Several years ago, an editor friend approached me with the idea of writing one of several purse-sized Bible studies: small books a woman could carry in her handbag to do while on the bus, during lunch hour, etc. I agreed with enthusiasm. But the final approval never came, and we never wrote the studies. Author and speaker Grace Fox, however, has written a purse-size devotional that can reach an audience of women in much the same way my friend and I discussed. Small enough to fit in a briefcase, purse, or messenger bag, Morning Moments with God: Devotions for the Busy Woman (Harvest House, 2013) is large on content. The book’s more than 150 devotionals are brief (one small page apiece) but packed with power. Each begins with a simple prayer-thought (“Lord, thank You for the confidence that comes from knowing You,” 131), a brief illustration and application of truth that focuses on one Bible verse, and an action step (“Look at your reflection and thank God for creating you,” 113) at the close of the page. Author Fox chooses her words with care as she speaks to some of the deepest needs today’s women face. The topics her devotionals address include happiness, self-esteem, integrity, condemnation, gratefulness, and many more. Some women will use this book as a supplement to their personal Bible study. Others will pull it out for spiritual refreshment in the midst of a busy day. Some women may even consider Morning Moments with God their daily moment with a mentor. Filled with the wisdom gleaned from years of walking with Christ, the impact of this book belies its size. This personal- (or purse-) sized devotional could be just the right size for you or someone you know. How would you use a purse-sized devotional book? Answer in the comment section to have a chance to win my review copy of this and one other book (you’ll have your choice of three). Please include a link, email, or other way I can contact you if you win (Sorry, but I can only mail to US addresses).  Comment before midnight Sunday night, February 2, and I’ll announce the winner in next week’s blog. Have fun!  FTC Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher but was not asked or required to post a positive review. I have not met the author although we share memberships in AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) and CAN (Christian Authors Network).  Find a local Christian bookstore Find this book on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or at Christian Book...

Grace. We don’t always understand it, but we all need it. We Christ-followers often use the word more casually than it deserves. Grace comes from our Father. It enriches our lives. It makes the impossible possible, the unforgiveable forgiven. And its presence and power serve to remind us of His. Perhaps the parents of one of the students I met this summer on our Never the Same missions trip had some of these things in mind when they named their daughter. I know the Father sent her, and I know her presence reminded me of His. I may have met this young woman during our training in Florida, but my first real memories of her come from our first day on the mission field in Lima. The team I traveled with that day had an assignment in one of the poorest communities I’ve ever seen. Ramshackle houses—some of pressed board, some of tin—covered the hillsides. No home had electricity or running water. Dust blanketed the graveled streets, the houses, even the people. Before we left our bus, the team leader explained the plans for the day. As a way of serving the people, some team members would knock on doors and ask if anyone wanted their hair washed. Others would prayerwalk the community, seeking those who would share their needs and receive prayer. Still others would remain on the nearby soccer field and play with the children who inevitably appear at the first hint of a game. After lunch, the team would perform the Spellbound drama used to present the gospel. But other ministry came first. I know that one of the rules of missionary work is to engage the culture. As an introvert, I have to relearn this lesson often. Talking to strangers, especially when they don’t speak my language, is a challenge for me. So this past summer, the Lord sent me a teacher, whose name—by no coincidence—was Grace. Ever the observer, I waited with my writer’s notebook and watched different groups. Slowly, the Lord allowed me to speak a word here and pray a prayer there. My job was to tell the story of the trip, but I was more faithful with my note-taking than my people-engaging. And then God gave me the opportunity to watch Grace, who took just the opposite approach. Grace didn’t wait for people to respond to her. Instead, her enthusiasm and love drew people her way. On the soccer field, she raced, kicked, blocked, and laughed—a trail of children soon following behind. In conversations, I never saw her wait for a translator. She said what she could with her words. But her hugs, genuine smiles, and willingness to interact communicated far...

Sometimes, Bible verses seem to leap out at me as I read and become part of my prayers. I’m sure the same thing happens to you. Today, I was meditating on Colossians 3:16 (“let the word of Christ richly dwell within you”) and realized what a beautiful prayer it is. So today, Father God, I ask You to allow the word of Christ (all His truth) to richly dwell within us so it flows out of us more and more. May it be so abundant in us that Your truth rises up at the moment we need it and enables us to stand against the lies the enemy sends our way.  Lord, when something richly dwells, it does more than make an impression. It abides. It remains. It changes, rearranges, reshapes. I ask You to pour the word of Christ into us in such a way that we can’t remain the same. May each word, each story, each truth come forth and live within us in a way that, again and again, makes us new. Savior, for those who don’t know You, I ask that Your Word would richly dwell within them as well. May the power of  Your word be used of Your Spirit to draw them near to You, to bring them to repentance, to see themselves as You see them and You in all Your glory. For those who are hurting, God, I ask You to use that same word to bring them comfort, peace, and hope as it richly dwells within them. For those who are confused, Lord, I ask that Your word might richly dwell that they may have guidance and wisdom for the steps that lie ahead. For those who feel abandoned, God, I ask that the loving power of the word of Christ would remind them of the breadth and depth and length and height of Your love. And for those who have walked away, I ask that this word would richly dwell within them—even when they reject it—and draw them back into close fellowship with you. Thank You that not just  the word but You came to richly dwell. May You and Your word live within us as we die to ourselves and live to You. In Your holy name I pray—AMEN.  Do you know someone in whom the word of Christ “richly dwells”? How do you know? What do you see or experience? Feel free to tell us about them or leave a prayer request in the comments below (or via email via the link on my home page). Thanks for praying with me...

