Ordinary and Supernatural

Last night, I had the privilege of sharing a delicious meal with one of my dearest friends and three amazing young sisters in the faith. We gathered around steak, veggies and waffles with a purpose - to talk about what it could look like for these three young women to serve as the very first interns of The Table. Our conversation meandered many different places, as most rich conversations do. It was far less of a planning meeting and much more of a vibrant and beautiful exchange of life. Together, we considered what it means to be loved by God, to walk as disciples of Jesus, and to disciple others in His way.

There were lots of revelatory moments around the table last night, but one thing that God seemed to be showing us over and over again was this: true discipleship is both deeply ordinary and profoundly supernatural.

In our hurried world, it's easy to miss the supernatural invitations that God extends in our "ordinary" moments and interactions. We (myself included) tend to scarf down our meals, rather than enjoy them in community. We too often text rather than talk. We strive toward efficiency in our work, and yet our "efficiency" frequently leaves us exhausted rather than fulfilled.

I'm convinced that all the while, Holy Spirit is graciously extending one invitation after another to a different and far more fulfilling way of life. I say this (both to myself and to you) without condemnation or shame. As Christ followers, our lives have been bought with the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ.  But surely, God has better things for us. Over and over again in Scripture, God calls the weary and wandering unto Himself (Matt. 11:28-30).

Here's the interesting part though. Hebrews tells us, through what seems like a contradiction (but clearly is not) that we must "be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest ..." In short, this other way of life isn't just going to happen to us. As heirs and co-laborers with Christ, God invites us to partner with Him in this mysterious and grand adventure. Yes, we are new creations. The old has gone, and the new has come (2 Corinth. 5:17)! And yet, we are still in the process of "becoming" that which God has already declared over us.

This summer, with an incredible group of young people, we will fix our eyes on Jesus, believing God has so much more in store for all of us. We'll seek to know Him more deeply and to further understand what it means to wholeheartedly follow Him. It's going to be an amazing adventure, and we're sure to have so much fun along the way.

If you have youth (12-17 years old) in your life, please consider sharing this opportunity with them. If you don't have youth in your own home, maybe you can financially help make this opportunity possible for a youth whom the Lord has placed in your life in another way.

Here's the link to the The Table webpage if you haven't had a chance to check it out yet:

https://www.whenlovefindslove.com/the-table---a-school-of-discipleship.

We'd love to have all student applications in by April 15th, because our desire is to start cultivating this community many weeks before the summer experience begins. If you haven't heard yet, it's also worth noting that we're working with several parents to coordinate a carpool from south Lexington. Our hope is that the distance to the farm won't keep your youth from what we believe will truly be a transformative summer experience.

Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or for the student application! Every conversation is a sweet joy. :)

Much love from our family to yours. May His Kingdom come!

Katie B.