"How Should the World Respond?"

My title is in quotes today because it is a quote.
The headlines from CNN are asking this question today after the increasing fear that North Korea might actually think of doing the unthinkable with their nuclear power. Fear easily grips hearts with the unknown possibilities of such terrifying power.

Yesterday I talked with "my veggie man" (a man who pushes a cart full of fresh vegetables through neighborhoods shouting "Veggies" so women can come to their gates and buy their own veggies without having to go to the market) about a problem he is facing: evil spirits in his newly bought house. His heart was gripped with fear and confusion as he threw up his hands in despair at this uncontrollable power present in his house.

This morning I read about another power: the saving power of God (Psalm 67:2).

We, those of us in Christ, know how to respond to the terrifying possibilities of nuclear power and the uncontrollable power of evil spirits because we belong to the Father, Creator, and Sustainer of all things. The power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. The one we live in fear and awe of is the One who sustains life, giving our next breath. We are his precious children and this world we live in is just temporary. Eternity is yet to come.

How do we respond to these things?
With the answer of truth: Christ is our protection, our life is but a breath and the real life is yet to come, heaven and hell are for eternity, be ready.

So let's confess our fears of the things that can only harm our body but cannot harm our souls. Let's run to the one who daily bears us up (Psalm 68:19), acknowledging that without him we can do nothing but that with him, ALL things are possible. Let's look to the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Let's point people to Christ and to the saving power of our God!

May the Lord be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine on us that, your way might be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let all the peoples praise you, o God, let all the peoples praise you! Psalm 67:1-3

Enjoy the saving power of our Lord today and pray for those around you to experience this power.
Tell the truth about this life and the one to come, that ALL the nations/peoples might know his way and praise his name.

Declaring truth in a fear gripped world,
m

But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ...Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:28, 31

Something So Much Greater

I have been walking with the Lord now for 30 years. The journey of knowing him only continues to grow as life goes on. There are times when I feel "flat," or am unfaithful. There are days where I wonder at the constant love of a Father who never seems to tire of me, even when I continue to be head-strong, impatient, and unbelieving. No, these things don't please him and should be ever decreasing as I grow to be more like Jesus. I'm just being honest: I'm a sinner and I'm so far from where I want to be.

Just this week I was in much need of a mental health day but instead I was having a break down. Life was more than I could handle (or so I had decided to believe). The love God was asking of me, the forgiveness he wanted from me, the patience he was demanding, I just couldn't give anything more (or so I thought). 

I walked into the kitchen past the picture of my grandparents on my fridge and was stopped. There she was, smiling. I could hear her voice, her laugh, her admonitions, her patience. I could see them, kissing, laughing together, praying together, supporting one another. 

God uses others as an example to us and in that moment I needed this reminder of Grandma and Grandpa's love for the Lord, for one another, and for others. They, too, have walked difficult days. Days of sickness, sorrow, disagreement, disappointment, and overwhelming grief. But they never were crushed, never gave up, never stopped pressing into and leaning hard on the arms of Jesus. They were faithful, even in the storm. Oh, how I, in the pit of my brokenness, needed to hear that.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2Cor. 4:7-11

Tough days are still to come. But God is more than enough. I know this from the Word. I know this from my own life. I know this from the lives of the faithful like my Grandma and Grandpa. Marriage and parenting, ministry and work, all these things the Lord calls us to are part of something so much greater. My grandparents marriage was something so much more than just two people in love choosing to live together. Their marriage is to me an example of faithfulness, perseverance and so much sweetness. Their love for their children through the good and the bad, spurs me on to love mine. Their love for the lost and continuance in ministry, spurs me on to love the lost and to continue. Their faithfulness in reading the Word each day, praying together spur me on to stay grounded daily in the word and to pray persistently. And on days that are tough, his grace is greater still. On days when I wonder at the challenges God is asking me to trust him with, I am reminded of this amazing couple and the purposefulness of their life together because the knew that they were part of something so much greater.

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:15-18

So, as I love my husband, sms my daughter, homeschool my son, and serve overseas for the sake of the kingdom, I will remember, this is all part of something so much greater. Faithfulness with the little things, love for the difficult person, grace for the graceless, forgiveness for the unrepentant, are all part of loving his ways more than mine because to be in Christ means to be part of something so much greater and you never know who might be watching and wondering.  

I celebrate 65 years of my grandparents love for one another for many reasons. But this week it has specifically been used in my life as a reminder of this: My marriage, parenting, relationships, work and ministry are all part of something so much greater and that even in impossible circumstances I can take heart and be courageous for God is able to do far more than I can ask or imagine, keeping me faithful to the end. 

