One Thousand Gifts

This spring I started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. See the blessing. Thank God for the hard things. Thank God when I don't feel thankful. Ingratitude is a sin. These are a few insights I have gleaned from the book that are simply life-changing. A passage I reread today follows:

Is this what the life experts know?

That in Christ, urgent means slow.

That in Christ, the most urgent necessitates a slow and steady reverance.

For a moment, longer, I hold son - and life - and I hold it mindfully . . . attentively . . . thankfully. Life at its fullest is this sensitive, detonating sphere, and it can be carried only in the hands of the unhurried and reverential - a bubble held in awe. (pg 74)

Ann Voskamp's words have challenged and encouraged our family the last couple years at A Holy Experience. The words of her book are beautiful as well. A call for grace - everywhere to see grace and share grace.


These words that she shared while thinking back on a moment of family tension struck me:

I pull out a chair from the table, sink down. The sunflower heads have turned low. The Tall-Son is chewing his toast too loud at the other end of the table. What compels me to name these moments upheavals and annoyances instead of grace and gift? Why deprive myself of joy's oxygen? The swiftness and starkness of the answer startle. Because you believe in the power of the pit.

Really? I lay my head on the table. Do I really smother my own joy because I believe that anger achieves more than love? That Satan's way is more powerful, more practical, more fulfilling in my daily life than Jesus' way? Why else get angry? Isn't it because I think complaining, exasperation, resentment will pound me up into the full life I really want? When I choose - and it is a choice - to crush joy with bitterness, am I not purposefully choosing to take the way of the Prince of Darkness? Choosing the angry way of Lucifer because I think it is more effective - more expedient - than giving thanks?

Blasphemer. . .

If there are wolves in the woods - expect to see wolves; and if there is God in this place - expect to see God.

Can I be so audacious? To expect to see God in these faces when I am the blashpemer who complains, who doesn't acknowledge this moment for Who it is? (pg 125-126)

One thought I've chewed on much from Voskamp is that one cannot feel two opposing emotions at the same time. If I'm feeling pissy and annoyed, let me tell you from recent personal experience, the idea of thanking God comes pretty hard. It's a bit of a slap in the face. A needed reality slap in my moments of frustration.  Abraham is such a help for me in this. Lately he's taken to playing the "I'm Thankful Game," from My ABC Bible Verses. Slowly I'll feel my anger dissolve as we play. Truly, a holy solution.

Jonathan and I are always curious for good book recommendations. So, tis hard for us to not share when we've read one! :) I'll leave you with one last thought from the book to ponder . . . enjoy!

Anything less than gratitude and trust is practical atheism. . . To lack faith perhaps isn't as much an intellectual disbelief in the existence of God as fear and distrust that there is a good God. (pg 148)

A Few Snippets

Here are a few other snippets from A Chance to Die that I underlined as I read. Hope you enjoy...

If one is preparing to storm the bastions of heathendom, it won't do to blench at creepie-crawlies. (Learned while living in the slums of Belfast.) Another lesson Amy learned was to do at a moment's notice whatever was required. . . -E. Elliot

Photo found here

To be like Christ. To displace self from the inner throne, and to enthrone Him; to make not the slightest compromise with the smallest sin. We aim at nothing less than to walk with God all day long, to abide every hour in Christ and He and His words in us, to love God with all the heart and our neighbor as ourselves. . . . It is possible to cast every care on Him daily, and to be at peace amidst pressure, to see the will of God in everything, to put away all bitterness and clamor and evil speaking, daily and hourly. It is possible by unreserved resort to divine power under divine conditions to become strongest through and through at our weakest point. -A. Carmichael

"All this was part of the going forth unto a land I knew not, and everything was just right, and if things went wrong it was so much the more fun. I knew they would come right in the end. And they always did." So with the charming lightheartedness of faith she only wondered, What next? -E. Elliot

