Book Review: Through Gates of Splendor

Kimber received this wonderful book for Christmas last year.  Surprisingly she's been too busy to read it yet so I previewed it for her ;-)!  Written by Elisabeth Elliot, this book tells the amazing story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, and Ed McCully, in their attempt to reach the isolated savage tribe, the Aucus (now known as the Waodani tribe).  I'm pretty sure most of you have heard of Jim Elliot and perhaps some of you adults have seen or heard of the documentary  Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2004) which is based on this book.  If you have heard of the story but have never known the details than I highly recommend this inspirational book!  Beginning with Jim Elliot, Elisabeth shares the backgrounds of each of the men involved in Operation Auca and how the Lord brought them all together to reach this heathen tribe.  Enjoy tidbits of their personal journals, notes, and prayers before their attempt to reach the Aucas.  You will find out the excitement that each one had to simply share the salvation of Jesus with this lost people.  You'll learn how the wives stood by and assisted the men in their mission, even though they knew the danger involved.  You'll be encouraged to place your ALL in the sovereign hands of the Master, knowing that He will use you in the best way He sees fit!  I highly recommend this book to anyone who is desiring to go deeper in their walk with Christ, be encouraged in their faith, or just to know the story of modern faithful martyrs.  May you be blessed as you read, just as I was!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah       

The Simplicity of the Gospel

A beautiful sunset by Photography for Jesus

Last night my two sisters, parents, and I were blessed by a amazing testimony.  We watched "Escape From Darkness" by Daniel Shayesteh.  Mr. Shayesteh was a co-founder of Hezbollah in Iran before the revolution.  Able to recite the entire Quaran in Arabic (a language he did not understand) by the age of 9, he was a model of devotion to other Muslim boys.  As he grew older he quickly became a radical Muslim and began training young boys and girls to be ready for Jihad (or Holy War) against the infidels (Jews, Christians, and especially Americans).  When the new government of Iran was established he was kidnapped because Ayatollah, the new "president", didn't like his political agenda.  Tortured and sentenced to death, he was remarkably able to make his escape to Turkey.  While there he began attending a Christian church.  Unable to understand the Christians' genuine love, care, and compassion, he was driven to the Scriptures.  Coming from a religion where hate and anger was the god, he was amazed by the simplicity and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   He now travels widely, sharing his testimony from dark to light.  His love for Jesus and his passion for what he had been saved from, shines through his face as he speaks.  He especially stresses the need for just the simplicity of the gospel in America.  That is what saves.  Not the religion but the relationship.

Dear friends, do we hold to the simplicity of Christ and His Word? Do I? That is what causes us to be attractive to the ungodly.  Do we seriously "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk"?  People are watching us!  In America our biggest blessing (material wealth) is also our biggest curse.  We sometimes forget that we have a Savior who is ever ready to have a deeper, more personal relationship with us, because we're constantly surrounded by "worldly things".         

Will you join me in trying to live in the simplicity of Christ so we may be a light to the world?

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."  Matthew 5:14

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

Waiting; Failing; Getting back up

"Be still, and know that I am God;..." Psalm 46:10a

Picture by Photography For Jesus

Be Still

Given by the Holy Spirit from Ps. 46:10a  8-5-10

Be still, my child, wait and see

For the Lord thy God will deliver thee

And lead thee and guide thee until the end

So watch and wait until I send

Be still, my daughter, and do not fear

For I thy God am always near

I know the plans I have for thee

Plans of life, hope, and victory

Be still, my child, and you will see

The things fulfilled that I promised thee

And then you’ll trust and know I’m He

Who’s always watching over thee.

I wrote this attempt at a poem about 6 months ago and yet how quickly I forget the things the Lord has shown me.  Just this past week I got "into the flesh" as Pastor Rick would say.  I was confused, worried, and altogether not trusting the Lord and what His plans are for my future.  Thankfully He, my ever patient Teacher, showed me where I was wrong and how He is still here watching over me.  Do you ever find yourself wandering from your true focus, Jesus Christ?  You're not alone!  Every Christian has and will at some point in their walk.  The important thing is that you catch yourself quickly, pick yourself up out of your rut of self pity, and get your eyes back on Jesus!!  It is so hard but Jesus is ever ready to help us up if we'll just accept His hand. 

Thank You, Lord for being so patient with me, even when I loose my focus.   How great You are to always be there to help me up!  What a Savior...I love you, Jesus!!  Help me to wait on You just like You wait for me.

