Think Different

Journal Entry- 3 December 2010

LORD,
          I will seek after You as long as I have my being. I love You Lord because You loved me first. I will not worry about tomorrow because you are sufficient for today, tomorrow and forevermore. You have always been good and You always will be. I have set my heart to seek after You. You are my heart's desire and my strong Rock on which I stand. Oh how You move me Lord, You call me friend yet I cannot grasp why for my wretchedness is ever before me. Truly, I was among the wicked but You pour out Your love and drew me back to You. Renew the joy of salvation in my heart oh Adonai. I long to know You more.
                                                                                                                              Selah

Paper Tongues - Get Higher

That's My King Dr. S.M. Lockridge - [OFFICIAL]

Steve Thompson - God Wants You Confident

Journaling through Psalms 2, 51, 53, 73, 74, 144, 145, 146; Isaiah 58, 59, 60; Joel 3; Malachi 1; Deuteronomy 6, 30, 31, 32.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from my sin! Purge me and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Yahweh, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure, build up the walls of Jerusalem. When God restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. But when I thought to how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. He who sits in the heavens laughs; Yahweh holds them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His furry, saying “As for Me, I have set My King in Zion, My holy hill.” “For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of hosts, “and My name will be feared among the nations.” So they shall fear the name of Yahweh from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; for He will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of Yahweh drives. I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward You. Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterword You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made Adonay Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works. Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. Direct Your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! “A Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares Yahweh. “And as for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says Yahweh: “My Spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring,” says Yahweh, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Then shall your light break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of Yahweh shall be your rear guard. Blessed be Yahweh, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my Deliverer, my shield and Him in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me. O Yahweh, what is man that You regard him, or the son of man that You think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Bow Your heavens, O Yahweh, and come down! Proclaim this among the nations; consecrate for war, stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears, let the weak say, “I am a warrior!” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O Yahweh. Flash forth the lightning and scatter them: send out Your arrows and rout them!

 For when the Yahweh Yeshua, the Lion of Yehuda roars from Zion, His enemies will be scattered! Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving Yahweh your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days. Be strong and courageous, it is Yahweh who goes before you, He will not forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. “Hear, O Israel; Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and with out iniquity, just and upright is He. He found me in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He encircled me on the mountainside, He cared for me, He kept me as the apple of His eye. Like and eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions. Yahweh alone guided me, no foreign god was with me. He made me ride on the high places of the land, the Sangres de Cristos. My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh, and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever. Praise Yahweh! Praise Yahweh, O my soul! I will praise Yahweh as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.                                                                                                                        Selah

Journaling through Psalms 2, 51, 53, 73, 74, 144, 145, 146; Isaiah 58, 59, 60; Joel 3; Malachi 1; Deuteronomy 6, 30, 31, 32.


My Wanderings: Journaling through Psalm 119 and other Psalms-21 May 2010

My Wanderings: Journaling through Psalm 119 and other Psalms-21 May 2010

John Piper - Radical Christian Sacrifice - Sermon Jam

Urgent Need!

Hello family and friends,

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I need $1600 to stay in class by October 1. Also, my school is planning a short term trip to Central Asia in November, but I need $1300 by Sept 27 for the plane ticket. I know this is very short notice, I am sorry for that but it has been really out of my control.

The total costs for these are:

$3,271.19 for this semester of school, so I need half by Oct.1

$2.281.40 for the Cen. Asia trip including flight

The good news is that I am in a mentoring position at school. Therefore, I am in a semi-staff position which means I will not be asked to leave campus. If I do not come up with the funds to stay on as a student I will still have food, shelter and ministry for at least 8 months but I will not likely be able to go on global internship in a year.

I am confident that the Lord is faithful to provide what is needed for me to accomplish His purposes for my life, but I ask you to pray.

Pray for the money to come in, whether that means you can help or not. Pray for me and my 10 guys that I am mentoring, they are my main focus this year so I need loads of wisdom and patience. Also, I would like to pray for you. I have set hours throughout the week set aside for intercession, so please send me prayer request on facebook or via e-mail to eric.rainwater@bcom.org.

You can send cash or checks to:

6820 Auto Club Rd., Suite A
Bloomington, MN 55438

to give online for school:

https://bcom.populiweb.com/bookstore/student_charges.php?accessKey=341e4b785a0a0fc7ad628ecc98617b7135ad1f2560a21bce9f04251d39af074b52d69534482c236174e25194ef2e1dbffcbc1be5f1af6c

this link is good for 30 days.

to give for Central Asia which are tax deductible:

Check- write the check to STEM International

STEM International
6820 Auto Club Rd., Suite J
Bloomington, MN 55438

do NOT put my name anywhere on the check simply add a separate note with my name and team #718 otherwise it will not be tax deductible.

or

donate online:

https://secure.bethanyinternational.org/donate/index.php

after entering your personal information you should select “Donate to a Ministry” and scroll down to “STEM”. In the Comments box at the very bottom of the page, specify “For ___(Eric Rainwater)___, STEM team #718”.

If the gift is for a particular team member, donors should include that name in the Comments box. Otherwise it will go to the team as a whole. All donations are Tax deductible and a receipt will be sent to you.

