I have a friend who enjoys putting puzzles together. She’s incredible. She has the patience to finish any puzzle she starts. She often talks about her puzzles, describing how much time she dedicates to completing them. Every piece is examined and set aside on the table to be used when it fits in its proper place. Sometimes those pieces don’t fit for days or even weeks, as other pieces need to be placed first. Over time, the puzzle comes together, and every piece finds its place.

I’ve experienced things in life that I couldn’t explain, and there are still some that I can’t understand; they haven’t found a place in my life yet. So, those pieces remain on the periphery of the puzzle, waiting to be placed at the right moment. They are prepared for when they’ll be needed. But until that moment comes, those pieces won’t make sense. Like my friend, they have to sit on the side of the puzzle table until they fit.

No Small Task

Jesus went to a city called Jericho (see Luke 19:1-10), and in that city, there was a man named Zacchaeus. I remember being a young child in Sunday School singing, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he! He climbed up in a sycamore tree, the Lord he wanted to see!” The problem Zacchaeus had was greater than his lack of height; he was a tax collector, and leaping over his despised status among his countrymen was no small task (pun not intended).

How was this short man, whom no one wanted to help (really, even today, who wants to help a tax collector?), supposed to catch a glimpse of the Lord Jesus as He passed by? He didn’t even consider that Jesus might stop to change his life forever; that seemed impossible because everyone around him despised him. Why would Jesus consider stopping for him? Still, Zacchaeus hoped to at least catch a glimpse of the Lord as He went through the city.

Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus because he was quite short and needed a boost. Sitting in the tree, Jesus approached him, talked with him, and from that moment on, Zacchaeus’ life was forever changed. He returned the stolen money, and his character transformed from the inside out.

Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:1-5 NCV

Before it was Needed

But have you ever considered that long before Zacchaeus climbed the tree, God planted it to meet his need? He placed a piece of the puzzle in the right place so at the right time, Zacchaeus would encounter Jesus. Until that time, it was a random tree that at best offered shade for weary travelers on warm summer days. It wasn’t until Jesus walked through Jericho and met Zacchaeus that the real purpose of the tree was revealed: it was meant to bring Zacchaeus closer to Jesus.

I imagine Zacchaeus had no intention of even speaking with Jesus and might have even scurried off in fear had Jesus begun walking towards him. In the tree, Zacchaeus was cornered on his branch. He had nowhere to hide.

The Zacchaeus Moment

There are pieces of the puzzle that will fit into our lives just at the moment they are designed to fit; we need to leave the pieces alone until the Zacchaeus moment arrives.

It will fit perfectly.

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
Psalm 18:30 NLT

Just like every puzzle piece has its proper place, so do we in God’s plan. Zacchaeus might have felt like an out-of-place piece, looked down on, dismissed, or even despised. Still, Jesus sought him out, called him by name, and gave him his place in God’s picture of redemption. If you’ve ever felt overlooked or as if your life doesn’t quite fit, take heart: Jesus sees you, too. He calls you to come down from whatever tree you’ve climbed and welcomes Him in. Will you, like Zacchaeus, open your heart and let Him place you where you truly belong?

Relevant reading: https://www.faithward.org/how-to-create-a-sense-of-belonging-and-invite-everyone-to-contribute-their-spiritual-gifts/

A Prayer to Belong

Lord Jesus, thank You that You see me just as You saw Zacchaeus. When I feel overlooked, remind me that I have a place in Your plan. Help me trust that every part of my life fits into the picture You are creating. I open my heart to You today. Come in, make Your home with me, and let me find my true belonging in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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I remember one of my favorite things to say to my three older children when they were growing up was: “Be nice.”

Sometimes it felt nearly impossible to get through a day without a major crisis unfolding between two or all three of them. The oldest would often tease the youngest, the second-born (a daughter) would take great delight in getting her two brothers into trouble, and the third-born relished the fact that he had it a bit easier than his two older siblings. Now, with a fourth one that came a full 15 years after our third, you know there is a lot of “you didn’t do that for us” going around.

Well, I confess, there’s truth to that statement, but we learn as we go, don’t we? While we were waiting for our first child to be born, I recall thinking that I would do everything better than everyone else (although I’m not sure why I thought this). I knew how I wanted to raise my child in a certain way that was better than everyone else’s. I was sure that my household would be quiet and peaceful, with the laundry always folded, dinner on the table, and everyone being nice.

Still Working On It

Fast forward 10 years, and I found myself up to my neck in raising children, living abroad, and working as a full-time church planter and community outreach coordinator in Africa. I honestly do not know how I managed to get through those days with my mind still somewhat intact.

