print magazine - Set Apart Girl

setapartgirl
LESLIE LUDY’S
MAGAZINE
Preach Christ
AT ALL TIMES, p. 10
HOW TO FIND A GODLY GUY
IN A GODLY WAY, p. 26
PURIFIED OF THE PAST
a warrior-poet’s perspective, p. 38
The Haiti Letters
the justice rescue project, p. 66
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Sister of the
Common Life
MEET ERVINA, p. 86
JAN/FEB 2013
letter from leslie ludy
BESTSELLING AUTHOR FOUNDER, setapartgirl
The launch of a new year provides a great reminder to
pause and evaluate our lives. I’ve learned that there are
two very different ways to accomplish this. The first is
the shallow, worldly kind of self-examination that causes
us to ask questions such as, Am I reaching my personal
goals? and Am I fulfilling my destiny? and Am I being
true to myself? Most women’s magazines out there
today encourage us to take this approach, and if we
heed this advice, the result is a lifestyle of selfishness,
petty obsessions, and wasted time. The following
pages challenge us to ask an entirely different set of
questions: Am I spending my time on God’s priorities?
Am I living worthy of the calling I have received? Am I
bringing glory to Him? It’s so easy in our modern times
to become consumed with our own happiness, rather
than honoring, knowing, loving, and glorifying the One who gave us life. But I have found when I
exchange self-reflection for self-denial, kneel at the feet of Jesus, and say, “Search me oh God and
know my heart!,” His gentle, refining touch upon my soul leads to true happiness, true joy, and true
peace. Surprisingly, happiness isn’t found in being true to ourselves or fulfilling our personal goals.
Rather, it’s found in giving up our lives in absolute surrender to the King of all kings. In this new
year, God is reminding me afresh to scratch all my personal goals and desires in exchange for only
one: to live “always, only for my King!” Such a new year’s resolution requires heavenly, supernatural
grace – it’s not something we can ever do in our own strength. But that is the beauty of His ways.
He always gives us everything we need for life and godliness – when we look to Him alone. I pray
this new magazine issue will inspire you toward that end!
Leslie
p.s. I’m very excited to introduce you to our Justice Rescue Project
how you can stand for vulnerable children in Haiti!
- read page 66 to learn
letter from the setapartgirl team
COLORADO | Tessa, Mandy, & Lauren
Happy 2013, dear sisters! The commencing of this new year has brought with it a
joyful anticipation for what the Lord has in store for the coming weeks and months.
The excitement is fresh. The vision is renewed. The motivation is joyful and sincere.
And yet, as 2012 passes and we eagerly step in to a new and unknown year, we are
challenged afresh to remember that, as Christians, we do not have to wait around
for January 1st to arrive before we can be filled with that sense of hope, expectancy,
and excitement for the days to come.
The world around us sees the new year as a time for transformation, growth, and
change – new career goals, new weight-loss goals, new financial goals, and new
personal “goodness” goals. And while there is nothing wrong with enjoying a fresh
start, we have the joy of knowing that our Father is constantly at work in our lives –
from the turning of the clock at midnight on January 1st, until the last ten seconds
of the next December 31st. His mercies are new every morning. His grace is freshly
given for every good work. And when July comes around, He will still be working,
supplying, teaching, refining, and renewing. He does not give up on us halfway
through the year and wait until the beginning of the next to continue His good and
perfect work in us. The work He does in the first week of January is just as important
to Him as the work He does in last week September.
With that wonderful truth in mind, may we join with Paul in saying, “I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” And may we not
only say it this month, but next month, in thirteen weeks, and 237 days from now –
filled with a daily expectancy and steadfast hope that He who began His good work
in us will be faithful to complete it!
Tessa, Mandy, & Lauren
p.s. We want to take a moment to thank Annie Wesche, our beloved Creative Director, for
tirelessly helping with our setapartgirl magazine issues even from the mission field in Haiti these
past months! Though juggling babies and the daily challenges of missionary life, she’s continued
to pour out for the ministry of setapartgirl- even from a distance! We love you Annie!
inthisissue
set apart femininity
Explore God’s Sacred Intent for Your Life
10 l Preach Christ at All Times: If Neccessary, Use Words
18 l Prepared to Pour Out: Becoming a Woman of Influence
set apart relationships
Honoring God in Love and Romance
26 l How to Find a Godly Guy In a Godly Way
38 l Purified of the Past: The Truth About Redemption
set apart walk
Cultivate Your Daily Romance with Christ
48 l The Art of Undistracted Prayer
set apart lifestyle
Applying the Gospel to Everyday Life
54 l setapartgirl Annual Conference Simulcast
100 l Christian Romance Novels: Friend or Foe?
set apart motherhood
Discover God’s Heart for Home and Family
110 l Saying “Yes” to the Inconvenient
118 l Kiddo Spot
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is
taken from the New King James Version.
66
Copyright 2013 The Church at Ellerslie.
All rights reserved.
No material from this issue may be copied,
reproduced, or distributed without express
written permission from The Church at Ellerslie.
66 l BONUS: The Haiti Letters
18
26
38
6
8
48
ineveryissue
8
setapartgirl playlist
62
Q&A with Leslie
86
Sister of the Common Life
109
Leslie’s Blog
122
Staff Sermon Picks
“...it’s time we
recognize and
embrace the
supernatural power
that Christ provides
to equip us to
live triumphant,
victorious, valiant
lives – lives that
literally shock this
world around us...”
- Leslie Ludy
setapartgirl
quote
about leslie
FOUNDER, setapartgirl
Leslie Ludy is a bestselling author and speaker
with a passion for reaching her generation with the
hope of Christ. She and her husband Eric have
been writing and speaking together for the past
eighteen years. Widely known for their bestselling
classic, When God Writes Your Love Story, Eric and
Leslie have become foremost voices on some of
the most poignant issues facing the Church today,
such as relationships, purity, holiness, and living
a fully consecrated life for Christ. Together, they
are the authors of eighteen books that have been
translated into over a dozen languages around the
world. For more about Leslie’s books, click here.
Leslie and Eric are the founders and directors of
Ellerslie Leadership Training based in Windsor,
Colorado – an intensive discipleship training
program that prepares future leaders for worldimpacting Christian service, and draws men and
women of all ages from around the world.
contributor
Christy Osborne
Designer | Colorado
Christy serves as a student life intern here at Ellerslie,
joyfully serving in whatever way is needed. She
has a passionate heart for the overseas mission
field, and this past year has had the opportunity to
pour out her life for the least while spending several
weeks in both Haiti and Mexico. Christy’s design
contribution to this Jan/Feb issue is just one of the
many ways she has blessed the setapartgirl team
by selflessly giving of her time and energy, while
using her God-given artistic talent to further the
work of His kingdom!
setapartgirl
PLAYLIST
LESLIE’S PICK: One Less by Matthew West beautifully
TEAM PICKS:
expresses the miracle of adoption - always brings tears to my eyes!
AMELIA:
ONE LIFE TO LOSE
by Laura Story
LAUREN:
BELIEVE
by Hillsong Live
MANDY:
REDEEMER
by Crabb Family
ANNIE:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
by Matt Papa
GRACE:
WHAT CAN I DO BUT PRAISE YOU
by Paul Baloche
TESSA:
I TURN TO YOU
by Selah
MARLENE:
GOD OF THIS CITY
by Chris Tomlin
AMY:
JESUS, I AM RESTING
by Matthew Smith
Note:
Ping has been
discontinued, but
all of these songs
can still be found
on iTunes!
take it deeper
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of your life – is shaped by an intimate relationship with the
King of kings.
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preach
Christ
at all times
(IF NECCESSARY, USE WORDS)
by Leslie Ludy
a
sa
femininity
college student named Amanda
recently asked me, “How can I share
about God’s Truth to all the lukewarm
Christians in my life? I get so frustrated
seeing their mediocrity and I just don’t
know how to get through to them!”
It’s a sentiment to which many of us can
relate. When we feel passionately about
Christianity, we long for those we love to
know Jesus the same way we do. We see
their lives of compromise and long for them
to experience something better, but aren’t
quite sure how to get through to them.
