Jen Russum

Flowers Fade Friday: A Beautiful Inheritance

August 12, 2011

One time at our Missional Community Group this past spring, we somehow stumbled upon discussing the idea of "reward" in heaven. One guy in our group asked "If I want to out-do people on earth, so I have more reward than them in heaven, is that wrong?" Yes, our pastor replied. Thank goodness. I don't think acting out of "selfish ambition" (Philippians 2 happened to be what were studying that night) - sinfully competing with your neighbor to earn God's blessing - is really going to get you any type of reward on earth OR in heaven. A girl in our group piped up and said that JESUS is our reward in heaven, which was considered the "John Piper" answer {ummm...I totally agreed with her, because I think John Piper is right...but moving on...}. And another guy asked, why use the term "reward" at all then, if reward just means salvation or eternal life with Christ? In his defense, he was kind of playing devil's advocate/thinking out loud and it was a super interesting discussion... For some reason, I felt really fired up about all this. Just salvation? How could anyone even compare our idea of earthly rewards (money, fame, material goods, comfort, praise and acknowledgement) to the glory and goodness of KNOWING God and living eternally with Him? First, I have to admit that a few years ago, I might have had some of the same questions about reward, but as I see more and more of God's grace and goodness in my own life, and reflect on the love He has for me that covers all my awful sin, the last thing in the world I am thinking about is what kind of "rewards" I will get in heaven. Are you kidding me? I get to go to heaven?!?! As humans, I think we have such a limited understanding of what ETERNAL life with God means...how much value there is in that alone...that we seek to compare salvation to the rewards of this earth. After all, Paul does say: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" (I Cor. 13:12). I guess it makes sense that the idea of heavenly reward is confusing since we are not in heaven yet. So this question about reward led me back to the Bible to search out what God really says about reward. For some reason, over the past twenty years or so (or maybe it just seems like the last twenty years, because those are the years I have been alive to see), it seems like there has been this growing idea about reward in heaven, an obsession with being honored by God there, the whole idea that good deeds on earth will result in jewels in one's crown later on or gifts or prizes or something like that. But the Bible doesn't really talk about reward as jewels at all. Here are some examples: The Psalmist David writes in reference to God's commands: "Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." (Psalm 19:11). What is the reward here? Well, first of all following God's Word prevents us from folly and hardship (it "warns" us about sin). But secondly, the reward of following God is to have assurance of salvation and ever-increasing growth of character. The reward is NOT trying to be more obedient so God will reward you. The reward is being a more holy, obedient child of God. Jesus says to his disciples "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6). I don't know exactly what Jesus meant by this, but it seems to indicate some kind of earthly blessing. Intimacy with God perhaps. God's favor toward the prayer itself. Some kind of other blessing for obedience. It seems like a simple example of the way that God longs to reward and bless his obedient children during their earthly lives. Paul says: What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (I Corinthians 9:18). Here Paul is talking about his responsibility and calling to share the Gospel. His reward IS getting to share the Gospel. How I wish I could be more like Paul.... And now my two favorites... The writer of Hebrews, in the Hall of Faith, explains that Moses chose to forsake his comfortable Egyptian upbringing to live with his poor, enslaved Israelite poeple because "He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward" (Hebrews 11:26). Moses did not really know of Christ like we know of Him. He probably had some vague idea that God would send a Messiah, but even that was likely pretty hazy. Yet, he was willing to suffer as Christ did, because He knew that God was great and worth suffering for. His reward was in heaven. In this same passage, the writer talks about all those who died without seeing much, if any, earthly blessing for their faith. Abel was brutally murdered by his brother. Noah lived through the flood. Abraham wandered around and lived in tents in order to obey God. Yet these men "all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth... But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:13-16). The reward for their faith is to dwell with God in a heavenly city. And I'm pretty sure the ultimate reward is seeing the One who has prepared that city for us. And finally, I think Colossians 3 says it best: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward (Colossians 3:23-24). Our inheritance is life with God. To be counted as sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. To be the brothers and sisters of our Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else pales in comparison. Any other blessing or reward is "rubbish" compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). I'm not saying that blessings won't abound in heaven. I can't even imagine the goodness that awaits us there. The Bible doesn't say that much about it in detail, but Jesus promised he was returning to prepare a place for us there, and I know there is going to be an amazing feast when the bridegroom, Jesus, celebrates with His bride, the chuch. Other than that, I don't really know what heaven's rewards will look like... except that I know I will get to see the Father and the Son face to face, and there is NO better reward than that. ... Read more

Best Broccoli!

