In the Silence, God Named Me

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At my recent silent retreat, I read the following prayer from Guerrillas of Grace (by Ted Loder) before going on a hike:

In The Silence, Name Me

Holy One, untamed by the names I give you, 
in the silence, name me, 
that I may know who I am, 
hear the truth you have put into me, 
trust the love you have for me 
which you call me to live out 
with my brothers and sisters in your human family.

As I walked, I considered the names I had already been given and what I have learned from each name.

Renita Grace Kranenburg Reed Thomson

Renita means "firm of purpose," which I have always claimed gives me license to be stubborn.  My parents named me Renita; they meant for the meaning to be "reborn," which I was at the age of 27.

Grace is unmerited favor, love, and kindness freely given to undeserving people.  I firmly belong in that category!  My favorite line from a hymn says, "Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be, let that grace, like a fetter bind my wandering heart to me."  I have requested that those lines be sung at my funeral, as I know my deep need for grace!

Kranenburg is my maiden name.  I lived in the Kranenburg household for seventeen years and carried that name for 21 years.  It was, of course, significantly formative in both faith and culture, and much of who I am today is still a result of Peter and Marrie Kranenburg.

I married into the Reed name in 1990 and learned a whole new culture from that family, mostly through Bob.  I was married to Bob from 1990 until 2010, when he passed away.  Bob had a significant impact on who I am.  Anyone who had him as a therapist knows how effective he was - imagine being married to him through your formative 20s and 30s!  I learned who I was, what I believed, and put aside some unhealthy cultural practices (and picked up some others!).  

I married into the Thomson name in 2014, and I'm still leaning into that name and learning what it means. From Michael, I learn about hard work, family loyalty, and passionate advocacy. 

While I continued on this walk, I asked God to name me.  And without going into all the details of that process, after some time, I heard clearly that God's name for me is "Joy." I've sat with that now for a few months and believe that it's also a name that I need to grow into - that God is inviting me to grow into.  Joy is not happiness and is not related to circumstances, but it is delight and strength in God's grace.  The name "Joy" circles back to "Grace," which circles back to "Renita," or "reborn."

I pray that God will help me lean into this delight and strength.  

The day I left my silent retreat, Joel and Patty Hogan anointed me with oil with that new name.  What a blessing!

Renita Grace Joy Kranenburg Reed Thomson

As you go into this new week, what might God's name be for you, and how might you live it out? And if He's given you a name already, I'd love to hear from you!  

Asking the Wrong Question in the Garden

The DML global team has been praying through the book of Daniel together, and one theme stands out: Nebuchadnezzar repeatedly acknowledges the God of Daniel as the “one true God,” yet he never chooses to serve Him or abandon the gods he already worships. This tension invites us to reflect on the nature of false gods—not only in ancient Babylon, but in the many forms they still take today—and to compare them with the living God.

The pagan gods of Daniel’s time did not speak or act for themselves. Others spoke and acted on their behalf. Our God, by contrast, speaks and acts personally. He is a doer of deeds, and it is through His work that we know Him. Genesis 1 and 2 read like a report on a workweek, filled with divine action: creating, forming, naming, blessing, commanding, planting, breathing life, and resting. God reveals Himself through purposeful, relational action.

Pagan gods require human beings to attend to their needs; people are enslaved to them. Their stories are unilateral, with only one active agent. The God of Scripture, however, creates human beings as image bearers—vice-regents called to rule, cultivate, and work alongside Him. Human decisions and actions matter deeply. That calling, though, is disrupted in Genesis 3.

In Pro Rege, Michael D. Williams explores this shift in his article, “Who Is the God ‘With Whom We Have to Do’?” He notes how abruptly Genesis 3 turns: a serpent appears with no explanation, introducing opposition where none existed before. We often respond by asking, “Where was God? Why didn’t He protect Adam and Eve?”

Williams argues that this is the wrong question. Genesis 1 and 2 make clear that God entrusted the care and security of the garden to Adam and Eve. They were created to rule and to guard. The better question is, “Where were Adam and Eve?” They were equipped to defend the garden and God’s name, yet they failed to show up to the work they were given.