When I first surrendered my life to
Christ at the age of sixteen, many of
my acquaintances noticed that my life
suddenly looked different. A casual friend
of mine, Staci, once asked me why I was no
longer dating. I was thrilled that someone
wanted to know about my convictions
about true purity! So with great enthusiasm
and zeal, I launched into a fiery ten-minute
lecture about the sinfulness of shallow
dating relationships and the dangers of
temporary flings. “God doesn’t want us
dating around,” I proclaimed. “We should
be letting Him write our love stories!”
Staci gave me an odd look. “Oh, uh,
that’s...interesting,” she mumbled before
quickly coming up with an excuse to leave.
It didn’t take me long to realize that
zealously yapping about my convictions
wasn’t enough to make someone “see
the Light.” Whenever I tried to proclaim
Truth to the people in my life, they simply
shrugged it off as a youthful “phase”
I was going through, and returned to
their mediocre, sin-filled existences.
Why isn’t anyone responding to all this
great Scriptural Truth I’m giving them? I
wondered. I’m saying all the right things!
But as I prayed about it, I began to realize
that that was exactly the problem. I was
saying all the right things. But that was all.
Instead of leaning on the Spirit of God to
gently work in others’ hearts and lives,
wrestling in diligent prayer for their souls,
and allowing them to see a consistent
example of Jesus Christ in my lifestyle, I
was merely shoving Truth in their faces.
I was expecting them to instantly “get
it” because of my brilliant,
compelling arguments.
When I read the
statement from
St. Francis of
Assisi
that
says, “Preach
Christ at all
times,
and
if necessary,
use words,” it
sa
femininity
completely transformed my approach. I
realized that words were not my primary
tool for communicating Truth – my life was.
...words were not
my primary
tool for
communicating
Truth – my life
was.
The Bible says that a truly wise
person uses few words (see Prov.
17:27), and in James 1:19-20 we are
commanded to be quick to hear, slow
to speak, and slow to become angry:
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every
man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow
to wrath; for the wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness of God.”
There is a time and place for well-chosen
words of Truth. There is even a time
and place for righteous indignation
when it comes to defending the
name of our King. But primarily, it
is not going to be angry, insistent
words that will win others to
Jesus Christ. A compelling
argument can never take the
place of a consistent example.
As I submitted this area of my life
to God, He began to show me His
pattern for communicating Truth to
my friends and loved ones. He began
to show me how to preach Christ at
all times, even without using words.
If you’ve ever wondered how to reach
the people in your life with the message
of Truth you know they desperately
need to hear, consider the following
practical suggestions from God’s Word.
start with prayer
First John 5:14-16 exhorts us,
“Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that if we ask anything according to
His will, He hears us. And if we know that He
hears us, whatever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we have asked
of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a
sin which does not lead to death, he will ask,
and He will give him life…” (emphasis mine).
When we see compromise in someone’s
life, our first response should not be
confronting them or trying to convince
them to change their ways. Rather, God’s
Word says that if we see our brother or sister
sinning, we are to ask in faith for that person
to be delivered from sin and set upon the
sa
femininity
path of life. We are to have confidence that
God hears us, believing that He will (not
might) bring victory in the other person’s
life through our importunate prayers.
Even those people in our lives who seem
like the toughest “nuts to crack” are not
above the power of prayer – “For with God
nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
Often our human tendency is a desire to
rush headlong into the situation and try to
use our debate skills to bring about change
in someone’s life. But we must remember
that true heart-change is a work of the
Spirit of God, and not of the flesh. It is not
something we can accomplish in our own
strength. And if we give in to fleshly anger
and frustration, we get in the way of God’s
work in the other person’s soul. As it says in
Zech. 4:6, “…‘Not by might nor by power,
but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.’”
First Timothy 4:12 commands us, “...set
an example for the believers in speech,
in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (NIV).
...true heart-change
is a work of the
spirit of god,
and not of the
flesh.
And as mentioned earlier, James reminds
us that “the wrath of man does not produce
the righteousness of God.” Prayer is a far
more powerful weapon that human words
will ever be: “And whatever you ask in My
name, that I will do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything
in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
live it out
If your life is going to make an impact
on others, they can’t merely hear your
convictions spoken; they must see
your convictions lived. In my own life, I
discovered that when I lived a faithful,
consistent example of the things I believed,
people would seek me out and invite
me to share my convictions with them.
I didn’t have to force Truth down their
throats; rather, they saw something in my
life that made them want to know more.
I remember hearing the story of two young
women in China who became Christians
and went from village to village sharing
the Gospel with everyone they met. They
were so in love with Jesus Christ that
their faces literally glowed. And many
times they didn’t even have to seek
opportunity to share their faith; people
noticed the radiant glow of their faces and
If your life is going
to make an impact
on others...they
must see your
convictions lived.
sa
femininity
asked them, “What do you have inside of
you? Whatever it is, I want it!” That should
be the example of every set-apart young
woman. Set the stage for your words by
backing them up with your life. If you do,
you’ll never have to force the Truth on
people; they will come to you, wanting
to know more. And they will look to your
life to prove that what you speak is true.
The words of first Peter 3:15-16 sum it
up well: “...Always be prepared to give
an answer to everyone who asks you to
give the reason for the hope that you
have. But do this with gentleness and
respect, keeping a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously
against your good behavior in Christ
may be ashamed of their slander” (NIV).
I will never forget hearing the true story
of a cruel communist who was thrown
into a prison cell with a Christian pastor.
The pastor preached the Gospel to the
communist relentlessly for months.
Finally, the communist had had enough.
“That’s it,” he told the pastor. “I’m sick of
hearing about this Jesus. I will give you
once sentence to tell me who Jesus is,
and then I don’t want to hear about Him
ever again!” Without hesitation the pastor
replied, “He’s like me.” After a moment of
silence the communist said, “If He is like
you, I am ready to give my life to Him.”
Oh, may this be the testimony of our
lives! When anyone asks us what
Jesus is like, may we be able to say
without hesitation, “He’s like me.”
...
Want to reach people in your life with the
Truth? Lean on the Spirit of God. Give
yourself to faith-filled wrestling prayer, set
a consistent Christ-like example, and shine
the light of Jesus Christ everywhere you go.
And let your words merely be an outflow
of the Spirit within you. Let us follow in
the steps of our Lord, who said, “...The
words that I say to you I do not speak on
My own initiative, but the Father abiding in
Me does His works” (John 14:10 NASB).
]
setapartgirl
presents
the ANNUAL GIRLS CONFERENCE
with bestselling author LESLIE LUDY
& other guest speakers
Consecration
May 31-June 2, 2013
MADE STRONG TO BE POURED OUT
But know that the LORD has
set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I
call to him.
Psalm 4:3
JOIN US
in Windsor, Colorado
or host your own
LIVE SIMULCAST!
click here for
more info
PREPARED TO
pour out
BECOMING A
WOMAN OF
INFLUENCE
by Amy Meyers
sa
femininity
Her name was Naomi. For me, she
was someone I knew would answer any
question I had, comfort me when I was
down, and listen when I just needed to talk.
But she was also a beloved sister-in-Christ
who would never fail to press me into Him,
refute lies I was believing with Truth, and
encourage me to dig into the Word and
wrestle in prayer when I was struggling.
Such people were difficult to come by for
me as a child, and I remember have a deep
desire to be just like Naomi when I grew up.
As I matured in years and my feet became
steadfast on the narrow way, others began
coming to me, asking for prayer, wanting
to talk, or in need of encouragement. But
rather than making me feel important or
excited to finally be “Naomi” to someone
else, it made me realize the great weight
and significance of such a position, and
my tremendous inability to speak anything
that would be of any solace or challenge
to another apart from Christ. I saw how
my childish ideals of Naomi’s great
wisdom and knowledge of Truth did not
come from herself, but rather from a deep
abiding relationship with Jesus. She never
spoke her own words, but only what He
was speaking through her. This revelation
caused me to cast myself upon the Rock
more than I ever had before, and I began
to see that it was only through absolute
dependence upon Him and constantly
remaining in the Word and prayer that I
would ever be able to effectively speak His
words of healing and comfort to a hurting
soul.
She never spoke her
own words, but only
what He was speaking
through her.
Along this walk of reliance, my gracious
Father has taught me many things about
ministering to others, but the most
important, apart from total dependence
upon Him, is the concept of readiness.
