Matcha tells the story of an untold journey…

Matcha tells the story of a girl on a journey of discovery.

A journey of exploring new things and getting out of her comfort zone.

I remember trying matcha for the very first time… my taste buds were nothing but confused. All I saw was this green mess… it tasted unlike anything I had ever tasted before. The journey of matcha started in New York. It started by being willing to open my heart, mind, and soul to something out of the norm… out of my comfort zone.

Matcha accompanied me from New York to Israel, fleeing to Cyprus, Athens, back to New York, and then home to New Zealand.

The day I tasted matcha was a day that changed my life.

It’s like God used this green tea phenomenon in my life to teach me some very valuable lessons.

1. It opened my eyes to the fact that I had a lot to learn.

2. It taught me the beauty of experiencing new things.

3. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone… yes… by drinking this green juice.

God uses even the seemingly small things in our lives to teach us valuable lessons.

I have no doubt that God uses different things for each of us… but never forget that He is just as present in the small things as He is in the big things.

Never in a million years did I think ‘I’ would be the one drinking matcha and NOW writing about it! But…

When I tasted it, it was a beautiful moment, even after saying countless times to a dear friend, “thank you, but no thank you…” It changed my perspective.

As I look back now, it reminds me of that verse in Psalm 34, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!”

(verse 8-9)

He is GOOD sister, and He is your refuge, if you allow Him to be. The LORD is with you through it all. He is the refuge of the righteous (therefore, righteous by His standard). He is the refuge of those who fear Him (meaning to have reverence and awe for God, as a quick explanation).

(We will address the question of righteousness in a later blog post, so don’t worry… But in the meantime, ask the LORD to guide you in understanding what His righteousness is and what it looks like for us).

Psalm 34 goes on to say (verse 10-22) - (Take time to read the full chapter if you have a moment, as there is so much in the earlier verses to notice as well):

“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

Once you have tasted Him, you will not want to go back… Turn toward Him and seek after Him in righteousness because it’s worth it in every way.

What I’m trying to get at by saying all of this is that:

• Sometimes the very things we choose to close doors on (and I’m specifically talking about things that don’t lead us away from God), are the things God wants to use in our lives as valuable lessons.

• Sometimes stepping out of that comfort zone and trying something new isn’t always a bad thing. It teaches us vulnerability, trust in God, and the ability to say:

“God, this is so not my normal, but I am willing to step into this because of You and what You want to teach me.”

• Sometimes the moments of experiencing ‘new things’ are the very moments God uses to grow our character and grow our perspective on who He is.

There are many moments, places and even people that God has used in my life to grow, mature, and deepen my faith, and Matcha happens to be one of those things that I look back on and say,

“Wow God, aren’t You just so good… I would have never known had I not tasted and seen…

Had I not tasted in and seen You… had I not taken refuge in You, seeking after righteousness and turning away from things that keep me in the dark. I might still have been dead in my flesh, seeking after my own ambitions, fleshly desires, and plans… But You, oh God, are the God of wonders, miracles, and You know my name.

I don’t even want to wonder where I would be without You… because I would be completely, utterly, certainly lost!”

Living comfortable lives often keeps us from living fruitful lives…

Are you living in ‘the comfortable’?

I think that’s a question only you can answer. Bring it to the feet of the Father and ask Him to show you.

P.S. And… you’ll be pleased to know that whether you are a matcha lover or not, He is better for quenching your thirst and filling your hunger (John 6:35) than anything else could be.

With love,

Your sister,

Jessie