Trip Tip #6: Know Your Mission

“The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. ‘He saved others,’ they scoffed, ‘but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!” –Matthew 27:41-42NLT

When Christians serve God faithfully, they often expect to be surrounded by loving supporters who will encourage and praise their efforts. They think that because they are doing what God has called them to do, the path will be easy, they’ll find all the resources and assistance they need, and everyone will be pleased with them.

It doesn’t always work this way.

In fact, if you’re doing what God wants you to do, serving Him faithfully and drawing people to the Lord, Satan is going to throw all the resistance in your path that he can. If he can, he may even use those closest to you against you. (They are your biggest vulnerability, after all. Satan knows this well.) The way may get surprisingly difficult.

It comforts me to know that even Jesus encountered this. When He told the disciples that He was going to die, Peter said, “Never Lord!” Jesus rebuked him. In fact, he said:

"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (See Matthew 16:22-23.)

On the cross, Jesus had to endure scoffing from priests, teachers of religious law, and elders. They told Him that if He’d do what they expected from Him and come down off the cross, they’d believe.

How often are we tempted to change our strategy or choose different activities to meet the expectations of people around us? We know what God wants us to do, but others tell us that our ministry will be more effective or we’ll be please them more if we do something else.

I wonder if even Jesus wrestled with this as he suffered such excruciating pain. When he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46NLT), was He wondering if perhaps He had made a mistake? Or was He surprised at the intensity of His suffering? Had He expected God to make His mission easier for Him, knowing that His own Father could have shielded Him from some of the pain? I can’t begin to fathom how lost and abandoned He must have felt!

In John 16:33, Jesus said,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

When our path becomes lonely, dark, and full of obstacles, (and sometimes, it will), we must cling to God’s Word and continue to do whatever we know God has called us to do. This doesn’t mean we can’t ask God if perhaps we’ve made a wrong turn. If there’s any chance of that, we should explore the possibility. This just means we must walk as closely to God as we can, believing in His Presence, knowing He’s faithfully watching over us—whether we sense Him or not.

In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus said,

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus doesn’t really want us to hate anyone. What He means, as I understand this, is that when those closest to us attempt to stand in our way, to keep us from doing God’s Will, we must continue to go God’s Way. We tell Satan to get behind us and move on.

This can hurt. Both us and any loved ones who tell us to choose another path. If they don’t share our sense of purpose, they will be confused.

We may think, “If I do things their way, they’ll be happier and my life will be easier.” Perhaps, like the religious leaders mocking Jesus, they’ll even say, “If you do things my way, I’ll believe,” and tempt us to change our course for their soul’s sake. But, if it’s not God’s Way, it’s not for their sake. We must hold our ground and trust God to lead them to believe in His time and in His way.

If Jesus had given in while on the cross, no one could have come to believe. Not even the religious leaders who told Him that they would. Like Jesus, we must entrust those who give us opposition to God's care and continue to do what God leads us to do.

When we follow God, sometimes our path is difficult. When this is so, we seek His assurance and continue to walk His way. He will lead us in paths of righteousness—for His name’s sake—even when it’s through times of trouble and pain.

Thank You for leading us, Lord. Help us to follow only You, wherever the path leads, even if it's through pain. For Your name's sake, we'll continue to obey You, entrusting the opposition to Your care. Amen.

Book Review: The White Horse King

The back of the book advertises The White Horse King as “a mythic adventure story that stirs the imagination and races the heart.” So—I was expecting to read of an adventure, something like First Knight or The Three Musketeers set in Viking times. Instead I got a documentary. There’s nothing wrong with documentaries, but when you’re expecting an epic story, they are disappointing.

That first reaction set aside, as an historical biography, The White Horse King is well-researched and thoroughly presented. I don’t know if the author ever read You Can Write Your Family History by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack or not, but he followed her instructions for a biography to the letter, starting with known facts about Alfred the Great and adding cultural and historical information to complete the story, to help the reader understand what he probably did, felt, and thought about events during his time. Notes set to the side of the text, drawings, maps, and pictures add interest to the book. Each of the eight chapters begins with an historical ballad, poem, or quote relevant to the content. The book also includes a bibliography and index.

If you enjoy learning about the Vikings, early Anglo-Saxon kings, and the history of England along with the origins of some of its early myths, The White Horse King is a book you will want to read.


Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending a complimentary copy of this book for me to review.

Meek Movers

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” –Matthew 5:5

Here's a new way to look at this verse:

Blessed are those movers who humbly submit to God's will for their lives, for they will fill their heads with happy memories of planting their footprints all over the globe!

Wait! Before you click to another page, shouting, "Jesus didn't say that!" please hear me out. You see, way back in the beginning, God gave the earth and everything in it to Adam and Eve. But they messed up, and in doing so, allowed the world to be ruled by sin. Jesus triumphantly took it back when He died on the cross and was raised to life again, and He graciously gives it to those who faithfully follow Him. Therefore, the meek will inherit the earth.