Again, I am sorry for the short notice.

Shalom
Eric Rainwater

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalms 27:13-14

Battle Cry

My Wanderings-August 2010

Greetings dear family and friends,

What a wonderful summer it has been but it is time for school to start once again. Over the summer I worked full time on campus which is helping me with tuition here at Bethany College of Missions. I have grown very close to my fellow brothers and sisters that were here over the summer.
It was great to see many of you on my trip back home earlier in June. I must say what an encouragement it was to know how many in the Rainwater family are keeping up with me and supporting me, many of which I may have never met or at least not seen since I was too young to remember. I cannot give enough thanks to God for blessing me with such a great family.
But I must also thank everyone who has supported me through prayer and finances. Your continued support and love gives me great strength to run this race even harder. I am sure that the Lord will bless you all even more for your faithfulness. Give thanks to the Lord who provides!
As this summer comes to a close there are many exciting things coming up this school year. The first great thing is that I am going to be a mentor this coming year. I will have up to ten freshmen boys whom I am in charge of discipleship as they enter into this new season in their walk. It will be an awesome opportunity to minister into these young men's lives by coming beside them to stir them on in righteousness. This will be my main ministry outside of my own studies. But there is also going to be some great ministry events happening throughout the year.
The first event is a large hippy music festival called Harvest Fest that is going on the weekend after Labor Day. There is a few of us joining with a local ministry know as Street Level to minister in this dark place. We will literally be a light in a dark place. I attended last year and there was much fruit.
Secondly, I have an opportunity before Thanksgiving to go on a short-term trip to Azerbaijan, a small country north of Iran. I do not have all the details for this trip but will be updating you soon. This trip is an elective class that counts towards my degree.
Probably the most exciting thing is that I will soon find out where I will be going on my overseas internship a year from now. Please pray for my fellow students and me as we prepare for this process over the school year.  I am so excited about all that will be happening this year and hope to have many great stories to share with you all. I want to thank you all again because I can not walk this journey with out you. And again I must thank God for His grace to walk in righteousness before Him.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9


Some cool Kenyan's we met while watching the World Cup Finals

Jesus Is My Friend by Sonseed

Ch

Nefarious Official Trailer. Merchant of Souls

A Call to Anguish - David Wilkerson

Journaling through Psalm 119 and other Psalms-21 May 2010

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not Your ways from me! My soul is consumed with longing for Your ways at all times. My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to Your word! Put false ways far from me, and graciously teach me Your law! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways. Confirm to Your servant Your promise, that You may be feared, in Your righteousness give me life! Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to your promise. For I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep Your words. I entreat Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love. You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me that thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands have made and fashioned me. Those who fear You shall see me and rejoice, because I hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let Your steadfast love comfort me according to Your promise to Your servant. My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. My eyes long for Your promise! How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Give me life, O Lord, according to Your word! Accept my freewill offering of praise, O Lord, and teach me Your ways. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually! You spurn all who go astray from Your statutes, for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth You discard like dross, therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments. My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies! The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name. Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your ways. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep Your law. My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget Your words. Your promise is well tried, and Your servant loves it! With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I call to You; save me. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promise. Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love, O Lord, according to Your justice give me life. Give me Your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to Your ways. I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep Your commandments. Give me life according to Your steadfast love. The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ways endures forever. Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. My lips will pour forth praise, my tongue will sing of Your word. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, let my soul live and praise You. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. I shall not die, but shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. As for me, I shall in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord. To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! -Amen

Journal Entry 12 June 2009

Living in the mountains riding ponies is what I am really dreaming now. Got the Troubadour's book about a hairy 8 legged beast with its open free flowing words. Straight mind to paper all it is. Trying the same myself but ain't the same. Lol summer is coming on hard and I want to be here no more. The band is playing riding songs and my heart longs for the road. Southern by the grace of God but the West is my heart's want tonight. But the Far East is where my compass is pointing but it may be a time till I get to the Steppe where the Mongols still follow the roaming ways. Funny how I thought a hacienda would be so grand by my dream home now is a ger (Mongolian hut).

But oh great I AM please keep me to the path. I will follow You down any way You choose for love is Your way and it's the only one worth following. Many claim to know its ways but few truly follow for its joy is in the suffering of it. But how much can we really suffer when You already suffered it all in our stead. Reveal to me the scripts Holy wisdom, Your very mind its told. Throw me in the battle fray so all shall know that no other is worthy.

I know not who my bride to be is yet. I know whom is of my choosing but You know me better than I do and my beautiful betrothed also. Speak Your ways into her heart and bring us into Your holy purity and righteousness. So that our love will be strong because we are tapped to the Source, Love itself-You my King. Never let us go. I know you are already bringing our paths together. Let it converge in a clear path that we will both know it's true and from You, and once together never let our paths separate either. Drum out the rhythm of Your heart before us O' my Lord. My heart screams HALLELUJAH and my soul dances at Your feet. Let passion fuel me toward the battle front. I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU LORD!!!!!

