Jesus Calling - Day 22 - January 22, 201

This has been what has made the difference in my life it “trusting Him more and more in all areas of my life.”  Pastor Cliff always has said, “To praise God in all circumstances.”  This truth, as hard as it has been at times, has made all the difference in the world.  If I say that I trust Him with my life, I need to prove that in my actions.  Proverbs 3:5-6 is a favorite verse of mine.  Reading in the Amplified version gives it even more depth. “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insights or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” 

When I saw the words, “Lean on” I thought of the Bill Withers song, “Lean On Me.”  Look up the words to that song.  It is a secular song, but has a good message when it comes to friendship.  I love the verse that says, “Lean on me, when you’re not strong.  I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.”  There are times that we lean heavily on a friend to help carry us through.  But there are also times when we look for someone to lean on, but they let us down and are not there.  Yet, Jesus is there at all times as the One who we can always lean on.   I find the more that I have learned to lean on Him, it has given me a peace that passes all understanding.  It is my default now.  As others have let me down, I have learned that He never does.  

So why not go to Jesus who we know will never let us down.   Lean on Him and He will help us carry on in our journey. 

No worries!  Just trust Him! 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 21 - January 21, 2014

I love this truth that my security rests in Him alone - not in other people, not in circumstances.  I spent so much of my life depending on others and not even realizing it.  Because I have spent so much of the last 6 years learning what it means to have an authentic relationship with Jesus, I see clearly how much I depended on others rather than Jesus.  It is an easy cycle to get caught up into.  There is a desire in all of us to be valued and loved.  But when we depend on people first to fill that hole in our lives is when we get in trouble.  

“Depending only on Me may feel like walking on a tightrope, but there is a safety net underneath: the everlasting arms.  So don’t be afraid of falling.”  How many times have I been afraid to take the first step?   In the movie, “Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade,” there was a scene when Indiana comes to a big chasm.  There was not a way that was visible for him to cross.  “Indiana is faced with the impossible. All he sees is the sheer cliff edge and the vast gulf beneath him. Then, as he studies his guidebook, his face relaxes in realization, and he says, "It's a leap of faith.  With his father whispering, "You must believe, boy, you must believe," Indiana looks straight ahead, gathers his courage, and slowly raises one foot into the empty air in front of him. With a thud, his foot lands on solid ground. The camera pans to show Indiana standing on a narrow rock bridge, deceptively carved to match the exact outline of the ravine beneath it.” (Taken from “Stepping Out in Faith - Brad Bailey April 3, 2005) 

Let’s depend only on Him today.  If we would just take that first step, He will have solid ground underneath for us to step on.  We don’t need to be afraid of falling or failing.  Keep your eyes on Him and step out in faith today! 

Stepping with you, 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 20 - January 20, 2014

I think if I could remember this truth each day it would make such a difference, “Approach this day with awareness of who is boss.”  He is the one who orchestrates the events in my life.  If I look back on my life, the times that I was most frustrated is when I took charge of my own life.  Working at church full-time it was easy to make myself believe that all of my work was following the Lord’s direction.  Yet, so many times I was unaware of His Sovereign Presence and gentle nudges that I was going the wrong way. If I would have stayed in better communication with Him, I would have realized that many of the decisions I made were based on what I wanted rather than on His plans for me.  

The turning point came when God called me to Africa.  If I would have gone with my way or tried to figure out what was happening, I definitely would not have stepped foot onto that British Airlines plane.  None of it made sense at that time in my life.  But I simply trusted Him and obeyed.  Look at my life now!  I am on my 16th trip to Uganda.  He does know the plans He has for us and they are good!   

Through the last 6 years, I have learned more this lesson of staying in communication with Him, trusting Him and obeying.  When His Presence overwhelms you day to day, you will see the difference and wonder what took you so long!  

Kale, 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 19 - January 19, 2014

What a picture,  “I am like a supersaturated cloud, showering Peace into the pool of your mind.”  One of the reasons why I love rain so much is because it is like God is pouring out showers of blessings!   You will find me running outside and standing with arms open wide whenever the rain is coming down!  To have that picture in my mind and transfer it to showers of Peace flooding my mind is overwhelming!  Unlike the drought like weather we are currently experiencing in Southern California, God’s supersaturated clouds of Peace are in constant supply on a daily basis!! 