". . .odoriferous radish, sea-weed, sea-ears, sea-slugs, plus pickle, plus rice". . . what He fed she'd swallow.  She found when the time came that she didn't really mind anything nearly as much as she had feared she might. The promised grace was always supplied.  -E. Elliot

She was finding at firsthand that missionaries are not set apart from the rest of the human race, not purer, nobler, higher. "Wings are an illusive fallacy," she wrote. "Some may possess them, but they are not very visible, and as for me, there isn't the least sign of a feather. Don't imagine that by crossing the sea and landing on a foreign shore and learning a foreign lingo you 'burst the bonds of outer sin and hatch yourself a cherubim.'" -E. Elliot

Seeds need to be watered. Prayer was that water, and Amy prayed. -E. Elliot

Have you read a missions-minded biography you loved? Please share with us and thanks so much  for reading and stopping by our little Shire ;) . . .

Amy Carmichael

A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot

Thirteen years ago I was a freshman at Michigan State University, young and quite shy. I was befriended by some kind girls who attended the same Christian Fellowship I was going to. One of them was a senior from India, a petite, spunky little gal with great enthusiasm for the Lord. I wish I could remember her name, but cannot. At some point in time I learned from her of a book about the life of Amy Carmichael, a British woman who spent most of her life serving others in the name of Christ in India. I loved hearing about missionaries and picked up the book sometime during the year. For close to 13 years that book has been on our bookshelf. I have so often looked at it thinking, "I should read that. I'd really like to read that. Why don't I read that soon? Well, it is long..."

This year I finally started it (isn't that half the battle sometimes?). In part at least because of hearing Amy Carmichael's name so much in our house. I had picked up a little book for Abraham, called Amy Carmichael: Can Brown Eyes Be Made Blue at the homeschooling conference I went to this spring.

He just loves it - what a great little story about how God answers prayer. Highly recommended...it's been read many times here already. (We have a few others by this author too, and really like her books.) Our favorite part is when Amy prays that God would make her brown eyes blue. The next morning when comforting her devastated daughter, Amy's mother tells her sometimes God answers yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait. And that maybe someday she will learn why God answered no. Many years later Amy realized as she cared for Indian babies rescued from Temple prostitution that blue eyes would have been too scary for these displaced Indian children, but Amy's brown eyes fit naturally into the culture and she was able to comfort the children. Isn't that beautiful! She absolutely meant it, too. God orchestrates every little detail of our lives.


Elisabeth Elliot chronicles Amy Carmichael's life in a very simple, objective manner. She's a lovely biographer - although I haven't read too many biographies!

Amy was a spirited little girl from the start growing up in Ireland. By the age of 21 she was deeply involved in encouraging young women in the slums of Belfast. When their numbers grew and she needed a place for them to meet, Amy prayed for a building to be gifted. It was. Throughout the book this happens over and over. Amy was rarely daunted by circumstances. When she prayed about a situation and sensed God's direction, she could not be dissuaded that He would provide.

Eventually God called Amy to the country of India. She spent her next 53 years living in India, sharing Christ's love. "Utter holiness, crystal pure," was her desire. And part of that meant sharing life with others "precisely how things were."

Because missionary reports generally included more about successes than about failures, Amy tried to shift the weight to the other side. 'It is more important that you should know about the reverses than about the successes of the war.  We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but we have only the few hours before sunset in which to win them. We are not winning them as we should, because the fact of the reverses is so little realized, and the needed reinforcements are not forthcoming, as they would be if the position were thoroughly understood. . . So we have tried to tell you the truth - the uninteresting, unromantic truth.'

Amy's calling in India was first to evangelism and eventually to mothering. She was burdened for the babies offered to Temple priests and prayed earnestly to be able to rescue them and other children in "moral danger."  As God grew the number of children under the care of her and the women of the Band (the others initially involved in evangelism), their roles began to change.