The amount of work that goes into running a household in that region of Africa is stupefying. There is no fast food (thankfully), no quick place to shop (you go to the market, which is an all-day ordeal), and keeping the house clean is a whole other post for another day. All of this doesn’t take into account the work of the mission and the church. At the end of every day (much like you, wherever you are), both then and now, I wonder how I made it, continue to make it, and follow my counsel to “be nice.” Honestly, I wasn’t always as nice as I had hoped to be, but I always worked on it and am still working on it!

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”
Ephesians 4:31,32 TLB

Speaking Our Minds and Being Nice

In the current supercharged world of “speaking our minds,” many have forgotten the need for those of us identifying as Christians to just be nice, be kind to each other. Everywhere we look these days, whether online, on TV, in print, or in person, there’s a strong negative current to “speak up for what is right.” We are ambassadors of the Kingdom and our righteous King, but we won’t convince anyone of their need for Christ if our righteousness is covered in ugliness. No matter the situation, Scripture is clear on the matter: we must be nice.

Society has always been ugly, humanity has always been divided, and the church can’t fulfill her mission when she looks, acts, and speaks like the world. Whatever happened to following Jesus’ advice to “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NLT

Have you ever noticed how exhausting it is to force change with anger or frustration? I wonder how many ulcers and troubles with high blood pressure could be averted by simply being nice.

Learning the Hard Way

I learned this truth the hard way years ago, serving here on the continent when I saw much hunger, injustice, and unnecessary death. I worked myself to the bone trying to bring about change; no matter how hard I worked, no matter how many hungry and vulnerable children I fed, there were still more than needed to be fed, and despite my valiant efforts, people still went hungry.

I became tired and bitter about my situation and the unfairness of it all, until one day, after sickness forced me to rest, I understood that anything pulling me from Jesus’ yoke that gives me rest is not His will for me. Over time, I began to realize that this fallen world is full of sin, and sin can’t be dealt with on our terms. Anger, frustration, overworking, and self-righteousness pull us away from His way of addressing humanity’s fallen nature by simply being nice. The response of humanity to the message of the cross is not my responsibility; I am only responsible for bringing the Good News. As long as there is sin in the world, there will be division, injustice, and pain.

This doesn’t mean we don’t speak the truth, for Scripture clearly instructs us to “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT) What is our motive for speaking out, and what is our method? If our motive for reaching out to those we see lost in sin is love for them, then our methods will align with Scripture. Otherwise, we are only adding fuel to the fire of division instead of bringing Christ into the situation to redeem it.

How Has It Worked So Far?

How has frustration over the sinfulness of this world worked for us thus far? How has being angry helped any situation? Jesus walked this fallen earth and seldom was seen showing outright anger and frustration to the world; He had come to save them, give Himself for them, He died for them. His frustration was evident in the temple, among the “righteous,” who were too busy enriching themselves to reach out to those who truly needed help outside the temple (for us, this can be taken to mean the church).

My youngest daughter loves the movie, Frozen, and the theme song, “Let it go.” I rarely spiritualize animated movies, but today I will make an exception. Those things that frustrate you, those unfair, unrighteous, unholy, complicated things that anger you, let them go. Take Jesus’ yoke on you; He is the only One qualified to measure out judgment. Now is the time to be the church in the world, speak in love, and simply put:

Be nice.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me to recognize the moments and places where I’ve missed Your heart in the way I respond to the world around me. Teach me to be patient, to see people through Your eyes, and to respond with the same love and grace You show to me. May my life reflect Your motives and character, so that I may be a faithful example to those around me. Thank You for the privilege of being Your representative in this world.
Amen.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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If you’ve never read Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer, you need to! This book is a must for anyone who wants to better understand and overcome the battles of life. If it were possible, I’d give the book a ten-star rating.

Joyce understands that most, if not all, of the battles we face in life begin in our minds. She provides scriptures, illustrations, and personal insight on dealing with these battles Biblically. Her personal application of the disciplines she teaches in Battlefield of the Mind gives it an authentic flavor that is a rare find.

What I learned from Battlefield of the Mind

It wasn’t difficult for me to pinpoint weaknesses in my thought life. Joyce’s insights into the scriptures she shared in the book were rich and revealing! I made a list of the scriptures in the chapters that spoke to my situation and began meditating on them during my morning devotions. I found this exercise helpful. Through it, I learned that the Bible is more than just a story to read; it is filled with truth that can change my life if I let it.