An appropriate response, says Williams, is that Adam and Eve would have leapt to defend the garden and the Lord's name.  The serpent would have been crushed under their foot. They had been equipped and created for this.

Adam and Eve didn't show up to work at that moment. They had every reason to be faithful and no reason to reject God's rule over them.

The same question confronts us today. We still ask, “Where is God? Why isn’t He acting?” But Scripture presses us to ask instead, “Where are we?” We, too, have been equipped and commissioned. The work given in Genesis 1 and 2 was not revoked in Genesis 3—it simply became more difficult. The call to show up remains.

A Seat at the Table...But What About the Kitchen?

You have likely heard the phrase, “You have a seat at the table,” or perhaps, “We want a seat at the table.”

The phrase reflects a desire to participate in decision-making—to have one’s voice recognized as legitimate and influential, rather than merely being present and living with the outcomes.

And while it is good to have a seat at the table, it is far better to be invited into the kitchen.

When you are at the table, you arrive after the decisions have been made. The table is already set. The menu has already been determined.

The kitchen, however, is different. It is chaotic and fast-paced. It is creative and demanding. It is where ideas collide, where experiments are tried, where failures and successes coexist. It is where fusion happens—new expressions are born, and innovation takes shape.

We need to move from occupying a place to participating in the planning.

We need to move from being welcomed to being wanted.

I believe this metaphor speaks powerfully to the Church and how it has been expressed. For many years, businesspeople—and others whose primary ministry is outside the church building—have been invited to the table, but rarely into the kitchen. The Church’s “menu” has often remained familiar and centralized, shaped largely by programs and led by a professional pastorate.

Yet Scripture calls us toward something different.

We are invited to move from centralized leadership to decentralized leadership. We are called to equip the saints for the work of the ministry—a work that takes place primarily outside the church walls. We are meant to live as a priesthood of believers, making room for multiple expressions of the Church. Churches are meant to serve movements, not require movements to serve them.

What we need is unity, not uniformity.

Recently, I heard a compelling metaphor: the Church needs to be like the immortal jellyfish—an organism known for its ability to renew itself by returning to an earlier stage of life rather than dying. In the same way, the Church must continually return to its source. Certain forms may need to die so that new ones can emerge, allowing adaptation without a loss of identity.

This is my prayer for the Church in 2026. It might look something like this:

Every Christian, a disciple and sent.
Every church, a training center.
Every pastor, a master trainer.
Every church, a multiplying church.
Every leader, a leader developer.

There is a beautiful song that captures this vision well. May it inspire us as we step into a new year.

Happy New Year.

T

The Christian Caste System

Many of us are aware of the caste system that exists in India, tied to Hinduism, in which society is strictly ranked in four different categories. It is determined by birth and dictates work occupations.  The hereditary status in the caste system cannot be changed, regardless of personal merit, and it impacts marriage, social interactions, where one can live, and even where one can get water.  The caste system was outlawed in 1947, but its influence persists.

As DML is an organization that emphasizes that every person has been made in the image of the most high God, as co-creators, not co-laborers, this is received as good news by those who hear.  One of our teams had the opportunity to share this message in the last couple of weeks with sanitation workers, who would often be seen as the untouchables, given the most stigmatized job, and facing extreme discrimination.  Here is the story, in their own words.

Outreach among the Sanitation Workers

This Christmas season, the Lord opened a beautiful door for us to serve and honor the sanitation workers of N********* city. There are 1,897 sanitation workers across 10 zones. 

What we never imagined was that the very places where these workers gather each day would turn into places of worship. We honored our sanitation warriors, sang gospel songs, shared the loving invitation of Jesus, “Come to Me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest," and distributed gifts as a small expression of our gratitude and love.

Each gift bag carried a creative message:

        On one side: “We salute the sanitation warriors."

        Below it: “Jesus loves you.”

        On the other side: John 3:16 printed in Hindi.