Let it Rain!

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 18 - January 18, 2014

I definitely have learned this lesson!  Everything that I had known for 13 years came to an abrupt halt six years ago. I had a huge disruption in my routine.  I experienced some of the most heartbreaking valleys.  The only way that I could continue on my journey was by trusting Him to direct my path.  It came to the point that I had to ask myself, “Now what?”   

“Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far outweigh them all.  Walk hand in hand with Me through this day.  I have lovingly planned each inch of this day.”  I now thank the Lord for those difficult days.  It taught me how to put my full faith and trust in the Lord only.  I remember that day well.  In the midst of the chaos the only place I had to turn was God.  When I cried out to Him, the peace that passes all understanding flooded my soul...and has never left!  I truly have learned how to “breathe deep draughts of His Presence and hold tightly to His hand!”  There is no better way to live than staying close to Him!  

True Peace, 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 17 - January 17, 2014

When I was at CBU last weekend I ran into one of the professors who is also the parent of one of my former team members.   He said that things were going extremely well.  Something he shared that he started last year was listing three things that he is thankful for each day.  He said that it has transformed his life by doing this.  I could sense that something was different about him.  This is what I believe the devotion today is talking about.  When we “come to Him with a thankful heart, we will enjoy His Presence.”  This is definitely what I saw in my friend was an overwhelming sense of the Presence of Christ.  What a concept, “rejoice today and refuse to worry about tomorrow.”  If we can be in constant communication with Him by praising and thanking Him, we can “live above our circumstances even while we are in the midst of them.”  

So what three things are you thankful for today? 

One for me is I am thankful for the day that the Lord brought each one of you in my life! 

Love you!

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 16 - January 16, 2014

“Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they occur.”  Wow.  That is so true.  How many times do we worry over and over about something because we rehearse in our minds how we are going to handle that difficulty?  Instead, why don’t we just trust God that He has it all worked out?  

A good example is when Kiana left for school.  I knew that the day she left would be difficult and I was trying to “think my way through it.”  The more I thought about that day, the more butterflies I had in my stomach.  I started to think too much about what life would be like at home without Kiana there on a daily basis.  Yet CBU did such a great job during orientation, that I began to experience His peace.  The turning point came when I went to Sandals Church that weekend.  During the evening service, He gently reminded me that Kiana was in His care and I had nothing to worry about.  When I relaxed in His Peace, my fear did turn into confident trust.  I am learning to trust Him with my life, day by day.  He really does have everything under control.  It always turns out better than I ever expect!  

Let’s relax in His plans today! 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 15 - January 15, 2014

I am reminded of the story in Matthew 14:22-36 of Jesus walking on the water.  But what is really miraculous is PETER walking on water.  Kristen White just read this familiar story in the first meeting of our spring training.  She asked us, “What would the caption read if you were telling the story?”   My title would be, “Man Walks on Water!”  We focus so many times on the miracle of Jesus walking on water.  But the real miracle is that a regular man, Peter, walked on water when He kept his eyes on Jesus.  But as soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on his circumstances, He sank.  How many times when we are walking through storms and difficulties do we focus on the problems.  We find ourselves “sinking under the weight of our burdens.”  

I love the answer in the devotion, “When you start to sink, simply call out ‘Help me, Jesus! ‘“ and He will lift you up!  We need to “Fix our eyes on Him, the One who never changes.”  No matter how difficult the circumstance, if we keep our focus on Him we won’t find ourselves sinking like Peter.  Along the same train of thought, Pastor Cliff would say to, “Glance at your circumstances but keep your GAZE on Jesus.”   Instead of becoming buried by waves of burdens, we can be flooded with waves of mercy & peace! 

Keep Your Eyes on Him! 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 14 - January 14, 2014

“It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together.  Your attempts to look good can fool most people.  But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being...Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood.”  There was a time in my life that I didn’t realize not only was I fooling others, but I was fooling myself.  I thought I had my life all together...then God sent me to Africa.  He used the children’s authentic faith in Jesus Christ to show me what it means to be alive in Christ.  When I was able to let go and be vulnerable in my weakness, that is when I became stronger in my identity in Him.  

