fear

Stroll with Me

Like many of you, I have seasons in my life when one portion of Scripture seems to come to mind almost daily. I’ve been living in Psalm 16 for the last few months. As familiar as it is (like fried rice to someone living in Asia), it is feeding my soul. Here it is:

A psalm of David.

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. (1)

I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” (2)

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! (3)

Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. (4)

LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.(5)

The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! (6)

I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. (7)

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. (8)

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. (9)

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. (10)

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (11)

Psalm 16 – New Living Translation

Take a little walk with me through some of the verses in this psalm. As we do I’ll share some thoughts about why these words of David can nourish the heart of women like you and me. Why not take some moments to think about what it means to you, too? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. [Read more…]

Discover and Rediscover

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I am fascinated by how God works in our lives to make us useful and productive for His kingdom. Even more so when I see how different we are in personality, temperament and background.

Our life as cross-cultural workers is full of discovery. Whether we have been doing the same thing the same way for a very long time, or never get to settle for long in one place, God wants us to depend on Him. He has many surprises for us along the way. And He knows just what it will take to enable each of us to do our part in his eternal mission.

New Attitude, New Door

Sometimes it is just a change of attitude that opens a door to much greater opportunities. I think that is what happened to Peter in Acts, Chapter 10. Peter’s attitude towards the Gentiles underwent a major transformation. When his attitude changed, he could see the new door God had opened, but not until then. Our attitude adjustments might not be that dramatic, but they can create openness on our part to new open doors.

New Hunger, New Door

Sometimes the Spirit creates a hunger in us for something more, or greater, or different. That kind of hunger is never born from human restlessness or a desire to prove our worth. It always comes from godly passion- a deep, intense, abiding desire to see God’s will accomplished in some new ways. It leads us to pray, and that in turn can lead us to a new strategy or emphasis.

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I’m Not Good Enough

“When I’m Not Good Enough.” That was the title of a devotional I read recently. The writer described how that theme ran through all her life, defining her. “I’m not good enough.”

Like her, and probably you, I have had my own battles with doubting myself and my abilities. I’m a first born. Maybe that explains, in part, why I have set impossible standards for myself.

OK, so you want to hear some of my, ‘I’m not good enough’ experiences?

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Safe and Secure

Reverse Culture Shock

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When the Familiar is Frightening

“I can’t decide!” That was my cry every time I tried to buy cold cereal after returning to the States. In our African posting, there were seldom any cereals available at our small grocery. Early years in Asia were not much better, but at least we could get a couple different kinds. With few choices for several years, this dazzling array was overwhelming: sweetened, unsweetened, oats, rice, corn, or wheat, in a box or bag, plain, with or without fruit or nuts. “It’s too much!” I lamented. The cereal section was a whole aisle long, top to bottom.

One friend we visited on furlough asked me to help her make spaghetti. “Takes about 30 minutes,” she said. “Not where I came from,” I thought. It couldn’t be done. I envisioned thawing the meat as I cooked it, while cutting garlic, onions, and tomatoes to be sauteed. It would take almost half an hour to get the noodles cooked and we’d still have salad and garlic bread to make. She asked me to prepare the salad while she popped the meat in the microwave to thaw and cook, opened a can of sauce to warm in a pot, and buttered the bread with garlic butter from the refrigerator! We only had to set the table while the noodles cooked. No meal could be made that quickly with ingredients available overseas. I encountered these differences again and again. This was my home country, for crying out loud. Why did I feel so uneasy with the ease?

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