Travel light: Kathmandu ... and Baltimore

“He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with love and faithful compassion.”  Psalm 103:3-4

I’ve posted a lot about Kathmandu this week — and nothing about Baltimore.

 As a Christian worker who has walked the streets of Kathmandu and met its people, I desperately want the people of Nepal to know God’s love. I feel I can at least help Americans understand that buried under the rubble of last Saturday’s earthquake is a city full of life and fun and color — whose people desperately need Jesus.

As a white Southern suburbanite woman, I desperately want racial reconciliation in the United States. I also realize I have little credibility speaking into race relations in America, even though my heart breaks for Baltimore … and New York … and Ferguson, Missouri, as much as it breaks for Kathmandu.

Anne Lamott wrote on Facebook this week, “How … can one week include Nepal, and Baltimore? If anyone mentions ‘mysterious ways,’ or ‘to every season,’ I will just lose my mind.”

I tend to agree with her. The world turned upside down in more ways than one last week, reminding me of one stark reality:

We desperately need a Savior. Without Him, we are one quake from being covered up, one breath from anarchy, one step from complete annihilation.

As I read Psalm 103 in light of last week’s events, I thanked God that “He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses … For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust” (10, 14, HCSB).  

In weeks like last week, I don't have a lot of answers, but I do have hope. Toward the end of the week we saw disaster relief teams begin to make headway in Nepal. Baltimore officials acted quickly to determine Freddie Gray’s cause of death and indict those responsible.

By God’s grace, the world began to right itself … again.

“As for man, his days are like grass — he blooms like a flower of the field … But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts” (17-18, HCSB).

God’s faithful love astounds me, during weeks like last week when the world spins out of control and in the day-to-day when I realize yet again just how fragile we all are.

“Praise the Lord, all His works in all the places where He rules. My soul, praise Yahweh!”

God’s faithful love astounds me.

#travellight

This week’s reading: 1 Chronicles 11-16, 2 Samuel 5:1-6:23, Psalm 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68, 89, 96, 100-107, 132
Post #18: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God's Word. 

Travel light: Let's eat Grandma!

“The total number of those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds was 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted positions.”

1 Chronicles 9:22

Your work matters to God.

I thought of this as packed up my computer this morning, preparing for a day at the office. The job I have now — and have had for the past 16 years — is the job I always wanted: writing (and now editing) about God’s work through His people around the world. 

But never could I have envisioned that this work would be as fulfilling as it is. God has given me the desires of my heart. What an amazing privilege.

I realize, of course, that not everybody sees writing and editing the same way I do. Not everyone appreciates the value of a word fitly spoken or a well-placed comma. But consider the comma’s importance in this sentence:

Let’s eat, Grandma!

Versus

Let’s eat Grandma! 

Commas matter, especially to Grandma, as do the other seemingly mundane details of our day-to-day lives. This is true today, and it was true when David appointed the 212 gatekeepers in 1 Chronicles 9.

Gatekeepers, bread bakers and singers — as menial as they may seem — were trusted positions in the house of God. Perhaps David wrote Psalm 84 after appointing the 212 gatekeepers:

"Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else. 
I would rather be at the door of the house of my God 

than to live in the tents of wicked people." 

(Psalm 84:10, HCSB)

As we seek God, not only will He give us the “desires of our heart,” He will also take pleasure in our journey. David wrote in Psalm 37:4, “A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way” (HCSB).

What an amazing privilege to know that the God who created the Grand Canyon enjoyed watching me see it for the very first time.

What an amazing privilege to know that the God who led me around the world and back, takes pleasure in seeing me do my job well.

Whether you are a gatekeeper, a bread baker, a singer or a warrior, your work is significant to God, and He has uniquely equipped you to do it.

So do the work God has placed before you “as unto the Lord,” and know that He takes pleasure in you and your journey.

Travel light!


This week's reading: 1 Chronicles 1-10, Psalm 43-45, 49, 73, 77-78, 81, 84-85, 87-88, 92-93

Post #17: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God's Word. 

#travellight

Travel light: What if it isn’t about finding God’s will?

“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate and without water.”

Psalm 63:1

You can’t fake desperation. I so remember the times on my face — sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively — praying for God to make His way clear:

committing my life to full-time Christian service, deciding what to study in college; if Joe was the right man for me; through eight years of infertility; through the premature births and deaths of our first three children; my pregnancy with Lauren; moving overseas as international Christian workers; Alli’s adoption.

through my kids’ preschool, elementary, middle, high school and now college years; seeking ministries where I could make God known in the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand; returning to the U.S.; accepting a job; buying a house …

and on and on and on.

