"First Supper Send Off"

Last night was the first of a series of celebrations to send Lawren, my oldest daughter,  off to Berlin,  Germany on Tuesday.  During a mission trip to Katawice, Poland several years ago, the Lord began stirring her heart for Europe.  There is no other way to explain a lot about Lawren than to say her heart turned toward all that God was doing in Europe a long time ago. She drives a Jetta, dresses different than anyone else in the family, skypes regularly with missionary friends in Poland, and has been pursuing Europe for three years literally counting the days til graduation.

So, as the time nears we all are celebrating and blessing Lawren as she embarks on this new journey and enters into this new season of life.

When I first began planning last night's dinner, I considered calling it a "Last Supper" as Jesus had with his disciples just before the cross. The night Jesus washed their feet teaching them to love and serve others. But I thought that sounded quite morbid. However, as I pondered that last supper I realized that supper in history is actually why we were celebrating last night with Lawren.

Had Jesus not instructed his disciples to "wash one another's feet" and gone on to experience death on the cross then Lawren would have no heartfelt purpose for going and serving those unknown to her. It is the realization of all that Christ has done for us that propels each of us to greatness through loving and serving those around us...near and afar. Christ came to save all....those near and far.

Never again in scripture do we see a foot washing. In bible times, sandals were worn and there were no roads. So feet were filthy from hours and hours of walking. Jesus washing the disciples feet (only recorded in John) was a picture of how far one should go to practice servant leadership. There is no task too dirty or small for our Lord and neither is there for us who belong to him.

Not only did they have a foot washing at the Last Supper but they took the Lord's supper as well. Of course the disciples did not understand what they were doing because Jesus was yet to die. But Christ took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Realizing what Christ has done for myself as well as my family, we celebrated with the Lord's supper last night, praying over Lawren and blessing her. Our little group was small but that group with Christ was small. Yet, what happened that night followed quickly by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ catapulted Christianity with the birth of the church... Christ followers.

As a momma, it is with joy that I bless Lawren's journey and challenge each of you...

What is the event of the cross propelling each of you to do...who is the Father calling you to love and serve. How far is He asking you to go....how small or great a task, or how dirty a job does he have before you.