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,  for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  2 Cor. 5:6-9

It's with their example I am reminded that regardless of the circumstance, I have a good, good Father who will make all grace abound to me so that in everything, at all times by his power I can live life with the aim of pleasing him. O may I be found faithful in the end.

aiming to please him just like my grandparents have, 

m

Happy Mother's Day!

It is two Sundays after Mother’s Day. Two Sundays before, I woke up went about my normal Sunday routines and about 11am, I saw Mercy writing a special note to her Mom. No, I forgot! Mother’s Day!!

I wish I could say this was the first time I have forgotten a Mother’s Day but I would be a big fat liar. So here I am two weeks later, hijacking Mercy’s blog to share how much this incredible woman means to me. Happy Mother’s Day... two weeks later!

"Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her.”

Proverbs 31:28

I have so much to praise in my beautiful wife. Where do I begin?

I feel like I would have to “rise up” and down forever to praise Mercy for all that she means to me. I could use the exercise!

"An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.”

Proverbs 31:10-12

I trust my wife more than any other person in this world. She reflects the glory of God because she is trustworthy. She is a woman of God’s word. She loves God’s Word. God’s Word is her light and lamp.

She also loves Jesus and His glorious Gospel. She is no fake. She is a big sinner with a bigger Savior! She also lives with even bigger sinners!  I am so thankful that we don’t have to hide our sin from each other or from God because the grace of Christ at the cross is enough! I am so thankful she keeps it real!

Oh, how she does me good! She is such a blessing! She rises and looks to serve.

"Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Proverbs 31:25-27

This was last Monday and pretty much the same every day, living in a different culture, different language, being one of a handful of English mother tongue speakers in a city of 3 million. She communicates well in two languages!

5:30am: Wake up

5:45am: Make the coffee and make the ice for the cooler

5:45am: Read her Bible. Deal with me and Thomas interrupting her.

6:45am: Wash the clothes

7:00am: Sweep the outside of layers of dust

7:30am: Hang up clothes

7:45am: Make breakfast

8:00am: Eat breakfast

8:30am: Teach Thomas Math with much patience needed :-)

9:30am: Teach Thomas more

10:30am: Make a snack for Thomas

Till 1pm: Teach Thomas more

1pm: Make lunch

2pm: Teach Thomas more

3pm: Breath!

4:30-7pm: Train women to learn Bible stories outside in 115 degree heat in Urdu (She is an incredible teacher and never boring!)

7:30pm: Make supper

9:30pm: Go to sleep exhausted 

"Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Proverbs 29:29-31

You surpass them all, Mercy Joanna! You fear the Lord! You lead me to seek to know Christ more! On top of this you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. God is so good to me.

You are a wife and mother like none other!

I love you,

Walt

Regret or Rejoice

Yesterday I saw a short piece on regret, claiming that most people, at the end of their lives, are not filled with remorse over the things they DID but rather they start to struggle with feelings of regret over the things that they DIDN'T do. 

Life is full of choices. Yes, sometimes we can look back and wish we had done things differently. But the reality is there is always more we could have done. Or is there? We are sinful, broken, weak and frail, prone to selfishness and pride. But the hopeful "bad" news of the gospel is: You can't do enough. You don't measure up. You won't make the right choices. Even your good works are filthy rags. The "good" news in the gospel is that: Christ does measure up. Christ made all the right choices. Christ's righteousness is ours through faith. So, looking through the lens of the cross, we look at our lives and we can rejoice in a salvation freely offered, grace immeasurably extended, trials bringing about change, and God intimately at work in our hearts to make us more and more like Christ till his work is completed. We live in hope and we die in hope. We rejoice, trusting God with what was and what wasn't.

Regret?

This mother's day I celebrate my Mom along with my Grandma. So many of the beautiful and wonderful things about my mom, I also got to experience in my Grandma. My mom is generous in her hospitality, welcoming to all types of people, faithful in loving "difficult" and "different" individuals. She is committed to her husband and family, faithful as a minster of the gospel and in praying for her family and the nations. She isn't afraid to say the hard thing and perseveres under trial. She has changed over the years, always growing to be more and more like Christ. My mom is truly amazing. And she's a lot like my Grandma who went to be with our Lord April 15th, 2016.

Not many 35 year olds can say they know their grandparents well. God, in his mercy, has granted me a strong and deep friendship with my Grandma and Grandpa. I am so richly blessed!