I was challenged to change my negative thought patterns and instead focus on God’s promises for my life. This proved difficult because I’ve spent many years stuck in negative thought patterns. However, over time, I have found it better to live with a positive God attitude than with the negative one I was accustomed to.

God’s blessings, I learned, aren’t based on my merit but on what God knows I’m ready to receive. I learned this from her description of the Israelites’ 40-year journey through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. This journey should have taken less than two weeks. Their wandering was caused by their disobedience, not by God’s punishment. This encourages me to take less time trying to figure things out on my own and to trust in God’s plan and guidance. Think less, trust more!

In her down-to-earth manner, Joyce says that “stinkin’ thoughts produce stinkin’ actions.” This is so true! The more I rehearse negative thoughts, the more prone I am to act negatively. It’s a battle to capture those thoughts when they arise, understand they’re lies, and set them aside.

What I took away from Battlefield of the Mind

1. The mind is the main battlefield, not our outer circumstances.
2. The victory is not won all at once; it takes time and discipline.
3. There will be a battle in my mind every day.
4. I must choose to take my negative thoughts captive.
5. I must be aware of my thought life and what I’m thinking about.
6. I can have the mind of Christ if I choose it.
7. To live the life God intends for me to live, I must choose to have God’s mindset.

Who should read Battlefield of the Mind?

I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with negative thoughts. It should be on the bookshelf for reference when dealing with them. I especially recommend it for those who struggle with anxiety, depression, and a poor self-image—this includes most, if not all, of us! I have read “Battlefield of the Mind“ many times. Each time I read it, I am reminded that God’s thoughts for me are much better than my own.

The truths in Battlefield of the Mind are vital for living above the “stinkin’ thinkin’” we are so prone to. I know my life has changed in the years since I read it – and it will continue to change as I keep applying God’s Word daily.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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While I enjoy experimenting with different seasonings and flavors, I’ll admit that my taste probably leans toward the more conventional end of the palate spectrum (if you know you know). Growing up in a Finnish household, our meals were typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and onions, which were our go-to staples. It wasn’t until adulthood that I began exploring more spices, gradually adding “exotic” flavors like oregano, thyme, and rosemary. I still remember feeling quite proud the first time I made rosemary chicken; it felt like a culinary milestone.

The Spice Aisle: A Whole New World

What I wasn’t prepared for when I moved to Africa was the jolt to my senses upon first encountering bold flavors like curry, cumin, and turmeric. These spices were unfamiliar to someone raised on salt, pepper, and onions.

In the open food markets here, the “spice aisle” looks nothing like the ones I knew back home (Publix and Winn-Dixie in the USA). Spices aren’t stored in climate-controlled shops or sealed containers. Instead, they’re piled high in open sacks, sold in bulk, and displayed in full view. Shoppers move slowly, touching, tasting, and comparing. There are no labels needed. The air itself carries a mix of spicy and earthy scents that naturally guide you there. It’s not polished, but it’s practical.

Lessons from the Market

I’ve learned many lessons from those spice aisles as I’ve tried some of the mysterious mixes from the market. For one, I discovered I really love spices, though some of them don’t always love me back (let the reader understand). I appreciate the variety they bring and how they transform simple ingredients into something special.

I also learned that spices lose their flavor over time, a surprising lesson for me. Perhaps the hardest lesson I’m still learning is finding the right balance: the perfect amount of spices for each recipe. The best method I’ve found is to taste as you go, adjusting the mix until it feels just right.

And when tasting, use a new spoon each time—no double-dipping, please!

Carry Your Saltshaker

I carry a saltshaker with me wherever I go, not the kind from the kitchen (see Mark 9:50)—but one that symbolizes the flavor of my words and actions. Just as salt enhances food, my speech and behavior add flavor to my life.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 NKJV

The aroma this mixture creates is the way I live and interact, and it can either attract others or push them away. It’s a subtle but powerful reminder that how I “season” my life matters, affecting whether people care or ignore.

The Spice of Life

Living a dull, unseasoned life is much simpler since it avoids the hassle of learning how to mix spices. It’s easier to live unseasoned, but it’s also the most boring. Life, like food, becomes more engaging and vibrant when we add seasoning.

Naturally, people are drawn to someone whose life is full of spice. The saltiness in their conversations, actions, and presence sparks a desire in others for connection and for more of what they offer.

Remember to take your saltshaker with you when you leave the house. Sooner or later, someone is bound to say, “Pass me the salt, please.”

