Joy Loewen

The Secret of Effective Evangelism

2012-03-17T11:30:00.001-05:00

"After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God’s message with boldness.” Acts 4:31

There’s one thing I will never forget about mom and dad who engaged in ministry among Somalis for fifty years. They prayed alot. I can still hear dad praying with large faith "Lord Sabaoth..." He often addressed God like that. A colleague remarked that it sounded like he was moving the armies of God into action. Dad's praying has had a lasting influence on my life. From childhood I caught it that there must be something very important about prayer.

Sharing Christ with Muslims is a huge challenge. We are confronted with things we haven't encountered before. We are not on an enchanting cultural exchange program or only a humanitarian mission, but entering a spiritual battle for truth. We want to see breakthroughs and victories. There's only one thing a person can do... pray. It would be unwise to visit my Muslim friends without first spending time in prayer. I ask the Holy Spirit to awaken their souls, cause questions to arise, stir up a longing to know God, remove misconceptions and lies, give them a yearning to read the Word, convict them of sin and righteousness, destroy deceptions and superstitions, bind up fears which keep some of them entrenched in folk Islamic activities and let the light and truth shine. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me boldness, grace, and love and to direct our conversations. But above all to be able to exalt the name of Jesus Christ. As a result of praying strongholds start coming down little by little over the weeks, months, years, and decades.

I’ve been praying earnestly for Layla these days. Without prayer nothing spiritually is going to budge in Layla's soul. Her life is secure and stable and focused on fulfilling the requirements of Islam and gaining Allah’s approval for correct behavior. Recently she mentioned that her relatives were planning on going on the Umrah. I asked her if she had ever gone on the Umrah. She had so I asked her questions about what all happened and why she did certain things on it. She had never thought about the reason for cutting off a little bit of her hair or why she walked seven times around Allah’s house or did the Sa’i ritual walk. After that I asked her if she could tell me the story of Hajarah(Hagar) but, looking unsure, she urged, “You tell me.” I was more than happy to do that as it provided a wonderful opportunity to share how God sees her, cares about her and can help her with her problems. It was the beginning of a breakthrough in discussing soul issues. I doubt our conversation would have opened up if I hadn’t spent time in prayer. Praying is the secret of effective evangelism. It prepares us. It prepares the Muslim. God will surely release His power.

Dear heavenly Father, I am amazed how You work when I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Showing Respect to Muslim Men

2012-03-13T15:30:00.001-05:00

“Show respect for everyone….” I Peter 2:17a

“I would like to take a baseball bat and hit those men,” a lady emailed me. I met her a few days later and she repeated her tirade about Muslim men. I tried to help her see that not all Muslim women are abused or oppressed by Muslim men but in her mind they all were mean. In reality it could be the mother-in-law who is behind some abuse. Thankfully not all Christian women view Muslim men as abusers and oppressors. Hopefully you, like me, have met many Muslim men who are decent, thoughtful, and loving husbands and fathers.

Yes, there are Muslim women who are abused, oppressed, suppressed, controlled and restricted. Unfortunately, there are Christian women of whom the same could be said. We need to reach out to battered women with compassion and help. One of my Muslim lady friends eventually went to a women’s shelter. She did that mainly to shame her husband before the community. They rallied behind her. The shaming was effective momentarily. She returned to him but after a few years they divorced. In contrast, another lady actually abuses her husband. Her mouth spews out terrible words. One day she called me and explained the harm she wanted to inflict. I talked with her husband later to see if he was concerned about his safety and whether he should call the police. It was clear that she was abusing him but in his culture a man doesn’t call for help because of shame/honor reasons.There can be power plays between men and women. Usually when the Muslim woman is highly educated and has a good job the respect in the home towards each other is more evident. The same could be said if husband and wife are closely related.

It is important how we view Muslim men and respond to them. If we enter their homes to visit their wives with the preconceived idea the men are all bad and abusive they will surely pick up our attitudes and could well not welcome us back. But if we show respect to them as human beings whom God has created and loves, the Holy Spirit will give us wonderful opportunities to exemplify Christ-like love and dignity. After I have shown respect there are fruitful times when I speak about unkind behavior. I deeply desire to see marriages thrive and be healed rather than separate and destroy them. I want to show them the Jesus way but I can’t do that if I don’t show respect. A Christian woman who shows respect to Muslim men could, over time, discover she is being viewed and even welcomed as a spiritual mother figure and will have a powerful influence. It’s an inexplicable mystery.

Dear heavenly Father, please help me to respect Muslim men the way You want me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Signs and Wonders

2012-03-08T17:00:00.001-06:00

“…God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.” Acts 2:22b

Some Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ through amazing wonders like having dreams and visions of Him or experiencing a miracle. I once heard of a Muslim man being told in a dream to call such and such a phone number of a complete stranger who happened to be a Christian. He did and by the end of his phone call he gave his heart to Jesus! A Somali man got bored on the internet and went to sleep. He was instructed by the Spirit of God to get up and 'google' in Nolosha Cusub(Voice of New Life)which he had never heard of. He did and found salvation in Christ. A Muslim woman rises above her fear of reading the Word of God and discovers Whom salvation is found in. The Spirit opens her eyes and gives her saving faith. Believe me, that is a huge miracle - especially for a Muslim without having an accompanying dream or healing!

The Bible is full of documented breath taking signs and wonders. They surrounded Jesus' birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. And they will surround His return at the end of the ages. It really is all very astounding. Jesus Himself is the biggest miracle, sign and wonder in all of history. He is surrounded by fanfare of the highest degree. No one and nothing else can compare with Him.

God’s signs and wonders have never ceased. He loves to give signs and produce awestruck wonder in us. Oh, to be fully alive to the supernatural work of the Spirit of God. I keep a journal of how God shows up. I believe in miracles, signs and wonders. Yes, God Almighty loves to encourage us and take our breath away. I especially desire to see Him perform signs and wonders among the Muslims I’m trying to witness to. If it helps to confirm the truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior I am all for it! Muslims love to hear about the miracles that Isa al Masih performed. Make much of Him. Share those miraculous stories with your Muslim friend. Share also the signs and wonders and miracles God has performed in your life and don't forget that your salvation is a wonderful miracle. Above all share with them that Jesus is the biggest miracle, sign and wonder - greater than every prophet, messenger, book, dream, or healing.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the miracle of Jesus. What a wonder He is. Amen.

Zubi's Secret

2012-03-04T09:15:00.001-06:00

“One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” II Kings 5:3

Eight year old Zubi covered her ears to drown out the sounds of guns and shouting. She was tired and bored of staying indoors so she wouldn’t get hit by stones being thrown by angry people. Many nights she went to bed crying. She wanted to go outside and play but she couldn’t. One day her family finally received permission to settle in Canada. There were so many mixed emotions. She had to say good bye to her grandma and grandpa, aunties and uncles and school friends. At the same time she was excited about experiencing her first plane ride.

In the beginning everything was a big blur for Zubi in her new homeland. She was able to talk with her relatives back in Palestine by skype which helped ease her initial homesickness. At school she had to learn English. Only a few girls in her class wore headscarves. One day Ruby, who lived next door, met her outside and they started a wonderful friendship. They didn’t go to the same school but they played together. Ruby had immigrated from an eastern European country and could understand Zubi’s loneliness and adjustments. “Why do you wear that scarf, Zubi?” Ruby asked. “Because I’m a Muslim,” she replied. Ruby explained that she was a Christian and went to church. Zubi became curious. Ruby invited her to church the next Sunday and she went. But Jamal and Habiba, Zubi’s conservatively dressed and devout Muslim parents, didn’t want her to return to the church on Sunday mornings. So Ruby suggested she come to Kids Club on Wednesday nights. Zubi begged her parents. Finally they gave permission. There in the Kids Club she heard wonderful stories about a kind Jesus who loves her and there was always an exciting craft time. She met Sherry, the Children’s Pastor, who loved her immediately. Every week Zubi looked forward to Kids Club. She was the only girl in the Club who wore a headscarf but no one made fun of her. Once in the Club she made a beaded cross on a string. Zubi loved that cross but she knew she would get in trouble taking it home. Her mom and dad would make a terrible scene and forbid her to return to the club. What should I do with it, she wondered? “Ruby, would you keep my cross safe at your house? My mom and dad will get upset if they see this,” Zubi explained. Ruby agreed to keeping Zubi’s cross necklace a secret at her house.

The key points of this story are based on true facts. Young Muslim boys and girls are getting exposed to Christianity in western lands. That usually happens when a Christian boy or girl befriends Muslim children next door or at school. Children, although aware of the differences between themselves and other children in regards to dress, food, skin color and religion, generally don't judge. Like Ruby, our children can become missionaries to Muslim children living among us.

Dear heavenly Father, help my child to become a missionary to Muslim kids in my neighborhood like Ruby was. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Humility

2012-02-29T18:10:00.002-06:00

“….and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 4:8b

On any given day I could visit:

Halima, an illiterate Muslim woman, who does not drive or go to the bank and seems totally disempowered - Amal, a feminist, who has two degrees, a good job, and lives in an upscale neighborhood - Maryam, a PhD student who has aspirations of working with the United Nations - Sahar, a doctor, who dresses conservatively - Afsana, a feisty woman who is a survivor of Taliban cruelty.

There are so many different kinds of Muslim women! They dress different, eat different cuisine, and have different levels of education and lifestyles. Some are knowledgeable about their faith while others hardly know anything about the Qur’an. She is a Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi, or from an offshoot group of Islam, like a Druze, Ahmadiyya, or Ismaili. She may be a refugee fleeing political instability, an international university student, or a professional immigrant. Some believe in superstitions and have gone through cultural rites practiced by their particular tribal group. They could be poor, middle class, or affluent.

It has been humbling to realize that I really don’t know very much about Islam or Muslim culture. The longer I have engaged with Muslims the more I have discovered that there are variations of interpretations of the Qur’an and cultural traditions. Muslims born in the west can be quite different than Muslims immigrating from an Islamic country. I'm ashamed to say so but three decades ago when I embarked upon ministry among Muslims, I thought I knew quite a bit. Today I have been humbled over and over at the smallness of my knowledge. Recently an Iranian woman assumed I knew all about a certain Muslim practice. I had never heard about it. How had I missed knowing about that, I wondered? When I was being interviewed by a radio host I was asked a question about black American Muslims. It was embarrassing to have to say over the air waves that I didn’t know the answer for I didn’t have experience with them. Islam and Muslim culture are vast subjects. I can never be an expert. Yes, I have been humbled. But that is a blessing! Better to be a forever learner than engage with Muslims acting like I know everything about their religion and culture. One of the most necessary virtues we can exhibit among our Muslim friends is humility.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to walk humbly with You and among my Muslim friends. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Running with Purpose

2012-02-20T03:00:00.002-06:00

"So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step." I Corinthians 9:26a

Farideh was practicing reading The Gingerbread Man to me. "Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me - I'm the gingerbread man!" In the end he was caught and gobbled up. Eventually being on the run makes us lose our focus and get sidetracked.

There is the occasional day I find myself running too fast. Too many things to get done, you know. Some days running too fast is inevitable but overall I try to guard myself from having a lifestyle of running that resembles chasing the wind so as not to lose sight of the goal God has called me to. It usually proves unproductive trying to share the Good News with my Muslim friends when I'm on the run or doing too much multi-tasking.

One of the decisions I had to make early in ministry was about what all I should get involved in. I have needed to run my race with clear purpose every step of the way. In the early days there were family responsibilities which had to be first priority. We were attending a small fledgling church at that time. It was clear to me that if I would get involved at church I would not be able to give myself unreservedly to the ministry of evangelism and discipleship of Muslim women which demands alot of time and focus. My decision was not appreciated by all, nor understood. It felt lonely. As I look back I realize that if I had gotten involved in both church ministry and outreach among Muslims I would probably not be involved with Muslims anymore today. I would eventually have been pulled into meeting internal church needs. I would have stopped running straight and crisscrossed to another path. An evangelist can quickly - oh, so quickly - get pulled away from evangelism.

Perhaps you want to get involved with Muslim women but are very involved in church related ministries or other kinds of good activities. Seek God's will in how you should proceed. Understand that making and maintaining relationships with Muslim women will take considerable time long term and demands committment. They aren't a "project to do". Don't let that scare you off - just be aware and know what God is calling you to. It will also be a rich blessed experience! I have heard the cries of various Muslim women who thought they had a Christian friend only to discover she stopped seeing them after awhile. They got caught up with something else beckoning them. If we have truly been called by God to engage with Muslim women we will need to run with clear purpose and focus every step of the way. I have a goal.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to run straight to the goal You have called me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

"The Fruit of Patience is Sweet"

2012-02-16T20:20:00.003-06:00

“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished…” Philippians 1:6a

My friend, Shukria, used to eke out a living weaving beautiful Persian carpets by hand. She told me it took a long painstaking time to complete one carpet. When it comes to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with Muslim women I remind myself that God is also patiently at work weaving a masterpiece for His glory.

I met Nosheen twenty five years ago. In the beginning our friendship seemed promising but then life became busy and challenging for her. Over the years I would keep in touch with an occasional visit but it really felt like everything was over. I would get discouraged and wonder what the point was to keep investing in her life. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit brought about an abrupt change. I’m glad I stayed in the picture. Today I am amazed at what is happening spiritually in Nosheen’s life.

Many of us start out befriending Muslim women with great enthusiasm but it doesn’t take long until our initial interest in our friends’ lives starts to wane. There appears to be minimal progress spiritually. We lose patience. We need to understand that our Muslim friend is on a l-o-n-g journey. If she has come and settled in a western nation it usually takes years to rebuild her life. Perhaps she has to learn English and take courses to gain a marketable skill. Maybe she was never empowered. It will take a lengthy time to become more independent and empowered. It’s possible she has endured domestic abuse but now finally grasps that it doesn’t have to remain that way for her. Then she has typical parenting concerns of trying to keep her children on a moral path and not lose them to sexual permissiveness. Uppermost in her mind is a determination that her children become successful. All her energies and thoughts go into that goal. A serious spiritual quest is put on hold.

We wonder why she doesn’t respond to the gospel after we have been with her a few months. We conclude she isn’t responsive, interested, or is resistant. Most of the time that is not the case. Usually it is because she is trying her very best to survive and is preoccupied with her children becoming successful. More than anything she craves stability and security. When things begin to settle down she will be able to process more. It takes time. The process can not be rushed. We are ready but she is not. When it comes to sharing Jesus, our Savior, with a Muslim friend we need to pursue loving her sincerely and think long term. There's an Urdu proverb which says, "sabar ka phal meetah hai" - or "the fruit of patience is sweet." One day the spiritual quest which was put on hold for so many years could suddenly move forward. You will be thankful you stayed in the picture. The Holy Spirit completes what He starts.

Dear heavenly Father, I feel like giving up with my Muslim friend. Please give me more patience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

check out: Learning the Ropes

Proclaiming Boldly

2012-02-11T11:50:00.002-06:00

“…He welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God with all boldness and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ…” Acts 28:30b

Fatuma visited a drop in program for young immigrant mothers and preschool children at a nearby church. One of the children asked, “Where is God?” That caused an interesting discussion among them but no one gave a definitive answer. Fatuma said, “Even the leader didn’t know the answer.” I listened with some alarm arising in my heart wondering why the leader at the church run program had not given a clear answer. Fatuma was disappointed that she received no answer. It was thrilling to engage in conversation with her about that mystical question and she listened keenly.

No matter how kind we may be to a Muslim woman she will not know the Good News about Jesus Christ if she doesn’t hear anything. She does not know the story of salvation. In some lands which uphold democratic values and freedom of religion such as mine we have been made to believe it is not appropriate to share our faith verbally. Some Christians think it's not "politically correct" or even permissible to share our faith. So, we resort to being kind and doing good deeds. That is necessary and helpful for sure - just not complete.

It took a long time for me to boldly and clearly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to Muslims. I was usually fearful my friendships would be over, objections would be thrown at me, or that I would offend them. A Christian lady once asked me, “Joy, doesn’t it bother you to tell Muslims that they will go to hell?” I replied, “They already are afraid of going to hell and are very aware of their bad deeds and being punished. What they need to hear about is the Good News of how they can get to heaven and have their sins forgiven.” I don’t spend as much time proclaiming hell and punishment as much as heaven and a risen Savior who forgives sin and loves them. Muslims often won’t agree with what we proclaim but they do admire bold proclamation.

I haven't met a Muslim woman who has accepted Jesus as her Savior without hearing or reading about the gift of salvation found in Him. She may have a dream or vision which points towards Jesus Christ. But she still needs further explanation and information. A miraculous healing can convince her that Jesus is powerful but she still needs to know the Gospel message of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished on her behalf. It has been a thrilling journey of rising above my fears and hesitancy and diving in to proclaim the Good News. It is helpful to do that within the context of a loving and trusting relationship with our Muslim friends. I believe our biggest need is for boldness and that comes from the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit for boldness. He will surely give it to us. And then… take the plunge. We will be in for a pretty exciting experience. I don’t think there is anything more exciting and energizing than proclaiming the Good News. We will be shocked at what comes out of our mouths. You will wonder, hey, where did that come from? Surprise - from the Holy Spirit!

Dear heavenly Father, I admit I am afraid to proclaim. I need boldness. Please help me to open my mouth and speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Afraid of Offending

2012-02-05T20:10:00.005-06:00

“Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?” Matthew 15:12

I often visit in Muslim homes where sweet tea and rich pastries are served. This becomes a dilemma for me as I try to eliminate sugar(added) from my diet. The same goes for excessively salty food and a lot of oil used for cooking. I don’t feel obligated to eat big servings or multiple servings if the food is very sweet, salty or greasy. We can learn the skill of showing appreciation to our host while also being responsible for our bodies being the temple of God.

The apartment felt like a furnace with the heat turned up so high. For years I refrained from saying how I felt for fear of offending the host. Now I simply say “It is hot in here. May I open the window?” Recently an apartment was so hot, and the smell of onions, pungent spices and hot searing oil overpowered me. My eyes smarted and began to run. I asked if I could open the window. The window was frozen shut so they put on the air conditioner. The same could be said about incense overtaking me.

I can sit for awhile on the floor but not for hours. Before I endured it to “identify” with my Muslim friends. Now I sit for some time on the floor and then gradually move on to a chair. It doesn’t offend the host.

My eyes are sensitive to bright sunshine or glare if I’m facing it while talking to my friend. I now just get up and say, “my eyes can’t take the brightness” and find another spot to sit. Sometimes I will ask if I may partially close the curtains. I don’t find they are offended.

It is common to visit with the TV volume quite high making conversation challenging. For years I endured competing with the noise. I didn’t want to offend my friend by saying anything. Now I ask if she would turn it off while we talk because I can’t hear her very well. If a child is watching TV I ask if the volume can be turned down. It may for one minute and then go back up. I ask a few times.

When we are in cross cultural ministry and some things are difficult to cope with God can help us to deal with them in a relaxed respectful manner. It is wonderful to finally be free from the fear of offending my Muslim friends. We can get overly concerned about that. We worry too much that we will ruin a chance to witness. The important thing is to love them. If we can not speak up about these rather minor earthly things for fear of offending them, how will we be able to share about spiritual truths which can truly offend them?

Dear heavenly Father, help me not to get so stressed out being afraid of offending my Muslim friend. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Got Mercy?

2012-02-01T06:15:00.011-06:00

“...and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8b

One day a disgruntled gentleman visited my husband’s office at our mission hospital in Pakistan and pulled him outside to a waiting vehicle. He gave Ed some rough treatment and attempted to push him into the car to take him away. As Ed yelled staff came running from all directions to rescue him. The police came. The punishment for a local person harming a foreigner was stiff. Ed agreed to the police catching him but not to torture him. He only wanted him prohibited from entering the hospital complex for the security of patients and staff. The police found the man within 24 hours and refrained from torturing him. He received mercy.

A three year old girl threw a lead pipe over a high wall which landed on a poor beggar’s head causing injury. Immediately an excitable crowd of Somali men and the police gathered in the missionary’s yard. It was a tense volatile time of accusations flying around wildly. The father took the little girl aside and quietly said, “Daughter, just tell me the truth. Did you throw that pipe over the wall? I won’t punish you. I just need to know the truth.” The frightened girl confessed she had indeed thrown the pipe over the wall. The police and crowd quieted down when they realized it was a young child who had done it unknowingly. Mercy prevailed. But it could have turned out differently - in Somalia.

My mother was dying and I made a quick trip to visit her. My mind, filled with anxiety, was not clear. I left my wallet with all my identification papers at home. At that time a passport wasn't required travelling between Canada and the USA. As I went through security I was asked for some identification. Suddenly I realized I was at the mercy of the security agent as I had nothing to show. Justice meant that I could be turned away. But the security agent said, “I’ll have mercy on you this time.” And with that gesture of mercy I was able to see mom.

In one country where I lived a young unmarried lady who was found to be pregnant could(and still can) expect some scary treatment: be poisoned or disappear, married off against their wishes, shunned, etc. But once in awhile a relative worked mercifully on behalf of saving the young lady and her baby. We would assist by hiding the pregnant mother in her last weeks. When the baby was born I would take care of it until he or she would find a welcoming home to be raised in. Mercy triumphs over justice.

Is there anything more precious or sweeter than receiving mercy? I have drunk from the cup of mercy, both from God and from people, numerous times. Because of being the recipient of mercy I now desire to extend mercy. What a scary world we would live in if mercy was not extended! We feel condemned by justice but transformed by mercy. One of the secrets of a successful ministry among Muslims is to love mercy.

Dear heavenly Father, please help me to become more merciful like Jesus towards Muslims. Amen.

A Voice for Justice

2012-01-24T07:30:00.001-06:00

“He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth." Psalm 33:5

An uncomfortable aspect of my ministry has been dealing with justice issues; especially in the areas of marriages and parenting. Justice works towards fairness and reasonableness and in bringing order to disorder. Some men and women who come from Islamic countries and settle in western nations walk through a long confusing journey of understanding and adjusting to a new government system which allows and promotes equality and rights. Power struggles often develop between husbands and wives, parents and children.

Sharifa, against the command of her husband, decided to remove her hijab when she became a citizen. When their fighting turned violent she fled to a shelter for protection. After her stay was completed she returned to her husband and both went for counseling about whether she was compelled to wear the hijab or not. I babysat for their toddler during those sessions. I tried to speak into the volatile situation.

Maryam was weary from cooking and serving us a sumptuous meal. I watched as nine year old Ahmed repeatedly kicked his tired mother hard to get her attention. Hmm….where do I start to voice justice for Maryam?

Nasima was anxious for her ten year old son, Sultan, who broke his leg skateboarding. She requested me to come to the hospital before her husband, Ali, would arrive because she knew he would get angry with Sultan. I watched as Ali contained his anger at the hospital and in the van ride home but once inside the house he lashed out at Sultan who was trying to endure his physical pain. Sultan needed a voice for justice.

Habiba knew all about her husband’s cheating and lying and not declaring his income correctly. I also heard about many others in their community doing the same thing. Hearing about wrongs puts us in uncomfortable predicaments.

Speaking about right and wrong or what is just and unjust is an active component of engaging with my friends. I don't enjoy that. It's hard work. We can keep quiet and be uninvolved and justice and righteousness will never be understood or we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to become effective agents in the ministry of declaring God's holiness. I may not be able to accomplish much but I can be an influential voice and demonstrate by example in my own marriage, family, and lifestyle. In earlier years I didn't speak clearly or boldly enough into what is right or wrong. Wisdom, gentleness, and humility are needed. I don't have to look very far to recall times when I have acted unjustly and done wrong. That's why humility is necessary. Today I realize that if sin is to be clearly understood it is essential for me to speak about what is just and unjust when sharing the gospel.

Dear heavenly Father, please give me wisdom, boldness and humility to be a voice and a godly influence in speaking about what is right and wrong. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Setting Captives Free

2012-01-17T21:15:00.004-06:00

"…He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released…" Luke 4:18b

Nazanin fetched her tasbeeh(prayer beads) and stated proudly to me, “I say salavat 4,000 times a day. I can say it 1,000 times in an hour.” I looked at her shocked. “Four hours a day?!” I asked. “Yes,” she replied, “I’ve done it 125,000 times.” “Oh my goodness, Nazanin, you keep a record?” I inquired. “Yes, I have a notebook. It works. One time my husband lost his job and I said salavat a lot and he found another job very quickly.” I discovered that tasbeeh are sometimes used for more than reciting and counting the names of Allah.