So many times we are afraid to admit where we are weak.  Especially when we are in leadership or have been a believer for a long time.   I can’t explain the sense of grace & peace that washed over me when I was transparent enough to admit that I didn’t have it all together.  I could almost hear God saying, “Finally!” 

It has been “little by little over the past 6 years that my weaknesses have turned to strengths.”   What has made the difference is recognizing the need to spend quality time with Him daily.  “Remember that your relationship with Him is saturated in grace.”   

What do you need to empty out of your life that is taking up precious space?  Do not be afraid or ashamed of the emptiness.  God has His Grace & Peace just waiting to pour into you.  But first you need to be an empty vessel so there is room for Him to fill!  Don’t wait any longer.  You will experience such a sense of relief & joy that can only be explained by a life fully turned over to Him! 

Full of Peace!

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 13 - January 13, 2014

When I take a team overseas, they all get used to me saying, “Trust me.  You may not always know the plan for the day.  Even if you did, plans change on us all the time.  For those that are A type personalities, you need to let go of that while we are traveling.  Go with the flow.  Relax.  Trust God.”  The students learn what happens when they follow this advice, and when they don’t. 

This can be a difficult lesson to learn when traveling to another country.   We can’t go to another country as an American and expect that our way is the best.  Once we can learn to let go and trust God, the adventures come alive!  It is so exciting!  His plans and His results were way better than mine!  Students all can give testimony to the lessons learned from traveling on an ISP trip. 

Any one of our ISP journeys are an adventure.  Our MOB office does an excellent job planning and preparing the participants.  The first year I was involved with ISP I totally was a sponge trying to soak up as much information as I could.  Do we trust God this way with our daily adventures?  Or do we take more of the control and try to “program it according to our will?” It would not have been smart of me to walk into my first year leading a team thinking that I knew better than Kristen White!  I leaned in and listened so that I could be the best leader possible.  How many times do we do anything in our lives thinking that we know more than the person that God has placed in authority over us?  “Be willing to follow Him wherever He leads.”  Ultimately, the times I asked you to trust me, I was following Him.  “A life lived close to Me will never be dull or predictable.  Expect each day to contain surprises!”  Amen!  Let’s continue this great adventure together!  

Traveling with you,
mama eydie

Jesus Calling - Day 12 - January 12, 2014

When I think of road maps, I think of my trusty GPS.  I love that the newer GPS devices come equipped with “LIfetime” traffic and “Lifetime” maps.  I can continually update my GPS with the most current maps.  The best feature for me living in Southern California is the traffic feature.  With as much as I travel to Riverside, this has become a very valuable tool.  

For the past 10 years I have been driving to CBU.  I would easily be confused with all of the freeways and connections.  I basically had one route that I would always follow.  That is the one that I learned when I made the first trip.  For those that live in the Southern California area, you will understand when I say I would go the 101 to the 5 to the 91.  Who knew that this was actually one of the longer ways around...and the one with the most traffic?!   

It was not until I got a new GPS with traffic that I broke out of the mold!   The first time the GPS said, 101 to the 134 to the 210 to the 57 to the 71 to the 60 to Van Buren...I thought it was crazy!!!  Yet, I decided to trust the GPS and it turned out to be shorter!!   When there is traffic, the GPS knows and will re-route me to another freeway to avoid it.  All these years I would travel only one way...the way that I knew.  Carol even called it the “The Eydie Route.” 

Since then I have learned to trust the GPS.  Sometimes I am not sure where it is taking me, but I follow.  Can we trust God like we trust our GPS?   “He knows exactly what this day will contain.”  His “living Presence is my Companion each step of the way.”  God is the ultimate GPS device!  There are times that the battery runs down on the GPS and just before I arrive at a destination, it has shut down.  I am lost at that point not sure what to do until I can get the GPS working again.  God is our constant companion who we can fully rely on.  He never shuts down.  He is the author of our “Lifetime Maps” and knows the “Lifetime Traffic & Obstacles” along the way that can trip us up.  Trust Him today by spending quality time with Him.  That is the only way we will be able to hear him over the noise and traffic in our lives!  “His abiding Presence is the best road map available! 