Consider

If you’re ready to live a life with a bit more flavor—more boldness, kindness, and purpose—begin today by carrying your saltshaker wherever you go. Notice how your words and actions add seasoning to everyday moments and invite others to taste something better.

Closing Prayer

God, help me remember to carry my saltshaker every day—the way I speak, the things I do. Let my life be flavorful and authentic, something that makes people want to know more. Teach me how to add just the right amount of seasoning so I don’t overwhelm, but encourage and inspire. Use me to bring a little extra taste of Your love into the world. Amen.

P.S. For an authentic taste of Finland, check out some recipes here – they aren’t always bland!

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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Jentezen Franklin’s book, Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God, explores fasting and its transformative effects on a believer’s life. Grounded in Biblical principles, Franklin emphasizes that fasting goes beyond mere food abstinence; it is a deliberate act of devotion intended to deepen one’s relationship with God.

My insights from “Fasting”

The book’s central theme is the Biblical basis for fasting. It discusses the different types of fasts found in Scripture—absolute, normal, and partial—and offers guidance on choosing the right fast according to personal circumstances and spiritual objectives.

The link between fasting and prayer is thoroughly explored. The book highlights that fasting alongside prayer enhances our spiritual sensitivity and aligns our hearts with God’s intentions.

Franklin emphasizes the importance of managing our Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Expectations.

Fasting has both challenges and rewards, including physical hunger, mental clarity, and spiritual breakthroughs.

Finally, advice on implementing fasting in daily life is explored for Practical Application. Readers are encouraged to approach fasting with a spirit of humility and dedication.

Fasting by Jentezen Franklin

What I took away from “Fasting”

1. Fasting is a personal discipline that fosters a partnership with God.
2. There are various types of fasts. I need to discern what God is calling me to.
3. Fasting serves to control the flesh. Jesus fasted, so I should too.
4. I need to blend faith and patience into my experience when I fast. Results aren’t always immediate.
5. The question I must ask myself during the fast is, what is God’s goal for the fast? Not what my goal is for the fast.
6. A lack of repentance and unforgiveness will invalidate any fast. I need to approach a time of fasting with self-awareness.

Who should read “Fasting”?

I highly recommend Fasting by Jentezen Franklin to all believers, regardless of their current stage on the spiritual journey. Whether you’re new to fasting or have fasted before but wish to deepen your understanding, this book offers Biblical insight and practical guidance that can transform your spiritual life.

Many Christians today overlook fasting, treating it as optional or outdated—but Franklin reawakens its significance as a powerful, God-ordained discipline. Through this book, readers will better appreciate how fasting can unlock a more intimate, focused relationship with God. Franklin explains the “how” and the “why” of fasting, helping believers grasp its spiritual impact—from breakthroughs in prayer to increased spiritual clarity to a renewed hunger for God’s presence.

This book holds significant value for individuals seeking guidance, longing for renewal, or experiencing spiritual dryness. It’s also perfectly suited for church leaders and small group discussions, offering clear instruction and motivation to reinstate this frequently overlooked practice in our spiritual journeys.

Ultimately, Fasting empowers and motivates believers to seek God with greater intensity, sacrificing physical desires to attain everlasting rewards.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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I’ve somehow gotten grouped into the “older” generation. It wasn’t that long ago that I was on the other side of the generational curve, telling everyone else what was new and the newest trend. I don’t find this new reality that I’m facing, my mortality, comfortable. Have I become out of style myself? Have I passed my “best before” date?

In the grocery store, “best before” dates are stamped on the products lining the aisles. Some have longer “best before” dates than others; some products have dates 2 to 3 years from when they are purchased. That’s the kind of product I aspire to be—best before many years into the future.

Still usable

In reality, many items we reject in stores because their “best before” dates are close or even past are still usable. I saw a news report about a store in Europe that uses these rejected items to help low-income families. The savings passed on to those in society who are more vulnerable have been remarkable.

Truth is never out of date; it never expires. It may have different wrappings from generation to generation, but at its core, it remains constant. What was attractive wrapping 50 years ago, helping people understand what was being said, doesn’t necessarily speak the same to those receiving the message today. A different wrapping might be required.

Socially acceptable

What seems to be overlooked in the noise we create while striving to present ourselves as socially acceptable may divert us from sharing the truth openly. Failing to speak the truth can be as harmful as denying it. Without exposure, truth remains misunderstood by its audience, and when finally expressed, it feels foreign.