The women of the Band were learning that if the Lord of Glory took a towel and knelt on the floor to wash the dusty feet of His disciples (the job of the lowest slave in an Eastern household), then no work, even the relentless and often messy routine of caring for squalling babies is demeaning. To offer it up to the Lord of Glory transforms it into a holy task. 'Could it be right,' Amy had asked, 'to turn from so much that might be of profit and become just nursemaids?' The answer was yes. It is not the business of the servant to decide which work is great, which is small, which important or unimportant - he is not greater than his master.

'If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider 'not spiritual work' I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love,' Amy wrote after many years of such "unspiritual" work.

To be continued...

Crazy Love

Christianaudio.com has this book available free to download during the month of July. I'm currently listening to the second chapter while doing dishes:), and the book is solid, encouraging, and challenging. My recommendation...go get it!! Afterall, who doesn't like a free gift? Just login and enter JUL2009 as the coupon. Each month they give away one free download...hmm, wonder what August's will be!

An Excellent Book

Image used from www.booksonthepath.com

Kristin B. inspired me with her question on our last post (thanks Kristin!) as to whether or not I liked this book. I just finished the book last week and have been meaning to take it off our book list. God's providence...I'm glad I left it!

We cannot recommend this book highly enough. We first heard about it at the Desiring God conference and picked it up at their book sale. I recently ordered a bunch of them through Cumberland Valley Books (on sale $9.99 through 4/30/08) to give as shower presents and gifts.

Here is a little excerpt...

"The profoundest issue is what happens in the heart. Your concern is to unmask your child's sin, helping him to understand how it reflects a heart that has strayed. That leads to the cross of Christ. It underscores the need for a Savior. It provides opportunities to show the glories of God who sent his Son to change hearts and free people enslaved to sin.

This emphasis is the fundamental tenet of this book: The heart is the wellspring of life. Therefore, parenting is concerned with shepherding the heart. You must learn to work from the behavior you see, back to the heart, exposing heart issues for your children. In short, you must learn to engage them, not just reprove them. Help them see the ways that they are trying to slake their souls' thirst with that which cannot satisfy. You must help your kids gain a clear focus on the cross of Christ...

You shepherd your child in God's behalf. The task God has given you is not one that can be conveniently scheduled. It is a pervasive task. Training and shepherding are going on whenever you are with your children. Whether waking, walking, talking or resting, you must be involved in helping your child to understand life, himself, and his needs from a biblical perspective (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)."

I underlined so much in this book to share with Jonathan (he is waaaay too short on sleep to read much right now). I know I am a new parent, but this is the best book on parenting that I have read by far. "We know that the greatest delights our children can ever experience are found in delighting in the God who has made them for his glory," states Tripp. This is what we hope and pray for Abraham. I believe the wisdom and practical, biblically based guidelines in this book will be referred to over and over by our family. At the end of each chapter there are also excellent discussion questions that we didn't even get into.

And if you need more encouragement to read it, these are words from Elisabeth Elliot..."I am glad to recommend this book for its remarkably clear, biblical, and practical teaching. Earnest fathers and mothers will find it also eminently 'do-able.'"

Update!

Hey the sale is on!!! Today is the last day! If you tried the link and it didn't work that is because, I am dumb and then some! Ok, I just didn't check it at 1 o'clock in the morning, and found that I had http twice at the beginning. So try it now, it works! Or just click HERE!

More Exciting than a Dead Monitor Lizard!!!

YES! ITS TRUE! Something is about to happen that really has me excited! More than seeing this lizard! DESIRING GOD IS HAVING A BOOK SALE!!! We are not just talking some trite little sale, this Wednesday and Thursday (June 27,28) they are selling all books for $5!!!!! That is stinking awesome! You have probably heard me make mention of John Piper before, and hopefully you have checked out some of the Don't Waste Your Life videos you can link to here on our blog. However, if you haven't, or even if you have this is an INCREDIBLE opportunity to get some books by John, or his wife Noel!

If you need a place to start let me Recommend the book Desiring God by John Piper. I started reading this book about the same time we went to visit my fish head eating friend Blake in Africa.



