness of the sky and missed the one shooting star. Did I get my love note? No. My roommate got MY love note. Sigh. I was so disappointed...and a little jealous that she got to see it. I kept praying and not even five minutes went by before I saw one of the longest shooting stars I have ever witnessed. It's tail streaming out from behind it as it streaked across the sky. As the orange brilliance faded back into the black onyx sky, I was overjoyed at my Lover's clear message to me. I literally squealed and was thrown into song for the next fifteen minutes or so.

We were sitting back down a little later, after taking a short stroll and enjoying some time worshipping the One who created the scene I saw tonight, and I was thinking how, even though He had already given two, how awesome it would be to see another one. A few minutes later, to my surprise and great delight, I looked up to see a THIRD shooting star. 

It just screamed, "You're all You say You are!!"

Once again, I was thrown into a girlish excitement at how He had not just whispered His love to me tonight, but He literally flashed it across the night sky for everyone (who was watching) to see. As He is not ashamed to proclaim His love for me, may I never be ashamed to proclaim my love to Him. 

For He is ALL He says He is!!

"If you seek Me, you will find Me, if you search with all your heart"

~Jeremiah 29:13

Abandon

.........................

Since coming back to America, I have been blessed to spend ample time with old friends, meet some new ones and continue walking with like-minded people. It has been the trip of a lifetime indeed. Some things I have expected to happen, have not happened, Some things I never expected to happen, have happened! I have had the opportunity to talk to many people and have stimulating and encouraging conversations with them. 

I have struggled back and forth whether or not to write this blog. I have gone back and forth in the wisdom and necessity of it. I have feared the response that it might get, and I have feared the possible backlash of it. I have a question though. I have been pondering this question for days now. 

Since I have been back I have had countless people come to me and encourage me very kindly in how I am such a good example of how one should follow Christ. I have been approached and virtually asked to "motivate" others to get up and move to a foreign country for service. I have been almost held as a hero for being willing to pick up and move to a foreign country "in just two weeks". I have greatly appreciated the encouragement and am sure that each party who has offered such kind words has offered them out of the purest of hearts with pure intentions, but I consistently come back to this question.

When did being a Christian become not enough?

There are many labels that we give to people. Especially in the Christian world, we give groups of people names, ways to categorize their genuineness or willingness to serve with abandon. We categorize into groups of spirituality and "sold-out-ness".  We hero those who actually get up the courage to do something "scary" or "bold". We look at them and say, "If only I could be like them and serve like that." We hero those who experience oppression for their beliefs and say, "I don't know if I would stand so firm if I were faced with that kind of opposition!" We use people as our example to "motivate" others to serve more. The problem with this system is that we base the whole thing on people rather than the One who saves.

If we do not categorize ourselves in one of the "sold- out" kind of categories, we allow ourselves to slip slowly into a comfortable, and I would dare to say even apathetic lifestyle. We excuse this apathy by saying, "God didn't place that kind of burden on my heart" or "Well, that's just not me, or my kind of thing." and "Well, I can't do that because of the school loans...or the kids...or my apartment...or my job...or that's not my skill set."Sometimes we even say, "You don't know me, I don't trust myself enough to take that risk. Knowing me I'd fall flat on my face and ruin my testimony and the image of Christ!" We make so many excuses as to why we cannot move forward to further the kingdom and serve our King.

Not only do we make excuses though, but we then herald those who have taken a step of faith. It somehow makes us feel better about our lack of service because we know that someone somewhere is working hard for the King. Someone is being faithful. So we become content to fall into the routine of church, work, pray over meals, teach the kids to be moral, tithe, and live the comfortable life...but not too comfortable.