Dear brothers I am not writing out a new rule for you to obey, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the start. You have heard it all before. Yet it is always new and works for you…
1 John 2:7,8a TLB

The truth is trustworthy, unlike fallible methods. It remains constant. Trying to present the truth in a way that is acceptable to the masses is often impossible, as the truth can hurt before it heals. Truth is like that “faithful friend” who won’t let us down:

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:6 NKJ

What is truth?

In our present-day age of political correctness, the truth of God’s word gets silenced by the static of the world. What we are experiencing today reminds me of a time in Israel’s history when no king or ruler existed. They had no governing power over them.

So the children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family; they went out from there, every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21: 24,25 NKJV

This lack of centralized leadership led to chaos, moral decline, and oppression by Israel’s enemies. God did not want Israel to have a king; He wanted to lead the people Himself. In 1 Samuel 8, the people went to the prophet Samuel and said, “Now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations” (See vs. 5). Instead of allowing God to lead them through His appointed judges, they resisted the words of the judges God appointed over them which resulted in chaos. The people rejected God’s leadership and wanted to do what everyone else was doing. They preferred lies over truth (see Romans 1:24-26). The fallen nature of humankind will automatically resist truth for a lie.

This refusal of God’s preference plunged the nation into a profound decline. By the end of the era of kings, 42 kings and one queen had ruled over God’s people. Their reigns together lasted around 520 years. (Click here for more information, if you are brave, to read more about the time of the kings.)

A mystery

Why we choose to follow our own paths instead of God’s remains a mystery. God, who has consistently proven His faithfulness, receives the same rejection from us today as He did from Israel all those years ago.

When we encounter trouble, our instinctive reaction is determining our next step. Instead of seeking God’s guidance, we look for solutions elsewhere. When we reach the limits of our efforts, we throw our hands up in frustration and exclaim, “There’s no way out of this!” At that moment, we bow and ask God for an answer. We then discover that the answer has always been with us.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:5-7 NKJV

It’s easy to blame Thomas for being so thick. He had spent much time with Jesus, seen miracles, and wondered which way to go. Jesus answered, “I am the way.” He went on and added “the truth, and the life.”

Leading others to discover the better way

In our ever-changing society, which searches for answers everywhere except God, we have the privilege of showing people around us that there is a better way. The better way is found in Jesus, who brings us to truth and life. But before we can show others the way, we must be convinced that God’s ways are the best.

Have you overlooked some of God’s truths that you believed were relevant to previous generations? Perhaps you think those ways have surpassed their “best before” dates and are no longer applicable today.

Cultures change with each group of people and even evolve with every generation. The way God’s truth is presented can vary depending on the context. What works in England likely won’t be effective in Thailand. However, the essence of the truth must be conveyed without dilution, regardless of the presentation style. Therein we find Jesus speaking, leading us in the way, the truth, and the life.

Challenge

I encourage you today to dig deep. Take a moment to reflect on how you walk with Jesus. Do you let Him lead, or have you been like Israel, wanting to be like everyone else? Jesus’ ways are perfect, and His paths lead us to life. Trust Him today.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

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There aren’t many dates that stick out in my memory. I remember the usual birthdates of my children, husband, and family. Christmas and New Year are also easy to remember. But other dates, not so much.

I won’t remember the start of the new school year or special days off from school for holidays and such. This is why I keep my daughter’s school calendar on a cabinet door in our office at home.

Forever etched

However, some dates are forever etched in my memory as if branded by iron. Those are the dates when I lost loved ones. As a child, I remember our family losing friends and relatives, but I was distanced from the grief. I didn’t know the people who had died very well. I still recall attending their funerals as a young child. Seeing adults crying frightened me; it made death a thing to be feared in my mind.

My first personal encounter with death occurred when my grandmother passed away in December 1995. My mother made a rare phone call. When the phone rang and I heard her voice, I knew the news wouldn’t be good. Mom never called to chat. International calls were expensive back then; we didn’t have cell phones or the internet.

“Your grandmother died today,” she said, her voice shaking. My mother wasn’t the emotional type, but when her mother died, that changed. I was in Burundi at the time. We had recently planted our first church, and the country was in a civil war. I couldn’t get out to attend the funeral, and even if I could, we didn’t have the financial resources to cover such a flight.

My grandfather, heartbroken after the loss of my grandmother, passed away in July 1997. I struggled to come to terms with losing both of them in such a short time. Although I was a pastor’s wife and had attended many funeral services with my husband, my perspective on death changed when my grandparents passed away. Gradually, the brevity of life became increasingly real.