Before starting our day, we get ready, both
physically and spiritually, and prepare
ourselves for what the day will hold. In the
same way, I found that I had to be ready
to speak into the life of another. But it is
the rare occasion that someone sets up
a time to get together with me and says,
“Oh, and by the way, I will be asking you
a really tough question when we meet so
you might want to study up.” More often
than not, the person will just come up to
me and ask to talk – no prep time. But
our God is so faithful to provide, if we
are faithful to diligently give ourselves to
the study of His Word and the practice of
prayer and abiding in Him. If our hearts
are constantly attuned to His, while we
may not always have the perfect words to
say, we will never fail to have the Answer
sa
femininity
to offer anyone who has need. Here are
a few things I have learned to do that
keep my heart and soul ever-ready to be
Christ’s love (or mouthpiece) to another.
Be Ready to
pray
As Christians, we have the blessed
reality of being constantly connected to
our Beloved. He never leaves our sides
for an instant, and is ever at the ready
to flood our hearts with exactly what is
needed for any given situation. We also
have the privilege of petitioning Him
on behalf of others. Rather than simply
“diving in” with your own thoughts on
someone’s perplexing problem or crucial
questions, lift the time up to the Lord in
prayer, asking Him to direct every word
spoken and to give the wisdom needed
to rightly assess the situation in light of
the Truth. He will not fail to meet you and
lead you in such as way that will cause
the person you are with to leave your
time together encouraged and pointed
to Him rather than you.
Be Ready to
give truth
When someone comes to us with a
need, whether it be emotional, spiritual,
or practical, our first offering must be
the Word of God. His wisdom, love, and
encouragement far exceeds anything we
could think up on our own to share. In
order to remain constantly with the Word
on our tongues, we must purpose to keep
the Word ever before our eyes and thusly,
always hidden in our hearts. If the words
of Truth are being perpetually meditated
upon, they will be what flows forth from our
lips the moment we are asked to advise
or called upon to encourage, even if we
do not happen to have our Bible tucked
under our arm at that exact moment.
His wisdom, love, and
encouragement far
exceeds anything we
could think up on our
own to share.
Be Ready to
testify
There is nothing more refreshing or
encouraging to a weary or troubled soul
than to hear a triumphant story of God’s
goodness. Purpose to keep a right
perspective on your own life, and seek
to remind yourself often of the ways that
God has been faithful to you or how He
came through in an impossible situation.
If your heart is a fountain of thanks and
praise to your perfect Father, then you will
never fail to have a beautiful testimony of
His wonders to share. Trust also that He
will bring to mind the exact story from your
own life that will be of greatest cheer and
challenge to the hearer.
Be Ready to
remind
Rather than merely sympathizing with
someone in a time of distress or trouble,
why not point them heavenward? When
circumstances are difficult, Truth can
sometimes get lost in the clouds of care
and concern. But our God never fails to
be at work in the lives of His children,
even when the darkest nights are upon
us. If the other person is walking with the
Lord, you can help them to shift their eyes
from themselves and all things gloom
and doom, and encourage them with the
promise that Jesus will bring good from
their trial as He promises (see Rom. 8:28).
Take the opportunity to point out the
specific (even seemingly small) ways you
see the hand of the Lord moving in their
situation. They will surely begin to see
more clearly and be challenged to see the
positive rather than the negative and go
away with a song of praise in their mouth.
Be Ready to
listen
Sometimes the very thing needed to make
someone feel valued and comforted is to
sa
femininity
simply sit and listen to them. While we
do not allow them to just “get it out” and
vent every fleshly thought, grudge, or
frustration they may have, there is a time
to keep our mouths closed and refrain
from offering what we think would be the
“perfect advice.” If we are prayerful, the
Lord will not fail to make it clear when and
what we are to speak. However, He will
not always lead us to preach a sermon to
those who come to us in need. Our place
may simply be to show His love to them
through an attentive ear – and maybe a
cup of earl gray tea.
Be Ready to
remember
After someone has confided in you,
sought your counsel, or asked you for
prayer, be faithful to bring them before the
Lord, allowing Him to truly share His heart
for them with you. Ask Him to lead you in
how to follow up with them and encourage
them further. It could be something as
simple as a sweet card to let them know
you are keeping them in prayer, or maybe
a surprise bouquet of flowers at their door
with a Scripture or quote written on a card
attached to it. Be purposeful to keep that
person in your mind and make it a point
to pray for them regularly, always having
an open ear to the Lord to hear what He
might have you do – He alone knows what
is best for each of His children.
...He alone knows what
is best for each of His
children.
While God has expanded my view of what
it truly means to speak His words and show
forth His love to those who come to me for
encouragement and prayer, the process is
continual. With every fresh opportunity to
speak of what He has done in my own life,
petition Him on another’s behalf, or share
a verse that has challenged me in similar
circumstances, I never fail to end the time
with a greater understanding of my deep
need for Him and a renewed desire to dig
into the Word and press into prayer harder
than ever, that I might be better equipped
the next time. And while I do purpose to
prepare myself, I find such joy in the fact
that Jesus does not select those who have
memorized the entire Bible or can say a
perfectly eloquent prayer to share His
heart with others. Rather, He absolutely
delights to use the ones who have fully
given themselves in complete surrender
and are willing to follow His lead without
question, knowing that He will supply
them with everything they need to speak
His words and pray His prayers for those
He brings their way. ]
If we are prayerful,
the Lord will not fail to
make it clear when and
what we are to speak.
sa
relationships
HOW TO
find a
GODLY GUY
in a
Godly Way
by Leslie Ludy
A
well-known Christian magazine
recently asked me to share my
opinion about whether Christian singles
should use online dating services to find
a spouse. It’s certainly a hot topic among
today’s Christian young women. Every
week, it seems, I encounter young women
who are wrestling with thoughts like,
When am I finally going to meet Prince
Charming? and How am I ever going to
find him? Should I try a little harder to get
a guy’s attention – maybe create a really
nice profile of myself for an online dating
service? Or spice up my Facebook page
with some photos of myself in a swimsuit?
After all, I’m not getting any younger, and I
don’t want to wait forever!
A plethora of books, blogs, advice columns,
and magazine articles have surfaced
in the last few years, attempting to give
Christian young women some helpful tips
for snagging a godly guy and achieving
that much-desired state of wedded bliss.
“Call him up and invite him out to coffee!”
offers one expert. “Just because you are
the woman doesn’t mean you can’t give
the guy a nudge in the right direction. Let
him know you are interested – otherwise
he may overlook you and move on to a
different girl!”
“Join eHarmony and fast!” advises
another voice. “When it comes to finding
a husband, if you snooze, you lose! Online
dating gives you far more guys to choose
from so you can ‘shop’ for the partner
you’ve always dreamed of!”
“You’ve got to be aggressive when it
comes to finding a husband,” says yet
another book on helping single young
women find their husbands. “If you fall for
that old-fashioned notion of ‘waiting on
God’ for your spouse, you are likely to still
be waiting when you are ninety years old!”
For many young women, these arguments
can seem compelling. Modern experts
point out that the odds are against you;
that today’s men are less interested in
commitment and marriage than ever
before – therefore, it is up to you, as a
woman who knows what she wants, to
help push things in the right direction.
When it comes to finding a guy, there are
loads of tips and techniques available for
you to glean from. You can read books
on how to strike up a conversation with a
guy, get him to notice you, and increase
your odds of him falling in love with you,
and even books with tips on how to subtly
push him toward a marriage commitment
if he’s dragging his feet.
Well, I’d like to offer you some tips of my own
on how to find a godly marriage partner.
These tips don’t involve witty conversation
starters or learning how to seduce a guy
without acting like you are. And they
won’t help you create a more appealing
online profile. The tips I’m about to give
you come straight out of the Word of God.
And God is the greatest Romance Expert
who ever lived. No matter what modern
experts say about “the overabundance of
strong Christian women compared to the
overwhelming lack of godly males,” or the
fact that “today’s men are more afraid of
commitment than any generation before
them” – these things do not hinder God’s
ability to script beautiful love stories for
His children. He is the same yesterday,
today, and forever. And His pattern does
not need to adapt around modern culture.
His Word is timeless. And unlike the “new
and hip” yet totally unproven relationship
trends of our time, God’s romance advice
always works.
TIP #1: Give God the Pen
(and Let Him Keep It)
Growing up in church, I listened carefully to
the instructions given by my youth group
leaders, and tried to follow the Christian
“rules” of dating to the letter. But those
rules never protected me from a broken
heart and shattered life.
sa
relationships
...God is the
greatest Romance Expert
who ever lived.
