Do we never, as missionaries, hear the question “What is the harm of it?” asked about reading certain books, following certain pursuits, taking our recreation in certain ways?
We have been hard at the language, and need change of thought and rest of brain. “What is the harm of the latest novel, even if it happens to be rather unprofitable?” And we (who have not time to read one out of a thousand of the real books that have been written) spend a precious hour by deliberate choice over something not worthwhile, and when our immediate world interrupts us, breaking in upon us with some call, do we find that we come back to it with quite undistracted gladness? Or do we feel that we have, as it were, to try to come back from somewhere and pull ourselves together and gird up the loins of our mind, before we are ready to throw ourselves heart and soul into the think of the fight again?
From God’s Missionary, by Amy Carmichael.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Our Kingdom
We have a kingdom, but we need to claim it. As psalm 2 states, all we need to do is ask and He will give us the nations as our inheritance. We just have to ask. John Knox, as a galley slave, asked of God the nation of Scotland. He obtained it, and was instrumental in not only bringing many in that nation to Christ, but also set about declaring the rule of Christ over that nation, giving the theological basis for declaring Christ alone as head of all things (especially His church), and created a nation that would have the highest per capita quota of overseas missionaries out of all nations. (Not sure how the measure that, but it’s an interesting factoid nonetheless.)
What might we do if we asked it of God?
Jesus has given us a work that we can only complete in His power. But it is a great work, a wonderful work, to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. He has assigned His kingdom and his kingdom work to each of us. And if a galley slave can so transform a nation as John Know did Scotland, what could we do, with our freedom, our technology, our money? We have the same God as Know, and the same commission (though different in its sphere as God has chosen for each of us).
Let us ask of God for the nations!
What might we do if we asked it of God?
Jesus has given us a work that we can only complete in His power. But it is a great work, a wonderful work, to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. He has assigned His kingdom and his kingdom work to each of us. And if a galley slave can so transform a nation as John Know did Scotland, what could we do, with our freedom, our technology, our money? We have the same God as Know, and the same commission (though different in its sphere as God has chosen for each of us).
Let us ask of God for the nations!
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
Disturb us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
attributed - sir francis drake -1577
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
attributed - sir francis drake -1577
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Quote for the Day
It is easy to think you have a heart for orphans on the other side of the world, but if you spend your time at home resenting the imposition your children are on you, you do not. You cannot have a heart for the gospel and a fussiness about your life at the same time. You will never make any difference there if you cannot be at peace here. You cannot have a heart for missions, but not for the people around you. A true love of the gospel overflows and overpowers. It will be in everything you do, however drab, however simple, however repetitive.
From Motherhood as a Mission Field at Desiring God.
From Motherhood as a Mission Field at Desiring God.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Review: Love Has A Face
Here's another review of a great book for those of you who want something to read!
This was a great book about a missionary woman working in an orphanage (that she runs) in Sudan, as well as talking a bit about her previous work in India. There are a lot of great things to say about this book - there's plenty of real information (like that food is so much cheaper in nearby Uganda - I wonder if it still is due to food price increases there); there are stories of miracles, and other exciting events. (Michele Perry is associated with Heidi and Roland Baker)
But ther best aspect of this book was definitely the constant reminder that the most important aspect of a missionary work, regardless of what country you are in, is definitely LOVE. I know that I at least am prone to forget that.
On the not so great side, the book was a little disjointed. It's a series of episodes (and not in chronological order) rather than a continuous story, which wasn't bad, but just wasn't what I was expecting. There are also occasions where in aiming to encourage others she ends up sounding sorry for herself.
Mostly it's a great book, and I very much recommend reading it!
Like pretty much everyone else on the planet, Michele has a blog. Visit it here.
