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As for me, I will call upon God, / And the LORD shall save me.
Psalm 55:16
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Elizabeth writes a weekly devotional that can be delivered to your inbox. To view a sample, click here!
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 Footprints in History |
Gladys Aylward (1902-1970)
She was single, twenty-eight and working as a parlor maid
when Gladys felt convinced that someone
ought to go to China and tell them about Jesus. When she challenged her brother
about the need he bluntly said, "That's an old maid's job. Why don't you go
yourself?"
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My Path |
I Think I'll Change My Name
Today, something
happens that will not occur again until 2015; my newsletter and birthday come
on the same day! Yep, sure enough, today I complete my 66th year and
embark on my 67th. Amazing.
I would say
something foolish, like, "I don't know where all the years have gone!" But, the
truth is I know exactly where they went. Each one of them was swept away in a
whirlwind of responsibilities, sorrows, joys, frustrations, broken dreams and
beautiful hopes that came true. The hurricane of time beat away each of the
moments and days and weeks like fragments of shoreline eaten away from a
dwindling cliff and carried out into that vast unknown called "the future."
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Footprints Today
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The Word That Changed My Life
by Iris Wilson
My childhood home was very modest-only three rooms-and the
place I laid my head at night was the living room couch. But, I never thought
about being "poor." Probably because my parents were loving and our home was a
good place to live and grow, in spite of a pesky little brother who was four
years younger than I.
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Footprints in History, continued
Gladys huffed at the idea. In the first place it was not an "old
maid's job," and in the second place, she wasn't qualified.
But the seeds had been planted and before long Gladys-the-parlor-maid was applying for a position with China Inland Mission. With deep
reservation they admitted her for one trial semester. She failed. The committee turned her down feeling, among other things, that her
limited education would make it impossible for her to learn the language.
Gladys accepted their judgment, but still felt a burning need
to go to China. It was all so confusing. Why would God keep calling her if she
were not qualified?
Then, one day while reading the book of Nehemiah God's voice spoke almost aloud. "Gladys Aylward, is Nehemiah's God your God?"
"Yes, of course," she answered.
"Then do what Nehemiah did, and go."
"But, I am not Nehemiah."
"No, but I am his God."
Later she would say, "That settled it. I believed those were
my marching orders." She still had no money, no qualifications, no one to back
her endeavor and limited education. But, she had Nehemiah's God and that
was enough.
Gladys reasoned if she were going to China, she would have
to depend on herself for passage money, so she secured another job as a maid
and started making small deposits with a travel agent. Bit by bit her train
ticket was paid. To her way of thinking, it was hardly worth considering the fact that Russia
and China were at war. Travel between borders would be next to impossible and
she had only the thinnest information about whom she would meet and where she
would stay once she arrived in China. Still, she did have Nehemiah's God, so with ticket
in hand, she said "goodbye" to friends and family and boarded the train.
How did she minister once she arrived in China? The parlor
maid went from dusting furniture in fine houses to cleaning up after mules in the courtyard at
the Inn of the Eight Happinesses! Yet, she quickly learned not only to speak Chinese,
but read and write the language like a native; a miracle
of God's grace that seemed to confirmation of her call.
Under the guidance of her
mentor Gladys learned to evangelize, too. Then suddenly, her mentor died and she was totally alone in a foreign land with no job, no future and no outside support. It could have been a desperate situation, but God quickly provided help through a surprising source: the Chinese
government! She was offered a job as Chief Foot Inspector. The parlor maid now found herself instrumental in stopping the painful, crippling practice
of binding the feet of girl babies.
Through years and trial, Gladys would win the hearts of
local people, stop a prison riot, become a Chinese citizen and outrun an
invading army. She would also cross a mountain range leading one hundred
children to safety. Books would be written about her and Hollywood would make a
movie of her life. The parlor maid whom others rejected as inadequate, changed
the lives of thousands, served her Lord honorably and eventually heard the words, "Well
done, good and faithful servant."
My Path, continued
When I was born-oh,
so long ago-my mother had the privilege of choosing a name for her baby
girl.
The birth certificate reads, "Judy Elizabeth Bryant." At sixteen, the
girl she
called "Judy" was blessed with a Christian husband and the "Bryant"
became
"Baker." This, in spite of the old saying, "If you change the name and
not the
letter, you marry for worst and never for better."
Looking back, I
would say that curse was wrong. The years were more good than bad.
