Missionary Quotes

Her Story Silhouettes {#16 Tarore / A Most Prized Possession}

Go to www.sharihouse.com to read more "Her Story Silhouettes"

Hey there, I'm Shari. One of my favorite things to do is read about or study the lives of ordinary women who have done extraordinary things for the Lord.

Their stories challenge me, encourage me, and teach me. My hope is that these "silhouettes" or glimpses of their lives will do the same for you.  

Each silhouette contains a small synopsis of a lady’s service to the Lord, a particular story from her everyday life that resonated with my own, and a short Bible study about a truth that I learned from it. I hope that as you read these posts you might be challenged to find out more about these great ladies, that you might find something that speaks to your heart or helps you in your own ministry, and that ultimately you will be encouraged to remain faithful to your calling.

So grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy, and let me tell you about her story.

Silhouette:     

Tarore was the daughter of Chief Ngakuku, one of the fiercest Maori tribal leaders, who lived near the modern-day town of Matamata in New Zealand. For years the local tribes had attacked each other to steal supplies and food. They often warred against each other in land disputes, and war parties could strike at any time. If someone was killed, the cry for “Utu” (revenge) could be heard and the blood bath would continue.

Alfred and Charlotte Brown were some of the first English missionaries that came to the area in the mid 1830’s. They spoke fluent Maori and established a mission-station near where Tarore’s tribe lived. The Maori language had been reduced to written form and the Te Rongapai a Raka or the Gospel of Luke had been translated. In 1835 a small number of these booklets had been printed and were being used at the mission station to teach the Maoris how to read in their own language. Tarore was 12 years old at the time and begged her father to let her attend classes. He finally gave his consent. She was a quick learner and soon mastered the ability to read.

As Tarore read the book of Luke, she learned about Jesus for the first time. She learned of His great love for all people. She learned that she was a sinner and that she was on her way to hell. She learned about how Jesus died on the cross to pay for her sins. She learned of Christ’s forgiveness. She learned of the peace that Jesus offers to those who put their faith and trust in Him. Tarore decided to trust Christ as her Savior and became one of the first Maori converts. Mrs. Brown gave her one of the copies of Luke to keep for her own.

 Tarore’s copy of the Gospel of Luke was her most prized possession, and she kept it in a small kete (flax bag) that she wore around her neck. Most evenings she would read from it to her friends and family members that gathered around. Her father listened, and as she read about God’s love and the peace He wanted for all men, it affected his heart and the hearts of those in the village. The chief made a decision that he wanted to follow God’s ways.

On the 19th of October, 1836, Chief Ngakuku got word that a group of young Te Arawa warriors from a rival tribe were on their way to fight them. For the first time Ngakuku did not want to fight and decided instead to lead his people over the Kaimai range in order to avoid bloodshed. The small group stopped to camp near the Wairere Falls believing they had escaped the warriors. Sometime in the middle of the night the warriors found the camp and a war cry was made. The chief yelled for everyone to run into the forest and hide. The warriors made a clamor as they turned the campsite upside down. They were not able to find the chief or his people, and when they finally gave up and started to return home, the chief began calling out names to check to see if everyone was okay. One by one they answered until he got to his daughter. When he called out her name and she did not respond, He feared the worst. They returned to the campsite to find that Tarore had been killed and her flax kete had been stolen from off her neck. Immediately the cry “Utu” rang out and the men in the group were ready to run after the rival warriors to avenge Tarore’s life. The chief commanded them to stop, insisting that enough killing had been done and that their tribe was going to follow the ways of God. He reminded them of the truth that Jesus taught in His Word about loving our enemies just as He did. This was hard for his warriors to comprehend, but they could see that their chief wanted to follow God’s ways.

After feeling they were a safe distance away from Ngakuku’s campsite, the five young Te Arawa warriors stopped to take a rest. Uita was eager to see what was inside the kete he had stolen from the young girl he killed when she wouldn’t let it go. He thought it must contain a jade stone or something very precious for her to be willing to sacrifice her life for it. When he looked inside the kete, he found a book with strange markings in it. He could not read and could not figure out why it would be considered a precious treasure. None of his warrior friends could read either. The small book haunted Uita day and night. “What message does this book contain that would make a girl willing to die for it?” was the question that plagued him. Eventually he crossed paths with Ripahau, a slave from Otaki who had been taught to read by the missionaries. Ripahau offered to read it to Uita. As God's Word was read, it touched the hearts of all the hearers. Uita learned of Jesus and His great love for all people. He learned that he was a sinner and that he was on his way to hell. He learned about how Jesus died on the cross to pay for his sins. He learned of Christ’s forgiveness. He learned of the peace that Jesus offers to those who put their faith and trust in Him. Uita doubted Christ could forgive him since he was a murderer, but eventually the words that were read to him took root in his heart and he trusted Christ as His Savior. He knew immediately that he must go to Chief Ngakuku and ask for forgiveness for killing his daughter, even though doing so surely meant he would die. When he faced Tarore’s father and asked for forgiveness, Chief Ngakuku forgave him. There were tears and they embraced and for the first time in their history there was peace between the two warring tribes. A church was built in that place where peace first came to the Maoris.

