Sunday: Focus on the Savior (with Jennifer Officer)

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I am first and foremost a daughter of God, saved out of my own personal rebellion and control.  God took a life that looked fine on the outside, but was broken beyond recognition.   After He healed me, He healed my marriage to the love of my life.  My husband and I parent two wonderful children who are too quickly approaching independence.  I serve as the children’s pastor at the church where I grew up. I began blogging in late 2010, thinking that I was going to attempt a 365 picture project.  (I think I lasted 52 days.)  Out of guilt for my ever-present lack of perfection (anybody else?) I was only a sporadic blogger for several months.  However, as 2011 came to a close, I realized that I could use my blog as an accountability partner – a world-wide obedience tracker – for what God speaks into my life.   Since no one but me, and occasionally my mom, read my blog, I am free to be honest about my struggle and fear and heart-felt desire to follow God with everything I’ve got.  When my page views are high, it’s only because I am struggling and desperate to remember what God has spoken to me. I most enjoy cooking and opening my home to people as a ministry – whether lunch and Bible study with a precious group of women on Fridays or cookies with teenagers.

I blog over at Jennifer Officer.

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I can appreciate that some people do not like to cook.


I do not like to garden.


I tried it.  When we got married and moved into our home, I immediately planted roses.  My mother grew beautiful roses.  Wives were supposed to grow beautiful roses.


So I cajoled my sweet man into digging up a rose bed and proceeded to spend way too much money for a newly married couple on rose plants.


I learned something about myself.


I do not like to garden.


When it is hot and humid outside(which is frequently here in TN), I prefer the swimming pool or at the very least the air conditioning. It is hard to tend your roses from either of those places.


I gave up gardening.


Sometimes I forget that I don't like it and I do something ridiculous.  Like plant something.

It never ends well.


But cooking...


There I find my pace.


I have felt like God's Word to me this year was to pursue love.

My problem is that in pursuing a Godly marriage, ministry, parenting, a clean house, folded laundry - I forget to pursue love.


Until I slow down and begin to mix the ingredients for a blueberry scone.  For no reason except that I have some blueberries going south quickly and I don't like wasting food.


So, with worship music cranked loud and kitchen warm from preheating oven, I bake.  And I slow down to pray for people - for soldiers who are recovering, friends who are waiting, people who are searching.  As the butter meets the flour and the songs fill my house, I slow down and do the act of love that is most beneficial - I lift my soul to the Only One who is my Help.

                 He on whom we have set our hope.  And He will yet deliver us... 2 Corinthians 1:10

And the beauty of frozen, grated butter meets with the lyrics of a song that played from my daddy's radio years ago

Why me Lord

What have I ever done to deserve even one

Of the pleasures I've known

Tell me Lord

What did I ever do that was worth love from you

Or the kindness you've shown

Lord help me Jesus I've wasted it so

Help me Jesus, you know what I am

Now that I know that I've needed you so

Help me Jesus my soul's in your hands

Try me Lord

If you think there's a way I can ever repay what I've taken from you

Maybe Lord

I can show someone else what I've learned myself

On my way back to you

Lord help me Jesus I've wasted it so

Help me Jesus, you know who I am

But now that I know that I've needed you so

Help me Jesus my soul's in your hands

Help me Jesus my soul's in your hands

David Crowder Band - Why Me?

And the tears pour down my face because that is me:  undeserving of His pleasures and His love.

And I pray that as I meet this year of pursuing love that I could show someone else what I have learned myself.

I challenge you to find the thing that helps you slow your pace and turn your face toward heaven.  Have you found it?