The Journals of Jim Elliot

Jim Elliot was a missionary to Ecuador. In 1956, he and four other men were killed by the very ones he was witnessing to, the Auca Indians. He left behind a young wife and a little baby girl. Elisabeth Elliot, his wife, edited and published his journal some twenty years after his death. He started his journal, as a means of self-discipline during his Junior year at Wheaton College 1948. He begins by studying Genesis. What an inspiration for us as we read and see his faith, love and obedience to God.

January 21 Genesis 27

"Your speech betrays you." However cleverly I may cover my hands, do acts which make me seem someone I am not, and deceive by the gifts my hand might provide, the ultimate test for who I am is my voice. "The voice is Jacob's voice" - that could not be doubted. Out of a heart that is full of either sweet water or bitter springs, the fountain at my tongue and who or what I really am is at my heart. Clear out the source and fill it with Thy love that my speech may be sound and uncondemned - today!

~Jim Elliot (1927-1956)

Me and Mangoes

Way back in 10th grade art class I had my first experience with mangoes. I tried to paint a Mexican farmer's market that mainly consisted of people and mangoes. So I've known what they've looked like for some time but have always wondered what in the world to do with them.

Several years ago my husband & his business partner came back from New York and said, "Oh, the mango lassi!" So, I ventured out & got a few mangoes. Are they ripe? How do you tell? Have you ever tried to blend a not quite ripe mango? I threw it out and forgot about it.

Now, for some reason, mangoes are everywhere. Looks like mangoes are good for us.

One medium sized mango provides about:
107 Calories
0.84 g Protein
28 g Carbohydrate
0.45 g Total Fat
3 g Fiber
6425 IU Vitamin A
45.7mg Vitamin C
18 mg Magnesium
300 mg Potassium
20 g Calcium
0 g Cholesterol
0 g Saturated fat

I still needed to know a little more about how to choose one and how to dice one up. I found this very helpful video by Chef Allen Susser:



I've now been successfully using mangoes. Broiled salmon with mango salsa, mango and strawberry smoothies, or just plain eating them because it's so much fun to turn the mango inside out and make that cute little flower -like creation.

"I love mangoes and I know you will too ." ~ Chef Allen Susser (1956- )

Doe the Nexte Thynge

Elisabeth Elliot often uses the phrase, "Do the next thing." It's from a poem she found pasted on a page of her mother's prayer notebook. She said it was comforting to her during all kinds of circumstances, especially the ones that leaned toward self pity, times that often paralyze us.

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: "DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE."

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, doe the nexte thynge.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be the demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be they psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

The Book Club

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee won the vote for our next book to read. Discussion will be Thursday, June 19th, 7:30 PM on the deck at Midnight Oil.

Just for fun: Bring your favorite word of all time & share why you like it.

Scripture

...Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children...

~Lamentations 3:19 b,c

The Fear of God

"The fear of God will cause a man to flee, not from Him, but from himself; not from Him but to Him, the Father of himself, in terror lest he should do Him wrong or his neighbor wrong."

~George MacDonald (1824-1905) Unspoken Sermons

IPeter 1:17 If you say, "our Father" to the One who judges every man impartially on the record of his deeds, you must stand in awe of him while you live out your time on earth.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Let us serve God with thankfulness in the ways which please him, but always with reverence and holy fear. For it is perfectly true that our God is a burning fire.

Pray with Jesus

~ Elisabeth Elliot

Because I am "of the earth, earthy," I find that my prayers for the people I love are mostly bound by very earthy concerns -- Lord, help P. to find a good wife, show B. which college to attend, provide money for W.'s house and E.'s car, help T with his book, give X. a better job. It is meet and proper to pray for such things, but not to pray only for such things. There are prayers of far more lasting import which we must also learn to pray. We can find words for those in the prayer of Jesus for the people He loved:

that they may be one;
that they may find his joy completed in themselves;
that they may be kept from evil;
that they may be made holy by the truth;
that they may live in Christ;
that they may grow complete into one;
that they may be with him;
that the love which God has for Christ may be in their hearts.

If we learn to pray that kind of prayer, it will perhaps amend the "lesser" prayers.

Lord, teach me to pray. Open my eyes to see beyond the earthly to the heavenly. Let my primary concerns be heavenly ones, that your kingdom may come on earth, your will be done in me and in those I love. Teach me to pray with Jesus, for his sake. Amen.

A Lamp for my Feet - Elisabeth Elliot