The parking garage looked modern on the outside, but felt dingy on the inside. Dad and I sat quietly in the idling car as I waited on him to take his call before I backed out. I watched dad struggle to slide to the right, with his finger, the interface that would take the call. He wasn't found wanting for effort. The non-intuitive design of the smartphone made it difficult. After a few tries, dad gave up, and said: "she (his wife) will call back". I instantly recalled all the times I had felt dejected because dad didn't pick my call. Could it be that he tried to, but the phone wouldn't let him? I learned a new lesson on giving an extra measure of grace that day. On cutting [...]

It was heart lifting reading your beautiful emails again. I was encouraged by your testimonies of how good God has been to you. Someone got a writing contract, another had a baby, a broken marriage was restored and there were lots of scholarships and jobs. Yet I also got prayer requests that highlighted the year has not been all that great for everyone. If you are still praying for the Lord to touch you this year, then this piece is for you. Stand.   What Have I Done Wrong? David's crime was that he brought deliverance to Israel. Where the mighty army of Israel had failed to fight and win, a Shepherd boy dared to take God at His word and do exploits. David defeated the Philistines. For this, he [...]

Luc, a believer in Haiti, and I had to figure out ourselves quickly. The bus company we wanted to use from Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (DR) just confirmed they were full, there was no more space for us. Worse still, I didn't have cash with me, at the time, to pay the fare. And my credit cards were not authorized to work in Haiti. I had nothing on me but a quiet faith that God sent me to the DR, and so, He would open that door for His name. This quiet faith has distinguished me thus far in my life. Owing to my long and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, I've watched Him come through on so many occasions, I knew this one could not be [...]

Growing up, I loved to eat the beautiful dishes that came out of the kitchen, but I didn't like the process through which the dishes came. The experience of cutting bloody meat, the charcoal smoke, etc. Perhaps you too can relate. Yet, sitting in a kitchen, for a time of fellowship in Guatemala City, Guatemala, I experienced something different about this process. Why my host chose this kitchen for the meeting became apparent soon enough. We all sat around the stove, like spectators in an arena, as the alluring aroma of Mayan dishes wafted across the room and then out to the neighborhood. People were exhilarated by the delicious Mayan food in their mouths. It felt almost, like a Pentecostal experience. Arriving in Guatemala City Senora Pu Manning [...]