Tarore’s love for the Bible and the sacrifice of her life helped bring peace to not only her people, but to many Maori tribes. Tarore’s small grave can be found in a field just outside of Matamata. It is marked with a simple white cross and a picket fence. Over the past 180 years many Maoris and Pakehas (New Zealanders of European descent) have made the trek into the quiet little field to visit her grave, and before they left have dedicated their lives to the furtherance of the Gospel. Engraved on the cross is an inscription in Maori that says, “The blood of this child became the seed of the Church.” She was truly a girl of whom it could be said, “She hath done what she could.”

Her Story/My Story:  

Ripahau, the slave from Otaki that first read Tarore's copy of the Gospel of Luke to Uita, kept it and everywhere he traveled he would read it to anyone who would listen. He read it to Tamihana, the son of the greatly feared chief in Otaki, and to Te Whi-whi, Tamihana’s cousin. They both trusted Christ and decided they no longer wanted to war with their neighbors and instead they wanted to follow God and live in peace. Eventually Tamihana’s thoughts turned toward the many tribes living on the South Island who had been his father’s mortal enemies and who lived in fear of wars and revenge. Tamihana and Te Whi-whi decided to take Tarore’s Gospel of Luke to them and tell them of Jesus and the peace that He had brought to the tribes in the North Island. They set off in a canoe and when word spread that the son of the most feared chief was making his way down the east coast of the island, all the tribes were afraid. For 18 months the two men traveled up and down the coast stopping at each inlet, but instead of warring with those they met, they read to them from Tarore’s book of Luke and spread the Gospel. Hundreds of Maoris trusted Christ as their Saviour and gave up their blood-thirsty warring. It would be six years before the first missionaries arrived on the South Island. They had no knowledge that God’s Word had gone on before them. They had prepared themselves for the encounter they thought they would have with the savage warring tribes, but instead they found the people living in peace and following Jesus. Tarore’s Bible had changed the lives of the Maori people forever.

When I was 16 years old I bought a Bible from a traveling evangelist. It was the first one I purchased with my own money, and it had a real leather burgundy cover. I loved it, and it was very dear to me. I used it during my last years of high school and all through my years at Bible college. It came with me to Nigeria and with the heat and humidity became quite worn. The first six chapters of Genesis went missing at some point and the binding started falling off, but I couldn’t bear to part with it. A dear Nigerian friend asked if she could get it rebound for me. When it was returned the beautiful leather binding was gone and it was replaced with a hardback cover with burgundy contact paper covering it. I didn’t mind too awful much. It made its way with me to New Zealand and for the next 10 years it was my constant comfort. Whenever I was struggling, I could open it to any page and find a note written about something the Lord had spoken to my heart about during my personal devotions or a statement from a sermon that impacted my life. At some point I had it rebound again with a leather binding and the pages that had come loose were sewn back in. When I arrived in Thailand to start my missionary work here, holding this Bible brought comfort to my heart. There was so much that was different in my life when I first arrived, but my Bible was a constant that had seen me through many a trial and joyous occasion alike. It was my most prized possession.

One Sunday night about two months after we had arrived in Thailand, I decided to stop and get some groceries after the evening service before going home. In those early months none of us had vehicles and it took us three taxis to get myself and the whole Bosje family to church. That night I had the two oldest kids and the youngest child with me in my taxi. I couldn’t speak much Thai yet, but communicated with the driver that I wanted to stop at the Tesco near my house. He took me to a Tesco, but it was one that I had never been to before, nor did I even know what part of town we were in. As always, all of our “stuff” had to come into the store with us since the taxi was just dropping us off and we would be taking a different taxi back home. We got our groceries and all our hands were full between me holding the little one and all of us grabbing the Bibles and groceries out of the shopping cart. The trip home took about 25-30 minutes. I dropped the kids off at their house first and then the taxi driver took me to my house. When I got out I checked to make sure everything was out of the car. I couldn’t find my Bible, so I assumed one of the older kids still had it in their hands and had accidentally carried it into their house with their things. When I called Amber the next morning, I found out the kids did not have it, and I realized it must have been left in the taxi the night before. I can’t thoroughly explain to you with words the devastation I felt in that moment. I cried for days. I couldn’t figure out why the Lord would allow it to be lost. It felt like a piece of me was missing. The Bible that had brought me so much peace and comfort through the past 21 years of my life was gone. I tried to remember everything I could about the taxi driver’s face, the location of the Tesco, any landmarks we might have passed on the way home, etc. For months I took random taxis from the church and asked them to take me to Tescos in all different directions in hopes that I could find the one the taxi driver had taken us to that Sunday night. Taxi drivers tend to service the same areas, and I thought if I could just find the Tesco that we went to, I could find the taxi driver that brought us home and possibly find my beloved Bible. As the months went by without finding the Tesco and with the face of the taxi driver beginning to fade in my mind, I stopped searching for my Bible and instead began praying that somehow the Lord would allow my English Bible to end up in the hands of a Thai person who was searching for peace and truth. In that way, my loss would not be in vain. Every now and then, I pray and ask the Lord to perform a miracle and let my Bible find its way back to me, but if it never does, I’ll be excited to get to heaven and learn of the journey my Bible took without me.

