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:
Susannah Thompson was born in the suburbs of London on
January 15, 1832. Her parents raised her in a godly home, and she trusted
Christ as her Savior as a young girl. However, during her teen and young adult
years, she grew cold and distant to the things of the Lord much like many of
the youth in that day. At the age of 21 she heard Charles Spurgeon preach for
the first time. He was only 19 but was already becoming quite famous in London,
and large crowds would gather to hear him preach. She was not impressed . . .
with his manner, with how he preached, or with how he looked. It wasn’t long,
though, before Susannah found herself growing spiritually under his ministry. They
became friends, and their friendship blossomed into love. They were married two
years later on September 20, 1856. They were devoted to one another, and their
love stood the test of time through long periods of separation, illness on both
their parts, and all that came with being a famous preacher. Charles found in
his wife, a faithful companion, a trusted source of wisdom in spiritual
matters, and a constant source of encouragement.
Susannah gave birth to twin boys before she and Charles celebrated
their first anniversary. Her health was weakened with the birth, and from that
point on she suffered from physical ailments that often kept her in bed. There
was even one 15-year period of time when she was unable to leave the house. Charles
also suffered from gout and bouts of depression that often accompany that
sickness. Together though, they faced every challenge and used these
difficulties in their lives to draw them closer together and closer to the
Lord. Susannah was a devoted mother, and although she was often bed-ridden, she
took it upon herself to train her sons in Christian doctrine and things of the
Lord. Both her sons grew up to serve in Christian ministry, and both publicly
recognized how much the influence of their mother’s example and teaching played
a role in their lives.
Susannah was not only a devoted wife and mother, but she
was devoted to the Lord’s work. For years she ran a charity called “The Book
Fund” that helped distribute Christian resources to needy pastors and families.
This work expanded to include other ministries such as “The Pastors’ Aide Fund”
and “The Westwood Clothing Society.” She also authored several books including a
biography about her husband, a book about her charity, and several devotional
books. Susannah passed away in October of 1903 at the age of 71. For her entire
life she remained faithful to the Lord and to His work. She was truly a woman
of whom it could be said, “She hath done what
she could”!
Her
Story/My Story:
After Susannah’s husband had completed a book entitled,
“Lectures to my Students.” He asked Susannah to proof it and give him her
opinion on it. After reading it, Susannah said she wished that she could put a
copy of this book into the hands of every minister in England. The greater
percent of ministers at that time were extremely poor and could barely keep
their families clothed and fed. There was no money to be spent on books like
Bible commentaries, theological books, or like this book her husband had just
written that would be a powerful tool in the hands of a minister. Her husband
answered her statement with, “Then why not do so: how much will you give?”
Susannah stopped for a moment. Her mind had seen the need, but she hadn’t
considered that she could do anything about it. With her husband’s simple
statement, “Then why not do so:” she felt a call to action. She went to
her “money jar” to see how much she had saved up and found out she had enough
to purchase 100 copies of the book. She ordered them and sent out an inquiry to
ministers to see who might like to receive a copy. She got back 200 requests. Through
God’s provision she was able to purchase 100 more and fulfill all the requests.
And just like that, a charity called “The Book Fund” was created. Although she
never solicited funds, the Lord began funneling money through the charity and
once word got out, people started sending books out of their own libraries to
be distributed. Susannah received scores of letters every week from needy preachers
requesting her help. Her testimony was that the Lord always provided just the
amount of funds needed to meet the needs that were presented. By the time
Susannah passed away in 1903, she had distributed over 200,000 theological
resources to impoverished pastors in England and to missionaries and pastors around
the world. It would be impossible to even guess how many lives were changed,
how many pastors’ hearts were encouraged, how many families were strengthened,
and how many churches were better equipped all because one day Susannah saw a
need and decided to do what she could about it.
I had an “And so?” experience a couple years ago. I
was continually burdened about what could be done for two young orphan girls
that had been faithfully attending our church in Hua Hin for several years. Once
I opened myself up to the idea that the burden I had for these two girls might
be God’s call to action for me, the Lord led me to start the “Heavenly
Treasures Orphan Project.” What started out as trying to provide funds for the
girls’ daily meals, school fees, school uniforms, transportation to and from
school, clothes, etc. has grown into something much more. The Lord has brought
wonderful, faithful sponsors and donors that support the orphan project, and for
the past two years we have been able to meet the needs not only of these two
girls, but this year we began taking on other orphan children. Donations have
also been distributed to needy families who have a particular need, and this
year we were able to sponsor 16 children to go to Bible English Camp. This
month without any solicitation, the Lord miraculously provided the funds needed
to purchase 51 mattresses, 51 sheet sets, 51 comforters, and 51 pillows to be
given to 51 children who are Karen and Burmese refugees that live in a Christian
orphanage located about 40 minutes from our ministry. I am amazed at what the
Lord is doing and how He has expanded this little project that he burdened my
heart with. What a wonderful blessing it is to be the one who gets to “stand in
the gap.” I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the “Heavenly Treasures
Orphan Project.”