I shared with Parveen about Nazanin and her tasbeeh. Parveen responded, “I did that, too. I said it 70,000 times. But I don’t do that anymore now.” I was relieved as Parveen has moved into the kingdom of light. Then that same week our friend, Jamal, was visiting Parveen and her husband and as I entered their living room Jamal quickly grabbed his tasbeeh lying on the couch. He blurted out, “You can’t be without these,” and put them into his pocket. Jamal was supposed to be a follower of Christ. A couple of days later I visited a needy lady. A set of blue tasbeeh lay on her coffee table. “They help me to relax and relieve stress,” she explained.

We can read about the salavat salutation in the Qur’an, Surah 33:56. Muslims are instructed to bless their prophet and greet him. Some make their own conclusions, like Nazanin, that by using tasbeeh and counting how many times they greet and bless their prophet(and progeny, as Shi'as will add) good luck will result. Or that there will be protection, negative energies will be replaced by positive energies, or forgiveness of sins will be obtained and hopefully a better chance to enter Paradise. They are held captive to deception and an illusive hope. Once a new believer from North Africa gave me her tasbeeh and also a charm that looked like charcoal wrapped up in an old tattered piece of cloth intended to bring protection. She had been held captive by invisible powers and relinquishing them was extremely difficult. Saima, another follower of Isa, had trusted in an expensive gem obtained from a “holy man” from Mecca. She was told it would bring protection. It was a day of big victory when she parted with her charm. No one should think that there are no spiritual powers involved. Observing them trying to part with these things or by discontinuing saying certain salavat phrases causes them considerable stress.

We have all been held captive to something or someone: addictions, bad habits, to self and the power of sin, a codependency or trust in a religious leader or shrine attributing special powers. I was held captive to a toxic codependent relationship, self and sin. Jesus had to break my bondage of captivity because I could not in my human strength. Today I know victory from captivity and have experienced there is power in Jesus to be set free. Yes! This is the Good News I share with my Muslim friends and those who have decided to follow Jesus. Do you have a story? Share it with them.

Dear heavenly Father, You are so completely trustworthy, good, all powerful, and full of love. Hallelujah! Amen.

Freedom for the Oppressed

2012-01-12T09:30:00.005-06:00

“…Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.” Acts 10:38b

Suddenly I found myself sitting with Hawa, a beautiful young follower of Jesus Christ, in Emergency Care at the hospital. She looked oppressed. She was convinced she was dying. She urgently shared her wish to have a Christian funeral, not be buried in a Muslim graveyard and to have her children cared for by Christians, not Muslims. Three times she had dreamt that she was going to die and a missionary woman came and told her something. So, she decided to call me to come since I am a missionary woman. She said, “No one can know if they will go to heaven – not a Muslim or a Christian, only God.” The message to be given was to assure her that when she died she could be certain about going to heaven because Jesus takes His followers there safely and with authority. She became peaceful and looked considerably transformed having received words of assurance by the time we left Emergency eight hours later. An oppression had been lifted.

Azizeh, another follower of Jesus Christ, was battling panic attacks and went to Emergency Care. Her husband was unsympathetic towards her emotional weakness. I went to look for her there. Scanning the full room I noticed a woman with her head bowed low. She was a picture of dejection and oppression. I placed a hand on her and called her name. She jolted and looked up. “Oh, Joy, I thought that was the hand of Jesus,” she cried. I could tell Satan had been troubling her. She needed release from the heavy black cloud resting on her.

Amal called me from her Emergency Care bed. She was deeply oppressed. We talked about her sexual abuse. She felt physically sick from memories that had been suppressed and now were rushing to the surface.

As I reflect on the years of ministry among Muslim women and believers from Muslim background I have noted how many have been oppressed spiritually. Often evil spirits are bothering them or they have symptoms from psychological trauma which makes them feel oppressed. While doctors treat the physical symptoms with x-rays, tests and pills, these women also need the Balm of Gilead applied to their invisible wounds of deep seated fears or emotional injuries.

Our Great Physician came not only for the physically sick and sinners but also for the oppressed. I have been oppressed and can identify the signs when oppression descends upon me. I have also experienced glorious freedom from oppression. Anyone engaged in Muslim ministry will probably experience spiritual oppression at some time. When we experience God’s freedom from oppression we can be His instruments to bring shalom to Muslim women who are oppressed. Ask God to bestow a spiritual gifting to you to discern oppression and to pray for freedom.

Dear heavenly Father, Thank You for the glorious and marvelous freedom You give from the awful weight of oppression we can experience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Blessings of Solitude and Silence

2012-01-06T16:33:00.000-06:00

“… Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” I Peter 1:8b

I was a 28 year old missionary mom of two kids in a remote mountainous area of northern Pakistan. Nearly everyone living at the mission hospital campus was connected to the medical work. It was a busy place treating desperate patients. Not being a medical person and needing to devote my time and energies to our two young children I experienced pervasive deep feelings of isolation, loneliness, unwanted solitude and silence. It was as if I had been taken to the edge of a desert and pushed into it by some unknown force. I stumbled along trying to find my way through to.... I didn’t know what. Many hours were spent in reflection and meditation. I had little or no access to reading material, music CDs, retreats, internet websites, and no Christian programs on a TV. I had no phone communication with anyone. It was not common for missionary women to drive all around freely in those days or even to take a walk alone off the campus. I thought I’d die of isolation and loneliness. Now as I look back I realize those years were a blessing in disguise because I had nowhere to turn but to press into God. It was excellent preparation for a ministry that eventually emerged and continues to this day. Of course understanding is usually discerned in hindsight. I became keenly aware of my soul and intimately acquainted with my Creator. I became aware of the souls of others. It was a “soul school” I would probably not have discovered any other way.

A couple of decades have passed now. My husband and I just returned from a four day personal get away. We listened to the audio book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, by Ruth Haley Barton, who is the founder and director of The Transforming Center, http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/ a ministry dedicated to caring for the souls of pastors and Christian leaders. How I wished her CDs or books had been available during my Pakistan days. They would have helped me to understand the wilderness journey I was navigating. I was on my own with no human to guide me or explain what was happening to me. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who comes to our assistance when we are left bereft of help. Today I feel comfortable with times of solitude and silence for I have learned to treasure and anticipate the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit. He prepares and fills me up to engage in front line ministry among Muslim women. I don’t choose to take times of solitude and silence today because of busyness but because of the intensity of spiritual battles I encounter in evangelism and discipleship. It is in both wanted and unwanted times of solitude and silence that my soul is nourished and prepared to once again engage in ministry and pour out the love of Jesus upon my beloved Muslim flock.

Dear heavenly Father, You show me Your treasures in wanted and unwanted times of solitude and silence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Unconditional Love of God

2012-01-01T07:30:00.001-06:00

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is." Ephesians 3:18

Happy New Year! Ephesians 3:18 is the captivating message for me for 2012. I didn't grasp that God loved me until I was a missionary at 28 years old. Shocking, but true. I want it to be my own ever expanding personal discovery and to proclaim it more clearly and boldly to my Muslim friends.

It is difficult for my Muslim friends to grasp that God loves them unconditionally. They have been brought up to believe that life is about doing the will of Allah – being obedient to his commands. Allah loves(approves of) good people but doesn’t love bad people. They are never sure whether they are good or bad in Allah’s sight - hopefully good. They are cognizant of the dreaded scales(meezan) and fear judgment, punishment and hell. They hang their hopes on Allah’s mercy.

Today I tried to explain to Mahnaz that God loves her unconditionally. She replied forlornly, “I hope so.” A fire started burning within me and I prayed silently, Oh Lord, please help Mahnaz to understand. Open her eyes. Filled with compassion I said, “Mahnaz, God loves you very much. You are special to him. He wants to protect you and help you. He sees your tears. Isa has taken all the punishment for your sin upon himself on the cross.” I talked at length about God’s love and had her read Ephesians 3:17-19 in her language. She looked at me with longing eyes wishing that He would love her. For her, God’s love is always dependent on whether she has been a good enough wife or mother, prayed enough, fasted enough, done enough good deeds, or sacrificed enough.

We should never tire of telling our Muslim friend that God loves her unconditionally. Use the Bible to verify your words. If you don’t have your Bible handy you could memorize some key verses about God’s love and recite them to her. Ask her how to say “God loves Mahnaz”(apply real name)and "God is Love" in her heart language. When you pray with your Muslim friend emphasize those truths in your prayer. Don’t be surprised if you catch her crying. The Spirit is moving and touching her in the deepest longings of her soul. Don’t rush to close up your prayer. Let her soak in the experience of God’s love. You are on sacred ground.

Often I need to reflect on God’s love, too. To be totally honest, I've discovered it is a futile endeavor to minister to Muslims when the fire of God’s love gets cold or threatens to be snuffed out in my soul. In such times I have nothing to give. Sometimes I have felt cynical towards Muslims or have spoken disparaging words about them and have learned the hard way that my witness has been of little or no value. It has fallen flat or on deaf ears. I desire the Spirit to fan the flame of His love in my soul and send me out in passionate response to His love and grace.

Dear heavenly Father, please birth in me deeper agape love for Muslims this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jubilee Celebration

2011-12-26T08:30:00.006-06:00

(Jesus’ Jubilee Declaration)“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19

I just finished reading the excellent book, Jubilee – A Season of Spiritual Renewal by Mel Lawrenz. It was a good book to end the year reflecting on my personal spiritual growth and what has happened in ministry among Muslim women.

I love sharing about my Savior, Jesus Christ, with Muslim women. It is pure joy to do so. It is my passion in life. For sure evangelism among Muslim women can be challenging and even frustrating at times because of linguistic difficulties, cultural differences, spiritual blindness or oppression but underneath all of that there is a fountain that springs up in my soul. Like Jesus was and continues to be, I too am on a Jubilee mission of proclaiming the Good News, seeing captives/victims released, and spiritual blindness and oppression to be lifted away.

I don’t ever want to lose the thrill and joy of sharing about Jesus. Recently I was visiting Salima, a new Afghan friend, who has been in our country for ten years. She didn’t have an opportunity to go to school as a child. She is learning to read English but still can’t read her own language. I asked her if she would like to read a story from my Toddlers Bible story book which I had with me. The story I picked was about Jesus calming the angry waves after a storm erupted threatening to drown the disciples in the boat. I asked her if she understood who Jesus was. “No,” she replied. “You don’t know who Jesus is?” I asked incredulously. “No,” she answered. I explained it was Isa al Masih. Jesus is the English name. She had never heard the name Jesus in her ten years in our country! It was hard to believe. One of the greatest joys for me is to proclaim the wonder of who Jesus is according to the Injeel. When I look into their eyes my heart melts with compassion. When I read Scripture with them and notice they are listening attentively my heart warms. And when I am allowed to pray for them in the name of Jesus and sense a holy hush and see that familiar awestruck daze or a few tears roll down their cheeks – well, for me, that is indication that Jubilee is approaching.

Jesus not only declared it was the time of Jubilee but He is the great Jubilee. I have joined His Jubilee team. Maybe you, too. This Jubilee ministry is worth celebrating at the end of a full year of ministry. It has been hard work. A tough spiritual battle. It is fitting to take some time for jubilation, even if it's just all by yourself with God. Express it with a dance, some celebratory music, lighting candles or buying some roses. Some Muslim friend has been released from oppression or her spiritual eyes have been opened to more truth, been set free from shame or condemnation, or perhaps experienced a measure of justice. Celebrate! The time of the Lord's favor has come for Muslim women.

Dear heavenly Father, send me out in the new year on Your Jubilee mission in the authority and name of Jesus, Amen.

Christmas Tree

2011-12-18T15:15:00.004-06:00

“…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” Revelation 19:10b

Jamal and Afsana surprised me. Coming from conservative Afghanistan I didn’t expect to see a decorated Christmas tree in their home. It could have been they were nervous they would receive condemnation from their community if their tree was in full sight so they placed it in their bedroom. They asked to have their picture taken beside it. The tree remained there for months.

It's been interesting to observe the number of my Muslim friends in the past twenty years here in the west who now put up Christmas trees decorated with all the lights, ornaments and maybe a star or an angel at the top. Some have reasoned it out that the Christmas tree has evolved into a “holiday tree” now and is for all people of any faith or no faith. But why the star or an angel at the top? Some of them give gifts to their children while others cook a turkey. I’m amused that some of them have become more traditional than me! I have not actually cooked the traditional turkey for Christmas but I have eaten turkey dinners in Muslim homes. Of course, not every Muslim home will participate in such traditions but there are a growing number who do. The majority of them make sure they stay far away from any appearance of identifying with “Christianity”. These conservative Muslim friends try to adapt to the west but not adopt any custom that is associated with the Christian faith. But…oh, those trees and music and cookies and gifts, and Santa, of course, are all so alluring, and little children beg to have what other children enjoy. That’s most likely the reason many mosques have holiday parties for Muslim children around Christmas time.

Whenever I visit in a Muslim home that has a Christmas tree I know spiritual conversations will probably flow easily and naturally. When I see a tree has been put up I know some Islamic barriers have come down. I look over the tree ornaments carefully. Insights are gathered. Last week I was in a wealthy nominal Muslim home and admired their beautifully decorated tree. The spiritual conversation that flowed in my two hour visit was phenomenal. It didn’t have anything to do with the tree. It wasn't the tree I really wanted to talk about. Certainly putting up a Christmas tree is a strong indicator that our Muslim friends are “searching their way” through religion and culture. The Holy Spirit gives us signs. I suspect that the trend of adopting long standing Christmas customs and traditions will continue to evolve in greater measure among Muslims living in the west in the coming years. We need to understand the signs of the times and have a clear prophetic witness of Jesus while changes occur.

Merry Christmas to all my readers! May God encourage you and make you fruitful in your friendships with your Muslim friends. God bless you. And for Muslim readers who follow my blog or stumble upon it by chance - may God bless you, too.

Dear heavenly Father, please give me discernment where my Muslim friends are in their faith and to know how to enter their search. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Divine Opportunities Missed

2011-12-12T09:30:00.001-06:00

“Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?” Isaiah 53:1

After I spoke at a ladies meeting in a church a woman came up to me and inquired, “What about female circumcision?” I briefly explained. Then…“What about honor killings?” After another brief explanation, she stated, “What about the imams teaching jihad in our mosques?” Another explanation….then, “What about wife beating? There are Youtube clips teaching Muslim men how to beat their wives.” I began to realize this woman had been unduly influenced by media and had excessive fears and anxieties about Muslims. She wanted to have her knowledge and views confirmed by me. Finally she remarked disappointed, “Your talk wasn’t at all what I expected.” “What did you expect?” I asked her. “I thought you’d tell us how bad it is for Muslim women.” I had talked about having compassion and love for Muslims in our neighborhoods, work, and schools and getting past our fear of them. Our fears can cause us to miss divine opportunities. I tried to explain that even though all her statements had some validity many, but not all, Muslim women living here in the West are happy and feel life is good for them. They have rights here that they couldn't enjoy in their countries of origin. Unfortunately, we can use our awareness of violations to justify staying away from Muslims - and miss divine opportunities.

Another lady came up to me after that same meeting and told me in a hushed tone what had recently happened to her. She met a Somali lady and her three year old daughter, both dressed in hijabs and traditional conservative clothes. She overheard the mother say to her daughter in English, “hug”. The Christian lady was wary of her. Suddenly the little girl gave her a hug and the Christian lady wanted me to explain if her suspicions were correct that Muslims are trying to take over the West by using methods like being friendly and hugging to win people over. I was taken aback by her suspicion about hugs and assured her that probably what could have happened was that the Somali lady may have been in a refugee camp and somebody had shown her kindness which she had been reminded of. I tried to help her see that, rather than draw back from her in suspicion, it could have been seized as an opportunity from the Holy Spirit. Having excessive fears and misconceptions and making generalizations will lead to missing divine opportunities.

Whenever we take the effort to get to know someone different than us it helps us to get a more correct understanding and balanced view. Media has capitalized so much on bringing awareness of terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism that, if a Christian woman has no Muslim acquaintance or friend, she can be convinced all Muslim men and women are dangerous.

I once had numerous misconceptions and made generalizations, too - mostly because of fear of Muslims. It has made a difference getting to know scores of Muslim women over the past 33 years. I don’t want to miss a single divine appointment, opportunity, or blessing by making unproven conclusions or assumptions. Today I am eager for God to send me to them. That's what Christmas is all about for me.

Dear heavenly Father, I hear You saying, ‘Who will go for me?’ And I respond, ‘Here, I am. Send me.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Morning Star

2011-12-06T17:20:00.001-06:00

“…I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16

All of us in Muslim ministry want to maximize opportunities to share Biblical truths during the Christmas season. Many creative ideas can emerge from the Christmas story. I have a friend who is gifted in making origami art. She sent me some beautiful handmade origami stars in the post. I knew my Muslim friends would be intrigued by them and would love to receive one. At Christmas we see star ornaments and sing about the star guiding the astrologers.

Farzana, who is a believer from Muslim background, invited me to her home for supper and I gave her one of those origami stars. I was taken back by her response and fascination with it. Carefully her daughter placed the origami star on their Christmas tree. There were other star ornaments bought from stores hanging on the branches plus a big one perched at the top. I asked Farzana if she likes stars. Her face lit up and said, “I love them! Every night when I go to bed I can see a star from my window and I look at it and talk to it.” “You talk to it?” I asked. Made me think of the children’s song, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…..” We discussed looking at stars and how fog or cloudy weather or pollution can hide the stars. Anyhow, I had her read Revelation 22:16 in her language. She was filled with delight and awe that Jesus would be called the bright morning star. “That’s beautiful, Joy!” she exclaimed. For the next hour we talked about Jesus the bright morning star living within us and shining out of us(II Peter 1:19, Philippians 2:14-15))and how our witness or sinful polluted ways can cloud the bright morning star from shining clearly out of us. She was amazed at Daniel 12:3 saying we could be like stars that shine forever. “Forever?” she asked incredulously. That amazed her. Obviously the subject of stars was close to her heart. Maybe it was because she grew up in a country where she would sometimes sleep or visit friends on the top of her flat roof from where she could look up at the sky and fix her gaze on the twinkling stars. That nostalgic picture is embedded in her memories.

We have Hollywood and Bollywood stars, author stars, grandchildren stars, pastor stars, and maybe even Muslim Background Believer stars, but the greatest star of all is Jesus Himself who will shine forever, and always has. He is the bright morning star. He shines brightest when it is darkest. I love seeing Him shine when I walk into some spiritually dark homes filled with lies, deception, superstitions, hopelessness, suppression, oppression, self righteousness, and sorrows. He has a mysterious way of lighting up a room by His invisible presence. And how wonderful to think that I carry this bright morning Star within me at all times. Shine Jesus, shine.

Dear heavenly Father, there is no darkness in You at all, only light. I am drawn to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Giving Christmas Cards

2011-12-01T07:00:00.002-06:00

“So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us…..” John 1: 14a

Do you have a Muslim friend and wonder what you should give her for Christmas and wish you could share about Jesus but don’t know where to begin or how to go about it?

Well, Christmas season is an excellent time to introduce conversation with your Muslim friend about Jesus if you have never discussed anything before. One of the most overlooked ways is to give her a Christmas card which has Scripture verses in it. I try to pick cards that refer to Jesus as Savior so I will have a chance to converse about that truth. The concept of a Savior to save us from our sins is foreign to Muslims. Most of them are delighted to receive a religious Christmas card. Muslims love calligraphy and poetry and the arts. One Christmas I gave all my Muslim friends a card in a picture frame. The front of the card consisted of beautiful words graced with a gold border. It became both their card and gift. My favorite card to give has been one from Guideposts Christmas Greetings(called the Nativity Booklet 2008) which opens up to four panels and has a beautiful painting of the nativity scene. On the back of one panel is a Christmas carol and on another panel is Luke 2: 8-16. I urge my friend to read the verses out loud and then go over new words or concepts. If you are the free spirited type you can sing the carol to her, too. Guidepost Christmas Greetings have different Christmas card selections. I have been surprised how many of my Muslim friends have kept a collection of all my Christmas cards, sometimes displaying them in their offices or homes for weeks. It’s been interesting to observe over the years that often a beautiful religious card is valued more than a gift. You’d be surprised how much of the Good News can be shared simply by a Christmas card. Last year my husband glued the painting of the nativity scene of the Guideposts Greetings card on light wood and attached a string to hang it. He took them to his ESL class at the immigration center when they had their Christmas Santa Claus party and offered them to anyone who would like one. Surprisingly the Muslim students grabbed them first.

Never underestimate the significance of a Christmas card which is beautifully crafted and includes the Good News message. It is such a little thing but often has a profound response. I do have some Muslim friends who are very conservative and resistant to the Gospel whom I know will not appreciate receiving a religious Christmas card. I give them Happy New Year cards instead. You can find New Year cards that are bright and celebratory which include prayers of blessings. We can share the Good News any day of the year!

Your Muslim friend may not be willing to go to a Christmas event at church but may you experience the joy of giving her a choice Christmas card and receive an opportunity to explain the reason for the season.

Dear heavenly Father, please use our simple Christmas cards in a powerful way for Your glory. In Jesus’name, Amen.

Scars Have a Story

2011-11-22T13:00:00.001-06:00

“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!” Isaiah 53:5

I have seen a few brutal looking scars. Each of my friends who has one of those scars has a shocking story of undergoing surgery in her homeland which still uses primitive medical practices. I find it interesting that my Muslim friends want to show me their scars and tell me their stories. I try not to stare indiscreetly at the scars but they do have a way of capturing my full attention. One thing is for sure: I can’t disbelieve their stories that they had surgery!

Scars become permanent reminders of something we have gone through. We can never forget what happened. They don’t hurt anymore, thank God. The wounds are closed up and healed. I have seen some scars that are shown off like trophies. Richard Wurmbrand showed me some of his scars where he had been tortured for his faith with cigarette butts. I’m sure they elicited painful memories for him but they were really spiritual trophies of testimony that God helped him to stand firm through persecution. Then there was Ahmed Ali Haile who lost part of a leg as a result of a grenade intentionally targeted at him to silence his witness as a follower of Christ. His scars were a trophy of courage and endurance. Today he is observing His Savior’s scars in heaven.

The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:17, “From now on don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.” His scars were reminders. Trophies. Proof and evidence of belonging to Christ. I imagine he had multiple scars all over his body from stonings and imprisonment and beatings. He wore his scars with a sense of pride and honor. We will identify Jesus by His scars when He will return. Jesus’ scars are being beheld by angels in heaven now and one day we will be able to behold His scars, too. We will probably stare at them, much like I have stared at my friends’ scars. They tell a story. None of us want emotional wounds but inevitably they will come to anyone in Muslim ministry. Oh, how they hurt! An emotional wound that seemed to take forever to heal was when I felt betrayed by Fatima whom I had invested in significantly. One day she said, “I love you, Joy – but….” It’s been a long time of little contact since that day. Thank God that He pours healing balm into our wounds and closes them up. We are left only with scars on our souls. They remind us that God gave us grace to bounce back.

If your Muslim friend shows you her scars and tells you her story why not direct her attention to the risen Savior of the world who also has scars and tell her the wonderful story of salvation? Jesus’ scars are meant to give her life.

Dear heavenly Father, I am awed that one day I will see Jesus’ scars. I know I will fall down and worship Him, captured and enraptured by His sacrificial love for me. Amen.

Teaching English with a Purpose

2011-11-18T05:30:00.002-06:00

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord…” Ephesians 5:8a

Every week Ayaan and I have conversational English practice in her home. I composed a list of opposite pairs of words for Ayaan. I want her to learn English but, at the same time, begin to understand important Biblical concepts. She is still at a relatively low level of reading and speaking English. After a half hour of conversation practice we read through one story in 101 Bible Stories for Toddlers, by Carolyn Larsen. As we conversed about the stories over the months it became clear that much of what is written has to do with opposite things like: evil and good, darkness and light, far and near, lost and found, enemy and friend, dead and alive, right and wrong, grace and law, faith and works, etc. On my own I went through the Bible Story book and listed many of the opposite words and concepts that came up. I thought if Ayaan could understand all these words in English and be clear about them in her own language then she could certainly get a better grasp of spiritual concepts between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of earth. We who are in Muslim ministry often can be so focused on building bridges by discussing similarities in our respective faiths that we can actually overlook speaking about spiritual concepts that are very opposite. This can happen easily where the cultural values of showing respect and tolerance are important to uphold living in a pluralistic society such as in Canada. We don’t want to offend anyone. We want peace. So, we don’t bring up differences. It’s tempting to stay safe and talk about the similarities or keep quiet when there is an obvious difference.

