Quotes

We recently had Missions Conference at my church, and some quotes made by famous missionaries were put up on the church walls.  Some of them I had heard before, while others were quite new to me.  I copied down a few of my favorites, and thought I would share them here.

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries.  They forget that they too are expending their lives, and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."   ~Nate Saint

"Many of us are missing something in life because we are after the second best.  I put before you what I have found to be best, One who is worthy of all our devotion: Jesus Christ."  ~Eric Liddell

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him."  ~Hudson Taylor

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him."  ~Hudson Taylor

"God, I pray, 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 Yours, Lord Jesus."  ~Jim Elliott

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"  ~David Livingstone

These were very thought provoking and powerful for me.  I hope they are for you as well.

The Bend in the Road

Bends in the road have always had a certain fascination for me. Some of my favorite pictures are - you guessed it! - bends in the road.  I don't know what it is about them.  Maybe it's the sense of mystery they contain, because you never know just what lies around the bend.  One of my favorite parts in Anne of Green Gables talks about the bend in the road:

"Oh, I've dozens of plans, Marilla.  I've been thinking them out for a week.  I shall give life here my best, and I believe it will give its best to me in return.  When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road.  I thought I could see along it for many a milestone.  Now there is a bend in it.  I don't know what lies around the bend but I'm going to believe that the best does.  It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla.  I wonder how the road beyond it goes - what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows - what new landscapes - what new beauties - what curves and hills and valleys further on."

Yes, you never know what lies beyond the bend, and yes, it has its fascination.  Sometimes it can be a little uncertain and scary not knowing what lies ahead next, but - I know the One who already knows what lies around that bend.  And the next bend.  And the next.  I don't know what God has in store for me, but it lies waiting for me just around the corner - around the bend in the road.

Dominican Republic English Camp

My life has been hectically busy lately (as if it isn't always), and it's been a while since I've updated.  But, tomorrow morning I am leaving with a group from my church to go work in an English Camp in the Dominican Republic. We will be living with kids/teens age 12-15 and helping them learn English, along with teaching them verses, songs, and other stuff.  Each day our group will have devotions and chapel time with them.  You can stay updated (really, you can!) on our blog, http://ccbcmissionteam.blogspot.com/

I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do!

"I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."  
~Edward Everett Hale

"God comes where my helplessness begins."  

~Oswald Chambers

Spring

Despite getting up while it's still dark outside...

Despite 30 degree mornings...

Despite cold, rainy days...

SPRING IS HERE! 

The new life it brings is gently unfurled...

 

It reaches forth in splendor...

 It stands quietly in a corner...

 

It gives bright hope for the future...

It graces with its presence...

And it freely shares its joy, its life, its hope, its beauty

with all who will just take the time to stop... and look.

"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instruments afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him." ~Hudson Taylor

Praising God

Halleluh, halleluh, halleluh, hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord...
I have known this song for pretty much as long as I can remember. I've sung it at the top of my voice, I've sung it sitting down and standing up. But never once did I actually stop and consider what it means.

What does it mean to praise God? Is it just saying, "Praise God!" or "I praise you Lord for doing such-and-such"? Or is there more to praising God than that?

I was fine and content praying to God in my monotonous way, "I praise you for such-and-such," without really thinking whether I was actually praising God or not. That is, I was content until I came across Psalm 150:1 one day and wondered what it actually means to praise God. So decided to look up the meaning for the word praise. The definition I found was kind of surprising.

The Hebrew word for praise (halal) means: to be clear (orig. of sound but also of color); to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; to celebrate. Hmm... that's interesting. It sounds like what people are doing to movie stars. So praising God is boasting about Him, and raving about Him! God reminded me that I do that with physical things - food, people, books, movies, clothes - when I really like them. I know how to praise, and my God just wants me to rave and talk about how great He is; after all, He does deserve it!