Dirt

Via

This song is SO GOOD.

Abraham was scared to die, forsook his wife within a lie
I think I know the reason why; cause he was made of dirt
Joseph's coat was full of pride, the blood of goats won't wash you white if I was his brother, 

I'd have lied and left him in the dirt

Moses never entered in to land he thought was promised him; 

he took his people 'round again to pick manna from the dirt
Solomon became so wise with many wifes and concubines, 

he fell for every single lie, yeah, his head was full of dirt

David's where I got my name, abusing power, abusing fame 

he stole a girl, her husband slain, left six feet in the dirt
and peter fell to his own shame, denied his love, denied his name, 

he ran away when the people came to nail him to the dirt

Samson only thought it fair to let that witch come cut his hair 

and look through eyes no longer there as he crushed them in the dirt
and paul would sit upon his throne 

and kill us with the biggest stones and wrestle with a thorn unknown, 

a thorn up from the dirt

but if the nations had a father, 

then joseph would redeem his brother, 

moses held the waters up, 

david would become your love, 

solomon would build the temple, 

samson came to destroy evil, 

peter soon became the rock 

and paul would lead the roman flock 

and it's all that I can do 

to keep my eyes off You, 

and it's all that You can do 

to keep me, keep me, keep me new

All that I can see is that You can't see the dirt in me
all that I can see is that You can't see the dirt in me
all that I can see is that You can't see the dirt in me
and all that I can see is You

The Seder

Our community group shared in a traditional Seder meal the week before Easter. It was a wonderful evening filled with lots of wine, delicious food, and rich tradition. I had never attended a Seder before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I loved it. We looked to the past and shared in the meal Jesus shared with his disciples right before he was crucified, but the story didn't end there. We read traditional Jewish liturgies and read scriptures that proclaimed the fulfillment of a promised messiah and of Christ as our savior. The Seder was the perfect way to welcome Holy Week as a family. 

Dear Refuge of my Weary Soul

Dear refuge of my weary soul,

On Thee, when sorrows rise

On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,

My fainting hope relies

To Thee I tell each rising grief,

For Thou alone canst heal

Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,

For every pain I feel

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,

I fear to call Thee mine

The springs of comfort seem to fail,

And all my hopes decline

Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?

Thou art my only trust

And still my soul would cleave to Thee

Though prostrate in the dust

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,

And shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sovereign grace,

Be deaf when I complain?

No still the ear of sovereign grace,

Attends the mourner's prayer

Oh may I ever find access,

To breathe my sorrows there

Thy mercy seat is open still,

Here let my soul retreat

With humble hope attend Thy will,

And wait beneath Thy feet,

Thy mercy seat is open still,

Here let my soul retreat

With humble hope attend Thy will,

And wait beneath Thy feet

Hymn Sing

We went to an Indelible Grace Hymn Sing at the seminary in town last night with our community group. It was wonderful. I didn't take any pictures, but my 4-year-old partner in crime for the evening sure did! 

Hymn Sing: A Photo Series by Gabsters. 

I love the pictures she took of her little feet. How cute are her rain boots? Also, her chapel picture is quite good if I do say so. She "wanted to a take a picture of the singers so she could remember them". 

I love living in community with kids. It is such a joy to get to know their little personalities and hearts, and it's a beautiful thing to worship with them. Gabsters sang her heart out to Amazing Grace while I held her last night. It doesn't get much better than that. My heart was pure mush. 

Community Dinner

Every Monday night we gather together with fifteen of our neighbors for a family dinner. We are united not only by neighborhood boundaries, but by our desire to build genuine community through studying, speaking and sharing the Gospel. Monday's are sweet time of conversation, laughter, insane amounts of good food, and lots of red wine. We spend time sharing how our weeks have been, playing and drawing on the chalkboard wall with the two amazing kids in our group, telling the stories of Christ's redeeming work in our lives, admitting where we're struggling and where we need prayer, taking communion, and discussing how we can encourage and serve our neighbors.

