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Devotional Making Disciples

Fear and fear not

My friend hesitates. Uncomfortable when I speak of “the fear of the Lord.” And pray it for our children. 

Through the years, from their youngest days, this has been my prayer. That they may walk in the fear of the Lord. Know His wisdom. Recognize His holiness. 

But there are too many things to fear in our world today. We don’t need to make God one more thing to fear. Right? I think that’s the unspoken piece of this friend’s response.

But Jesus talks about fear. The wrong kind and the right kind. 

In prayer. Photo by Ben White, Unsplash photos.
Categories
Crossing Cultures Making Disciples Memoir

“Let the little children…”

During those first years in Karachi, I struggled to find a place of morning quiet. With the Lord. 

We were navigating the muddle of culture shock and power breakdowns. Learning a language with completely new sounds and an unfamiliar alphabet. 

Trying to establish a rhythm for preparing clean water to drink. For getting food on the table. Daily.

And figuring out how to parent our children. I gave birth to our first child at the age of 33. And soon experienced what I now refer to as “mother shock.”  

Murree, Pakistan. 1993.
Categories
Crossing Cultures Devotional Making Disciples

Confession of our hope

This past week, the stories surface. Continually. Through emails. Personal posts. Press releases. 

Believers holding on to the confession of our hope.

I’m watching for this. The declaration. The profession. The holding fast of Hebrews 10:23. “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.”

And all week long, I hear them.

Their confessions affirm what is real. True. We are sure of what we hope for. Certain of what we do not see. 

Confession of our hope. Hebrews 10