May I introduce you to…

… yourself?  To the person that I knew and created in womb when I set you apart? To the person whom I began a good work in and am faithful to carry it on to completion? These are the questions that I feel like God has been asking me over these last several weeks.  It’s crazy.  I’m thirty, and I think I’m just now finally beginning to skim the surface of understanding who I am, who God created me to be, and who I am in Him.

For a long time I’ve  been a prisoner to circumstances and to my perceptions of those circumstances, and that has left me handicapped/nearly paralyzed.  I’ve dealt with serious lack of self-confidence, shame, guilt, and a seemingly warped perception of myself.  For years I have had friends and acquaintances tell me that they “wish I could see what they see” in me . . . I suppose that is normal, and to be expected because they cannot see my thoughts, my fears, worries, or the parts of my mind, that I too, wish I couldn’t see but I do, but I believe God is beginning to break away the hard exterior that I have seemed to build up, or have let myself come to know as “normal.”

It is time for me to come to grips with my past, circumstances that I had and have no control over, and to understand that life is all part of this journey that God has us on to make us into the people that He created us to be for His glory . . . and that all of the things that I look back on with shame or guilt or anger, those are all things that God did to build my character and my strength, and although they have helped to form who I am, THEY ARE NOT WHO I AM!  I am a new creation.  Praise God!

As I pray through this in the coming days, weeks, months, years . . . I pray that I would never stop learning who God is molding me to be, and I ask you today:

Is God waiting to introduce you to the person He made you to be, and would you let Him?

-E

chosen

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I came across a passage that I’m familiar with, and was really encouraged by on little word today.

John 15:16  “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last …”

Rejoicing today that God CHOSE me.

What is God encouraging you with today?

Reading/Listening

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated my “reading/listening” posts . . . so here are a few of the things that I’ve been into lately . . .

Humility by Andrew Murray

Great 105 page book to challenge you to turn from pride, empty yourself, and be filled with His grace.

Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

A good friend gave me this to read, and it really encouraged me to break out of the “cages” that I’ve allowed myself to remain in, and to chase the Wild Goose … I guess you’ll just have to read it to understand.

Uprising by Erwin McManus

I’m currently reading this book about realizing the divine potential that was placed within us at our creation, and moving from an ordinary life to an extraordinary one.

Here are a few of the things that I’ve been listening to lately . . .

Glory Revealed – a collection of artists got together for this tour to present songs riddled with Scripture.  I’ve had the album for a while, but just recently started to listen to it again.  Good stuff.

Pocket Full of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield

She’s got a great voice, and I love the lyrics on the album.

Some of my favorites … Pages by Shane and Shane

Great album.

So that’s me.  What have you been reading/listening to lately?  Any suggestions?

taken for granted…

I’ve done it for far too long,

spent my days with ne’er a consideration for you.

I’ve pushed with my own power,

and carried responsibility upon my shoulders.

I’ve taken You for granted.

I pass them on the street,

in the store, and at work.

Without even a second thought

about the emptiness inside them.

Because I’ve taken you for granted.

You, Oh Lord, are my strength,

my life, my reason.

You have placed ALL OF WHO YOU ARE

within my heart, and how do I repay you?

I take you for granted.

You care about the smallest details of my day,

where I will sleep, what I will eat.

You lead me, guide me protect me,

yet somehow, I miss the miracle in that.

Because I take you for granted.

Your promises are endless, but instead of claiming them,

I use them to fall back on.

Your word is truth,

but I only surrender to it in my “time of need.”

I take you for granted.

So Lord, today I stop!

I open my eyes to who You are.

I look with expectancy

to see where you are at work.

I will not take you for granted.

I will praise you as I prepare for the day

for another breath, another opportunity to see Your glory.

I will sit at the dinner table

with thanksgiving for what you have provided.

I will not take you for granted.

I will look into the eyes of those I meet

with love and sincerity.

I will share about Your undying love

because I know what You’ve done for me.

I will not take you for granted.

I will live, truly live

because I’ve spent far too long simply existing.

I will die to myself today,

all because of who You are, and for Your glory.

And I will NOT take you for granted.

Amen.

Whoa …

Okay, so I’ve been back in the world of technology, and fried foods, and lots of lights and cars for a few hours now, and I’m a little overwhelmed by it all . . . what a change of pace in such a short amount of time.  Anyway . . . wanted to let you all know that we made it back safe and sound (without our luggage though … it should be coming tomorrow.)  I seriously will not be able to thank you enough for your prayers, and look forward to sharing some of the stories with you all.

Eric

Mali West Africa – Day 16

Welcome Home!

What we are doing today:

Sunday January 11th 2009
Arrive home
Arrive in Springfield at 4:05 pm

Prayer points:

Pray for no problems with our flights home to the US.

Pray for the adjustments that will need to be made once we return home (to work, school, families, etc.), both due to the time difference, culturally, and emotionally as we try to comprehend what we’ve just been through in the last few weeks.

Mali West Africa – Day 15

What we are doing today:

Saturday January 10th 2009
Depart Bamako on Air France
Team Breakfast
Team packing and early check-in at Air France
Artisan-shopping
Team lunch
Depart for Airport
4.5 hour layover in Paris and a 1.5 hour layover in Detroit
Spend one night on the flight over the Atlantic
24 hours travel time from Bamako

Prayer points:

Pray for an enjoyable time as we get to spend some time in the city of Bamako, seeing local merchants and doing some shopping.

Pray for a safe return back to the USA on January 10th – 11th

Mali West Africa – Day 14

What we are doing today:

Friday January 9th 2009
Depart for Bamako
Break camp early
Say goodbyes to Chief and new friends
Return to Bamako-arriving late afternoon
Team worship and prayer partners
Showers and dinner and celebration!

Prayer points:

Pray for safe travel back to the capitol city of Bamako, and for a great time of fellowship within our team as we begin to debrief the trip.

Pray for encouragement and strength for each team member as we’ve just been through a strenuous and emotionally draining few weeks.

Mali West Africa – Day 13

What we are doing today:

Thursday January 8th 2009
Fulanke Villages
Breakfast
Mapping
Sports Team
Prayer Walking
Discipleship Team: CTC Storytelling
Radio Broadcasting development
Compassion Team Bio-Filter water project
Compassion Team Community Health training
Evangelism Team: Jesus Film in a village
Dinner and team worship and time with prayer partners

Prayer points:

Pray for our final full-day among the Fulanke people to be productive and encouraging.

Pray for a deeper work of the Spirit in each team member during the out-reach that will make us even more fruitful for the glory of Jesus when we return.  John 15:4-5

Pray for the IMB Missionaries in Mali that we will meet: Tom and Diane Pace

Mali West Africa – Day 12

What we are doing today:

Wednesday January 7th 2009
Fulanke Villages
Breakfast
Mapping
Sports Team
Prayer Walking
Discipleship Team: CTC Storytelling
Radio Broadcasting development
Compassion Team Bio-Filter water project
Compassion Team Community Health training
Evangelism Team: Jesus Film in a village
Dinner and team worship and time with prayer partners

Prayer points:

Pray for a refreshing spirit today as we’ve been in a “routine” in the Fulanke villages the last several days.

Pray for the bio-sand filter project and the community health team as we seek to bring the compassionate touch of Jesus to the villages with clean drinking water

Today pray for our driver, there is a great likliehood that he will not be a believer, pray for opportunities for him to see and hear about the love of Christ