Rice and Beans of Life: Positioned by Grace

Title: Brothers.
Position: one who ALWAYS has your back!

I've been reading and savoring the book, "The Awe of God" by John Bevere. If you haven't read it, you should. It is simple yet profoundly deep. This is a reflection on the latest chapter ...

Do I hold a title or position?

A title is the name given to something to identify or describe it. I utilize many titles in my life, daughter, wife, mom, hospitality coordinator, mentor, and nurse to name a few. A position can be described as a particular way in which someone or something is placed or arranged. I position myself under God's authority as I mentor and disciple students and staff.

Using the title of nurse signifies that I might care for people, work in a hospital, freely discuss in detail the miracle of the birth, the disease process or bodily functions without embarrassment, and will most assuredly be asked to evaluate ones injury, rash, recent ailment or bodily discharge. My position as a nurse (a.k.a. on someone's payroll, under their authority) signifies that I obey the nursing code of conduct, adhere to the rules and regulations of my hiring agency, complete the required continuing education credits and as their advocate, will invest in knowing my patients needs and desires to give them the best possible outcome.

A title offers a relationship without commitment. While a position is emotionally invested in and passionate about said position. I'm a nurse vs. I'm a labor and delivery nurse who walks intimately with families through the most miraculous, beautiful and challenging experience of their lives (stated with passion in my voice and most likely adding a few more descriptive details!).

My title as a Christian or follower of Jesus might simply be that I believe in or possibly know who Jesus is. However, my position as a Christian or follower of Jesus, reveals that I spend time at my Table or in my Hiding Place where I pursue knowing Him intimately. There is a passion to seek, follow, obey and replicate Him to the world around me. I can't not do what He leads me to do. The difference is simple (and the premise of said book) ... Holy fear. For those who have walked in Holy fear/the awe of God, this may seem simple, obvious, and like I'm redundantly renaming title and position.

But this ... this is where the veil was lifted. In sharing Jesus, what am I offering? Am I simply offering them a relationship without a commitment to unconditionally obey His Word ... "At least they asked Him into their heart" (title received). Or, am I willing to walk beside them, inviting them to understand His love, and modeling simple obedience to His Word as together, we seek to find out what pleases the One who offers us a position by grace.

Discipleship. Who can you invite into position?

Life on the Mountain

August rest. Two words that I find challenging to unite. It was restful in that we had no scheduled groups or students on base. Less than a week after the hard goodbyes were complete, three of us traveled to visit family and friends in PA while one of us faithfully provided a stable presence in the office at VN. The hours in PA were not near long enough for my mama's heart ... but it was so good to experience life through their eyes. Laughter, wrestling, a multitude of bodily noises and the challenge to 'lock in' as 4 Mighty Men were under one roof! Time of laughter and sharing my heart with dear girlfriends is equally never long enough! We took 24+ hours away to celebrate 24 years of Us and process life before and after said 24 years. Saturday cleaning was less intense because rest and books in the hammock took priority, games and Little House on the Prairie was a nightly routine and as September started, Adam and I established 7th grade home school routine and we turned our focus to preparing to receive students and staff. Team leaders have arrived signaling the start of a new Vida220 school year and the return to 'normal' routine which causes us to ponder ... who might we invite into position?

Praises

Safe travel and full of life connections with family and friends

Home school is becoming routine

Taxes are done

Adam finding connection at youth group

J & J are connected in PA

August rest

Prayer

A female team leader would be helpful

Micah - as he gives leadership to a new school of Vida220

Wisdom - reorganized financial tracking seems like a foreign language

Staff unity as we start a 'new year'