Book Recommendation

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I’ve just finished reading Luke for the umpteenth time and love it better than before. I love how Luke gives a beautiful caring, loving, gentle manner to Jesus. Maybe Luke was a pushover for stories, like I am. He’s the only writer who recorded the parable of the prodigal son, which, more than focusing on prodigal living, reveals the waiting, watching Father who can’t wait to throw a party. (I learned today that the Hebrew term that the father used literally means, “let’s eat, drink, and be large-diaphramed!” I’m delighted to have evidence that God laughs in joy.)

Luke often puts in these comments to explain why the person was crying, or why they were asking this question. Jesus, knowing all things, may have explained these things to His disciples but maybe it only registered with Luke the doctor.  Or maybe Luke just noticed it on his own. He would have been sensitive to people, their body language, their tears. I bet he and Jesus made a terrific team. I wish I could’ve met them.

Actually, I WILL meet them sometime!!!! How’s that for meeting wonderful people you’ve read about?!

My Current Song

Posted in words by

I heard it first when attending a missionary conference in Belfast. Elizabeth Elliot was the keynote speaker, and before one of the talks we sang this beautiful prayer and I fell in love with it instantly. It came to mind today as I was working and praying.

May the mind of Christ my Saviour

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and power controlling

All I do and say.

May the word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only by His power.

May the peace of God my Father

Rule my life in everything,

That I may be calm to comfort

Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me

As the waters fill the sea;

Him exalting, self abasing:

This is victory.

May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only Him.

–Katie Barclay Wilkinson

These days, I wish I could churn out the intelligent, coherent, beautiful, inspiring words that other people are producing. Maybe I’m not working hard enough, not being a good enough steward of the gift of words.  Most of my words right now seem to come out in prayer form, and in songs, talking to God. I speak and sing for an audience of one. I plead for His character to become mine. I have no fancy, impressive words to ask for this, but somehow I know He doesn’t mind.

Pondering

Posted in life by

I heard myself asking, “Is love a virtue if it’s deserved?”

As if some deserve love and others don’t.

What a horrible thought.

Because everyone I meet deserves love. Not because of their own goodness or virtue but because of God’s image they carry, and Christ’s death out of love for them.

Love is not a virtue when the recipient is easy to love.  Love is a virtue when the person is difficult, awkward, unlovely. And they always deserve love.

My Favourite Devotional

Posted in books by

I don’t know why, but I haven’t found a devotional book I really like. There are thousands out there, and my sisters and I frequently come up with new titles, like Devotions while you pet your Cat, and Comforting thoughts for Coffee Drinkers. I think it was Donald Miller in one of his forwards who sparked off our creativity in this.

The one I once used the most and that still sits on my shelf but I haven’t used it in years is Joni Erikson Tada’s Secret Strength. She is solid and sensible, not as fluffy as some.

But what I use all the time, and have used for years, and don’t get tired of is what my sister gave me for payment for sewing a dress for her: Daily Light. It’s what Elizabeth Elliot’s family used, and what Amy Carmichael used before them. Every day has a morning and evening section but I read it all at one time because it’s so short.

It’s comprised only of Bible verses, collected into a specific theme for that day. I LOVE it. It feeds me every single day. Repeatedly, it speaks to the need of the hour, and I have 1998 or 2002 “Sam’s home-going” or some other significant event in the margins, and when I come back to that day the next year, I remember God’s faithfulness and how He met me there.

Which is much more substantial than pink, fluffy words that fill pages but don’t give any sustenance.

The Housewarming

Posted in life by

I moved into a lovely big bright house with my friend over a month now, and the church wanted to have a house-warming for us, to bless us. We knew that there was talk about having the annual church barbecue soon, so we said we’ll host the barbecue, and it can be the house-warming. Tonight was the night and it was a lovely time.

We had loads of food, and the sun was bright, and as it set and the air turned cooler, people collected jackets and blankets or meandered inside.

There were over 50 people, and everyone seemingly had a good, happy time. I did, anyhow. It’s a pleasure to have space/place to share with people. This house is a huge gift from God, and I don’t want to horde it. It is scary, though, how old-maidish I can be when there are little people in this adult house where there is nothing child-proof…!

There were 6 visting Germans, and they sang some songs for us, then we sang “Gott Ist De Liebe” together. I felt so rich, surrounded with my church family, outside under the sky. God loves me incredibly well.

What is Prayer?

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Prayer mystifies me. I love to pray, love to talk to God about things, but I often wonder what the point is.

Is it about persuading God to agree with me? Hardly.

Is it like giving obeisance to a great cosmic vending machine? I don’t think so.

Is it acting like a voter in a democracy, where the majority wins, so if more people pray, the more effective it is? That doesn’t sound like God.