“Lord, don’t leave me alone until we are where You want us to be,” I’ve prayed more times than I can count, seeking to know God’s will.

And I’ve been asked more times than I can count: How can I know God’s will for my life?

But what if it isn’t about “knowing God’s will,” a friend noted just yesterday in a conversation over coffee.

For the past two years, I’ve been trying to figure out what God wants me to do, I lamented. I’ve explored different ministries, trying to go beyond the church walls, but nothing seems to fit.

“What if it isn’t about knowing God’s will?” my friend said. “What if it’s just about knowing God?”

Well, duh.

How easily we forget that simple lesson in our quest for personal significance: God reveals Himself most clearly when we are desperately seeking Him — rather than what we can do for Him.

And sometimes, He isn’t calling us to “minister.” Sometimes, He is just calling us to “be” — a wife, a parent, a daughter, a neighbor, a friend. No fanfare. No stage. Just knowing Him in the day-to-day with none of the confusion and anxiety that comes from trying to “figure it out.”

“Abide in me, and I will abide in you,” Jesus said in John 15:4. Then we will bear fruit.

If we are going to be desperate, let’s be desperate to know Him. As we seek Him — waiting, watching and listening — opportunities to serve Him will come. Sometimes those opportunities involve proclaiming the gospel loudly, influencing large numbers of people. Sometimes those opportunities mean standing quietly alongside a friend who is struggling, praying with her through the hurt and the sin and the mess.

God simply asks us to be obedient — to know Him — right where we are.

#travellight

This week’s reading: 1 Samuel 25-31, 2 Samuel 1-4, Psalm 6, 8-10, 14, 16-19, 21, 35, 54, 56, 63, 120-121, 123-125, 128-130, 140-142,

Post #16: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God’s Word

Travel light: Dirty, rotten scoundrels

“And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.’” 

1 Samuel 8:8, ESV

Imagine this missionary assignment: a small town in the middle of nowhere. Whiskey flows freely, and gambling and prostitution are rampant. The legal system is corrupt, violence is common and most people die before age 40, many from violent deaths. It is a town that has rejected God.

Sound familiar?

William Carpenter ministered in this kind of town. His unreached people group included miners, ranchers and prostitutes.  Little is known about this Baptist minister who died in 1881 from nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys. In fact, all I managed to find about him traces to the same source — Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona.

Carpenter is buried alongside many of Tombstone’s famous residents, including Billy Clanton and Tom and Frank McLaury, who were killed by the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday in the infamous Shootout at the O.K. Corral. Carpenter died the year of the shootout.

1881 was a volatile year in Tombstone, and gravestones in Boot Hill tell a story of the hardships. Murders, stabbings, illnesses and mining accidents took the lives of residents at much too young an age.

As I walked through the O.K. Corral and read the histories of the town, I realized not much has changed. Sure, technology, transportation and communication have evolved. We can now jet around the globe in a matter of hours and chat face-to-face over a wireless network from the most remote locations.

But at our core, human beings are no different than we’ve ever been. Put a whiskey bottle, a deck of cards and a scantily clad woman in front of a bunch of men and you’ll be sure to draw a crowd — and soon someone will get hurt.

The walk through Tombstone reminded me of this: We are all dirty, rotten scoundrels in need of a Savior.

That’s why, in Old Testament times, God sent prophets like Samuel to call His people to live differently. That’s why He sent a little known minister like William Carpenter to Tombstone. That’s why He sends men and women today to hard places where whiskey flows freely, gambling and prostitution are rampant and the legal systems are corrupt — because we are dirty, rotten scoundrels in need of a Savior.

Most importantly, that’s why He sent Jesus — because God is worthy of our worship and we are too messed up in our depravity to notice. We are broken, messed up sinners, but God loved us enough to die for us, to heal the rift between us and to reconcile us to Him.

Yes, we are all dirty, rotten scoundrels. The Good News is we have a Savior, and His name is Jesus.

This week’s reading: 1 Samuel 4-24, Psalm 7, 11, 27, 31, 34, 52, 59 
Post #15: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God’s Word.

#travel light

Travel light: Blaming God

“Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter.” Ruth 1:20, HCSB

Sometimes life is hard. Naomi knew this. She had been forced to leave her homeland or face starvation. Her husband died soon after moving to their new home; her sons, whose names mean “sickly,” also died after several years of poor health. Now she had two widowed “foreign women,” in addition to herself, for whom she was responsible.

