Jesus Calling - Day 40 - February 9, 2014

Today’s devotion is a good reminder of the treasure hunts I use when I lead teams to Uganda or London.  “I rejoice in Your Word like one who discovers a great treasure” – Psalm 119:162   

We began the hunt with a devotion booklet called,  “40 Days with Jesus”  which helped to discover clues towards finding more treasures.  We now are using Jesus Calling for 2014 to uncover even more!  We are discovering that each person’s treasures & journey’s are different.   The key to discovery on our ISP trips was making sure we each had a devotion time with the Lord daily. How can we find treasures the Lord has for us if we don’t take the time to search?! 

Today is a reminder to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to lead you on your own treasure hunt. It didn't stop when they came home from our trip, or when we finished the 40 Days with Jesus booklet.  I encourage them to continue to dig deep.  Today’s devotion encouraged me:   “Hardships are part of the journey too.  I mete them out ever so carefully, in just the right dosage, with a tenderness you can hardly imagine.”  

If you find yourself struggling on your treasure hunt, don’t give up.   Think of the movie, “Indiana Jones” or any other movie that they are searching for a treasure.  Rarely is the journey easy.  The movie would be too short and too boring!  With Indiana Jones, he faced snakes, bullets, arrows, and even huge rolling stones!  Yet, in the end he does win the treasure.  Hardships are a part of our journey.  Yet they are not meant to harm us, but to give us hope for the future. (Jeremiah 29:11).  

If you are faced with difficulties today on your treasure hunt, push through.  It is part of the journey.   I wonder where my ISP students would be today if they had not pushed through the tough stuff on their journeys.  Hardship doesn’t feel good.  But face your difficulties knowing that Jesus is tenderly walking with you.  You WILL survive and will be stronger for it.  Do not give up or give in.  He will receive the glory! 

So let’s go and uncover more treasure together! 

Kale & Cheers! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 39 - February 8, 2014

In the Day 15 devotional, I referred to this familiar story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14.  This continues to encourage me that if we keep our focus on Jesus we can rise above our problems.  “The is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence.” 

There is a song called “Walk on Water” by Britt Nicole.    The words are powerful: 

You look around.  It’s staring back at you.  Another wave of doubt.  Will it pull you under, you wonder.   What if I’m overtaken.  What if I never make it?  What if no one’s there?  Will you hear my prayer?  When you take that first step into the unknown,  You know that He won’t let you go. 

Chorus:  So what are you waiting for?  What do you have to lose?  Your insecurities try to alter you.  You know you’re made for more.  So don’t be afraid to move.  Your faith is all it takes in you.  You can walk on the water too. 

So get out and let your fear fall to the ground. No time to waste.  Don’t wait.  Don’t you turn around and miss out in everything you were made for.   I know you’re not sure so you play it safe.  Try to run away.  If you take that first step into the unknown, He won’t let you go.  

(Step Out) Even when a storm hits. (Step Out)  Even when you’re broken (Step out) Even when your heart is telling you, telling you to give up (Step Out) When your hope is stolen (Step Out) You can’t see where you’re going.  You don’t have to be afraid.   So what are you waiting for? 

You Can Walk on the Water too, 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 38 - February 7, 2014

Wow.  The timing of these last three devotions is amazing.  I needed these tender words, “The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary.  Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion.  Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.”  Again, I say wow.  

I have been living with such peace because of learning how to keep my focus on Him.  That truly is how I have made it through these past busy four months.  So when I got to Tuesday and just wanted to unplug from everything, I got frustrated when I wasn’t able to just be alone.  I thought that I had taken a step backwards.  I felt guilty that I didn’t want to be around anyone.  Not very often do I say, “I am exhausted.”  But this was one of those times.   People will look at my life and automatically say, “I know you’re tired.”  But normally, I truly am not.  When I am functioning in His Will, I am normally energized not tired.  So when I reach those moments of total exhaustion, I know it is time to rest.  I love how this devotion was God Himself (not man) saying to me that my exhaustion was good.  This gave Him the opportunity to take over and give me rest.  The glory then goes only to the Father! 

I realized that I was craving His rest.  What comfort to know that our God cares so tenderly for us.  He knows our limits and wants so much to be the One that will provide what we need.  

Again, all I can say is, WOW! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 37 - February 6, 2014

“When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things.  You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes.”    This goes hand in hand with yesterday’s devotion.  Instead of keeping my focus on Him, I took my eyes off of the One who could give me the rest that I needed.  I began to grasp at the frustration of not having time to unplug from everything.  When I was faced with interruptions, I did drop the gift of His Presence.  The longer it took me to dust those ashes off, the longer I stayed frustrated and upset.  I need to follow the example that Jesus did when he grieved the death of his friend, John.  He did not dwell on his grief but returned to the ministry that he came to do.  

When I am faced with difficulties, frustrations or hardships, I am learning not to dwell in that place.  I love this picture of keeping the gift of His Presence in my hands.  If I reach for the junk that surrounds me, I will drop this precious gift and become focused on negative things.  Yet if I only glance at the circumstances while holding the gift of His Presence, I will react more in a Christ-like manner than a self-centered one.  

Keeping My Eyes on Him! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 36 - February 5, 2014

I have learned a very interesting lesson today.  “To receive My Peace, you must change your grasping, controlling stance to one of openness and trust.”  Over the past six years I have definitely experienced His Peace as I trust Him with my daily life.  It is the only way that I have walked through the past 4 months.  In a nutshell, the last few months have included helping Carol move, 3 trips to Maryland, 1 trip to Uganda, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kiana coming home for the holidays , Disaster Relief training for Ventura County, & ITW at CBU.  I was so looking forward to being home this week.  Then somewhere in the midst of ITW, I realized that I have Blue Cap Training for Disaster Relief in Fresno for 2 1/2 days.  