Today, I continue my series on the Never the Same teen missions trips. (This post was planned for last Friday, but I was traveling and without Internet. Snowy roads kept me from venturing out to find a connection.)  Since 2010, I’ve had the privilege of traveling as the writer on these trips and have served alongside NTS teams in Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. This summer, I’ll travel to Costa Rica with the group. Last week, I shared about two of the amazing adult leaders who regularly serve on the Never the Same trips. I can’t tell you about everyone, but here are a few more snapshots so you can see the kind and quality of Christ-followers God brings alongside Steve Goley (president of Big World Ventures) and author/speaker Susie Shellenberger, who together began sponsoring these trips 16 years ago. Elaine: Elaine comes on the trip as our professional counselor and spends many of her evenings meeting with teens who are struggling in one or more areas of their lives. But Elaine does much more than that. Fluent in Spanish, she often translates for her team and, although she has the freedom to stay back from daytime ministry because of her late-night work, she rarely does. Elaine’s love for teens, caring heart, and effective listening make her the perfect choice for this ministry. And I’m sure that’s why she returns every year. Ray: Ray is the person you’d never expect to see on a teen missions trip—unless you knew his heart. He’s single, forty-ish, and has his own landscaping business in the New Jersey/New York City area. But he also loves teens and loves to share the gospel. His business is built around sharing Christ with the least of these, and through the years he has employed many former drug addicts and street people. Ray’s teams typically do more evangelistic dramas than any of the others because of his passion for getting the Word out and the gospel in. Brenda: Brenda’s another wife and mother with a heart for teens and missions. Brenda’s caring shows in her eyes, her voice, and the many hours she spends counseling teens at “Tuck-Ins” (evening meetings where the women leaders check in with the students—men/male students have “Slap-Ins”). The students on her team develop a heart of compassion for each other and for the people they serve because they see that lived out in Brenda’s life. She loves much because she has suffered much, and everyone who knows her reaps the benefits. Rich: Rich is another man you might not expect to see on a trip until you looked inside and saw his heart for the Father and for students. He’s a strong,...

It never fails. Every year, I plan to blog from the mission field. And every year, I’m too busy serving, writing, and living the missions trip to keep up with  my good intentions. For the past four summers, I’ve had the blessing of traveling on the Never the Same summer missions trip as the writer for Sisterhood (formerly SUSIE) Magazine. For the past sixteen years, Sisterhood’s founding editor Susie Shellenberger and Steve Goley of Big World Ventures have partnered to take thousands of teens overseas. My charge each year (I’ve had the privilege of traveling  to Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru with them) has been to write the article about the trip along with other, smaller features as space allows. This past year, I did the cover story on Holly Starr, the worship artist who traveled with us, along with another story, “Postcards from Peru” (click the links to read each one).  Another reason I haven’t blogged during the trip is because I don’t want to give away material from my story before it goes to print a few months later. So, here in the middle of winter, I thought I’d share a few blogs and pictures (courtesy of trip photographer Emily Bailey and her team) from my experience on the field. Some of these stories appear in miniature form in the articles, and some haven’t appeared in print at all. Enjoy! FT. LAUDERDALE 2013: Leadership One of the first things that impressed me about the Never the Same trips was the adult leadership. Susie Shellenberger has a heart for God and for teens, and Steve Goley has the same plus many years of experience in planning and leading trips. Together, they provide a fantastic missions/youth camp/revival experience for the students. But Susie and Steve know they couldn’t do it alone. And because of their adult leaders, they don’t have to. Every year, dozens of adults travel on the missions trip alongside the students. The teams train in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the adult and college-aged leaders meet a few days before the younger teens arrive. Some adults come to accompany their children. And others may have done that initially but now return every year. Many of these are head leaders, who lead one of the teams of 30-40 teens and students that go out to serve every day. These people love Jesus, teens, and missions—and it shows. One of the things that has most impressed me is the way each team reflects its leader’s heart. Throughout the trip, what matters to the leader becomes what matters to the students. And God uses each of these men and women to build His character into the lives of these young...