Perhaps my mom is the one who has been saying it the longest, but for as long as I can remember people have been suggesting that I write more, not less … and that I continue to put my thoughts out there in a way that others could muse on them as well. So, here is my humble beginning.

 

It’s time. He says it is time to start sharing the story. He has done a wonderful work and now it is time to plant that and harvest fruit from the ashes. 

 

Over the years God has taught me life lessons that I captured in devotionals, never quite knowing when I would find a place or time to share them. That is where I will start. But to have context for some of them, some key life timeline would be helpful. 

 

I served in China in 1987-88, Mongolia in 1992-93, had children in 1996 and 1998, did a study tour in Israel in 1999, a research trip to Tibet in 2000, and in 2004 my ex-husband was removed from our home for abusing my daughters. For the last nearly 30 years God has allowed me to serve in mission positions, even in leadership, as a beat up, divorced, single mom. That still amazes me. It is that missions context and those traumatic events that inspired many of my wanderings. 

 

My God is a transforming God. When our sin destroyed the perfection he had created, he went to work continuing to create. It's one thing to make something new, it's another to create beauty from the ash heap of destruction. That is what he does. That is what he is doing. 

 

I suppose I am not unique in life to have had struggles and disappointments and losses. I imagine that some who wander here to my musings will have trudged through enough of life’s difficulties to rival my story. I pray that those same also have known the tenderness of the under-feathers of God as he spreads his wings to comfort, protect, nurture heal, and release. I would like to join my voice with yours as we sing from those shadows … because he is our help.

 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

 

Sing from the shadow of his wings, friend! 

 

Thank you for joining me on the journey.