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I recently made a trek across the ocean to spend some long overdue time with family and friends. The trip, involving a shuttle, a 3 hour bus ride, a taxi, a 1 hour plane ride, a 13 hour plane ride, and a 3 hour car ride, took about 28 hours to complete. Between only sleeping about 4 hours in the 28 hour trip and the 8 hour time difference, I felt like death for at least a week. 

My first thoughts after landing was that it felt normal to be there. It didn't feel like almost two and a half years had passed. Instead it felt like I picked up right where I left off. One of the strangest feelings was when I saw my niecphews. They had changed the most and in some ways it felt like I don't really know these kids. 

Bathrooms are gigantic here. Seriously. The first picture is at the airport and I could easily get in the stall with my carry on. It was glory. The second was at a fast-food place. It was big enough to fit several bathrooms into one. 

I was able to go on a field trip with Zekey-buddy. He was so excited and just kept hugging me over and over. I met his teacher and she told me she had heard so much about me. Presh.

We planned a camping trip while I was there. This was our go-to vacation while I was a child and I remember it being quite restful. It was a nice time minus the strong cold winds that were there a few days. 

In the days of my new life overseas, I had dreams about coming back home. I dreamt of hugging my family and eating the sushi pictured below. So, yes, my American priorities are 1. Family 2. Sushi. I was actually disappointed with most of the pined for foods that I ate. Most of them were not as awesome as I remembered. But the sushi that plagued my dreams, it was every bit as delicious as I had remembered. 

I spent the night with the niecphews one night. We all slept in the same room. Zeke and I were accidentally pajama twinsies.

We had family pictures one weekend when the whole gang was together. Of course I had to throw in one outtakes picture. 

Lent Thoughts

I decided to observe Lent this year. I spent the 40 days doing a devotional called Journey to the Cross and reading and A Hunger for God. I wanted to share here some of the highlights from my time of meditating during Lent. 

“Fasting involves rending the heart, tearing it from self-absorption and binding yourself (mind and devotion) to Jesus.” -Journey to the Cross

“The point of giving things up is not to be reminded of how much we miss them, but rather to be awakened to how much we miss God and long for his life-giving Spirit.” -JTTC

“When we feel the pains of hunger, the habitual desire to watch TV, the consuming desire to buy something, our thoughts turn here: “Search me, O God.” We want to know the ways that sin has entangled us, blinded our perception, distorted our tastes, and weakened our desires.” -JTTC

Psalm 106 Forgetting is wickedness. God is good. - Thoughts from the Word  

“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23). This is a strong warning against any simplistic view of fasting that thinks it will automatically do a person spiritual good. It is not that simple. “Severity to the body” may only feed a person’s flesh with more self-reliance.” - Piper

“Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from God.” -JTTC

“Our consumerism is rooted in a lack of faith. We are worried about what others think because we are not convinced that God delights in us (Psalm 149:4). We are anxious because we do not believe God will meet our needs (Matthew 6:32). We vie for attention because we do not think God rewards what is done in secret (Matthew 6:6). We compare ourselves to others because we forget that Jesus is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). A consumer is self-seeking because he is preoccupied with building his own kingdom in order to meet his own needs. During Lent, Jesus especially calls us to re-right our lives, to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).” -JTTC

“In other words, the humble person knows who he is, and whose he is.

This is the secret to Jesus’ remarkable humility. Even as a child, Jesus was about his Father’s business. People always questioned his identity, but he was not thrown off by their doubt or criticism (Mark 8:27-30). When the crowds were mocking to Jesus, he withdrew to prayer. He did not need the approval of the masses because he was rooted in the words that came down from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Without any hubris, Jesus could say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Without self-concern, Jesus could say, “The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death” (Mark 10:33). Jesus lived and died for us.

In contrast to pride and fear, the humility we see in Jesus is marked by dependence and confidence. If we aspire to walk in this path, we will have to think with sober judgment. We will have to be clear-eyed about who we are and whose we are. Where do we get this kind of clarity?

The gospel tells us who we are: We are made in the image of God, created in his likeness for his glory. This truth speaks to both our dignity and our dependence. Before and after the fall, people need God in every aspect of life, “for in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).” -JTTC

“Greatness in the kingdom always involves a cross.” -JTTC

“Christian fasting is not self-wrought discipline that tries to deserve more from God. It is a hunger for God awakened by the taste of God freely given in the gospel.” -Piper

“We are justified by his suffering, and we are sanctified by ours.” -JTTC

“The paradox of suffering is that it is actually a gift  – one we might like at times to give back – but a gift nonetheless. God gives us suffering as a way of giving us himself, for it is in our suffering that we become acutely aware of his presence and power. Hardship empties us of our self-reliance so that we might soak in what it means that we are children of God, chosen by God and in covenant relationship with him—the very covenant purchased by Christ’s blood.

The Israelites in the wilderness and Christ on the cross both stand as a testament, old and new, that God does not forsake his people.”

“Your love is steadfast on repeat. You are faithful no matter if we are.” -Thoughts from the Word

“Mere complaining indicates a lack of intimacy with God. Because lament is a form of prayer, lament transforms our cries and complaints into worship. - Biblical lament affirms that suffering is real and spiritually significant, but not hopeless.” -JTTC

“Not resting is the behavior of slaves.” -JTTC

Piper

“We are less sensitive to spiritual appetites when we are in the bondage of physical ones.” - Piper 

“(Luke 12:36). I refer to this as a stunning parable because it portrays the returning Christ as a “master” who nevertheless “will dress himself for service and have them [his servants] recline at table, and he will come and serve them” (Luke 12:37). This takes the breath away. The one we wait for, who will come in the clouds with the holy angels and the glory of his Father and terrify the nations—this one will magnify his greatness in mercy and servanthood and make himself the servant of our joy forever. Not even after the second coming will he be “served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:25).

“He will usher in his kingdom in full—a new earth where only righteousness dwells. A land of promise—where there is life, abundance, satisfaction, delight, and rest.” -JTTC

“Giver of life, we wait with you to offer the hope that comes from the cross to earth’s darkest places. Where pain is deep and affection is denied: let love break through. - Where truth is trampled underfoot, let the struggle continue.” -JTTC 

“Are we still needing to ask for mercy? Have we not yet learned the freedom from sin, fear, and shame and our place with you after all this time. Indeed we have not. Have mercy.” -Thoughts from the Word

I listened to the song ‘Touch the Sky’ a lot and loved these lines:

I found my life when I laid it down

I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground

What treasure waits within Your scars

This gift of freedom gold can't buy

I bought the world and sold my heart

You traded heaven to have me again