Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field
Let’s face it. Not everyone is a gifted language learner. It’s frustrating when your peers seem to race ahead toward fluency. They leave you behind, battling to get a normal sentence out without stuttering. Many very real factors affect our language learning abilities. Things like …
I was surprised (and a bit embarrassed) by the exercise. A seminar leader asked me to write down the names of 15-20 people I knew who were not believers. They were supposed to be people I interacted with in the course of my normal life. …
Are you an intentional learner? Your answer is likely yes, or you wouldn’t be reading this! Here is my next question. How will you take your learning to the next level in 2019? One way is to commit to consistently reading books that enrich and develop your skills and life.
This past year, I read around twenty books. There are many people who read more, but I achieved my goal for last year.
I value learning from a wide variety of books. I also like Audible. While exercising, gardening or driving, I listen to books.
What do you do to intentionally learn and grow?
Below are short summaries of the top 10 books I read this past year. Included are my take-aways.
Some of these would be good books to put on your 2019 reading list. Even if you aren’t going to read them, check out the summaries and glean something from my takeaways. Buy them on Amazon using the button below and I get a small commission that will help me maintain this website and blog. Thanks for considering
Enjoy!
This is one of the more detailed books I’ve read on setting goals. It helped me to gain clarity and focus to set up a system to monitor progress. Hyatt takes the reader through 5 simple steps as you design a plan for growth for the year. 1) Believe the Possibility 2) Complete the Past 3) Design Your Future 4) Find your Why and 5) Make it Happen.
Take-Aways:
1) It’s important to clarify my top motivations for the goals I set. Write these down and refer back to them.
2) Set high enough goals. They need to stretch me (and those I lead). This is key to seeing the
3) Get started immediately with something that is relatively easy and in my Comfort Zone. Then build from there after gaining momentum.
Every leader experiences pain. “Pain is inevitable, misery is not,” this book says. The basic premise of this book is, “You only grow to the threshold of your pain.” In other words, if you aren’t willing to endure pain, you won’t grow.
At the point where you decide that you’ve had enough pain and difficulties, you will hit your “ceiling” as a leader.
One of the things I liked about this book was that each chapter started with real life stories of leaders. They faced major struggles, suffered relational pain and came out on the other side. I could identify with them and learn from them.
Take-Aways:
1) Don’t try to avoid pain as a leader- it is a natural part of growth for both me and my vision/organization.
2) Allow pain to develop me: my understanding of God and myself. Expect it to be a stepping stone for the greater things God has for me ahead.
The author encourages us to acknowledge that we, as leaders, are our organization’s “chief sinners.” Leading from this kind of transparent humility is the opposite of how the world operates. It carries risks. The book does not minimize it, but helps the reader understand why this risk is worth taking.
Take-Aways:
1) My personal weaknesses and the cost of leadership must be embraced.
2) Allow disillusionment and the death of idealism to birth a new realistic hope within me.
3) The description of the prophetic aspect of leadership was very affirming. “Prophets disrupt complacency and awaken desire through dreaming,” he writes. They call people to dream about going to a new level in God’s plans and desires for the organization. They aren’t always welcomed but are needed for God’s purpose to come about. Click here to read a more detailed reflection on this book.
Shame researcher Brene Brown shares her unique humor and powerful insights. Throughout it, she writes about what it means to live as a “whole hearted” person.
We must be willing to own our stories. Learning about our own shame triggers is key. So is being able to call shame what it is. We then must walk into it rather than running from it. This requires vulnerability but is key to living as a whole person. This is an expensive book. I recommend you get it free or for a credit on Audible.
Take-Aways:
1) At the end of the day or year, like Brown, I want to have “contributed more than criticized.”
2) Insights into what she calls foreboding joy. This is when we have moments of joy and find them triggering fears about tragic things happening. A key to overcoming this is the regular practice of gratitude.
I read this book right before starting a 3-month sabbatical. Mark is a skilled writer which makes this book a joy to read.
According to Buchanan, Sabbath is a time to play, rest, remember, listen, and to anticipate. We reject the world’s standard that busyness is a sign of importance and embrace a more kingdom way of life. That is one where we enter the Rest of God. We stop trying to serve or be God. Humbling ourselves and letting Him carry the world (without us) is practicing a Sabbath discipline.
Buchanan describes Sabbath as liturgy, a rhythm, not a law.
He encouraged a Sabbath golden rule: “Cease from what is necessary, embrace what gives life.” This is a very freeing book that gave good parameters for both my sabbatical and for future Sabbath habits.
