I had a lovely lunch today with two Millenials. I only identify them first as people of that generational label because it helps to give perspective to our conversation. I’m a Baby Boomer, you see, about to face a numerical milestone of my own in a few days, so having the honor to sit in … More Transition
I was going to sit down and read this afternoon, but the sun was actually shining and the warm weather drew me out into my small back yard. Since the first frost killed my roses budding on the vines, I have been wanting to prune. Today was my chance. I changed into my garden shoes, … More Pruning
I remember a talk I gave many years ago on change. Beginning with Abraham, I spoke on how we are never promised to remain in the same place forever, and how God teaches us by sometimes moving us from the place we’ve served for years. I was speaking to saints who had taught the same … More Seeking the ancient paths
There is a lot about immigration and refugees in the news these days. I’m very familiar with the sensation of being far from one’s home country and living in a strange land. There’s a lot of paperwork involved just to be able to stay a short time. Many years ago, I tried to get citizenship … More Citizenship
I was on the road today to share with a church in Cleveland, Tennessee. Southern Baptists are so good to not only pray and give to missions, locally, statewide, nationally and globally, but to seek out real-live people to share with their congregations, in order to put a face to what they are a part … More This is my story
You never know what’s going to happen when you pray. As many of you know, I love Muslims, have given most of my life in serving among Muslims, and spend a lot of time writing and talking about Muslims. All of this is with the goal of seeing them come to Christ and His Church … More The language doesn’t matter
You are smart, educated, well-rounded, able to carry on intelligent conversations and extremely self-reliant. Then, because you’ve said yes to God, you have been reduced to a state of infancy and illiteracy that requires the use of extensive body language just to ask where the restroom is located. Welcome to the mission field! Yes, they told … More Being needy
I scanned a bunch of old pictures the other night and came across this one from 1994. I was pregnant with our first child, and my parents had come to visit us. We were living in Syria. We took my parents all over the country and visited places that are now in ruins after seven … More Sitting on the Edge
How do you get your life down to a few trunks and suitcases? What do you need to take? What’s too precious to leave behind? These are some of the questions that run through the mind of those who answer the call to serve in a land not their own. I remember them well. The … More Packing Up
I love it when God does something despite me! I think that’s one of the joys of being a clay jar. He gets to do the shining, no matter the faults in the vessel. When that happens, the jar is just that, a vessel, while God is the amazing Sovereign of the Universe, and all … More Jars of clay, willing vessels
