Costa Rica continues…

View from”The Happy Place”: Costa Rica 2016

Week 4’s painting is my rendition of the view from the back porch at Carlos and Karla’s house, the Mission House.  The team calls this spot their:

HAPPY PLACE

I agree with that descriptive title.  And here are some actual pictures from that sweet spot.

If you know me at all, you know I love me some good lyrics.  I am moved by music and I can usually find a God tune in a good tune.  Tears begin the second I start watching a slide-show set to a lyrical miracle.

Songs often come to mind when I am lost in a memory or creating a new one.  God wrote on the pages of my heart in Costa Rica and the time spent in the “HAPPY PLACE” brought this song to mind:

Song “From My Front Porch Looking In” by Lonestar

I hope you listened to and watched the Lyric video of this song, but if you did not, I am including some of the lyrics here.  They describe one man’s view and heart overflow, as he witnesses the love of his family from the front porch looking in.  I believe our Heavenly Father delights in watching HIS family as well.  HE sees us through the righteousness of Christ and HE loves HIS view from HIS THRONE looking in, living in us through HIS SPIRIT!

“From My Front Porch Looking In” By Lonestar

“The only ground I ever owned was sticking to my shoes
Now I look at my front porch and this panoramic view
I can sit and watch the fields fill up
With rays of glowing sun
Or watch the moon lay on the fences
Like that’s where it was hung
My blessings are in front of me
It’s not about the land
I’ll never beat the view
From my front porch looking in…”

(Chorus)

There’s a carrot top who can barely walk
With a sippy cup of milk
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong
‘Cause she likes to dress herself
And the most beautiful girl holding both of them
Yeah the view I love the most, is from my front porch looking in…

I’ve traveled here and everywhere
Following my job
I’ve seen the paintings from the air
Brushed by the hand of God
The mountains and the canyons reach from sea to shining sea
But I can’t wait to get back home
To the one he made for me
It’s anywhere I’ll ever go and everywhere I’ve been
Nothing takes my breath away
Like my front porch looking in…

Can you see why this song inspired me?

Although the view in my pictures is from the back porch looking out, I would like to share with you the view I witnessed looking in.  And although my painting captures the landscape and the sun(Son) glow, their back porch is simply an extension of the love that grows within; therefore I gave you a glimpse of beautiful from the inside out!

*An open house, with open hands and hearts

*A loving husband, doting father, faithful friend, Jesus lover, mentor to many, passionate pastor and Spirit-filled child of God (Carlos)

*A joyful and supportive wife, loving mother, fabulous friend, compassionate Christ follower, prayerful disciple and disciple maker, and Holy Spirit dependent daughter of the King (Karla)

*Children laughing, snuggling, dancing, playing instruments, enjoying toys (a dinosaur toy named Marlene to be exact), praying over and eating meals and welcoming all who entered their home as if they were family

*a kitchen full of food and fun, many hands making light work, chopping slaw, cutting avocado, plantain yumminess, tomatoes, chips, dips, scrumptious fruit, washing hands, praying hands, people, people and more people because everyone was welcomed…

*Resting on the couch, cuddled up in chairs, cleaning strawberries on the porch, grilling meat galore, testimonies, God-encounters, gratitude and gifts…

*Inspiration, dedication, humility, grace, mercy, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…

*BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE

LOVE!

So from the back porch looking out and looking in, what I remember the most is the love that radiated from this family, The Cunninghams,

from this home, The Mission House.

from this ministry, Voz de Liberated

from this country, Costa Rica.

Thank you so much Carlos and Karla.

God-willing, I will be back.

Please click on the link above for ministry details and check out the photos below.