Go
I have always been a planner. I believe God made me this way for a reason, but I also see how he has been working to break me of it in recent years. I think many of us experienced this breakage in those aimless pandemic days. All our plans went out the door as we […]
God’s Restorative Work in My Life Through Spiritual Direction
As I reflect on my life, I am incredibly thankful for God’s work of restoration and healing. I continue to be in awe of his outpouring of love through the years. He has truly pursued me with lovingkindness “all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6 LSB). Being born and raised in Africa as an […]
Jesus in the Corner
I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe that I had prepared so completely for our trip but had forgotten a very important detail. The night before I stood nauseous at the Icelandair’s ticket counter, my husband and I had been running around our home in Iceland, cleaning, packing, and weighing luggage. We were […]
As Cross-Cultural Women, We Need Two Things
Welcome! If you’re new around here, we hope you’re enjoying this month’s tour of Velvet Ashes. I’m Danielle Wheeler, founder of Velvet Ashes and director of spiritual development. As we are nearing the tenth anniversary of our community, I already find myself waxing nostalgic about our humble beginnings. When the idea of Velvet Ashes first […]
A Heart Postured to Receive God’s Love
“Give me everyone you depend on, everyone you feel you need,” the tender voice of the Holy Spirit impressed on my TCK heart. “I alone can satisfy you.” The distance from my childhood home and my parents in Papua New Guinea and the adjustment to life in my passport country, the US, had caught up […]
Are My Feet Still Beautiful?
When I arrived on the field eight years ago, it was the fulfillment of ten years of praying for such an opportunity and dream to be realized. I was full of zeal, excitement and hope to finally be able to share God’s love and His message of good news with people who didn’t know Him. […]
Too-Close-For-Comfort Community
It should be enough. But it isn’t. Our faith and our womanhood should be enough to bond us to one another, enough to join our lives to journey together. But all too often walls are built between us. Status stands in the way. She’s married. She’s not. She’s got kids. She doesn’t. She’s older. She’s […]
Where Is Home For You?
I’m sure you’ve been asked the question and you’ve wrestled with how to answer. Several years ago, I was shopping in Northern Wales and I found myself fumbling and mumbling to answer the question about where I was from. The brief conversation went something like this… “So where is home for you, Miss?” I glanced […]
A Liturgy for Seasons of Lament
My soul is downcast O Lord And the weight of lament Is heavy in my bones I long to be free of it- To cast my sorrow off Like a dirty garment- And yet, I sense you here in the sorrow Not leading me out of it But walking me through it For there is […]
My Sex Life Died On the Field
This post is longer than usual, but we wanted to share all of Elizabeth’s vulnerable story with you. Read to the end to see how God brought hope and healing. If you have pain in your past related to sexuality that could be triggered, be gentle with yourself and skip the posts this week if […]
Untrained. Unqualified. Unconventional.
They say that hindsight is 20/20 and my, my, is it ever true. I would like to think that had I known then what I know now, I would have embarked on this overseas life a little less reserved, much more objective, and way more prepared. But there is a part of me that wonders […]
Lessons From When I Belonged at the Zoo
Recently the husband and I celebrated a big anniversary. If I tell you how long it would just tell you how old I am. We are the kind of old where our kids all drive and yet we have no grandkids. This is the age I call the “child wilderness” age. We have no excuse […]