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| Sunday Sabbath, my favorite days ... |
Today is a dishes will wait kind of day. It's a favorite pair of jeans with the coziest sweatshirt I own kind of day. It could essentially be a no makeup kind of day, but my worldly self insisted on its masking. Yesterday I lingered on the rocking chairs with a 'daughter' and another cup of coffee. Today I lingered on the back porch talking to my plants, giving them fresh water and a bit more dirt. As I lingered under the warm shower, I sensed ... it's a lingering kind of day. Lingering: caught up in the moment, not having an agenda, just being present.
We're sending our first VM teams home and welcoming the second week of teams (132 people) next week. In some respects,
today feels like the eye of the storm, the calm after the flood and before
the earth is repopulated, the pause at the end of a full of life school year
and before summers activities consume us, the end of Holy Week in CR when
everything shuts down, its half time, if you will or a timeout, time to
regroup, pause and refocus on our strategy … Today I'm lingering in His presence ... and it's SO good!
I'm lingering on being poor in spirit from our boy's morning devotions ... it's an acknowledgement that my need of Him is SO great, not just in the busy, full of life times, but also in the pause of the in between times. It's in the lingering that He speaks so that when I'm going ... Isaiah 33:6 He will be a sure foundation for my times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord, (acknowledging my deep need of His Majesty and lingering in His Presence) is the key to this treasure.
It's in the lingering, that my humanness - fear of man, seeking man's approval, wanting to be affirmed for what I do - dissipates. It's in the lingering that mountains are moved. Lingering is not coming with MY agenda on how to move said mountains, it's a knowing that He is enough for me. Not by any effort of my prayers or faith, but because He desires that I sit at His feet and be in His presence, resting and trusting. It really is the simplicity of seeking Jesus first. It's unfortunate my physical body can't linger all the time, that would be heaven, right?!
I'm lingering on the song by Kari Jobe, The More I Seek You ... "The more I seek You, the more I find You, and the more I find You, the more I love You ... I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand. lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat, this love is so deep, it's more than I can stand, I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming!"
Linger in the aisles of the grocery store or while cleaning the house. Linger as you walk the halls of school or drive to work. Linger as you wipe counters and little butts. Linger while cutting grass or hammering nails. Linger before sleep or in the middle of the night. Linger as you drink coffee on the porch or as you do dishes (uggg, I had blissfully forgotten about them). The point is ...
Let His presence captivate you as He invites you to linger.
Life on the Mountain
We are officially a household of 4! Micah is living at Casa VidaNet and has co-led his first Vida Missions team with more opportunities to lead this summer. Joseph has transitioned to life in PA working fulltime and driving solo in his car! Jedidiah has left us awestruck that he is playing songs on 'Micah's' saxophone in less than a week, thanks YouTube (and God for this gift)! Adam has started freely worshiping and loves to stand next to Mama belting out the songs! Birthdays in community is a constant celebration ... Staff outing to the theme park ... Lots of 'lasts' and 'firsts' for Joseph ... After 10 days of intense preparation, we dipped our toes in the sweetness of hosting VM teams ... We are so grateful for the presence and strength of our students leading these teams ... oh how we have missed the life and energy from these teams! ... Normal life continues, sickness has racked our staffs energy but not their joy for serving, intentional discipleship is a daily gift, and rainy season has been refreshing and cold!
Praises
Joseph's transition to the States
Sound sleep at the end of FULL days
God's grace in discipleship
Youthful hearts that desire to hear from God
Full of life days
God's presence that leads us 24x7
Prayers
Health and strength for upcoming teams
Protection against covid for staff and these teams
Sad hearts as we miss our older boys presence at home
To be a light in our community
Wisdom on when to rest and when to serve
To hear His invitation to linger
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| Sabbath lingering ... "Didn't we already go on this trail?" |
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| It wouldn't be his birthday without sticky buns! |
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| The boys think I should market it! "Better than Chick-fil-A sauce" |
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| One last pic for my Mamas heart ... Victorious Leader and Strong Tower are off to face the world with Jesus! |
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| How many times can one ride the bumper cars? Never enough times ... |
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| Costa Rica's beauty ... |
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| Sometimes you use a ladder ... |
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| And sometimes you don't! Trust building exercise among teammates! |
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| Sometimes it's just about showing your muscles ... |
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| He was dreaming of this day! |
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| A gift from Father ... Cease your striving and searching and see what I will do! |
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| Representing the Caribbean coast ... Not a likely representation! |
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| Kitchen crew of kindred spirits ... Work is more fun with friends! |
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| Youth group prayer of blessing as we send them off ... |
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| Teaching brothers without sisters about life with sisters! What do you mean you didn't learn about this before? ... |
One more hug ...
Isaiah 33:6 He will be a sure foundation for my times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.
The fear of the Lord, is the key to this treasure.