Isaiah 55:8-11

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Bible Study:  A Most Prized Possession

How important is God’s Word to you? I’m sure most Christians would answer this with a hardy, “It is very important to me.” But does your interaction with the Bible reflect it? Does your Bible lie on your nightstand gathering dust? Do the pages of your Bible still have the golden edging it came with when you got it 10 years ago and do the pages stick together from lack of use? Do you struggle recalling where certain stories are located in the Bible or remembering verses that might help you with different situations you are in?

It is easy in our modern day, when we can read the Bible for free online or go to our local dollar store and buy one, to forget what others have been willing to do in order to own a copy of God’s Word. I am reminded of the many who risked their lives and lost their lives in the pursuit of having a copy of God’s Word. One would think that since we live in the age when the Bible is so readily available, it would also be the age when it is most widely read and used, but I’m afraid that isn’t the case. Most Christians reach for their phones to check their Facebook before reaching for their Bible. Most go to their friends for encouragement before they go to the Bible to find it. Most take advice from celebrities and counsel from talk show hosts before they search the Scriptures for God's point of view. Most people view the Bible as an archaic book that was good for their grandmother but is irrelevant to their life today.

We don’t have to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar to understand the Bible, but we do have to spend time in the Word if we want to understand it. I remember hearing this statement before, “What you do with the Bible determines what God will do with you.” I’m not sure that that is a completely true statement, but I do know that if we want to truly know God, the Bible must become our most prized possession. It must have the highest place in our lives. Psalm 119 is filled with verses about the Word and reading it can show us where the importance of the Bible lies with us.

Here are just a few examples:

Vs. 9 – Do you go to the Word to find out how to live a clean life?

Vs. 10 – Do you seek with your whole heart to stay close to the Word so as not to wander away?

Vs. 11 – Do you memorize the Word in order to help you with Satan’s attacks?

Vs. 18 – Do you come to the Word with open eyes to see what God has for you?

Vs. 23 – Do you go to the Word to find solace when others criticize?

Vs. 24 – Do you go to the Word to find counsel and delight?

Vs. 28 – Do you go to the Word for strength when you are weighted down?

Vs. 36 – Do you go to the Word when you’re feeling covetous?

Vs. 52 – Do you go to the Word when you need comfort?

Vs. 74 – Do you find your hope in the Word?

Vs. 103 – Do you love the Word more than you love food?

Vs. 127 – Do you love the Word more than money?

Vs. 133 – Do you go to the Word for direction?

Vs. 148 – Do you love the Word more than sleep?

Vs. 165 – Does the Word keep you from being offended?

Vs. 171 – Does the Word cause you to praise the Lord?

I challenge you to start treating your Bible as your most prized possession and let it change your life and thereby change the lives of those around you. If we would each do this, we would see a changed world.

Serving the Master joyfully,

Shari

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* There is no picture of Tarore. This is a photo of Maori girl circa 1900 (https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1074851)

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*Disclaimer:

I have chosen to highlight the life of these ladies because of what they have accomplished for the Lord not because I agree with their doctrinal beliefs.  As with all study of man, our focus should be on the character traits they bestowed in their lives that allowed the Lord to use them, how the Lord used them, the methods of ministry they incorporated that allowed them to be effective, etc.  We do not study man to get our doctrine.  Our doctrinal beliefs should only come from the Bible.  To that end you may find you don’t agree with the doctrine of a particular person that I write about, but I believe there is still much wisdom we can gain from studying their lives.

Missionary Quotes

Missionary Quote - Judson

Spiritual Superpowers

As a child of the 70's, I had the special treat of wearing some of those very first super hero undies.  I. Was. Wonder Woman. My invisible jet carried me down our carpeted stairs, my bullet-proof bracelets stopped the shots from the bad guys, and my boomerang headband stopped the evil hordes. I saved my favorite super tool for my little sisters, my lasso of truth.

It was tough losing those superpowers as I got older, i.e., outgrew those special undies.  My superpowers were just pretend, of course.

Super Will and Super Clay Christmas 2000

But what if superpowers were real?

Our ladies' Bible study group has been studying the book of II Corinthians. In chapter six, we have read about "approving ourselves as the ministers of God." There are some rough things in which we are ministers of God like necessity, distress, tumults, among others. There are also some things by which we are "workers together with Him."