August 11, 2011

I grew up hating vegetables. Like I pretty much despised them all except for lettuce and potatoes. And those are hardly vegetables....more like water and starch. My parents never forced me to eat anything, but there was a rule at dinner that you had to try everything on your plate if you wanted dessert. Well, of course, I wanted dessert! Are you kidding me? We were totally an ice cream family and I wanted my chocolate chip mint after dinner. So I made up a silly rule for myself. When my mom would make peas or corn {the two most common veggies served in our house - blech! - still don't like them}, I decided I would eat as many kernels as my age. So if I was seven, I would eat seven kernels of corn and so on... Except I didn't really eat them. I swallowed them like pills with my juice, so I would actually have to taste them! Yes, it's true. But I always got my dessert... Fast forward about 18 years. Micah and I were dating and were on the path to marriage, except there was one problem. I was 25 years old and I still didn't like vegetables. Micah likes vegetables... he wanted to eat vegetables when he got married...he wanted his wife to cook him vegetables...so he set off on a mission to make me like vegetables... and it WORKED! He explained to me that most kids grow up hating vegetables because they are cooked poorly and one bad batch can leave the wrong impression. Vegetables are easy to overcook and busy parents often don't season them properly. Whatever the reason, he explained that I had probably been served gross vegetables growing up {sorry Mom!} and that he was going to show me that they could taste good. We started with broccoli and asparagus. We would steam them, but not overcook them {so they still had a slight crunch}, and season them in lots of different ways. It got the point where I tolerated them. I could eat a small portion for dinner. Then I discovered fresh green beans {preferably the french-style petite kind}. Steam them and add some sea salt, pepper, and garlic and they are GOOD! As in, I actually enjoyed eating a full serving. Whoa. It only took about 26 years. Fast forward, two more years. First year of marriage. I came across a little recipe in Real Simple that changed my vegetable intake forever! This recipe recommended seasoning my broccoli with red pepper and roasting it in the oven! I cannot even tell you how good it is. You must try it for yourself! This is coming from someone who hated vegetables for a QUARTER of a century, so you must believe me. Here is what you do. Preheat your oven to 350. Chop up some broccoli. I always just buy a couple crowns at the grocery store {Super inexpensive! Usually one crown feeds Micah and me; I buy two if we are having guests}. I like my trees as little as possible, because even though I love the taste of this recipe, I still get uncomfortable taking BIG bites of veggies. The bigger trees always go on Micah's plate; the smaller pieces go on mine. Put the broccoli in a small mixing bowl and pour some olive oil over the pieces {maybe 2-3 tablespoons}. Stir the broccoli and oil around until every piece has some oil on it. They don't need to be drenched or anything. Spread the broccoli out in one layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle salt and/or a seasoning salt like Johnny's or Lawry's over every piece. {I use Johnny's and love it!} Sprinkle a little bit of ground cayenne red pepper over broccoli {ideally a little will hit every piece, but you don't want TOO much or it will have a little too much kick}. Pop that tray in the oven for 8-10 minutes {until broccoli turns to a deeper, brighter green}. It helps to stir/flip the broccoli after about five minutes, but it's not necessary. Serve immediately. You will LOVE it! {I bet my mom never thought she would see me put vegetables on my plate willingly! Ha!} P.S. If you are lazy {like me}, you can skip the bowl step. Just spread your broccoli out on a baking sheet and drizzle a little olive oil over every piece then add the seasonings. I definitely suggest stirring once during baking if you use this method, so the oil gets mixed around a little bit. P.P.S. This exact recipe/method tastes great on asparagus as well! ... Read more

Wordy Birdie

August 9, 2011

Earlier this summer, I was out shopping with two of my favorite ladies, Anne and Lisa, and I found the inspiration for this project. We were on a mission that evening to find Lisa a cheese board, so we were visiting all the key home stores - Pottery Barn, Crate, West Elm, etc. As we browsed West Elm, I came across this little bird. I liked it, but I made myself a rule when we moved into our apartment last year that I wouldn't buy anything for our home until we had a house we were planning to settle down in. I guess buying a little bird isn't really the same thing as buying a big piece of furniture that doesn't work right in your next house, but I still generally avoid the home stores all together so I don't get tempted. Plus, this little bird cost $10. Not unreasonable, but just not worth it. I decided I could make it. {west elm} It only took me two trips to the thrift store to find a bird to suffice for this project. I found the little guy below sometime in June and put him in my closet to work on after all our summer trips. I think he cost $2.00. At first I didn't know if this bird would work. It's bigger than the West Elm bird and made out of heavy glass like a thick porcelain or something, plus he doesn't have legs. But now that I'm done with the project, I love the way he turned out. {before} On my next trip to the thrift store, I scored an old dictionary for 25 cents. That makes the total cost of this project $2.25. That's it! Plus, I'm sure I will use the dictionary again for future projects. So here is what I did: I got out the bird, the dictionary, scissors, a small paintbrush, and a bottle of Mod Podge I already had in my craft box. Other than that I found it helpful to keep a damp cloth on hand to wipe my hands off and clean up Mod Podge drips. Limited supplies = awesome. I cut up lots of definitions from the dictionary. Some bigger pieces with multiple definitions on them and some smaller pieces with just one or two words to fill in the gaps. I then Mod Podged the pieces to the bird, starting at the tail and working forward. The hardest part was wrapping the paper around the edges of the hole in the middle of the bird. However, the more Mod Podge the better at this point. I would just get the paper extremely wet with MP and use my fingers instead of the paint brush to press and mold the paper to the bird in the tricky areas around the edge and anywhere else the bird was very curved. By the time I got done {probably about an hour, maybe a little more} the back of the bird was completely dry and looked great. I gave the face part another layer of MP and let it sit to dry. My favorite part of this project was getting to look through all the words and pick ones I wanted to put on my bird. {I am an English major after all...} Here are some of my favorite words that are now displayed on the bird:adventure, gray, July, Olympic games, plume, bookworm, firework, kite, espresso, tyrannosaurus, tenacious, bicycle, Old Testament onomatopoeia, midwife, filet mignon And here are a few that just didn't make the cut:temptress, grave, daddy longlegs, firing line, pneumonia, typhoid, KKK And here is my finished little bird, sitting on our dresser. Love him. I think the options for this project are endless. You can choose any shape of figurine and you can use any type of book pages - an old novel, Bible verses, poetry, whatever strikes your fancy! You should try it! *Linking up with It's Overflowing!* ... Read more