It’s no surprise she felt bitter and angry at God as she returned to Judah. Her difficulties may have been etched in her hair, her face and her stature. “Can this be Naomi?” the women of Judah exclaimed. Trouble had aged her.

“Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” Naomi answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter.” Rather than put on a happy face and spew spiritual platitudes, Naomi was honest about her struggles. She blamed God.

Yet still, her daughter-in-law Ruth proclaimed, “Your God will be my God.”

Why?

Ruth’s god, the god of the Moabites, was called “Chemosh” whose name means, “to subdue.” He was a god who crushed. By choosing to follow Yahweh, though, Ruth was not necessarily looking for a “quick fix” to her problems. Naomi had been suffering for more than 10 years, but based on Naomi's example, Ruth was willing to abandon the god she had known all her life to follow Yahweh. Through Naomi’s struggle, Ruth saw a personal, authentic faith — a faith that questioned but also one that surrendered. 

Can we be transparent with our struggles and still set an example of faith for others? 

The biblical record seems to offer a resounding YES! In addition to Naomi, consider the stories of Job and John the Baptist. Job spent 39 chapters of a 42-chapter book hurling questions at God in anger and frustration and listening to the pat answers and theologically accepted explanations of his friends. But, when all was said and done, God said to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7, HCSB).

In prison, John the Baptist expressed doubts about Jesus. He sent a message asking, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus told John’s disciples to report to him all that they had seen. Then, to the crowd Jesus said of John, “Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared.” (See Matthew 11:1-11).

God is not offended by our questions. He welcomes the opportunity to grow our faith when we honestly question Him from a position of surrender. 

“Why?” we may ask in one breath, while whispering in the next, “Your will be done.”  

Of course, God may not answer our “whys” in this lifetime. We may have to wait until heaven to understand the reasons behind some of our challenges. In the meantime, though, be assured of this: God responds with compassion to an honest, questioning heart that is reaching out to Him.

This week’s reading: Judges 8-21, Ruth 1-4, 1 Samuel 1-3
Post #14: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God’s Word.

#travellight

Travel light: A story from the mountain

“As you see, the LORD has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.” 

Joshua 14:10-11 

I am running behind this week. I’m trying to recoup after a week-long trip to Guatemala and Honduras. It was my first international coverage in two years. Of the members of the media team, I was the oldest. 

At age 50, I was a little worried about keeping up with a team younger than me. I knew it would be a physically demanding coverage that would involve at least some hiking. The team leader had assured the worker there that we were all “reasonably fit” and capable of hiking. When I heard this, I had flashbacks of our family’s summer hike in the Smokies — the one where I thought they were going to have to carry me out on a stretcher. 

So, when the hiking began in Guatemala on the second day, I simply told myself, “Take it slowly.” As it turned out, everyone else was taking it slowly, too. Traveling with a photographer, a producer and a videographer, we stopped enough times throughout the week for scenic shots and b-roll that I always had time to catch my breath. Whew! 

My point is this: Regardless of our age, God equips us to do the jobs He’s given us to do. Caleb knew this when, at age 85, he asked permission to drive out the inhabitants from the land the Lord had promised him. Even as an old man, Caleb was ready to do whatever it took to claim the promise of God. 

Although I’m still not sure at what point I physically switched from young and energetic to senior and sluggish, in my heart I’m still 35. Granted, I hope I’m wise enough at 50 to realize I won’t be changing the world anytime soon. But, I’m grateful for opportunities to hear and share stories of how God is changing the world one life at a time through those willing to take the gospel to hard places. 

Here's one of those stories: 

On top of the mountain in eastern Guatemala, I met villagers who had never heard stories from the Bible until missionaries came to their village three years ago. 

One woman told me, “I’m grateful (the missionaries) came. Without them, my children would not know the Bible. Now, my children tell the Bible story to each other every night, and they can’t wait until (the missionaries) come again.” 

As the missionary translated the story, she cried. She had no idea of the impact she was making among this family until I asked the question. 

These kinds of stories make the hike worth it. 

Travel light! 

This week’s reading: Joshua 12-24, Judges 1-7 Post #13: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God’s Word.

#travellight

Travel light: Freaking out

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it. But keep a distance of about 1,000 yards between yourselves and the ark. Don’t go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven’t traveled this way before.” 

