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Crossing Cultures Devotional Making Disciples Memoir

Threads

Colorful skeins of thread surround him. And neutral strings on the loom show no pattern to follow. As far as I can see. 

But the old carpet maker knows. 

Thread by thread. Hour by hour. Day by day. 

He works the loom, creating a rich pattern. A map of threads he already had in mind when he started.

The carpet maker at Afghan Carpets in the 1990s. Karachi.
Categories
Crossing Cultures Making Disciples Memoir

Seem or be?

Seasoned servant. Leaving, after spending many years in the dark city by the river. Her parting advice to one of our colleagues is borne out of long experience in the spiritual battle. 

Those insightful words reach my ears at a retreat in the Himalayas. 

One phrase sticks in my heart. And comes to mind, from time to time.

“Do you want to seem holy? Or be holy?”

Dark city by the river. Image by Lewis J Goetz, Unsplash.
Categories
Devotional Making Disciples Memoir

Pray for the persecuted

In days of distress and disgrace, a written message arrives. From the enemy. 

Dire threats. Mocking words. Blasphemy.

And Hezekiah goes to the temple. Spreading out the letter of his adversary before the Lord.

This king’s response informs my praying. For the persecuted. Those suffering greatly today. In the face of opposition to the gospel.

Pray for the persecuted. Image from imb photos.