And as I observed my Christian friends, I
saw they were all in the same boat I was
in: an endless cycle of shallow and cheap
romances that never lasted and left us
emotionally bleeding and insecure.
It was my desperation that finally
motivated me to start praying. I’d been
a Christian from the time I was five, but
since then God had taken a back seat
in my life. I would have said that He was
my highest priority – but in reality, I was
far more preoccupied with guys, friends,
and my social status. I didn’t really see
anything wrong with the way I’d chosen
to live. After all, I was going to church,
dating “Christian” guys, and committed to
saving sex until marriage. My life was far
more moral than most of my peers. Even
though God wasn’t the centerpiece of my
sa
relationships
daily life, I assumed that I was still on good
terms with Him.
But the fact that I kept getting my heart
broken again and again finally made me
wonder if I was doing something wrong.
After a nasty break-up, still wallowing in
depression and confusion, I began to cry
out to God for answers. “God, what am I
doing wrong?” I cried out. “I’ve followed
the Christian dating rules. Why am I so
miserable and insecure? Why does every
relationship end this way?”
Then came a soft tugging upon my heart.
Suddenly I somehow knew that my life
did not need to be this way and that God
had something better for me. I felt Him
gently whisper these words to my soul:
You continue to get your heart broken
because you are holding the pen of your
life and trying to write your own story. I am
the Author of true love. I am the Creator
of romance. I know your every heart’s
desire. I want to script a beautiful tale just
for you, but first you must give the pen to
Me. You must let Me become the center of
your existence. You must let Me have total
control of your love life, and every other
area of your life as well.
The thought of giving God complete
control of my life, especially my love life,
was a bit daunting. I didn’t really mind
obeying certain Christian guidelines for
dating, as long as I could still hold the pen
and write the story myself. But letting go
of my right to make all my own decisions
about relationships? I just wasn’t sure if I
was ready to give God that much control.
God was asking me to trust Him – fully,
completely, and whole-heartedly. He was
asking me to allow Him to write my love
story. But what if He let me down? Even
though my Sunday school upbringing had
taught me that God loved me, inwardly
I always felt like maybe He was more
interested in making me miserable than
in blessing my life. What if I gave Him the
pen and He completely destroyed this
area of my life? What if He never allowed
me to find a love story at all? Or what if
He directed me to someone I wasn’t even
attracted to?
I wrestled intensely with the decision. And
in spite of all my fears and misgivings about
turning the pen of my life over to God, one
realization was extremely clear. As long as
I continued writing my own story, I knew
I would only find more heartache and
disappointment. I had only made a mess
of this area of my life thus far. It was clear
that I needed some serious help.
So, more out of desperation than
confidence, I invited the Creator of the
“I am the
Author of true love.
I am the
Creator of romance.
I know
your every heart’s desire.”
Universe to be the center of my love life.
Did He disappoint me? Just the opposite.
I was soon to discover that the Author of
love and romance, who loved me more
than I could comprehend, had a plan for
my love life that would take my breath
away with its beauty.
When God promised a son to Abraham
in his old age, Abraham did what seemed
only natural to do – he tried to give God a
helping hand. After all, God had said that
He wanted to give him a son. What was so
wrong with using the good common sense
that God had given him and sleeping with
his wife’s maidservant? It was the only
way, as far as Abraham could see, that
God’s desire for him to be a father would
ever happen. The thought of just waiting
around until Abraham and Sarah were
both on death’s doorstep was laughable.
As the common saying goes, “God can’t
steer a parked car!” Abraham bought that
very lie – hook, line, and sinker. (By the
way, God can make bread out of stones
and dry land out of an ocean – somehow I
don’t think steering a parked car is much
of an issue for Him.)
So Abraham did what countless single
young women do – he tried to help God
out, tried to speed things up, tried to use
the resources he had to make God’s plan
happen. And he ended up not with the
son God had promised him, but with his
own humanly-crafted solution – Ishmael.
Ishmael was not God’s perfect plan for
Abraham’s legacy. Rather, God said of
Ishmael, “He shall be a wild man; His hand
shall be against every man, and every
man’s hand against him...” (Gen. 16:12).
God told Abraham that He would establish
his seed through a child named Isaac who
would be born to him and his wife Sara
in their old age. Abraham’s response was,
“Oh that Ishmael might live before You!”
(Gen. 17:18). Like so many of us, Abraham
longed for his own handiwork to be blessed
by God, rather than having to wait for God
to fulfill His promise in His own time and
way. God challenges us to let Him write
our love stories in His own time and way,
and our immediate response is, “Oh, that
I could just create my own story and have
You bless it!” That’s what our selfish nature
Do you
really bel
that Christ can
craves. But our Lord has something far
better in store, if only we would trust Him.
Allow the Spirit of God to search your
heart. Are you trying to create an Ishmael
of your own making? Are you attempting
to give God a hand in finding a guy and
getting married? Do you really believe that
Christ can fill you as your all in all? And
are you willing to make Him your first love,
even if no earthly love story comes your
way?
TIP #2: Pursue Jesus Christ
(Not Marriage)
lieve
f ill you as your
all in all?
These are difficult questions to face. But
remember that God cares more about
this area of your life than even you do. He
wants first place in your heart, not to make
you miserable, but to bless you beyond all
you could ask or think. Just read the rest
of Abraham’s story, when God’s promise
of Isaac actually came to pass, and be
reminded of the loving, faithful, awesome
God you serve! A heart centered upon
Christ is not a sentence of death – it’s a
doorway into abundant life, into the most
glorious romance you could ever imagine.
Here is the truth that many of us hesitate to
really believe: if and when the time comes
for us to be married, God will orchestrate
the love story. But in the meantime, our
focus is to be on serving Him and pouring
our life out for Him, not on getting serious
about getting married. The timing is up to
Him, not us.
Why am I so convinced that we are to
remain fully dependent upon Christ in
every area of our life, including this one?
Because Jesus left us an example that
we should follow in His steps (see 1 Peter
2:21). And as part of His example to us,
Jesus did nothing of His own volition, but
only what the Father told Him to do, and
only when the Father told Him to do it: “...
Then Jesus answered and said to them,
‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can
do nothing of Himself, but what He sees
the Father do; for whatever He does, the
Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19).
What strange words to come from the
King of all kings! He could do nothing of
Himself? The One who created the heavens
and the earth? It’s not that Jesus was
actually helpless – it’s that He deliberately
chose to be completely dependent upon
His Father for every word, every choice,
and every action. He said: “...The words
that I say to you I do not speak on My own
initiative, but the Father abiding in Me
does His works” (John 14:10 NASB).
As Ian Thomas so eloquently explained,
“The Lord Jesus acted at all times on the
assumption that His Father was handling
the situation, and Jesus simply took care to
obey His Father’s instructions. Even when
He was being reviled and tortured, ‘He left
His case in the hands of God’ (1 Peter
2:23). By this submission to His Father,
Jesus ‘learned obedience’ (Heb. 5:8) as
a Man, and the obedience was total; ‘He
humbled Himself and became obedient to
the point of death – even the death of the
Cross’ (Phil. 2:8). Now, as God, He asks
the same of you and me (The Indwelling
Life of Christ, p. 20).
Trusting God to orchestrate our love story
doesn’t mean shunning men or avoiding
friendships with the opposite sex. Certainly
it is a great idea to pray for our future
spouse and to be obedient to God’s voice
as He guides our steps in the process of
finding a spouse.
But marriage is not what we are called
to pursue. Rather, His Word tells us in
no uncertain terms what we are called
to pursue: “Now flee from youthful lusts
and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and
peace…” (2 Tim. 2:22 NASB).
So, ditch online dating and Facebook
flirting (real-life flirting, too, for that matter).
Don’t build your life around the
pursuit of guys.
Build your life around the pursuit of
Jesus Christ.
Don’t build your life around the pursuit of
guys. Build your life around the pursuit
of Jesus Christ. Find your fulfillment in
Him and Him alone. If His plan for you is
marriage, it should merely be an outflow of
a much more important love story – your
daily, intimate love relationship with the
King of all kings. And if you are uncertain
that He alone is enough to fulfill you at the
deepest level, just take a look at these
amazing promises from His Word:
“O LORD, You are the portion of my
inheritance and my cup...” (Psalm 16:5).