Journal Entry 3 April 2009

I am the wanderer, beating down the land below my callused feet. Planes, trains, and automobiles but horse and saddle cannot be beat. None be strangers these. The rambler’s heart beats within my chest calling, pushing me to move on, to meet new folks and learn from their peculiar ways. Some think me crazy and mayhap that be right. But tis just the same, I’m gonna keep wandering till my dying day. Perhaps, my Papa in the heavenlies will bless me with a partner of the fair… Tis a funny thing that women be the most beautiful creature in the natural realm yet most certainly the bane of man’s existence, but I do love ‘em still. They say to have loved and lost is better than never lovin a’tall. I say tis truth this, for to give your love and the other to refuse is the latter’s loss and none of my own. Cause life is not about no broken hearts but having the strength to let yet another in. For it’s in the suffering we find sweet, sweet joy. So…I’ll just keep a rollin, cause it’s all gonna be gravy on the other side. But it is the eyes of girls so fair that melt my machismo to a shallow puddle. I do thank the Lord for this blues band in the corner playin today, for how it soothes the burning soul and lets these rambling pages get writ.
Selah
Oh how I long to ride across the Steppe of the East. For in this far off land the nomads still roam no worries of the world so cruel. Tis a funny thing that Abba’s path to such will lead me through a city yet, one too big for my mind to truly grasp. It does make me slightly chuckle. Good thing I love people so, yet it’s the ruts they’re stuck traveling in that makes my heart lament. It’s not my own path I wish them to follow for mine is a hard one. It’s my truest passion still to help my brothers and sisters find a love for life, AKA the Great I AM, and that they become seekers of everything to the uttermost. Otherwise, they are just souls waitin on their pitiful flesh to wilt and die. And oh, how it saddens me so. But when just one lets their heart get lost and they have no clue where to go, but they just know they gotta get there, how it makes my heart jump. Cause its only when you realize you’re lost that one can seek the path out of darkness. For it is people’s hearts that is the darkest of places, and in these I am so compelled to go that Yeshua might set them free. To the Kingdom He is calling, not just a safe place to be when the flesh rests but a fight to join, an epic journey to travel, grand adventures to be had. A life beyond mere existence, and whether they travel many lands or merely go down the street a couple blocks, sweet unending joy they shall have. Though none find perfection in this time of carnal flesh, the truest pursuit of it yields a beauty that transcends what our mere senses can understand. It doesn’t take complicated theology, simply love God with all you got and love others with the same passion you have for your own life. All things fall under this. Jesus is God, my King and dearest friend. That’s my theology. This way is so simple yet it pervades all I do, think, and sense. I interpret all through this lens. Life becomes like jazz, moments like notes composed on the fly in a rhythm that is pure beauty.
Amen

My Wanderings

My Wanderings

Hello dear friends and family,
To say the least it has been a busy time since I arrived in Minnesota. I want to thank you all for your support both in prayer and finances. I know that I am truly loved by God and many people. It is almost too much for me to understand why I am so loved other than the fact of the Messiah’s transforming power.
I am sorry for not writing you sooner and I am going to try to do better in the future. It has been nonstop action since I got here but it has been amazing also. The best thing about other than a very tangible presence of God is my new brothers and sisters in the Lord. They are an amazing bunch of people. We are truly family here at Bethany College of Missions. Not to mention that everyone is consumed with the love of our King Jesus.
We have had great classes with amazing teachers. Our first class was Christology or the study of Christ. And we just built on our knowledge from there. Also, the opportunities for ministry have been awesome. The school is connected to so many Churches and ministries that you cannot possibly join them all.
Last semester, we all went to the University of Minnesota every Monday night for evangelism. It was great but there is much darkness there to deal with. There are still many that go but this semester we have more options on what ministry we can do. It is a requirement that we do ministry at least once a week. I am part of a group of ten students that feels led to reach out to our neighbors that are in close proximity to the school, it is called Auto Club Ministry.
I have also been able to do much outside of the required ministries. I have witnessed on the streets to homeless people, to shoppers at the Mall of America, and even to crazy hippies at a large music fest. And I have seen the Spirit break into some people’s hearts.
However, my favorite thing is my time in the Prayer Room. We are moving to have it open 24-7, it is not quite there but I still love being a part of it. I spend many hours in intercession every week. For one hour a week I am part of a worship team and I do prayer leading. During this time I mainly have been praying for the church to grow in unity and holiness, plus I have been doing much intercession for Israel.
Psalm 122:6-Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
This verse has rocked my heart. The Spirit has been showing me many scriptures that show that Israel must come back to Jesus and cry for His return. In Matthew 23:37-38 our Lord cried out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…For I tell you, you will not see Me again, until you say, ’Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Jesus will return when His people cry out for Him, the Messiah. This has become such a burden on my heart that I feel led to travel to Jerusalem to intercede for and minister to the Israeli people amongst them for a season, sometime soon hopefully. I would like God to open the door for me to go this summer.
Well, that is quick overview of what has been going on in my life. If you would like I could tell you many more stories, my phone is still (479)221-4130 and my email is eric.rainwater@bcom.org. I would also love to hear what has been going on in your life and if you need any prayer I would love to pray and encourage you all, I do anyways but specifics always help.
Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.—Eph. 6:23-24