Mannerism

Recast: Who’s Watching Over You?

Over the past few years I’ve grown quite fond of putting on my grand-pop hat every once in a while. It’s a good fit, comfortable, and almost childlike …and best of all I can take it off whenever I need to.

This past week Lexi, as she’s prone to do, came to visit. As is the case on most visits, after lunch we took a little time to be quiet. On this particular day she napped under the watchful eye of this Sunflower. Who’s watching over you?

“I will instruct you and teacher you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

Pray on,
Eddy

Originally posted July 26, 2015

Standard
Mannerism

Recast: A Sense of Balance

As I wake this morning I’m disappointed by the thought of missing my appointed walk. The current high temperatures and humidity have curbed my outdoor activity for the past few days, and I’m noticing the lack of exercise along with the meditative solitude that comes with it.

What I’m sensing is an absence of balance. I’m sensing that something is missing, something’s wrong, and that something needs to be corrected.

My physical, mental and spiritual self need to be in balance for me to walk as designed. All of God’s creation was designed to be in balance. It was perfect, it was in harmony, and it was good.

And God saw everything he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31a ESV)

And then came the fall, and just like in the Garden we’re falling again. If we aren’t taking the steps to be humbly and gratefully disciplined and aware of ourselves and our environment, then yes, we’re falling short of our Maker’s plan for us. We were formed in balance with everything. In doing so we need to live physically, mentally and spiritually balanced lives to fulfill our purpose.

The Lord had made everything for it’s purpose, (Proverbs16:4a ESV)

Being aware of our brokenness is a great first step, but it’s only the first step. I’ve heard Andy Stanley say that there are three laws of physical balance –

  1. Having a reference point
  2. Making constant corrections
  3. Having a clear objective

I’d like to suggest that one, our reference point be God’s design for us. That two, by being aware of our personal brokeness we make constant corrections to our faltering life style. And that three, we have a clear objective in living to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

As for me, I’m going to finish my coffee and listen to myself, or in this case the Spirit that’s leading me on this journey.

Stay healthy, stay balanced!

Pray on,
Eddy

Originally posted July 20, 2015

Standard
Albums, Gifts, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

All Are Welcome

‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28 ESV), and there you have it, in God’s eyes we are one.

There’s a church not far from my northern home, which looks like, and sounds like, the harmony, and color of the world. I believe it’s exactly as God had imagined. All are welcome in His house.

This was written as a gathering song for worship, it has brought my ministry into places that I never would have imagined. It is impossible to understand the hand of God and how he uses our gifts, but every once in a which we catch a glimpse, and when we do, it’s divine.

Pray on,
Eddy

Album: Something Beautiful & New

Video Credit: Gerd Altmann / E.M.
YouTube Link
Available at http://www.eddymann.com
© 2020 Eddy Mann

Website
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Lyrics:
All are welcome to gather as one
All are welcome to worship the Son
All are welcome every color and creed
All are welcome whatever your need

So rise up and praise the King
Lift your voice to Him and sing
All glory to the risen One
To the Savior, God’s own Son

All are welcome to hear His voice
All are welcome to shout and rejoice
All are welcome to hear His word
All are welcome to share what you heard

All are welcome here
All are welcome here

All are welcome as sister and brother
All are welcome as one another
All are welcome across the land
All are welcome God’s Kingdom’s at hand

© 2010 Eddy Mann
CCLI #6217837
Hissongs / ASCAP

Standard
Mannerism

Recast: Blockages

Are there times when we aren’t aware that there’s a blockage between us and God? It certainly isn’t on His end, but can we amidst our busyness have a spiritual ailment and not know it?

This past week a blockage in our home plumbing was made apparent almost immediately. Grandchildren are quite good at creating such blockages, and then indeed in our case, reporting them. It was an immediate problem that needed immediate attention. It wasn’t the most pleasant of jobs, but one that was quickly remedied once it was made known.

My father just recently discovered a blockage, or two, or three, in his heart. This required a little more intricate work than I was capable of, but was once again an immediate problem that needed immediate attention.

