In September I attended my first Inscribe Writer's Conference. I enjoyed it for a number of reasons but mostly because it spurred me on to get back to my writing and blogging. I've been writing more, mostly poetry which I am really enjoying. However, it took me until yesterday to truly figure out what to do with my blog. You see I was suddenly inundated with information on what makes a good blog, and I was almost embarrassed by my blog. So, I attempted to update it but still wasn't happy with it--there wasn't any unique perspective to it. Then last night it hit me. Well, the Holy Spirit gave me the idea while I was reading Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson. I had read the book before I went overseas. Now it had a totally different meaning because I connected with his stories, his examples. Heck--I've LIVED with some of those examples. Then the idea hit me--why couldn't I write about that? About, how I see the world, especially the world I grew up in, after living away from it for 20 years. How do I see the world around me differently? In some instances, my change of viewpoint is drastic. In most instances, it's very subtle. Most of the time I don't even notice it unless I make a conscious effort to think about it.

I realized that, like my children, I also "grew up (not physically but mentally, emotionally and especially spiritually)" in a cross-cultural setting. So why is there no term for someone like me? Thus, I coined a term: TCA--Third Culture Adult. That's me. I like the term. I like who I am. I like how I see the world because what I've learned, I've learned through living a life of faith in my Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. How exciting and beautiful is that!

Here is my disclaimer: In no way am I unique in being a TCA. I know there are many of you out there. I am just simply writing about it from my perspective.

Yesterday I made a commitment--a commitment to start blogging again. It's been far too long. It's not that I don't have anything to write about. Honestly, the problem is that I have so much to write about that I don't know where to begin. And so, I begin at the feet of Jesus--and wait. The Spirit has already nudged me about doing this, but I need more focus, especially in thinking about my purpose: Memoirs about my life to this point? Things I'm learning about writing? Books/authors that I have read that have inspired me? I'm not sure...yet. And so I wait. I know the Shekinah Glory is here so I have peace in waiting. God is always good.

Hidden pain.

Grey clouds hang heavy,
Hiding sun. Weeping sadness.
Songbirds gone. Crows screech.
Wind tortures trees, flowers. Moans.
God's creation cries my pain.

Books of 2010

Happy New Year--a new year and hopefully a better year of blogging for me. Just thought I'd start by listing the books I read (at least the ones I can remember) this past year. More for my own sake than for anyone else.

Books I read for course work:
A Passion for Narrative--Jack Hodgins
Canadian Short Stories--a compilation
Dr. Faustus--Christopher Marlowe
Faust--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Peer Gynt--Henrik Ibsen

Books that Doug & I read together while travelling (we do enough!):
Your God is Too Safe--Mark Buchanan
The Rest of God--Ibid
The Holy Wild--Ibid
(As you can tell, we discovered Mark Buchanan was a good read while driving)

Books I read loosely for beginning my novel:
The Tai Khamtis of North East India--L Gogoi
Shans at Home--Leslie Milne

Books I read as part of my devotional reading:
Addicted to Mediocrity--Franky Schaeffer
Man: the Dwelling Place of God--A.W. Tozer
If You will Ask--Oswald Chambers
The Ministry of Intercession--Andrew Murray
Epic--John Eldredge
Hidden in Plain Sight--Mark Buchanan
Run With the Horses--Eugene H. Peterson
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction--Eugene H. Peterson
The Journey of Desire--John Eldredge

Books I read simply for enjoyment:
Who Has Seen the Wind--W.O. Mitchell
Surprised by Joy--C.S. Lewis
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall--M.G. Vassanji
Journey--James A. Michener
Faither to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story--Paul H. Boge
Into Thin Air--Jon Krakauer
La Prisonniere--Malika Oufkir
Art and Soul--don't remember the author

I was considering writing quotes that I had underlined as I read but that would take a fair bit of time. Just know there were LOTS--mostly from the devotional books. SO MUCH hit me--and SO MUCH more to learn. It is so exciting!!! God is SOOO alive!!!! I'm amazed and humbled by His work in my life.