The price was high

During the civil war in Burundi, death was commonplace. There wasn’t a person in our church who didn’t lose loved ones during the war. One man found his father murdered under a pile of furniture in his house. Other people had loved ones disappear, never knowing what happened to them. For those waging war, life was cheap. But for those left behind in the wake of the battles, the price of the war was high.

I’m sure that in places where war has ravaged a people, as it did in Burundi in the 1990s, the trauma has had a ripple effect. In Burundi, for example, a generation of children has grown up orphaned, left to be raised by grandparents or to roam the streets to scrape out a living. The scars of many have never fully healed; instead, they live with open wounds that fester. These wounds, unless touched by Jesus, will lead to more war and generational trauma, thus perpetuating the cycle of war and endless mourning.

No words

I felt helpless in those situations. There were many times I could only say, “Jesus.” There were no other words that could be spoken. His name alone had the power to touch broken hearts. Burundi lost many lives during those years, with some estimates placing the death toll at 400,000 or more. Official figures are around 200,000, and we will likely never know the number.

Many years have passed since the war of the 1990s. A relative peace has settled over the country, and life has progressed. Today, Burundi exists in a state of quasi-peace where the population continues to thrive while the grief of the past generation bubbles under the surface.

My grandparents passed away, having lived lives with their children. They loved Jesus and left this world quietly when He called their names. Thinking of them during those days made me grateful for their years together. When I looked at the eyes of all the children in the refugee camps where our church helped provide meals in Burundi, I grieved their losses, not my own. My family had been privileged to live full lives. These little ones before me lost out on life before it had begun.

An unwelcome but familiar visitor

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 NKJV

We moved from Burundi in the early 2000s to plant churches in other countries. While we were in Malawi in September 2008, death knocked on our family’s door once more when my mother passed away. Malawi is an impoverished nation. Death is an unwelcome yet familiar visitor to the people of Malawi.
When our church learned of my mother’s passing, everyone came to our house. They sat with me, singing songs, praying, and shedding tears. We mourned together. However, this mourning felt different. I had shifted from fearing death to understanding that it will meet each of us one day.

I returned to the USA for my mother’s memorial service, carrying money from our church members in Malawi, which they had given as a gift for family members. Although this money totaled less than $20, the significance of their gesture was profound. They were mourning alongside me.

The experience was painful, of course, but also beautiful. My loved ones came and mourned with me, just as our church members had in Malawi. How privileged I was to have had so much love around me in those days.

When the day of her memorial arrived, I stood and celebrated her wonderful life. She was a lover of God, and I knew a day would come when I would see her again. Death couldn’t hurt me. Mom had graduated, and I understood this, which brought me great comfort. Her death didn’t mean “Goodbye” it only meant, “See you later.”

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:54,55 NKJV

Blessed are those who mourn

This perspective doesn’t mean that death doesn’t affect me. It does. Since my mom passed, I’ve lost my brother, father-in-law, father, and most recently, a dear friend and colleague whose funeral we will attend later this week. What I now understand is what Jesus meant when He said:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NKJV

Death is as much a part of life as anything else. What Jesus gives us in the shadows of death is a comfort that the world cannot provide. Because we will all encounter death and mourning, we all have the opportunity to be blessed in the depths of the shadows. Not only do we receive comfort, but we also have the blessing of comforting others. I think comforting the bereaved in their sorrow is a high calling. It feels uncomfortable to comfort others because words are missing. It is then that the “ministry of presence” takes over. All that is needed is our presence, show up. It brings blessing and blesses us in return.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 NKJV

Shadows without fear

Death itself isn’t a blessing. God didn’t create us to experience death the way we do now. However, He offers us hope that differs from what the world provides—He gives us eternal hope. The blessing of mourning is found in His presence as we walk through the valleys of shadows.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NKJV

Someone, or many, may be among those of you reading that are mourning today. I pray that the God of all comfort, who comforts the brokenhearted (see 2 Corinthians 1:3), covers your hearts today. I encourage you not to isolate yourself. Instead, look for the promised comfort of Matthew 5:4 in others. Resources are also available to help you walk through the dark shadows that death casts through your local church and beyond.

You are loved and there is hope for joy in your future. Reach out and look for the blessing in the middle of your mourning.

Recommended resources:

1. Your local church – many churches host support groups for grieving church members.
2. Grief Share is a Christian group that exists worldwide and helps those who mourn walk through their loss. Click here to look at their website and find a group near you.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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My youngest daughter has an amazing imagination; she is easily moved by what she sees and hears. I need to be careful about the books, TV shows, and media she is exposed to, as she often has good and bad dreams related to what she has read or watched. More times than I can remember, she has come to my room in the middle of the night and cuddled next to me because of a bad dream she had.