“Jehovah is my shepherd, I do not lack.”
(Psalm 23:1 YLT).
“For He satisfies the longing soul...”
(Psalm 107:9).
“…the fullness of Him who fills all in all”
(Eph. 1:23).
TIP #3: Spend Your
Time Serving
(Not Searching)
If you are single, God has a much higher
calling upon your life than spending all
your time and energy trying to snag Mr.
Right. As Paul wrote, being unmarried is
an amazing opportunity to serve the Lord
without distraction (see 1 Cor. 7:34). God
has not called us to build our lives around
the pursuit of our own selfish desires,
but to be poured-out sacrifices for His
kingdom. One of the great tragedies
of American Christian young women is
our total preoccupation with self. When
we are seeking our own happiness by
desperately searching for a husband, it
keeps us consumed with me, me, me,
while the rest of the world is sick and
oppressed and dying and impoverished.
In the single season of life, we are freer
than we’ll ever be to give our lives to
those in need and become Christ’s
advocates for the least around the world.
But we don’t use our advantage for that
cause. Instead, we sit around complaining
about the lack of available men and
evaluating our own emotions. We attend
retreats that are all about how we can
feel better about ourselves and live more
fulfilled lives. We read books about how
we can somehow find the right guy. We
spend hours online frittering our time away
in endless social networks. We waste
countless hours at the mall, snatching up
the latest trends and trying to become
more appealing to the opposite sex. We
live a life completely focused on self.
Meanwhile, children are starving, women
are being prostituted, and countless
families around the world are ripped apart
by disease and poverty.
In your single years, more than ever, you
have the ability to give your life for them; to
Focus on
pour out your time, your energy, your love,
and your resources to those who have
God’s special favor – the poor and the
least. Are you using this gift for the benefit
of those in need, or are you squandering it
on yourself?
One of the best ways to find a godly
marriage partner is to stop hunting for one,
and instead focus your entire life around
Jesus Christ and His priorities – which
means living a poured-out life. We should
never put off fulfilling God’s calling upon
our life because we haven’t met our man
yet.
If He wants you to be married, He is more
than capable of bringing a man into your
life in the most unlikely way, in the most
unlikely place. God can bring your spouse
for Jesus Christ
pouring your life out
...and leave the rest to
to you in the remotest village in Africa, or
in the most hidden slum of Haiti. Or like
He did for my sister-in-law Krissy, He
can bring your man along even in rural
Michigan where the only available men
seemed to be elderly widowers! I’ve heard
many amazing testimonies of women who
didn’t put their life’s calling on hold until
they met their man, but willingly followed
the call of God on their lives and became
active in work for His kingdom – even
though it meant being less available to
the opposite sex. And amazingly, it was
in a place of seeming obscurity that God
wrote their love stories and brought along
their husbands.
Him.
Remember that there are many Christbuilt warrior-poet men out there who are
praying and hoping for a set-apart young
woman – one who is not following after
the trends of the culture, one who is not
wallowing around in discontentment or on
the prowl for a guy. Nothing would thrill
a true warrior-poet’s heart more than to
know that his future bride was spilling her
life out for the sake of the Gospel. Want to
find a godly guy? Focus on pouring your
life out for Jesus Christ, and leave the rest
to Him. As it says in Psalm 57:2, He will
be more than faithful to fulfill His purposes
for you. ]
purified
THE
TRUTH
ABOUT
REDEMPTION.
of the past
by an anonymous
warrior-poet-in-the-making
T
hroughout the years I have been a fan
of fairy tales. I especially like the bustling
bicepted knight who rides in on his trusty,
gallant steed, kills the dragon, whisks the
beautiful princess out of the castle tower,
and soon marries her – both living happily
ever after. I love the fearless fighting, the
noble character, and the relentlessness
to save the life and win the heart of the
princess. While it has been years since I
had make-believe sword fights or galloped
around the house on my stick horse, I still
have the same desire: to woo and win the
heart of a set-apart woman.
Excuse me, God? You want me to marry a
prostitute? Do you know what prostitutes
are like? They’re not…pure.
In like manner, women have the yearning
to be wooed and won. They long to be
swept off their feet and ride off into the
sunset with their valiant warrior-poet.
Every set-apart woman desires their
future husband to be godly, honorable,
and pure; just as every warrior-poet longs
for his future spouse to be pure of heart,
mind, and body. But what happens when
the heroic knight rides in and finds that the
princess has a not-so-pure past? What if
it is not sparkling and white? Will a godly
man ever sweep her off her feet?
The first words God spoke to Hosea were
not confirmation that God had called him
to be a prophet (like God gave Jeremiah),
but rather a command to love and marry
Gomer, the harlot who was defiled, impure,
and an outcast. Hosea obeyed and found
himself truly in love with this woman. A
few years later, Hosea wakes up to find
his three children – but no Gomer. Where
did she go? Sadly, she had returned to
her previous life and was selling herself
once again. God calls Hosea for a second
time, saying: “Go again, love a woman
who is loved by a lover and is committing
adultery…” (Hosea 3:1).
For a long time I have been fascinated with
Hosea the prophet. In the second verse of
this book, when God began to speak to
Hosea, the Lord said: “Go, take yourself a
wife of harlotry…” (Hosea 1:2).
...WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE HEROIC
KNIGHT RIDES IN
AND FINDS THAT THE
PRINCESS HAS A
NOT-SO-PURE PAST?
Excuse me, God? I know I love her and
all, but look what she’s done! She’s not…
pure.
sa
walk
How can you know that a heroic
warrior-poet will love you regardless
of your past and sweep you off your
feet? Because that is what Jesus
has done for His bride, the Church.
sa
walk
The beauty of the book of Hosea is the
picture of God’s relentless and passionate
love for His bride. God uses the life of
Hosea to showcase His love for Israel.
Israel had “committed great harlotry by
departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2).
Have we not all done the same?
Psalm 14:3 says, “They have all turned
aside, they have together become corrupt;
there is none who does good, no, not one.”
Ezekiel 16:1-14 is a great picture of this.
As God speaks to the nation of Israel (and
to us), He compares them to a newborn
baby covered in filth and blood. They were
despised, discarded, defiled, and not…
pure. But God was so overcome with love
that against all reason He cried out, “Live!”
and proceeds to explain in verses 9-14
how He washed their filth, clothed their
nakedness, and made them beautiful.
WE WHO WERE
ONCE DEFILED AND
DISCARDED HAVE
BEEN CLOTHED
with Christ AND
FIND OUR LIFE IN HIM.
Is this not exactly what Christ has done
on the cross? We have all turned aside,
become corrupt and filled with sin, and
prostituted ourselves to the world. Yet
against all reason, the King of kings
and Lord of lords, “who is rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in
trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up together, and made us sit
together in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6). We who were once
defiled and discarded have been clothed
with Christ and find our life in Him.
Hebrews 10:22-23 declares, “Let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed
with pure water. Let us hold fast to the
confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful.” Do you
not see that in Jesus our bodies have
been washed with pure water and our
heart is brand new, cleansed from an evil
conscience, and full of the assurance
of faith? In other words, you are a new
creation! Your old life, the old way of
doing things, and your past impurity have
all passed away; behold, all things have
become new (see 2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus
has forgiven your sins and has set you
free from the power of sin! You can, from
this moment forward, live in triumph and
victory and freedom – but only as you
remain IN Him.
How can you know that a heroic warriorpoet will love you regardless of your past
and sweep you off your feet? Because
that is what Jesus has done for His
bride, the Church. The Church wasn’t
a spotless bride, but Jesus still decided
to choose her. It was through His death
and resurrection that Jesus made her a
spotless bride; which means He chose
her when she was not yet pure. Jesus was
able to look beyond the filth and impurity
and see what the Church was supposed
to be: a set-apart, spotless bride who
lives surrendered and dependent upon
Him. And He made it possible for her to
become just that.
A true, godly warrior-poet is filled with
the Spirit of Jesus, which means that His
heart, His nature, and His attitude are
working through that warrior-poet’s life.
As a warrior-poet, I do long for a bride
who is pure of mind, heart, soul, and body.