It began as a young girl. They lived in Pakistan, so we didn't get to see them much. But they would send books to my sister and I. Along with the books they sent a cassette tape of themselves reading the books with messages of their love for us. Sometimes Grandma would fall asleep reading (my mom must have learned that from her). Being able to listen to them read to us, even though they were half-way around the world, was so special.

When I was 8 we moved to Pakistan. During these years I got to see more of my grandparents and learn to love them and enjoy them, as they loved and enjoyed me. I remember Grandma screeching at Grandpa's driving (maybe I learned that from her) as he maneuvered through the crowded streets of Karachi. I remember her sitting at her desk counting money as the treasurer for the mission. I have never seen someone count money with such speed! We always felt welcomed in their home and saw them love on so many Pakistani's and other workers. My Grandma endured so much during her years in Pakistan. Yet Grandma remained faithful and hard working. She didn't give up.

For 5 years during University I had the joy of living downstairs from my grandparents. This time allowed us to get to know each other so well, seeing one another on a daily basis, getting up in each others business, and learning to love and live together in a way that spurred each other on. During these years I was privileged to see the habits of their life. They would faithfully rise each day and spend time together in the word and prayer. I knew that each day they prayed for each one of their children and grandchildren by name. I got to witness their love for one another as they cared for each other and never let the other leave the house without a kiss. O, how they loved each other. They continued to dedicate their lives to ministering to others as they served together in their church, at the Bible for Missions Thrift Store, and in other ministries. Growing to become more like Christ didn't stop at retirement. Living for the Lord and loving others wasn't complete. They continued on. Grandma continued to welcome people. Our friends from University of all walks of life often sat at her well prepared table at Sunday lunches or holidays. As she served amazing meals, Grandpa would converse about whatever was of interest to the guest. They always had time to give and love to offer. 

Regret?

Grandma is now with the Lord. But I want to put it on record that her life was a life that can be celebrated without regret. Grandma loved Jesus. She lived a life that demonstrated that over and over again in the way she loved others and sacrificially gave. She showed such generosity and acceptance of others but without  compromise to her faith and the Truth. She endured trials in her family, ministry, her own health, and many other trials I don't even know about. Regret isn't something that taints this day of celebration. Rather, today we, her family, rejoice over the kind of mother and grandmother and great-grandmother she was to us.

Rejoice.

I rejoice that I knew Grandma as well as I did. I rejoice that my brother, who also knew her well but was there to walk these last 3 years of dementia closely with her, can say of his of this time of trial and heartache, "I wouldn't trade these years." Why? Because he saw Grandma as a woman who, even in the very depths of dementia, could still recall hymns of praise and continued to love Jesus. I rejoice that her life given to the nations has spurred her children and grandchildren to do the same. We rejoice today because we have a Mom who is much like our Grandma. We rejoice and celebrate Mom today in part because of Grandma's example of faithfulness, love and endurance. 

Rejoice.

Today I say with confidence about my Grandma:

 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Grandma stood fast. She remained faithful under trial. She was refined and now is worshipping before his throne!!!

Rejoice, for a life well lived.
Rejoice, for a Mom living life well.
Rejoice, for the gracious gift God granted for me to know my Grandma well.
Rejoice, for Grandma is with Jesus.
Rejoice, for I miss her without regret.
Rejoice!!!


This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice,

m

Grandma and Grandpa 2013... very, very much in love

Grandpa leading the singing at Grandma's memorial service. 

Mom and I!!! 

A Husband Like You

All day I have been celebrating in my heart the 64 years of marriage my grandparents celebrate today. It's days like today that make living overseas more difficult than the average day. However, it's people like my grandparents and parents that make living overseas the very place I know I should be. The testimony of their lives, their faithfulness to the Lord, and their love and care and discipleship of my heart are a large part of why I am even here today. Even through separation is hard, I know they are glad I'm here and not there with them! They want me to be where the Lord has called us.

As I celebrated this marker of 64 years, thinking on the goodness of the Lord, his faithful watch care and protection, his abundant provision, his constant leading and guidance, his ever presence with them, I thought too on the hardships that are being journeyed through. Old age isn't easy! I thought on the faithful love my grandparents have, of the way they gently care each day for one another. It made me ask, "Will I make it that long? Do I have what it takes to stay faithful?"

Today was the first day I compared my grandpa to my husband. Although Walt would never even attempt to feign genius (Grandpa cannot claim that), the two men are well read and always reading further. The two of them are extremely humble. They both love those who are yet in God's kingdom, so much they would lay down their lives for them. Both Grandpa and Walt are incredibly thankful people. I have been married only 11 years now but I can't remember a time when Walt complained. But for both of them it isn't just the absence of complaints, it is the presence of thanksgiving. Both are ready, in every season, to give thanks to the Lord because both have an unwavering belief in the goodness of the Father.

