”How wonderful to know that Christianity is more than a padded pew or a dim cathedral, but that it is a real, living, daily experience which goes on from grace to grace. And its goal—sometimes seemingly distant, but bright and unfading, lit up and glowing with the beauties of the Sun of Righteousness.”
“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like you, Lord Jesus.”
“O God, save me from a life of barrenness, following a formal pattern of ethics, and give instead that vital contact of soul with Thy divine life that fruit may be produced, and Life—abundant living—may be known again as the final proof for Christ’s message and work.”
“Joshua 5 and 6. ‘Devoted things’. Here is something for my soul as regards Betty. As far as we both are concerned she was ‘devoted’—not to destruction as was Jericho, but to God, as a burnt living sacrifice. Now I agreed to this with God, allowing that He should have her and me both, wholly His, devoted. But the subtle danger was in retaining hopes (‘nice things’, gold and silver) that He would give her to me eventually, that our decision to go separately for God would be ultimately revoked by Him and on such fare I survived. But this was just as if I had never really ‘devoted’ her at all, for there was still a future claim on her. Now comes this word: ‘… keep yourselves from the devoted thing and become…troubled.’ (vs 18) Ah, how like again—hidden in the tent in secret were those secret longings for something I may not have, gloated over in lonely moments. But the Cross is final. There is no turning now, nor halfway stopping place. I must go on, asleep until God sees my need of Eve—if ever such need ever arises. Fix my heart wholly, Lord, to follow Thee, in no detail to touch what is not mine.”
“(Leviticus 17:10) He who consumes blood will ever have the face of God set against him. So with me. If I would save my lifeblood, and forbear to pour it out as a sacrifice—thus opposing the example of my Lord—then must I know the flint of the face of God set against my purpose. Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it, Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar.”
“To that soul which has tasted of Christ, the jaunty laugh, the tempting music of mingled voices, the haunting appeal of smiling eyes—all these lack flavor. And I would drink deeply of Him. Fill me, O Spirit of Christ, with all the fullness of God.”
“Missionaries are very human folks, just doing what they are asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody.”
Yeah, I’m kind of a gigantic Jim Elliot fan, His lifelong dedication to Jesus just blows my mind.. everything He says, I feel like is my hearts cry.. just more… fancy…? eloquent? …vocab's not my forte…
(*and [side note:] Elizabeth Elliot is on my top 5 list of people I want to meet in this lifetime.)
So, when I’m not busy crocheting beanies, attending squad dance parties, or hanging out with Team Pursuit: I’ve been re-reading Shadow of the Almighty, The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot. (my top fav. book ever.). Accompany this with re-reading the Book of Acts during quiet times with Jesus, and throw in the fact that I’m in Guatemala on the World Race and I have come to discover something awesome…
the Holy Spirit’s passionate fire is BURNING THE CRAP out of my soul.
It hasn’t even been a whole week since I last updated yall, and the Lord has already just totally shifted my mindset.
POURED OUT WINE AND BROKEN BREAD: That’s ALL I want to be.
In the past four days:
I’ve loved on Guatemalans and L Squadders; sat on and prayed in abandoned corn fields on the side of rustic Central American mountains; gotten filled with Jesus and coffee every morning; taught English at a local school; hugged on babies; cut green beans while worshipping; ate cheerfully authentic Indian food from generous villagers (who’ve never seen a white person before); gotten a sinus infection; rode in the back of a truck, an overcrowded van, and a tuktuk; learned some Spanish and Quiche; bought a guitar and led worship for my squad; laughed with a local pastor; ate cake after church; came alongside broken bros and sisters…
All for what?
FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME HERE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
It is my utmost desire to be an emptied vessel for the Holy Spirit to fill, so that I may go out and do the work that the Lord has in store for me, for His glory alone—not my own. No earthly distraction or desire can stop me, or get in my way. I am armed with the Armor of God. I walk by the authority and the power of the Holy Spirit of the Living God. With Christ, I am more than a conqueror in all things. With Christ, all things are possible.
May Christ and Christ alone by exalted in my body, and through my life–at all times. I want His eyes, His heart, His desires, His mind, HIS LIFE!
#guatemala2012 #LETSGO #missionaryproblems #hashtag #toliveisChrist #todieisgain
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:12-13
“But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:19-20
“For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” – Acts 5:38b-39
"'…Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy serant Jesus.' After they prayed the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." — Acts 4:30-31