This was a great book about a missionary woman working in an orphanage (that she runs) in Sudan, as well as talking a bit about her previous work in India. There are a lot of great things to say about this book - there's plenty of real information (like that food is so much cheaper in nearby Uganda - I wonder if it still is due to food price increases there); there are stories of miracles, and other exciting events. (Michele Perry is associated with Heidi and Roland Baker)
But ther best aspect of this book was definitely the constant reminder that the most important aspect of a missionary work, regardless of what country you are in, is definitely LOVE. I know that I at least am prone to forget that.
On the not so great side, the book was a little disjointed. It's a series of episodes (and not in chronological order) rather than a continuous story, which wasn't bad, but just wasn't what I was expecting. There are also occasions where in aiming to encourage others she ends up sounding sorry for herself.
Mostly it's a great book, and I very much recommend reading it!
Like pretty much everyone else on the planet, Michele has a blog. Visit it here.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
It's Not New Years, But
Top 10 New Years Resolutions for young Christian Women
#1. Resolve to use the Bible alone as a blueprint for thinking and living, rather than culture, feminist progaganda, or peer pressure. Look to the Bible alone to dictate the role of young women. Resolve to study your Bible faithfully each day with the goal of being edified, instructed and challenged. Keeping a journal of the things you learn in the Word each day will help you be more focused and aggressive in actively searching for hard truths to apply.
#2. Resolve to remove from yourself friends who are a negative influence on you, and surround yourself more with friends who will edify you and encourage you in godliness. Resolve to cast from you any outside influence which is unedifying and unsanctifying (e.g. TV show, film, magazine, associates, activities)
#3. Resolve to build stronger relationships with your family members. The state of these relationships should be the most important to you of all, save your relationship with the Lord. Make the most of the time that the Lord has given you to be with your family members by making them your best friends. Resolve to set an inspiring, encouraging example to your brothers and sisters. Resolve to be more respectful to and honoring of your parents, so that it may be well with you.
#4. Resolve to cultivate a deeper, closer, more honoring relationship with your father, which will edify you both. Give him your heart, talk to him, confide in him, pray for him, ask him questions, and let him know that you are behind him and want to build him up to be an even greater man. Search your heart to see if you have committed a greviance against your father in the past which is now an impediment to your relationship with him. Now is an opportune time to ask forgiveness from those you have wronged.
#5. Resolve to do your husband (current or future) good and not evil every day of this year. (Proverbs 31:12) One of the ways we can do our future husbands good right now, even if we don’t know who they are, is to actively preserve and prepare ourselves for them. Preserve yourself by remaining pure physically, emotionally and mentally. Prepare yourself by becoming a worthy bride for a godly man. Develop all the character and skills that a righteous young man will need in a wife.
#6. Resolve to treat and think of other young men as brothers in Christ. Dress and act modestly, in a way that shows consideration for their future wives. Treat young men (including younger brothers) in a way that will build them up rather than tear them down, with respect rather than scorn.
#7. Resolve to clothe yourself with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. Make it start in the inside and shine through to the outside. Resolve to act more gracious, more like a lady. Make “strength and dignity” your clothing. Stand up straight! Smile more. Work on developing a gentle and quiet voice and manner.
#8. Resolve to equip yourself for the Spiritual battle that is taking place. Resolve to work on spiritual disciplines (e.g. prayer, Scripture memorization, in-depth Bible study). Resolve to train your mind (e.g. read many hard books, write, study theology).
#9. Resolve to be a missionary right where you are. Resolve to serve and encourage the people in your congregation. Resolve to develop the character and the messages necessary to disciple the younger women of our generation.
#10. Resolve to not be a compromiser or syncretist. Remember, we are in the midst of a war. As soon as you compromise on a moral issue, you have lost the battle. Win victories for Christ by fighting His battles His way.
__________________________________________
I especially love resolutions 1, 8, and 10!
#1. Resolve to use the Bible alone as a blueprint for thinking and living, rather than culture, feminist progaganda, or peer pressure. Look to the Bible alone to dictate the role of young women. Resolve to study your Bible faithfully each day with the goal of being edified, instructed and challenged. Keeping a journal of the things you learn in the Word each day will help you be more focused and aggressive in actively searching for hard truths to apply.