But whenever God chooses to reveal my
future wife to me, despite her past, I know
without a doubt that I will see her through
the eyes of Jesus and love her with His
love. I will see a set-apart woman who is
fully given over to the King, a woman who
is completely surrendered and dependent
upon Jesus, and a woman who has been
forgiven, washed clean, and made new.
A TRUE, GODLY
WARRIOR-POET IS
FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
OF JESUS, WHICH
MEANS THAT HIS HEART,
HIS NATURE, AND HIS
ATTITUDE ARE WORKING
THROUGH THAT
WARRIOR-POET’S LIFE.
Not long ago I read Elisabeth Elliot’s
book, Quest for Love. In one of the final
chapters, Elisabeth shares the story of
a young woman who, in her twenties,
began to take her relationship with Jesus
seriously. As she contemplated marriage,
she was fearful of what her future husband
might think of her not-so-pure past. She
poured out her heart to her mentor, and
was greatly comforted by the motherly
woman’s response: “She assured me that
should God bring a young man into my life,
then at the right time God would both give
me courage to tell him and would pour out
His grace on the young man so that he
would readily forgive me.”
While it may not be easy to have such a
conversation, rest assured that true, godly
warrior-poets will “love [their] wives, just
as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, that He might sanctify and
cleanse her with the washing of water by
the word, that He might present her to
Himself a glorious church, not having spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she
should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.
5:25-27). Jesus has taken the Church,
made her a spotless bride, and loved her
unconditionally – despite her past. If you
are found in Him, then He has done the
same to you; and a godly man who looks
at your life will only see you surrendered,
spotless, and pure before the King. ]
sa
walk
...a godly man who looks at your life
will only see you surrendered,
spotless, and pure before the King.
Ellerslie
Leadership Training
A Semester at Ellerslie
with Eric and Leslie Ludy
A MESSAGE FROM ERIC & LESLIE
The Ellerslie semester-long intensive training program combines powerful
biblical training with a set-apart, spiritually-rich environment, tailor-made
for cultivating intimacy with Christ and becoming equipped for worldimpacting Christian service. It’s a life-changing experience designed
to super-charge your spiritual walk, ground you in a Gospel worldview,
give you an unshakeable passion for God’s Word, and prepare you for
a lifestyle of kingdom work. We would count it a privilege to personally
invest in your spiritual life through this program!
upcoming sessions:
2013 Summer:
June 15 - August 18
2013 Fall:
October 12 - December 15
apply at:
www.Ellerslie.com
take it deeper
WRESTLING
PRAYER
WRESTLING PRAYER is filled with practical
ways to help you build a stronger prayer life. Many
of us feel defeated in our spiritual life. Many of us
have tried praying without success, and our expectations of God diminished as a result. For much of
my Christian journey, this was how I felt in my prayer
life - frustrated and discouraged.
But over the past few years, I’ve learned some important things about prayer that have revolutionized
my spiritual walk. Prayer can’t be baked down into a
ORDER NOW
step-by-step recipe or cookie-cutter formula. But
there are some biblical principles that, when applied to our personal prayer life,
can revolutionalize your experience with a God who hears and answers prayer.
If you are feeling lackluster in your prayer life, don’t miss this challenging and
inspiring book!
sa
walk
THE ART OF
UNDISTRACTED PRAYER
practical tips for a fresh focus
by the setapartgirl team
P
erhaps the most amazing privilege
of the Christian life is storming the
throne of grace and laboring in
fervent prayer for the things burdening
God’s heart. However, any Christian who
has embarked on such a heroic act would
easily agree that it requires much effort to
fix your eyes upon Jesus – and keep them
there. What starts out as a well-meaning,
passionate time of communion with God
can quickly turn into a mental struggle
in which the human brain becomes a
revolving door with random thoughts
trailing in and out. But God is deserving of
all of us – our attention, our energies, and
our listening ears – and thus we must take
determined action to ward off anything
that would seek to distract our minds from
being perfectly in tune with His Spirit.
All of us on the setapartgirl team have
desired to triumph over this obstacle in our
own spiritual lives, and God has faithfully
shown us specific ways to stay focused
in the prayer closet. Here is some of what
we’ve learned:
AMY
By far, the most valuable asset to my prayer life has been a little closet
under the stairs of my basement home. It may sound strange to some, but for me it has
become a haven, a sweet refuge where I can steal away for some alone time with my
King. This tiny room is absolutely void of clutter and is always kept clean and orderly,
with my Bibles, study books, and sermon notes neatly stored in a basket. I do not fold
my laundry, check my email, or chat on the phone in this sacred place – it is a sanctuary,
utterly set-apart for the cultivation of my relationship with Jesus. While this tucked away
corner of my house may not be the most elaborately decorated or boast the most
stunning view, it is free of anything that would distract my gaze from being wholly fixed
upon my beautiful Savior. It’s our own little hideaway to commune with each other,
share our hearts, and fall deeper in love every single morning.
MADISON
I have a mind that is swirling with ten different thoughts or
ideas at any given moment, and when I begin to pray, they all clamor for my attention.
I may start out praying silently in my head about one thing, and before I know it, I am
wandering down a completely different path. One way I guard against such travels of
the mind is to pray out loud. When I audibly give voice to my prayers, my mind is better
able to focus and all other possible roads of thought fade away. If I am in a setting where
it might be distracting to pray out loud, I write my prayers down in my journal if I have it
with me, or any paper I have on hand.
LAUREN
One thing that helps me stay focused during my prayer times is to
MOVE! I have found that I tend to get drowsy and foggy (especially early in the morning)
if I try to pray while curled up with a blanket or kneeling for a long time. Because of this,
I like to pace back and forth or walk around the room I’m praying in. I still love to kneel
when I pray, but if I realize I’m starting to lose focus, then I know it’s time to get up and
move! It may feel strange at first to pace while praying (it did for me), but if it keeps
you sharp and focused, then go for it! Jesus is worthy of our undivided attention and
fellowship, so our prayer lives must be protected at all costs.
Jesus is worthy of our
undivided attention and fellowship...
MANDY
Heading out for an early morning walk is one of my favored
methods of practicing undistracted prayer. Escaping my normal, daily surroundings to
journey out for prayer energizes my body and practically aids in keeping me focused.
As I am out and about treading a familiar path, the chance of my eyes being drawn to a
picture-framed memory or sticky note reminder is eliminated. As you set your pace to
pray in the fresh air, I am certain you will discover the beauty and delight in set-apart,
distraction-free time with the heavenly Bridegroom. As the old whimsical hymn says,
“And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am his own! And the
joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known!”
TESSA
When God first began to train me in prayer a few years ago, I didn’t
even try to get down on my knees until I’d returned from the kitchen with a cup of coffee
to give a little boost to my morning sluggishness. Oh, how patient He has been with me
ever since! This past year, I discovered one specific and very simple thing I could do
differently. Every night before I go to bed, I fill up my water bottle and set it out where
I can easily grab it when I get out of bed to pray. Trying to enjoy (and wake up with) a
steaming cup of coffee at the same time I was trying to pray was a distraction – not
to mention a time waster if I was the first one up and had to make the coffee. Drinking
water while I pray is a good way to rejuvenate my body in the morning, and yet is not in
any way a hindrance to keeping my focus where it should be.
MARLENE
It’s strange, but as soon as I start praying, my mind runs off
in all directions! I have to do...I shouldn’t forget...ah, what a great time we had...oh, I
wonder...sigh. I am not praying at all! My escape route? Taking every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:5). If the thought popping up is a “do” or
“remember” one, I quickly jot it down on my computer or a sticky note and continue
praying. This way, it won’t distract me again (and I won’t forget about it either). But if it’s
a wandering thought into lala-land, I throw it out at once with a white-knuckled fist and
a firm, out loud “NO,” and instantly get back to what I was praying. I work hard to be
focused and sharp, to be there 100% – for I am having a most important conversation
with my Beloved, the King of all kings.
AMELIA
If you’re in a place where you can’t find a quiet spot, find some
calm instrumental music to put on your iPod to tune out the noises around you. It’s best
if there are no words to ensure a focused time of prayer, otherwise it might become a
distraction. There are times to worship and times to press into fervent prayer. Sometimes
I get sidetracked by worshiping God or thinking about the music instead of wrestling in
prayer, so I purposefully do not listen to worship music during those times.
sa
walk
Another thing that can either help or hinder your prayers is writing them out. Typing on
your computer may cause a temptation to check your email or hop on Facebook. If
this is a problem for you, take the initiative to disconnect from the Internet during your
prayer time. Writing prayers in a journal is less distracting, but if there is a tendency to
doodle or pay too much attention to how nice your writing looks, this may need to be
avoided. I love to write my prayers, but sometimes I end up not really praying and start
writing about my day or life in general, so I have to be watchful about staying on track.