Today the story with Ayaan was about Zacchaeus. Some of the opposite word pairs which can come up in discussing that story are: short and tall, bad and good, lost and found, happy and sad, right and wrong, far and near. Being short was a problem for Zacchaeus. If he was tall he could have a view of Jesus. God loves bad people as well as good people. When we do wrong it is sin. God wants us to choose the right way. Our sin takes us far from God and we get lost. When we repent of our sin we come near to God and are no longer lost, but found. We are no longer sad, but happy. There was an opposite change of behavior in Zacchaeus once he decided to follow Jesus. Before he was greedy. Now he became generous. A significant foundation of theological truth can be explained about the Good News just by going over opposite pairs of words – and when relayed in story form, it is an effective way of sharing Biblical knowledge. That’s how Jesus did it many times. If this is done on a regular basis you will be surprised over time at how much theological truth is being taught. Peace and respect can still prevail. I don't want fear of offending my Muslim friend to keep me from explaining the differences in our faiths.

Dear heavenly Father, Your Kingdom is opposite of the kingdom of earth in so many ways. Thank you for Jesus’ clear teaching and example. Amen.

Telling Stories

2011-11-13T07:15:00.002-06:00

“He used many such stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they were able to understand.” Mark 4:34

One of the courses I took at Moody Bible Institute was called Story Telling. Little did I know how valuable that course would be. When my turn came to perform before the class I told a Winnie the Pooh story. I love stories. I enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss's book, "Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose" to my grandsons so much last week that I went and bought my own copy. It's a great story!

My dad was a stellar story teller. Sometimes he would be called on to tell stories. Whenever I got afraid at night, which was frequent, he’d settle me down with fictitious silly stories. I often observed him telling stories in evangelistic encounters and be amazed at how spell bound his listeners were. It was clear that the Somalis he ministered among for fifty years listened best by hearing stories. Opposition to Biblical truths was not as strong if conveyed through the medium of a story.

I learned the story telling craft from dad. He modelled it so superbly that I desired to do the same. I’m not just referring to telling Bible stories but any kind of story; allegorical, fictitious, true, etc. - anything to catch people’s attention to make them think through some truth. Muslim men, women and children love hearing stories. Many of them come from oral cultures where sitting around hearing stories or poetry is a favorite past time. Westerners turn on the TV, watch movies or read books but often by pass hearing and telling stories. Story telling is an excellent way to move into teaching Biblical truths slowly. Muslims often can’t take hearing direct Biblical truths right away. When we extend home hospitality it is both interesting and valuable to listen to their stories and then to share our stories.

After briefly sharing the Biblical story of redemption with an educated Iranian couple, Hussein asked incredulously, “Who on earth would have come up with a story like that?” “God did!” I replied. It is helpful to be able to tell the whole Bible story of redemption and salvation from Genesis to Revelation in 5 to 15 minutes or so. Give a sweeping concise panoramic story of God’s great plan. Try it. Don’t be afraid to get dramatic. They will love it. Sometimes we dive into the middle of the story but the beginning has been left out. We know it well but they don’t. If we observe that our Muslim friend is listening intently then make the story longer. I also think it is great to leave an element of mystery to our story telling by promising them we’ll tell chapter two on the next visit. Why not concentrate more on telling stories and less on knowing all the objections Muslims have and arguments for your rebuttal? It’s not often people will argue with a story. Stories are powerful.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful redemption story and that my Muslim friends are part of it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Muslim Woman's Journey

2011-11-07T06:49:00.001-06:00

“Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." John 3:8

I've known Khurshid for two years but I can’t tell you when evangelism or discipleship began. When I started visiting Khurshid she was a devoted Muslim saying her prescribed prayers and reading the Qur’an faithfully. As we conversed I shared stories from the Bible. Often she would tell me a current struggle and I’d pray for her. She was “reading” me for quite a long time trying to figure out if I was safe or good. At one point I gave her a Bible in her language. I would direct her to certain chapters which she would read. We’d talk about them. One thing comes up continually: the attributes of Jehovah God. I have tried to lay a Biblical foundation of Jehovah God’s attributes from day one. Allah’s attributes can be quite different. Soon it developed to praying for her on every visit. She was discovering that Christian praying was considerably different than saying nimaz. One day she decided to quit doing her nimaz and pray like me. At that point she hadn’t professed out loud to me that Christ was her Savior. How should I go about this? Well, she dove into praying rocking softly back and forth on the carpet with her hands raised. It was going from “Hazarat Isa” to “Savior” and soon I heard “in Isa’s name.” Now she is actually starting her prayers with “Father in heaven”. Khurshid has had many sleepless nights of confusion. She would get up and open the Qur’an at random and put her finger on a verse looking for direction. But that didn’t give her peace. So she began reading the Bible more. She’d have dreams and look for the meaning of them in the Qur’an. That didn’t help. I had to help her see that the Christian life is walking by faith not by dreams and their interpretations. She has been absorbing a lot of new information from going through the Bible. For example, there’s the history of the Jews. She was shocked that Abraham, David, Daniel etc. were not Muslims but Jews. “But Jews are bad. They are God’s enemies,” she stated confused. There has been a lot to correct of teaching she received being raised a Muslim. There are times when Khurshid declares she is a follower of Isa and everything seems clear but then she will ask again how Isa can be God in the flesh or reveal her confusion about the doctrine of the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit is at work in Khurshid’s life. Her soul is opening up more and more towards her Savior. I picture the process of a rose bud opening up. There are many stages to walk through. For more understanding of a Muslim woman's journey check out: I Against My Brother

Dear heavenly Father, You surely help Muslim women on their difficult spiritual quest for truth. In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Pilgrimage

2011-11-01T05:15:00.005-05:00

"So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son embraced him, and kissed him." Luke 15:20

Millions of sincere Muslims make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to be assured that their sins have been forgiven and to fulfill Allah's requirement.

I have gone on a spiritual pilgrimage, too. Maybe the word journey sounds more relevant. My first impressions of God were formed when I was awakened by dawn's call to prayer in Somalia. The cacophony caused me to be afraid of God. I received excellent Biblical instruction growing up. To be obedient to God was firmly engrained in me. Early in life I believed the doctrinal truth about Jesus being my Savior and the One in whom forgiveness is found. When I was 13 years old I became rebellious. Praise God that I began to find power over sin through Jesus. He began to transform and tame my rebellious nature. Over the years my journey has taken me down into spiritual valleys, across lonely deserts, up to the mountain tops and into the rivers of discovering the magnificent beauty of my wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. The destination of my spiritual journey was not to a city nor a sacred building but to my permanent Home in the heart of God where we commune with each other. The sacrificial blood of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, washed my sinful heart clean. Now I have assurance that my sins are forgiven. I have peace. Today I feel loved by God. In the meantime my spiritual journey continues to unfold surprises: hearing my name and His gentle whispers, being comforted, experiencing dreams and visions that encourage me on, and witnessing signs and wonders and miracles that have a way of taking my breath away. When I’m stressed out or suffering I feel His nearness and presence. I still have unanswered questions on my journey of faith. I’ve been broken but He’s put me back together a few times. I feel Jesus understands my temptations, failures and weaknesses and helps me with them. I discovered that as I made my journey towards the heart of God, He had already come to me on the way with outstretched arms. Indeed He was waiting for me. God made the journey to me!

My journey has taken me from: having fear of God - to obeying rules - to seeing my sinfulness - discovering my Savior - to enjoying fellowship with Him - entering suffering and brokeness - to spiritual intimacy with God. I am in His heart and He is in my heart. I yearn for my Muslim friends performing their Hajj pilgrimage to meet Jehovah God waiting for them with open arms of love. He meets each of us on our journeys wherever they may take us.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for coming to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Precious Muslim Children

2011-10-25T05:30:00.002-05:00

“Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” Mark 10:16

Amira was grieving the loss of her brother. Her playful fun loving ten year old niece, Suraya, was spending time with her bringing a measure of comfort and distraction. After listening to Amira’s sorrow I suggested we take her grief to God in prayer. Suraya overhearing our chat said, “I wish I knew how to pray. I don’t know how to.” I motioned for her to come and sit next to me on the couch and listen to me talk to God. What a privilege to take children into the presence of God.

I hear many stories of Christians in the West taking Muslim children and youth to clubs and youth groups at church, sending them to Bible camps, helping them with homework, ESL or literacy, and running sports clubs for them. Christian movies, books, Bibles and songs are being passed around to children. It is the time to invest in the lives of Muslim children and youth. Although not all Muslim parents allow their children to attend church clubs and Bible camps there are some who do. My husband runs three sports clubs in churches for Muslim boys aged 9-16 years old. They come predominantly from Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and the Oromo area of Ethiopia. Many of these boys are fatherless and are at high risk of joining gangs. Each week they play basketball in the church gym and have a God talk time and snacks. In the summer they attend Bible camps, even during Ramadan.

Fear of Muslims still runs high in our Western nations. But babies, children and youth have a way of breaking through our fears. They can be so adorable, inquisitive, loveable, responsive, and full of life and energy. Many of them are a step removed from the conservative Islamic environments their parents grew up in. The children go to school or play with children from other cultures now. Parents appreciate their children being given attention, help and love. Often when we love and help a child there is an open door into the home.

When I was growing up in Somalia it was risky to minister openly to Muslim children. There were no clubs or Sunday School in the house church I went to. I never saw a Somali child in church. In God’s sovereignty He has orchestrated the migration of millions of children to Western nations where they can be exposed to the Good News at a young age. I have been in Muslim ministry for thirty three years now. If I could do everything over I’d spend more time with the children.

Dear heavenly Father, bless each Christian who is investing in a Muslim child’s life. Let there be lasting fruit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Getting Angry

2011-10-20T06:00:00.003-05:00

“We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. II Corinthians 6:3

Don’t get angry with Muslims or it will disqualify you from ministry in the eyes of the Muslims around you. I believe that was some of the best advice I have received in my missionary career. Many things can arouse anger in us. We can display anger about spiritual blindness, certain undesirable cultural customs, inequality shown towards females, lying, or control over a person's soul, mind, and body. Some women in ministry can feel anger towards Muslim men. Maybe we feel anger because we think we are wasting precious time. The trigger arousing anger in us may be big or small. Anger can build up in us over time in Muslim ministry.

I wish I could say I have never displayed anger before my Muslim friends. Recently I felt like a failure. I blew it. A visit was arranged for 4 p.m. on Sunday with an Afghan family. Suddenly at 1 p.m. Afsana called me and asked if we could come over right away because their Afghan friends had just invited them over and they would have to leave at 3:30 p.m. I was upset. The community took precedence and I felt rejected and offended. I didn’t say any angry words over the phone but I felt anger well up in me. I hoped she didn’t detect it. Another time a tea visit was arranged with another Muslim family. Nahid called and explained that her husband was not feeling well so they couldn’t come. I was disappointed but not angry. Anger came later when I discovered from someone else that there was a community picnic which Nahid and her husband were invited to. It has happened a number of times that after a visit has been arranged and agreed upon that something arises in their Muslim communities which breaks up the plan. The desire to be with their own community pulls hard at them.

Sometimes I have gotten angry – or at least felt it. Other times it has been interpreted as being angry. Whatever it has been, the aftermath relational waves have felt scary. Maybe this has happened to you, too. It keeps me on my knees asking God for cleansing and for wisdom and self-control. There’s no question that the detection of anger in us towards our Muslim friends can get magnified and friendships broken off. But most of all our witness may be jeopardized. It is an awful feeling when a sense of failure and guilt engulfs us. Satan loves to get us into that state of mind. On the positive side I can say that these kinds of situations have created a deeper reliance upon the Holy Spirit and humbled me. Growth in self control and humility are never wasted. Our failures are not the end of God using us. He is merciful. When we are repentant He is faithful to cleanse us. And we keep going with our eyes upon Jesus.

Dear heavenly Father, please help me to display Your holiness before my Muslim friends. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sima's Stronghold

2011-10-13T16:00:00.002-05:00

“Teacher,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?” John 9: 2

Have you ever experienced a stronghold in your thinking that just won’t seem to budge? I have. Certain thoughts relentlessly pounded away in my mind day and night for years. Today I am free. Praise God!

Sima and I were having our weekly Bible study time. She is a new believer. The story was about Lazarus being raised from the dead. Sima found the story incredibly exciting. She was amazed that Lazarus was sick and Jesus raised him from the dead because in her understanding being sick meant he had done something sinful and was being punished. It didn’t make sense to her that he would be raised from the dead. “Last week I cried and cried. I had bad dreams. Everyone thinks I’m bad. Even Jamila told me that I must have sinned,” Sima explained to me looking very dejected. “Because you can't walk well?” I inquired. “Yes, everyone thinks I have been bad,” she replied. “I think about this all the time and feel very sad.”

By this time I realized her view of sickness was not only typical and common among Muslims but indeed a very gripping stronghold in her life. She could not break through this view no matter how hard she tried. Satan had successfully made her a victim of his lies and deception. I had gone over this same issue numerous times but nothing was budging. It was like she was in a locked cage and needed to be set free from this bondage of self-inflicted condemnation.

I know numerous Muslim women who have received the news that they have cancer. Often they don’t want anyone to know and sometimes isolate themselves. They are terrified of others thinking they are being punished by Allah because of some secret sin. Sad to say, I pick this up in most believers from Muslim background, too. It is a vicious stronghold in their cultures which has been passed on from generation to generation. The stronghold will not lose its grip easily. It needs to be demolished so that they can live in hope, joy and peace and not cower under condemnation, accusation, guilt and shame. They find great comfort and hope when they hear Bible stories of people who were sick and Jesus brought glory from their sickness. The story of Job(Ayuub) often brings them comfort and helps change their way of thinking. We should not fool ourselves though. This is not just a cultural way of looking at things. It is a stronghold. We want them to be set free and thrive. Sima is on the way to finding freedom. She will be set free totally when the stronghold of condemnation and accusation are brought down by the mighty name of Jesus and she speaks truth to herself which is found in the Word of God.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You that You have the power to destroy these awful strongholds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Evangelists to Muslim Women

2011-10-07T11:50:00.000-05:00

“He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11

A Saudi doctor went to the university and requested someone to help his wife learn English. I was contacted and went to their apartment. There was a beautiful arboretum of tropical plants near the lobby where tenants socialized. I asked the doctor if his wife enjoyed it. “No,” he replied. “She has never seen it. She goes on the elevator and down to the underground parkade with me when we go outside.” I was shocked at her restrictions. There were many wonderful spiritual opportunities to share in their home. One day I asked if my husband could come with me and visit them but the doctor said no. What a privilege to be a woman and gain access into their home. However it's not always easy for a Christian husband to gain the same access as his wife because of cultural taboos.

The Church desperately needs to raise up women who will be validated, equipped, sent out, prayed for and supported to be evangelists to Muslim women. Muslim women comprise the largest unreached people group. One out of five females(babies, girls, women) in our world is a Muslim. Christian men are largely restricted from sharing Christ with Muslim women. Culturally most Muslim women can not have access to men unless they are related to them. Millions of Muslim females are restricted from moving around freely in the outside world. Their lives are lived mostly within their four walls where men can not go. Even if the women are somewhat liberated and hold jobs they still prefer to socialize among women. This is a generalization as there are cultures where the mixing of the genders is acceptable. How will Muslim females – girls and women – hear the Good News in a culturally acceptable way? I believe we Christian women need to awaken to the fact that God has chosen to use us.

Nowadays many Muslim women can hear of or read the gospel on the internet or television but they need to encounter an incarnate witness to give it a human touch. That kind of evangelism will best take place inside either your home or the Muslim woman's home, in privacy, on a one-on-one basis and within the context of a growing trusted relationship. It is a hidden and slow ministry. Hidden away in our churches is a growing number of Christian women becoming aware of the need of reaching Muslim women and feeling compassion towards them. They really desire to meet them and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. They don’t know how or where to begin. They need to be released to be God’s evangelists. They need to be affirmed, validated and sent out. They need to be equipped by other experienced Christian women.

My sister in Christ, if you sense God has gifted you to be an evangelist to Muslim women, don't shrink back. Your church leadership, friends or family may not understand or grasp this calling yet but just go to Muslim women and share the love of Jesus with them. He will strengthen and use you. I can testify that this high calling brings abundant joy and blessing and eternal fruit. There are many open doors.

Dear heavenly Father, please raise up more women evangelists in our churches. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Asking Questions

2011-10-01T10:46:00.002-05:00

“…All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.” I Corinthians 13:12b

“I ask Amal questions about her faith but she never asks me any questions about my faith. She loves answering my questions but I wish she would ask me something,” Linda shared. She always waited for Amal to have questions which never came. “She thinks you are interested in knowing more about Islam,” I replied. “And furthermore she doesn’t see any reason to ask you questions because she feels she has the best religion. Don’t worry if she doesn’t ask you questions about your faith. Just share what you believe when it is fitting,” I urged her.

Asking religious questions in our culture is permissible and encouraged. However, Muslims are brought up to believe that they have the last, best, and most correct religion and asking questions about Christianity would imply Amal might have some doubts or be entertaining criticism. They are taught to accept and obey whatever Allah says or is written in the Qur’an whether it is understood or not. Ultimately if something is not understood a Muslim woman will say the scholars will know the answer and leave it at that. Some are brought up that asking questions is a bad thing so they bury their questions.

Layla is an inquisitive woman. She has been disillusioned. She asked her teachers at school many questions and they tolerated them but there was one question she couldn’t seem to find the answer for. She was told to ask the clerics. She wanted to know why she was created. Her life seemed to be a disaster and she couldn’t make sense of anything of why she was on this earth. She could not find a satisfactory answer. And so she journeyed on always wondering.

There have been numerous Muslim women who have come to settle here in the West who have questions about eating meat that has not been butchered the Islamic way. We invited Zari and her husband for a meal. She wasn’t sure whether she could trust our meat. When she finally revealed her questions about the validity of what she was taught I commended her for having the courage to ask such questions. I told her she could feel safe in our home asking any question and that God would not punish her. He would not send her to jahannam(hell)for asking a question. She felt relief. The time comes when the scariest questions of all are courageously voiced: Do you believe the Qur’an or Mohammed are from God? Will God punish me and send me to hell if I become a Christian? I don’t understand why God said Muslim men can have four wives. Do you believe that is from God or from man? It’s important to take them to Scriptures for the answers – not just give an opinion.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving me freedom to ask any question. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

On the Move

2011-09-26T12:30:00.002-05:00

But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other places, too, because that is why I was sent.” Luke 4:43

Once I met a lady who had been going to the same church for over 50 years. I bet she even sat in the same pew! The pastor had served there over 40 years. I have not experienced such long term stability. I am often on the move. When God redirected us to return to Canada for ministry it baffled me. Pakistan was home to me. I wanted to stay for a long time. The first few years in ministry in North America I focused on reaching Muslim university students who lived primarily in one huge sprawling complex near the university. It was like my second home. Today I was in a halal grocery store in another area where a lot of refugees live when a flood of memories of visiting Muslim friends in many various buildings surrounding that store washed over me. Visits were made to Muslim women who had babies, or operations, or to give condolences upon a relative’s death. Weddings were attended. Multiple homes were visited for helping women with conversational English. That area of the city belonged to me. Part of my heart was left there when I moved on to the next part of the city. It is the story of my life. Moving around is often an identifiable trademark of an evangelist. Their ministry is not usually stationary. It was in the New Testament times and sometimes is today, too. Jesus went from village to village proclaiming the Kingdom of God. So did, the apostle Paul. They also went from synagogue to synagogue and today evangelists will go from church to church casting the Kingdom of God outreach vision.

Mom and Dad worked among the Somalis for fifty years. Dad was the evangelist. They moved for a number of reasons. Mom followed him around. They started in Djibouti and Yemen, then moved to Somalia, on to Ethiopia, and off to United Arab Emirates and lastly Kenya. Usually it was to start a new type of pioneering ministry or the political climate was pushing them forward to new frontiers or evangelistic restrictions were tightening. I have only moved to Pakistan and to two cities in Canada for ministry but within the cities God has led me to concentrate on different areas where Muslims live. My home doesn’t always change but the areas I minister in do.

I didn’t understand nor appreciate in the earlier years that moving me around was God’s intentional plan. He moves me around for the dissemination of His truth to be more widely proclaimed in new territory or to remove me from situations or relationships which have been given enough investment. I am to get the soil ready for planting and then to plant the seed. As an evangelist I accept God’s call to be on the move if that is what He chooses. I don’t move until the Divine Cloud moves.

Dear heavenly Father, I get torn between staying and moving. Help me to follow You well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Cross

2011-09-20T19:15:00.001-05:00

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – Jews first and also Gentiles.” Romans 1: 16

Khalid, a prominent religious leader in his community, was a very sick man. He was drifting in and out of consciousness when I arrived in his hospital room. His distressed wife, Fardos, had called me saying that “it was serious”. I wanted to pray for him but I wondered if it would be possible because I was sure many from their Arab Muslim community would be present during visiting hours in his hospital room making prayer awkward. But, lo and behold, I was alone! He did not seem very aware of his surroundings but when he saw me, something strong within him rose up and he ordered, “Take that cross off the wall.” A hospital orderly in the room feeling nervous about removing the crucifix took the calendar hanging close by and hung it over the cross. That bothered me alot. I asked Khalid if I could pray for him. He nodded yes. As I prayed for him his whole body shook like a leaf. Then I left. A crucifix could be covered up but no one could remove the presence of the Living Christ from Khalid’s room. Later his wife called me and asked, “Did you visit Khalid?” She didn’t explain why but she was sure it must have been me. I was amazed that the sight of a crucifix on the wall would elicit such strong negative emotion in the dying Muslim man.

We invited a Saudi man to our home for supper. Across the street from our home is a large Pentecostal church that has a cross raised high for all to see from a distance and is illumined at night. It is a special blessing to me reminding me day and night of the wonderful Savior we have who poured out His blood for the forgiveness of our sins at great personal cost. We pointed out the cross to our Saudi friend. He literally shrunk back gazing at it from our back door. He listened carefully as we explained the story. The cross seemed to elicit fear to our Saudi friend.

Usually I visit Karima in her home weekly. We read through a story in the Toddler’s Bible Story book but one day, in the middle of the week, I decided to take her to the church. She had never been inside a church before. We sat in the quiet empty sanctuary and she became overcome with some inexplicable emotion. She asked if she could pray. She prayed out loud a long time in her language from her heart. Then I prayed. Karima began to cry and continued to do so for quite some time. The Spirit was drawing her but she was resisting declaring she was a follower of Isa. She’s in the valley of decision. I had her gaze at the cross on the wall and went over the story again. She was overcome with a magnetic attraction.

Muslims can feel enraged, fearful, or attracted to the cross. I love to tell them the story.

Dear heavenly Father, I’ll never stop being amazed at the story of the cross. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scales

2011-09-15T08:15:00.005-05:00

“…And because of what he(Jesus)has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” Isaiah 53: 11b

I have an aversion to stepping on bathroom scales. Sounds crazy, but I view them more as an enemy than a friend. I want the pounds to look good, not bad. So, sometimes, I just avoid or ignore them and they collect dust. And yes, I have to admit it, there is a slight fear of them. When I go for my annual physical exam I groan as I step on those tall looming scales and the nurse adjusts the weights and then records the number. I wish it wouldn't have to be recorded. Strange how we are so interested in knowing the exact weight of a newborn but as we age we don’t always want to know the number. When we are sick weight gain or loss is pretty significant. The scales reveal a lot.

There is another set of scales that can evoke emotions in people. When I mention the word mezan to my Muslim friends it’s almost like I can detect a shudder. Most of them would like to ignore the mezan but can’t. Sadia said to me, “Joy, everything we do – fasting, praying, acts of charity – are for the next life, not this life. You should not think that it’s for this life. No, it’s for the next life.” I could almost visualize a picture of the mezan staring her in the face creating panic and fear. Khalida proudly told me that she fasted six extra days this year. "Because of the mezan?" I inquired. "Yes," she replied. According to Muslims Allah has a set of scales on which their good deeds and bad deeds are weighed. On the final day of judgment the verdict of their eternal destiny will be decided according to the measurements of their good and bad deeds. How my heart aches for my Muslim friends. I can’t imagine living with that terrifying prospect. An account is kept by Allah. He keeps hisab or a record. It’s up to them to make sure the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds. And then they wait to find out and hope for the best and hang on to the belief that Allah is merciful. But they are never free from uncertainty and fear.

The good news is that Isa al Masih has removed the bad deeds from my life and placed them on Himself on the cross. He’s taken the burden of keeping hisab off of me. My bad deeds are not being weighed on a mezan anymore. The mezan is empty. The mezan is gone. What a wonderful Savior we have! He is full of grace and mercy and love. He loves good people and bad people. Yes, even bad people. He knows our good deeds can never cancel out our bad deeds. He knows that our good deeds can never measure up to His righteousness and holiness. He bears our bad deeds or sins and then He graciously clothes us with His own goodness. What a gift!