He goes to Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis (Piper is the Pastor for Preaching there) and had recommended that I read it. Wow!!!! Let me just say that God has greatly enlarged my view of Himself, and that has greatly increased my passion for Him, and joy too!! Over the last couple of years I keep going back to that book, because it is not just what Piper has to say there, but it is amazing how much the scriptures are opened up through reading his books. One of the kids I work with at youth has made her way through the book and has made the same comments. Suddenly, things that didn't make sense, make sense. And God's Glory EXPLODES onto the scene. For me that is the exciting thing about reading Piper, I just get so excited about living for Christ, and searching the scriptures.
Ok, anyway, another great book, Don't Waste Your Life. Angela and I are going through this with the College age class (along with the sermon) and striving together to struggle through what this looks like in our lives. Very convicting and encouraging at the same time.

Probably number 2 for me is Let the Nations Be Glad. Of all the missions books I have read this one has been absolutely SEMINOLE! You may have noticed that I have been reading it for some time now on our book list. It is because I keep going back and reading the same stuff over and over and over. This books sets out Christ and The Glorification of God for the joy of all peoples as the cornerstone and foundation of missions. My conclusion (and I still haven't finished) is that if more people in the church would read this, there would be a lot more life in the church. Because we would understand How AWESOME our God is and what life and joy there is in forsaking all for the sake of Christ and The Gospel. This book is so good, my heart started racing while reading the forward. It has happened several places in the book. When is the last time you read non-fiction writing about God the made your heart race?
Another great book (I have been trying not to read till I get through Let the Nations) is What Jesus Demands of the World The few chapters I have read have been heart wrenching, and thrilling!

I have heard great things about so many more of the books for sale Check them out!!! Here is the linkDesiring God books for $5

I am really excited about this deal! It should be a great opportunity to pick up a bunch more Piper books for our library and to give away as gifts!!!
If you aren't convinced this is so great, this was basically the look on my brother Aaron's face when he found out about the deal.




However, beware, if you start reading these books, your view of God, your view of yourself, and your passion for Christ will Lord willingly NEVER BE THE SAME!!!

Christians and Prayer

"We must fight to cherish the kingdom above all "other things"- that is our first and most constant battle.... We are a "third soil century." In the parable of the soils, Jesus says that the seed is the Word. He sows his urgent Word of kingdom power. But instead of taking it up as our sword (or bearing fruit), we "are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful" (Mark 4:18-19)... The crying need of the hour is to put the churches on a wartime footing. Mission leaders are crying out, "Where is the church's concept of militancy, of a mighty army willing to suffer, moving ahead with exultant determination to take the world by storm? Where is the risk-taking, the launching out on God alone?"(-James Reapsome Evangelical Missions Quarterly) The answer is that it has been swallowed up in a peacetime mentality... We will never know what prayer is for until we know that life is war."

-Let The Nations Be Glad, John Piper

.......

As many of you know, and my wife has stated before, I love books, actually we both do. Well, some books I read b/c I don't want to get sucked into a cyclone of movie watching. Some books I read in 2-3 days and don't get any sleep, or as much work done as I probably should, (When Crickets Cry is a great example) They are the type of book I read while eating instead of talking with my lovely wife;) (even though she tries). Then there are the books that I read because they were suggested to me, or I would like to read them and they trudge along and take forever, even though they are decent, and informative (for me this was The Prince-Francine Rivers, (on the life of Prince Jonathan) a good book I just couldn't get into it). Then there are my favourite books, and the VERY RARE exception. They are the books that make your heart leap and break at the same time, the books that you only read parts of chapters because you can't take anymore. The ones that make me come alive and WONDER! They are very few, less than a hand full that I have read. They make you just want to stop and stare out the window at the snow falling and marvel at the intricacies of the design of the snow flakes falling and marvel that our All Supreme God knows each one, or at the marvellous design of the pine tree next to the window that is still fully awake, not dormant because it was DESIGNED to do very slow respiration so it would be able to be alive all year round and survive through the months of drought each winter. They are the books that bring GOD to the forefront. And by doing so all is righted. If you have experienced this you know what I mean! Your mind is a swirl of emotion and thought, you can't hardly concentrate on the task at hand because you are carried away to thinking about the Supremacy of God, the wonders of HIM and HIS ...... Grace, mercy, love, a myriad of things!!! Sometimes these books take a long time to read. Not because you struggle through them, but because they require it! You are continually stopping to think over what you read, to contemplate the magnitude of what was just read and what that means for my worldview, for how I think about God in relation to God, and Him glorified through me.
I think I am starting one of those books right now. I have only just begun, and am already ............ I just don't know how to explain it, hmm. I will end with this quote of another quote: "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!....Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth" (Pss. 67:3-4; 47:6-7)