Following Him, 

mama eydie!

Jesus Calling - Day 11 - January 11, 2014

I learned this same lesson long ago when talking with a dear friend, Pastor Joe.   When we pray, we talk with God and lay out our concerns.  Then we need to have faith that He has answered.  Instead of continuing to ask the same thing, continue to “thank Him for the answers that are on the way.”  This has made a tremendous difference in my life.  It is true that if you continue to state the same concerns over and over, you will live in a state of tension.  When I put into practice thanking Him, I am trusting Him and having complete faith in the timing of His answer.  “Thankful prayers will keep your focus on His Presence and His promises.”  

A good example of this is how we run our ministry with Raining Hope.  We truly trust the Lord will provide what we need for the children.  Even when we are low on funds, we trust that the Lord will take care of the children.  There have been times when we have no idea where the money will come from.   If you receive our newsletters, you will see that rarely will we tell you any negative or feel guilty stories.  Believe me, we have had our share of difficulties!  We have had times that there has been no food.  Yet, we always trust that the Lord will provide.  We have many stories that have only been explained by the miraculous.  I have lived through those difficult moments with a sense of overwhelming peace because of the lesson I learned long ago from my dear friend. 

One of my favorite verses that I rest in...

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10 

Trust Him Today! 

mama eydie!

Jesus Calling - Day 10 - January 10, 2014

Over the past 6 years I have spent more time in “practicing trusting Him during quiet days, when nothing much seems to be happening.”  I do this by spending more time in His Word and building my relationship with Him.  If it were not for this truth, I would not have weathered through some of the storms I have encountered with very much grace.  

A recent example is the recent move of my friend, Carol.  We first moved her mother to Maryland in mid October.  When we returned, we began the process of preparing to move Carol in December.  The 7 weeks that I lived with Carol took a lot of effort and teamwork for all families involved.  It would have been much more difficult if I had not spent the past 6 years first deepening my relationship with Jesus.  There is a peace that overwhelms you when you put your faith and trust in Him.  He truly blessed us and helped us accomplish a very complicated and emotional task.  I am forever thankful that I had the opportunity to come alongside my dear friend.  I am even more thankful for the lessons I learned during this time of sacrifice and service.   Knowing that Carol was being obedient to what the Lord was calling her and her family to do, gave me such peace.  It strengthened our friendship during the reality that she was moving to the East Coast.  If it were not for the coins that we put in our treasuries, we would have come up empty!  Thank goodness that our trust balance is still pretty full, even after we seemed to use a lot of it to make it through!  When you invest into His Treasury...it is a never ending supply, no matter how much you withdraw!   

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:20-21

Love you! 

Mama Eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 9 - January 9, 2014

Luke 1:37 is one of my favorites, “For nothing is impossible with God.”  I have clung to this verse when I have been told that what I am doing is an impossible task.  I have leaned into this verse when the opposition seems to be too much.  I have depended on this promise when all hope seems to be lost.   Another verse that pairs together with this promise is Philippians 4:13, “For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?  If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”  Romans 8:31  

What God starts, He finishes.  I live with the peace of trusting in His Word and in His timing not mine.  I love the last phrase, “Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence.”  We have heard the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”  The important part is what Sarah Young points out.  ENJOY the journey in HIS PRESENCE!  What a true to cling to!

Love you! 

Mama Eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 8 - January 8, 2014

I love the phrase, “The weaker you are, the more gently I approach you.  Let your weakness be a door to My Presence.”  How welcoming and reassuring.  Sometimes in our society today we can press people harder when they are weak.  Just now, I am sitting in a hotel room and heard a group, presumably a military one yelling out words from a drill of some sort.  We have all watched (or experienced) TV shows where a drill sergeant tries to “help” a cadet through a drill by yelling at them more.  That happens in life as well.  I have experienced times in my life when I am at my lowest, the support I need is not there.  