Bible Study: And So?
Maybe one day you saw a need and you thought,
“Someone should do something about that.” Maybe the next time that need came
across your path you thought, “Someone should do something about that. They
could do this or that.” Maybe as this need continued to cross your path and
take root in your mind, you thought, “Someone should do something about that.
They could do this or that. Maybe so-and-so would be the one to do it.” Many
times this is where our thoughts get stuck. . . playing on a loop.
I remember hearing someone say once, “When
God calls something to your attention, He is calling you to action.” I wonder
if every time the Lord laid something on our hearts and we viewed it as a call
to action, how much more could be accomplished for Him.
I always love reading the beginning of King
Saul’s life. I’m sure on the day Saul left his home to go look for his father’s
missing donkeys, he never imagined he’d return home as the chosen king of
Israel. Here are some things we can learn from this part of Saul’s story that
would serve us well to remember when our “And so?” times come.
3 Character Traits we see
in Saul
1. Saul was responsible.
· I Samuel 9:3 “And the asses of Kish Saul’s
father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants
with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.”
· Saul was being faithful and was fulfilling his
current responsibility.
· The Lord rarely uses someone to do something great who isn’t already being faithful in their current
responsibility no matter how small it might be.
2. Saul was tenacious.
- I Samuel 9:4 “And he passed through mount
Ephraim . . the land of Shalisha . . . the land of Shalim . . . the land of the
Benjamites . . . the land of Zuph . . .”
- Saul went above and beyond to try to carry
out his current responsibility.
- Tenacity is a common trait found in people
that the Lord calls upon to do a work for Him.
3. Saul was humble.
- I Samuel 9:21 “And Saul answered and said,
Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family
the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Wherefore then speakest
thou so to me?”
- Saul was humble and found nothing in himself or
his background that would warrant calling on him to fulfill such a great
responsibility.
- A humble person is much more useable in a
great work, but we must be careful to not use a feeling of “I don’t think God could
possibly use me for such a great task” as an excuse to not do it.
3 Things God did to show
His stamp of approval on the matter
1. God put the purpose in Saul’s
heart.
- I Samuel 10:9a “And it was so, that when he
had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart . . “
- To be the king of Israel had never entered
Saul’s mind before Samuel told him of God’s plan.
- The Bible says God changed his heart on this
matter. I don’t know if that means he put a new desire in his heart to be the
king or if it meant that God changed his doubt that he could do it to a sense
that he could with God’s help accomplish the goal, or both. I’m not sure, but
whatever work it was that God did in Saul’s heart, it was the beginning of Saul
fulfilling God’s purpose.
2. God confirmed to Saul that this was
His desire in Saul’s life, and He was with him.
- I Samuel 10:7 “And let it be, when these
signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with
thee.”
- I Samuel 10:2-6 tells us of three things that
would happen as Saul returned home that were signs from God to him that He was
with Saul in order to confirm this “assignment” in Saul’s heart and mind.
- Your confirmation might not come as clearly
as Saul’s was laid out, but the Lord will confirm the matter in some way if in
fact He is in it.
3. God gave Saul a band of men.
- I Samuel 10:26 “And Saul also went home to
Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.”
- I love that God was not asking Saul to do
this thing on his own. Of course, the Lord was going to be with him, but God
also saw fit to give Saul a “band of men” whose hearts were knit with his.
- Rest assured that once God has called you
into action, placed a desire and confirmed it in your heart, and you have
stepped out in faith to do the task the Lord has put before you, God will give
you a “band of men” to help you if you need them.
1 Thing we need to emulate
1. Don’t listen to the “Naysayers.”
- I Samuel 10:27 “But the children of Belial
said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no
presents. But he held his peace.”
- Saul didn’t try to defend himself or this
action that God had called him to.
- There will always be doubters – people who
think that the task doesn’t need to be done or that someone else could do it
better.
- Don’t give ear to the naysayers . . . even
when that naysayer is you.
Next time the Lord calls something to your
attention and asks you “And so?” consider answering with, “I’ll do it.”
Serving the Master joyfully,
Shari
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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.