I have more questions than answers. But Luke frequently wrote how Jesus spent the night in prayer, and if He was God, and needed a lot of time to pray, well, how can I think I can function well without it?

I do think that it may be time to reword the cliche prayer changes things. I find that prayer changes me. And maybe that’s why God asks us to pray. There is something beautiful and exciting, to think that we are still people in process, still being changed more and more into His image!

Book Feedback

Posted in life, My Book by

This is still the best stage of writing a book–being 18 months past the first copy hitting the shelves.  I’m honored and humbled with the feedback I’m getting. I try hard to answer every email, but it’s more difficult to answer letters in the post, even though those feel more special.

Yesterday’s letter had a most wise observation: In your book it sounds like you have life all figured out…but I’m sure you must still discipline yourself to live it abundantly.

She is so right. I have a lot of experience in some things, but am still very much a student, not an expert. So to anyone out there who gathered from the book that I have life all wrapped up, this is the truth: I don’t.

France

Posted in travel by

Just back from being gone a week, travelling to France and back by ferry, and attending a conference on the Kingdom of God.

The speaker was David Bercot and the hosting community was close to Brittany, but I forget the name of the village, not being able to pronounce it anyhow.

I learned probably about 2 French words, and loved the old-fashioned houses and flowers, and delighted in the fantabulous fresh crescents from the village bakery. Two mornings, Jenny and I sneaked out of the house, drove to the village, bought crescents, and ate them while sitting on a bench in front of the old church. I was charmed. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

There was lots of time for fellowship, getting acquainted with new friends from France, England, and Holland, discussing with old friends I was travelling with, exploring new places, finding more coffee and crescents.

France is a world all its own. I understand more than before why its people are so proud of their language and identity. It is a proud, ancient place, deserving of respect and delight. I didn’t fall in love with it, but I liked it very much.  Especially the galletes and cheese, and St. Malo, the walled city by the sea. Absolutely delightful!

New Release!

Posted in music by

The Hope Singers

“Alone I Will Not Wander”

Lloyd Kauffman, director

Now you can purchase a high-quality recording of The Hope Singers. Although these are recordings of a choir which sang and recorded in Poland, most of the songs on these a cappella recordings are sung in English.

AVAILABLE NOW:

1. The new release “Alone I Will Not Wander” (from the 2008 Poland tour)  It was recorded in September of 2008 in Poland by The Hope Singers, a 29-member choir with members from the U.S., Canada, Poland, Romania, and Ireland.

Lloyd Kauffman directed the choir, as well as arranged many of the songs. This recording is an expression of worship, faith, and life in Christ. It includes these 19 songs:

1. Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

2. Se Zhenih griadet (Behold, the Bridegroom Comes—Gretchaninoff) 3. Praise Thou The Lord

4. Sing, Ye Righteous

5. Alleluia

6. Kiedy ranne wstają zorze (With the Morn in Radiance Breaking)

7. Flee As A Bird

8. The Lord’s My Shepherd

9. Boże mój (My God)

10. Take Thou My Hand, O Father

11. The World Needs A Song

12. For God So Loved Us—medley

13. Amazing Grace

14. Cudna nowina zwiastował (Wonderful News)

15. Heart with Loving Heart United

16. O Happy Day

17. Keep Your Lamps!

18. Lord, I Want To Be A Christian

19. Grace Be Unto You

Prices: “Alone I Will Not Wander” (2008) CD $14 + shipping

“Jesus” (2006) CD: $11 + shipping

“Hold Out Your Light” (2004) CD: $11 + shipping / cassette: $5 + shipping

To order recordings, contact: The Family Bookshop 4041 St. Rt. 26E MONTEZUMA GA 31063 Phone: 478-472-5166

E-mail: elmest@juno.com

Where is Home?

Posted in Ireland, life by

Thirteen years ago this eve. we were at friends’ house for dinner–friends I’d never met before. They live beside the sea, and were ever so gracious, and afterwards all of us went to their upstairs room for prayer meeting, and I cried during the prayer.

It was my first day in Ireland, and everything was green and moist and foreign. Now it’s 13 years later, and this is home.

I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived at any other place, so maybe that’s why it feels like home. But I’m still a foreigner. As soon as I say a word, my accent gives me away, and people know I wasn’t born in Waterford but am a ‘blow-in.’ And when I go back to the US, it’s always most enjoyable and happy, but I feel like a foreigner there too. I forget the American terms for ‘tar macadam’ and ‘foot path.’ And when I want to drive somewhere, I tend to head toward the wrong side of the car.

So I really am not home yet. Because next week I plan to move into another house, but even that won’t be Home, Home.

Even after 13 yrs in Ireland, I’m Homesick tonight.