As I thought further, I realized this same trait of thankfulness lies in the heart of my dad too, always having us pause to thank the Lord or to recognize his goodness, even in the midst of incredibly trying times. As God continues to refine our family we still see  Grandpa always leading us back to thanksgiving, so does my Dad, and so does Walt! As we walk difficult days with sickness, heartbreak, separations, and unexpected "speed bumps", all three of these men in my life continue to bring us repeatedly to that foundational truth: God is good, therefore we praise him.

So although I may evaluate my faith and the state of my heart and honestly ask the question, "Will I still be giving thanks at 64 years?" I look at the husband God has given me and praise God for the godly traits in him that I have watched in my Dad and in my Grandpa and I am THANKFUL for his faith and his unwavering belief in the goodness of our Father.

Today I celebrate my Grandparents. Today I celebrate my parents. Today I celebrate my husband.

Today we celebrate the goodness of God!

Grandpa, I never realized I got what I always wanted: a husband like you!
Grandma, maybe one day I'll be the wife you are!

Happy 64th!!! I love you both deeply!

m

I will... Will you?

"I will have many stories for you when we meet."

Was our young friend mis-speaking, referring of the adventures he had encountered in the recent trip to Africa?
Or rather is he a young theologian, anticipating what William Carey had preached years before, "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."

God's grace is matchless, mysterious, life giving and hope bringing reality for those who are in Christ.  Because of God's past grace, we look to the future and can say like this 13 year old, "I WILL have many stories..." Knowing that the grace of God will continue to be at work in us, we will have stories of God's victory in our life. Believing that God's grace is abounding in the lives of people around us, we can expect to have many stories of his powerful work in others.  God's matchless grace leaves us filled with hope and expectation. Even as we walk through valleys of deep darkness, we have stories of God's grace, presence, provision and love. As we walk beside waters of quiet rest, we have stories of his grace filling us and feeding and sustaining us. Evidences of the work of God are all around us, we just need the eyes to see him at work and have a heart that is expecting him to work as we attempt to follow him whole-heartedly.

I will have many stories for you, next time we meet. Why? Because my God doesn't change like everyone and everything else does. Why? Because God has good plans and a future. Why? Because by his grace, I can see his grace and give him praise for he is good. I most definitely WILL have stories the next time we meet because I am eagerly looking for God at work and am expectant of answered prayer.

What is your expectation for next time we meet? Will you have stories?


on the look out for evidences of his grace,

m

Blame or Credit

As I rolled out the soft dough my mind flew to my mom. She's the one who first taught me what a good cinnamon roll tastes like and then taught me to make it just like she did. Mom's cinnamon rolls are what greeted us EVERY time my sister and I were picked up from the airport from boarding school. It didn't matter the day or the time of our arrival, we knew that once we climbed in the car and settled, she would pull them out and together we would share their freshness and sweetness. After 8 weeks at boarding, this was a welcomed tradition. Not only had we been eating boarding food for the past 2 months but just being together and sharing something in common had a way of drawing our hearts together, making us thankful to be together once again. How many sweet trips we had from the airport home.

My mom has taught me so much. As I followed her way of making cinnamon rolls my mind rolled over the many things I have to thank my mom for. Her cinnamon rolls are some of Thomas' favorite. I make them, but really they are mom's. I make mom's scones too. This treat is another one I can blame on my mom. Devotions and bible memory at the breakfast table, my mom. Sleep, exercise, or water will cure most maladies, I firmly believe! Loud worship music is necessary when cleaning (do things get clean without it?). Reading lunches (if you don't know what this is you are sorely missing out). Books are always worth it. Read aloud. Cross stitch. Welcome the outcast/oddball.  etc… The list goes on and on. 

I haven't done a very thorough job of thanking my parents over the years. But the reality is that most of the good in my life is all to their credit (blame). Sometimes when hard stuff creeps up in our lives we like to find a fall guy. Too often it's our family that is to blame. But how often to we stop think about some of the graces that are ours because of the families we have been given. I know my past is close to perfect compared to so many and for that I am so thankful. Regardless, I don't give thanks often enough for the heritage that is mine. I am so amazed at God's grace and provision for me in my parents and siblings.

So as I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen that I had made (something else my mom taught me) I couldn't help but be thankful for all the amazing good that is mine because of God's grace through my mom.

Thanks Mom!

m