We have dubbed these things Spiritual Superpowers.  These are not meant to be a burden, but a blessing. (Did Wonder Woman complain about what a burden her invisible jet was? I think not.) When we think about these as super tools, they help us in our working together with the Lord in ministry. Let's look at some of these Spiritual Superpowers.

1. Purity

Purity, pureness, is being clean or free from contamination.  This is an amazing superpower.  Often this word is used in reference to being sexually pure, but it means so much more than that.  When we are filling our hearts and minds with clean things, we give very little room to the unclean thoughts and motives that so often bog us down (Psalm 12:6, Matthew 5:8).  Be purposeful in using this superpower of purity.

 2. Knowledge

Knowledge is something learned that was not instinctive.  Once we begin to fear God, we can start accessing this superpower (Proverbs 1:7). But using this super tool does not stop there, we can actually study to become more knowledgeable (II Timothy 2:15). When we study to be the smartest person in the room for pride's sake, we are using this power for evil.  On the other hand, when we study and gain knowledge with the purpose of ministering to people, we are using this spiritual superpower well.

3. Longsuffering

Longsuffering is the ability to endure something for a long time.  This is a little different than patience which comes about by the trial of our faith, but it can be similar.  During the days of Noah, God was longsuffering waiting for the ark to be built. He endured their evil for a long time (I Peter 3:20). When we choose to be longsuffering, we are using a superpower that was built to last.  This one is not an insta-fix. The super tool of longsuffering will be our friend for a long time when we choose to use it.

4. Kindness

Kindness is giving goodness to someone who neither earned it nor deserves it.  This is probably my favorite superpower, though I don't always use it as I should.  God has extended kindness to the underserving (including me) in countless ways (Nehemiah 9:17). Have you ever been in a situation where the tensions and angst were just escalating with no seeming resolution? Of course, you have.  I have found that this superpower called kindness can diffuse almost any sticky argument.  Try it.  Kindness is an amazing spiritual superpower.

5. The Holy Ghost

Having God in me is really something I have trouble wrapping my mind around.  The Holy Ghost, sent by the Father in the name of Jesus is our Comforter and Teacher (John 14:26).  That He lives in me is a motivator to keep my life pure and to be mindful of what I say and do (I Corinthians 6:19). As I strive to minister together with Him, what a comfort to know He is with me the whole time!

6. Love 

Love unfeigned, as it is called in II Corinthians six, is pure, genuine, sincere love.  This love is not fake.  True love is giving of oneself for the benefit of another without any expectation of repayment (John 3:16). Even when we disagree with someone or we think that they are unlovely, we can love with a pure love (I Peter 1:22). Love is the kind of spiritual superpower that can change the world. 

7. Bible

We would call the Word of Truth the "Bible" or the "Scriptures" (Ecclesiastes 12:10).  The Bible is where we find our light for walking in the darkness, our rock to anchor our souls, our hope for things to come.  It is our sword to slay the evil hordes (Ephesians 6:17). Without God's words, we don't know His thoughts, desires or plans for us.  The Bible is the spiritual super power that we need to be using every moment of our lives.

8. Power of God 

What is the gospel? The gospel is the power of God.  The gospel is good news. The gospel is the truth that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day just like He said. The gospel is the power of God that is accessible to us (Romans 1:16). No matter in what situation we find ourselves, we can always remember and be ready to share the sacrifice and miraculous resurrection of Jesus.  Could there be a greater spiritual superpower? 

9. Armour of Righteousness 

The Armour of Righteousness is a multi-faceted spiritual superpower that is for both offence and defense.  The truth covers our loins. Being right before God is our breastplate. Being ready to share the gospel protects our feet. Faith is our shield, salvation our helmet, and the Bible our sword. Prayer and watchings give us boldness.  These super tools in our spiritual arsenal are gifts from God.

There are more spiritual superpowers in the Bible, but these are the ones that have been a blessing for us to study lately.  My challenge to our ladies was to try to use at least one of these spiritual superpowers one time in this next week.  I would offer that same challenge to anyone who reads this.  Remember, these are not to be burdens to carry but super tools to use as we are ministers together with God.

Patrick and Vicki Weimer, Iceland since 1999

Hiding the Word in Our Hearts

I realized years ago that most of my battles are fought and lost or won in my mind.  The thing that has helped me the most in taking my thoughts captive is memorizing the Word.  As any ministry woman knows, it is so hard to find the time to do this.  I used to think that I just don’t have time to hide God’s Word in my heart.  It is true that I don’t have time to sit down and spend 15-45 min. straight to work on this important area of my life…but I do have little minutes!  What do I do when I am showering, fixing my hair and makeup?  What about when I am in the kitchen?  What am I thinking about when I am vacuuming?  Sorting laundry?  Cleaning out the garage?

