Thursday, January 31, 2013

Theme for 2013: Contemplating Mercy and Grace


I have been thinking a lot about mercy and grace.


Every year I pick a "theme word" for my year. This is a concept, an idea, a virtue to focus on. It's a place to turn my heart and open my eyes of understanding. In 2012, God taught me a lot about JOY. I heard sermons on joy, highlighted it in my Bible, copied down quotes from authors on the topic. I hunted down joy in the everyday.

Perhaps one of the greatest lessons I learned about the theme of joy came from the Bible book of James. For the last five months, I have been deep into study of James' words. On Tuesday mornings I help lead a group of 30-some women at my church and we have been going through Beth Moore's study of James called "Mercy Triumphs." With Beth and her daughter Melissa's help, the bold words of Jesus' half-brother James have come alive.

One of the most famous verses from James says,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

I memorized these verses as a young person but I didn't really understand or own them until recently. James intentionally chooses the word "consider" because it is difficult to face trials. Joy isn't the natural human emotion that results from trials. He challenges us to do the mental work of "considering" trials joy.

In 2012, this has meant considering it joy when our family didn't have money to pay our rent or our always-dependable car broke down in the middle of the 99. This meant considering it joy when my 3-year-old was throwing another fit. This meant considering it joy when my hubby faced debilitating migraines. This meant considering it joy when stress mounted, our family was stretched thin. This meant considering it joy when joy was the last thing my selfish soul could muster.

In the end, I have learned that considering trials joy truly does build my faith. Joy discovered through trials is a deeper, truer joy than I ever experienced. This joy flows out of a deep well, not the surface happiness I expected.

At the close of 2012, I began to pray about a theme for 2013. I kept thinking about these two words - grace and mercy - that seem to go hand in hand. I even painted these words on a rustic farm pallet to hang on our dining room wall, a visual reminder of the journey ahead.




These two little words pack a powerful punch: grace and mercy.

As I continue a study of James, I can't help but hear his emphasis on mercy.

James writes,

There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (2:17, New Living Translation)
This is all bringing me back to my eighth grade study of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice." One of the speeches I memorized was the one delivered by Portia in the courtroom. I'm ruminating over this one as I enter 2013:

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath.
It is twice blessed.
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
It is mightiest in the mightiest,
It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
An attribute to awe and majesty.
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself.
And earthly power dost the become likest God's,
Where mercy seasons justice.
Therefore Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice we all must see salvation,
We all do pray for mercy
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.
I have spoke thus much to mitigate the justice of thy plea,
Which if thou dost follow,
This strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentance gainst the merchant there.


I'm diving into mercy and grace in 2013.





Saturday, January 19, 2013

Consider joining our support team in 2013!







Dear Friends & Family,

We depart in less than a week for Haiti again. Yes, this traveling back and forth between California and Haiti is becoming a lifestyle for us. At times we do feel like we are living out of overstuffed suitcases and half-unpacked boxes, but we also have embraced that this is the life God has called us to. Truth be told, He has called all of us to be sojourners in this world looking toward a more settled life in Heaven with Him.

We are writing to give you all a quick update on our plans for 2013, recognizing as it says in James 4:15 that God is the one who orders our steps and our calendar day by day. We depart on January 24 with our family of five and a team of 8 additional people from Trinity Community Church in Fresno. The group is led by Richard and Gina Wathen. Our goal for this trip to is build furniture for the recently-completed orphanage building in St. Raphael and meet the children who will live in it. 

We are excited about sharing Haiti with new people! Dorina will also be working with Gina and another team member, who is a videographer, to put together a short film about The Haitian Bead Project. We are celebrating the way God has grown this business in 2012 and looking for new ways to expand it in 2013. Please let us know if you have suggestions of stores, boutiques, fairs or even private events at your church, work or home where we could share jewelry. While in Haiti, Ericlee will be checking in on the schools and churches as well.

We return to Fresno on February 1 and jump right into Missions Festival Month at our home church, The Bridge. We will have a month of speaking opportunities as well as a major fundraiser at Ericlee’s Crossfit gym on Feb. 9. Ericlee continues to work half time at personal training and coaching in 2013. We just launched a new web site. God continues to open doors through this avenue. If you know someone who might benefit from fitness and nutrition training, please send them our way!

We plan to return to Haiti again for July and August with our family. We are thrilled to have at least four different churches/groups interested in coming to serve in Haiti this summer. We have prayed for years for more people to get involved! We will host them and continue to be a cultural bridge for visitors who stay in Pignon to work alongside the Haitians.

Please consider committing to join us in prayer over our travels and plans. It was a struggle to pay our bills in 2012. We are praying to find at least $600 more in monthly supporters. Please consider being a part of our regular support team or even sending a one-time donation toward our travels in 2013. This is our opportunity to take our greater community with us to Haiti.  Stay connected with our journey right here.

Serving Together,
Ericlee, Dorina, Meilani, Giada & Zayla