O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink

God in heaven extends undeserved grace to all his children. No matter the blackness of the sin His grace is greater than our plague. Sin is sin, but if there is a sin blacker and more terrifying than all others it is the sin of indifference -- a half-baked, lukewarm commitment to Christ's cause.

In light of this fact I cry from a rended heart "God be merciful to me, a sinner, of whom I am chief." Oh, to have the fire that ran through William Wilburforce's veins as he thought of little else other than ceasing the suffering of his brothers the slaves. How much I long to have the singleness of purpose possessed by Amy Carmichael, the giant faith of Jim Elliot, the courage of Mary Slessor. I crave the poured out life that goes to extremes for Christ that other may live, hear truth,and come into contact with their Maker.

Is there really any sacrifice of time, sleep or energy too great to lay on the alter? Is popular opinion, pain, loneliness or death things worthy of fear? The only thing I should fear is a normal existence, separated from my God.

How many countless lives might be lost eternally by the choices of one unsurrendered heart. An unsurrendered heart that is fearful of that which is not worthy of fear and worshiping that which is not worthy of worship.



Written awhile ago, but the thoughts still press on my mind.

Things I Learned From a Canoeing Trip

- There is nothing quite like watching the sun rise over a steaming river or set over a calm one dotted with lily pads.

- Morning Chorus of birds greeting the day is enthralling

- Fatigue hits after 5 miles, but at least another 20 is possible

- You only remember you are tired when they say you're stopping soon

- River Otters are awfully cute

-PFD's (personal flotation devices) keep you warm at night

- Starting a fire is a good way to start the day

- Steer into the wind
and
- Slice the wind with your paddle

- Its amazing to stand "out in the ocean" during low tide and look at the stars

- You go twice as far when the paddlers have similar strength level

- Teamwork is essential

- I think I should paddle a canoe with someone before ever agreeing to marry them

- Its hard to wash off charcoal

- Being a week free of mirrors was healthy

- Showers are not a necessity. You can live a week without one...I did.

- Smell of pitch wood is heavenly

- Manatee's don't move much

- Bandanna's are very useful and multi-functional

- One can either be aware of the nature and beauty around them or not

- Its easy to forget about the rest of the world when out on the river

Lastly...

- I want to go again

Amusing

Things that make me laugh:

The Toilet Times at the Library says (and I quote)
" You know you're old when your first grade teacher taught you that Pluto was a planet."
Now just hold on there!


Running through the rain and a thought comes to me..."what if rain was sticky?"


A postscript on my canoe class packing list:
" NOTE: Try to avoid blue clothing. Bugs love blue!"

These things catch me off guard

... and I laugh.

The present

Don’t strain your eyes to see the future – for you will not be able to see clearly what God wants you to see now.

Elizabeth Elliot.

Called to Die

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

John 12: 24


"I am afraid of only one thing. That I should beome a grain of wheat not willing to die."

~ A young woman leaving for the mission field


Danita Estrella is the director of an orphanage in Haiti.

Where the Heart Is

My heart is in far off places. The place where no one else wants to go is where I want to go. The place of greatest need, hardest living conditions, and most suffering. To be the hands of Jesus serving in His stead.

I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.

~John Keith Falconer

Ants

As I write this 2, no 3 ...no 4 intrepid ant explorer are fearlessly gadding about on my desk.

I find then on my toothbrush, in my sink, on my clothes, in my cereal, on my bed, crawling on my wall, crawling on my arm... everywhere.

At the beginning of the year I killed every ant I saw. After awhile I tired of the continuous killing.

Now there is an unofficial truce in effect. When I feel the need I remove them, and when I don't feel the need I let them be. My favorite way to "remove" them is through force of air. For example, I'm diligently working on clinical paperwork when I see a congregation of ants near my book of unseemly size. I then exercise my lungs with a mighty blow and watch ants fly. Certain ants are especially hardy, spread all 6 legs out and resist the unexpected head-wind. These usually take a couple blows before going sailing.

There are still times when I catch sight, during those thoughtful moments while brushing my teeth, of a line of ants traversing into my plug-in and wonder mournfully why they must be there. Guess I'm being prepared for the mission field. I'll try to make friends with them.