It used to be that when I was showering, I was working up a good stew over all I had to do that day.  Now I review passages that I have already memorized.   When I exit the shower, I am refreshed in body and soul.  When I am doing my hair and putting on makeup, I prop up my 3 x 5 cards and work on the verses that I am in the process of memorizing.  When I need to put up my feet for a few minutes, I work on a new verse.  I prop the cards on a window sill when I am in the kitchen and run a few verses through my mind.  I take my cards with me when I have an appointment that I will probably have to sit in a waiting room for.  This helps me to be patient when I would otherwise be not so patient.

I cannot begin to describe the difference that these simple acts have had in my life.  It is true that when our minds are on God, we have peace.  I thought I would share a couple of examples of this from my past.  

During one year of deputation, I worked full-time at a Christian school and my kids attended a different Christian school.  We had to leave the house at 7:00 a.m. in order for me to be able to drop the kids off at their school and be on time for my job.  This made for some stressful mornings, especially when my husband was out of town for meetings.  One morning was particularly stressful.  By the time we were all in the car, my daughter and I were in tears, son #1 was in a stew and son #2 was feeling frantic.  To say that I was fried was an understatement.  As I backed out of the driveway, my heart was crying out to the Lord for help.  The kids and I had been memorizing a large chunk of Proverbs 3.  I decided that we needed to use that morning commute to review those verses.  We spent the 15 minute drive reciting the verses together.  By the time we arrived at their school, calm was restored and everyone had a smile on their face.  God’s Word had brought peace to each of our hearts and we proceeded on with our day.

Another example was during our first term in the city where we live now.  I had to undergo a routine medical procedure here. In the USA, it would not have been a big deal. Here it was a little stressful. Things are done so differently and my husband was translating everything. I found myself thinking about the circumstance instead of my God. Then the Lord brought 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 to my mind. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ” The Lord was using this light affliction to work in me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of His glory. I laid there thinking about the verse and praying through it and before I knew it the procedure was over and there was no stress. I could go on through the rest of my day without the frazzled, uptight feelings that I have been known to have after such an experience.

This is a rewrite of an old post at my personal blog.  I have been struggling with this spiritual discipline in the throes of language study and many other things that come with living in a culture that is not your own.  It is good to review things from the past to help us move toward the future.  Only God and His Word can give us the stability and peace that we crave.  Won’t you join me in using the little minutes that we usually waste to hide God’s Word in your heart?

Missionary Quotes

Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are definitely a favorite in my house! They are a quick and easy snack or addition to lunch. Problem is, you have to make a lot of these, because nobody can eat just one! 

Here’s what you do.

In a large steamer pot, bring a couple inches of water to a boil. Once boiling, place the eggs (this recipe is based on 10-12 eggs, depending on the size)  in the basket, and steam with the lid on for twelve minutes. 

After 12 minutes is up, remove eggs from basket and place in a bowl of ice water. 

Once eggs are cool enough to handle, peel the eggs. 

Cut the eggs in half, and remove the yolks. 

Notice how the yolks are not green or black on the outside? That is because they aren’t over cooked! 

In a blender, or in a bowl add about a quarter cup of mayonnaise, a couple teaspoons of mustard (deli is my favorite) a splash of hot sauce, and a pinch of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Blend or beat till smooth. 

Once desired smoothness has been achieved, spoon mixture into the egg whites. Sprinkle with smoked paprika when you’re all done. 

This recipe really isn’t a recipe, you just sorta throw whatever you feel like into the yolk mixture. 

I hope you have fun making these deviled eggs! I sure enjoy making them! They are so much fun to experiment with, and change up the flavor! 

I would love to hear what you think of the recipe/video 

Questions and Comments are appreciated! 

Amber Wells 

Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 

Secure or Standardized?

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." 2 Timothy 1:12-14

As an independent Baptist kid, I grew up with all the stereotypical rules and standards. King James version, skirts and culottes (those were not in style then!), ultra conservative music and so forth. Growing up, I was taught this was important in following Christ; that the Bible actually taught these things. I tried to be the good kid, and many times I did believe everything I was taught, unquestionably.

Yet, at the same time, I was very confused. I was abused throughout my childhood by a preacher. I simply could not make sense of the fact that being a good Baptist kid and following all the rules had not protected me. Was the abuse also something that came with being Baptist? Following Christ?

No, No, No! God has taught me since that time, and brought me through a wonderful journey of discovering Christ. 

Then, recently, a girl whom I was discipling asked me a similar question. "If works don't save you, how come Baptist churches require [XYZ]?" It suddenly struck me: we've lost sight of the point of being Baptist. As a counselor, I've heard many talk about how they thought doing these standards was what being Baptist was all about, that they were saved by doing.  Now, I know most would readily deny that a certain standard is "required" in the church, yet, that is how we behave. 

A girl must conform to the modesty standard of .... or she is considered worldly and to be avoided. Music is a hot spot. You're either in the group that decides what music is "in" for your church, in the group that goes along with it, or in the "other" group looked down on by the rest. I hate to even mention the Bible version issue, knowing how strongly some feel on the issue.