...
While none of us are perfect in this area, every morning is a new opportunity to give
our full attention to Christ and allow Him to continually train us in the prayer closet. If
we are purposeful to remove anything (even good things) that might stand in the way
of unhindered communion with our King, and go before His throne with a willing heart
and steadfast resolve, He will be faithful to shape us into the mighty women of prayer
we are all called to be. ]
the
setapartgirl
ANNUAL GIRLS CONFERENCE
SIMULCAST EVENT
Bring the set-apart message to your
small group, church, or community!
O
ver a year ago, God put it on Eric and
Leslie’s heart to expand their vision
for the annual setapartgirl conference,
and explore the idea of streaming it via
live simulcast. Of course, this was no
small dream and no small task, requiring
meticulous planning, much technical
detail, and a whole lot of faith in God’s
ability to handle the rest! But though it was
a daring venture, it was amazing to think
of how the Lord could use the simulcast to
reach hundreds of girls around the country
and world through powerful messages
filled with the life-changing truths of God’s
Word. Eric and Leslie knew our God was
able to pull it off, and registration was
soon open.
Several months later, in May of 2012,
the weekend of the conference arrived.
By that time, more than 125 different
locations around the world were registered
for the simulcast, including Japan, the
Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, New
Zealand, Guatemala, and Ecuador!
And glory to our God, everything went
smoothly, and the simulcast turned out to
be a huge success.
This year, we are excited to again be offering
the conference via simulcast, and we are
eager to see how the Lord will again show
His great faithfulness through this event.
We would like to encourage you, dear
sisters, to prayerfully consider hosting
your own simulcast event. And since we
realize that the idea of it may come across
as a bit intimidating to some of you, we
wanted to take some time to explain a
few details, answer a few questions, and
inspire you with the ideas and testimonies
from some of last year’s simulcast hosts.
SO WHAT EXACTLY DO I NEED TO DO OR
HAVE IN ORDER TO HOST A SIMULCAST?
On the technical side of things, you need to have good, high-speed
Internet access in order to stream the live simulcast, or watch the
recorded sessions from Vimeo.com. One indication of this would be an
Internet connection that is through Internet lines and not just through a
phone line. If you’re not sure about your Internet speed, you can test it
by going to Vimeo.com and try watching some videos there. If it takes
awhile to load a video, then you’ll know that you will need to allow time
to pre-load the video before you watch it for the conference.
If you’ve having a very small group (up to three people), you can use just
your computer to watch the sessions, but you might want to make sure
you have external speakers so you can hear well! For a larger group,
you can get special cables to connect your laptop with a big-screen TV,
or for a really big group you can use a projector (with a screen). You’ll
need a sound system for this method as well. If you want to host it at
your church, they may have the equipment you need and may be able
to help you with the planning and set-up. If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t
worry – there are bound to be some men at your church who are and
would be willing to help. Try starting with the tech team at your church,
or a family friend who is known for their technical skills.
You will also need to have a place or room that’s large enough and
comfortable. You will want to have some sort of plan for snacks and/or
meals, since it’s an overnight and all-day event. Depending on the group
size and location you could think about doing an overnight event, but
it’s not necessary. There are lots of options for how to do the schedule,
meals, etc. A good idea is to get a small team of people together who
can help decide what would work best for the weekend and assist you
in carrying out the details. You can charge a fee to those who come to
help cover the cost of the simulcast, food, books you might order, etc.
Depending on how you schedule the weekend, there may be extra time
on Saturday afternoon when there’s no sessions to watch, so you could
have some small group/discussion time or another activity such as a
meaningful craft. There are endless possibilities to how God can build
each individual event – dream big, be practical, pray much, and have
fun!
A few more answers to your questions:
Q: HOW WILL THE SIMULCAST WORK IF I’M IN A
DIFFERENT TIME ZONE?
A:
Each session will be streamed live and also recorded. Then we will
upload each recorded session to individual links on Vimeo.com, which
takes us approximately two hours. For example, the Friday night session
will end at 9pm MST, but the recorded sessions will not be available
for viewing on Vimeo until 11pm MST. The recorded sessions will not
be downloadable – you can only watch/stream them from Vimeo.com,
which means you will need good and dependable Internet access. The
recorded sessions on Vimeo will be available for two weeks (through June
16, 2013), so if you have a schedule or time zone conflict with the original
date and time of the conference, you can watch the sessions at a time
that is convenient for you within that two-week time frame.
Q: WHAT IS THE COST OF THE SIMULCAST AND WHAT
DOES IT INCLUDE?
A:
The simulcast will include six general sessions and a breakout Q&A
session with Leslie. The cost for the simulcast is $79. For an additional
$5 you can get a link to downloadable session notes, which you can print
and hand out to those who attend your simulcast event. All simulcast
hosts will also be given the option to purchase Eric and Leslie’s books at
a discounted price, at the time they register online.
Q: CAN I PURCHASE A DVD OR AUDIO RECORDINGS
OF THE SESSIONS AFTER THE CONFERENCE?
A:
We will not be offering a DVD for purchase, but the audio will be
available to download for a small fee.
WHAT GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD
ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR OWN
SIMULCAST EVENTS LAST YEAR!
EMILY SAYS: I held a setapartgirl
conference at my home the weekend of
June 1-2. Leading up to the weekend, I
announced the conference to my church’s
middle and high school girls, as well as a
college group and singles group at another
church. Because I held it at my home, I was
limited on space, but we ended up having
more than enough room! There were
around 20 girls for the weekend including
several moms. Only one of the girls had
ever read or heard the set-apart message,
so I was excited to be able to share this
radical, sacred message that God has
used in my life. In addition to watching the
sessions and enjoying the food my mom
graciously prepared, I also had a drawing
to give away several door prizes including
Set-Apart Femininity books and lovely
Scripture cards that the girls could place
in their rooms.
After each session, I shared some things
that the Lord has taught and convicted me
of over the years. I also allowed time for
the girls to voice their thoughts. Personally,
I have heard Leslie’s message many
times (reading her books, listening to her
podcasts, attending the conference), but I
was reminded of so many things that God
wanted me to continue to apply in my
life and convicted of areas where I have
given in to the world’s temptation. Overall,
the weekend was a refreshing time to
fellowship with other girls while listening
to the Lord’s leading and sweet voice!
HANNA SAYS: While reading the
setapartgirl magazine, I found out about
the conference. I immediately began to
dream about how incredible and precious it
would be to go to Colorado and meet other
girls who have the same pursuit as I do,
and also learn of Him more and how could
I do my best for Him. But unfortunately,
the dates of the conference were right in
the middle of my school year, so it would
have been too difficult for me to go. So,
when the simulcast option was available,
God began to touch my heart and I started
to dream about hosting a simulcast event
here in Guatemala. But there were many
seeming hindrances, such as the language
barrier (not many people fully understand
English in my country). So, I left it, thinking
that it was impossible. When I’d had a
special longing in my heart to attend the
conference, I had sent Amelia an email
to find out more about how the simulcast
would work. When I received the reply, I
felt that God was, in this way, supporting
me and making my dream come true. I
immediately thought of girls who knew
English and may be interested, and I
began extending invitations. The girls
who accepted the invitation passed the
news on and invited other girls they knew.
It was incredible, because all the girls
who attended were so caught up in the
messages! I know God sent the ones who
will change their lives, and who want to
follow God wholeheartedly! It still amazes
me a lot how He orchestrated the details,
how He changed my life (I am a shy girl,
so inviting people to attend an event was
something outside of my comfort zone –
but it is Him in me!), how He moved hearts
and lives during the conference, how He
spoke so perfectly and purposely through
Leslie, and how amazingly I could feel my
family´s support and help!
HEATHER SAYS: The moment I heard
about the simulcast, I knew God was
telling me to take a leap of faith and
obey Him! The journey was exhilarating,
heart-wrenching, and so fulfilling for me! I
am overwhelmed with thankfulness that
the Lord chose me to serve Him in this way!
