Let me set the stage a bit…
It’s Debrief in Malaysia.
The transition from Month 8 to Month 9 of my 11 month World Race.
That means it is time for rest, reflection, prayer, processing and change.
This is what the last few days have looked like:
I said goodbye to Team Covenant, the group of 6-8 women that I was blessed with the opportunity to walk through life with for the last 4 months.
I opened my heart to a new family of women (you will hear more about them soon) and I am so excited to journey with them into the final leg of our adventure.
I have had one-on-one dates with various members of our leadership team. I have been able to share my heart and reconnect with old teammates. I have spent time worshiping. I have spent time in the Word. I have boldly asked the Lord to challenge me and push me for the rest of the time that I have on the field.
Our squad mentor, Erika, challenged us last night during an all-squad session to write two Psalms.
For those who do not know a Psalm is a poem. A song. An Expression of Worship. A Prayer. Praise. There is a book of Psalms in the Bible and let me tell you they are well worth the read.
Anyways, Erika told us that the first was meant to reflect on how far we have come since the beginning of our time on the field. The second, to reflect where/who we hope to be when all of this is said and done in June.
So, there you have it.
I wrote two Psalms and my heart has peace about combining them into one passage that demonstrates the work that the Lord has done in my life and on my heart in this last year since being accepted as an August ’16 Route 1 World Racer.
This is real. It is raw. And it is me taking a big step into vulnerability by sharing it with all of you. It is a creative expression of emotion and experience that came free-flowing out of my heart last night in a matter of about ten minutes.
I pray that you can read it for what it is. I pray that maybe some of these words will resonate with you. And I encourage you to step out in faith and write a psalm for the Lord.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
You have chosen me.
You have picked me up from the pit of despair
To You alone is the glory.
My life has been transformed
And You delight in every step that I takes towards You
My slate has been washed clean,
My wool washed white as snow.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
You have loved me with a love so indescribable.
You have called me Beloved.
You have called me.
Your tender mercies, loving-kindness and patience
All are infinite and eternal.
All are undeserved and yet You freely give.
To You alone is the glory.
I fix my eyes on You;
I fix my eyes on Heaven.
Help me to not drop my gaze.
Give me the strength that only You can give,
Gracious Heavenly Father.
I will forever praise Your name;
Through the storm, I will praise
In the rain, I will dance
Even in the chaos, I will sing.
For You have given me joy that is not dependent on the dust of this earth
And to You alone is the glory.
You, Oh Lord, have begun a new work in me.
You, Oh Lord, have revealed to me the deepest desires of my heart.
You, Oh Lord, have transformed me.
I will worship Your name for You are faithful.
I will worship Your name for You are good.
I will worship Your name for doing so brings me closer and closer to the foot of the cross.
You, Oh Lord, have redeemed a broken sinner.
You, Oh Lord, have taken a heart of stone and broken it for what breaks Yours.
You, Oh Lord, have given me new eyes to see this broken world just as You do.
So, I will worship your name forever.
Daily I will seek You,
Daily we will walk together.
You are mine and I am Yours.
My life is in Your hands and there is no place I would rather be.
Almighty Father keep me close
Continue working in me until I breathe my last
And even then I will worship your name.
