 |
| We're learning their names and are glad they came! |
"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came ..." Since last Sunday, this jingle has been rummaging around in my head drumming up the nostalgic memories of someone calling out ... "Norm!" While I was not a frequent viewer of said sitcom, this line has stuck with me over the years.
Lest you be overly concerned about my upbringing, let me explain ... Father prompted my spirit with this sentiment during worship last Sunday as we sang a beautiful song, "Vuelvo a casa, a la casa de mi Padre, donde me ama y me llamas por mi nombre" (I'm going home to my Fathers house, where he loves me and calls me by name). As I pondered these words on the drive home, the sentiment of the CHEERS theme song started settling in my soul. The combination of these two songs created an image in my mind of walking in the front door of my childhood home. Take a moment to reflect on your childhood home, or your grandparent's home, or best friend's home ... someplace that generates full of life emotions as you enter the door.
In my mind, I can feel the doorknob and the warmth radiating from the door's surface; the sound of the seal cracking as I push the door open and the smell that wafts towards me is so inviting you can taste it; I can see the décor hung on said door, and inside at the landing, which brings a flood of laughter-filled, Peg-filled memories; And the voice ... "Oh dear girl, come on in! ..." If any of you have crossed the threshold of 2464 Creek Hill Rd., I know you can see, smell, hear, touch, and almost taste the love where someone knows your name and where they are always glad you came!
Last week we led our students and staff through a beautiful representation of the gospel using our senses. No words, yet fully bilingual, we individually experienced creation, sin, redemption and restoration through our senses. For one who is created to feel deeply, this was speaking to the depths of my bilingual soul! Before I get too deep in all the emotions and feelings that surrounded this experience, let me just take a minute to state the truth. The Bible is the infallible word of God; It is Holy Spirit inspired; it is His spoken Word, transcribed by His people; Its intended purpose is to lead me to Father's heart, while giving direction for life and godliness; It is the foundation of TRUTH my life is built on and ... it triggers my senses, emotions and feelings when I read it. I can not separate this pairing.
I'm curious, how many of you like me, use your senses when reading the Bible? I can almost smell the incense of the priest and the roasting sacrifice, see the waves trying to overtake our boat and the approaching figure, feel the heat of the furnace and the quake of the felled giant, taste the sweetness of the apple turned bitter in the Garden and hear the silence of the Passover and the birdsong of Resurrection morning.
Dear friends, we are created in His image and I am fully confident He created us to experience His Presence and the Gospel via our senses, emotions and feelings as we read His Truth. Even those who may be a bit more emotionally guarded can smell the scents of the ballpark via the television, hear the battle cry EAGLES across the ocean, the words "meat in the smoker" will cause ones mouth to salivate, can feel the grip of the club in ones dreams and might possibly be moved to tears while gazing at a picture of the Greens. We are created in His image, with feelings and emotions, and His Word is brought to life via our senses. Lets circle back to that door ... You know the one where HE knows you by name and HE is always glad you came? Can you see, smell, hear, touch, and taste His love as you enter? Who can you invite through this door?
Sensory Gospel, Experiencing the Truth, His door awaits
Life on the Mountain
They all arrived: 1 Coordinator, 2 assistant coordinators, 3 team leaders, 15 Students, a handful of new staff and a spirit led, tender-hearted Grandparent couple ... 32 beautiful souls + leadership families, hungering for more of Jesus, are once again filling Casa Vidanet with life! We started the year with a 24 hour retreat to reconnect, worship, laugh, play and dream of God's vision for Vidanet; In the midst of homeschool, we carve out time for catching up with seasoned staff and take advantage of moments to connect with students and new staff. It has been a time of fleshing out job descriptions, training some in new roles and sharing the load with those who have more energy! A new accounting system (for lack of better explanation) has been initiated and now needs to be fleshed out to see how well it works. Teaching, testimonies and language learning fill our ears as we see new faces and remember ones we've launched. The cultural diversity of this group reminds us of our creative Creator, He handpicked each one to be part of this school! And here on our mountain top, the rain falls frequently as the sun shines somedays, and coffee fills our cups as worship fills our souls, we rejoice knowing that when we walk through the door, we enter a place where He loves us, knows us by name and is always glad we came!
Praise
Heart to heart conversations with our boys in CR and across the ocean.
We are created in His image with emotions, feelings and senses.
His infallible Word to guide us through life.
We have home leave housing secured for August 2026!
We've had a healthy start to Vida220.
God spared Omar's life and is healing him!
Prayer partners to blanket us with Father's Presence, protection and provision.
We have a place where He loves us, knows us by name and is glad we came.
Prayers
Micah and students are currently on a jungle adventure - while a strong weather pattern is brewing.
Clarity and direction for our next steps - to walk in obedience.
Healthy balance between emotions, feelings and truth.
Wisdom and God's guidance in relationships for each of our 4 Mighty Men.
To find life in homeschool routine.
May the new accounting system be efficient, practical and make life easier.
To invite those around us to the One who loves them, knows them by name and is always glad they came!
 |
| Friday night football season ... something they've not experienced until this year! |
 |
| Homemade, gluten free, mozzarella cheese chunks ... the perfect pull says it all! |
 |
| Our table looks a little different this year but heartwarmingly familiar ... 3 guy leaders instead of girl leaders! |
 |
| Happy Independence day CR ... Adam catching up with previous classmates. |
 |
| All smiles before the climb ... The smiles afterwards were partnered with wobbly knees! |
 |
| The High Ropes ... not for faint of heart or weak-knees! |
 |
| Red shirt on the left found the perfect way to decompress on a Saturday! |
 |
| Yup, CR has racoons too ... and they're as pesky and intrusive as they are in the north! |
 |
| In his happy place ... He may have suggested a presumptive call to the taxidermist to see how long the wait might be ... just in case! |
 |
| Walking with them through the door ... |
 |
| "Mom, he got me flowers!" ... Stated with a smirk after he was summoned to the gate to receive and deliver said flowers to yours truly! |
 |
| The Shepherd, soft green pastures, quiet waters, there is restoration and direction, a comforting Presence in the dark valley, a table prepared with an overflowing cup, the scent of anointing oil, surrounded by goodness and love, the door is open to dwell in His house. Psalm 23 Sensing the Truth |
No comments:
Post a Comment