On January 23, 2016, I showed up in Johannesburg, South Africa with a vision from the Lord (at least I sure hoped it was!), two suitcases, a place to stay for two months, and not a single friend in a city of 10 million. Wow!! Am I crazy or what??
He brought me here with a picture–a picture of light emanating from South Africa into the rest of Africa, changing the foundations.
As I have walked with Him in the midst of this picture, I have watched Him change hearts here in South Africa through the Journeys of Generosity (JOG)–an experiential encounter with God’s generosity toward us over a weekend of stories, small group discussion, Biblical readings and times alone with the Spirit of God. People have encountered the Father’s love and generosity in a way that is transformational. It’s amazing to watch. JOGs are being done in other parts of Africa now, with South Africans leading the charge! Light–His light emanating from South Africa into the rest of Africa.
Part of the “light” picture that I felt like He gave me was that there was going to be a strong movement of business people (and even specifically men) who are FULLY surrendered to the Lord and will take His kingdom through business into Africa in transformational ways. I have seen some of this start to happen as well, and I continue to pray for this “band of brothers” that the Lord will raise them up in POWER to change foundations of culture through business.
In the midst of the joy of watching Jesus at work in the big picture of this country and continent, there have also been gifts–incredible gifts from my Father. I have a community of friends that I love, pray with, laugh with, and even invite myself over to dinner at their home(s). I have a beautiful place to live that faces a garden and feeds my soul every single day. I found a wonderful hairdresser (Girls, you know what a miracle that is!! :-). I have opportunities to go on safari and WORSHIP (Honestly, I don’t know that there is a greater worship experience for me than watching the majesty and intricacy of His creation as seen on a safari drive. He’s magnificent, our Creator God). I have experienced the body of Christ in different cultures and expressions every Sunday. I had a visit from my family to share my world here with them. Joy…gifts…friends…Jesus….
All in all, in my two year “review” this month, I am celebrating…GREAT is Your faithfulness, O God, my Father….
I enjoy passing along resources that have inspired or impacted me. These two books are recent reads, and they did both!
Red Notice is a book of business intrigue, unbelievable corruption and amazing perseverance, and not only that, it reads like a first class novel, but it’s all TRUE! Higly recommend it!
Scary Close challenges treasured paradigms of relationships and self-protection. His style may be a stretch for some at first, but it is well worth persevering! Don’s vulnerability inspires others to take a closer look at the things that may hinder the type of relationship(s) we so desire. If you are a couple, you might want to consider reading it together as it is worth discussing.
This season of my life has served as an incredible reminder of what it is to live between two worlds. As a follower of Jesus, I am always an “alien and stranger” on earth, but some seasons highlight this truth more than others.
While in the US, I fully give myself to the joys of family, friends, familiar surroundings, and known activities/traditions. Even in the midst of that joy, there is sometimes an ache that a whole realm of my life is unknown to those around me while still very, very present in my heart and mind…South African friends, new traditions and activities that I have grown to love, new experiences that have broadened my sense of the King and His world.
On the flip side, while in South Africa, I give myself fully to wonderful friends, new experiences, and kingdom work that brings great joy. However, there can sometimes be an ache at the lack of a sense of history, the knowing of my “roots”, and the familiarity that can only come with time.
One world often excludes the other and yet also enriches the other in unseen ways. It is both a strange and beautiful experience.
In a fresh way I am realizing all over again that I am not a citizen of earth. My true citizenship is secure in heaven and doesn’t change. I am known there FOREVER and fully, and there is a shared history with friends that dates back to the foundations of the earth and has everything in common through Jesus.
There is one King. He is eternal and doesn’t ever get elected or dethroned. I have a home that has been built with my specific desires and being in mind from which I will never have to move…built by One who knows exactly what I need.
He has visited and been a citizen of both places, and He knows all aspects of my current worlds.
In this season, I am so grateful that Jesus is “the sure foundation of my times. A rich storehouse of wisdom, salvation and knowledge….” He is my source of joy and hope as I transfer from one world to another, belonging totally to each in different ways, but often feeling a bit abnormal in both because I really belong to another world all together–an eternal one!!
I knew my Grandma Bell as a gentle, sweet and lovely woman, even though her children sometimes affectionately refer to her as the “sergeant.” She was a homemaker extraordinaire, and our childhood was filled with wonderful smells of pies, cookies and fresh or canned garden vegetables at Grandma’s house.
In addition to her culinary skills, Grandma Bell was also was an accomplished pianist and a diligent student of God’s Word. She was trained at Moody Bible Institute and up until her death in her 80’s, my Grandma used her piano and her weekly Sunday School class to disciple young students and young adults. She left her family quite a legacy.
After my Grandma went to be with Jesus, she left me her treasured piano–one of her main discipleship tools. As I was living with roommates in a smaller condo at the time, I did not have the space for her piano. So, I asked dear friends of mine, Korban and Tanya Miller, if they would like to have a piano temporarily, knowing that it would be loved and used by Korban in both playing and teaching music, as he is an accomplished musician himself and was the lead worshiper at my home church.
About ten years went by, and in an amazing turn of events, Korban and Tanya and their kids made the life-changing decision to move to Poland to be part of a movement of God among the youth of Central and Eastern Europe with an organization called Josiah Venture. Together, Korban and Tanya are leading the launch of Poland’s evangelistic and discipleship music club called Fusion.
As they were packing a container of items to be shipped to Poland, they thought about Grandma’s piano and called me. What to do…a family heirloom with lots of memories, and a group of young people in Poland who would learn about music and Jesus using Grandma Bell’s piano. After some consideration and talking with some family, I decided that Grandma’s piano needed to go to Poland as her legacy was going international!
What a joy and privilege it has been this year to be an eye witness to two miracles of our God in the form of babies–my sister and my dear friend Alair.
Caleb and Alair Mitchell have been married for 16 years and, though God has given them two amazing and beautiful boys through adoption–Nico and Nate, they have not been able to conceive biologically. Caleb and the boys started praying for a baby sometime last winter, and I joined them in that prayer in April, around Alair’s birthday.
I was at a mutual friend’s house on a Sunday last June, and we got an unexpected knock at the door. Caleb and Alair and the boys stood outside, and Alair was weeping holding a positive pregnancy test in her hand. The JOY!!
A day after Alair found out she was pregnant, I had previously arranged a meeting between Alair and my sister Kara, who also struggled with infertility and was given a 3% chance to conceive naturally. Kara was in the process of starting a ministry to other families walking through that same pain and struggle, which is what the reason for meeting with Alair. Our family had started praying with Kara and Duce on our weekly family prayer call in April for the miracle of a baby, and we even had all the kids in our family lay hands on and pray for Kara and Duce’s miracle baby during our annual July 4th celebration!
Two weeks later, as I got back from a trip, there was a knock on my door at 10:30 at night. I opened the door and saw no one, but there was a stork in my yard. I was so confused until…Kara and Duce jumped out of my bushes and shared THEIR news! Another miracle and MORE joy!!!
Miracles…some have already come and thankfulness is overflowing, and some are still on their way and are waited for in faith and hope.