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| December winds and rainbows in January! |
Last fall I started an apprenticeship. An apprentice is one who takes a position of student or trainee to learn a trade from one with experience in order to gain understanding of a skill and then replicate it. We are all an apprentice of something. That which we are devoting our time and attention to and being with in order to become like and do as. Apprenticeship requires discipline, attention, patience and humility as one learns.
If you apprentice as a baker, you hope to become better than the master baker so the world loves your flavor better than the most loved corner bakery. If you apprentice under a musician, you want your songs to be known and sold farther reaching than say, The Beatles. If you apprentice under a Jedi Master, the goal is to be a guardian of peace and justice in the galaxy, protecting the Republic and one day sit on the Council with other Jedi Masters. In all these, the goal is striving for excellence while exhibiting humility in the process. One can not harbor pride, contempt, or envy toward the teacher as one is learning or one will succumb to the Dark Side and misinterpret the heart of the Master. (Sorry, mom of boys, couldn't resist a good Star Wars illustration!).
The world's view seems to strive to go further than or become greater than the teacher of said apprenticeship. In Bible times a young apprentice learned trades, skills, or spiritual leadership through close, hands-on mentorship under a master. A life of daily, long-term following, allowing the apprentice to adopt the master's knowledge, character, and methods. One would eat, sleep, breathe and walk as the master did.
Those of you who I share life with, have heard my latest 'soapbox' declarations ... the goal is: "Be with, Become like, Do as ... Jesus." However, as a human vessel apprenticing under my Master Jesus, I can never out-love, out-give, out-grace, nor out-shine Him. The goal is not to go further than or be greater than but simply to replicate Him. My hope is that those I interact with daily and those who read from afar, will note the effects of this apprenticeship. The difference in my countenance, response, attitude and demeanor - a.k.a. the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart. As I 'adopt the Master's knowledge, character, and methods, He will receive the glory, the church will be edified, and the world will be introduced to His heart of love and grace.
Fashioning my heart to His. Would you care to join me in this apprenticeship?
Life on the Mountain
This past month we've been catching our breath, relishing God's beauty in almost daily rainbows, renewing or starting new rhythms of life, retreating in a silent retreat, focusing on community, lingering over coffee on the rockers, sharing sacred moments in prayer, enjoying sweet company with Alli and Eva, hosting a few weekend events and persons who want to explore Costa Rica, Adam has passed the halfway point in 7th grade homeschool, we welcomed our dear Salas family back home, started the purging process with the goal of sending some suitcases to PA with groups this spring, refreshing in the routine of the office, piled on blankets, started the fireplace and cranked the space heater as temps dipped to the high 40's on our mountain top over the weekend and continuing the practice of apprenticeship with Jesus.
This past month we've been catching our breath, relishing God's beauty in almost daily rainbows, renewing or starting new rhythms of life, retreating in a silent retreat, focusing on community, lingering over coffee on the rockers, sharing sacred moments in prayer, enjoying sweet company with Alli and Eva, hosting a few weekend events and persons who want to explore Costa Rica, Adam has passed the halfway point in 7th grade homeschool, we welcomed our dear Salas family back home, started the purging process with the goal of sending some suitcases to PA with groups this spring, refreshing in the routine of the office, piled on blankets, started the fireplace and cranked the space heater as temps dipped to the high 40's on our mountain top over the weekend and continuing the practice of apprenticeship with Jesus.
Praise
The gift of homeschool
Living in community - we are made for this.
Elba's visa approved and she's returning to her team in CR
Sisters that pray together and for one another
Growing excitement and peace for the transition ahead
Micah's connections at Rosedale
Connection and conversation with our boys across the ocean
The gift of practicing an apprenticeship with Jesus
Prayer
A marriage miracle for dear friends
Oriana's visa approval from Colombia
Financial provision as we extend our term 4 months
Wisdom as we purge accumulated life from the past 9 years
Direction for Adam's future schooling
Our teams on outreach
God's divine appointment for our role replacements
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| Life in Ohio ... cold and peaceful morning walk to the cafeteria. |
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| Life in PA ... with big boys toys! |
Life in PA ... No thank you.
I'll take tropical breezes and sunshine please!
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| Life in CR ... this is how we do cold! Missing the mugs of hot chocolate!  And this is how we do tropical ... Our favorite way to do History. |
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Page 67 when we are halfway through 6/7th grades! Retreating to reflect over the past year ... And enjoy the solitude in God's creation! |
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| The gift of friendship and a loaned car when you're a college boy for 6 weeks!  Disney Princess movie marathon with the sisters! |
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| Oh the freedom of sunshine, running around the park, neighborhood dogs and throwing ball! |
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| No English allowed ... Afternoon Spanish class with friends.  He simply invited people to apprenticeship." ('Following the Way' by John Mark Comer) "Come follow Me, take My yoke, learn from Me, be transformed." |
