Category: Devotional

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Crossing Cultures Devotional

The One who sees me

My friend asked if I could fill in and teach her EFL (English as a Foreign Language) International Bible Study that met on Wednesday nights.  We were living in Richmond at the time and our church had a thriving EFL program. 

Noreta sent me the list of students and the lesson: an overview of Esther. I casually glanced over the names listed and noted their home countries. Korea. China. Taiwan.  

On Wednesday night I met the students as they assembled for the study. We started class and I began sharing from the Book of Esther.  Just a few minutes into the lesson, the door flew open. A woman wearing a head covering came striding in. With confidence and forthrightness, she declared, “I am Hoda M. I am from Egypt.”  

Daughter of Hagar, my heart said.  

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Devotional Making Disciples

Open to His Word

In our first meeting, I described how a follower of Jesus sets aside time and space every day for focused communion with the Lord. This conversation on abiding continues each time we meet. We talk about the soul’s need for daily food from the Word of God. And how to come with minds and hearts open to the Truth of Scripture. About the importance of waiting and listening as we pray.

Open hearts

There’s a prayer written multiple times with several variations in my journals. Simple and basic.  “Lord, open my eyes that I may see. Open my ears that I may hear. Open my heart to obey Your Word today.”

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Devotional

Crushed

The weight on my heart is not a frantic, anxious weight. It’s the weight of prayer.  Prayer for my dear friend who is suffering. She wades through deep waters in this season.  Crushed.
Olives in the detail around a Jerusalem Cross. Bethlehem 2010

Crying out to You the hurt. The upheaval. The unknown.

And yet, even there she speaks of Your faithfulness. Even there, Your word sustains. Daily manna, she says. And ponders what the God of the impossible can do. 

“If we believe He is who He says He is, how can we not hope?”

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