KIDS and crickets

Ok, let me say that having 2 kids and driving 30 minutes to work really fills up a day. We are children/house sitting for a couple at church this week and wow what a time consumer, TONS of fun, but where does the time go?! Has really got me thinking about being parents and time committments and all that. How do working parents find enough time to play with and be an influence in their children's lives?
Also, I just read When Crickets Cry this past week, and it is really really good. If you like novels at all and want some real depth/realness to a book check it out. Sometimes the books we find in Christian book stores are cheesy, some are really cheesy, most give you that feeling like the book is just "baptized" in Christianity, this book has 0% of either. I don't know how exactly to explain it, but there is something more...

Curiousity

We are often curious as to who might be reading our blog. Today I added a list of books we're reading. If you notice this post and have a new book suggestion for us, could you leave us a post? We love suggestions for new books. Our friend Gladys recently loaned us When Crickets Cry, by Charles Martin. I really enjoyed the book. Martin portrays a gripping story about heart transplants, grieving, love, relationships, healing, and examing the state of our hearts. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is a book I also finished a few weeks ago. That is an amazing love story - love between a couple and God's mercy and love upon the couple. Also, an intimate look at grieving. In college we had read the book after it was recommended by a friend (thanks Sarah Z.!), and it was time to reread it.

Silmarillion and Jesus

You know you have had a great day when you wife says "Today was like a whole day date!" There is nothing like a wonderful rainy cold day! I know I am probably in rather limited company with that comment but hey, I love days like today especially on a Sunday that I can just stay home! But they are still great if I am out braving the elements!
In college (Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA) I used to long for days like this; cloudy, rainy, cold. They make the whole world seem right. Great days to explore Creation, read a book, curl up on a couch, let your mind wonder to the days of Tolkien and wonder what it would be like to be part of such a tale.
In some ways I guess we are apart of a story the magnitude of the Silmarillion. Forces of evil allied trying to crush the rebellious chosen ones. Us trying to fight on our own, wielding our own power by the force of our own wills, losing, time and again losing. Only in the end when the ALMIGHTY steps in and by his grace crushes the evil one are His people delivered.
Reminds me of how our only hope is in Jesus. And the only real total victory we will have is in Him and by Him through us, and in spite of us.
What a humbling thought, the Almighty God, creator of all that is, loves us, fights the battles FOR His people. Why do we try to lift ourselves up, try to stand in our own petty little power. Why do we believe the lies of our society and other religions. Utter foolishness!; Self!
GOD!, have mercy!

Bookhound

Lately I've been realizing how blessed I am to have Jonathan. I told him the other day that he is wierd. I meant it! Many people I know have husbands who come home and like to watch sports on tv... My husband? He likes to come home at night after milking Jerseys at the farm and listen to podcasts on theology. I love it - although sometimes I have to tell him to turn off John Piper and talk to me for a little while. He's also a book addict. Right now we're reading a 5-book series by Lynn Austin on the lives of kings from the Old Testament. Between the two of us he is a detail reader and I'm a speed reader, but he is the one racing through the books! I love my hubby and he sure loves a good story!! The books are excellent, by the way. Chronicles of the Kings I think is what the series is called.