Joshua 3:3-4, HCSB

When is the last time you found yourself in a new place? Maybe it was a move to a new neighborhood in your city. Maybe it was a move to a new state or even a new country. In a new place we often have to learn the quickest route to the office, the best grocery store and the nearest elementary school. For some, moving to a new place may mean learning how to pay the electric bill, figuring out the resident visa requirements and studying the local language.

But maybe your move wasn’t a physical one. Maybe your move was a lifestyle change: Your youngest child moved off to college. You retired or started a new job. Your spouse died — or walked out. 

Is your new place causing you to freak?

Like spinning in a circle blindfolded, life changes can cause us to feel off-balance and out of control. We may feel confused and disoriented, as if our head might explode. We might be freaking out.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan River and move into God’s Promised Land. They were moving into a new place, fraught with promise but also with uncertainty. As they prepared for the move, Joshua gave them wise advice: Position yourselves so you can see the Ark of the Covenant — the place where God’s presence dwells. Otherwise, you might become disoriented; you haven't traveled this way before.

Like the Israelites, the best way to survive the uncertainty of change is to position ourselves to see God. The path you’re on may be new and unfamiliar to you, but He is with you. He will guide you. 

Travel light, and follow Him.


#travellight



This week's reading: Deuteronomy 24-34, Psalm 91 and Joshua 1-11.
Post #12: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God's Word.

Travel light: Dealing with change

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing.” Deuteronomy 2:7, HCSB

Graphic provided by sayingimages.com

We’ve all been there. The phone call, the conversation, the meeting when suddenly you realize your life is about to change.

Over the years, change has come to our family a number of ways, through a variety of avenues. Some changes have been thrilling and exhilarating. Others have been difficult, even heartbreaking.

In 13 years serving as international Christian workers, we moved houses five times and countries four times. In fact, we joke that every time our company reorganizes, we move: more than five years in the Philippines, four and a half in South Korea, three years in Thailand, and now just over two in Richmond. Rather than leveling off, the pace of change seems to be accelerating.

Living missionally is much like a journey through an immense wilderness. In this life God has called us to, we learn not to hold possessions or positions too tightly. Things change — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

But through every twist and turn our journey has taken, God has watched over us. He has led us. He has never, ever abandoned us, and He has allowed us to be a part of some pretty amazing things.

As the Israelites stood on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, they had no idea the many other changes in store for them. They were only dealing with one: transforming from a nation of sojourners to building a nation in the land God had promised. Learning to live in community. Learning to honor God in the process.

We, however, are still living as sojourners, making Jesus known among the billions who have yet to hear, inviting people to join us in our journey of faith and looking forward to the day when the journey is over. One day, we will all come together as the family of God before the throne of God.

Until then, travel light and wear comfortable shoes. The journey isn’t over. 

#travellight



This week's reading: Deuteronomy 3 - 23.
Post #11: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God's Word.

Travel light: Audacious prayers

“But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you live.” Numbers 33:55, HCSB

As we move into the places God has for us, we must deal with the sins and issues before us. Otherwise, they will continue to enslave.

I stood on the top of a mountain in the city where we lived in northern Thailand. We’d been there a few months, and colleagues and I had come to the top of this mountain to pray over the city. I’d not yet found a ministry, but on that mountain, I prayed an audacious prayer: “Lord, shut down the sex industry in my city.”

God took that prayer and grew it into an entire ministry to exploited women and children in that city — a ministry that continues to this day. Some women and men have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Some have been baptized. Some are no longer involved in prostitution. Through the faithfulness of Christian workers, the gospel has been shared with countless women and men in the city's red light districts. Light is penetrating darkness in some of the city’s ickiest areas.

Finding the place God has for us involves confronting the issues and sins before us. Christian workers who move into a new area often spend time “mapping” the area — understanding the culture, the language and the sins that enslave. These often differ from people group to people group. If Christian workers fail to help a people group confront and drive out their “cultural sins" as they are growing in their faith, those sins will maintain a foothold and may resurface later to enslave them again.

The same is true in our own lives. Instead of “cultural sins” we sometimes call them “pet sins.” What sins are such a part of your life that you fail to recognize their power over you? Gossip? Gluttony?  Selfish ambition? Materialism? Greed? The list goes on.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” Jesus said in John 8:32 (HCSB). With the help of the Holy Spirit, take some time to “map out” your own heart and examine the sins you take for granted. Then, ask God to help you drive them out so that you can be free to be all that He created you to be. Remember, He wants the best for you, so that through your life you can make Him known.

This week’s reading: Numbers 23 – Deuteronomy 2

Post #10: Discovering how to live missionally through a chronological reading of God’s Word.

#travellight