Dear heavenly Father, thank You that You see us without a mezan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Help - I Need Wisdom!

2011-09-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6

I was studying the Bible bi-weekly with a secular Muslim woman for eight months at her request. However, it appeared she was primarily interested in comparing religions, not thirsting for God. I agonized what I should do.

Aliya had IVF done. Later she called me what she should do with the frozen eggs. How should I respond?

We invited a family over for supper. My mp3 player went missing. I had noticed the teenager playing with it. Should I talk about it or not?

Hawa disclosed her sexual abuse perpetrated by a family member. I knew both of them. What should I do?

Farahea was determined to leave her country and her family secretively without their knowing. What words of wisdom could I give her?

Farzana has a severe case of hoarding and received an eviction notice from management. If I sorted through her belongings would it really help her?

Nobody should embark in Muslim ministry without a thirst for wisdom, understanding and insight. It’s so easy to make mistakes, have regrets, cause damage or hurt people. Wisdom is needed for: colleague relationships, Muslim and MBB relationships, moving, locations, timing, children’s education, caring for elderly parents, involvement in local church, gift giving, loaning money, living in dangerous environments, evacuation possibilities, verbal and written communication, security issues, staying focused, prophetic words received, counselling situations, what to cook, wear, say, and do. The list could go on and on. Everyone needs wisdom, understanding and insight, but the person involved with Muslims or Muslim Background Believers needs an abundance of them. Sometimes we have to walk an uncharted path. Not only do I need wisdom for myself but also for the questions Muslims or Muslim Background Believers ask me.

Proverbs 2:1-7 instructs me with phrases like: tune your ears to wisdom – concentrate on understanding – cry out for insight – search for them. God hasn’t disappointed me. Any lack of wisdom is attributed towards not tuning my ears to wisdom. Needing wisdom is at the top of my prayer list.

Dear heavenly Father, I’d be completely lost without your promise of receiving wisdom. What a gift you give me. Thanks!

Image Consultants

2011-09-01T06:45:00.002-05:00

“For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son…"Romans 8:29a

“God wants to make you like Jesus,” I explained to Sima. “Really? Is that possible?” she asked incredulously. The thought of being made like Jesus captured her attention. She was familiar with how Muslims try to become like their prophet or his wives, copying how he dressed, walked, talked, fasted, prayed, fought, offered hospitality, etc. Trying to portray the exact image is highly desirable. When I began preparing for magazine, radio and television interviews I heard about image consultants being available. Whose image was I exactly to represent, I wondered? So much is about portraying a powerful impressive image before others in order to get big sales or a following. There are an abundance of media and religious image consultants offering to transform us in to somebody important.

One of the most painful things a person can experience is shame. We all desire to reveal our good image rather than reveal shameful things. In the early years of witnessing to Muslim women I wanted to portray an image that I was a “good Christian”; probably because many Muslims have negative impressions of Christians. The image they might have of us is that we are immoral, drink alcohol, are immodest, believe in three gods and are associated with the historical Crusaders of by gone days. I wanted my Muslim friends to know I prayed, went to church, gave to charity, did good deeds, dressed modestly and was moral. Subconsciously, I guess I was actually trying to prove I was just as religious or as good as Muslims – or more. Like it was some kind of contest or upmanship. Human beings, which includes myself, can be deceitfully proud of our moral conduct and religious practices. I didn’t want to divulge sinful things or shameful secrets. Muslims seldom do so I followed suit. I don’t remember exactly when that image portrayal of being the "good Christian" shattered. I guess it was when I realized evangelism is not about portraying how superior our faith is or how good we are but how sinful we are and how God can rescue us and change us. Over time I began to share some of the bad things I have done. Believe me, that is not easy to do with Muslims! I was shocked to witness their responsiveness. I thought they wouldn’t want to associate with me. But no, it has captured something deep within them – a yearning to be assured that God would love them and forgive them even if they have done sinful things, too. Grace has got to be the most beautiful word in the world. I really feel like I have been set free to only be concerned about my one image consultant, the heavenly Father. He’s changing me to become like Jesus. Amazing! Some of my friends are serving God in Afghanistan. Their goal is stated simply: to be like Jesus. Beautiful! I want that to be my goal, too.

Dear heavenly Father, I long for the image of Jesus to be seen through me. Amen.

Night of Power for Christians

2011-08-23T06:27:00.003-05:00

“Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39

“Numerous Christian workers in this land have had dreams of a big tsunami wave coming,” one of my colleagues wrote from a North African country. She was not referring to a geophysical earthquake tsunami which recently happened in Japan, but rather a mighty move of God in the Islamic world that will accomplish His purposes. A tidal wave of His eternal love is gathering force in the Islamic world.

Greg, a colleague in a western country, shared his dream with me wondering if there was an interpretation. He rarely had dreams of this nature. He had a dream about a tsunami wave coming and bringing destruction but he was high up and safe. Someone tried handing him a baby through the window, desperate for it to be rescued. He wanted to know the meaning. Hmm…another dream of a tsunami wave.

Just before these two reports I had a graphic dream about living very high in an apartment building. I was walking towards my apartment when a Somali woman met up with me. I invited her to my apartment. She told me of three Somali women who had become Christians, although she didn’t disclose she was. Then I walked over to the living room window and motioned for this nameless Somali woman to come and see the view of the expansive ocean. Suddenly before our eyes the calm beautiful ocean turned into a tsunami wave and came barrelling towards us with huge force and speed. It came crashing down on all the people and buildings below us but we were untouched high above the tsunami wave. I couldn’t believe it that we could see the destruction but not be touched by it. Why am I with this Somali woman? At that I awoke. What was the meaning of that, I wondered?

During Ramadan Christians are praying for Muslims to have powerful dreams of Isa during their much anticipated Night of Power when they believe Allah will do or say something special. But, I believe God wants to give praying Christians their “Night of Power”, too. I don’t think it is a coincidence that numerous Christians involved in Muslim ministry are having similar dreams of a tsunami wave. The prophet Joel prophesied long ago that in the end times men and women will have dreams and visions. It is God’s kairos time to sweep into the Islamic world. In these end times God’s powerful love; especially towards Muslims will be poured out in waves of great magnitude. God loves Muslims and He doesn’t want any to perish. I believe the next tsunami wave of the Spirit will reach Muslim women like we’ve never witnessed before. We can see it in the distance and it’s coming.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you that you are giving both Christians and Muslims dreams. Amazing! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Waiting Game

2011-08-19T07:15:00.003-05:00

“ Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised…” Acts 1:4

Mom and Dad waited twenty years in Yemen to get permission to live in Somalia. They made the most of the Waiting Game. And they won. They were not wasted years.

I find it hard to wait. Arriving at Amira’s apartment building I called her on the cell to come open the door. She stumbled to the door looking like she had just woken up, which she had. She motioned for me to sit in the living room and wait while she got dressed and took care of her little brothers. Obviously she had forgotten our appointment. So, I sat alone in the living room for quite a lengthy time. I took advantage of the waiting time and prayed for the Spirit to come and fill the place with His Presence and ready the opportunity to speak and reveal whatever. Finally Amira came. Instead of resenting the waiting time I felt the Spirit fill the room. Immediately a significant conversation developed that revealed deep seated fears – to the point she said, “I hate myself and want to kill myself.” Wow! I wondered if that conversation would have even come out if I hadn’t been made to wait and pray urgently for the Spirit to come and speak.

A visit had been arranged to meet with Jamila on Wednesday at 3 p.m. As I drove closer to her place I spotted Jamila walking down the road away from her apartment. Hmm….she must have forgotten. I called her name and she told me to go wait on the outside steps – she’d be back soon. So…I waited and waited. It was a hot day and the dust and garbage were swirling around from the wind. I began to think she had forgotten me waiting but finally she appeared. Again I decided to use the waiting time to pray for the Spirit to “do something” in our visit. Somehow when I use my waiting times for prayer resentment vanishes. When we finally settled down in the living room she immediately began to share a deep seated fear. She was having terrifying nightmares. It turned into an excellent opportunity to share how Jesus has power over everything and how we can call on Him and just say, “Isa, help me!”

I don’t like the Waiting Game. The devil plays with my weakness of being impatient. I want my appointments to be on time. I have a schedule for the day. There are groceries to be bought, laundry to be washed, supper to be cooked, emails need to be answered and phone messages to be cared for. But it seems that we can not control the Wind of the Holy Spirit. He blows in according to His time. Often that requires us to wait and take our hands off the controls. I think I could safely say that God comes in more power when I least expect Him to or when I have to wait. Now I enter the Waiting Game with the intention to win victory over resenting wasted time by turning it into praying. It has powerful results.

Dear heavenly Father, You are showing me that waiting and wasted are not synonymous. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Meadow Breaks

2011-08-13T20:30:00.002-05:00

“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” Psalm 23: 2

“Sometimes I feel the load is too heavy – like I’m Moses carrying so many Muslim friends' burdens,” Joan wrote me. “Do you ever feel that way?” she asked. Yes, I do frequently. No one can fully understand unless she has been personally involved. I have had the privilege of serving God among Muslim women for 33 years now. I wouldn’t trade this ministry for anything in the world. It is full of sweet friendships, wonderful opportunities and joys. At the same time I occasionally feel a heavy weight – like what Joan wrote me about.

It is an awesome privilege and calling but it also involves hearing sad stories especially about family troubles and feeling the oppressive weight of their helplessness or victimization. I feel their dependency on “specialists” who predict things or shed light on the cause of the evil eye and tell them what to do to avert bad luck, etc. There is a weight that can sit on us that comes from spiritual darkness. Recently I was with my friend, Nafiza, who has progressively moved towards putting her trust in Jesus. Her mother called her and asked if she was still saying her nimaz faithfully. She put saying her Arabic prescribed prayers away quite awhile ago and is now praying from her heart in her own language and finding such a peace and joy she hadn’t known before. Her mother is afraid she is no longer a Muslim. Shukria’s acquaintances always check on her if she is keeping the fast during Ramadan. When I realize some of my Muslim friends no longer want to see me because they are getting pressure from the community I get weary. Sometimes my friends change the subject if I talk about the Word of God. Fear sets in. After I have had glorious opportunities to share at length and I can see there is hunger and a desire to understand a sudden inexplicable exhaustion can come over me. I hate that feeling. I’m like a balloon that has had the air let out. The sudden exhaustion is a tell tale sign that a surge of spiritual power has gone out. I need a “meadow break”.

I find Psalm 23:2 such a beautiful inviting verse. What a tender caring Shepherd we have. He leads us gently and is sensitive to our frame. I have taken many meadow breaks. They are such precious times of doing nothing but “grazing” near my Shepherd. It’s almost like I can feel Him reaching down and patting me on the head and saying tender words over me. Sometimes, it’s like He picks me up and puts me on His lap. He’s likened not to a driven task master, or cowboy but a shepherd. Somehow these meadow breaks revitalize me. Soon I’m on my feet once again and energized to come alongside my Muslim friends – and tell them how precious the Shepherd is! He lets me rest in green meadows.

Dear heavenly Father, what a wonderful Shepherd you are. Your care is indescribably refreshing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Somali Famine

2011-08-09T08:15:00.003-05:00

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.” Matthew 25: 35

These days we see devastating pictures on TV of a famine happening in the Horn of Africa. Little children especially are dying in great numbers desperate for water, food and shelter after trekking for days across the hot desert sands. The pictures affect me profoundly because my childhood home was in Somalia. Praise God for the agencies delivering food to those hungry and thirsty.

We can see Somalis far away across oceans on the TV but they are also close by in some of our neighborhoods. Scattered throughout our western nations are some of these same Somalis who have suffered from political conflict and lived in Dadaab refugee camp or in other transit accommodations. After a lengthy wait they received permission to come to our western nations and today they live around our churches and on our streets. They are strangers to most of us over there and here.

These transplanted strangers are still experiencing a famine. Not a famine of needing physical water and food anymore. Thank God there is abundance of water and food here. But rather a famine of the soul. Except I’m not sure how many are desperately thirsty, or if they are, know where to get the spiritual water and food that would “taste” familiar to a Somali. They live in the Land of Many Churches but the average Somali would consider the Living Water and Bread offered to them very foreign if they visited one. Just like it is difficult to get physical humanitarian aid to the suffering masses of Somalis so is it difficult to get the spiritual Water and Bread to them. But it is possible. Nothing is impossible with God! Imagine my surprise when I sang the chorus, Jesus Loves Me in Somali on a recent visit to a Somali home and the old grandma rose up excitedly from her lounging position and said, “That’s Somali!” She hung on to every word and sang it along with me. She had the same look of satisfaction on her face as if she was relieving her physical thirst. Somalis can be given the evangelistic website: http://www.noloshacusub.net/ On it are Youtube worship songs, cartoons with spiritual teaching, the Jesus dvd, and Bible readings and messages - all in Somali.

I thank God that in His divine wisdom and grace He has directed thousands of Somalis to western nations where they can enjoy physical water, food, and shelter but also have the opportunity to discover spiritual food to satisfy their souls. They may never walk into a church service but maybe their opportunity will come through YOU! Let’s invite these strangers into our hearts and prayers and if they are in our neighborhood - our homes.

Dear heavenly Father, You love the Somalis. Use each of Your children powerfully who are ministering to them - whether it is giving a cup of cold water or Living Water. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dead Branches

2011-08-05T06:15:00.002-05:00

“He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit…” John 15:2a

We spent a number of summers looking out our kitchen window at five trees trying to grow. Little by little the saplings grew in height and started to fill out. But there were numerous dead branches sprouting from each one that gave such an ugly look; like big antlers sticking out. The trees do look better this summer but still those ugly dead branches disheartened us. So my husband clipped or sawed off the dead branches. We worked together. Ed clipped and sawed and I held the ladder so he wouldn’t have a fall. What a huge pile of branches collected in a heap. He didn’t touch the branches that have even a sprout of tender leaves. At least there is evidence of life in them. When the job was done I marvelled at the sight. No more ugly antlers! The trees are far from looking perfect but now they look alive and full of possibilities of new growth. Those dead branches prevented growth and were not pleasing to the eyes.

God has often spoken to me about spiritual dead branches in my life. The last two places where we have lived I passed by trees with big dead branches on my daily walks. Their deadness and ugliness glared out at me. I knew exactly what the dead branches in my life were. But I was so reluctant to do anything about them. They usually had to do with fruitless relationships that were either preoccupying my thoughts, emotions or energies and disturbing my sleep at night. I’d always hope for some sign of hope that things would get better. I couldn’t bear to face the reality that the “branches” were dead – totally dead, and needed to be removed from my life. God was ready to deal with the dead branches but I was not. Finally, hesitantly and reluctantly, I worked in cooperation with the Gardener of my life and let Him remove the dead branches that were hindering a fully fruitful ministry. Ouch, it hurt A LOT. But, to my total surprise and amazement, my mind was freed up and new energies emerged. I actually survived! I have no doubt today that the dead branches in me were holding back a glorious work God wanted to birth. It was like He finally said, “That’s enough. I’m going to cut those branches off. I have an awesome work to do and I don’t want to wait any longer.” Today I’m seeing the rewards. Oh, thank you, Lord!

We long to see fruitfulness in our relationship with the Lord and in our ministry among Muslims. But, do we reflect on whether there are actually dead branches that need to be removed? Those dead branches could well be hindering and preventing a fuller fruitful ministry or the birthing of a new venture. It takes courage to let them be removed. We can trust our Gardener.

Dear heavenly Father, somebody reading this recognizes a dead branch in her life but is afraid to have it cut off. Give her courage to let go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My Ramadan Observations

2011-07-31T13:42:00.003-05:00

“Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil.” Matthew 4:1

Any Christian woman ministering among Muslim women will observe that Ramadan disrupts normal routine and can put a hold on our relationships with them. It changes their eating times and bed times, increases cooking time, more visiting within their community and to the mosque, more food shopping, more phoning to family in their homelands which brings more homesickness, and diligent praying and reading of the Qur’an are stepped up. Occasionally Muslims will tell me they will see me after Ramadan. There are many reasons heard: “I’m dieting. I’m tired. I’m busy.” In earlier years I worried about what would happen to such friendships faithfully cultivated all year. But I’ve observed that most relationships do resume afterwards. God sustains our relationships put on temporary hold. He is Lord.

You never know what to expect when it comes to Ramadan. Even though I’m a Christian I have been invited for evening iftar meals because my friend has cooked an enormous feast and wants to invite people to eat it. Then there are Muslim friends whom I expect are fasting but aren't and invite me for meals over noon hour. A Saudi lady didn’t want me to visit inside her home during Ramadan but I could visit her outside on her front steps. The Holy Spirit is not limited to a closed front door. We had some significant conversations on those steps. “I love Ramadan”, she exclaimed to me. “Why, Sahar?” I probed. “Because Satan retreats from us during Ramadan,” she replied in obvious relief. At least she hoped so. I think of Jesus fasting 40 days and nights and Satan came to Him big time tempting and attacking Him but Jesus won the victory over him. After fasting Satan retreated for a time – not during fasting. Then there was Ahlam who would bring food over to me rather than invite me into her house to eat. Some of my conservative practicing friends are pregnant or nursing babies. They aren’t required by Islamic law to fast but they do because they want the blessing of entering into solidarity with their Muslim community. God creates some great opportunities for discussion about fasting. He is Lord.

We often hear of the Night of Power during Ramadan when Muslims anticipate Allah hearing their deepest desires. Personally I have only heard one Muslim friend share a special dream she had during that auspicious night. She couldn’t forget the dream even after ten years. She saw three trees. Two trees were commanded to bow down to the third tree. She wondered what it meant. I shared with her about the three trees(crosses) on Calvary and how every knee will bow down to Jesus who was hung on one of those three trees for the forgiveness of our sins. I have observed, however, that Muslims have dreams of Isa al Masih any time of the year. God is equally at work 365 days and nights of the year. He is Lord.

“Dear Father in heaven, please speak to my beloved Muslim friends this Ramadan. In Jesus’ name, Amen”.

Should We Fight?

2011-07-25T12:20:00.001-05:00

“…Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” Luke 22:49b

The companions of Jesus suddenly felt overtaken and threatened by a volatile group of people. Their survival and future seemed to be at stake. When fear raised its head the first thing that came to their minds was that they should fight. They had a few weapons on hand to protect themselves and began using them. However, Jesus ministered healing in the midst of real threatening danger. He just kept on doing good. Fighting was not an option for Jesus. He didn’t take a combative approach, nor was He an alarmist. I find Him such an excellent model to follow.

I receive alarmist type of emails from well-meaning concerned Christians about the threat of Islam taking over our country. I suppose many of these worried Christians would ask Jesus the same thing his companions did. “Lord, should we fight? We have some weapons.” Of course weapons can be something other than gun powder or swords. Our weapons could be spreading hate or fear mongering, sending scary you tube video clips and warning emails to family and friends, or implementing an intentional emotional or physical distancing from the people we fear. However, there is another way to deal with threats and danger. Will fighting back reduce or eliminate real threats and danger? If we ignore or avoid Muslims will real or perceived dangers go away? Is there any other option than fighting? What can we personally do about threats and danger? I look to Jesus for my cue.

Well, I know it sounds simplistic but we could minister and continue to do good like Jesus did in the midst of real or perceived threat and danger. Jesus healed the slave’s gaping hole where his ear had been slashed off. Amazing! Imagine the look on the disciples’ faces. While they wanted to use protective weapons He used love and goodness. His Kingdom is a different kind of kingdom. The Kingdom of God will never go extinct or be overtaken by anyone or any ideology – no matter how great the threat or danger. It’s impossible. I have spoken on numerous radio and TV interviews and invariably it comes up about how dangerous Muslims are. The fear level is high in some Christians. We share the same homeland but don’t always feel at home with Muslims. When I have inquired of Christians who have high fear and anxiety of Muslims if they have gotten to know a Muslim personally I don’t usually hear a “yes”. This is where the problem is. We’re afraid of people we haven’t met. The majority of Muslims I know are warm, hospitable and easy to love. What would doing good like Jesus did in the midst of real or perceived threat and danger look like today for us? For me, I would keep on helping, loving, praying, welcoming, hugging, inviting, visiting, baking cookies and cakes, and sharing the love of Jesus with Muslims - and if absolutely necessary report anything suspicious, as I have had to do on occasion.

Dear heavenly Father, please spread Your goodness and love through me to my Muslim friends. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Dress Up Time

2011-07-20T08:55:00.002-05:00

“This one who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen him….” I John 1:2a

It seems like females of all ages love dressing up anywhere in the world. When my granddaughters were younger they had a collection of dress up clothes, tiaras and high heels. They liked to pretend they were princesses or fairies. They loved to show off.

I was at Halima’s home watching her cook in the kitchen when she suddenly went to her bedroom and brought back a Somali dress and petticoat she wanted to give me as a gift for visiting her. She insisted I put them on right then. I obliged and she clapped her hands with delight, tucking in part of the floor length one-size- fits-all loose dress into the petticoat at my waist. The border of lace on the petticoat needed to be visible to give the full effect. I walked around showing it off and she just loved it.

My Libyan friend, Amal, invited me to a women’s party in her home. I was the only one who wasn’t a Libyan. Suddenly out of the clear blue she told me to come into her bedroom where she pulled out a traditional Libyan wedding outfit and dressed me up. The friends were delighted at the foreigner looking like one of them.

Samira from Indonesia fetched one of her hijabs and dressed me up in it. We stood before the bathroom mirror and she delightfully remarked, “You look like a Muslim now”.

You never know what to expect in Muslim ministry. The closer you get to the women the bigger the surprises. There’s a sweet bond that can evolve among Muslim and Christian friends. One of my Lebanese friends once remarked, “Joy, we are like little children. We are playful.” How true.

When a Muslim friend in the West wants to dress you up that is a sure sign that she is not viewing you so much as a “foreigner” anymore but feels a closeness to you. It isn’t to make you into a Muslim but her way of communicating that she loves you. She has now come to trust you. And when she trusts you the platform has been prepared by the Holy Spirit for you to share gospel truths on a deeper level. It may seem she is pretending you have become a Somali or Libyan by dressing you up but the truth of the matter is the closer we identify with them the more opportunities will arise for us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. Jesus left His glory of heaven at one time and got dressed up differently for earth. It was not a pretend dress up game. Rather He did it to identify with humans in order to reveal the essence of the Father. His effort to identify with us in the flesh helped humans to better grasp the love of the Father.

Never underestimate the message that is being communicated when a Muslim friend dresses you up in her cultural attire. It’s more than a playful game of dress up. You have entered a new dimension of evangelistic opportunity.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for showing us what You are really like in the appearance of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Joy

2011-07-14T17:50:00.001-05:00

“….and no one can rob you of that joy.” John 16:22b

“Everyone looks unhappy here,” Mojgan bemoaned, phoning me from the other side of the world. “If you are unhappy you will have lots of friends but if you are happy no one wants to be around you.” Mojgan was struggling settling back in her homeland after enjoying years of freedom and happiness in the West. She is a happy natured woman but hadn’t found anyone to share her joy with. It seems the religious leaders there have a moratorium on joy. Playing happy music is forbidden and occasionally punishable. Even romance stories are more “enjoyed” if they are sad. Religion is expressed in sad mournful interpretations. Suffering and sacrifice are key values. It’s not that her people can’t be happy but rather it is more cultural to suppress or deny joy than to express it. But, given permission to express joy, her people can actually be full of life. When they are set free to express worship to Jesus Christ there is a beautiful passion of joy which resonates from them. Mojgan’s people have got to be some of the most beautiful people in the world but a terrible lie has been fed them that God has something against being happy. A “thief” has come and killed joy in Mojgan’s country. The basic human right to be allowed to be happy has been stolen away from them.

I tried to explain to Mojgan that God created us to be joyful. He wants us to experience that mysterious fountain of life. I am not able to understand the particular interpretation that God would want us to live without joy. Christians take delight in knowing that God is full of joy and wants to give us joy and to live life to the fullest. We know that because Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10).

Joyful Christians are like magnets to everyone, but especially to Muslims. You may think that you don’t have all the objections and arguments to Islam down pat, don’t know enough Bible theology, etc., but a spirit of joy emanating from you will be pretty convincing and attractive. I recall the time a Muslim woman came to church with me and asked, “Joy, why are those people so happy who are singing?” It seemed very odd but also attractive. “They love God and He makes them happy,” I replied. She seemed puzzled by that response.

