Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and a Whole “Latte” Jesus

You don’t have to enjoy Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes to love Jesus, but you really should. They, my friend, are something ya stand up and eat because ya can’t sit still eatin’ em.

When September rolls around, it’s time to drink, eat, smell, and decorate everything pumpkin. Oh, the enthusiasm behind Fall. It’s unfortunate that it doesn’t last all year.  Consequently, Starbucks doesn’t serve Pumpkin Spice Lattes all year either. Sigh.

Pure indulgence and so satisfying. Bring in the Jesus. 🙂

I recently read a poem by Charles Thomas Studd, and a recurring line caught my spirit: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  

I immediately looked inward at my heart and I compared it with my schedule. I’m saddened to say that they did not align.

There are several things I am seasonally devoted to: football, basketball, archery, camping, gardening (flowers not vegetables), and volleyball. My schedule is also brimming with work responsibilities as well as wife and motherhood responsibilities. These too, come in seasonal waves but remain at a constant level of crazy. Ministry responsibilities are mixed in and somewhere in the middle, I get a few hours of sleep. Can anyone relate?

I drink several cups of coffee and Diet Mountain Dew, but my true, deep-rooted heart’s desire is to drink a whole Latte of Jesus.

Don’t miss that last verse– “You are serving the Lord Christ.”   

Although these verses are popular among athletes, they are vital to our Christian walk with or without sports. Whatever we are doing, we are to be doing it as if God was our boss. We are guaranteed an eternal payday.

What about those work days when we take a spiritual sick day because we feel warm…lukewarm? Are we lukewarm Christians? Do we really serve Christ more than ourselves, our families, our friends, and/or strangers?

With a transparent heart, there are times my scale tips in favor of everyone and everything but God; I struggle to maintain balance.  

Seasonal Christianity.  

Turn to the very last book in your Bible. I want you to read the verses, underline them, highlight, and/or create arrows going toward them. Somehow, acknowledge these verses.

This is hard. My pastor has said many times, “Look at scripture as a mirror instead of a window.” Viewing these verses, I do see my own reflection. There are seasons in my Christian walk where I behave much like the Church of Laodicea.  At times, I value my sleep more than I do my quiet time with the Lord. There are seasons where I cram my schedule so full, there are no blank spaces remaining. Not one minute of my day is unstructured and therefore I struggle with choosing my “Best Yes”.  And

yet, I continue as if this is a normal and acceptable routine and I become lukewarm.   

         BUT GOD!

God is faithful and true. He is the Alpha and the Omega. There is no one like Him. He is worthy of our praise, every day.  Not just once a week or an occasional special holiday.

Grace is not seasonal.  James reminds us in chapter 4 that God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 ESV). Humility directs the path to forgiveness, grace, and restoration. God wants all of us, not just what’s left at the end of a busy day.

I am reminded of times when tragedy has stirred my spirit to return to obedience, yet only temporarily, much like a Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcake is just for Fall.

Have you ever wondered about stocking the ingredients to make Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes within your pantry providing the availability of making them year-round?  (Click here for the modified recipe from Brown Eyed Baker.)

Looking inward, what is in the pantry of your heart? We must desire to restock our hearts and our lives with God and his Word. We are called to be more be than lukewarm, seasonal Christians.

Cindy Bultema created a Lukewarm Checklist in her bible study, Red Hot Faith. As hard as it was for me to answer honestly, it was purposeful. I now have a baseline of where I am in certain areas of my Christian walk and I have a clearer path of where I am called to be. Why? Because I am first called a Child of God, before anything else. As Mr. Studd so eloquently stated, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  

This week, I challenge you to take a hard look at the ingredients within your heart. Answer the questions on the checklist. Transparency begins growth.

Time to Unfold

• Pray: Spend time seeking God. Discover where you are in your Faith Journey. Ask Him if He sees you as a Seasonal Christian.
• Read God’s Word: Schedule time to hear from God through His Word daily.
• Do: Look at scripture as a mirror and stock your heart pantry with the necessary ingredients and put away any Seasonal Christianity decorations.  

• Repeat: Daily heart checks are so important. Humility and transparency will start you off anew.

Stocking my heart ingredients with God, family, and others,