Yet, the words of this devotion today are so comforting.  “The weaker I am, the more gently He approaches me.”  Hallelujah!  What a kind Savior we serve.  “Hope is a golden cord connecting me to heaven.  The more I cling to the cord, the more He bears the weight of my burdens.”  What a picture of hope.  I picture the game of tug-a-war.  Sometimes I feel like I am tugging the rope all by myself.  But we are meant to live in relationship with others.  We do better when we have a team all tugging the rope together.  The chances of us winning depend on the strength of the team.  We have also seen times in tug-a-war when one side has that “one” strong individual that just comes along, pulls and wins the game for your team!  We have that “One.”  We have Jesus on our side.  Amen!

STANDING and PULLING together! 

mama eydie!

Jesus Calling - Day 7 - January 7, 2014

Today’s message seems to overflow from yesterday’s pages.  Giving God thanks and praise at all times seems to be the common theme that He wants us to learn. 

Yesterday, I talked with someone that I had recently met in a store at the end of 2013.    When I asked her about her holidays, her response gave way to deeper feelings of sadness because of various difficulties. I tried to give her some sense of hope and said I would pray that 2014 was a better year.  I saw her again yesterday and asked if she was doing better.  Her comment was that things were still difficult, but that she is trying to not be bitter because that is no way to live. In the midst of the difficulty, she said she is trying to stay focused on positive things.  In seeing her resolve to not be bitter, I saw a glimpse of hope in her eyes. 

Haven’t we all found ourselves in this situation before?  There are times that our praises have to be more “disciplined & measured” because we just don’t feel like it.  Easy to praise and thank God when it is in response to “radiant beauty or rich blessings.”   This year, “when adversity strikes and you thank Him anyway, watch your trust in His sovereignty become a showpiece of the invisible realms.”  It will cause us to live in the “intimacy of His Presence.”  That is where I want to live this year! 

Thanking God today for you! 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 6 - January 6, 2014

“Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark.  The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation.”  Amen! 

As I get older, I am thankful for all of the lessons that I have learned through the years.  It is true, the older you are the wiser you become.  I hope to think so.  Some of those lessons have been very difficult.  Sometimes the dark times are overwhelming.  But one of the most profound lessons I learned from Pastor Cliff Howery was “To praise God in ALL circumstances.”  Sometimes that was a very hard lesson to follow through with.  But I did discover that when I praised Him during times that I wanted to just give up, my focused turned to the God who loves me and “whose plans are to prosper me and not to harm me, plans for a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).  1 Corinthians 10:13 also comes to mind, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God.”  Corrie Ten Boom.  

Let’s continue to trust Him at all times! 

Love you, 

mama eydie

Jesus Calling - Day 5 - January 5, 2014

I love the first line in the devotion today, “You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me.”  That is what it is all about.  It ends by repeating this truth, “Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through deepening your dependence on Me.”  It reminds me of Psalm 37:4-5  “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” 

Take delight in Him. It is all about daily deepening your relationship with Him.  This goes hand in hand with yesterday’s devotion about trust.  No matter what the circumstances are, we need to trust Him and rely on Him alone.  

I am thankful for those dark times of failure and disappointment because it drew me closer to my Savior.  I had no where or no one else to turn to but God.  That is what He wants is for us to depend on Him alone.  “It is a faith walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Him as much as we need.”  Amen!  

Love walking this journey with you! 

mama eydie

Jesus Calling - Day 4 - January 4, 2014

In the movie, “Titanic” there were multiple times that Jack asked Rose to trust him.   When they  are at the front of the ship and he asks Rose to climb up on the bow and close her eyes...

Jack Dawson: Do you trust me? Rose: I trust you. Jack Dawson: All right, open your eyes. Rose: I'm flying!  

Rose: [to Jack] When the ship docks, I'm getting off with you. 

Jack: This is crazy. 

Rose: I know. It doesn't make any sense. That's why I trust it 

As the boat is quickly sinking into the ocean, Jack takes Rose’s hand and once again says to her,  “Do not let go of my hand.  We’re going to make it Rose.  Trust me.”  Her answer, “I trust you” as they face the inevitable sinking of the “unsinkable boat.”  

