Thursday, December 30, 2010

God + One Life Given to Him


Have you ever felt like you were not smart enough, strong enough, gifted enough, --- enough (you fill in the blank!) for God to use you to do mighty things for Him? Whether it's teaching a Sunday School class or giving a public testimony or a trip to the jungle as a missionary, I bet all of us struggle with insecurities of some sort.
Let me introduce you to someone who has really encouraged me through my own insecurities this year. Her name is Gladys Aylward. Why would I mention her? I mean really, she's not only a missionary hero but was the subject of a Hollywood movie called "The Inn of Sixth Happiness". Ingrid Bergman played her!
Well, let me tell you why... Gladys believed that God had called her to China. But she had some problems. She came from a family with no money...she flunked out of Bible College...China Inland Mission told her she was not fit to be a missionary. All she had going for her was her faith in God. Fortunately, that was all she needed.
She saved her money working as a parlor maid until she had enough to pay for a train ticket to China. Her trip included travel through a war, trudging through the snow half starved, and being taken prisoner. Once in China she had to literally search for the women she went there to help. She never enjoyed the backing of a missions agency. Really nothing seemed to be easy for Gladys. However in the end she studied the Bible on her own, she learned the difficult Chinese dialect of her area, she was counted on and honored by governing officials, she parented and saved many orphans, she led many to Christ. One woman of small stature with nothing going for her but her faith in an Almighty God...
I can't help but wonder...the other students in the Bible College that she flunked out of...what became of them? I have never heard of them. But I HAVE heard of Gladys Aylward!
So what do you think? Should those things we lack stop us? And what about our children? Can God work through them? Can He lead them to and through the destiny He has chosen for them?
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13
"God does not call the equipped, but equips the called." ~Hudson Taylor

4 comments:

  1. Morning, Karen. I've ordered this movie from Netflix. I've never heard of this lady or the movie, so it's been interesting to read this post.
    God can use the least of us to make a difference. If only we let Him.
    Blessings
    Patty H.

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  2. Patty, As you can imagine the movie is a bit different from her actual life. For example, in the movie they give her a love interest which is total fiction.
    I love the movie and it is well worth watching. But there are also many great biographies written on her! :)

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  3. Thanks, Karen, I'll have to look for them. The movie came yesterday. Hope to watch it soon.
    Blessings
    Patty H.

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  4. I am hittin' the "like" button, Patty!! :)

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