Now if we find ourselves moving from place to place about the globe and recognize that this is God's will for our lives, we can choose to meekly accept God's will or fight it. Those who fight it either find themselves living somewhere other than where God wants them or grumbling about their unhappy lot in life. Personally, I don't care for either option. However, those who submit will find themselves blessed with contentment. No, I didn't say their lives would be perfect and that nothing would ever go wrong. I said they would find themselves blessed with contentment. As God leads them from place to place, they'll have peace in their souls and happy memories of walking with God all over the world.

In a sense, God gives us each place we live as our own. We may not have the deed yet, but we have the knowledge and the memories. The meek will inherit the earth; we movers just get a head start.

I'm walking with You all over the world, Lord. And as You lead, I claim each place as home. Thank You for the gift! Amen.

A God-Given Role

“The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'” –Genesis 2:18

I realize that not every woman who moves does so because of a husband's job. However, those who do move for that reason are often tempted to blame their husbands for their oh-so-miserable lot in life. As a result, these women whine about their husbands, complain about their husband's jobs, and let everyone around them know they wish they were living anywhere else. These dear souls are martyrs for a cause, and they demand our sympathy (as often as they can).

If your husband's career takes you around the world though, God didn't mean for you to be a martyr. Moving is hard on your husband, too, but the effort is worth it if what he does helps to accomplish God's purpose for his life, provides a worthwhile service for humankind, and allows him to care for his family. If your husband believes this of his job, then you are honored to serve with him.

My husband encourages me to pursue my own God-given dreams and goals wherever we go. I'm thankful for his affirmation and support. If ever God seems distant, Mike reminds me to be faithful to the work God's given me to do. At the same time, however, I look for ways to encourage him in ministry as well. In some places, this means jumping in and getting my hands dirty right beside him. In other places, this means quietly turning our home into a sacred retreat distant from a demanding work space. I love discovering what roles each location holds! I marvel to see God working through my husband; I'm honored to help as I can.

Father, only You can transform me into a suitable helper for Mike. He deserves the best! Please make it so in your marvelous way. Thank You, Lord! Amen.

Seizing Opportunity

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” –Galatians 6:10

One summer, our chapel was making last minute preparations for the annual Vacation Bible School program when a new family arrived in town. Hearing that the VBS staff was extremely short-handed, to the point that there was talk of canceling the program altogether, this family (a father, mother, and two teenagers) joined right in to fill four crucial staff spots. They were living in a hotel and hadn’t even begun to search for a home for themselves, yet they graciously put their plans on hold to help the family of believers as they could.

While it’s true that we should usually settle in and seek God’s will before making long-term commitments within our new communities, this doesn’t mean that we can’t eagerly jump in to help with smaller projects as opportunities arise. Vacation Bible School only lasts a week, and some roles require no preparation at all. Has the nursery worker called in sick for the day? Sitting with babies is a needed ministry, as well as an opportunity to pray for the little ones in your care. Perhaps people are signing up to take meals to the sick or to shut-ins. Even if your cooking equipment isn’t unpacked quite yet, you can grab a bucket of chicken with a few fixin’s and go on an adventure to make a new friend. Opportunities are all around. Ask God to show you where you can help.

Lord, people react with surprise and joy when a newcomer starts right in doing good. This makes the effort more fun. Show me where I can help today. Let me seize that opportunity and make the most of it for You. Amen.

Discouraged Again

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” –2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

It happened again. I got lost. Then I drove around in circles until tears came to my eyes. By the time I found familiar territory and a road leading to my new home, I'd vowed to either move back to the old one or never leave the inside of the new one again. Of course, once I actually arrived at my new home, I realized that neither option was truly a possibility. I started the afternoon being discouraged that I'd become discouraged again.

Eventually, however, I admitted that I needed to spend some time talking to God about the hurts of my morning. I curled up on the couch with my favorite cozy blanket and told God all about my day. I confessed my frustration and discouragement. Then I asked Him to help me hang onto a more positive outlook next time--knowing that there would be a next time, unless I held myself to the rash promise to never leave the house again.

You know what God showed me during that time of prayer? Sometimes I'm just too hard on myself. Perhaps you’re the same way sometimes. We expect ourselves to be more than human and to respond to every crisis with a perfect attitude. But God is still at work, and we’re still maturing children in His eyes. That means the next time we feel discouraged, instead of becoming even more discouraged because of our discouragement, we should turn to God first for comfort, for hope, for strength, and for that promised eternal encouragement. Eternal encouragement: it never runs out! God will offer it as often as we need it; He truly understands.

Thanks for strengthening my Spirit, Lord. Let's try this again! Amen.