One of my favorite choruses to sing to young Muslim children is “I Have the Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart.” They love it and often sing along with me once they catch on to the words. Unashamedly I will let the joy of the Lord flow out from me like a sparkling river. I don’t want anyone to rob me of joy.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving me joy. It is a foretaste of heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Comfort Zone

2011-07-08T11:32:00.001-05:00

“…But you have kept the best until now!” John 2:10b

Being in a hospital is definitely not my comfort zone but I seem to find myself there quite often. A Muslim friend is afraid to have a breast lump examined or a biopsy done, another has very private procedures done, nose surgery performed, stitches removed, circumcision done on her baby son, in ER, or needing chemo treatments and longing to have a friend sit nearby. My friends are feeling vulnerable and scared. They want their hands held and to hear reassuring words.

It took me until I was 36 years old to get my driver’s license. I was afraid to drive. I have difficulty reading a map. It’s not my comfort zone to transport Muslim friends here or there. On occasion friends take me on rabbit trails to addresses they think they know but don’t. I get stressed trying to figure everything out.

I like a clean house. Seeing cockroaches climbing walls freaks me out. My body doesn’t particularly take to lumpy springy couches or hard floors to sit on. Other homes are like spotlessly clean show homes with ornate furniture, expensive handmade silk carpets and chandeliers – not my comfort zone, either. When the heat is set so high in an apartment in the winter I want to scream for someone to please open the windows. A Saudi couple’s apartment once was so unbearably hot in the winter months that I had to ask for prayer each time I went that I would endure it. Or perhaps the incense burning is billowing smoke and I feel overcome by the strong scent. I’m at the age where I don’t want to eat heavy greasy food or sweets dripping in honey.

Attending some of my friends parties can make me feel uncomfortable. I can’t always wholeheartedly enter into their dancing for hours or find their discussions of jewelry and fashions interesting after the first few minutes. The novelty has worn off. When they start talking about their movies I get that lost feeling. Sometimes I’m the only foreigner among them. The same goes for gathering together at grieving times at the death of a loved one. Grieving is expressed differently in my culture and faith. I’m not always in my comfort zone.

When I hear about their experiences in and firm beliefs about certain folk Islamic practices or visits to shrines I’m out of my comfort zone. I can’t understand their devotion to prescribed memorized prayers and fasting. I’m unable to comprehend their fear of Allah, hell, and judgments. Spiritual darkness is not my comfort zone. I prefer to be in the heavenly realms worshipping and singing with my Christian brothers and sisters. And to be in the thick of a spiritual battle is definitely not my comfort zone!

It seems half my time is spent in zones not suitable for my comfort. But it’s in these zones that wonderful opportunities arise to share about Jesus. It’s behind the Christian comfort zone that I get to see "water turned into wine". That’s really where I want to be.

Dear heavenly Father, I just want to be wherever You want to go. I know I’ll be in for a surprise.

Learning to Trust

2011-07-03T13:50:00.003-05:00

“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.” John 14: 1

“Please tell me what this letter says,” Abdi requested. It was a notice from the office of Abdi’s government housing units issuing a warning. A friend had already explained the warning notice to Abdi but he didn’t trust that his friend had explained it correctly so he double checked with me. Pest control technicians had come to his unit to spray for bugs. Abdi would have been notified. But when they came to the door Abdi wouldn’t let them in. “We don’t have bugs,” he informed the workers adamantly. The technicians were denied entrance, thus a warning notice that if they were denied again Abdi and his family would be evicted. Various notices, bills, and information letters were shown to me about other matters. Always there is distrust either with me, or another person who has explained the same thing, or with the offices which have sent the letters. Abdi has a major issue trusting anyone. His face shows real stress when it comes to trusting. It doesn’t help that he is semi-literate, even after ten years here. Above all, it doesn’t help the situation that he has been traumatized from political conflict and danger in his country of origin. He grew up not being able to trust anyone, including the government, because they had not proven trustworthy. The religious authorities had disillusioned him severely, too – he can’t trust any faith.

A widow from a country that has known its share of turmoil is very protective of her sons. She finds it difficult to trust anybody who holds an office to which she needs to report. She isn’t sure if she can trust her children’s safety at school. Another widow experienced having her baby poisoned, two daughters kidnapped, and her husband disappeared decades ago. She’s been overly protective of her only son. She doesn’t want to lose him.

I encounter many Muslim refugees who have come to this new land who have taken years to trust schools, offices, government, settlement officers, doctors, police, mechanics, used car dealers, pastors, churches, and kind people. We enthusiastically dive into sharing about Jesus and expect them to trust Him as Savior simply because we tell them that He is trustworthy. We have a hard time comprehending the journey of trust they are on. It takes a long time to learn how to trust.

Khadija told me a long story of a newcomer who had been treated unjustly by a church. Unfortunately the story developed out of distrust and paranoia. I asked Khadija, “Can you trust me?” “Yes,” she replied, “because you have had me in your home.” Really? She explained that she can trust people if they have invited her into their home and served her food. Extending an invitation to our homes where we welcome the distrusting ones and show them honor and love and serve food may prove to be the most significant way to start building broken trust.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You that there is no darkness in You at all. I can trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dreams

2011-06-27T09:30:00.001-05:00

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” John 20:29

“If I have a dream I’ll believe,” Tala said. Her husband sitting near by piped in, “Joy, you must be patient with us. It is very hard to believe that Jesus is God. We need some proof.” I could tell they wanted to believe but were being held back. They weren’t resistant – just doubtful. It is not uncommon to hear our Muslim friends say that if they would have a dream they would believe. Many Muslims around the world have decided to follow Isa al Masih after they have had an epiphany dream.

Yes, we have friends who have been blessed to have had awesome dreams of Jesus or something spiritual in nature which convinced them of the truth of the Good News. But some of them had those dreams many years ago. Today they are weak in the faith. The dreams haven’t sustained them on the long haul.

I know one family of believers who must win the prize for having the most spiritual dreams. The most common dream is about bread. One night the husband, wife and daughter all had dreams about bread. They view bread as being alive. They don’t have any difficulty believing that Jesus is the Bread of Life!

Recently a young man wanted to share two impacting dreams he just had. He even typed them up for me to read. I got goose bumps reading them. Clearly the Holy Spirit was revealing Himself to the young man. I felt so privileged to hear about his dreams. Even more, I felt privileged to be able to open the Bible and show him the meaning of his dreams. All the meaning and answers were right there in the Bible. If I can not find the meaning or answer to dreams in the Bible I am reluctant to get involved in interpreting their dreams. But when it is clear I am eager to point them to Christ through the written Word.

Anyone involved in Muslim ministry will eventually be introduced to the world of dreams. The Persian people are especially impacted by dreams. They have books on interpreting dreams. One lady I know keeps such a book right by her pillow to check first thing when she wakes up. It has taken years for me to understand the importance of dreams to Muslims and to know how to respond; especially if the dream has me in it! Some dreams are ominous, some from Satan, some from God, and others - who knows what they’re about? I depend on the Holy Spirit to help me. Sometimes I actually need to rebuke their dreams when it is clear they are ominous and from Satan. If your Muslim friend shares her dream with you don’t be afraid to get involved. Use the Word of God. Just don’t let them depend on you to interpret their dreams. Ultimately following Jesus requires going by faith rather than by sight. However, God is merciful and understands the Muslim’s need for convincing proof.

Dear heavenly Father, You are revealing Yourself in amazing ways to Muslims. You are merciful and kind. In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Dance

2011-06-21T08:45:00.004-05:00

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.” I Cor. 9: 22b

Yesterday I visited a new Somali family of eight who live in low income housing. It was grand central station for other Somalis in the community to drop in and make themselves at home. An old lady walked in. “Who’s that?” I asked. “She’s my hooyo(mother),” Fatima said. “Well, not my hooyo but she is like my hooyo.” She made herself comfortable lying down on a large cushion on the floor. A twenty year old man also walked in. I discovered Mohammed wasn’t really a brother but lives in the same building. The apartment and food were communal.

Visits like this take place many times a week. I hear interesting stories from my friends who come from Somalia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya or Kurdistan. My friends are dressed in their cultural attire, lounging in their homes like they do in the East, with satellite programs from their countries often on the TV screen. Eastern music is played. I can smell curries or doro wat cooking. Sometimes incense is burning. I’m offered a wonderful spread of their particular cuisine, occasionally eating with my hands rather than silverware. In certain homes I sit on the floor propped up by cushions. At any given moment I seize an opportunity to share about the Lord.

Sunday comes and I go to church. There are some international folks in the service but they are from non-Islamic countries on the whole. They have become westernized and assimilated. I dance between the east and the west every week and have been doing so for 23 years in Canada. When I lived in Pakistan I lived in the east and mixed with eastern people, took on eastern dress, ate their food, and spoke their language. Sunday was the same as the rest of the week. But not here in my homeland. Every day I live in two worlds - the east and the west. I even change my clothes often in one day. For the conservative Muslim home I might wear a long skirt and top with sleeves. Then I visit my Caucasian friend and I’ll wear my capris. I also dance between moving from visits in a low income home to a high class home in any given day, or from someone who has never gone to school to one who has a doctorate. Or one might be a liberal Muslim while another a fundamentalist. Over time I’ve learned how to dance this dance. It has not been easy to learn. Some of you ministering in the west are learning to dance this dance and are finding it cumbersome and psychologically taxing. Don’t give up. It will get easier. If we read the Gospels carefully we will see Jesus did quite the dance, too, between moving among the religious fundamentalists and the liberals, the poor and the rich, the Gentiles and the Jews. He danced between heaven and earth. Finding common ground often entails a delicate dance.

Dear heavenly Father, please help some of Your workers who need encouragement with moving between east and west constantly. Equip them for this unique dance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Evaluating Ministry

2011-06-15T11:15:00.004-05:00

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some.” John 21:6a

For years I told Muslim women, upon meeting them, that I help people with conversational English practice. That is what I did year after year and I loved it. Many doors opened as a result.

One day I sensed I should take some time for a personal retreat and evaluate ministry. I felt like I had gotten stuck in a rut. I sensed the Lord say, “throw your net on the other side.” It was time to make some changes. What I concluded was that He wanted me to put helping Muslim women with conversational English aside and throw my net another direction. I gasped. How could I do that? I had gone about ministry like this for so many years I couldn’t imagine any other way. It’s one thing to sense such instructions but another to actually forge ahead into the unknown. The Lord was instructing me to dive in and share Christ more openly and deeply – not just help Muslim women with English conversation. It was exactly at that time we were packing up to move to another city for ministry. I had envisioned doing exactly the same thing there, namely, helping Muslim women with conversational English. I had a big box full of English Oxford Picture Dictionaries, all kinds of resources, etc. which I put in the moving van. But not once in four years in that new city did they come out. I found a new freedom in evangelism. It wasn’t that it was wrong for me to use conversational English practice as a means of connecting with Muslim women. It just was that God wanted to develop and hone evangelistic sharing skills more in me and my English resources and methods were getting in the way which I needed to be freed from for a season. What an exciting four years flew by as I threw my net on the other side. I took a big risk and made some major changes. I was sure that doors would close if I talked about Jesus very much to my Muslim women friends. I think He must have chosen specific women for me to learn on because most of the doors stayed wide open.

The time came for us to make another move four years later. Guess what? The English conversation resources came back out, but this time, they became more a means to help me in preparing the ground to witness. Before I was using the resources but didn’t move forward in witnessing. Now I was able to get out of my rut of overly depending on my method which had become routine and familiar. It can be scary throwing our net on the other side but if the instruction is coming from the Holy Spirit you can trust Him that He knows what He’s doing. If it isn’t coming from the Holy Spirit, I wouldn’t move ahead. I’m not into experimenting for the sake of trying new things. I’m into understanding and doing the will of God.

Dear heavenly Father, please help me to trust your instructions and to act upon them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Parenting in a Dangerous Environment

2011-06-09T07:06:00.003-05:00

“…Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.” Romans 8: 38b

Some concerned young mothers have written me about raising their children in unstable and potentially dangerous environments. Today conflict, war, and international tensions have escalated rapidly causing soul searching in parents about how to parent their young children in such an environment.

I would not say that serving in Pakistan from 1978-88 was particularly dangerous. We raised our two young children there – actually ten miles from where the Most Wanted Man was recently captured and killed. Not everything was easy but overall it wasn’t threatening. Today it has changed somewhat. But I did grow up in a potentially dangerous environment. More of that can be read in my book, Woman to Woman, Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend. So I will share here more from the view of a child rather than the parent.

First of all, there are dangers anywhere we might live. The dangers in the West are different than the dangers of Afghanistan, Somalia, or Darfur. If your child is afraid to be alone or checking under the beds or closets that’s a sign of him being affected. Dads may need to understand this is not boot camp for the kids, nor is Suzy being required by God to be a good strong soldier of the cross. It’s important to talk about your child’s fears or questions openly and not spiritualize scary things like: “God will take care of you” which makes Suzy feel like God cares but do my mommy and daddy care? Give lots of affection. If your children are convinced they are more important than reaching all the people in Afghanistan (or wherever) they will most likely feel safe. Be wise about talking freely with colleagues in prayer meetings, over the supper table, etc. about scary things in the presence of your children’s hearing. The highway from their ears to their hearts is open and impressionable. I didn’t grow up having a stuffed animal but I think every child should have one. What kinds of books are on your bookshelf? What are the book covers depicting? Children pick up books from time to time and get ideas like I did. How do you report in church meetings if your children are present? Sometimes the dangers may prove to be more magnified by what our children hear and see right within our home or church than in the land of service! I heard many a scary story in deputation meetings. If they have nightmares for an extended time that is a sign that something is troubling your child. I had nightmares all my childhood. Try to understand their nightmares.

Should you allow your children to go through potential fears and dangers? I can’t answer whether that is right or wrong. All I can suggest are some practical insights. Have open eyes, open ears, open wills to leave if necessary, open hearts and open arms that hold them close. Love will take you a LONG way. May God bless each one of you dear concerned mothers.

Dear heavenly Father, please bring peace and assurance to godly concerned mothers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Endangered Species

2011-06-03T06:34:00.002-05:00

"We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” II Timothy 2: 8

As a family we spent a number of holidays on the beach in Pakistan. We put our watches and calendars away for a week, read by lanterns, and flushed the toilet with sparkly phosphorous sea water. The most exciting part of those holidays was getting up in the middle of the night, grabbing our flashlights and walking quietly on the shores to make turtle midwifery calls. We roamed the beach searching for the familiar turtle tracks. The huge sea turtle, swimming over from Oman to Pakistan, would lumber up on shore ever so slowly, dig a sand nest, shed tears in labor as she lay her eggs, cover them over with sand, and then return to sea. She was tagged by the Omani government because she was an endangered species. Only a few baby turtles would survive crawling back to sea. The cawing crows, sea gulls, and wild dogs would devour the vast majority of them at sunrise. We gave our children buckets to put some of the newly hatched turtles in to return them safely back into the sea. We fought against the encircling crows and ravenous dogs. The thought of those turtles going extinct and being endangered spurred us on. It was a crazy way to spend precious holiday time; especially at an unearthly hour of the night, but worth it.

It’s not only huge Omani sea turtles that are becoming an endangered species. This may sound strange but sometimes I feel, as an evangelist among Muslim women, that I’m an endangered species and am tagged by the Kingdom of Heaven. I don’t think there are too many of us around. That baffles me since one out of four females on this planet is a Muslim. There are so many millions of Muslim women to share the gospel with and so few women evangelists. That’s one reason I wrote my book, Woman to Woman, Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend. My heart’s cry is to see hundreds of Christian women rise up to the challenge of sharing the Good News with Muslim women. Praise God that is happening more and more! It's not an easy work for sure. I feel an affinity with the mother turtle's journey as she embarks on a long underwater trip swimming from Oman to the shores of Pakistan, and then hunkers down to lay maybe a hundred eggs. It’s such a long process. She cries. She can’t bear to be distracted. If she gets disturbed she will wander off to another place. I wonder how she can leave those eggs to hatch when there are crows and wild dogs poised to pounce on the baby turtles and gobble them up. All of that sounds like me and my ministry in a symbolic way.

Someone on earth is employed to watch out for those sea turtles. Someone greater in heaven is watching over and preserving women evangelists. Maybe you’re one of them. Take heart! God is watching over you and the spiritual babies being born. Perhaps God is using you to help carry the spiritual babies safely "to sea" so they will survive and one day reproduce.

Dear heavenly Father, please preserve women evangelists who feel their calling and ministry are endangered. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Emotional Healing

2011-05-27T09:45:00.006-05:00

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” Isaiah 9:2

I hear many stories from my Muslim friends of being hurt, taunted, shunned or abused. They have been emotionally or physically injured or wounded. Iman was poisoned and betrayed by her best friend. Her life hung in the balances for four months. Then there was Amal whose husband threatened to divorce her because after fifteen years she hadn’t produced a baby. A Libyan friend was in high anxiety because her country is in a huge crisis, affecting her family. Maryam concluded she must be a sinner and being punished by Allah because she has multiple sclerosis. Hussein recounted his two kidnappings, beatings, and torture of being hung by the feet from the ceiling by the Taliban. I want to put my hands over my ears and say, “STOP, I can’t take anymore!” Maybe you, too, have heard many such stories. Anyone who is involved deeply with Muslims will hear an abundance of sad and horrific stories. There are some very resilient friends but many of them carry heavy burdens of memories which won’t go away. Some are shell shocked, traumatized, and bearing both visible and invisible scars.

They need divine healing. And I can’t help them. That is the worst part. I want to take their pain away but I can’t. I want them to hear about our Healer, Isa al Masih, who is not only the Healer of physical illnesses but also mental, emotional, and spiritual disturbances. I believe that my friends can get some measure of help from professional sources and medications but it often is not complete or lasting apart from a divine touch by our divine Healer.

What can we do? First of all, we need to look at our own lives. Do we need emotional healing in any area? Do we have a story to tell? I have personally been miraculously and mysteriously healed by God’s divine touch a few times. When we have experienced a divine healing God will use our stories powerfully and redemptively in our Muslim friends’ lives. We need to point them to the Healer, not draw them to ourselves. They need to hear the story of the cross and the risen Savior. We need to share with our Muslim friends that we can't atone or compensate for our sins by suffering emotional wounds and sicknesses. Rather, Jesus has become our atonement on the cross. Probably the biggest area of ministry I’m engaged in is praying for Muslims. I listen to their stories, pray for them, and then give their pain to Jesus. I don’t take it on and carry it myself. Praise God, that He is the one who wants to carry our burdens, wounds, injustices, and sorrows. He CAN and DOES heal, deliver us from evil spirits, lift away oppression, give comfort, and put us back together and make us whole. Thank you, Lord! Let Your light shine. What a wonderful, glorious, marvelous Healer you are.

Dear heavenly Father, please heal my friends' wounds. Thank you I don't have to make atonement for anything! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Feeling Discouraged

2011-05-21T15:58:00.004-05:00

“…be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I Corinthians 15: 58

After a meeting I sometimes hear the following comments: I want to meet Muslim women but I can’t seem to meet any…They don’t look at me if I meet them in the store…I can’t speak her language…I’m too young…I’m too old…I’m a single mom…I’ve been divorced…She’s always so busy…She doesn’t ever call me…I’m tired of always taking the initiative…She just stopped meeting with me and I don’t know why…She is afraid to hear anything…She can’t read even in her own language…Her community is putting pressure on her to stay away from me…I can’t see any spiritual hunger or thirst in her…Her demands and expectations of me are so high…I think she was offended by something I said or did but she won’t tell me what…She can’t seem to rise above the fear of the evil eye…She can’t forgive…I tell her about her rights in our country but she still thinks the court system here is like in her homeland…She loves Isa al Masih and even says “he’s the best” but her prophet is “the last”…She can’t understand the Trinity or that Isa al Masih is God manifested in the flesh…I’ve befriended her for two years but still she isn’t interested in my faith…I feel too inadequate to witness…She’s afraid to read the Bible…I prayed in the name of Isa al Masih for my friend and He answered the prayer with a miracle but she said she also prayed to Hussein, Ali, Fatima, Maryam or Imam Reza…She came to church once but isn’t interested in going back…My church doesn’t understand how difficult it is for me ministering to Muslim women…The church can’t see my ministry so they have a hard time standing behind me…My church isn’t suitable to invite Muslims to…There isn’t any MBB fellowship in my city…I feel so alone…etc.

It is easy to quickly get discouraged trying to reach Muslim women with the Good News. Our love and compassion can fluctuate – maybe even disappear. We’re not so sure anymore that God has called us to this ministry. Where are the visible results? It all takes so long. How long should I even hang in there?

I’ve often gotten discouraged in the 33 years of ministry. Every time I get discouraged I have a good cry, talk it out with God, beg for more strength and perseverance, tarry in His presence for comfort, and listen to some worship music and read the Word of God. At these times I find I need to stay away from Christians who sensationalize everything. They will make me more discouraged. I find encouragement from those who suffer well with some kind of affliction or have experienced a degree of persecution. I also find networking with other Christians involved in Muslim ministry to be helpful. We all seem to understand each other. Keep on keeping on, my sisters. God is Almighty! NOTHING you do for the Lord is ever useless or wasted. Just remember who you are doing it for.

Dear heavenly Father, please send encouragement to a discouraged sister today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

No Longer Strangers

2011-05-16T13:09:00.004-05:00

“…I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.” Matthew 25: 35b

We invited Ahmed and Nuri and their children to our home for supper. We didn’t know them well. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. I sensed Nuri hesitating and could guess why. “You won’t be served pork or alcohol,” I assured her. “And the meat will be halal.” Immediately she agreed to the invitation. I spent considerable time cooking vegetable and meat curries and rice. The children looked dazed and shy when they entered our home – like strangers. I put the food on the table and a plastic tablecloth on the floor to sit around eating picnic style. Before eating, my husband mentioned we would say a prayer of thanks to God for the food. It was the first time they had witnessed such. It was an enjoyable evening spent together. Ahmed and Ed played a few games of crokinole while the children played with toys. Nuri mentioned that every Saturday a lady from the mosque comes to her home to teach her how to read Arabic so she will be able to read the Qur’an. Nuri never had a chance to go to school as a child in Afghanistan so never learned how to read Arabic nor Persian. I got my Urdu Bible and read Matthew 5: 1-16 to her. She could understand a fair amount of it since she had been a refugee in Pakistan. She was impacted with the verse, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” I could tell she deeply desired to be pure. I caught a clue for further conversation in the future. Ahmed’s cell phone rang to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Ed and I looked at each other and smiled. We wondered if Ahmed was aware that it was a gospel song. Hmm…another clue for future conversation. Before they left I played the simple chorus, “God is So Good” on the piano. They were awed. Then my husband and I made up the verse to the same song, “God Loves Nuri” – and the same for each individual in the family. I asked Nuri if they had been in other Canadian homes. She replied, “No, this is the first time in our ten years in Canada.” Ouch. My heart ached. Before leaving they extended an invitation to come to their home the next weekend. No longer strangers!

Not all Muslims desire to connect with non-Muslims. Some want to be exclusively with their community. They want their children to go to Islamic schools, have Muslim doctors, and go to Islamic grocery stores. They want to live apart from non-Muslims.(Maybe we, too?) Unfortunately we will remain strangers. But some, like Ahmed and Nuri, are willing and delighted to step out of their comfort zone. Don’t give up if the Muslim you meet prefers to be isolated from non-Muslims. There will be someone else who will respond to being welcomed.

Dear heavenly Father, I’ve been taught by my culture to not talk to strangers. But You tell me to invite strangers into my home. Help me to understand better what You mean. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Vulnerable Girls

2011-05-10T19:00:00.005-05:00

"See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are!” First John 3:1a

I was a vulnerable little girl. Where I grew up I often felt like I was viewed as a *sexual object. Well, actually I know I was. I heard indecent words, endured pinches, and long lustful stares. My missionary parents carefully protected me by having me wear a scarf and modest clothes. I didn’t roam around by myself outside. One day a Muslim man approached dad about wanting to marry me. With his ability to come up with quick answers he informed the man I was worth one hundred camels, knowing that he could not fulfill that demand. Furthermore dad told him he wouldn’t know where to store the camels either. I’m sure mom and dad prayed fervently for God to shield me.

Little girls can be vulnerable in the Islamic world. Of course, they can be anywhere in the world, including the West, but having lived in Muslim countries I have observed there is a difference between how boys and girls are viewed or treated. Very sad! There was a time in pre-Islamic history when some baby girls were physically buried alive. Praise God that practice has been abolished. Being “buried alive” psychologically can still take place, however. There are little girls who may not have been wanted at birth. Thank God, I also personally know many families where girls were wanted and loved equally as much as boys. Congratulations will be given to the mother who gives birth to a boy but not always if she has given birth to a girl. Perhaps the mother’s marriage may be jeopardized by giving birth to a girl(or too many girls) rather than a boy. Occasionally a woman is rejected if she doesn’t produce any child. Sometimes a girl is given away to relatives in the extended family who can’t have a child. I have a Muslim friend who had this happen to her. The single Muslim woman doesn't have an easy road to walk. A girl is often raised with different standards and rules than her brothers. They are given more freedoms than her. Many little girls, but not all, are not able to go to school or pursue higher education. Their brothers are but not them. Then there are vulnerable little girls(both Muslim and Christian) who go through the trauma of undergoing female genital mutilation. Some get married off at a very young age. One of my Muslim friend's told me how her 12 year old sister was married off against her will. She had not even begun menstruating. There are many such horror stories. I know these girls personally.