We feast together. As we gather around the table for a meal our community is strengthened and knit together, and this is precisely why I love food and why I love to cook.

Living intentionally in community is not always easy and certainly can be a strain on comfort and free time, but it also incredibly rewarding to see the Holy Spirit at work within our group and our neighborhood. God calls us to live in community. Practically for our group it looks like this:  helping our neighbors move, helping our group member get around and grocery shop with a broken leg, hosting bar-b-ques, lazy Saturday breakfasts and super bowl parties, inviting our neighbors to events, delivering meals, meeting for coffee, daydreaming up a community garden, meeting with small groups to study and memorize scripture, praying for one another, going to the hard places in conversation and challenging each other in where we are not believing the Gospel, celebrating birthdays and weddings and anniversaries, babysitting, attending neighborhood association meetings and community fundraisers, opening our home outside of Mondays and worshiping together at church on Sundays.

 

If you are interested in the idea of Missional Community, I encourage you to watch this video. I cry every single time.

Bread Making

I made our bread for the first time ever this week. 

It was such a joy. It may have taken forever, but it was well worth it. We are now spending the week noshing on yummy, whole wheat bread. I think this will quickly become a weekly tradition.

There's something really special about spending more than 30 minutes on a recipe and preparing something that will serve your family well. I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen praying over our home, my husband, and the people who will eat what I'm making. I cherish that time. It's full of worship.

There's also something really special about your house being filled with warm bread smells. There is really nothing better.

I used Summer Harms' Honey Whole Wheat Recipe. It turned out perfect, and she really just has the cutest blog ever. You'll love it. I know you will.

 

My favorite way to enjoy a slice of toasted homemade bread is with a good ol' fashioned 'mater sandwich.  If you've never had a tomato sandwich with Duke Mayonnaise, I feel sorry for you. I can't wait for tomato season to get here.

I am so my mother's daughter. 

Happy Friday! Go do something fun this weekend, OK?

The Communion Dinner

My husband has been at a conference here in town this week put on by Bifrost Arts called: Liturgy, Music & Space.

I think I could write several blog posts about what we've shared in through this conference this week and how it has encouraged and inspired us, and I just might.

But last night takes the cake. It was such an incredible and valued experience.

As part of the conference they hosted a Communion Dinner. A local chef, and seminary grad, who runs an underground dinner monthly here in St. Louis prepared a delicious family-style meal. We have been dying to check out one of these dinners, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out I got to be a part of this. He took time to share with us about the connection between faith and food and how it is no coincidence that we are called to break bread and drink wine corporately as communion.

This dinner enforced everything I feel about food. It's more than just nutrition, it's more than just delicious... It builds community. Community is shaped and celebrated around the table.

The tables were set around a around a group of musicians (including a harp!) who led us through a liturgy and hymn communion service. Then we all broke bread off of crusty warm baguettes, poured each other glasses red wine and shared in an rich and delicious meal.

My mind is already whirling with ideas about how we can replicate this in our home with our community, and I have every intention of doing so. Experiences like this can't just stay a memory. They're gifts given to be shared.





I only had enough light to catch a decent photo of the first course. So, here's a run down on what we ate. I will not do this justice since we didn't have a written menu, but I'll do my best.

First Course:
Communion - Bread and Wine

Vegetable Courses:

• Endive in meyer lemon sauce with toasted pistachios
• Red and golden beats roasted in molasses with feta and toasted walnuts
• Roasted carrots (with some amazing sauce i can't remember) topped with goat cheese. Everything is better with goat cheese.
• Potatoes fried in duck fat (thank you God.) topped with a salsa Verde made from fennel stalks

Main Course:
Melt in your mouth braised pork shoulder .. Oh Yeah.

I loved last night, and I only got to go because Jake had to work. Thank you Jake for passing along your ticket. I love you. I love you. I love you.

My heart is so full.
I love this week.