Our Strong Tower

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” –Proverbs 18:10

When our family lived in the Netherlands, one favorite place to visit was the castle ruins in Valkenburg. Situated on the highest hill in town, this castle must have been a challenge for foes to reach. Holes in the walls allowed archers to shoot those enemy soldiers who were able to make the climb before they could enter the fortress-like structure. The walls themselves were wider than my husband is tall, making infiltration nearly impossible. One final advantage for castle dwellers was an extensive maze of underground tunnels through which they could escape. Enemies who were unfortunate enough to find the entrance from the castle into these tunnels would quickly find themselves hopelessly lost beneath the ground.

If ever you are feeling alone and vulnerable, don’t hesitate to call on God’s name. He is a strong tower of safety, and you won’t even need an underground tunnel system for backup. The enemy cannot get through God. Resting in Him, you are safe.

Father, I thank You for the security that comes from knowing Your name. I come to You. Amen.

Dwelling in God's House

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” –Psalm 84:4

It was our second Thanksgiving in Kansas City, and some new friends who had just moved into the area invited Mike, Justin (not quite two), and I for dinner. As we entered their home, I sensed the presence of joy--abundant, contagious, emanating-from-the-walls-themselves joy! I didn’t have to look far to discover where it came from. The whole house was full of pictures, knick-knacks, handcrafted pillows, and more all proclaiming love, praise, and thanksgiving to God. I learned that this couple had endured significant hardship before beginning this new life, but had chosen to praise God continually for all the good things in their lives in spite of the bad from their past. Even their baby’s name proclaimed gratitude to God the Giver. As a result of their choice to praise God instead of pitying themselves, God blessed their home and family with joy, a joy which seemed to bounce off them to touch and encourage everyone they met.

Praising God brings the blessing of bliss. Continuously praising God is like dwelling in His house, basking in His presence--wherever you are! Choose to live with God today. Praise Him and discover real joy.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). From morning until night, through good and through bad, whatever may come, and wherever I go, all my life I’ll praise You, for You are God and I love you! Amen.

Book Review: Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

This is one of those rare books that I just want to go out and purchase several copies of to give to people I know. The pages were overflowing with helpful and encouraging information. As I went about my days after reading portions from the book, I found myself, several times, recalling passages to apply them to different circumstances I would face or to share the ideas with friends. Practical information that’s easy to remember—signs of a well-written book.

The authors identify seven struggles all people face: injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure, and death. They devote four chapters to each, defining the problem, giving examples (both modern and biblical) of people who have dealt with these, and showing how God can use the pain of the struggle to bring spiritual growth and blessing in His time. I especially enjoyed their interpretation of the Bible stories, showing God’s work for good behind the scenes in familiar characters’ lives.

Each four chapter section ends with a summary of the major points (for clarity and quick reference) and questions to help readers prayerfully seek the truth of their situations and apply the concepts to their lives. The authors help readers understand that when they trust God, knowing that there is a purpose to any pain He allows in their lives, they can continue on with anticipation and hope.

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain is the collaborative effort of psychiatrists Paul Meier, MD (founder of the Meier Clinics) and David L. Henderson, MD. I had heard of Meier, but never read anything of his before. I wasn’t disappointed. I’m happy to recommend this book.

Trip Tip #5: Keep Moving

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” –Isaiah 40:31

I think most of us know that when someone is suffering extreme cold, struggling not to freeze to death, eventually that person will stop caring and choose to go to sleep. That pleasant sleep, however, quickly leads to death. To survive, the person must make every effort to stay awake as long as possible, to keep moving—even if just a little—hanging in there until rescue comes.

To the Christian, discouragement is just like that extreme cold. We struggle to move forward, to stay on the path, to keep our eyes on the goal. But if circumstances are harsh enough, we may wonder what it might be like to stop caring, to stop trying, to lie down and go to sleep once and for all. We’re facing the temptation of complacency, the overpowering desire to step off the path, take a nap, and let Jesus go on without us. Giving in is just as deadly to our spiritual lives as physically falling asleep in extreme cold.

The remedy is the same as well, with one significant difference. The one suffering physically hopes for rescue that may come in time. Spiritually, however, our hope is sure. Jesus will provide the strength we need to endure no matter how long the trial goes on. And He will always rescue us from spiritual troubles in time. The Bible is full of His promises on this point. Start by considering Isaiah 40:31 (above). Then go to www.Biblegateway.com or your favorite concordance and search for keywords such as strength, endurance, hope, and faithfulness.

When we’re tired, we must keep moving. We keep talking to Jesus whether or not we hear His voice. We keep studying His Word, claiming promises as we go. We obey God’s teaching and continue to serve in love. We stay on the path and look heavenward. If all we can manage is a step or two a day, we know that step or two will be enough. Renewal is coming. Just keep moving in certain hope.