Now, please understand me. I am not saying that any of those things are bad in and of themselves. I certainly do not condemn them as sins. Please, please do not take me out of context here. My prayer is that we would carefully discern our own limitations that we place on ourselves from His calling on our lives. I will be the first to say that He calls each of us to many different areas of service. Personally, I greatly respect those He calls into the business world. Wow, what a battlefield to face every day! (This is one area I look at and think, "Now I could never do that!", though I know that if He placed that calling on my life, He would most certainly equip!) Some are called to stay at home and fight on the neighborhood field, inviting the kids and families to take part in life with Jesus. Some are called to education, teaching others His way of living and learning. Some are called to give food to the poor and needy, and some are called to go and share His story.

But wait. Aren't the last two calls given to every person who calls himself a Christian? I have been impressed over the last two months that the only limitations we have as Christ followers are ourselves. In limiting ourselves we display a sickening lack of trust in Him because we dare to defy His sovereign power in holding out our hands and saying, "Nope, You can't fix this, Jesus. I am too broken, stubborn, proud, useless, etc for you to do anything with." We deny the power of the cross and we negate His power to save us from whatever we view as un-lovable.

My purpose in writing this blog tonight, is not to rebuke anyone or chastise anyone. My deepest desire is that we, as Christ followers would truly follow Him. That we stop making excuses as to what we can and cannot do for the kingdom and that we be found faithful about His work.

Matthew 24:46-51 says,

Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Let us  then be found faithful, that we not be hypocrites. That we not be weary in well doing and that we faint not. But that we press on towards the Prize, which is Jesus Christ our Lord, knowing that no matter what we have given, it was never too much. That we live with abandon, offering each of our lives as a broken sacrifice to the One who was broken for each of us.

Just a Whisper...

"I need something"
"What do you need?"
"I don't know, a word, a love note, something!"
..............................
The above conversation happened about a week ago between my roommate and I. We both started praying that I would soon receive whatever it was I needed. I did not have a clue what it was, but I knew that my heart was needy and only He could fix it.

The next morning (or morning after that, can't remember for sure), I woke up and read my devos. My devo book read,

Whenever you feel distant from Me, whisper My Name in loving trust. this simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence... The grating rancor of the world's blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child's utterance: "Jesus". The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your understanding."

Followed by a verse from John 16:

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

I was floored. Instantly I remembered my prayer the night before. I about pounced on Ray as she came up the stairs because I was so excited to share my Word with her. There was one word that stuck out to me ~

Whisper.

Just after I read the message I silently whispered His name in my head. Instantly a smile grew in my heart and on my face. I knew He was there. I thought about it several more times throughout that day and the next, whispering it to myself and in my head and being amazed at the simplicity of it, yet the immense peace that it brought me.

My last night in Ohio was a perfect one. The night before there had been a dreadful storm, (I thought it was pretty cool actually - we don't really get green skies or tornado warnings/sightings in China) but that night was just perfect. The skies were clear, the sun warm, the breeze cool, and the ducks.....well... quacking. We walked down to a pond and just stood there on the tiny bridge reminiscing and musing over our lives, and where He's brought us. Then we went back and played a game and walked out to sit in the cool of the evening and read. Ray got a lot of reading done, I got about eight words read before I got distracted by the scene in front of me. Across a couple of lawns, there was a cluster of trees and under the trees there was a small play set. Suddenly I saw dozens of fireflies start coming up from the ground and flying around for just a moment before extinguishing. It looked enchanted, like fairies coming out to make the whole night a little bit better. In that moment I remembered His name and whispered, "Jesus" to myself. Instantly, once again, my attention was drawn to an awareness that He was sitting there with me on the swing, musing over His creation. He was, oh, I don't know, dancing among the "fairies" under the trees across the way- His beauty just egging them on to dance a wondrous gift of worship to Him. He was inside with Gram and Grandpa helping them get ready to drive us south the next day. He was with my roommate in China. He was quieting my heart, whispering, "Peace, be still."

Some dear sisters in China recently wrote a beautiful song entitled, Whispers:

Maybe some day through my whispers I will get through to you. Maybe one day, and I hope it comes 'round soon, you'll encounter the truth.

