30 Down ... sheesh.

So, this past week I was really contemplating what turning 30 will produce in me.  I knew that there were some things that I wanted to really make stick looking back on the past thirty YEARS.  It felt like something big was to be decided.  I wanted to make a decision or two and dig down deep with those decisions... make the roots go down deep.

I woke up yesterday without any specifics on my mind.  Yet, I wasn't discouraged.

Had a modest birthday... probably a good thing.  Heather asked me about turning 30 and it, almost immediately, prompted some answers for me.

I had a time this past week being able to lead some elementary kids into worship at church with some very close friends.  It was really, really amazing.  I love it.

After the worship session, we found ourselves chatting--hanging out.  We were definitely enjoying each other's friendship and company and basking in the good time we just had with the kids singing to God and worshipping Him together.

Suddenly, I find myself slipping into my sarcastic mode and joking around with some close friends.  I don't know what got into me, but I started teasing some of my friends (in love, of course) and ended up probably joking too much with them.

After some apologies and forgiveness, I realized how quickly I can slip back into doing my own thing and losing the mindset I have when worshipping God.

This glimpse that I got into myself has created some resolve not to blend back into the fabric of society and shallowness in my friendships with people whom I love and respect.

So, here's 3 things that I look forward to tackling with 30 years under my feet and behind my back:

1)  Create "worship pairings."  I used to work for a green-logoed, coffee chain where we had a business technique of offering the 'perfect food pairing' with a cup of coffee.  Now, I don't know if this was legit, or just a clever marketing ploy to get people to buy a muffin when they bought their coffee.  I learned that effect blend/roast of coffee from *$ has a perfect food flavor that compliments the coffee.  The right food and the right coffee roast would create the 'perfect pairing.'  One item complimented the other just right as to create a more full and more rich consuming experience...BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Yet, this is a good picture for what I think could be a practical step to adding depth to my worship time with God.  It's amazing how I can expect to have (and often do) such an deep, intimate connection and view of God when I sing to Him and worship Him the right way (most often at the big church building), yet when I leave the big church building it is SO easy to lost that connection because of the distractions of life 'n' such.  I want to, now, be even more deliberate with my worship.  The worship that I give to God so earnestly in the big church building should have insane and life-changing implications, ramifications, and other "-ications" that are obviously evident to people around me.  IF I claim to have been in the presence of the God of everything, shouldn't my actions be reflective of that... especially in a timely fashion?

I suggest (to myself) that I pair my worship to God in the big church building with an act of mercy and justice outside of the big church building.  I want an extension of that worship to be visible and connected to the invisible.

Simply, do something for someone that shows that my worship for God is real... not confined to a big concrete box.

2)  I want to be made aware of the things that are wrong with me.  Here I am talking about those subtle, little things that I assume are 'part of me' or that I might not even notice until it's way too late.  I already aware of the obvious, glaring ugly things in my life (and I equally hate them).  But, now, with 30 year old eyeballs and a redeemed eyeball of the heart, I'd like to become more aware of these things (like my sarcasm, and seemingly harmless joking) that tear down my relationships and my relationship with Jesus.

Wow, kinda scary actually looking at what I just typed.  (shrug).

3)  I really need to let more people see and hear what following Jesus means for my life.  I want to be a better friend.  I want to be a friend to those who NEED a friend-- a good friend.  I want to SHOW the Good News, not just speak it.  People need to see that what I believe is real-- not just words on a page to be proved to someone.  Feet to the pavement type of stuff, ya know?

dnez