Take-Aways:
1) Sabbath is not a law but a habit and rhythm.
2) Playing is part of my Sabbath worship.
I have not read a more profound and transformational book this year. This wasn’t a quick read. It took me seven months to finish it. I’d read a chapter, then
Allender says that as we listen to what is referred to as our “dark” emotions, we can experience God in powerful ways. He writes, “Every emotion is a theological statement.” What we feel reveals what we believe about God.
The book has separate chapters on; anger, fear, envy, jealousy, abandonment, despair, contempt, and shame. It then ends with chapters on the mystery and goodness of God.
The biggest impact on me came from the chapters on shame.
We feel shame when we feel unworthy, ugly, stupid…when we don’t belong. The author explains that is because we are looking to those things (our self worth, beauty, intelligence, family, etc) to fulfill us. They give us identity. Instead, we must only look to God for this.
When our “false gods” let us down, we feel shame. This was an important revelation. When I experience the trauma of shame and shame triggers, I can run to God for comfort. I also must repent of my idolatry. This brings true freedom, transformation and hope.
Take-Aways:
1) Shame reveals my idolatry.
2) Ugly, dark emotions can help me know God better.
This book is broken into three parts. The first part looks at suffering from a philosophical, cultural and historical viewpoint. The second part moves from theoretical to practical. It looks at what the Bible says about suffering. The final section of the book contains “down to earth” help for the sufferer.
There is a radical contrast between how society today views suffering and how it was historically viewed. Keller unpacks this well.
Take-Aways:
1) Christian explanations for suffering in the world are far more reasonable than any other philosophy or worldview.
2 In times of suffering, the world sees this contrast in dramatic ways. Suffering can cause our light to shine brightly.
This true story is inspiring, encouraging and thought-provoking. It is the true story of an international art dealer (Ron Hall) and his unusual friendship with a homeless man.
In the book, Hall displays a genuine love and respect for Moore. The homeless man shows himself to be wiser than the educated, rich, mature, Christian. Also interesting in the story is the struggle Ron faces as his beloved wife battles cancer.
This is a hope-filled, authentic tale. The story makes a case for authentic ministry and friendship with people who are different than we are. It was an uplifting easy read for evenings and holiday time.
Take-Away:
1) Reaching out beyond my set of natural friendships leads to great treasures.
2) There is a great example in the book of authentic relationships with God and others in the midst of grief and loss.
This is a classic I’d heard many other authors refer to. It is a metaphor about people who have dreams but feel they are impossible. A boy who goes in search of his treasure, starting in Spain and traveling to Egypt. It is brilliantly written, a delight to read, and has a great message.
Take-Away:
Dreams must be pursued. There is no time like the present to get started on them!
This book is about women in Afghanistan. It gives powerful insights into what it is like to live as a Muslim woman in times of war. I found it well written and engaging. I enjoy learning about other countries, peoples and their situations even when reading novels. If you are like me in this, you will enjoy this book!
Take-Aways:
I have gained greater compassion for those who have suffered through the tragedies of war. This book only increased my love for Muslim women who need Jesus.
Start now. Make a wish list of books you want to read in 2019. Why not join me in writing a summary about each book? That way you can recommend them to others like I have to you.
Is there a great book you read last year that you’d like to recommend to me? Let me know in the comments below!
“People are feeling pressure.” I hear this from missionaries and leaders sometimes. Or I get an email from someone saying they feel pressurized – especially at the end of the year when reports are due. Others express genuine feelings of being overwhelmed by their work. …
It is predictable. Every spring when school fees are due in India, the messages and emails come. “We don’t have enough to pay for our kid’s fees this year!” Desperate missionary parents send out appeals. Often they come in inappropriate ways. They beg people to …
“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Ps 29:11- NIV
As a missionary kid, I always knew my parents loved me. In that way, I was fortunate.
I love working with brand new believers! Like toddlers, they say hilarious things. My neighbor who recently accepted Jesus posed a question the other day. I was teaching her about prayer. “Do you think God understands Chinese?” she asked. “Of course He does! He is …
Recent events at Willow Creek Church have saddened the global Christian community. I considered Bill Hybels one of my mentors from afar. He was a leader to many. I had never met him, but I’d gained much from his books, especially the one called “Courageous …
“I can handle quite a lot of difficulty and pain. I just don’t want my kids to suffer!” Most missionaries feel this way. If we couldn’t handle significant levels of discomfort, we wouldn’t have chosen this life. In my experience, missionaries have a higher than normal pain tolerance. But we love our kids. We don’t want them to be negatively affected by our calling. Yet, as much as we hate it, sometimes they are. This is particularly true when we face missionary visa challenges.
