I FINALLY finished it: Three Cups of Tea. I've been distracted lately--distracted but determined to finish this book that I started at least a month ago. I had to renew it once. Three Cups of Tea is the story of one man, Greg Mortenson, who relentlessly pursued the task of building schools in some of the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Two specific quotes inspired me - the first, words of Patsy Collins to Mortenson at a time when he had been receiving threatening letters because of his mission to educate primarily Muslim students around the time of 9/11. She wrote: "Get out, don't be afraid, and spread your message for peace. Make this your finest hour."
The second quote that inspired me was what was written on a porcelain pendent that Julia Bergman wore around her neck: "I want to be used up when I die."
Jesus said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Some of the most crippling temptations in my life involve "fearing" and "finding"--fearing pain (physical pain and the pain of rejection) and "finding" myself (finding my "niche") Jesus calls me to lose and use up my life for HIS sake. By His grace, I want to be used up when I die!
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Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)
Amen, so do I sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be sad if there was 'alot' of us left when we leave this world instead of giving to it??? I read about this book on another blog, maybe Carol @Charli and Me, so it sounds very good.
ReplyDeleteblessings and hugs,
marcy
I doubt I could add anything as worthy as the quote & post itself.
ReplyDeleteUsed up and spiilled out; all for You, Jesus!
Blessings,
Kathleen
Since Christ did not shrink back from giving His life, (and He is our example to follow) why should I be afraid to speak out for and do more for Him. He did sooo much more for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't do enough for Him.
Give me strenght and courage to do for others what You would have me do.
Love,
Jackie
How encouraged I am to be in the company of women such as you four (and many, many others, I know).
ReplyDeleteDenise, Marcy, Jackie and Kathleen - your response draws a prayer out of me for each of you! May God give us courage and grace to keep putting "legs" to our intentions!
"Don't be afraid of people. I am with you and I will rescue you." declares the Lord." Jeremiah 1:8
ReplyDeleteIf you can use anything, you can use me Lord. Use my hands, my feet, my heart & life for your Glory.
How will they hear or how will they know if I don't speak up?
Lord, let me be a voice in the wilderness and a light in the darkness! This is what I continually pray.
Let us encourage one another in the love of God!
I think it was Beth Moore that said (and this is not a direct quote) but something like, wanting to 'finish by running the bases and sliding in the dirt into home plate' or something to that effect. Anyway, I totally agree, I want to be used up; I too, have trouble at times "finding myself" and my niche or purpose.
ReplyDeleteBy the way,we had a S.S. class lunch on Sat. and I showed my broom picture to everyone; some of the ladies in my S.S. class tried the broom thing at home; then their sons got such a kick out of it--we had 3 brooms standing up at various places in the church tonight! It has definitely taken on a life of its own. LOL! Blessings! Donna
Amen, Kathy!
ReplyDeleteAnd Donna, that's a great concept - sliding into home.....
Brooms...what more can we say?
Great post!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying hard to learn to value my soul more, and remind myself that is what our Savior came to redeem. For the most part I've been looking at the here and now as my chief object of attention and I need to pray to have that change.
Love and Prayers,
Eileen
I love both of those quotes! It reminds me of one from a pastor's wife that I was chatting with earlier this summer. We were talking about transitions they are going through in their semi-retirement and twilight years--she said she wants to "make the last lap the best." Their son, our pastor, told us that each morning they toast their orange juice glasses and say "this may be the day"...looking towards eternity...but then they have faithfully continued to labor in ministry roles. Tonight he lays in the ICU unit after suffering a stroke last Sunday. We pray for his full recovery, but if it is his time to go, no one would doubt he lived fully to the end.
ReplyDeleteMy quote would be "I want to live till I die"...meaning I want to be totally useful to the Lord right up till the end. Great post Rebecca!
My prayer is your prayer as I too want to be all used up when I go to my heavenly home...we have so many blessings and it is so easy to share them. We all have our burdens I know, but I think of the burden of the cross and realize I have nothing to complain about but much to give thanks for.....:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteJacquelyn, "This could be the day"! That is an awesome anecdote. I join you and all who pray for his recovery, but also share the hope that eternal life with Jesus extends....
ReplyDeleteEileen, Your comment helped me think of this concept in another sense -- as I value my Savior, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of like when someone tells you, "Don't think about an elephant..." You may not have been thinking about elephants, but now you can't get them out of your head. So maybe I should just concentrate on THINKING ABOUT JESUS and NOT on "NOT thinking about me, my stuff, my family, my things...."
I don't even want to think about THAT though! Just Jesus!
I loved the quotes, "Make this your finest hour." and "I want to be used up when I die." It is a great story of how one person can make a difference. Congrats on finishing.
ReplyDelete