I did not attend Sunday Morning worship at my church downtown today. My husband took Emily and Isaac, while I stayed home with Mackenzie. She’s been sick this week, and still had a touch of a fever yesterday, so we didn’t want to put her in the nursery. Normally I really enjoy going and I’m disappointed when I have to miss. But, today I decided to be thankful in my situation.
I also decided to worship in my kitchen, while making a homemade apple pie.
Now, in case you think otherwise, I assure you that the two go well together. My pie baking experience up until now has been very limited. Today was the first day that I made a pie crust from scratch. This morning, once I decided that today would be the day, I stepped over the threshold into my kitchen with many thoughts of being incapable. This new territory made me completely uneasy.
What if my final product was terrible? After all, I had no idea what I was doing. I mean, I’ve read books, searched online and seen tons of step-by step photos demonstrating a recipe. In my head, I had notions of what to do, but my hands had never done any of it. I mixed up the dough and then put it in the fridge to chill. Next, I peeled and cored apples for the filling. It wasn’t easy – a bit labor intensive actually. But, as I sang to the Lord from my heart, I rolled out the dough and laid it in the pie plate. There was worship going on in my kitchen as I put the pie together and popped it into the oven.
The pie was baking when I had the realization that making an apple pie is similar to what my own worship should be… My heavenly Father does not expect perfection in my worship. In fact, when it comes to motives or performance, He already knows I am not capable of doing it flawlessly.
He alone is capable of peeling back the layer, coring out the seeds of sin. Only His hands can make perfection of my messy attempts…Its the fire of His Holy Spirit that takes my life and refines it to something glorious and beautiful…
But, it is the sacrifice He desires. He is looking for me to live with a joyful heart, uninhibited, being His imitator the best that I can. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know how – perfection and confidence are not required. It only matters that I follow. The outcome may only be understood in His eyes. He may be the only one who finds my efforts delicious on His lips. But in the end, shouldn’t that be the only concern anyway?
Paul admonishes this way in Ephesians 5:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
How wonderful would it be if my life had the sweet aroma of sacrifice? An apple pie doesn’t smell half as sweet…
Well, back to the pie. It turned out quite well, actually. In my books it was a success because the crust was a bit flaky and the apples were very tender. My sweet husband has confirmed it should go on the “make it again” list. Personally, I enjoyed it because it was a unique labor of love. This morning I was reminded that worship is possible in the kitchen, not just the church Sanctuary. But, even more importantly, I am relieved knowing that I don’t have to produce the best product. Rather it is sacrificial living, with a heart fully dedicated to Him that matters.
Its true Sunday morning and every morning.
amen.
daily portion 