Their responses deeply moved our hearts. Many said, “Nobody has ever come to meet us or thank us. Nobody even notices us. You taking the time to visit us is very special. We loved the songs and message.” 

The caste system in India has long divided people and created invisible walls that prevent us from truly relating to one another. For generations, sanitation work has primarily been assigned to those on the margins of society. These essential yet often overlooked roles are rarely acknowledged with dignity or gratitude.

This Christmas, we felt led to express love where it is most needed. We spent time with our sanitation workers, visiting them, honoring them for faithfully keeping our city clean, and sharing the message of hope with them. Today, we concluded this outreach with hearts full of gratitude.

As we ministered through songs, the Word, and prayer, we witnessed the Holy Spirit gently touching lives and hearts. 

Today, as a team, we are rejoicing in what the Lord is doing through us. Our prayer is that the message of love and hope they heard will continue to sink deep into their hearts, helping them embrace the beautiful truth that they are deeply loved by God and warmly welcomed into His family. Thank you for your prayers and support.

We are so thankful for this message to be given to these sanitation workers, who can see that their work is important and appreciated!

A businessman once said to me that they feel like there is a Christian caste system as well, in which there is a holiness hierarchy that puts pastors and missionaries at the top, then professionals, and at the bottom are the businesspeople.  He said that he felt that businesspeople are treated as the "untouchables" by the church, doing "secular" work for "dishonest gain" by "taking advantage" or "cheating" customers and employees.  

This is definitely the case in some churches.  It is often more covert than overt, with language that emphasizes a sacred/secular divide and lacks a Kingdom vision. 

As we close 2025 and look forward to what God will continue to do in 2026, we pray that it will be a year in which more and more people will be unleashed to release their potential, to the glory of God!

Despair is a Luxury of the Privileged

Advent and Christmas can feel emotionally complex.  There is joy in the coming of Jesus, but as we are between the "now" and the "not yet," it can feel perplexing to sing about peace and joy amid intense challenges. Yesterday, my pastor said, "Advent is a season of holy dissatisfaction."  I fully agree.

Recently, I was listening to a theologian talk about the complexities of the situation between Israel and Gaza, and I heard him say, "Despair is a luxury of the privileged." 

I immediately wrote that statement down and have been contemplating it since. What a powerful, thought-provoking statement. Despair described as a luxury doesn't sound right!

But giving up or feeling hopeless is a luxury for those of us who live secure, comfortable lives.  For those in the middle of desperate situations, despair is not a choice.  The fight for survival must focus on action and resistance. They don't have the luxury of sitting down and feeling hopeless, or risk things getting even worse.

In this Christmas season, my mind goes to the challenges faced by places beyond what we hear daily from Palestine/Israel and Ukraine/Russia.  From our own team in DML, we have several partners who are also in various levels of crisis.

• India, with ongoing persecution of Christians.
• Nigeria, with escalating kidnappings, violence, and the targeting of Christians.
• Burkina Faso's ongoing challenge with terrorists.
• Cameroon, with a civil war between the English and the French that doesn't feel like it will ever end.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo, with ongoing challenges that involve neighboring countries like Burundi.
• Ethiopia continues to face internal conflict as well as conflict with neighboring countries.

And the list goes on.  I know there are dozens more.

How empty the words "peace on earth" can seem when we personally know those in the middle of these conflicts.  

How helpless we can feel when we can't effect change from the inside, because we are merely watching from a distance.

How guilty we can feel living in relative peace and comfort while many struggle.

But.

We must engage in the fight.

We can pray. 

We can encourage. 

We can listen to the painful stories that inform our prayers, as well as how we use our time, treasure and talent.

We can choose not to look away, not to anesthetize ourselves with distractions, and act like everything is okay.  

We can lament even in a season of joy.

Despair is a luxury of the privileged. Despair is NOT a posture to take when we know a Sovereign God who is at work in every place and space, primarily through His disciples who are acting on His behalf in every sphere of influence. 

Hope is a discipline, not a feeling.  It is a practiced commitment to action, even against the odds.