Here is a man that she basically just met.   Yet, within days she trusts him with her life.  Why?  Because she loves him.  She trusted him to not jump off the ship.  She blindly trusted him to close her eyes.  In the face of fear and danger of the sinking of the ship, she trusts him once again.  Because of love, she simply trusts. 

Do we have the same kind of trust in our Savior?  Do we trust Him when things don’t make sense?  Do we trust Him when we are afraid of the unknown?  Do we trust Him with His plans for the future?  Do you love Him?  He died on the cross because of His love for us.   If we learn to trust Him because of True love, we will find ourselves flying with a sense of freedom no matter the circumstances. 

Today’s devotion, “I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you.”  

Jesus is the true “King of of the World!”   Do you trust Him today? 

love you, 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 3 - January 3, 2014

 For 7 weeks I came alongside my friend, to help her with her move to Maryland.  Unexpectedly, to help Carol I ended up living mainly at her house for the majority of the 7 weeks.  I went back and forth between her house and mine.  We were given a gift in those 7 weeks of being “constant companions.”  In the 17 years that we have been friends, we have never had this long of a period together.  Each day we walked through life together.   Not only was I helping with packing, cleaning, and preparation for moving, but we also had daily time to just talk and enjoy each other’s company.  We laughed, we cried, we grew closer together and deepened our friendship.  Because of being “constant companions” for 7 weeks, our relationship became strengthened.  

The 7 weeks with Carol helped me to understand what it truly means to be a “constant companion.”  I learned the meaning of true friendship, sacrifice & commitment.   It challenges me to evaluate whether I am as devoted to my “companionship” with Jesus as I am to those around me.  He truly is always with me.  He goes before me to open up the way and walks alongside me.  There will never be another companion who is as devoted as Jesus is to me.  Isn’t that amazing?!    As I “learn to hide in the secret of His Presence” I walk with an overwhelming sense of His Peace!  All He wants is to be our “constant companion.”  The more time we spend with Him, the closer we get drawn into the BEST friendship we could ever ask for!   

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 2 - January 2, 2014

I love the statement, “Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me.”  We have all at one point or another been in the summer sun, soaking in the sun’s rays to get that sun tan!  Right?!   What if we were to SOAK in the SON’s rays of Light?  Instead of a sun tan we would have a SON tan!  People can sense when we have been in the Presence of our Savior!   

A common theme that was posted with my first virtual “40 Days with Jesus” team was the struggle to have daily time with the Lord because of all of the tasks that loomed ahead in our day.  Today’s devotion is a goal that we should set for the whole year, “Do not skimp on our time together.”  Soak in His Presence daily.  What a glorious SON tan we will have at the end of the year if we will commit to this simple truth!  

Love you all! 

mama eydie!

Jesus Calling - Day 1 - January 1, 2014

“I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 

As we begin a new year,  I love how Sarah Young states, “Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence.”  On any of my ISP teams journeying to Uganda or London, we always asked team members to give themselves fully to the journey.  The end result was a unified team that grew closer in their relationship with one another and especially with Jesus!   Let’s take this journey of 2014 and STAND together as ONE team with JESUS as our guide.   Jeremiah 29:11 is a promise from God that brings HOPE and PEACE. 

Love you all! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Virtual Journey

Since 2007, I have been on a journey that I had not expected.  I traveled to Uganda, Africa on a trip that changed my life.  Long story short, circumstances led me to quit my job at my local church and join with a friend of mine to start a non-profit organization that meets the needs of children in Uganda.  Now into year 7, we currently take care of over 30 children sending them to school and meeting their daily needs.  What I did not expect is what I would learn about my own spiritual journey. 

I began to realize that I didn't have my life all together like I thought.  Since stepping foot on Ugandan soil, I began to cultivate my relationship with Jesus.  The children of Uganda displayed this authentic relationship with Christ that I desired.  God's Word began to come alive in ways that I had not experienced before.  It caused me to spend more time reading the Word on a daily basis.  I found myself giving more time to studying and praying.  The peace that passes all understanding began to fill my life in ways that I had never experienced before.  