Recently a neighbor of ours lost his life to a blockage of sorts. As he was dinning out, a piece of food lodged in his throat, and the blockage of air cost him his life before it could be removed. Witness another immediate problem that needed to be attended to immediately.

As I ruminate on Luke 8:43-48 and the healing of a woman of faith. I can’t help but wonder about our sense of touch and how we might often fall short of reaching out to God in faith to receive his healing, comforting, clarifying, and powerful love. On this occasion Jesus speaks, without seeing, of the power that has been released from him by a faithful touching hand.

Can a lack of knowledge, lack of trust, lack of faith, or lack of relationship with God cause a blockage of that power? Could it be that we’re unaware of an immediate blockage that needs our immediate attention?

Sure the plumbing was just messy, but my father’s blockage was life threatening, and my neighbor’s life ending. Our five recognized senses are used to relate to each other, and more importantly to our Father in heaven. I’m thinking He created and designed us with those senses to help us to be in relationship with Him. That being the case, we would be well reminded to check all those connections out and to make sure that we’re spiritually healthy.

Pray on,
Eddy

Originally posted July 13, 2015

Standard
Albums, Gifts, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Come, Let Us Walk

An unreleased song inspired by Psalm 86:11 ‘Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.’

A few years ago, as I was residing in a beachfront room, on Manasota Key, FL, with the Gulf of Mexico literally lapping a few feet from my front door, I read this Psalm at daybreak and I was taken with the vision of walking in His truth, and what that might look like. Though I’ve shared it many times at live events, this song hasn’t been released yet, but hopefully it will before the 2020 year comes to an end.

The video is a personal call encouraging the world to check their pulse concerning children of need. I’ve been a sponsor of children for over twenty years. and have sponsored through Compassion for the past five. My child is from Togo, a West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea. My life has been enriched beyond words through our growing and loving relationship. Please follow the Spirit if led, to compassion.com, and walk in His truth.
Pray on, Eddy

Album: Unreleased

Video Credits: E.M. / Photos from Compassion.com
Available at http://www.eddymann.com
© 2020 Eddy Mann

http://www.eddymann.com
http://www.twitter.com/eddy_mann
http://www.instagram.com/eddy_mann
http://www.facebook.com/eddymann.musician

Lyrics:
Come, let us walk
Come, let us walk together
Come, let us walk together for good

Come, let us walk
Come, let us walk in hand
Come, let us walk in hand as one

Come, let us walk
Come, let us walk with one voice
Come, let us walk with one voice of peace

Come, let us walk
Come, let us walk in the light
Come, let us walk in the light of love

© 2020 Eddy Mann
Hissongs / ASCAP
CCLI #7119189

Standard
Albums, Gifts, Homily, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

His Words Are Good

Listen carefully to my wisdom;
take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
~ Proverbs 22:17-18 MSG

I was inspired by these verses two years ago and composed this song. It took until this past February for it to see the light of day. And when it did, the light of day was being challenged by the darkness that surrounds our current season.

Our words and actions are dimmed when we rely on our own cleverness, but the Holy Spirit can bring clarity that’s crystal clear, it can strengthen emotions that are confused and fragile, and it can build up character to face the most imposing challenge.

Have I applied these words to my life? That’s a question I ask myself everyday because by nature I want to be in control and take care of my problems, my way! But that’s not how God’s plan is designed. There are many instances where he wants us to bring the issues to him, to allow him to handle the fears and doubts, to acknowledge that he is all loving, and all powerful God!

Friends, in these coming days I’d like to encourage you to allow God to drive, and to enjoy riding as we used to say, shotgun. Allow Him to handle the things that are out of your control (that’s called faith), and pray for the strength and wisdom to handle what’s within your realm. I say this because, His words are good!