#2. Resolve to remove from yourself friends who are a negative influence on you, and surround yourself more with friends who will edify you and encourage you in godliness. Resolve to cast from you any outside influence which is unedifying and unsanctifying (e.g. TV show, film, magazine, associates, activities)
#3. Resolve to build stronger relationships with your family members. The state of these relationships should be the most important to you of all, save your relationship with the Lord. Make the most of the time that the Lord has given you to be with your family members by making them your best friends. Resolve to set an inspiring, encouraging example to your brothers and sisters. Resolve to be more respectful to and honoring of your parents, so that it may be well with you.
#4. Resolve to cultivate a deeper, closer, more honoring relationship with your father, which will edify you both. Give him your heart, talk to him, confide in him, pray for him, ask him questions, and let him know that you are behind him and want to build him up to be an even greater man. Search your heart to see if you have committed a greviance against your father in the past which is now an impediment to your relationship with him. Now is an opportune time to ask forgiveness from those you have wronged.
#5. Resolve to do your husband (current or future) good and not evil every day of this year. (Proverbs 31:12) One of the ways we can do our future husbands good right now, even if we don’t know who they are, is to actively preserve and prepare ourselves for them. Preserve yourself by remaining pure physically, emotionally and mentally. Prepare yourself by becoming a worthy bride for a godly man. Develop all the character and skills that a righteous young man will need in a wife.
#6. Resolve to treat and think of other young men as brothers in Christ. Dress and act modestly, in a way that shows consideration for their future wives. Treat young men (including younger brothers) in a way that will build them up rather than tear them down, with respect rather than scorn.
#7. Resolve to clothe yourself with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. Make it start in the inside and shine through to the outside. Resolve to act more gracious, more like a lady. Make “strength and dignity” your clothing. Stand up straight! Smile more. Work on developing a gentle and quiet voice and manner.
#8. Resolve to equip yourself for the Spiritual battle that is taking place. Resolve to work on spiritual disciplines (e.g. prayer, Scripture memorization, in-depth Bible study). Resolve to train your mind (e.g. read many hard books, write, study theology).
#9. Resolve to be a missionary right where you are. Resolve to serve and encourage the people in your congregation. Resolve to develop the character and the messages necessary to disciple the younger women of our generation.
#10. Resolve to not be a compromiser or syncretist. Remember, we are in the midst of a war. As soon as you compromise on a moral issue, you have lost the battle. Win victories for Christ by fighting His battles His way.
__________________________________________
I especially love resolutions 1, 8, and 10!
Monday, 25 July 2011
John Piper Quote
The path of love, no matter how dirty or dangerous, is the path to wholeness and heaven.
(from the Hidden Smile of God, pg 115)
(from the Hidden Smile of God, pg 115)
Luke 17
They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until… the flood came and destroyed them all. (verse 27)
It always amazes me that this is the description of the days before the flood. We think of this time as a time of great violence, of sin and debauchery. But this is the description: they ate, they drank, they got married. It seems so ordinary. Likewise, the verse on Sodom (verse 28) contains a similar type of normalcy.
Yet they did all these things with no relation to God. And whatever is not from faith is sin. These people therefore were doing nothing by sin, though their sin seems ever so harmless and ordinary.
What a wake up call these verses should be to us today! We tend to focus on not doing ‘bad’ things, rather than doing all things for the glory of God. Like those that perished, we so often fail to have any positive righteousness, which comes from Christ alone.
How wonderful of our Heavenly Father to provide for us an Ark to save us; His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, through whom we are made righteous in the sight of God.
Praise God!
It always amazes me that this is the description of the days before the flood. We think of this time as a time of great violence, of sin and debauchery. But this is the description: they ate, they drank, they got married. It seems so ordinary. Likewise, the verse on Sodom (verse 28) contains a similar type of normalcy.