Have a FANTASTIC 2011 my Friends!

Christ's Death & Resurrection

It is "Good" Friday. My thoughts can be expressed in 2 songs by Matt Maher, my new favourite Christian artist. His new album, Alive Again, is my new-found friend. EACH song touches something going on in my life right now. Two songs are especially appropriate for this weekend. The first time I heard the first song, I didn't necessarily agree with the theology. Then in looking at the lyrics inside the CD case, I saw that these 2 songs go together-the first one refers to Christ's death, the second to Christ's resurrection. TOTALLY AWESOME!! I recommend this album!!!!!!

You were on the Cross

Lost, everything is lost
And everything I've loved before is gone
Alone, like the coming of the frost
And a cold winter's chill in my stony heart
Where were You when all that I've hoped for,
Where were You when all that I've dreamed
Came crashing down in shambles around me?
You were on the cross
Pain
Could You take away the pain?
If I find someone to blame
Would it make my life seem easier?

Alone, all my friends are asleep
And I can't find anyone to stay awake with me
And where were You when sin stole my innocence,
Where were You when I was ashamed
Hiding in a life I wish I'd never made
You were on the cross
My God my God
All along, all along
You were on the cross
You died for us
All along, all along
You were on the cross
Victorious!
All along, all along
You were there in all my suffering
You were there in doubt and fear
I'm waiting on the dawn to reappear...

Christ is Risen

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come Awake, Come Awake
Come and rise up from the grave
We are one with Him again
Come Awake, Come Awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
O death, where is your sting?
Oh hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead.
He's alive! He's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come Awake, Come Awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come Awake, Come Awake
Come and rise up from the grave!

Lost and Found

Just want to share this song of hope by Robin Mark:

Lost and Found

When the rain falls, and it some days will,
and the pavement under my feet,
sparkles silver and gold, in reflected light
that I otherwise wouldn't have seen.

And when the storm comes and the strong wind blows
I will bow my head to push through;
And every step that I take, I will watch and pray
and be sure my foothold is true.

Jesus, don't You keep me from that storm
I wanna walk that sacred ground;
For You are Master of it all
And I am but a lost and found.

And in the dry place, in the wilderness
when Your word seems so far away,
Oh I will think of my life, and I will bless Your name;
For Your promises never have failed.

And when the night falls, at the end of days,
I will lift my eyes to the heavens,
and we will shine like the stars, for eternal days;
In Your presence forever and e'er.

So, Jesus, don't You keep me from that storm
I wanna walk that sacred ground;
For You are Master of it all
And I am but a lost and found.

Lost and found, lost and found
I am but a lost and found
For can there be a sweeter sound,
than singing with the lost and found?

Jesus don't You keep me from that storm
I wanna walk that sacred ground;
For You are Master of it all
And I am but a lost and found.

Faith for the future

Anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.Heb. 11:6 (The Message)

Life is a struggle right now--not on the outside but on the inside I'm struggling with an issue. It is something I gave over to God 2 1/2 years ago--at that time He promised His hand would be in it. That it would be okay. I had peace then. Now I have lost that peace. I go through the day sort of numb to really enjoying life and all God has for me each day. I go through the night restless, waking to a headache which I know is a sign of stress--and a lack of peace.
God promised that He would be in the situation--that it would all be okay. Right now, it's not okay and I've lost perspective.
How did those men in Hebrews 11 do it? How did they have peace from day-to-day, not wondering WHEN God would fulfill His promises? They didn't even SEE His promises fulfilled in their lifetime. Oh my! How long Lord? How long? Will I have to spend the rest of my life believing without ever seeing? I don't know if my heart can take it. Lord, give me the ability to persevere--A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, as Eugene Peterson's book so aptly puts it. I think I need to re-read that book.
What I need, like those men of Heb. 11, is faith. A faith that does not see and yet believes. Then the peace will come.