I learned that not only do I need to trust the Lord in the midst of busy schedules, but I need to trust Him with my quiet times.  He knows that I need a time of rest.  Yet, when I start to order my day and control my thoughts, even for a day of just peace, it damages my soul and the very peace that I desire.  

Matthew 14 gives the account of the death of John the Baptist.  Verses 13-14 are what I thought of in the midst of my desiring to be alone. ”Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”   I am sure that Jesus was grieved at the news of the death of His friend.  Yet He trusted His Father during that time of grief and gave me a great example to follow.   In the Life Application Study Bible it said, “He didn’t dwell on his grief but he returned to the ministry that he came to do.”  

He knows my needs.  I rest in that today trusting Him to refresh me and fill me with His Peace!   

Seeking His Face,

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 35 - February 4, 2014

If you knew me prior to my going to Uganda on that first mission’s trip, you would know this statement definitely represented me, “Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning.”  I was busy.  That’s all there is too it.  

Once I prioritized and began to focus on my RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, I began to live in the “radiance of His Presence.”  I began to experience His Peace.  My focus was no longer based on pleasing others or being busy.  I started simply spending quality time with Him daily.  

What amazes me is how many people will still characterize me as the “busy” person I was prior to Uganda.  I no longer live my life like that.  Sometimes I think people base who we are by our Facebook posts.  That is why I am careful how I use social media. 

It makes me laugh every time someone’s automatic response to me is “I know that you are busy...”  I now just relax inside and say, “No, I’m actually not.”  I am thankful for the lessons that I have learned about enjoying His Presence.  The more that I spend in His Word and in prayer & worship, the more I relax in Him.  Yes, there are seasons that my “schedule” is fuller than others.  But I appreciate Sarah Young’s words today that really speak to the heart of how I now live my life...“You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel, because you will be focusing on Me.”   This makes all the difference in the world.  

Resting in His Peace today! 

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 34 - February 3, 2014

I get teased all the time when I open presents.  I tend to open slowly, trying to lift each piece of scotch tape carefully as to not rip the paper.  I unfold very patiently to prolong the excitement of the gift!  As family and friends look on they watch with smiles.  But if a thought bubble would be raised over their heads I am sure I would see statements like, “Rip the paper already!  Hurry up!”  

Reading the devotion today brought me to the picture of my opening presents.  “Receive today’s gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its depths.  As you savor this gift, you find Me.”  Yes!!!!  I know whatever gift awaits me it will be good. I trust that when a gift is given it will not hurt me.  Even though I can not see it until the package is opened, I trust nothing bad is going to jump out at me.  

I want to look at each day this way.  I trust God.  I know when I open the gift of today I will find Him!  So family and friends...the way I open presents is here to stay!  Now, I may even go slower!  Oh no!  Ha ha!  

SAVOR the Gift! 

mama eydie ! 

Jesus Calling - Day 33 - February 2, 2014

I have got caught in the trap of focusing in on a problem, “circling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery.”  I was miserable when I was caught in this “merry go round” journey.  When I finally got off of that ride, it was as if I was slapped in the face or had a bucket of cold water dumped on me.  It was the wake up call that I was stuck on a ride I didn’t need to stay on.  My energy and attention were all directed to the negative problem.  

During the heyday of the carousel in the U.S. about 1880 to 1921, they would have brass ring devices that were designed to perhaps draw interest or build excitement to riders.   If a rider managed to grab a brass ring, it could be redeemed for a free ride. (Wikipedia)  

In order to grab the ring, you would have to keep your focus.  If you kept your eye on everything else going on around you, it would distract you from reaching the prize.  I think that is the sentiment behind today’s devotion.  If we keep our focus on our problems and feeling sorry for ourselves we will be miserable.  I can testify that it doesn’t fix the problem.   Let’s train ourselves to keep our focus on His Presence.  Our lives sometimes are like a merry-go-round going faster than we would like.  Sit and enjoy His Presence.  We will win the prize each time if we just seek His face every moment of each day. 

Reaching for the Prize! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 32 - February 1, 2014

Before I left for Uganda, I had a few minutes to speak at my church before they commissioned me off in prayer.  One of the things I remember that I said was, “I am going and just following Him one step at a time.”  It was so exciting to watch God work as I truly did just put one foot in front of the other.  The outcome was so much better than anything I could have planned.  

In my previous fast pace life, I was either so busy planning or worrying about what to do, that I did find myself often “stumbling on the easy path.”  I didn’t realize that I was in trouble. Who knew?  It really is all about “Keeping my mind on the present journey, enjoying His Presence, walking by faith, not by sight, trusting Him to open up the way before me.”  When this truth moved from my head to my heart it made all the difference in the world.  

Another song, “He Moves, You Move” by Audio Adrenaline...

“You, you’re scared to take a step, afraid to see what’s next

So you wait ‘til you think it’s safe to move.  You tend to think too much,

You need to open up your heart to see where He is leading

With a lamp just for your feet, a spotlight just for your path

When He moves, you’ve got to move, you know

You’ve got to lose control, let go.  There’s nothing left to hold on to

This life you live is really not your own.  So where He goes you go, you know

He leads and you follow.  He moves, you move.  He moves, you move

He moves, you move.  When He moves, you move

Right now, is all you ever have so forget the past.  And don’t worry about the future

‘Cause He’s the Author of your story,  So let Him take you on the journey of your life

Oh, it starts tonight

So if I move to the right, or I move to the left

Move up north, move down south, the east or the west

No matter how far I go, or if I stay right here

If I’m in the middle of Your will, there’s nothing left to fear.”

HE MOVES, YOU MOVE!! 

mama eydie!