Jesus Calling - Day 4 - January 4, 2015

“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.  To great to understand.”  Psalm 139:3-5

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 our World!”   Do you trust Him today?

love you,
mama eydie

Jesus Calling - Day 3 - January 3, 2015

As most of you know, at the end of 2013, for 7 weeks I came alongside my friend, Carol John to help her with her move to Maryland.  Unexpectedly, I ended up basically living at Carol’s house for the majority of the 7 weeks.   We were given a gift in those 7 weeks of being “constant companions.”  In the 18 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.  It has now been a year since her move to Maryland.  Even distance has not changed the relationship.  We have become very intentional about making our friendship a priority. 

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 with me and within 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, 2015

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!   

Last month was VERY BUSY for me, more than usual.  These words today soothed my soul, “Relax in MY HEALING PRESENCE.”  Spending time with Him this morning is bringing a wave of healing peace!   I found myself being more like Martha last month.  Luke 10:39-42 is a good reminder to choose to be Mary, “who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.”   I am amazed at the moment I am writing this, the sun's morning rays are STREAMING in the window!  As I close my eyes I receive the Light of His Presence and it just warms my whole soul!  

I have regularly used the “40 Days with Jesus” devotional booklet when traveling with my ISP & Raining Hope teams.  A common theme that was shared 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, 2015

“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.”  We have all been on an adventure together whether Uganda or London, CBU or Ventura.   The year 2014 brought great adventure to Raining Hope with the launch of “The Ugandan Dream!”  Just this week we experienced a miracle!  God miraculous provided a gift of $50,000 to add to the $40,000 we had already raised towards buying a permanent home for the children of Raining Hope.  Jeremiah 29:11 has been a very important Scripture in the lives of the children of Raining Hope.  They know that even when times have been tough, God’s plans will bring HOPE and PEACE.    This verse has become so alive in my life in 2014.  I can’t wait to see what God does in 2015!  

Love you all! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 43 - February 12, 2014

Psalm 37:4 is a favorite verse of mine.  Because of today’s devotion, I have seen this verse in a new way.  I have learned that the first part of the verse is so important.  In order for Him to give us the desires of our heart, we first need to delight ourselves in Him.  Spending time in the Word & in prayer are important ways to delight in Him.  But I hadn’t seen what Sarah Young pointed out, “let Him become the Desire of your heart.”  That is so true!   Especially when I put that together with the first part of the devotion, “People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me.”  I read that too fast and thought it said “people think that YOUR thoughts are fleeting and worthless...”  Even though I misread this, it hit too close to home.  I have been extremely hurt by people who unknowingly distracted by their own stuff, are not really listening to me.    When it happens at the wrong time, I have come to believe that my words must be worthless.   

American life moves faster than ever.  That contributes to our inability to slow down and just enjoy a simple conversation.  Even the social media use of Twitter feeds into this type of lifestyle.  With Twitter you are only allowed 140 characters to get your message across in a “tweet.”   The one I really don’t like is Snap Chat.  You snap a photo and send it, but the receiver only has 10 seconds to view the photo.  It then disappears to never be seen again!  Sometimes we behave like we are a live Twitter feed.  I can tell when I am talking to someone and over their head is a little cartoon bubble, “Her 140 characters have run out!”  

I am thankful for the reminder today that God loves me and listens with a smile on His heart.  “His Spirit, who lives within me, helps me to think His thoughts.”  God always makes time for me.  As His thoughts become my thoughts, the less I am hurt by the words or actions of others.  I begin to see others through His eyes.  I began to understand with His heart.  The key...He is becoming the only desire of my heart.  

Delighting in Him,

mama eydie 

Jesus Calling - Day 42 - February 11, 2014

“My peace is like a golden Light shining on you continuously.”   One time in our Bible study group we wanted to show the powerful impact of just one candle.  We turned off all of the lights in the room.  It was pitch black!  We then lit just one candle.  It was AMAZING how the one candle just lit up the whole room!   That is what I was reminded of when Sarah Young said, “On darker days, My Peace stands out in sharp contrast to your circumstances.”  

No matter how difficult the road can be or how dark the circumstances look, know that His Peace is always with you.  His Peace is His Hope that good will come from every circumstance.   

Do not give up.  All things are possible with God.  The Winter Olympics have had some very inspiring stories behind the athletes.  Many push though even though the circumstances looked bleak.  Remember the story of gymnast, Kerri Strug in 1996 who clenched the gold medal for the U.S. Women’s Gymnastic team on a painful, ankle injury.  They have been showing that commercial a lot during the Sochi Olympics.  

If athletes can push through to win gold medals, shouldn’t we as believer’s in Christ do even more!   We have higher stakes and represent the Eternal God of all the nations!  

Let’s go for the Gold and let His Peace stand out today! 

mama eydie! 

Jesus Calling - Day 41 - February 10, 2014

This is one of my favorite of Jesus Calling readings, probably because it is one that I related to so well.  I love the first time I read this, “Because I am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and events in your favor.”  Until six years ago, I spent so much of my time doing the total opposite.  I spent more time with others rather than give that time to Jesus.  I was having a difficult time prioritizing my life & always wanting more hours in a day.  After I began to put into practice what I knew I SHOULD be doing, “giving myself to Him in rich communion,” I WAS able to accomplish more in less time.  It is so true that once you learn something so valuable, it is hard to go back!  

I truly was always on the go. This statement is powerful for us all, “Many, many things people do in My Name have no value in My kingdom.”  Wow.  Once I began to realize this truth, I was sorry that I spent so much of my life on the wrong path.  

This also struck me as I heard this sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley yesterday,  “A Call for Courage.”  I was struck by this statement, “Pride will destroy you.  If you want God to stop His blessing in your life, just start taking credit.  When you start taking credit it demeans the glory of God and God is not gonna give you his power not His strength, nor His assistance when you are taking credit.  We have to walk humbly before Almighty God, trusting Him every day for whatever He wants to do in our lives and recognizing it is His life and His message that we preach and it is His work that is being done in and through your life."

Powerful statement to help us evaluate our lives.  I have seasons that are busier than most.   But I would not be able walk through those times without putting Jesus first.  Time spent with Him will direct me as to what things to do and not do.  He gives me the energy to accomplish His tasks.  Most important of all, He receives the glory for it all. 

“To avoid doing meaningless works, stay in continual communication with Me.” 

Amen! 

mama eydie!