I wish that I would have caught onto that truth earlier on in my life.  But at the same time all of this was going on, I began to lead International Service Project teams with the Office of Mobilization at CBU.   As I began to pour into the lives of the students, I realized that my task was to pass on what I have learned. It brings me great joy in helping young women deepen their relationship with Jesus!  

Born out of that last year was the desire to reconnect with the five teams I have led over the past five years.  This represented 42 students.   I have seen God move in amazing ways in the lives of these amazing young women.  I keep in touch with former team members long after we return home.  But this was something new.  The idea behind this project was to create a “virtual mission’s trip.”  I have seen how investing in a team for 6 months in both training and on the field has made a difference in the lives of students.  I began to wonder if I could create a Raining Hope Virtual Mission’s trip as a discipleship program.   

We use the devotional, “40 Days with Jesus” by Sarah Young while on the field.  It is adapted from “Jesus Calling” by the same author.  The key to discovery on our ISP journeys was making sure we each had a devotion time with the Lord before coming to breakfast using the 40 Days with Jesus.  We then went around the table and shared a few words as to what the Lord showed us in our quiet time. 

So we began a 40 Day journey on Facebook which kept us connected on this virtual trip.  Team members from each team met one another via communication and posting on our page.  We envisioned that we were on the field together.  We shared prayer requests with one another. We  rejoiced & encouraged one another.  It turned out to be a very exciting and growing time for us all.  

After the 40 days were done, we were sad that we didn’t have that daily connection in devotion time.  So for 2014, we are walking through the main book, “Jesus Calling.”  We are on Day 35 - February 4th.  Because the Facebook page is designed for our team members, it is not open to everyone.  I am going to use this “Daughter of the King” blog to make the post public for others who may want to join us on our journey.    You can purchase the actual devotion in bookstores or as an ebook on Amazon for about $8.  

After reading the daily devotion, you can read my post on this blog then post your own thoughts.  You are free to just read the blogs and reflect on your own.  Sarah Young does such a beautiful job in sharing the heart of Jesus in the way she writes.  I am just reflecting in a journal style what I am learning each day as I read this tremendous book!   It is a book that is worth every penny! 

So join us on this virtual journey!  Let’s make it the largest yet!  In between posts I will add other blog entries as the Lord leads.  We are on Day 35 so I will post them slowly until caught up.  I tried to log into my blog in Uganda but the internet was acting up and locked me out!  So catch up at your leisure.  Soak in what He has for you each day! 

Let’s deepen our relationship with Jesus together this year! 

mama eydie!  

An Introduction - Daughter of the King

For those that are new to my blog I want to take a few moments to introduce myself.   My name is Eydie Miskel and I am the Daughter of the King!  I love the book of Esther in the Bible. The story of Esther portrays a common girl who became a queen.  I also love the story of Cinderella!  It is another familiar story of a lowly younger sister who also becomes a queen!  A story even closer to home is Kate Middleton, a commoner who now is part of the Royal Family in England!

The good news is if you are a follower of Jesus,  you are part of THE Royal Family of God!  You are daughters or sons of THE KING!  1 Peter 2:9  “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  you are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

While I was on a Disaster Relief assignment in Minot, North Dakota, I had a dear friend of mine, Rhonda,  asked me, "Eydie, has anyone today reminded you that you are the Daughter of the King?"  I replied, "I don't think anyone has ever said that to me."  She proceeded to tell me that I was precious in His sight, a part of the royal family which made me royalty.  She said that I was deeply loved and adored.  I was the daughter of the true King.  She even wears a necklace that has the initials DOK.  When asked it allows her the opportunity to tell others that she is the Daughter of the King.  I began wearing a crown necklace that offers the same explanation when people compliment it!  I began to dig deeper in a study of the book of Esther.  I truly have come to understand that not only am I a Daughter of the King, I am chosen.  Esther 4:14 "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (ESV)

You too are part of the Royal Family of God if you have chosen to follow Him!

My International Service Project teams with California Baptist University have given me the name, Mama Eydie.  Hence, the name of this blog and the way I sign my name is because this is how I am known by my students!

You are chosen for such a time as this!
mama eydie !