The transitions and stress that are a part of these take their toll. How do we minimize the negative effects on our children?
Much of how our kids are affected, depends on how we, as parents, handle these situations. Our kids are often like mirrors. They reflect back our own internal struggles. We want our kids to feel safe and secure. This is crucial for their mental health and development.
But how do we create that environment in the midst of missionary visa challenges?
External stability can be hard to find. Sometimes it’s close to impossible to achieve. As parents, we can provide for our kids an inner stability. We can give them a firm foundation. This security flows directly from our own inner life.
Let me share a short excerpt from my soon to be released book- God Encounters In The Wild Places.
My heart was confused and I was grieving. I was angry with my situation and with God. Why did it have to be so hard? Why were we even here? And most of all, why hadn’t He come through for us in providing the visa for Nepal?
We missed our friends in that Himalayan nation. We missed our home…our lives. India wasn’t easy and this particular plains city was harder than most. The Lonely Planet Travel Guide had only a few lines listed about our city. It said “Get out of there as soon as possible.”
The place we were now in was around a million people (including the outskirt areas). But there were only a handful of foreigners there. That didn’t bother us so much. It did make cooking challenging.
What was available to purchase now was very different from what we had been used to in Kathmandu. The market in our new home, simply wasn’t big enough for foreign goods. Even simple things like cheese, various kinds of cereal, or different types of juice were scarce. These were things our kids had liked to eat.
As I cried out to the Lord in the early mornings, I was honest with God. “I don’t understand You! You didn’t lead us here like when You led us to Nepal. I don’t like this city and I don’t like India. Please help me God! If You want us to stay here, I need You to give me Your grace. I can’t do it on my own.”
Before I could help my kids feel safe in the midst of our missionary visa challenges, I first needed to “have it out” with God. It was a process, journeying toward a place of trust, acceptance, and peace. It took time, but I got there. Our kids got there too.
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3- NIV
Here are a few things we did in that transition time that helped us and our kids. I hope these suggestions benefit you today!
First of all, be real with God. Admit your fears and frustration. Don’t try to “suck it up” and “stuff it down.” That only leads to a prolonged struggle and possible depression.
Tell God what you feel about the situation you are in. Maybe you haven’t lost your visa, but you are sick to death of having to worry about it, year after year, month after month. You might be tired of having to make that “border runs” again and again. Don’t try to be a “good missionary” who never complains, even to God. Believe me, He knows about it anyway and you aren’t impressing Him when you don’t admit your struggles! God can handle your frustration. He won’t get offended or punish you for expressing what is going on inside.
It’s also good to find a few friends to be honest about your missionary visa challenges with as well. Share what you are feeling inside. Don’t have a friend nearby? Get on Facebook or Skype and find someone! Or, feel free to write to the Missionary Life Facebook page! But get it out, don’t hold it in!
Often, I’ve had to simply choose trust over worry. It’s not easy but it can be done.
Meditate on Ps. 56:3 or Philippians 4:6-7.
Even if you have to make that conscious choice a hundred times a day, do it. Say to yourself, “I’m choosing trust. I won’t give in to fear and worry. God, I trust You in this situation.”
It is powerful to speak to our souls and tell them what to choose!
Gratefulness has the ability to change our emotions. Make a “thankful list” and keep it in a prominent place like Anne Voscamp’s “1000 Gifts” book suggests. Train yourself to notice the good things.
Talk about things that are good and lovely.
We feel more strongly the things we talk about often. Do you find yourself complaining about the heat? The adjustments? The things you don’t like about your situation? Guard your mouth. It is transmitting and transferring those sentiments to your kids.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you,” (Philippians 4:8)
As parents, you set the tone in your home. Much of the family atmosphere comes from what you as parents speak about. Choose to talk about good things. It will help your kids. It helps you too! 🙂
I’d like to share a bit of an older song with you. It’s called My Heart Will Trust. As you face your visa related challenges, will you choose to trust Him? Make that decision again today as you listen to this song.
We all desire to be fruitful in the mission field. What does it take to live a fruitful life? Consider this (slightly foolish) story. The Foolish Goat Farmer A foolish farmer was struggling with her goats. Her flock was getting smaller and smaller. One …