No Map, 5 Year Blogiversary

Five years ago today, I started this blog.  I believed God was asking me to write and share what He'd placed on my heart.  On May 16, 2009, I was a couple of months away from moving to China for the second time.  My life was not following a predictable path, but I was convinced of God's leading.  Psalm 84 has been my inspiration as I write - you can see the seasons of life as I travel with God from China, to Iowa, back to Seattle, and most recently to Uganda.  Even in my own country, I will always be a sojourner,  a traveler.  I'm on this earth for a short time and I pray I will be faithful to His leading, no matter what.  

In honor of this 5 year anniversary of starting this blog, I am reposting my first poem. In whatever physical, emotional, or mental place you find yourself today, I hope you realize your Savior's nearness and draw close to His heart.  You are loved.  Enjoy the adventure.




No Map



I decided to follow Him
So I asked for a map
A large, colorful map
With bold labels
Beginnings and ends all contained
Within a
Piece of paper.

I decided to follow Him
So He handed me a compass
A small, sensitive compass
With a thin arrow
Leading surely, but along a route
I can't
Anticipate.

As I walk, particular locations
Become less significant
As I watch the compass
And respond
I understand that the arrow
Is attracted to His heart.

Take me there, my Love
Over paths familiar and unknown
Deep woods, sweeping views
Different companions on
Different legs of the journey
Keep me going forward, my Love
Move me towards Your heart.

Decimals in Christ

This week, my students are learning about decimals.  We’ve been playing around with the idea of a number’s value, depending its position.  If a five is in the tenths place, it’s worth five tenths (or one half, for you Math wizards).  Move it to the tens place, and now that little five is worth fifty. 

My fourth graders and I have a little action we do when an amazingly mind-blowing bit of learning sinks in.  We put our hands on our heads and make an explosion noise, blowing our hands off in the blast.  This morning, there were many minds blown when I showed how you can add as many zeroes as you want to the right of a decimal and its value will remain the same. 

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, your position is in Christ.  You cannot be moved from the security of His death’s work on your behalf.  You are a co-heir with Christ, a daughter or son of Father God, clean, free, forgiven, alive.  Anyone can try to demean your value.  They can add metaphorical zeroes until the end of time and it will have no effect on who you are in Christ.

Tonight, a lot of old lies have run rampant in my head.  It’s midnight and instead of going to sleep feeling hopeless, I’m listening to worship music and remembering where I stand.  I’m in Christ.  Blissfully and peacefully immovable.  Amen to that.