Life in Exile

Looking back at my life, I can see how God used opportunities to learn and serve in missions as stepping stones to full-time overseas ministry.

What's the best thing to do when the Lord brings someone to mind? Pray for them.

Two handwritten letters remind me of the importance of connection. Full of news and advice, letters reveal what they're really full of--Love.

Anger can make us forget those we love the most. God refrained from anger when he remembered the patriarchs. The sacrificial act of an insignificant woman pushed Judas to forget his rabbi and give in to betrayal.

Breaking up may be hard to do, but so is saying goodbye to family when you're heading back to your field of service. Here's a little poem to help express the sentiment.

The New Testament has several reminders of our need to look back at our life. I doing so, we are moved to confess, find restoration, and press on in perseverance for Christ.

While our kitchens carry more cups than we could possibly use, Christ drank from the cup of wrath that we might drink from the only cup that brings eternal blessing. This is the cup of the new covenant.

The prophets make clear that in remembering our sin our minds are turned toward God, the only one who, in his mercy can forgive and save.

Enjoy this reflection on my favorite kitchen appliances and tools, used during our years overseas. Let me hear what you prefer to use too!

Whether it's a good day or bad, we do well to remember God and all he has done for us. The psalmists teach us how.

Misconceptions and deceptions about the person of Jesus Christ and the reason for his coming are nothing new. Christians must stand firm on his own words about the sin of men and our need for a Savior.

Why was it important for Israel to remember that they had been slaves? Forgetting they were slaves would lead them to forget the God who redeemed them. We have much to learn from this call to remember.

After the summer mission trips are over, how can we as parents, sponsors, and missionaries keep the fire for missions burning in the lives of those who served?

Throughout Scripture there are places named for the purpose of remembering an encounter with God. What places in your life hold special memories because God blessed you there?

What does it look like to live out our calling as Christians to love God and love others? Here are a few examples of the Great Commission in action.

God calls us to remember his Name. In doing so, we remember that it is in that Name we live and move and have our being. His is the only name worth remembering.

Missionaries must trust God to go. Churches must trust God to send. How can we encourage each other all the more as the Day of His return approaches?

Not only were altars used to remember God and his greatness, but we find several other tangible markers to help his people, including trees, money, stones, and tassels.

Carol B. Ghattas branches out into a new genre with Archived by Death, a cozy mystery set in the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Altars not only mark places of worship but serve as reminders of the focus of that worship. Israel failed to stay faithful to God, can we learn from their mistakes? Our altars will reveal the truth.

Under the cloud of the 2025 Israel-Iran War, we reflect on how war affects missionaries, missions, the church, and our prayer lives.

Just as we are called to remember God throughout the Old Testament, the New Testament calls us to remember Jesus. Remembering his presence, his sacrifice, and his return all help us to endure until he comes again.

Are we so entrenched in our "us" versus "them" mentality that we can't recognize how God may be showing us grace through the compassion of our enemy? If he used such people for his purposes in Scripture, will he not do the same today?

As we saw in the Torah and Psalms, the prophets also call us to remember God. Whether engulfed in sin or living in a dark place, he is calling us to simply turn and remember.

We need every part of the Church to support our ministry. No matter the size of the group, God blesses and provides.

The Psalms are full of verses calling us to remember God. As we remember him, we are called to lead others to remember.

What the heart longs for sets the tone for how a person lives. May we live lives in faithfulness to God because our hearts are longing for the day when the New Jerusalem will come down. O Happy Day!

The book of Deuteronomy is the foundational book on our need to remember God. Will we forget him as the Israelites did? May we be a people who remember.

What happens when a team changes or falls apart before you arrive on the field? Do you question God's call or see this as a chance to trust? The choice is up to you.

Why do we as Christians need to remember the Jewish feasts? Because they point to Christ and reveal God's plan of salvation for all peoples.

Coming off a ventilator can prove difficult, which is why it's called a trial. What's the solution? Giving up control and letting the nurses do their job. A great illustration of the Christian life.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Why? God had his reasons, and they are for our good.

Why is the process of debriefing important in ministry? What does it include? Here are some of my thoughts on what makes a good debriefing and why it's important.

God knows how we forget, so he's provided visual reminders over the centuries to help us remember him, his Word, and our relationship to Christ.

Grief catches up when we find ourselves doing hard things, even when they are necessary things.

We have God's written Word in our hands but how often do we forget it and follow the wayward path? Oh, how important it is to remember God's Word.

How do we handle the reality that we're called to serve the infallible God but through association with fallible churches and organizations? It's tough but doable, because that's the way God designed it.

While we might be forgotten in this life, the Lord, who made us, loves us, and died for us, will never forget or forsake us. Remember that!

Do we really have abundant life by following Jesus? If that's the case, why are so many Christians suffering? A look at Jesus's own words will help us find the right perspective.

Jesus spoke to the disciples about forgetting his work in their lives while also telling them any suffering we endure for Christ will soon be forgotten. We can forget what's behind us for the sake of focusing on Christ today.

You have a story to tell to the church about what God is doing on the mission field. Here are a few tips from my years of reporting back to the church.

Why are our memories so quick to forget all that God has done for us? Our forgetfulness leads to doubt and worry. Remembering draws us closer to God and strengthens our faith.

What does an ancient law teach us about how we address sin in the Church today? Am I willing to throw the first stone?

The prophets will show as the psalmist did before that we have a history of forgetting the Lord. It doesn't matter if things are going great or we're in times of trial, our tendency is to forget the source of our salvation and the only hope for mankind.

Having children on the mission field can be both wonderful and stressful, but not only are our lives enriched by their presence but theirs as well. It is possible to thrive even when a time in a country is cut short.

God has no problem remembering, but what about us? Our tendency to forget can bring eternal consequences. Will you forget God?

Remembering my sister-in-Christ, Nomie Derani, and a life given in service to the Lord and in love to Muslim women.

God speaks and he keeps his word. He never forgets what he has spoken. He remembers all he has said. He can be trusted to fulfill all he has promised.

Does the change of season effect how you serve? How can we know spring in service even when the days outside and in our minds seem dark and gloomy?

If it weren't enough that God remembers us, we can rest in knowing that he remembers us with mercy. What a blessing!

Salt is an important symbol God uses to remind us of his enduring covenant and love. It is also to be a part of our conversations as believers. How much do think about the salt you're sharing?