I was reminded that I am not the only one who whispers though I do not wait, listening attentively to catch His whispers, I think He often whispers his messages of love to me. I am just too busy to listen. How much more would I escape the ensnarement of despair if I would slow down long enough to hear His whispers?  So that is where I write you from tonight. Battling despair, yet once again, Over and over again I hear in my head,

Why are you cast down, oh my should and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God and you will yet again praise His holy name!

And I know in my head that the morning is coming Hope is here now. He is whispering. So why can I not hear Him right now? I will cling to the hope that I have heard Him time and time again and I will keep crying out to Him. For my Abba hears me, and He will rescue me.
Here's to His attentive whispers. May we not block them out with the noise of our souls!

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I've proved Him o're and o're. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for grace to trust Him more!

In Shock

My jaw dropped as I got off the plane. Ray snickered and rolled her eyes and whispered, "Geez, control yourself, Jo!" I could not help my staring though. There was so much that was familiar, yet it all seemed so foreign all of the sudden. 
I felt out of place.
..................................
I guess in short, I'm looking back at the last couple of years and as all my memories start to blur together I am in shock to see just how much has happened. I know I said that in my year end blog, but I see how much MORE has happened that I didn't even count as "significant" because I was still in China.

Now that I'm back, it is a totally different story.

We got into Chicago and there were just way to many "foreigners" everywhere. And I walked between people who were taller than me! A normal experience for most of you, and while it does happen in China...actually rather often....there's a difference. Just take my word for it. I had to watch myself as my first response to most of what I saw was, "Whaaa" (in traditional Chinese style). Ray just rolled her eyes at me as she often reminded me to stop staring at people and not to make comments about people out loud- in English... I got accustomed to talking about people in front of them because no one can understand me in China... :P

We got in the car at the airport and started driving. I started squealing. I know, I can be a little pathetic at times, but when there are SO many places to eat everywhere I get super excited. No more dreaming about these places, I can actually GO there! We got to the hotel room and What happened? I fell onto an incredibly fluffy bed. I almost didn't move again. It was heaven and first touch. Wow. Went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and breakfast and I think I died both times. Did you know that they give you bottles of syrup there for your breakfast?  BOTTLES! And if you don't use it all there that day, they you get to take it home! Oh buddy. You better believe I came back with a purse load of syrup to take back with me. What a great country! On the way home that day, I found myself staring at road signs and semi-trucks and reading their every word. Obviously, it was in English! It must be important! Haha. Sigh. Welcome back to America, right?

The first two weeks back were spent mostly sleeping. A lot of thinking, a lot of praying, and a lot of sleeping. Jet lag was not so kind to me and I found myself pacing around or trying to figure out what to do at 3am and dog tired at 3pm. I think I am mostly over it now, but time will tell, I suppose. :)

Reflecting as I was walking around the pristine American dreamy neighborhoods and skipping from restaurant to restaurant to movie theatre to cookout and games of volleyball and corn hole, I found myself discontent with what I saw. One thing I have always struggled with is the idea of myself as a wife and mother, living in a pristine little house- the entire interior designed in a whimsical yet homey sort of creative way and the lawn perfectly manicured by my husband who, of course, will be a super hero at that kind of thing. And as I walked along or drove by houses I tried to imagine myself the owner and decorator of that house- cooking in the kitchen every day, playing with my kids in the house in the back yard every summer. At first the idea was brilliant. So "stress-free", so fun, so...so...perfect. The moment that word came into my mind it was like in a movie where someone's day dream ends abruptly. I suddenly couldn't imagine anything worse that. I was reminded again right there and right then as I was looking at a corner with three gorgeous northern Ohio houses that this world is not my home. This country does not hold His best for me- at least right now. I could never be content here as long as my calling is elsewhere. That was the moment I got homesick. For my other temporary home. So until He makes it clear and sends me elsewhere, I will call my little (big) turquoise and grey living room, tiny kitchen with zilcho counter space, and awesome multi-colored room with amazing twinkle lights, my perfect home. Even when the roaches wave their antennae at me from the plate I pull out of the cupboard.... I am reminded:

This is home.