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah

What is a daughter to do after High School?

This question has been coming back to me again and again.  "Lord, what am I to do after High School?", has been my silent prayer for about 6 months.  Just this week I decided to research the roles of all the daughters in the Bible by looking up "daughters" in the dictionary and concordance.  Here's what I've found:

The first daughter that was significant to what I was researching about, was Rebekah.

Genesis 24:15-22, " And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.  Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold... and she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.  And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.  And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”  Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.  And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not."

Why is this significant to me?  Rebekah was single but she was serving diligently under her father's roof.  Not only was she a servant to her family, but also to others as the above verses show.   

Here's another example:

Genesis 29:9, "Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess."

Here's Rachel, also a single young lady, being useful and busy in her home.  She helped her father in his business in preparation for helping her husband in his.

Here's another:

Nehemiah 3:12, "And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs."  

Shallum got a special little side note in his description, his daughters were helping him!

So, what am I getting at?  I've been convicted by the Lord that after high school, while I'm yet unmarried, I'm to be...

#1- Serving Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength....and....

#2- Serving my father and helping him, in his business and visions, just like the daughters in the Bible illustrated.  This is in preparation for serving my future spouse and being a blessing to him, if the Lord sees to fit to bring that dream into fruition.  But until then, why would I want to work for someone else and push forward his visions when I could be doing that for my own father?

I can hear someone saying now, "But that was their culture back then, the Lord doesn't mean that for this day and age!"  I disagree.  The Bible is completely relevant to this time in history, just like it was when Jesus walked on the earth, when the disciples preached to all nations, when the martyrs through the ages died for the sake of God's Word!  That's what makes the Bible so amazing and distinct from any other book on earth!!   

I can hear another person saying, "What about college,"?  

Well, what about it?  Just because I may choose not to go to a college does not mean that I'm to stop learning!  No, rather I would have the freedom to pursue my own passions to the highest levels...whether that be through a college degree or not, only the Lord knows right now.  I'm not pursuing a college education currently, but the Lord could change my course within the next year!  I'm not opposed to college education but I am opposed to our current culture which thinks that you can not be "successful" without a degree.  What is successful in their eyes?  What should successful be in ours, according to Christ?

I'm still unsure as to where the Lord wants me to be within the next year, but I trust He's leading me and when the time's right, He'll show me!

We have a very special post in our families...the Bible compares us to pillars gracefully adorning a palace (Psalms 144:12).  Are you and I being pillars in our families, supporting our fathers in our words and actions, and not breaking our house down?  May the Lord help all of us to be a graceful, joyful pillars in our homes, for His glory!!

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah

P.S.- The above post is my views as to what a woman should be doing while unmarried not men(as this is a blog to girls). 

Patience

Patience:
"The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for; forbearance." The Websters 1828 Dictionary

I don't know about the rest of you but I struggle with patience.  Unfortunately to the flesh, this seems to be what the Lord likes to work on the most in me.  Have you ever noticed how often in the Psalms and Proverbs the Lord says "wait"?  Waiting is an important part of the Christian life.  It's always bad when we humans take things into our own hands or take a step before we get clear direction from the Lord.  The way I see our walk of life is a narrow road with deep ditches on either side and Jesus in front.  Sometimes it's going to get foggy, dark, and cold but we just have to make sure we're keeping a firm grip on Jesus.  He knows the BEST way and we have to have faith in that....even if what's happening doesn't make sense.  This is what we're learning in our study of Job on Wednesday nights.

Okay, I've strayed a little bit from my point.  In the past 2 years or so the Lord has caused little things to happen which have tested my patience and revealed how greatly I need this attribute.  My personality is one of "go get it done FAST no matter what".  The Lord has showed me how very important patience is, especially regarding my relationship with Him.  One time when I was really struggling with being patient in something, my wise mama pointed out that the Lord may be preparing me for something even bigger that I'll need to be patient in in the future!  Talk about a major paradigm shift!  Currently my patience is being tested in several ways.  I'm waiting for my license, direction of where to go next in my life, where the Lord wants me to serve, etc.  Trust me, several times I've lost my patience but my Master's so good to get my focus back on Him and off of myself.  So will you join me in waiting and learning at the Master's feet about this important virtue?  Who knows, maybe the Lord will use our example of waiting and patience to bring someone to Himself!

Learning to delight in Jesus,

Hannah