Be careful, little eyes

My mother-in-law rocked all her grandchildren to sleep and is now rocking her great-grandchildren by singing the song “Be Careful Little Eyes.” There’s more truth to that little song that we must cling to than most of us understand. Only two doors of entry exist in anyone’s thoughts, based on what is seen and heard.

Unfortunately, we often desensitize ourselves over our lifetimes by exposing ourselves to things that do little to help us grow. Indeed, we need to be informed about what is happening worldwide—but how much do we need to listen to be informed?

…I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 1:15b-20 NLT

Who do you know best

Rather than focusing all of our attention on the world around us, we would do better to understand the wisdom of God. And His wisdom comes as we pursue a relationship with Him and mature in our faith. We come to know God better when we spend more time with Him. I suspect that many of us are more informed about politics, health trends, celebrities, and fashion than we are about our Saviour.

The person I know best in this world is the one I spend the most time with: my husband. We have worked side-by-side for most of our married life. It hasn’t always been easy, but the more we work together, the better we understand each other, and the stronger our working relationship becomes. Sure, we’ve had to learn to give and take; sometimes I give more, sometimes he gives more, but we get things done in the end.

Connecting with God

Our relationship with God is very similar – the more time we spend with Him, the better we get to know Him. You might think I’m only talking about the time spent reading His Word and praying, and while that is an incredibly important part of getting to know Him, I’m also referring to spending time with Him in other ways. We can be with God when we spend time with other believers, because when two or three of us gather, He is with us (see Matthew 18:20). We also can spend time with God in worship, alone or with others (see Psalm 22:3). We need to be a bit more aware of what we are doing for us to connect with Him wherever we are – because He is always with us (see Psalm 139:7).

I dare go further and say that we will filter what we hear God saying to us through a filter of what we know better: Him or this world.

So be careful how you listen; for whoever has a teachable heart, to him more understanding will be given; and whoever does not have a longing for truth, even what he thinks he has will be taken away. – Luke 8:18 AMP

Being teachable

Perhaps the most important quality we can possess is being teachable, having the ability to absorb the truths that God is trying to communicate to us. However, we can’t accept His truths if we are more familiar with the world’s system than with God’s, as we will naturally reject what He is saying because it “doesn’t make sense.”

God’s way of doing things runs cross-grain to this world; He won’t be influenced by popular opinion or reason.

Luke 8:40-56 gives the account of Jesus’ healing of not only a woman who had a long-standing haemorrhage, but also of Jairus’ daughter who died before Jesus could get to her side. In verses 51-53, Jesus enters Jairus’ house and finds a crowd of mourners “lamenting for her.” Jesus told them to stop crying as the girl was only asleep, and He was summarily mocked – because everyone knew the girl was dead, what more could be done?

What follows the crowd’s laughter can easily be overlooked as it consists of a brief phrase: vs 54, “He, however”. Ignoring the crowd, Jesus pressed on, defying common sense: the girl was dead. Indeed, she was dead, but that did not matter because “He, however,” had other plans.

This year and beyond, I want to live in “however.” And I can only do so when I pay more attention to my relationship with Him than the world around me. Getting closer to Him will help me walk through the crowds into “however.” I challenge you to do the same. You’ll grow closer to the Lord as you purposely pursue Him by spending time with Him in His word, prayer, worship, church attendance, and Bible study. You’ll find that after consistently pursuing this relationship, your desires for things in this world change.
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O Be Careful Little Eyes

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear
Oh, be careful little ears, what you hear.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in Love,
So be careful little ears, what you hear.

Be careful little mouth what you say
Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little mouth, what you say.

Be careful little hands, what you touch
Oh, be careful little hands, what you touch.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little hands, what you touch.

Be careful little feet, where you go
Oh, be careful little feet, what you go.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little feet, what you go.

Harry Dixon Loes, 1892-1965

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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Red shoes and swords

My oldest son celebrated his birthday not long ago. I’ve spent a few days feeling nostalgic as I remembered him growing up. He was a busy boy! It seems he was born to get things done and take the lead. He crawled early, walked early, ran fast, and was passionate about doing things “by myself.”

I remember once when he was just a toddler, he concentrated heavily on tying his shoes. After nearly an hour of trying, he cried when he couldn’t finish it, and declared that he would no longer wear those shoes. Not an hour passed after this declaration that he was back at it, trying to tie those red tennis shoes. It wasn’t long before he ran off with those shoes tied as best as his little hands could manage, telling his daddy, “I did it by myself!”

