What do you see in the basin?

Monday August 12, 2013

Basin: a bowl for washing. An open, shallow, usually round container.

Yes, but there’s much more there than meets the eye.

I hope I never stop discovering the richness of the gospels!

Each story—most taught to me when I was tiny—is full of Christ. Not just full of His actions, but brimming over with His heart.

I’m amazed—and encouraged—that even though I’ve heard these stories for years, there is so much more of Him to discover. (And thankful, too, to my pastor for leading us to the wealth.)

Take a look at that basin. The one used to wash those disciples’ feet in the Upper Room.

Did you realize the basin made its debut in the middle of the meal? John 13:2-4 tell us that the meal was being served and Jesus got up from the meal, girded Himself with the towel, and grabbed the basin.

Feet were usually washed when one entered at the door, but this was a secret meeting, one without preparation. There was no servant there. Correction: there was but one Servant there. The disciples, in fact, had just been arguing about who would sit on Jesus’s right and left in His kingdom. You can be sure they weren’t of the mindset to wash feet.

So Christ did.

And in the washing of those feet, the wielding of the basin and towel, we see:

Jesus’s authenticity. He IS the real. John 13:4 says, “He showed them the full extent of His love”—in the foot washing. That statement doesn’t precede the cross, it introduces Christ’s humble act of washing the disciples’ feet. When we humble ourselves to serve others, we show how real our faith really is. Christ showed His love and introduced His sacrifice by donning a towel and picking up a basin. It was real, practical, rubber-meets-the-road love.

Christ’s unconditional love. The savior became servant that day. In one simple act, He said, “I want to take care of even the dust of your feet. Nothing that touches your life is insignificant.”

And He didn’t just say that to the faithful. Remember who was there? Judas would betray, Peter would deny, the rest would flee…but Christ’s actions said, “I will love you.”

Humility—gift and necessity. He gave a humble gift that day. But a gift has to be received. We have to humble ourselves—admit that we need Him—and be served by Him. We have to open our hearts and lives, show Him our dirty feet, and let Him cleanse us.

There’s so much there. In the basin of servanthood, blessings abound!

• He shows the extent of His love in practical ways in my life.
• He loves even when I flee—and He will tomorrow, too.
• He can deal with the dirt of my life.

Bring on the basin.


I'm linking up with Laura, Michelle, and Jen today.

Remember Thursday.

Thursday March 28, 2013


Sunday is the culmination, the pinnacle. It’s the real victory. It comes inevitably on the heels of the day we’ve named “good.”

But Thursday is often overlooked. Many don’t know it has its own name – Maundy Thursday.

(Derived through Middle English and Old French mande, from the Latin mandatum, it is the first word [commandment] of John 13:34: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you.”)

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are the stars of the season, but without the foundation Christ lay on Thursday, His disciples would have been scratching their heads all the more.
  

On Thursday, He commanded them to love as He does.

He washed their feet.

He broke bread with them, connecting Himself, the Passover sacrifice, and the bread of life all in one simple meal.

Thursday lent meaning to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the disciples.

Its meaning for me?

To love as He does.

To serve another, “washing his or her feet.”

To share the bread of life.

This year, remember Thursday.

Originally posted Easter Week 2011.

Empty Vessels

Friday July 20, 2012

It’s been a busy week! We’re gearing up to take Andrew, our son, back to Kentucky soon, so there’s lots to do. But it’s a happy busy.

I'm linking up today with Susanne of Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five.

Here are my favorites for this week:

1. Sweet neighbors. We run in and out to physical therapy and doctor appointments and don’t spend a lot of time standing out in the heat to talk. I miss that. But we have some neighbors who have been so sweet during this time. One shared with my husband today that she saw Andrew walking to the car with a cane and just had to go share his recovery with a friend on the phone. She reminded us that she’d been praying for Andrew. Means so much.

2. Family! Bundled up in the trip will be an opportunity to travel with another of our sons and to see Aiden, his sweet mom, my mom, and some close family friends. It’ll be great. So much to look forward to.

3. Good news for a writer friend. She’s not ready to share publicly yet, but things are looking very good for a book contract. She is one of those writers who really works at her craft, and she's so incredibly talented. I’m so excited for her! I’ll share more as soon as I can.

4. A husband who says, “How can I help you?” Just tonight as I was cleaning up the kitchen, he asked. He’s always been such a servant, a man of action. We heard a great sermon last Sunday about having an attitude of service in the family—I posted on it earlier this week.

5. This quote:

“God gives His gifts where He finds the vessel empty enough to receive them.” (C.S. Lewis)

Sometimes our lives are so filled up…with just stuff. It seems so important and, in a second, we see it’s just really not. We don’t always ask for those times—ask to be emptied. But I’m thinking we really should. When all the “stuff” is stripped away, it’s just amazing to me what we see of Him. That’s my big thanks for the last six months.

Wishing you a happy week,


Photo credit

Healthy Marriage, Healthy Family

Monday July 15, 2012

I sigh.

I roll my eyes.

I shake my head.

And those are just the nonverbal reactions…don’t get me going on how I might whine.

I’m pretty sure my attitude is not always a joyful, willing one when it comes to serving.

Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages and more, says the first sign of a healthy family is an attitude of service.

Those familiar verses in Ephesians 5:15 – 6:4 give us plenty of instruction to help us toward a healthy, godly lifestyle. (Yes, those are the “submit” verses, among others.)

Consider the verbs there: love, submit, obey, instruct. All of those indicate an attitude of service.

And you know the good thing about service? It’s hard to say no to.

“What can I do for you?”
“Would you like some help with that?”
“Do you want me to grill tonight so you don’t have to cook?”

It’s hard to reject.

And two more good things about service.

It’s contagious. When someone unselfishly serves you, you find yourself wanting to pass it on.

And it’s always there. Sometimes service is given more cheerfully than other times, but even in the worst of times or the least ideal of families, dinner is fixed, bills are paid, and the laundry is done.

So acknowledge it. Appreciate it. Share it. Celebrate it.

To your husband: “Thanks for working so hard for us.” “Thanks for making the lawn look great.”
To your children: “I love the way you help your little sister with her shoes.” “Thanks for not arguing about that.”

Encouragement helps create a servant spirit, an attitude of service.

In most families, the little apples don’t fall far from the tree—so model service for your children.

Encourage it. Share it. (“How did you serve someone today?”) Celebrate it.

The impact of a servant family goes far beyond its four walls.

So when tempted to sigh or roll my eyes, I need to set my mind on the One I’m to model.

The One who washed feet.
Born in a feed trough though rightly a king.
Bruised and striped and scarred for me.
The One who has me “engraved on the palms of [His] hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

Joining Laura, Jen, and Michelle with words from the heart.