the inside track


Thank you for coming to The Inside Track


Here on The Inside Track, connect with God’s heart and allow that connection to shape every area of our lives. From our relationship with Him to how we love others, pursue purpose, and engage with the world around us, this is where faith moves beyond theory and becomes a life experience.

Think of The Inside Track as a behind-the-scenes, soul-nourishing space. It’s a place where you’ll find grounded Biblical insight, practical encouragement, and spiritual direction, all designed to help you grow as a follower of Jesus. My prayer is not only that you’ll be uplifted and inspired, but also that you’ll be challenged to go deeper, reach higher, and step more boldly into the life God has called you to live.

Because everything starts with our relationship with God, it is from that sacred center that every other relationship—with ourselves, with others, with the world—is shaped, healed, and strengthened.

Whether you’re new to faith or have walked this road for years, I believe there’s something here for you. Fresh perspective. Renewed passion. Lasting growth.

I’m so glad you’ve chosen to be here. Let’s dive in, together.

Lea Peters

the essentials

The Essentials

A collection of foundational truths every Christian needs—served with a side of humility, personal missteps, and the occasional spiritual faceplant. Think of it as theology for the easily distracted, with stories to prove it.

  • For Those Who Come After: The Long Race of Faith

    For Those Who Come After: The Long Race of Faith

    I’ve been a pastor’s wife, a teacher, and a missionary for about forty years. Looking back, it’s easy to forget that I didn’t start out knowing what to expect from this long race of faith. At first, everything felt fresh and new. I treasured each new discovery, learned from it, and eagerly looked for the…

  • I’m Not Pedigreed: When You Don’t Fit In

    I’m Not Pedigreed: When You Don’t Fit In

    I’m not pedigreed to do what I do. That’s what used to bother me. I don’t come from a prominent preacher family. Nor do I possess any unique talent, such as playing the piano or singing. I’m me, a person who said “Yes” when God called. Even though I obeyed God’s call, that doesn’t mean…

  • The Hot Flashes of Social Media

    The Hot Flashes of Social Media

    Hot flashes aren’t a normal topic here on A Cultural Shift. While I have certainly experienced my fair share of hot flashes (and perhaps a little PMS over the years), I’m not here to talk about them in the classic sense of the word. Bear with me for a moment and consider the nature of…

Devotional readings

Devotional Readings

These are a collection of personal reflections meant to stir the heart, challenge the soul, and point you back to Jesus. These readings offer encouragement for the journey—sometimes gentle, sometimes not, but always rooted in grace and truth.

  • They Emerge in Stages, When Mornings Are Not a Thing

    They Emerge in Stages, When Mornings Are Not a Thing

    I have four children, three of whom are grown. The fourth is 18, almost 19, and preparing to go to university. That being said, I have nearly finished raising four teenagers. This work is not for the faint of heart. Raising teenagers requires more work on a parent’s part than any other stage of childhood.…

  • A Servant to Win More and Save Some

    A Servant to Win More and Save Some

    For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them…I have become all things to all people, that by all meansI might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:19,22 ESV These verses aren’t new to me, but they stood out to me as I was…

  • How to Find Time When It Is Lost

    How can I find time when it is lost? Time isn’t like a shoe or a set of keys that can be found after being misplaced. Time can’t be redeemed in the literal sense of the word. Or can it? I flew from Pretoria, South Africa to Florida this past Monday. In a way, I…

series 2

Series

Deeper dives into the stuff we wrestle with and wonder about. These are honest thoughts, real stories, and the kind of lessons you learn the hard way (with a little humor to soften the blow).

say yes series card
leadership ramblings series card

Just Say Yes Series

A series on trusting God, stepping into His plans, and learning to faithfully say yes to His call.

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Leadership Ramblings Series

A series of leadership ramblings that deals with the sometimes complicated paths that leaders have to take.

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the silver the image and the priest
missions ramblings series card

The Silver, the Image, and the Priest Series

A close look at Judges 17, where returned silver leads to an idol and a priest, showing how faith can drift from God’s design.

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Missions Ramblings Series

Thoughts on learning to navigate cross-cultural living by faith, discovering how to dance in step with God’s calling across cultures.

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marriage and family

Marriage and Family

Real talk about marriage, parenting, and everything in between—filled with personal stories, honest struggles, and biblical truths that actually stick. It’s not perfect, but it’s real—and hopefully, helpful.

  • I Was a Wallflower Until I Wasn’t

    I Was a Wallflower Until I Wasn’t

    A long time ago, I was a wallflower. For those of you who have only known me for a short time, I promise this is true.

  • A Father’s Day I’ll Not Forget: How to Be Grateful

    A Father’s Day I’ll Not Forget: How to Be Grateful

    I wrote the following post two years ago. Time has passed without me even noticing. This post is about A Father’s Day that I’ll never forget. This post came to my mind this morning. I thought about our family coming together to watch a Texas/Georgia college football game. (Yes, they lost that game I’m referring…

  • 36 Years of School Runs and I Now Miss Them

    36 Years of School Runs and I Now Miss Them

    My daughter is graduating from high school on June 15th this year (2026). It feels surreal to me; she is our fourth-born, and her graduation means the school runs are done. I have been going to/from school since 1991. That’s a lot of years. When the to/from school cycle began, our family had just moved…

Missions

Missions

After nearly four decades as a career missionary, I’ve learned that sharing the Gospel isn’t just about words—it’s about listening, understanding, and respecting culture. This section shares honest stories of both mistakes and breakthroughs, offering insights to help anyone communicate faith with heart and sensitivity to those around them.

  • Like a Millstone Around My Neck, How to Carry On

    Like a Millstone Around My Neck, How to Carry On

    I don’t necessarily plan a theme for the posts here on the blog. I’m too eclectic to have a strong structure to what I write. This method of mine is not at all what is advised when writing. But I’ve always broken out of what is normal, making me feel like a misfit a lot…

  • We Left Our Shoes at the Door

    We Left Our Shoes at the Door

    I’ve lived in Africa since 1987, and living here has challenged and transformed me. I have learned languages, customs, and cultural cues very different from mine. Initially, I resisted the differences between those I was serving and myself until one day when I left my shoes at the door. But until I learned to leave…

  • A Father’s Day I’ll Not Forget: How to Be Grateful

    A Father’s Day I’ll Not Forget: How to Be Grateful

    I wrote the following post two years ago. Time has passed without me even noticing. This post is about A Father’s Day that I’ll never forget. This post came to my mind this morning. I thought about our family coming together to watch a Texas/Georgia college football game. (Yes, they lost that game I’m referring…

youtube and podcast

YouTube/Podcast

Catch the audio and video side of The Inside Track by clicking the YouTube/Podcast link above. From solo episodes to guest interviews and a few curveballs you won’t see coming. Think of this as the place where anything goes, and the sky’s the limit.

The inside track