Rice and Beans of Life: January 2022

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Fixation

Eyes on ME ...
especially on a high ropes challenge!

As I stood on the mountainside porch, the clouds were close enough to touch. I gazed across the valley and my eyes caught something that the sun's only ray of the day seemed to be spotlighting. As I squinted to see what appeared to be a white cross, I heard His simple whisper ... "Fix your eyes on ME". I blinked a few times to make sure I really was seeing said cross in the suns spotlight and then pondered His words to my spirit. Fix your eyes on ME ... like a mother gently tipping the chin of her wee one to get their full attention, I felt Your gaze on my soul. Medically speaking, my gaze felt like the pins, screws, and plates of the external or internal fixation device used to hold something in place so that it becomes unwavering, unmoving. Yet I realized Jesus isn't like that. While He has captured my gaze, even in my longing for perfect peace, He knows my eyes will still struggle with those sideward glances to the world. He offers no physical fixation device that prevents my worry filled wandering. Distractions will try to pry my gaze and avert my eyes. If I fixate on ... the future, what next, will they really be ok, what about this or that ... my gaze shifts, the clouds cover and I lose the vision of the cross. Oh how I long to see my eyes permanently fixed on, locked into, superglue sealed, and tunnel visioned onto Him. The result of such fixation is what my soul longs for, His perfect peace. Subsequently, the chaos in our rapidly changing adventure of life is replaced by a steady, steadfast, hand in hand walk at sunset.

As I turn my squinted gaze once again to the white cross in the distance, I ponder the gift of His faithful fan-fare, constant companionship, and lavish love ... it's the intricacies of our relationship that have fixed my eyes on Him even in the midst of distractions. Can you picture it? ... A sweet cherub's nursing gaze set only on his mama, the blurred peripheral as you catch the spark in ones eye from across the room, the mesmerizing flames as a campfire draws your gaze to it, the color of a flower in a barren, desert wasteland, the glow of a lighthouse beacon in the darkest night ... What are you fixated on and does it ultimately bring perfect peace? What does it look like for you to have your eyes fixed on Jesus?

Fixated on Him ... Distractions abound ... Receive His peace

Life on the Mountain ...
Registering Jedi and Adam for in present school once again; Preparing for our first work/vision teams of the year; Reconnecting with dear youth group friends; Weekly English sessions with one who speaks slow enough to understand; Navigating Covid isolation and quarantine for our teams; Sending Micah and teams to outreach locations; Hannah was in Costa Rica and we were blessed with fellowship at our annual EMM retreat after 2 years of not being able to have it; and probably the biggest news of the month ... after a two year process, receiving our official residency cards!

Praises

Residency cards in hand!

Vida220 teams connecting on outreach locations

Micah is adjusting and enjoying connecting with his community

Returning to in present classes for 3rd and 8th grades

Our neighbors have dogs, Adam can enjoy their companionship without all the work!

Peace in challenging life situations when we look to Him

Opportunities to reconnect with El Nido work when school restarts

Life giving one on one connections with staff

Prayers

Focus on His call, why are we here

God clear direction for Joseph: work, school when and where

For God to heal my migraines

Parenting Jedidiah

Fix our gaze on Jesus and not on temporary things

Open hearts and deep connections that bring God the glory

Scrapbooks, it's what causes them to pause together!

The newest neighbor ...
Adam absolutely loves her!

The Mud Run ...
working together to get everyone safely across!

The focus and concentration of this young man!

Hannah came to Costa Rica!!!!
No, Jedidiah is not taller!

He's at it again, Vanilla peach cake!

This crew ...
they certainly feel like God's perfect gift to us!

First Kids Club of outreach ...
Lots of energy and excitement!

Yeah ... he really bought this!
Thanks CR for bringing Amazon returns to a store near us!

The peace on my face was ONLY because I was taking my last steps on this anxiety filled high ropes challenge ...

The joy of connecting hearts across countries ... God is so good!

Yup, here they are ...
Two year process is finally in hand.
We are official Costa Rica residents!!

These pictures capture a 1000 stories of our lives ...
let's have coffee sometime!

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek ME and find ME when you seek ME with all your heart.

Fix your gaze on ME!

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Well-Watered

Feeling complete ...

Since our December newsletter, I've been pondering ... What does "well-watered" look like? Not well as an adjective: good, alright, fine, I'm feeling well watered/hydrated, thank you. Well as a noun: water source, the one you give your camels a drink from, fill your bucket from. What does well-watered look like?

As I close my eyes and ponder this, the sun is fully on my face and I just saw a "30 second reel" of my life from the past year and the words ... "Well-watered = Abiding". While I wasn't always fully aware of Father's presence, it was clearly evident in this 'reel', He was always with me ...

Carrying me, sheltering me, supporting me as I stood on the mountain cliff with my face boldly to the wind, walking peacefully by my side, sharing coffee in my hiding place. He was the air in my lungs when I felt like I was drowning, the offeror of the tissues as the tears seemed constant, the cool drink of water, the warm hug. He was the firm foundation when my legs felt wobbly and shaky. His gaze was for me as He caught my eye with a wink, and invited me to the Banqueting Table. He was the soil in which my roots have dug deep, and the refreshing river in which I stood. His secret service detail comforted my worrisome gaze. He was the laughter - the spark- in the pit of my soul that put a smile on my face when the days were easy or burdened. He was the one leaning over the roped sidelines cheering me on, "Eyes on ME, you've got this!" He was the party thrower as the ministry moved forward, His hand laid the final dollar, and stamped the official Recibido on the receipt to pay off His property on the mountain. He hugged and twirled each of us as the picture was snapped for each residency card, He cheered our perseverance. He was the light infusing my dreams and the giver of said dreams. He was in the beauty of fall and blanketed us with peace as we rested at the Millers. He painted me sunsets, healed my infirmities and surrounded me with people who would mold me into the person He is designing me to be. I heard Him call me Hope, and saw how all the answers to my questions pointed back to Him. In this reel, I saw that abiding is a daily dose of being well-watered and being well-watered is simply just abiding. Taking time to soak in His presence, sit at His banqueting table, risk going out on a limb with Him, take a turn at a major crossroad and, trust ... even when I didn't see, feel or hear.

Being well-watered ... "In the darkness of adversity, you are able to see more clearly the radiance of MY face." Being well-watered ... is the only possible explanation for the peace I have felt while walking through yet another transition back to 'normal' life. Being well-watered ... Does not equal perfection, that I've attained the goal, it simply means I am posturing my heart in a place of deliberate dependence on Him. John 15:4 Remain in me and I will remain in you. Sun-scorched land or green pastures ... His gift of well-water is waiting!

Well-watered ... Abiding ... Walking hand in hand

Life on the Mountain

Celebrating Jesus' birth, Soaking up 2 weeks with Micah before he leaves for outreach, the boys enjoyed a break from school routine, Crossing the last 'T' and dotting the last 'I' for our residency cards, Soaking in the sun, rain and sunsets at the beach, Taking time to reconnect, reestablish roles and reorganize our house.

Praises

Health, healing and hope

School will start in present in February

Time with Micah before he leaves for outreach

Reconnections

Peace in our hearts to return to CR

Prayers

Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things

Practicing His presence, making a choice to be well-watered

Restarting school routines

To shine His light even when we feel cloudy

Micah's outreach team to bless the community they are sent to