God loves girls as much as He loves boys. We are equally precious. Remind your Muslim women friends of this truth. They need to hear it often. Maybe, my Christian sister, you need to be reminded of that truth, too. Have you been slowly worn down with seeing favoritism? How’s the “little girl” in you doing?

Dear heavenly Father, how wonderful that there is no favoritism with you. Please heal some vulnerable girl’s wounds today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Vulnerable Mothers and Babies

2011-05-05T10:48:00.003-05:00

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love….” Romans 8:38a

After giving birth to our son at our mission hospital in northern Pakistan the visitors started coming. One person gave us a doll, larger than our newborn, and some pink satin fabric. That seemed very strange to us because we usually associated dolls and pink with girls more than boys. Our local house helper was perplexed how I could fit into Jonny’s small crib. It was unthinkable that a baby would sleep by himself. Over the years I have observed babies with eye liner around their eyes and black pouches on strings hanging around their necks. Sometimes little pendants of an eye are pinned to the baby’s sleeper or they wear a gold chain with an Islamic saying. Miniature Qur’ans may be placed near babies where they sleep. One of my friends dressed her baby girl in boy’s clothes. When I asked her why she mumbled something about the jinn. Another friend traced patterns on her baby’s face with her finger. When my twin brother and I were born in Yemen some Muslim women made little bonnets for us to protect the soft fontanel part of our heads from the jinn whom they claimed enter there. For a western Christian all of these things can seem bewildering and strange.

It doesn’t take long for the Christian woman ministering among Muslim women to catch on that newborn babies are viewed as exceedingly vulnerable to sickness or harm which is often attributed to the activity of jinn or the evil eye of jealousy of some other woman. It doesn’t make much difference whether we are living in an Islamic country or a western nation. Many Muslim mothers are afraid of harm coming to their babies and can feel helpless in protecting them. They look to tangible ways to ensure protection and blessing, even if they know such practices are considered haram in Islam. The mother may even be a well educated woman but the scary stories that are passed down to her from her mother, grandmother, and aunties continue to instill fear and anxiety.

It is heart warming to witness the high value put on motherhood in Muslim cultures. If you have a Muslim friend who is a mother affirm that high value and encourage her in the hard work of raising children. When she gives birth to a child make careful observation of any lurking fears or anxieties. Assure her that even though her baby is weak and vulnerable God is fully able and desirous of protecting her baby. God’s jealousy over her baby is pure and good and stronger than any jealous eye of jinn or people. She needs to know that God is much stronger than Satan, jinn, and the evil eye and that He loves both her and her baby very much. It takes faith to believe that. There probably is no better time to teach your Muslim friend about God’s love and power than when she has just delivered a baby.

Dear heavenly Father, help some vulnerable mother this day to know Your deep love and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fishing

2011-04-30T13:30:00.005-05:00

“….Come be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19a

Our young grandsons get excited when they catch a fish. One of our Turkish friends likes deep sea fishing. He is always up to a big challenge. Once he brought home a 90 pound tuna fish. I didn’t know fish could get that big! I don’t know much but I do know there is a big difference between fishing close to shore and fishing in the deep waters. If I were to go fishing I certainly would need someone to teach me because I don’t have a clue how to go about it.

I passed by the parking lot of a big church on my way to visit Habiba. The parking lot was full of cars like usual. The Alpha program, mid-week Bible studies and children’s clubs are well attended. Men, women and children come by the hundreds into the church. The staff don’t even need to go out to bring them in. They just walk in. How’s that possible?! It’s amazing and wonderful. As I settled into visiting Habiba I reflected on how challenging it was to make contact with her. There was suspicion at first because I’m a Christian but eventually she allowed me to come. She certainly wasn’t going to come to me on her own. It took a lot of prayer to make that possible. Then I had to wade through huge cultural differences and language barrier. When faith issues started to surface it became hard work as darkness and light clashed and fear set in. After one particular exhausting visit and walking past the church’s full parking lot it hit me that when I visit Habiba I feel like I’m deep sea fishing. It requires extremely hard spiritual work and perseverance. This ‘fish’ is way out in the deep waters. She isn’t ready or willing to walk into the church across the street. Someone needs to go to her way out there in the deep waters, far from shore.

Both kinds(deep water and more shallow water) of ‘fishing’ need to be done. Thank God there are many ‘fish’ easy to catch. He also knows there are some pretty special ‘fish’ out in the deep waters that need catching, too. He teaches His disciples how to ‘fish’ for both. Jesus’ words and imagery sound kind of strange, “I’ll teach you how to catch men.” I’m glad He doesn’t just send us out ‘fishing’ but teaches us how. I love ‘fishing’ in the deep waters even if it is strenuous and requires perseverance and endurance. I’m with my Master Teacher, who made the ‘fish’. He is an expert on the subject of ‘fishing’ for the souls of people. I’m learning from Him.

Dear heavenly Father, please teach me more about fishing for people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Random Act of Kindness

2011-04-24T22:50:00.004-05:00

“…She(Tabitha)was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.” Acts 9:36b

It really all started with a very simple random act of kindness. Jill noticed her elderly Muslim neighbor, Shahla, having difficulty carrying out her garbage. She was prompted by the Holy Spirit to give Shahla a helping hand. From that point on various Christians from churches in an American town on the east coast began to visit her. Both youth and adults and even church leaders got involved raking the leaves from her many trees in her large yard and changing light bulbs. Shahla’s home had various electrical repair needs. One of the church’s community outreach teams spent a few hundred dollars to buy the necessary equipment and helped to repair them. The church got involved in removing trees and repairing the roof. Shahla’s children were far away and weren’t able to attend to many of her needs. She was visited often in hospital stays and some of the church folks would keep her children informed of how their mom was doing. Shahla would invite the helping church friends in for tea and cake. A trusted and loving relationship was established between Shahla and the Christians over the period of a few years. They also invited Shahla over for meals. When Christmas came a few of the church folks, accompanied by a flutist, sang Christmas carols to her in her home. They also took the time to explain the meaning of the carols to her. Shahla was becoming drawn to Jesus and the love that was being shown to her. God providentially provided Christians to manifest love in tangible ways and also to help explain God’s great love story in the Bible. Christians were able to get hold of the Jesus dvd in Shahla’s mother tongue. Shahla didn’t own a dvd player but some of the Christians took one over to her home and viewed it with her. A visiting evangelist gave Shahla a tract.

Over the years Shahla had dreams that Isa al Masih would come to her when she was upset about things and reassure her. She understood more now about Isa al Masih from the love that was being shown to her. Finally one day she verbalized and confessed that Jesus is her Savior.

What a beautiful true story of a community of Christians each playing an unique role in seeing Shahla come to know Jesus as her Savior. It all started with one simple random act of kindness. Imagine if every church community would have eyes to see Muslim neighbors and hearts to reach out to them in practical ways. May God’s love and glory spread across our globe by simple random acts of kindness.

Dear heavenly Father, bless Your children who reached out to Shahla. Thank-you for saving Shahla and helping her to understand the Good News. Bless her too. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Isa al Masih Loves You

2011-04-22T16:19:00.016-05:00

Dear Muslim Friends,

I’m a 58 year old Caucasian mother and grandmother and a follower of Isa al Masih. I love Muslims. Perhaps that is because I was born in Yemen, grew up in Somalia, and lived in Pakistan. A brief time was spent in Tunisia. I grew up in a Christian home but was surrounded by Muslims.

Right now it is our holy days of remembering Isa al Masih’s death and burial and celebrating his awesome coming back to life. He broke the power of death and defeated Satan. Yes!! He didn’t escape suffering. We don’t have a fantasy Isa al Masih. No, rather we have a strong victorious Savior who walked right through suffering and understands our suffering. This is all according to what is written in the Injil. Maybe in your country you only know what has been passed on to you from your family and religious clerics. You are afraid to ask questions. Maybe you feel you aren’t allowed to ask questions. One of my Libyan friends got the courage up and once asked, “Joy, where is Isa al Masih?” I know you have been raised believing that Isa al Masih didn’t die on the cross, wasn’t buried in a grave, and didn’t come back to life. You have been told he was just an honored prophet and that God would not let him suffer shame on the cross. You have been told the Injil has been changed or corrupted.

My friend, Aida, forlornly said to me, “Joy, this life is all about punishment, punishment, punishment – in this life and the next.” Fawziah told me recently that she always wants to stay busy because if everything is quiet and still she would start remembering all the shame of her childhood. Her mother used to take her in a room as a little girl, close the doors and windows to muffle screaming, and then beat her with a big rock all over her body and yell horrible shameful words to her that she can’t forget to this day. Shazia shared how she is so distressed by a Qur’an study which takes place in peoples' homes. Lately they have had discussions about whether it is according to the Qur’an or Hadith that a thief should have his hand cut off for stealing. Punishment. Shame. These are burdens too heavy for us to carry. We collapse under them. Oh, that someone would take away our punishment and shame. That is exactly what Isa al Masih did on the cross. He was punished for our sins. He took our shame upon himself. He does not inflict punishment and shame to correct us and keep us afraid. Rather he takes it away from us and carries it himself. Why? Because he loves us and wants to free us from punishment and shame. He loves good people and bad people. We are changed and corrected by his love – not by receiving punishment and shame. I would encourage you to read the full story of Isa al Masih in the Injil. Don’t be afraid to do so. God will not punish you for reading it. And don’t forget – God LOVES you!

Your Friend,

Joy

Spiritual Attacks

2011-04-18T06:15:00.004-05:00

“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” I Peter 5:8

The phone calls came many times day and night from Ahmed. They grew increasingly perverse and obscene. We blocked the phone calls but then he would call from a pay phone. One day he came to our home. He looked dangerous and I had a hard time recognizing him. Thankfully my husband was at home. One night the disturbed man made an anonymous call to the police that we were storing the dead body of someone at our house. When I returned home I was shocked to hear my husband's story that three police had come to check our entire house. The police asked if my husband could guess who might have made the call so he told them. The sick man was soon put in the hospital. But even then he called from a hospital phone and we had to get that stopped, too. I was emotionally exhausted from months of this stalking by phone. It was a spiritual attack as Satan used this to distract me and wear me down in ministry. Praise God, I recognized it as a spiritual attack and found strength to keep going. It was most encouraging to see the man eventually healed.

Every time I visited a certain high class home the four year old daughter, Fatima, would go to the top of the stairs and yell loudly the entire visit, “GO HOME!” She became hysterical, making visits difficult if not nearly impossible. Finally one day I could stand it no longer. I shared the situation at prayer meeting. We asked God to bind up those awful words and bring peace. I never heard them after that.

I have walked through many spiritual attacks in 33 years of ministry. The attacks have come from Muslims, brothers or sisters in the Church or from leadership. Battles have also taken place within my sinful nature where Satan knows I am weakest. Attacks can be directed to the mind, body, marriage, children, mission organization, or ministry opportunities. Satan prowls around looking for someone to destroy. He doesn’t want the name of Jesus to be lifted up and honored. He doesn’t want Muslims to discover the truth and grace found in Jesus Christ. Wise is the Christian woman in ministry among Muslims who recognizes this fact, stands firms and doesn’t give up, keeps a clear mind, and finds power in the name of Jesus to resist Satan and his tactics. Not everyone at church will understand us. It can be lonely. Most western Christians can’t identify with what is involved in Muslim ministry. Ask God to send you a Christian brother or sister who has spiritual perception and will hold you up in prayer. You will make it, my friend! God will surely restore you and fight on your behalf for the honor of His name and even do some amazing miracles. I would not know sweet victories if there had never been any battles.

Dear heavenly Father, someone reading this has been weakened by spiritual attack. Please come to her rescue. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seasons

2011-04-13T18:00:00.002-05:00

“They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.” Psalms 1:3

A young mother made an appointment to see me. She came with pen and notebook. She was agitated because she was finishing up maternity leave from a Christian organization and now it was time to go back to her ministry. She didn’t feel ready to return and was concerned about the welfare of her baby. She wanted to know how I juggled raising children and did outside ministry. Good question!

A letter arrived from one of our leaders in Pakistan. “Your gifts are not being used,” he wrote. It was true. My heart sank. I felt like I was not contributing and had not met expectations of colleagues. I had spent a number of years preparing to go and worked hard at learning the language. And then I got pregnant. Everything changed. I didn’t get deeply involved in outside ministry while my children were young. I don’t regret that. I came to see it as a season of mothering. Young mothers may find it hard to look ahead and realize that the few labor intensive years of parenting are really short and can not be relived. It was pretty much impossible for me at that time to recognize there would be many years to pour myself more fully into outside ministry down the road. The season of parenting young children can seem to last forever but they really do fly by quickly.

There are other seasons, too. Sometimes there is a long time of hidden ministry in the homes of Muslim women and then one that is more public. Both come and go as God sees fit. There can be a season when there is boundless energy or a season of illness, feeling the limits age brings, or needing to give attention to urgent family responsibilities like aging parents. There are seasons of transitions and even bewilderment when nothing makes sense. Being uprooted or expelled from the land of ministering in will bring a season of grieving. Eventually there will be retirement season. I have gone through quite a few seasons. Some seasons are long and some short. There have been times when I’m not sure what the season is all about! In fact a pastor once remarked that when he thought of me the word seasons came to his mind. Every season has value. It all depends on staying close to the season-maker. So, whatever season we find ourselves in, God can make it fruitful and even cause us to prosper despite the limitations or bewilderment. He has kept me from withering even after 33 years of changing seasons in Muslim ministry. My faith has prospered in this ministry. That is a miracle!

Dear heavenly Father, I remember that Jesus went through seasons of change and understands what I go through trying to adapt to different seasons. I know You can keep me being fruitful in all seasons. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Visiting

2011-04-07T03:55:00.012-05:00

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Ps. 27: 8

I love to visit with my Muslim friends. I often ask them if I can come to visit them. That might be offensive in our culture but in their culture they will feel honored. Home is also their comfort zone. I want to show them I care about them, help them in any practical way that is needed, share my passion for Jesus and pray for them. Home visitation is one of the most fruitful ministries we can have when we’re reaching out to Muslim women. Everything significant seems to happen in the home: hospitality, sharing, praying, studying, asking questions, holding babies and laughing with small children. Perhaps there will be playing the piano and singing, baking cookies or making a craft. The visits feel alive and fruitful and a two way thing. We are on equal footing. There’s no hierarchy here. That’s important.

Yesterday I was visiting in Ikran’s home. She was really out of sorts. Her friend back home had just been robbed and was fleeing for safety. He had a gun and called Ikran that he wanted to kill himself. Believe me, she was ready for prayer! Today I was explaining the gospel to Zahra in her home. When I mentioned Jesus was not in the grave she asked, “Where is he then?” “He died and came alive,” I responded. Incredulity showed on her face. There I was, all alone with a Muslim woman in her home, imparting the knowledge of our wonderful Savior. Khadija loves nothing more than to hear Bible stories and hear me pray. Now she has ‘let go’ and prays, too. So many exciting things happen when I visit.

For those of you who are involved with Muslim women you share the same excitement. You know what I’m talking about. It’s a wonderful high calling to teach Muslim women in a classroom or serve them in an office or hospital but even more special to be in each other’s homes. The freedom and openings to share become enlarged and much more personal. Sometimes schools and offices actually restrict that freedom, even in our western nations.

It’s amazing to think that God would say to me, “Come and talk with Me.” He wants a home visit in the soul – just Him and me. Wow! I always want a visit from Him, but now He actually wants me to come and visit Him. When I sense His eagerness to have a visit, I quickly respond, “Lord, I’m coming.” I love my visits with God. Our visits flow spontaneously. By the end of our visits I’m deeply touched or encouraged. We have a God who loves visiting us. He usually takes the initiative. I just respond and enjoy our conversation. Even though He is the King of heaven and earth we have become friends. I’m learning how to visit Muslim women from Him. He’s my Teacher in this area. We should never underestimate the power of home visitation with our Muslim friends.

Dear heavenly Father, I love my refreshing visits with You. You are like sunshine in my soul. Help my visits with Muslim women to bring sunshine to them. Amen.

The Shoe Shine Ladies

2011-03-31T09:45:00.007-05:00

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.” Romans 1: 16a

We were on the way to the boarding area of an airport in Canada when I spotted two ladies at the shoe shine corner. Fatima, kneeling on her prayer carpet, was all dressed in a black cloak and hijab. A tape was playing in the background of the Qur’an. Nearby was her assistant shoe shiner, Rasamal, also dressed in black. While Fatima said her prayers, Rasamal was on duty for customers. Then they would switch places. Recognizing them as being Somalis I greeted them in Somali and asked how they were. They were shocked hearing a white person speak a few words in Somali. Fatima, still kneeling on her prayer carpet, pointed her finger at me and accusingly stated, “You kill people!” I was taken aback. I replied, “No, I don’t kill people. I love people. I follow Isa al Masih who loved people.” That infuriated her more. “God did not have a son!” she said in a raised voice. " Fatima, God did not have a son by having sexual union with a woman. That would be very haram.” Without absorbing what I was saying she went on to say, “You believe in three gods.” “No, I don’t, Fatima,” I explained. “There’s only one God.” By this time she was determined to win and said, “You changed the Injil because Mohammed’s name is not mentioned in it.” I tried to explain more but she wouldn’t listen. She had all the typical misconceptions. I thought it such an odd meeting near the boarding area at the shoe shine corner. As I was getting ready to walk on, Rasamal, who appeared considerably softer in the face, ran after me into the washroom. I had one Jesus dvd left in my purse. I handed it to her and she was delighted to take it, holding it like a treasure. What a difference between the two ladies.

In Muslim ministry you have to be prepared for anything. We might encounter apathy, disinterest, ignorance, fear, confusion, resistance or opposition. So did Jesus Christ. There will also be Rasamals who are eager to hear more. Don’t be afraid of resistance or opposing remarks. It’s normal. Stand your ground and lift your head high and honor the name of Isa al Masih. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t be afraid of personal rejection. Have compassion. Fatima was brought up believing those misconceptions. It’s important to be patient and not raise our voice when such resistance springs up. I don’t feel the need to win the argument. The Holy Spirit can take it further. But I do briefly address the misconception facts. We don’t usually experience this kind of accusatory communication in our culture. It will sound foreign and uncomfortable for us but for them it will not be strange. They feel it is their duty to defend Islam and will gladly do that. We must not be ashamed of the gospel. I don’t carry on speaking for a long time in the face of resistance but I do want to let them know that God loves them very much.

Dear heavenly Father, please help Christian women to be brave and unashamed to speak of the full story of Jesus to Muslim women. Amen.

Tulips and Daffodils

2011-03-24T07:30:00.002-05:00

“Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups(Jews and Gentiles) to God by means of his death, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” Ephesians. 2: 16
The check out lady in the grocery store asked me, “Are you thinking of putting the daffodils and tulips in the same vase?” “Yes” I replied. She informed me that I shouldn’t do that because the daffodils would kill the tulips. Well, I’ll be! Sounds just like putting certain people together. How sad that two beautiful flowers have to be separated. I didn't know if that was actually true but I didn’t want to find out. I left the store with just the tulips.

Yesterday we were visiting an Afghan couple who are from the Hazara tribe. Hussein lost nearly his entire family at the hands of Pashtun Taliban fighters. He nearly lost his own life, too. Ten years later his physical scars from eleven surgeries have healed but not his raw emotions of hatred and revenge. His mind is shell shock making it hard to move ahead. He is waiting for the day when he can return and make accounts equal. It would be disastrous to put Hussein and Pashtuns in the same room.

It had not even been one hour together with a new Somali contact when she described to me how one day she saw two men meet each other on the street in Somalia. When it was declared which tribe each was from the one man instantly shot the other man dead. You can’t put tulips and daffodils together in the same vase.

A Shia husband and a Sunni wife, along with their six children, took sanctuary for over one year in a church until our country gave them permission to stay. They had crossed the border and stayed on illegally. It was like house arrest but better than being killed or deported. We visited them a few times in their make-shift church home. Their families were not pleased their children married each other against their wishes. They would probably not survive if they went back to their country. You can’t put daffodils and tulips together in the same vase.

Certain husbands and wives. Certain parents and children. This tribe and that tribe. This religion and that religion. Wine drinkers and abstainers. Pork eaters and chicken eaters. This language and that language. High caste and low caste. Jews and Arabs. Zionists and Palestinians. And the list goes on…..You can’t put daffodils and tulips in the same vase.

Well, not unless there’s a reconciler. Both are beautiful. But together they can be a threat to each other or to someone else. God has given us the ministry of reconciliation so that the threat is removed. How wonderful that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has made reconciliation possible at the cross. Hallelujah! By the shed blood of Jesus on the cross it is possible to have “tulips and daffodils” together in the same vase. They really do look more beautiful as a bouquet than in separate vases.

Dear heavenly Father, please make Your ministry of reconciliation through me fruitful and successful. It’s so hard to walk through this ministry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Power of a Smile

2011-03-17T08:18:00.002-05:00

“May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.” Numbers 6: 25
When we were in Pakistan a photographer was sent to video the hospital work going on. All I can remember was his remark that “no one was smiling”. Well, a hospital serving the poor probably isn’t the ideal place to capture smiling faces. If you are around suffering people you don’t feel like smiling. There is a time to smile and a time to refrain from smiling. In some countries a bride might not smile because she is leaving her family. She has mixed emotions. Maybe even fear or dread. It would seem strange if a bride would not be smiling and glowing in our culture.

As a family we made a trip to the Pakistan/China border. A jeep full of Chinese tourists jumped out, including a young boy. Our four year old son and that Chinese boy ran to each other. They soon realized they couldn’t communicate but they broke out in smiles. It was beautiful to see. A smile is an universal language which all can understand.

Doris and I were eating lunch with a conservative Muslim lady. Before leaving she wanted a picture taken. She donned her face veil and stood between us. How sad that her smile was hidden behind her veil. Glory was lost. Imagine if we could see no smiles. Our world would be bleak. Such a small thing but very powerful.

We wait anxiously to see our baby make his very first smile. We’re just positive he did it in his first week. It flickered for a second across his beautiful face and we announced it to the whole world. Everything stops when our baby smiles. Is there power in a smile? You bet!

I don’t like fake smiles. You can usually tell when it’s a plastic smile. But when someone comes up to me with a genuine smile it has a way of making me feel welcomed and affirmed. One of the most powerful things we can do with our Muslim friends is to smile. It communicates, “Welcome. I like you. Please come near.” It’s part of incarnational evangelism. Numbers 6:25 must sound very strange to a Muslim. I can’t imagine trying to be an evangelist who would refrain from smiling. Imagine if your pastor didn’t smile. You probably would look for another church. I think it’s phenomenal that God smiles upon us. I’d be scared of Him if He didn’t smile at me. I feel welcomed and safe with His smile. I can’t see it but I can feel it. So….if you don’t know where to begin with a Muslim contact, you can always start with a smile. It will communicate more than you think. A lot more than suspicion, that’s for sure!

Dear heavenly Father, I am moved beyond words that You smile upon me. I need that. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Eyebrows

2011-03-10T08:26:00.008-06:00

“For the law was given through Moses; God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” John 1: 17
Fourteen year old Amira was angry and self-conscious about her eyebrows. They were fuller and wider than she desired. They met in the middle of her forehead. Her classmates made fun of her eyebrows and couldn’t understand why she didn’t pluck them. Her parents, especially her dad, wouldn’t allow her to pluck them. The subject of eyebrows caused considerable tension in her home. Amira’s mother felt sorry for her daughter. She desperately wanted her to fit into her new western environment and to have friends at school. One day Amira’s mother disclosed to me that in her culture plucking eyebrows meant a virgin state was over and one had embarked upon marriage. The eyebrow war waged on for months. Suddenly I saw a new Amira, eyebrows all neatly plucked and self image greatly improved. She was happy to go to school now.

Fadia was absolutely sure that Allah would not punish anyone for plucking eyebrows. She herself had beautiful eyebrows giving her a royal feminine appearance. Eyebrow threading or plucking is a big subject of discussion and debate among Muslim women if you look up “Hadith on plucking eyebrows” on Google. It was talking about eyebrow plucking that really opened the door to sharing the difference between living by law and living by grace with Fadia.