Standards are not bad; but, my fellow Believers, we need to remember the point.

Are we eternally secure?

What a tragedy that people can know a group of Believers, and either feel rejected or burdened with unnecessary spiritual fetters simply because we've lost sight of what is truly important. Standards are merely a sign. In fact, the word "standard" is used in the Bible as a flag or banner. It is set up to show who and whose the people were. THIS is the point of a standard. It is to set us apart. To show both who we are, and whose we are. 

We are first, and foremost, set apart as Christ's. (Ephesians 1) We belong to Him because we accepted His gift of free salvation. None of us are perfect or deserving, yet Christ died for each of us and loves us unconditionally. Having taken the step of belief in Christ for eternity, we strive to live according to His Word, the Bible, for our life on earth. 

Standards could be said to be like a wedding ring. Wedding rings/tokens are different in every culture, but they are always a sign that the wearer is spoken for, married. Now, I can take my wedding ring off, and I am still married; it doesn't change my status. However, without that ring, others are not aware of my status. In this culture (Georgia, Europe), a plain gold band is worn on the ring finger of the right hand to signify marriage. So, I had to exchange my lovely diamond studded ring on my left hand for a plain one on my right. I wanted to show the Georgians that I was married in the way that they do it in their culture.

So are standards; they may change depending on the culture, but they are there to signify our heavenly status. Standards CANNOT change a person; that's what Christ does through salvation and sanctification. Most importantly, standards do not save; that is the work of Christ in the heart of a Believer. Standards may be based on Scripture, but many times the Bible doesn't explicitly say details; this is left to the individual priesthood of the Believer and is not cause for judgement by other Believers. (2 Corinthians 10:12)

Please, do not throw out your standards! Standards are good! That is how we are to show the world that we have something different- Christ. We simply need to be reminded that standards are not eternal security. 

Are you secure in Christ, or merely relying on standards? Make sure today.

"Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isaiah 62:10-12

Missionary Quote - Judson

Her Story Silhouettes {#15 Emma Moody / Company's Coming!}

Go to www.sharihouse.com to read more "Her Story Silhouettes"

Hey there, I'm Shari. One of my favorite things to do is read about or study the lives of ordinary women who have done extraordinary things for the Lord.

Their stories challenge me, encourage me, and teach me. My hope is that these "silhouettes" or glimpses of their lives will do the same for you.  

Each silhouette contains a small synopsis of a lady’s service to the Lord, a particular story from her everyday life that resonated with my own, and a short Bible study about a truth that I learned from it. I hope that as you read these posts you might be challenged to find out more about these great ladies, that you might find something that speaks to your heart or helps you in your own ministry, and that ultimately you will be encouraged to remain faithful to your calling.

So grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy, and let me tell you about her story.

Silhouette:     

Emma Revell was born in London, England on July 5, 1843*. In 1849 at the age of six* her family emigrated to America and settled in Chicago. She was raised in the Baptist church and began teaching Sunday school at the age of 15. She was quite well-educated and of a serious nature, but she had a heart that loved people, and at the age of 17 she became a teacher in the public school. Emma first met her future husband, Dwight L. Moody, when at the age of 15 she decided to take a class at a mission school where he was working. She was drawn to this magnetic individual, and although a young man himself, Dwight was already an outstanding businessman who was well-known in the community. She began volunteering in his Congregational evangelical organization, and they eventually started dating. They shared a deep passion for showing God’s love and kindness to others. When she was 17, she agreed to Dwight’s proposal of marriage although he had made the life-altering decision to leave the business world behind and focus on lost souls and the cause for Christ. Emma’s strong faith aided her decision to submit to a life of unsalaried missionary work as her future husband had determined to refuse all offers of salary, and instead they chose to live by faith.

They were married in 1862 when Emma was 19 years old and Dwight was 25 years old. After they were married, they set up house in Chicago where their ministry had great success. Their daughter, Emma, was born in 1864 and their first son, William, was born in 1869. By the early 1870’s Dwight had become a popular evangelist and was in quite high demand. Emma accompanied him for the most part and his speaking engagements took them throughout the country and overseas. She was a tremendous help to her husband and was willing to not have a permanent home for many years. They happened to be at their house the night of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. They lost everything as they watched their house, their church, and their city burn to the ground. Emma was separated from her two children who had been whisked away in a neighbor’s carriage in hopes of fleeing the fire. The events of the night and the harrowing experience of not knowing for 24 hours if her children had made it out safely caused her hair to turn white never to regain its color.

Although her husband kept a watchful eye on the rebuilding of the ministry in Chicago, their family never lived there again. Instead they returned to Northfield, Massachusetts which was Dwight’s birthplace. They began a ministry there and it grew quickly. Emma loved teaching in the schools they established - the first one called Northfield School* for girls and the second one called Mount Hermon School for boys. Their third child, Paul, was born in 1879. During the next 20 years, they established the Northfield Summer Conferences, a publishing house, and the Colportage Library. In Chicago, they established the Chicago Evangelization Society, Moody Church, Moody Press, and Moody Bible Institute.

