Home Away from Home

Dear Friends,

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If you have been following this blog, or have just begun to read it, you have realized that I do not live in what I consider my "home" country.  I was born in the U.S., in Suffolk, VA, and my husband and I have been ministering in France since March 2000.  Even though there are many things that I enjoy about France, the French culture and people, I probably would still say that I am more at home in the U.S. than I am here.

Living between two countries is a daily reminder to me of being a "stranger in a strange land."  Several years ago, I applied for and was granted the French nationality.  I now have dual citizenship, two passports, and no hassles moving through customs either entering or leaving France or the U.S, which is a tremendous blessing to our family.  I have these two identities inside, and the one that surfaces the most is the one that I allow to influence me the most.

It is a strange thing indeed to live between two cultures.  I have many "Americanisms," left over from almost 26 years of living in the U.S.  I have family, a history, an American past that was basically put on pause 15 years ago.  That American-ness will always be a part of my life.  I may lose sight temporarily of the fact that I was not born and raised in France, but I will always at some point be reminded of who I was, and how the person I used to be still affects my thoughts and actions today.

At the same time, I cannot truly say that I am totally at home in France.  I love living here, and there are many blessings and joys that I enjoy from being in a different culture.  There are frustrations and negative aspects as well, but aren't there always?  As much as I try to be present and live out my days here in France, I am very conscious that I do not belong here as well.  One day, if the Lord tarries, I will leave this earth and arrive at my final destination.

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Then, and only then, will I truly be home.

Thinking about these two aspects of who I am, reminds me of my spiritual identity as well.

At the age of 13, I arrived at a crucial moment in my life.  Up until that time, I had not really given God or spiritual concerns much thought.  It was through the gentle insistings and prayers of a special family that I first heard about God's love for me, and what it could mean to have a personal relationship with Him. On June 27, 1987, I asked God to forgive my sins, accepted Jesus as the Lord of my life, and embarked on a spiritual journey that has affected every area of my life.

I can honestly say how much richer my life has been since that day.  It has not been without its difficulties, trials and hardships, but the blessings of assurance of my relationship with my God have far outweighed any difficulties in this life.

If you have never given much thought about your spiritual condition before God, may I just challenge with a few simple spiritual truths?

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1.  God is real, and He made everything that exists.  When I look from the smallest of creatures to the vast expanse of the universe, I see an order and precision that could not exist without an intelligent designer.  Who is this Creator?  The Bible tells me in Psalms 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handiwork." All that we can see (and what we cannot see) is a special Creation of God.  The Bible relates in Genesis 1:1-2, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

2.  You are not on the earth by accident! You are a part of this marvellous creation of God. He had a plan when He made everything, even me: "My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:15-16)

3.  God loves you.  God loves His creation, especially the people that were made by Him.  I chose to disobey His commandments, and I chose to follow my own course without thinking about Him.  None of that kept God from loving me.  The Bible declares in Romans 5:7-8, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die, But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  I do not deserve His love, but He gives it nonetheless.

4.  You can know God personally, starting today.  God loves His création, but He loves you personally.  The Bible tells us in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

How can you know God personally? Here are some thoughts to get you started.

1.  God is perfect, and we are not.  God in speaking to His people, told them in Leviticus 19:2, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy."  God is perfect, without sin, and if we are honest within ourselves, we are not perfect.  The Bible reminds us in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

2.  Only perfect people can live with a perfect God in heaven.  One day, we are all going to leave this earth.  The heaven where God lives is like Him:  perfect.  Because we have all sinned, we are not perfect, and we cannot live in heaven.  God created a place to punish Satan and all the angels that rebelled with him. This place is called hell, a horrible place of fire, of darkness, and eternal separation from God.  Jesus spoke to us about this place in Mark 9:43, where "the fire is not quenched," and again in Luke 16:23, where he talks about lost souls "being in torment."

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3.  Jesus came to live a perfect life on earth, and opened the way for us to go to Him.  God, knowing that we could not come to Him because of our sins, came to us.  He took upon Himself the likeness of a man, ressembling us in every way except one:  because He had God as His Father, He did not have the same sin nature as we do.  Jesus lived a perfect life from infancy to the end of His days: "...but in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)  He did miracles, preached and taught the people, and even raised some from the dead.  Because of His works, the Romans and the religious leaders took him and put Him to death on the cross.  The Bible speaks of this in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus-Christ our Lord." Jesus did not stay in the grave, but three days later, God raised Him from the dead, to open heaven's doors for all those who believe in Him!

4.  We can have our sins forgiven, and the assurance to go to heaven, by believing in this work of Jesus on the cross. The Bible teaches how to have our sins forgiven in Romans 10:9-10:  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  You cannot get to heaven by any other way, by good works or church attendance.  Ephesians 2:8-9 remind us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

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If you would like to receive forgiveness for your sins, and to live eternally with God, why not pray this prayer right where you are right now:


God, I know that I am a sinner, and that I do not deserve your love and your forgiveness.  I know that I cannot do any thing by my own merit to deserve your gift of salvation.  I believe that Jesus is God, and that He died to save me from my sins.  I accept this gift of salvation that Jesus offered, by taking my punishment for my sins on the cross.  Thank you for this wonderful gift.


By praying this prayer, you have the promises of God to have your sins forgiven, and to have an eternal home in heaven with the Lord.  Jesus tells us in John 10:28, "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."


Congratulations for beginning this new journey with God!  Like me, you are now a heavenly citizen and are on your way to your eternal home.  Reading God's Word will grow your faith, as will joining with a group of like-minded believers, where the Word of God is preached faithfully. I would love to encourage you as you begin this walk with the Lord.  Why not leave a comment at the bottom, and I would be happy to send you some Bible helps to encourage you in your journey with the Lord.