Just past the 30
year mark, I published my first book and had to decide what name to put
on the
cover as author. The sky was the limit. I could "be" whomever I chose.
It is a
rare privilege to choose a name for one's self. I seriously considered
becoming
"Kathleen." But, in the end, I chose something much closer to home.
"Elizabeth"
was my real name, although I had never used it. I liked the sound and
more than
that, I liked its meaning. A ragged old baby-book told me it meant, "God
has
promised." The phrase seemed almost prophetic for I felt being a writer
was
something special that God had promised and I thought it would be good to
remind
myself of that fact every time I signed my name. So, with a brand new
social
security card and driver's license, I became Elizabeth Baker.
My mother gave me a
name. My husband gave me a name. I even gave myself a name. But, there
is one
more name out there waiting but I am not sure yet what it will be. Jesus
said
that when I meet Him, He will give me a new name [1] and I can't help
being
curious. In the Bible, many of the names God gave
people
were full of meaning and often sounded more like phrases or descriptions
rather
than single words.
For many years I
thought my new name might be "She's Still Reaching." It seemed
appropriate.
I've spent a lot of time reaching out for something just beyond my
grasp and that name puts me in good company.
Paul
said that he constantly reached out for the goal, [2] so I've been
content.
This birthday, however,
I am reconsidering. As I travel the "Golden" years of my life on earth, I
think
I would like to reach the end with the name, "She finally got it."
[1] Revelation 2:17
[2] Philippians
3:14
If you have a comment, click here. I would
love to hear from you!
Footprints Today, continued
Our family attended a nearby Methodist Church where Sunday
after Sunday I basked in the glow of warm fellowship, friends and
learning. I
loved church and can't remember a time when I didn't believe in God. He
was the
foundation poured into my life by parents who illustrated His love each
day.
I officially said "yes" to Jesus when only twelve and
throughout my teens continued to be an active part of the youth group . I
met my
future husband when only fourteen, then at nineteen said "yes" to his marriage proposal. A
beautiful new sanctuary had been built and
ours was the first wedding in the same church where I had received all
my
Spiritual Formation.
Very quickly three little boys came into the family and I
found myself a very busy stay-at-home mom. On the outside, life was
perfect.
But, deep inside there was a gnawing feeling that caused me to get on my
knees
beside my bed."If this is all there is to the
Christian
life," I prayed, "then I've done it all and it's not enough. I need more of God . . .
if
there is anymore." It was a simple cry of the heart to God and He heard
that
cry and soon everything changed.
It was Sunday morning and by this point in my life I was Sr.
High Coordinator for the Youth Sunday School. At thirty-one and with my
extensive background in church, I was supposed to be the one leading the
group
but when a college student stood up to read John 7:37-39 I suddenly felt
like a
student again. He read, "If anyone is thirsty [. . .] and this Jesus spoke
of the
Holy Spirit, who those who believed in Him were to receive."
The words echoed in my soul and something new stirred. I am
sure many times in the past I had heard sermons and Sunday school
lessons about
the Holy Spirit but this time it was different. This time, the words
came with
power. God was answering my prayer and
filling the need for which I had cried out.
At the end of the morning worship service the pastor gave an
altar call inviting those who had concerns or needs to step forward. I
moved
into the aisle, went forward and shook his hand. "I want what John 7
says will
satisfy my thirst," I said. We bowed our heads and he began to pray
while I
said still another "yes." This time it was "yes" to the Holy Spirit who
has
become my Teacher, Comforter and Friend just as His Word promises.
That was forty-two years ago. Many wonderful events have occurred since welcoming the Holy Spirit into my heart including
the birth of our fourth son three years the encounter. Heart-aches and triumphs have come and gone since then, but this
one
thing remains: I know that God is real and that saying "yes" to all He
has for
us is vital for a life worth living.
Since we find out about God and what He has for us through
reading the Bible, I am confident when sharing the Word of God with
others. Because of my experience that Sunday morning when a young
man read about the Holy Spirit and all my many spiritual experiences
since
then, I know beyond doubt that II Timothy 3:16-17 is true: "All
scripture is
inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for
training in righteousness that people of God may be adequate, equipped
for
every good work."
It is the Word of God that shows the way. It is the Word
that ministers with power and makes all things new. It is the Word that
changed
my life.
Submitted by Iris Wilson
grandmotherwilson@hotmail.com
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