It has been estimated that Dwight L. Moody traveled more than one million miles in his evangelistic endeavors, and he addressed more than 100 million people during his lifetime. In all that he accomplished, his wife faithfully assisted him, mostly behind the scenes. Her poise and reserved nature complemented his flamboyant, and at times in his early ministry, brash manner making them a powerful force that the Lord used greatly. She was his solid rock and Dwight relied heavily on Emma’s good judgment, knowledge of the Scriptures, and deep devotion to the Lord for strength and guidance for this great cause to which God had called them.   

Dwight received letters daily from around the world that revealed tragedies, had confessions of guilt, or dealt with other various problems that called for spiritual counsel, compassion, and sometimes admonition. Dwight entrusted Emma with the great task of answering most all of his correspondence. She also handled all of the family finances, the running of the household, and the hosting of the hundreds of guests that made their way through the seemingly revolving door at the Moody household,  

Throughout their entire ministry Dwight and Emma were both devoted to their children and worked hard at keeping their children’s hearts. All three answered God’s call to the ministry. They were devoted to each other as well, and it is said of them that there was never such a happy couple. Emma died on October 10, 1903, at the age of 61, four short years after her husband’s death. Dwight often acknowledged that he could not have accomplished his ministry without the quiet strength of his beloved wife. A family member testified, “No man ever paid greater homage to his wife than Mr. Moody. In every way he deferred to her.” Mr. Ira Sankey said of Emma, “One of the greatest influences of his [D.L. Moody] life came from his wife. She has been the break upon an impetuous nature, and she more than any other living person is responsible for his success.” She was truly a woman of whom it could be said, “She hath done what she could”!

Her Story/My Story:  

During their 37 years of marriage and ministry, their home was open to anyone. The great Northfield Conferences that represented thousands of people from every nation on earth and sixty-two summers of meetings began in Emma’s front parlor. She received all who came to her doorstep. A prisoner just released from jail was as welcome and an earnest Christian friend. Emma entertained neighbors, travelers from afar, college students, poor street urchins, soldiers, earls, dukes, and Governor Generals alike. She took care of meals for whoever was there whether it be one guest or a couple dozen and whether they were staying for just an hour or for several nights. She welcomed all with open arms and used the opportunity the Lord gave her to make a difference in each person’s life.

In the months before her death she had been gravely ill and unable to host as in times past. She was determined to resume her monthly Sunday school class in the fall of 1903. The girls met for their September class in her home to make it easier for her. It thrilled her to have them in her home and have the opportunity to influence their lives. She died before their next class in October, but she left behind her outline of notes that she had prepared to teach on. Her last point was “He has sanctified childhood, motherhood, and the home.” Emma used her home to serve her Lord.

As a missionary between deputation and furlough, you can imagine I have many stories I could tell about being the guest in someone’s home. I remember once being given an entire wing of a house to myself that included my own private bathroom, pool, exercise room, and TV lounge area that was stocked with goodies. I didn’t sleep much that night because I just wanted to take full advantage of everything. I also remember another night I didn’t get much sleep. It was at a home I stayed in where I was asked to sleep in a makeshift bed that was set up in the narrow hallway where the family, including the husband, had to crawl across the bed to get to the kitchen and living room.  Needless to say, I slept with one eye opened that night, and my pajamas stayed in the suitcase. 

The Lord has always graciously provided me lovely homes that are conducive to entertaining. I always make sure to have at least one room set up for guests at all times. I have had the privilege of hosting friends, family, and strangers. I remember one night my ministry partner, Amber, and I were travelling back from a church service in Bangkok. We had traveled the three hours home and it was quite dark by the time we reached our town. We happened to pass by a woman walking with her small child on a dark road. She was crying and seemed in distress. We stopped the car to see if we could give her a ride since it wasn’t safe for her to be walking at that time of night on that road by herself. The story came out of her sick child, her alcoholic, abusive husband, and how he had kicked her out without any money. We decided we couldn’t leave her there, and so we brought her and the child to my house. They slept on a comfy mattress with clean sheets, and I gave them some food, something to drink, and some medicine. In the morning one of my Thai friends gave her the plan of salvation, and she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She then asked me to take her to where she worked as a migrant worker at a construction site not too far from my home. Shortly after that her work gang moved on to another city, and I’ve never seen her again. I praise the Lord for the opportunity He gave me to meet her and to help meet not only her immediate need at that moment, but also her eternal need.

Bible Study:  Company's Coming!

Do the words “company’s coming!” fill you with delight or fright? Are you the first to volunteer when visitors need a place to eat or stay or do you run away?

The Bible teaches us in . . .

• Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
• I Peter 4:9 “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
• Titus 1 lists “lover of hospitality” as one of the attributes of a bishop
• Romans 12:13 says every Christian should be “. . .given to hospitality.”

There are many examples in the Bible of people showing hospitality to others:

• Martha, Mary, and Lazarus welcomed Jesus and His disciples into their home to rest and rejuvenate
• The jailer took Paul and Silas to his home to dress their wounds.
• Lydia gave Paul, Silas, and Luke a place to stay for a time while they were doing missionary work in her town.
• Abraham and Sarah who entertained three strangers.
• Gaius opened his home up to the “whole church” in perilous times.
• The Shunamite woman used her home to minister to Elisha’s needs.

We can learn 6 things about being hospitable from 2 Kings 4 and the Shunamite woman, who the Lord calls a “great woman.”

(vs. 8) - And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

1. She was persuasive – the Bible uses the word “constrained.” She invited Elisha into her home for the purpose of meeting his needs that day which was giving him something to eat. It doesn’t say she killed the fatted calf or prepared for him a feast. She served him a simple meal.

2. She was welcoming - Every time Elisha passed by their house, he was welcome to come and take a meal.

(vs. 9) - And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

3. She was perceptive – She perceived that Elisha was a holy man. She was kind to Elisha before she knew he was a person of importance.

(vs. 10) - Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

4. She was discerning – She took note of Elisha’s situation and considered what she could do to be a help to him.

5. She was thoughtful – She prepared a room with the things she thought he needed – a bed, table, stool, and candlestick.

(vs. 13) - And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

6. She was unexpecting – She did not do all of this for her guest in order to receive something in return.

Consider using your home today to serve the Lord. Here are some possibilities:

• Invite some friends over for a time of prayer and fellowship.
• Invite a visitor or new church family to your house for a meal after a service.
• Invite a travelling missionary or speaker to stay in your guest room when they are travelling through town. 
• Offer to babysit your pastor’s children so they can have a date night.
• Offer to host a youth activity.

Your home doesn’t have to be a palace to be used by the Lord, it just has to have a hostess whose heart is open to accepting people into it for the purpose of showing them God’s love.

3 Practical tips for unexpected guests

1. Try to keep the main bathroom and living/entertaining area of your home tidy at all times, but if a guest should find your house a little otherwise, don’t apologize profusely for it. Making a big deal of it will only make your unexpected guest feel like they are bothering you and they should leave.

2. If your guests end up staying for a meal, don’t worry if you don’t have the food on hand to make a lavish meal. A simple meal served with love has a much more lasting effect than a 4-course meal designed to impress.

3. Keep something on hand in the cupboard you can mix up quickly for a sweet treat like a box of brownies or a frozen roll of cookie dough. Another idea would be to make a variety of muffins up ahead of time and freeze them. When someone comes unexpectedly, just pull a few out and pop them in the microwave.

10 Elements of a great guest room - If at all possible give your guest their own room.

1. Clean and tidy room

2. Clean towels, sheets, and blankets

3. At least 2 pillows so the extra one can be used for reading in bed. (I have a set of thick pillows and thin pillows I use to accommodate those who have different preferences)

4. A small or dim light near the bed

5. A mirror (full length if possible)

6. A box of tissues

7. A trash can

8. An electrical outlet near the bed for charging electronic devices and one near the mirror for getting ready. (If an outlet isn’t available in either of these places, provide an extension cord.)

9. A clock

10. Space in the closet/place to hang clothes and extra hangers

10 Extra things to really make a guest feel comfortable

1. A chair that can be used for reading, studying, getting dressed, etc.

2. A small gift bag of goodies and snacks to tide them over between meals

3. A small vase of flowers

4. A private bathroom stocked with toiletries

5. An information card with Wi-Fi code, alarm code, instructions for using the washer/dryer, local emergency numbers, etc.

6. Some good reading books or magazines

7. A place to hang towels

8. A basket for dirty laundry

9. Travel & info tips about local attractions

10. Candle with lighter/matches or flashlight in case of power outage

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* Some accounts list her birth year as 1842.

* Some accounts list her age as 7 instead of 6 for when the family emigrated depending on which birth year they use.

* Northfield School for Girls and Mount Hermon school for Boys is now one school called Northfield Mount Hermon or NMH. 

Resources/Book List:

A Heavenly Destiny: The Life Story of Mrs. D.L. Moody, Emma Moody Powell, Moody Press, 1943

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*Disclaimer:

I have chosen to highlight the life of these ladies because of what they have accomplished for the Lord not because I agree with their doctrinal beliefs.  As with all study of man, our focus should be on the character traits they bestowed in their lives that allowed the Lord to use them, how the Lord used them, the methods of ministry they incorporated that allowed them to be effective, etc.  We do not study man to get our doctrine.  Our doctrinal beliefs should only come from the Bible.  To that end you may find you don’t agree with the doctrine of a particular person that I write about, but I believe there is still much wisdom we can gain from studying their lives.