I was visiting with Shazia when the subject of plucking eyebrows came up. “I don’t pluck them anymore,” she stated. “Why?” I asked inquisitively. “It’s haram,” she replied. “Allah doesn’t want us to alter our appearance in any way. If we do, we’ll be punished.” Wow, I thought. That is amazing. She went on to say, “One day I went to the salon to have my eyebrows plucked and exactly when I was there my relative was killed in an accident. Ever since then I stopped plucking my eyebrows.” I asked her if she was afraid she would go to hell for plucking her eyebrows or felt guilty. She had when it happened, she admitted, but now she felt okay since many years had passed. That led to a wonderful opportunity to share the Good News how we can be spared from going to hell and from punishment. What may be inconsequential to me may loom very large and fearful for someone else. I am learning to hear a Muslim woman’s unspoken fears and weave the Good News in with any subject being discussed. The point isn’t to make fun of her belief, debate about Islamic scholars’ interpretations or whether it is even in the Qur’an or Hadith but rather to use it as an opportunity to bring in the Good News of Isa al Masih. The same could be said about using haram or halal vanilla, perfume, yeast, yogurt, meat or marshmallows. It’s their fears of punishment, going to hell, or being cursed by Allah that I want to speak into.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to be able to hear my friend’s unspoken fears. Please give me wisdom and compassion to know how to speak into them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Quieted

2011-03-04T17:46:00.007-06:00

“But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother….”Psalm 131:2
There’s a special place in my heart for the Libyan people. Watching the news of the revolution sweeping Libya I have experienced disquietude. I have wondered how they will find their way through this terrible crisis and survive. God loves the Libyans dearly. The vast majority have rarely had an opportunity to hear about the Kingdom of God.

Last night a Muslim background believer called me. “It seems that God doesn’t love the Palestinians,” she said. My heart ached. “Where did you pick that awful idea up from?” I asked. My husband and I had just been with a Palestinian believer recently. We heard his suffering and cries. I tried to assure my friend that, yes, God loves the Palestinians!

I have been in many prayer meetings where my Christian brothers and sisters are crying out to God to protect Israel. I have felt their pain and understood their concerns. Everything is so complex. I get disquieted. Yes, God loves the Jews!

A couple of Christian ladies came up to my table at the exhibition missions fair. They stared long at the beautiful tall banner which adorned the table depicting two Muslim hijab clad ladies on the cover of my book, “Woman to Woman, Sharing Jesus with a Muslim Friend.” As they stared dubiously at the banner I asked, “Are you drawn to those ladies?” “No, not particularly,” they replied matter of factly and off they went. Oh please, don’t write them off, I cried silently. I got disquieted.

There is a current movement, potentially divisive, in missions among Muslims about contextualization methods. I get disquieted when I see how it affects the Kingdom work and workers.

Ministering among Muslims can be challenging. There are battles and distractions on all sides. It’s tough because many Muslims are resistant to the Good News. They aren’t able to understand the grace of Isa al Masih. It’s also tough because some of my Christian brothers and sisters are fighting a battle within their souls which affects me. Some find it hard to accept the immeasurable grace of our Lord Jesus towards all people. There’s a little bit of Jonah in all of us; me included. And it can be tough because it is difficult for some of my Christian brothers and sisters to understand how I can love many Arabs, Iraqis, Afghans, Somalis, and Iranians. I can’t run away from God’s calling – so what should I do with matters that disquiet and distract me? I know I’m not at optimum usefulness in ministry if I “concern myself with matters too great” which I can not do much about. There are some moments when I need my heavenly Parent to quiet me. And He does. “Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:2b)

Dear heavenly Father, please quiet and still me when turmoil arises. Keep me from being distracted. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

New Thought Patterns

2011-02-24T07:07:00.002-06:00

“…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…” Romans 12: part of verse 2
Sayeda wanted her husband to beat her or get angry. To her that meant he loved her. Bushra holds off putting her faith in Christ because if her dad is in hell she’d rather be there with him. Amal, a secular cultural Muslim, concluded that to follow Christ meant she couldn’t enjoy *sex, drink *beer or have a big house. Azizeh, another secular cultural Muslim, desired to go to *disco *bars. She wanted to go as far as she was religiously permitted before it would be considered haram. Rahima shared with me that when her country was having elections for a new president all the children were kept out of school for a month because of the possibility of getting caught up in fighting and shootings. She said, “I love that system. The children are protected from the shooting.” I told her, “Better yet if there would be no shooting or fighting surrounding an election.” She didn’t get it. Crooked twisted thought patterns often manifest themselves around the subjects pertaining to: genders, social and dress rules, meat, morality, abortions, politics, religion, heaven and hell, God’s character, punishments/justice, spiritual disciplines, what constitutes sin and what true forgiveness is. Some MBBs have twisted thought patterns about fasting. They can be inclined to continue keeping the fast but call it a Christian fast. Thought patterns need to be renewed. Fasting isn’t the problem. It’s getting the thought patterns renewed by understanding why they are now fasting.

It's amazing how twisted thought patterns can take root. They can be embedded in society, in the Church, in missions, and in us. In a past era it was considered spiritually noble or even required by God to sacrifice your children when you serve God. It was wrong to spend money on anything except that which promoted the gospel. I have had to personally work through many crooked spiritual thought patterns of my own. Perhaps that is why I am quick to pick up twisted thought patterns among my Muslim friends and new followers of Christ. We all have some. They are just different from each other. I understand the complexities and challenges of having our minds renewed by understanding truth. Behind my computer desk is a large jumble of wires. I don’t dare touch them because it looks like a mess to me. I will not know where to hook some particular wire into if I pull them out. Only someone knowledgeable about all those wires can sort them out to make my computer work right. Sometimes when I hear about twisted crooked thought patterns I picture this jumble of wires. I know only the Holy Spirit is knowledgeable and can rearrange healthy thought patterns which are aligned to truth. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, the Bible. I find that the more I read the Bible, the more the crooked, the twisted, and the ambiguous is made straight. The “wiring” gets rearranged. It is so important to use the Bible often when we speak with our Muslim friends or disciple new followers of Isa al Masih - and for ourselves, too.

Dear heavenly Father, please keep transforming my mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Creative Evangelism

2011-02-18T12:00:00.003-06:00

“Jesus as always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds…” Matthew 13:34a
There is no end to the creative ways we can present the Good News to people. I love the element of mystery and story- telling. God’s people have discovered what works for them and use it for His glory. Isn’t it thrilling to see how the freshness of the salvation story grabs attention and satisfies spiritual thirst? My friend, Kristen, has a unique way of sharing the Good News that works for her. Listen to her story:

“While I was having coffee in a restaurant, I made an origami bird out of the doily underneath the coffee cup. The Turkish waiter saw it and I said, “koosh!”(bird). My total Turkish vocabulary of ten words came out of my mouth. How wonderful it was to speak of Jesus to him. “Jesus loves you. Jesus is the bread of life.”

Kristen went on to explain to me, “Origami seems to attract everyone. Once on an airplane I folded flowers to pass the time. My seat mate became curious. She asked, “What are you making?” which sparked a conversation about her hobbies and interests. Before the plane landed she gratefully received a gospel of John(with some origami flowers tucked inside). Another time I had only ten minutes to visit a school in a refugee camp. But this was enough time to fold a bird for a friendly girl, show her how it’s wings flap when you move the tail and tell her of Jesus’ love for her. At home I like to invite young ladies over to make holiday cards decorated with folded hearts, pumpkins, poinsettias and even camels! What a great way to connect, even if someone’s English is limited. Origami is relatively easy to do and low-cost. The results are beautiful. It makes everybody smile.”

It was Valentine’s Day. On a couple of home visits to Muslim friends I took them special Valentine’s Day plates filled with homemade chocolate chip cookies and some chocolates and gave them Valentine cards. I explained a brief history of Saint Valentine and that the day is all about expressing love for others. I asked them many questions like: How do you say ‘I love you’ in your language? Do you tell your husband that? Does he tell you? How do you say, ‘I love you, God?’ Do you ever tell Him that? Do you hear Him tell you that He loves you? How do you say in your language, ‘God loves good people, bad people, white people, black people, healthy people, sick people, enemies, etc?’ Then I shared how God is Love. I have also played the simple paper game of tic tac toe. The xoxo letters speak a language of love. That leads on to speaking of God’s divine love for us.

When evangelism is shared in creative ways our Muslim friends will listen. Sometimes our sharing can be bankrupt of mystery, enjoyment, and smiles. But it doesn’t need to be.

Dear heavenly Father, please give birth to more creativity when I talk about you to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My Diamond

2011-02-11T08:16:00.002-06:00

“And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.” Luke 19:10
It was our seventh wedding anniversary. I’ll never forget it. We made a trip from the mission hospital in the rural area of Pakistan to the capital city. After we arrived at our destination I discovered the diamond was missing from my wedding ring. I can not describe the anguish I felt at that moment. Everything shut down. Where could that diamond possibly be? Where does one begin to search for a lost diamond? I couldn’t bear to look at the empty hole in my ring. How could one celebrate an anniversary with a lost diamond? On top of that I suddenly felt very weak and ill. In a couple of days I would be diagnosed with having hepatitis. Not a good day! My husband, seeing my anguish, began looking and looking. He searched the dusty van. No luck. Then he got a flashlight and began shining it all over the floor of the van. And there sitting in the dust, the light fell upon a tiny diamond sparkling under the direct ray of shining light. You can’t imagine my joy when he brought me the good news. The diamond was reset. It is badly chipped. But I don’t care. The diamond was lost and now was found.

I can identify with the story Jesus told of a woman who lost a coin from her wedding head band. She searched and swept everywhere and finally found the lost coin and everyone celebrated her joy with her. In the same way I feel like singing when a Muslim woman anywhere in the world finds Isa al Masih to be her living Savior. When I witness truth beginning to dawn I know she is well on the way into the Kingdom of God. Sara is one such woman. She comes from a country where it isn’t possible to obtain a Bible except from the black market. There’s no church she can go to freely. She would not be able to read this blog. It would be censored by her government. She came to my country for only a short visit. She was one determined woman to find out information that has been denied her. As we got together we would have intense spiritual conversations. It was as if I could see her sweeping the dust away frantically trying to find that lost coin or diamond. When something of great value has been lost to a person there can be a frantic search for it to be found or discovered. It's thrilling to witness someone’s spiritual journey!

There are many ‘lost diamonds’ all over the world waiting to have the Light shine upon them. These ‘diamonds’ rightfully belong to be placed into the Royal Crown of their Savior, Jesus Christ. What joy there is in heaven and earth when the ‘lost diamonds’ are found!

Dear heavenly Father, send me out to find Your ‘lost diamonds’. Help me to care for them even more than I do about the diamond in my wedding ring. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Simple Yet Powerful

2011-02-06T20:26:00.005-06:00

“…But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18b
“Simplistic writing style but profound message…” a review of my book said. I kind of cringed. I confess that I am simple. My writing, evangelistic sharing, teaching, praying, faith, cooking, interior decorating, dress, and style of living are all simple. Although useful and impressive, books with advanced vocabulary and grammar structures are laborious for me to get through. I think simple is beautiful, uncluttered and powerful.

Maryam projected an image of simplicity. You might not think she would be worth the time to befriend and share Christ with. She was not well read, educated, informed or exposed to the wider world. She also was exceedingly shy. So, you might pass her by for those you could engage with intellectually. Every week we would read through the Toddler’s Bible story book and then I would pray for her. Because her English was minimal I found myself praying like a child so she could understand. One day she surprised me by saying she would like to pray, too! There was much we hadn’t discussed about faith in Christ. I wondered how I should handle her request. It’s not often a shy Muslim woman simply states, “I would like to pray, too.” I certainly didn’t expect that to come from Maryam. I trusted God was in control and said okay. I was taken aback. Out flowed a river of words in her heart language, which I couldn’t understand. I kept hearing the word “Isa” over and over. One day she said, “I very much like praying. When I can’t sleep at night I pray.” Her eyes were sparkling. She was childlike with a beauty of innocence. She reminded me of a beautiful white rose opening up to the sunshine. Another time after I read First John 1:9 to her I asked her what cleanses us from sin? She replied, “The blood of Isa.” Many Muslims who are educated may not have come up with that answer.

Frequently I engage in stimulating conversations with bright university students from Islamic nations. They are full of hopes and dreams for their futures. They will be our future leaders, researchers and scientists. I love to present the simple and yet profound truths of the Good News of Jesus Christ to them. In some ways I thank God that I’m not able to speak Bengali, Persian, Malay, Kurdish, etc., because I’m limited to explaining the Good News in the simplest way possible to my Muslim friends from all over the world. A barrier becomes a gift! I am forced to learn how to share what is really necessary to know. We don’t have to know every language. The Holy Spirit knows all of those. We just need to know that the message of the cross is simple, yet deep. Simple is powerful and beautiful when the Holy Spirit is in it!

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for how You communicate deep truths and love to us in powerful simple ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Shake-up

2011-02-02T09:57:00.013-06:00

“And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it!” Revelation 4:2
Have you ever really been shaken up? I have frequently been shaken up with shocking news. It can send me reeling with momentary confusion, numbness and anxiety. Even this week I heard shocking news about a family member whose life was spared from a potentially serious snowmobile accident. Shake ups can occur in our churches, at work, in our families, or in our government. I have been shaken up when sin in my life was realized for what it truly was. Anyone involved in Muslim ministry or discipling can encounter some pretty big shake ups. They come in many forms and have a way of getting our attention big time. Such shake ups can become catalysts for big change.

As I was tucking our three year old son into bed he asked, “Mommy, is the government in charge of God or God in charge of the government?” In the last couple of weeks much of the world has been glued to the TV news watching the rumblings of unrest and protests in North Africa and the Middle East. A major shake-up has been occurring. I can only imagine what must be happening in the invisible heavenly realms. Surely God is on His royal throne overseeing the affairs of the world we live in. Some time ago I was listening to a magnificent rendition of the song, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Towards the end of it I was taken in spirit envisioning God’s throne in heaven. All I saw was an empty throne. I was shocked seeing a huge crowd of people with lifted hands looking towards the throne and shouting, “Hallelujah.” Who are they shouting that to? I wondered. No one was on the throne. One person came up to me and said, “He’s invisible you know. He’s there.” Of course, that’s right! I reminded myself. If the Church ever has needed prophetic voices and discerning spirits it is now. There’s a divine purpose in what is happening. Present events should be beckoning Christians to corporate prayer like never before. God is flinging open previously closed doors to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God to Islamic nations in unprecedented measure. I’ve often thought that Satan is determined to keep the Good News out of Islamic nations because he knows that they are a people of passion and zeal and their passion might just be turned towards worshipping Jesus Christ. Satan is trembling. You have seen and felt the passionate protests on the TV screen. One day our passion for Jesus Christ displayed in western nations will look very pale in comparison to the passion former Muslims will show who discover Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth and the life. We will become envious of that passion and worship and look to them to show us what revival looks like.

Dear heavenly Father, help me to remember You are on Your throne and accomplishing Your purposes here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Everyone Needs An Elizabeth

2011-01-27T07:06:00.003-06:00

“Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.” Luke 1:56

The pastor’s words over a decade ago have never left me. “Everyone needs an Elizabeth,” he stressed. He was referring to the time when Mary, a young virgin woman received the message from the angel that she would miraculously conceive a child. In her vulnerability she was sent off to visit her aunt Elizabeth for the next few months who had miraculously conceived in her old age. Elizabeth had already walked through years of cultural shame of infertility. Now Mary was walking through the possibility of people talking about her and causing her shame. Mary needed her aunt Elizabeth. She was an older godly woman and a confidante. God used Elizabeth to prophesy into Mary’s situation. I can only imagine the conversations that must have taken place between Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth had been seasoned with experiencing suffering and shame and emerged retaining a strong faith. She had been prepared all along for this moment in history. Both were experiencing miracles at the same time. They must have been a mutual encouragement to each other.

I thanked God when I heard the pastor’s words. At that time two elderly ladies, one widowed and one who had never married, were sent into my life by God’s plan. They were strangers previously to me. Their care and prayers for me were so needed when one difficulty after another arose. Then the time came when they had no more strength to give. God sent another Elizabeth to me. Again she was unknown to me previously. God had prepared her to understand suffering and misunderstanding from personal experience. She has a steadfast faith and acquired wisdom and discernment. I haven’t looked for Elizabeths. God has sent them to me in my time of need. Everyone needs an Elizabeth. Especially if you are in Muslim ministry. I’m not referring to just a good friend or a prayer partner. Yes, she will be that – but even more. I mean a very special person specifically designed by God and sent to you to encourage and spiritually coach you. Perhaps the Elizabeth God sends to you may not be experienced in Muslim ministry but she is experienced in general principles and dynamics of ministry that come from doing something not everyone can grasp. She will most likely understand spiritual battles. Don’t be surprised if she will speak some prophetic words into your life. Listen carefully to her. Value her. These Elizabeths are rare and very precious. Learn from her. Then one day a young Mary will be sent your way and you will become an Elizabeth to her. This is God’s way. Are you feeling the need of an Elizabeth? Ask God to direct one to you. Muslim ministry is not for the faint hearted. Very few understand how lonely, challenging and sometimes overwhelming such a ministry is. But the Elizabeth God will send your way will understand. She will have been prepared. What a shame that I didn't realize my personal need of an Elizabeth during my decade in Pakistan. It would have made a difference.

Dear heavenly Father, somebody reading this desperately needs an Elizabeth. Please appoint someone to be sent to her. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Come Upon Us, Holy Spirit

2011-01-20T22:30:00.005-06:00

“…What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” Luke 4:36b
I’ve always been fascinated with real spiritual authority. It doesn’t have much to do with speaking inside a church, possessing a degree or denominational credential, being ordained, being a particular gender or age, having a religious title, or being an author or missionary. Sometimes we confuse ecclesiastical authority with spiritual authority but they aren’t synonymous. One thing is for certain. When we are engaged in ministry to Muslim women we need spiritual authority or not much will happen. Spiritual authority comes from God Himself. He has sent you and me on a mission. If we know that we have been called and sent by God He validates us and has given us His authority to be demonstrated through us. We can walk in spiritual authority when we are drinking tea with a Muslim woman in her living room or visiting her in the hospital. We are not just doing our own ‘personal ministry’. No, we are fulfilling God’s work. What will spiritual authority look like for us Christian women reaching out to Muslim women? How will we know if we ‘have it’?

First of all we will be experiencing the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit and producing beautiful fruit. Our lives will be holy and clean. But have you also experienced the Holy Spirit come upon you and received power or boldness(Acts 1:8) which has resulted in your tongue being released to witness about Jesus? It’s mysterious and surprises me every time it happens. If you have not experienced that liberty and boldness ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you when you are with your Muslim friend. We’ll be amazed that we will say certain things which normally we would be shy about. We might even say something prophetic. Most of the time we’d be concerned about offending a Muslim woman if we would talk openly about who Jesus is and the cross and resurrection. Usually we just want to come over as ‘nice’ and not cause conflict. We will suddenly feel the urge to pray confidently and in faith for a Muslim woman about her need. Wow! We wonder how we could just ‘let go’ in prayer. And the prayer was not generic but in Jesus’ name. We may sense God wants to heal a lady or bring about a deliverance from a bondage or an oppression from demonic powers or to ask God for our friend to be able to conceive and we find ourselves praying directly into that – boldly. How is that possible? Something from somewhere came upon us and something inside of us came out of our mouths. That ‘something’(really Someone) is the authority of Jesus rising forth. We didn’t do anything to make that happen. We are awed because it’s just not us. Our Muslim friend is impacted. We are changed forever. Good-bye to the ordinary predictable Christian walk. Welcome to the wonder and awe of all that God allows us to experience as we partner with Him.

Holy Spirit, Come. We need You. Empower us to reach our Muslim friends with Your truth and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listening to the Spirit

2011-01-14T11:17:00.012-06:00

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit, and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Rev. 3:6
The printer at Staples told me he’d call my name over the intercom when the print job would be finished. After a long wait walking around the store I went to check. "I’ve been paging you numerous times but you didn’t come", he explained. Hmm… I usually hear clearly. How could it be that I never heard my name being paged over a loud intercom? It bothered me that I hadn't heard. If I couldn’t hear an audible voice maybe I’d miss hearing the Holy Spirit’s inaudible voice. I don’t want to miss hearing what the Spirit might be saying to the churches – or to me – in regards to Muslim women receiving opportunity to hear the Good News of Isa al Masih. His thoughts and ways are not like our thoughts and ways. To get this accomplished He might use an unusual way of speaking. And I believe He really is.

We are living in unprecedented times when Muslim women particularly in western nations are speaking, writing and sharing their hearts. Have you noticed that in the past decade the voices of Muslim women feminists and reformers, both secular and religious ones, are getting stronger and noisier and flying around the cyber world? They don’t represent the experiences of all Muslim women but for those they do, I believe the Holy Spirit is stirring them up and using them to expose harmful and hurtful treatment or traditions and incorrect ideas via the medium of books, internet blogs, documentaries and You Tube viewings. They carry heavy burdens of concern or scars of physical injuries and won’t be silenced. Some walk a dangerous path. They might not have the answers but they are instruments through which exposing is taking place. I believe the Church needs to be aware of these voices, but even more of the Holy Spirit’s voice. How we respond is really important. After you have read one of these feminist’s or reformer’s books or viewed a certain link how do you find yourself responding?

I dare not let anger or oppression overtake me as I get exposed through books and documentaries and then go into a self-protective parking mode. Today a lady sent me fifteen links of dreadful information. She is immobilized with fear, anger and helplessness and parked there. I believe the Spirit is saying to the Church: don’t park there. No eternal redemptive good will come from just being angry and spreading alarm. Personally, I primarily want to understand better how to take Muslim women to the cross where redemptive healing fully takes place. I want to be actively involved in such a ministry – not only read books and links. The ultimate answers are not found in courtrooms, vindictive diatribes or religious systems, but in our living Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our only certain hope. He is gentle and will never disappoint anyone. Yes, I want to be aware of the issues, but even more listen for the Spirit’s voice – and then get involved.

Dear heavenly Father, I don’t want to miss hearing Your messages. Please keep my ears open. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mystery in Evangelism

2011-01-08T09:13:00.006-06:00

“This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” Ephesians 5:32
I met Houda at a picnic for newcomers. When I asked her about what her husband did she took her index finger and symbolically demonstrated the gesture of an animal being slaughtered and stated matter of factly, “Khalas, Alhamdulillah!”(finished, thank Allah!) After that she gestured with her hands that she was rid of him. It was rather a dramatic demonstration by a woman who was relieved to be divorced from an abusive man. Obviously marriage is not a taste of paradise for all.

First thing Afsana asked upon meeting me was, “Is your husband a good man?” I thought that was odd to inquire upon introduction. I discovered she had been married three times and divorced. Her parents had divorced when she was young.

“Do you beat your wife?” a curious Pakistani man asked my husband in the marketplace. In that man’s thinking only a weak man didn’t beat his wife.

Sayeda was attending English classes where my husband volunteered at. She was impacted by his gentle and kind nature. It was what probably started her journey towards considering to follow Christ.

Salima was in our car and watched my husband take out the large bag of garbage from the trunk of the car and throw it in the garbage bin. She was amazed and exclaimed, “In my country only women would take the garbage out.” Wow – they don’t miss a thing, I thought.

Our daughter and son-in-law left their girls with us so they could go on a date. We visited some Muslim friends during that time and explained our adult children were on a date and did they know what that was? Omar thought awhile and said, “Something on the calendar or what you eat.” After I explained what a romantic date was he replied, “Well, we never had anything like that before marriage and now it’s too late.”

For those who are married it is beneficial to be reminded that our marriages are being watched. Many Muslim women wonder what our marriages are like. They can be mystified and emotionally moved when they see friendship, love, and honor being shown mutually to each other. If you conclude that you aren’t brave enough to witness verbally or don’t know how, you’d be surprised how much you are actually witnessing by demonstrating a godly marriage. Like: Oneness. Unity. Love. Certainly there are good marriages among Muslims and there are some broken marriages among Christians. But the point is, one of the ways a Muslim will be drawn to Christ(and to the church) is by observing a godly Christian marriage. There is great power and an irresistible beauty in a godly marriage of two people becoming one. It’s a mystery. Don’t you just love witnessing that has an element of mystery to it?

Dear heavenly Father, please make my marriage a divine mystery to my watching Muslim friends. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Vial of Perfume

2011-01-01T10:46:00.006-06:00

“She has done what she could and anointed my body for burial ahead of time.” Mark 14: 8
I’ve often been touched by the story of a woman so spiritually devoted to Jesus that she sacrificially gave up her cherished treasure. The vial of perfume was worth a year’s wages and she appeared to have wasted it foolishly overnight. She was chided by the leading followers of Jesus. Her devotion and ministry were not understood at all. To the others it seemed misused and misplaced. The money could have been used more efficiently. She should have been more concerned about social justice issues. But Jesus felt ministered to and comforted before His baptism of sufferings began by her ministry to Him. His followers were oblivious to His personal need of the moment.