Yet they did all these things with no relation to God. And whatever is not from faith is sin. These people therefore were doing nothing by sin, though their sin seems ever so harmless and ordinary.
What a wake up call these verses should be to us today! We tend to focus on not doing ‘bad’ things, rather than doing all things for the glory of God. Like those that perished, we so often fail to have any positive righteousness, which comes from Christ alone.
How wonderful of our Heavenly Father to provide for us an Ark to save us; His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, through whom we are made righteous in the sight of God.
Praise God!
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Book Review
Honey, We're Going to Africa by Harvey Thomas Hoekstra. Reviewed by Sam(antha).
I found this book in an op shop in Geelong for $1. It was definitely worth the money! It isn't easy found (though you can buy online) but if anyone wants to read they can borrow (read, return to me) mine. It now is published under the title From Knotted Strings to Talking Bibles
This book is about how Harvey and Lavinia Hoekstra became missionaries in Sudan and Ethopia. There are heaps of interesting (including gross) stories and information on the different people groups they ministered to. The story tells of the time where the cassette and aural ways of ministering to people in their native tongues, and their role in it.
This book goes into both the hardships and the blessings of being a missionary, and documents some of the effects on the native population of being in a pagan culture and then how their lives and culture changed dramatically as a result of significant numbers of people coming to Christ. For those of us who have friends who say how "happy" the Africans all were before Christians came (and yes, I've had more than a few conversations allong that line) this book will give you an insight into the truth on this matter.
There are also some small snapshots of family life - and it's interesting to note that at the time of writing 3 of his 6 children were also missionaries (the book was published in 1995, and I believe that one of his sons was as yet still at college.)
Harvey T. Hoekstra has a blog! Visit it at:
http://godspeaksinmylanguage.blogspot.com/
His book is available online as an audio book at http://www.audioscriptures.org/files/knotted-strings/knotted-strings.htm
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Are You Suffering Persecution?
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. (2 Timothy 3:12–14)
Notice, it doesn’t say that “all who call themselves Christians” will suffer persecution; nor does it say “all who live godly” (or “perfectly,” which is impossible) will suffer persecution. It says all who “desire to live godly” will suffer persecution. He is speaking to Believers—redeemed sinners who are seeking to live out the Gospel in their everyday lives. If you go with the flow, you probably won’t face much opposition. But, if you live Christ, then expect at times to be hated, misunderstood, and slandered for His sake.
From this post at Your Sacred Calling
How many of us are actually suffering any degree of persecution? Not very many of us. I mean, the worse thing that happens to me is that I get made fun of by family and friends for having Biblical views. This isn't exactly persecution, and most people I know don't even "suffer" that.
So the question is, are you living a life that strives to be more and more Christ-like? Do you want to live in a way that honours God? Are you willing to make sacrifices - even big ones, to do this? Because while we are living just like everyone else, then we will not suffer persecution. The world will not persecute its own, just those in whom it sees Jesus.
Notice, it doesn’t say that “all who call themselves Christians” will suffer persecution; nor does it say “all who live godly” (or “perfectly,” which is impossible) will suffer persecution. It says all who “desire to live godly” will suffer persecution. He is speaking to Believers—redeemed sinners who are seeking to live out the Gospel in their everyday lives. If you go with the flow, you probably won’t face much opposition. But, if you live Christ, then expect at times to be hated, misunderstood, and slandered for His sake.
From this post at Your Sacred Calling
How many of us are actually suffering any degree of persecution? Not very many of us. I mean, the worse thing that happens to me is that I get made fun of by family and friends for having Biblical views. This isn't exactly persecution, and most people I know don't even "suffer" that.
So the question is, are you living a life that strives to be more and more Christ-like? Do you want to live in a way that honours God? Are you willing to make sacrifices - even big ones, to do this? Because while we are living just like everyone else, then we will not suffer persecution. The world will not persecute its own, just those in whom it sees Jesus.
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