Hello!
I am Mary Elizabeth Byers, also known as:
Mary Beth
Murbef
Murbs
Mare Bear
Moobah
….and several more!
The things I love are:
First and foremost, the Lord!
Puppies
Fishing
Music
Puppies
Cooking
Swimming
Running
Food
Interesting and Fun Facts about me:
I am a May 2017 graduate of Friends University in Wichita, KS.
I am a dairy extraordinaire, and competed at the national FFA convention in Dairy Foods
I am also lactose intolerant…
When I was in Friend’s University Jazz Vocal Ensemble, I had the opportunity to open for the Pentatonix!
I play trumpet, sing, and love jazz! I am a professional jazz vocalist in the city of Wichita.
So why am I on the Race?
Through college, I have had a burning desire to know what it would be like to leave behind everything I have ever known. All pain, frustration, familiarity, and even family. I want to know what it is like to be a disciple. What would my life be like without music? What if I had time to serve other people and focus solely on the kingdom of God? I am very curious to know these things, and I am very excited to have a year to focus on God and the calling He asks of us when Jesus says to give everything to the poor and follow him. I have seen the Lord work in my life as a Father to the fatherless, a confidant in stressful times, and the strength in my life. I would not be courageous enough to continue today (especially in trying to go to the World Race) if the Lord had not loved and cared for me so selflessly and graciously.
I know this will not be a cake walk. I know heartache lies ahead and suffering will be all around me, but I pray to continue to hold on to the words of God in Isaiah 43:1-13. This passage brought me through much suffering in my life, times when I was not sure if I was going to live to the next day. But the Lord is so good to me and I have seen such mercy flow from His heart. I pray this blesses you, the reader, as well:
“Now this is what the Lord says-
the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, Israel—
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,
and the flame will not burn you.
For I Yahweh your God,
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior,
give Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Because you are precious in My sight
and honored, and I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north: Give them up!
and to the south: Do not hold them back!
Bring My sons from far away,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone called by My name
and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”
Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,
and are deaf, yet have ears.
All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”
You are My witnesses”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.
I, I am Yahweh,
and there is no other Savior but Me.
I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god among you.
So you are My witnesses-
this is the Lord’s declaration-
and I am God.
Also, from today on I am He alone,
and none can deliver from My hand.
I act, and who can reverse it?'”
Lastly,
The prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 42:6-8 is a beautiful calling for Jesus’s life and a vision of how He continues to work through us on earth. He set the captives free and spread His light, therefore let us go out and do the spread, proclaiming his light and life wherever we go!
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
The past events have indeed happened.
Now I declare new events;
I announce them to you before they occur.”