Album: Love Strands

Video Credits: E.M.
Available at http://www.eddymann.com
© 2019 Eddy Mann

Lyrics:
Incline your ear and listen closely
Rest assured his words are good
Apply your heart and know his knowledge
Walk in confidence his words are good

Keep them close; keep them within you
Rest assured his words are good
Keep them ready; on your lips
Walk in assurance his words are good

Listen up and hear the wisdom
Rest assured his words are good
Know his peace and understanding
Walk in freedom his words are good

© 2016 Eddy Mann

Standard
Albums, Homily, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

Save Me (Don’t Let Me Go Under)

During this breath of time, we’re moving in uncharted waters. No one has ever sailed through such a time as this, and whether we like it or not our faith, or lack of, is being revealed to the world. The unknown is challenging our senses, it’s unearthing fears we never knew existed. Those fears are evolving anxiously anyway the wind blows, and they needn’t do that.

We should only worry about what we have control over. The things of life that are beyond our control are what we hand over in faith. I love the vision of Jesus with his hands out. He’s said not to have come with his hands in his pockets but reaching out to us to relieve us of such burdens.

A while back I was in the midst of a deep dive into Psalm 69. As is often the case for me, I was inspired to write and composed a song called Save Me. I’m offering it up today as an answered plea for help and guidance during this unfamiliar season.

There is always hope in the name of Jesus. There is always love in a benevolent God. And there is always faith for the heart that surrenders.

Quicksand underneath me
Swamp water rushing over me
Going down on the count of three
Save me

Bleary-eyed searching for the key
Raspy dry from my endless plea
Darkness surrounding my marquee
Save me

Save me
Don’t let me go under
Save me
O’ God of wonder

O’ heaven and earth praise him
The seas and everything that lives in them
I shout my love and thanks, amen
Saved I am
Saved I am

© 2016 Eddy Mann

Standard
Art Work

What She Does – Tote Bag

What She Does – Tote Bag …also available as a #canvasprint #framedprint #artprint #acrylicprint #metalprint #woodprint #tapestry #greetingcard #throwpillow #duvetcover #totebag #showercurtain #phonecase and more… @fineartamerica #stairwell #staircase #stairways #stairs #steps #hallway #corridor #window #blinds #flowers #wildflowers #blossom #vine #silhouette #peeping

Screen Shot 2020-02-16 at 2.24.05 PM

Staying in touch with your inner child can provided an endless supply of inspiration. It also removes the self made barriers that we tend to build as we mature. The whole world opens up when you allow your creative mind to have its way.

Living with my wife for quite some time now has rubbed off in some pretty creative ways for me. I’m thankful for that and look forward to the inspirations that are yet to come.

Standard
Art Work

What She Does – Acrylic Print

What She Does – Acrylic Print …also available as a #canvasprint #framedprint #artprint #acrylicprint #metalprint #woodprint #tapestry #greetingcard #throwpillow #duvetcover #totebag #showercurtain #phonecase and more… @fineartamerica #stairwell #staircase #stairways #stairs #steps #hallway #corridor #window #blinds #flowers #wildflowers #blossom #vine #silhouette #peeping

Screen Shot 2020-02-16 at 2.24.20 PM

Staying in touch with your inner child can provided an endless supply of inspiration. It also removes the self made barriers that we tend to build as we mature. The whole world opens up when you allow your creative mind to have its way.

Living with my wife for quite some time now has rubbed off in some pretty creative ways for me. I’m thankful for that and look forward to the inspirations that are yet to come.

Standard
Art Work

What She Does – Wood Print

What She Does – Wood Print …also available as a #canvasprint #framedprint #artprint #acrylicprint #metalprint #woodprint #tapestry #greetingcard #throwpillow #duvetcover #totebag #showercurtain #phonecase and more…@fineartamerica #stairwell #staircase #stairways #stairs #steps #hallway #corridor #window #blinds #flowers #wildflowers #blossom #vine #silhouette #peeping

Screen Shot 2020-02-16 at 2.24.46 PM

Staying in touch with your inner child can provided an endless supply of inspiration. It also removes the self made barriers that we tend to build as we mature. The whole world opens up when you allow your creative mind to have its way.

Living with my wife for quite some time now has rubbed off in some pretty creative ways for me. I’m thankful for that and look forward to the inspirations that are yet to come.

Standard