And so we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, which allows us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, with both joy and lament, thankful for the birth of Jesus many years ago, and also praying, "Maranatha, come Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

I wish every one of you a blessed Christmas week, with joy and peace in your heart and home.

With: Not Over, Under, From, or For

A few years ago, I was given a book by an elder from our church, called With by Skye Jethani, which seeks to move people beyond cultural Christianity.  I wish I had read this book earlier in life, as it would have helped me understand my own cultural posture toward Christianity and the positions of many people from different cultures across Africa.  As we seek to do discipleship, it's essential to understand the barriers people face, and this book helps us to do so. 

Jethani describes four common postures of Christianity using the prepositions of over, under, from, or for:  Life over God, Life Under God, Life from God, or Life for God.  Each of these positions has limitations and thwarts a genuinely intimate relationship with God. The author recommends that we unpack these positions in terms of our own relationship with God and move toward Life WITH God.

Life Under God is a posture that exists under the shackles of religious legalism.  In this posture, individuals strictly follow rules to appease a deity.  The goal of humanity is to appease and placate the divine by adhering to a strict code of moral and religious laws.  In this view, life is controlled by God, and believers can influence His actions, secure blessings, or avoid calamity by complying with His laws.  The relationship with God, therefore, is transactional - if I do this, God will do that.  This posture promotes a performance-based faith, which induces fear and undermines joy.  God is reduced to an enforcer of rules, and the spiritual journey is an anxious quest to avoid divine wrath or curry divine favor.  This posture gives rise to a judgmental and self-righteous demeanor toward those who struggle to follow the rules, thereby fostering division rather than unity.  This posture misunderstands God's desire for a loving relationship with his creation and misses the profound and liberating relationship that God offers through grace.

I personally find this to be a very common posture, from how I was raised as well as in many parts of Africa.  Works over grace, lots of fear and guilt.

Life Over God is a posture that gives the illusion of control by relying on divine principles and natural laws, replacing a relationship with God with self-sufficiency and formulaic living.  This posture believes that God has set the laws, humans need to reason and understand those laws, and then all is good.  God's guidance and an intimate relationship with Him are not required once these laws are figured out.  Faith is merely practical wisdom, defined by utility rather than relationship. 

This posture is often found in developed nations who have "figured things out" to the degree that God is no longer needed. 

Life From God is a self-centric faith, entrenched in consumerism, viewing God as a vending machine providing our personal desires and needs.  Faith is defined by utility rather than relationship.  God is a means to an end, and faith is fleeting and shallow in this posture.  God is often described as a loving Father, faithful spouse, and diligent shepherd, which are metaphors that emphasize God's relationship with us and care for
us.  This perspective seeks God's hand more than His face.

This posture is often found in the prosperity gospel teaching, that God is there to take care of you and provide all you need.

Life For God is activistic faith, prioritizing mission and purpose over a relationship with God.  Activism and service become idols in this posture, which can then lead to burnout and disconnection with God.  A relationship with the King is forsaken in exchange for seeking His Kingdom.  This is a performance-oriented faith that measures worth and standing with God by accomplishments and contributions, losing sight of grace.  Mission and purpose are important aspects of the Christian faith, but they should not supplant the primary call to be in a relationship with God. 

This is the posture I continue to wrestle with today, as do many church and ministry leaders. What a shame to seek the Kingdom and miss the King.

Life With God is a posture that serves as an antidote to the inadequacies of the other models, shifting from performance, principles, consumerism, and activism, to presence with God.  Each of the other methods treats God as a means to an end, for control, security, personal fulfillment, or purpose.  Instead, our identity is to be found in being God's beloved, which liberates us from the endless cycle of striving and performance.  

Skye Jethani evaluates many conversations that he has with believers through these postures, seeking to understand better the potential barriers that people face when living out these postures.  I wonder how these postures strike you in terms of your own faith, the faith of those in your culture or church, and how unpacking these postures could help people know better how to be WITH God?

I do encourage reading this book and the quote below shows how this relates to DML and HOW it is we are to work WITH God, not for, under, over, or from Him.