Similar conclusions can be made by me as they were by Jesus’ followers. I want to be ambitious for His Kingdom – you know, build it up and advance it. There’s so much to do and so many people unreached. The needs are very great. Churches think of how money can best be used in missions. There should be a gauge for ministry being cost efficient in the Kingdom, shouldn’t there? People want to see tangible results.

I remember the first time I found myself crying for Jesus. There had been plenty of tears for myself and for others before but this was the first time they were for Jesus. I grieved that He was rejected by many of my Muslim friends. I wept because He had suffered so much and His sacrifice was not understood nor appreciated. I truly hurt for Him. I cried, “I’m so sorry, Jesus, You continue to experience this rejection and misunderstanding. Oh, that I could change it for You.” A strange new desire to comfort Jesus arose within me. I cried and cried until I was spent. That was very strange, I thought to myself. What was that all about? Then suddenly I felt like I was on holy ground. A quiet awareness enveloped me that I had just ministered to Jesus. Was it possible my tears had somehow comforted Him? This was an altogether new type of ministry. I had always thought of ministry being for Him and directed to others. Through the fogginess of my tears an acceptance settled down in me that my ministry to Muslim women and my tears for them and my tears for Jesus might not be fully understood by anyone else. I’m sure there have been people who have thought time and money could be better directed to a more fruitful endeavour. I receive comfort from Jesus’ words to His followers: “Leave her alone…She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.”

My analogous vial of perfume contains my tears for Jesus. He doesn’t need comforting but I think He appreciates it. Every once in awhile I break open the vial and pour out a few tears at His feet.

Dear heavenly Father, please show me how I can minister blessing and comfort to You. Thank You that You don’t berate my devotion to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Watching

2010-12-27T07:46:00.005-06:00

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see..." Matthew 13:16a
I don’t want to miss seeing Jesus do something. It’s not very often in Muslim ministry that things happen quickly in peoples’ souls. It can, of course, but usually there is a long process. It might take decades even. I watch for the birthing signs in my Muslim friends’ hearts that they are softening spiritually, their misunderstandings and misconceptions are getting answered, understanding sin and becoming convicted are beginning to happen, forbidden questions are being voiced, prayer for needs have been answered slowly convincing them that there is power in the name of Jesus, a surrendering to the truth of Jesus’ deity is dawning, fears and superstitions are getting less because they are discovering God’s love, and their hearts are finally welcoming our Savior. I’ve done a lot of watching in the past year. Maybe you, too.

Sometimes it’s us they are watching. Karima watches me closely. She wants to know where I’m going, whom I’m seeing, and what I’m teaching about when I travel to speak, etc. It’s not a comfortable type of being watched. When I go to Muslim women’s parties I’m keenly aware I’m being watched closely. When we were in Pakistan we were watched closely as foreigners. Some of my Muslim friends visit church and watch everything intently. I know I’m being watched when I pray with a Muslim woman. I love watching a Muslim woman’s heart move towards Jesus. I watched Zarina over the past year as we read from the Toddler’s Bible Story book. She always loves our reading and prayer times. One day she expressed she wanted to pray. I’m not sure exactly what she prayed in her language but I heard the name of Isa being mentioned numerous times.

I miss Nazanin. She won't leave my heart. She always wore her hijab in an unique way that I’ve not seen by another Muslim woman. Her beloved father was martyred for his brave faith in Jesus. Nazanin married a strong Muslim man who was never too happy about me spending time with her or reminding her of her father and his faith in Jesus. Suddenly there were no more returns of messages left on the phone. I lost touch with her. Wherever I would go I’d watch for her appearance. Ten years went by. One day, way on the other side of the city, in a grocery store, I’d not been in, I saw a woman going to the check out. She was wearing a hijab only like Nazanin did. I ran up to her and quietly queried, “Nazanin?” She turned around and fell into my arms. “Don’t forget your dad, Nazanin.” Those were the last words I said to her. I keep watching for another sight of her. Every day I look at the beautiful handiwork she lovingly made for me and say a prayer for her. I was assured that day in the store that the Holy Spirit is still at work in Nazanin’s life.

Don’t give up. Just keep watching. God IS doing something!

Dear heavenly Father, I don’t want to miss out on anything You might be doing. Give me eyes that will stay watching. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joy To The World

2010-12-23T08:30:00.004-06:00

“…When He was hung on the cross, he took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing….”Galatians 3:13a
It’s Christmas week and we are full of joy about Jesus’ birth. December’s calendar gets pretty filled up for me with grandchildren’s church and school programs and piano recitals. In the midst of living in a fantasy world of decorated malls and festive songs and parades about Santa it is easy to forget the real world we live in where there are war, sin, hostilities, and natural disasters of all sorts going on. Momentarily we like to escape into a fantasy make-believe world of festive parties when everyone is happy and extra nice to each other. I kind of like that temporary escapism.

But in the middle of it all I am brought back to the real world. I was recently having tea with a Muslim Background Believer(MBB) from an Islamic country where, if she would be in her homeland, she most likely wouldn’t be alive. Her people group doesn’t approve of her following Isa al Masih. In fact, so much that if she appears at one of their community events they don’t want to come to it. She feels cursed by them at times. We were discussing Isaiah 24. We came to verse 6: “Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire. Few will be left alive.” She is keenly aware of what a curse looks and feels like. She stated matter of factly, “That’s like my country.” I wanted her to understand that any curse pronounced over her is broken by the shed blood of Jesus. She is free from all curses. You should have seen her face light up. That was good news. We are largely untouched by anything pertaining to curses – but some people really feel the effects. I sang the third verse of Joy To the World to her. It speaks of Jesus removing the curse of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. He took on that curse on our behalf on the cross and broke Satan’s power over us. This is what Christmas is about. I don’t even hear the word curse during Christmas season except when we sing the third verse of Joy to the World. I don’t think we can fully enter into Christmas joy until we first understand the curse we are set free from.

I’ve sat with a number of Muslim women during this festive season. They’ve spoken of curses put on them or others by jealous women who engage in witchcraft. Worse yet I listened to a woman spew out a terrible curse on someone. Muslim women(and some MBB women)live in fear of being cursed. It is very real and terrible for them. Most of us don’t know what that is all about. We know that curses have been far removed from us because of Christ. That word doesn’t even enter our heads. We have such Good News to share at Christmas – about Jesus who came into a world where sin and curses abounded and poured forth His blessings. Joy To The World!
Dear heavenly Father, it is such a joy to be under Your blessing rather than a curse. Jesus is truly a Gift. Amen.

Astonished

2010-12-16T09:45:00.013-06:00

“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…” Luke 2:18a
A small western church was having their traditional children’s Christmas pageant when suddenly one of the shepherds broke loose and went excitedly down one aisle tapping people on the shoulder and repeatedly asked, “Did you hear? Jesus has been born!” Down one aisle and up the other aisle, over and over. The twelve year old boy was fully engaged in proclaiming the news to the audience. I was astonished. And my guess is that the whole congregation was. You see, he is an Afghan boy.

Sixteen rambunctious boys from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia went to a church’s Christmas dramatization of what happened in Bethlehem on Christmas Day over 2000 years ago. They were totally engaged with the noises of the marketplace and the manger scene with a live baby Jesus. The live donkey and a choir of angels singing thrilled them. They had to go back to take a second look at the baby. They had a hard time containing their astonishment.

An Iranian lady listened attentively to me as I told her the story of Christmas and Easter combined. When I came to the truth that God came to earth and appeared in human form and is whom we call Jesus or Isa al Masih her eyes flinched. It was astonishing new information for her.

Today a three year old Muslim girl was looking in my purse and saw red, white and green striped candy canes. “What’s that?” she asked inquisitively. “Would you like to hear the story of Christmas from the candy cane?” I asked her mother. When I got to the red stripe, symbolic of the suffering of Jesus, the mother got extremely agitated. Just looking at the candy cane evoked tremendous fears in her. I was astonished to see such a strong fearful reaction.

I delivered Christmas goodies to an Oromo Muslim family and gave them a Jesus dvd in their language. They looked astonished watching the story about Jesus’ birth, but also evidenced a twinge of consternation. They talked in low whispers between themselves. After about five minutes of viewing it, the wife told the husband to put the volume down low, went and checked if anyone was outside the door and locked it. How sad to still feel monitoring control in the free West.

Christmas comes alive for me when I am able to share the message with Muslims. I get astonished just witnessing their astonishment. After a highly educated Muslim couple heard the Christmas story the husband asked incredulously, “Joy, who on earth would make up such a story as this?” “God!”, I replied. Except He didn’t make it up. It’s not fantasy. It’s real. When we understand the Christmas story it will leave even us utterly astonished.

Dear heavenly Father, how thrilling it is to feel fully alive with the message of Jesus’ birth. Lead me to more people who don’t know the story. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Veils Removed

2010-12-09T22:15:00.003-06:00

“And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord…” II Corinthians 3:18a

Irshad wanted to go to school badly as a young teenager but in order to be safe she had to wear a burqa coming and going to school. For awhile she wore it and then in frustration because she couldn’t see properly refused to wear it and consequently was kept home from school. Then she’d get frustrated because she wanted to go to school so she resigned herself to go back to wearing it again. The burqa veil for Irshad was valued for its protection from harassing men but also hated because she couldn’t see clearly or walk unobstructed. Irshad really had no choice but to wear it.

My friend, Irshad, is living in my homeland now and enjoying the right and freedom to see and to be seen but she still wears a veil. Really? Yes, but a different kind of veil. This one is invisible. So far she has chosen to keep this veil. “I was born a Muslim and will die a Muslim,” Irshad declared to me. The invisible veil restricts her from seeing the glory of God fully. It doesn’t keep God from seeing her but it keeps her from seeing God in His full glory. She doesn’t know how much she is missing. Oh, that we would be as concerned about spiritual veils as we are about social veils. We mustn’t stop at just being satisfied when a social veil has been removed.

I am so happy to have my invisible spiritual veil removed by the Spirit of God. Our four year old granddaughter was looking at our wedding photo. I asked her if she knew who the woman was. She replied, “Jesus?” Guess she thought someone wearing a white ‘robe’ must be Jesus. But really, wouldn’t it be awesome for us to actually be mistaken for Jesus? Oh, that the glory of Jesus Christ would reflect powerfully from our faces to our dear Muslim friends. Sometimes I think a divine reflection is more powerful than any words we might say. Never underestimate the spiritual impact that can be made in a Muslim woman simply by her looking at you at your next party or in the classroom. I asked Peggy if she would like to meet my Yemeni Muslim friend. Unfortunately we only had 5 brief minutes with her but Zari said afterwards, “I love your friend, Joy. She is so nice!” Surprised I replied, “You just met her, Zari.” She responded, “I like her face.” I knew Glory was reflecting on Peggy’s face. When I was ten years old I listened to Corrie ten Boom speak. I stared at her soft beautiful wrinkled face. I concluded in my child-like understanding that she must be an angel. There’s nothing more captivating and beautiful than a person’s face glowing with the glory of Jesus Christ. Gone is the veil. Yes!

Dear heavenly Father, when I see Your glory reflected on a sister’s face I’m irresistibly affected. Let Your glory reflect from me unobstructed. Oh, to see Your glory in its fullness! In Jesus’ glorious name, Amen.

Remembering

2010-12-02T22:19:00.008-06:00

“He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed!” Isaiah 53:5b

Shazia and I were lounging on her queen size bed with her adorable baby smiling and cooing at us. As we celebrate Christmas season, the month of Muharram will begin on Tuesday when Shia Muslims around the world will spend 10 days commemorating Hussein’s suffering and martyrdom. Shazia will spend those days listening to sorrowful poetic recitation performances about Hussein’s death. In the evenings her community will gather together at the Husseini(mosque) to eat special dishes they have prepared. I remember the first Muharram public display of grieving I witnessed in Pakistan shortly after we arrived back in 1978. My husband and I and our two year old daughter were walking towards the bazaar when we suddenly heard a lot of commotion and wailing. We came upon a very new, strange, and frightening scene. A crowd of men were beating themselves with whips. We had never seen anything like that in our lives. I literally felt sick and shocked with no preparation or knowledge beforehand of this religious self-flagellation and wanted to shield our child from the morbid scene.

I asked Shazia, “Does your family beat themselves to the point of bleeding during Muharram in your country?” She said, “All my city does.” “Do they use knives, too, and hit their heads to bleed?” I asked further. “Yes,” she replied with pride, “especially my father.” I inquired why they beat themselves and bleed. “To remember Hussein’s suffering,” Shazia explained. “We have to remember.”

“We remember Isa al Masih’s death, too,” I said. “Every month in church we drink a little bit of red juice to remind us of His death and suffering. He bled to death on the cross. Isa al Masih, before He died, told His followers around the supper table to drink the wine/juice and eat the broken bread to remember His blood He would shed for us and the broken bread would remind us that His body was broken for us on the cross. He tells us to remember His suffering but we don’t beat ourselves because we are thankful and relieved that Isa al Masih took our punishment upon Himself on the cross and we can be spared from going to jahannam(hell).” She looked completely surprised and shocked at this new information.

What a stark difference! Both of us remember our leader’s unjust sufferings and deaths. But as Christians we don’t end with mourning a buried dead human leader. Rather we end with a spirit of complete amazement and gratitude at what Jesus’ suffering and death procured for us. Salvation. Forgiveness of our sins. Victory over Satan and death. Eternal life. Most of all we have a divine Leader whose story did not end with the grave but with resurrection and life. I never want to forget that. I am witnessing Shazia’s diligence in remembering her leader’s suffering and death. I am resolved to be even more diligent in remembering what our Savior went through. Remembering Jesus’ birth, death, suffering – and empty grave - is a very sacred worship experience for me this Christmas.

Dear heavenly Father, I never want to forget what Jesus has done for mankind...for me. Thank you! Amen.

I See Muslims - Now What??

2010-11-25T07:30:00.003-06:00

“God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3:17

“Joy, when I’m in the mall I see Muslim ladies in head scarves and sometimes even with their faces covered in black. One time my little girl was so scared of them and begged me to call the police. What should I do when I see Muslim women like that?” Nancy asked me very concerned. “Well, I go up to them and say hi. I welcome them to our country. I speak to her beautiful children. When I say goodbye I give them a loving pat on their arm,” I replied. “You TOUCH them?!” she asked incredulously.

The next time I met Nancy she begged me to give her some training. Halfway through I realized she didn’t want training but was mostly concerned about her four daughters and her future grandchildren how they could be protected from, what she considered, an encroachment of Muslims on ‘her’ home turf. Nancy is on a journey. Usually the journey begins with our eyes. We see a woman wearing a hijab or a niqab. Mixed feelings can arise in us, as with Nancy. Then our ears hear about Muslims on the news. Ouch… We feel a need to know more. We begin to read books and check websites. Our minds absorb information. If we read the right things something will begin to stir in our hearts. Oh-oh, a divine compassion unknown to us before begins to be birthed in our hearts for the Muslim woman. We begin to yearn to meet one. We find our feet taking unusual initiative to seek and find one. This is so counter cultural for us we wonder if we are crazy! By divine appointment we are put on the path of some Muslim woman. Our hearts are singing. We are excited and a little apprehensive at first. But it doesn’t take long until our hands long to demonstrate practical help and compassion. We bake cookies together or teach her how to drive. Maybe help her with conversational English or invite her over for a meal. We discover Fatima is really human and a lot of fun to be around. The journey’s not done though. We have reached out in showing practical love and now we want to proclaim with our mouths what is in our hearts. She won’t know about our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ, unless we open our mouths and speak. We don’t need to be afraid. The Holy Spirit has been preparing us(and her) all along for such an opportunity.

What an exhilarating journey to go on. It’s well worth it, my sisters. It’s possible the whole journey will lead us into a precious long term friendship with a Muslim woman. Maybe one day she’ll even become our sister in Christ! She will be on a journey, too. Eyes, ears, mind, heart, feet, hands, and mouth – our whole being has now experienced a mysterious alteration. We are changed. Now let’s gently lead her to the heart of God who loves her dearly.

Dear heavenly Father, I’m willing and psyched to go on this journey as long as you design it and are in it with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Kind Touch

2010-11-18T20:37:00.002-06:00

As I got acquainted with Julie, a busy home-schooler mother of five, I became increasingly interested how she was reaching out to her Muslim friend, Nasrin. At first she was unsure how to proceed spiritually or relationally with Nasrin. She decided to just follow the nudging of her heart which kept whispering to her, “Just love Nasrin”.

When Nasrin went to the hospital for surgery, Julie took her three children into her own home for a week, even though it meant a lot of extra work with five children of her own already. It spoke volumes to Nasrin. Often Julie massages Nasrin’s head to give her relief from debilitating headaches. One day another Muslim lady was over visiting at Nasrin’s when Julie dropped by. The visitor and Julie couldn’t communicate leaving Julie feeling helpless and unsure how to converse. All she could think of was to take the lady’s hand and gently massage it. Nasrin’s husband came down with cancer causing a stressful situation for them both. Julie again did what she knew best: to love them. She wasn’t sure how to share Christ with Nasrin’s dying husband but she thought, I could sing to him. She spent time intentionally memorizing all the verses of the song, “In Christ Alone”. One day towards the end of his life she quietly sat near his bedside and sang the song to him. Visiting, caring for Nasrin’s children in her own home, giving massages, and singing the gospel to a dying Muslim man and frightened wife all communicated the love of Jesus.

I remember one situation when someone's kind touch really meant alot to me. My husband and I had been hiking in the mountainous terrain of Pakistan when I could hardly make it down the mountain and over the glacier because my knee was shooting sharp pain. I was in agony. We made our way to a friend's home and collapsed with pain on the rickety rope charpai(bed) in his one room stone/mud house. Our friend's mother gave me a wonderful malish - the Pakistani form of massaging. She was a real pro at it! It relieved my pain and meant so much to me; especially since I was out in the middle of nowhere, far from a hospital or medicines.

Whether it is singing, massaging, or caring for children our Muslim friends will sense we love them when we show kindness. How has God used your kind touch to minister to a Muslim woman? Or... how has a Muslim woman's kindness to you met a real need? Remember the Samaritan woman who met Jesus' need for a drink of water? Or the story of the Good Samaritan? Why not share your story with us all?

God Uses Shelly's Hobby

2010-11-12T22:17:00.000-06:00

After thirteen years of having children at home full time and her youngest to enter Kindergarten, Shelly knew a beginning of a new phase of life had come. With the recent untimely death of her sister-in-law she became keenly aware of the shortness of life. She began praying almost daily, “Lord, show me what I can do today that will have significance for eternity.” He quickly answered her prayers. Shelly shares with all of us:

“The hum of sewing machines, the smell of coffee, the unfamiliar cadences of an African language, beautiful women dressed in brightly colored garb…these sights and sounds soon became a familiar part of my life. You might think, by the environment I am describing, that the answer to my prayer was God moving us to a North African country. In reality, I haven’t left the suburbs where I live. Several days a week suburban women from area churches and refugee women from all over the world gather in a small office to sew. The American women have volunteered their time and talents to help a group of about 24 refugees, mostly from North Africa, learn to sew. Several of our teachers have developed deep friendships with these Muslim women, becoming part of their support system, celebrating graduations or sitting with them in the hospital. Such friendships have provided opportunities to share the love and truth of Jesus as issues arise. I always just thought sewing was my hobby. Never did I dream that God could take something I enjoy so much and allow me to use it to reach out to Muslim women with His love!”

Shelly is a Christian women discovering, to her surprise, that God can use her hobby to serve Him. She adds, “Maybe you don’t sew, but there is something else you love – cooking, card making, stamping, photography, etc. It doesn’t have to be a money-making venture, just something you love that you could use to build a relationship with a local Muslim refugee or immigrant woman. Many are lonely – in a strange country and longing for friendship. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs that may be just down the street!”

I’m encouraged by Shelly’s creative ministry. Serving God can be both fun and helpful when He is in it. Wouldn’t you just love to listen in on the conversations going on around those sewing machines? What inspires me is that she is sewing with them – entering into their very lives. That’s what you call incarnational ministry. Anybody else out there have a good story to share about how God is using your hobby among Muslim women?

Fountain of Life

2010-11-05T07:30:00.005-05:00

“For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.” Psalm 36:9

Hand in hand, Ed and I visited Buckingham Fountain in Chicago frequently during our courtship. It was so romantic seeing the soft pink and purple colored lights in the midst of the full ascending spray. I’m sure if you would have looked closely you would have seen stars in my eyes shining and sparkling brightly. Ever since those days whenever I see a fountain I associate it with love and affection. It’s not a wonder that God is referred to as the fountain of life, the light by which we see. He is ready to shower His Presence and goodness upon us. The only problem is that sometimes I get attracted to substitute fountains. After dad died I missed him so much. I found someone else to take his place – at least I thought he could take his place, but I was sorely disappointed and deceived. I drank from a substitute fountain. I was 'blind'. Then one day, I came to my senses and saw my substitute fountain could only partially satisfy my thirst for parental love and security. I could see how blind I had been. I came back to my real Fountain and drank and drank. I was not disappointed. To the contrary I was delightfully surprised. Oh…what pure water to the soul! I never knew how sweet and satisfying and healing Jesus could be.

I sat on the floor in one corner of the tiny living room with Sima, all covered with her hijab and abaya, while a few yards away our husbands sat in another corner. In between us all was a computer. Actually they have two computers. One to stay in touch with Sima’s family and one to stay in touch with her husband’s family. They are hooked up with web cameras which are left on 24/7 so that no sound or movement will be missed between both of their families in Saudi Arabia and them in the West. They can see each other working in their respective kitchens or moving around in their living rooms. Homesickness and a deep longing for the love and affection of their parents far away keep them ever close by to the camera. What will happen when family is taken from her? I desperately want to help Sima discover there is another Fountain she can drink from which will satisfy her thirst for security and love. She can enjoy an everlasting heavenly Father who will never leave her or forsake her. My heart aches for Muslim women like Sima. I wait for her to become thirsty to drink from that sweet Fountain of Life. She won't believe what she will see!

Dear heavenly Father, I feel fully alive and satisfied since I discovered You as my fountain of life. Cause my Muslim friends to thirst for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Miracles

2010-10-29T05:45:00.005-05:00

“…We have seen the hand of God at work today.” Luke 7: 16b

Iman was in a bad situation. Her doctor told her not to get pregnant again because she had a serious health condition which could jeopardize her life. But she did get pregnant. When I visited Iman, who is a devout practicing Muslim, she unloaded her fears to me. She wanted me to pray for her. So, I did. My prayer sounded rather feeble. She must have thought so, too, since she asked me to pray a second time. “This time put your hand on my abdomen,” she urged. Wow! She really is expecting a miracle, I thought. It seemed like Iman had more faith than me. I placed my hand on her abdomen and ventured a more confident authoritative prayer in the name of Jesus. I felt embarrassed and ashamed that I was asked to pray a second time. This time she wanted me to pray seriously for a miracle. I didn’t hear back from her for a few months. Then I got another call to come to the hospital. She wanted prayer again. It didn’t sound very hopeful at all that she would be able to keep her baby. Her health was progressively getting worse. But I complied and prayed. God was stretching my faith. Not long afterwards I received the good news that mother and baby were both fine. It dawned on me that Iman was not actually expecting anything from me per se, but from the power and authority that is in the name of Isa al Masih.

Sometimes I feel that we who are in Muslim ministry are the most privileged of all people. God puts us with people of another faith who are experiencing impossible desperate situations. We rarely pray for miracles because we don’t hear much preaching about miracles or maybe have never even witnessed a miracle in our own lives. We can settle down into living a natural life. Then suddenly Muslims call on us to pray. They need supernatural intervention. Perhaps our theology scurries about trying to figure out what to do or say. We want to make sure our theology stays intact – that we don’t go off the deep end. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit is prodding us to go into deeper water and trust Him for more. And then, lo and behold, we find out that it didn’t have much to do with us or our theology but about the power and authority in the name of Jesus.

Muslim ministry can be exhilarating. It never fails to amaze me that Muslims call on Christians for prayer. I am so proud of my Savior. I love to exalt Him. I love to cry out to Him on behalf of these precious women. I love to wait in expectancy to see what God will do. I’m like a little child who dances with glee when she opens a gift. I have discovered the greatest miracle of all - a miracle working God!

Dear heavenly Father, I’m filled with wonder and awe at seeing You work! In Jesus’ name, Amen.