Short-lived victories

His victory was short-lived, however, as the laces came untied rather quickly. He tripped and skinned his knee. Tears quickly ensued, followed by swiftly collecting my independent one in my arms and kissing the tears away. When the tears dried, we tried to tie those shoes together, and the day came when they no longer came loose. A tough lesson for my little one! Yet, he learned to let Mama teach him how to tie shoes that day. Time went by, and he grew, but he learned to come and get help when he couldn’t figure something out.

Past victories and tying shoes

In the same way my son had to learn from his shoe-tying exercise, I’m learning to rely on past lessons and victories to help me move forward and tie my shoes.

So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.” – 1 Samuel 21:9 NKJV

If you remember the account of David and Goliath, David killed Goliath (the champion of the Philistines, Israel’s dreaded enemy) with Goliath’s own sword. What a victory that was! However, it seems after that victory, Goliath’s sword – the symbol of that victory – got put away, forgotten until the day David needed it.

Swords of the past work in the present

Sometimes, we go through things in life when the victories of the past return to us at the right moment to bless us, just like the sword of Goliath came back to David. Realizations and answers come, and victory is assured because we remember God brought victory before and will bring it again.

I encourage you to reach back for those swords, those victories. Remember what God has done in the past. This will encourage your faith to believe again. Declare like David of the sword you used in times past, “There’s none like it; give it to me.”

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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by Lea Peters

I’m in His pocket

Play it safe.

Don’t push too far.

Be careful.

Should we chose to follow all safety precautions on every product we buy or activity we take part in, there are still bound to be unforeseen, unplanned, and unexpected complications that will meet us along the way. We simply can’t avoid trouble, it comes with the territory of life.

I’ve said it many times and still hold to this: the safest place to be is in God’s will. There, I find protection, provision, joy, and comfort. There’s nothing that can reach me there; I’m in His pocket ( 1 Sam. 25:29) as it were, close to His heartbeat. From that place, I hear what stirs His heart and I find the courage to reach for things I never dreamt of before, because things aren’t what they seem to be when you’re in the will of God.

Things aren’t as they appear

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

It would appear that Jesus was coaching His disciples to really open their eyes to the possibility of things not being as they would appear when He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” At the time being described above in John 14, Jesus had entered into Jerusalem and was preparing His followers to understand that in the days to come, events would unfold that would appear to say, “It’s over.”

The crucifixion was on the horizon, Jesus knew it – but He also knew that the Resurrection was soon to follow on the heels of what would appear to be His end. He knew things weren’t going to be at all as they seemed. Jesus also knew everyone would flee and that He would be left alone to face the cross, yet He did it anyway.

Born for something more

Why would He suffer and die when all would leave Him? He also knew that after His Resurrection, no one would believe in Him right away. It took quite a bit of work after He rose to convince those who had fled, that He was really alive. If it had been me making the choice at that juncture, those who had fled would not have been in the running for those chosen to be the leaders of the early church. Yet, by grace, Jesus chose to look beyond what the rest of us would call “the obvious” because He knew that nothing in His Kingdom is as it seems. Jesus knew that those who had fled weren’t at all as they appeared. They were born for something more, they were meant to turn the world “upside down.”

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” Acts 17:6 ESV

Never played it safe

I see a pattern throughout Scripture where those who dared to live close to the Father’s heartbeat never played it safe. They understood that being led where God took them was the only truly safe place to be – even if that path lead them to a place where it would seem their end was imminent.

Daniel chose the lions.

Paul chose to go to Rome.

Joseph chose to take Mary.

Each one (and many others) could have chosen to follow an easier route, but they didn’t. They knew the worst that could happen would have meant losing their lives, which would only put them in the presence of God; where would the loss in that have been? They chose His safe place, and as they did, they lived amazing lives of adventure, seeing impossible dreams come true that they didn’t even know they had.

Unsafe, unreasonable, and even foolish

This life and all of its trimmings would have us to believe that living a life of adventure for God is unsafe, unreasonable, and even foolish. For those who don’t know the Father, I can understand those feelings. Still, there’s a thirst in me to see more than a life colored safely in the lines of what seems to be safe places, for in reality nothing is safe apart from God.

My choice is to live far from what seems to be safe; I want to live close to Him and far from things as they seem to be.

“The worship of God is not a rule of safety; it’s an adventure of the spirit.” – Alfred North Whitehead

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Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband Jamie planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

The post I’m in His pocket appeared first on Cup of Faith.