It was such an honor and a blessing! Every
step of the way He provided exactly what
I needed. When I didn’t know where to
begin, God brought a wonderful older
woman to come alongside me and mentor
me with the planning of the event. When
my health seemed as though it was going
to fail several times as I got up in front
of the church to promote the event, God
always calmed my symptoms down and
gave me just the strength I needed! Every
time something would go wrong and I
would question if God really wanted me
to be doing this, He would always provide
an answer. There were so many other
ways in which He was so faithful to me
in bringing this all together, but to name
them all would take far too long. We had our conference on June 2nd
from 9am to 4pm, and it was just lovely.
There were about 55 ladies between
the approximate ages of 11 and 65 who
participated! After each session we had
about 20 minutes of small group discussion
time. In between these times, we broke up
the day with breakfast, lunch, and several
times of worship. It was just amazing. So
many women have responded saying
how blessed they were, and how greatly
there hearts were affected by Leslie’s
teaching! Moms of teenage daughters
were just overjoyed that I brought Leslie to
their attention! I even had the opportunity
to witness to a friend of mine I have been
praying for for over two years! It truly was
a beautiful display of God at work! I printed
out copies of the Cleaning the Sanctuary
material for everyone to take home and
go through, so they could better apply the
message to their lives. I also gave them a
complete reference listing of all of Eric and
Leslie’s materials! I’m hoping that God
uses these things to get everyone as fired
up about the set-apart life as I am!
LAURA SAYS: We held our setapartgirl
conference this last weekend and had 10
attend. It was a special time of fellowship
and encouragement. My husband and I
previewed the conference together the
week before and were very encouraged.
We had a picnic at the park, a motherdaughter photo shoot, and time to relax
together and swim. The girls were talking
about wanting to plan a similar event next
year and invite their friends. Both the
moms and girls brainstormed together
ways to encourage one another to apply
what we learned.
SUSANNA SAYS: God provided in so
many ways and gave wisdom for all the
details. He truly orchestrated each part.
We decorated in a simple yet elegant
way. I was praying that we could make it
special and meaningful for the girls who
came, even with a very low budget. My
mom strung up lights around the center
of the fellowship hall, where the tables for
meals were. We had ivory tablecloths on
the tables, each with a square of brightly
colored, summery cloth in the center
and an Izze bottle filled with beautiful
pink flowers. I included enough money
in the registration fee to purchase books
for all the girls who came. My mom (and
a few other girls who helped) put ribbon
and a bow around each book, and we
set up a special table for girls to choose
what book they wanted to take home with
them. I also wrote a letter to each of the
girls that they received with their book,
to encourage them after Christ and let
them know that they were cheered on,
prayed for, and supported by their fellow
set-apart sisters in Christ. At meal times
we had discussion questions to focus our
conversation around Christ and building
one another up, and my mom led a short
Bible study during breakfast on Saturday
morning. It was so exciting each time God
brought an idea to mind or had someone
else suggest a way to add special touches
to each part of the conference! They were
answers to prayer, and I pray, set an
environment that drew ladies’ hearts after
Him and lifted Him high. BETHANY SAYS: I began toying with
the idea of simulcasting, but I really didn’t
think it was possible because I am fairly
tech-illiterate. As I was talking about it one
day to a few moms, one of them told me
that her husband’s photography studio
might be an option. A few months later I
contacted him, and he provided his place
at no cost, and all the materials (sound
system, high speed Internet, and projector).
He also helped me set everything up, and
was there multiple times throughout the
conference in order to check up on things.
Everything I needed for the simulcast just
fell into place with hardly any effort on my
part, and I know it was because the Lord
directed the entire thing from start to finish.
]
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT HOSTING
read our brochure | click here
OR REGISTER NOW
TO HOST YOUR OWN EVENT
SIMULCAST | click here
MORE QUESTIONS?
W E WA N T T O H E L P Y O U !
email Amelia | coordinator
[email protected]
NOTE FROM LESLIE: I normally interject my own answers in this Q&A section.
However, I thought you would be encouraged to hear some answers from other setapart young women. The following is a question that came into our ministry and was
beautifully answered by a set-apart young woman here at Ellerslie named Vanessa. I
hope you will be blessed and encouraged by what she shared.
with a set-apart girl
Q
&
A
Q:
A:
Q&A
Recently I have been in some situations where I have
desired to reach out to members of the opposite sex,
young men who have seemed lonely, upset, or just in need
of a Savior. If I ever saw a girl in this state, I would jump
on the opportunity to reach out to her. But it’s so different
with guys. How do I reach out to the opposite sex without
them thinking I’m romantically interested?
Your question reminds me of something I went through several years ago.
I met a young man in my youth group, and even though he was younger
than me, we started a friendship. He was struggling with making Jesus his
everything and giving up fleshly living, and I decided that I could help him.
Soon we were sharing things with each other that were totally inappropriate
for a guy/girl friendship, and without either of us realizing it, we had become
dependent on each other.
Our friendship never formed into a romance, and we thought of each other
as brother and sister. But we were not brother and sister. And when I realized
that we had gone too far, it was too late to try and undo everything.
I was trying to help him (at least I thought that I was doing that), but I was
actually giving away too much, sacred things that I was supposed to only
share with my mentor (a girl) or with my future husband. When God pointed
out to me that this friendship was not healthy and pure, the way that God
intended it to be, I realized that I had to end it. It was not easy at all, since
we were very dependent on each other, but since I wanted to honor and
glorify God and respect my future husband, I ended our friendship. It was
not wrong to be friends with this young man – the problem was the intimacy
of our conversations.
You can point someone to Jesus,
but it is Jesus Himself who does the work.
I truly understand the desire you may have to share the Gospel with young men and to
lead them to Christ, but the way that you want to reach them, as you describe in your
question, may not be the best way. Leslie Ludy shared in her book Answering the Guy
Questions,
“Taking the initiative with a guy, even in the friendship stage, can be dangerous.
God designed men to be the leaders, the initiators, and the pursuers in male/female
relationships...When a woman takes a leadership role, even in a friendship, she subtly
disregards a man’s authority and position.”
Do not jump on the opportunity to reach out to a guy just because you “feel” that you
have to, or because you think it is the best thing to do. You must be wise in the way that
you approach him and talk to him. Remember that it is not our job, as young women, to
disciple young men.
I am not saying you should ignore what God is showing you, but I encourage you to
take different steps instead of doing things your own way. We have a powerful way of
helping our brothers in Christ. James 5:16 says, “...The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much.” I would encourage you to first bring this young man’s life
to the feet of Jesus, praying that God will give you an opportunity to share the Gospel
with him. Ask God to open a door for you, in a way that this young man will come to you
in a simple conversation and that you will be able to point him to Jesus. Remember that
it is not you who changes a person’s heart, it is the Holy Spirit. You can point someone
to Jesus, but it is Jesus Himself who does the work.
Also, I would encourage you to point this young man to a godly man who can help him
at a deeper level. Pray that God will show you someone you can trust, and who will
show Christ to this young man.
Q&A
And one more thing my dear sister – if God wants you to reach out to this young man,
allow Jesus to show you the way to do that. When Christ is in control, He gives you the
right tools. Ask for His heart, His wisdom, and His will. As Proverbs 13:1 says, “A wise
son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” And remember
that everything we do is to bring glory to Christ and Him alone. If this situation is not
going to bring glory to Christ, you should not be pursuing it. ]
The effective, fervent
prayer of a righteous
man avails much.
James 5:16
Proverbs 31.30
Annie Wesche, Creative Director
Correspondence from Haiti
The
Haiti Letters
with love
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
My dear friends,
I want to walk you inside the gates of a
horrifying compound. A property where
just over fifty small children are held under
the facade that such a place is actually an
orphanage. In truth, the man who runs
this operation holds these children as his
private collection with which to woo in
the dollars of well-meaning people who
have no idea of the true corruption and
abuse that is behind this man’s smiles
and pleas for help. The children are in
bondage to a false advocate, a man who
calls himself a pastor and yet wears this
title to exploit the suffering of children for
his own selfish gain. He is not operating legally. He has no papers for these
children. And yet many of these boys
and girls have been in this prison for
over six years.
As I walk you further in, your stomach
tightens and sorrow floods your heart.
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
(Journal Entries from our visits to check on and feed the children)
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
They live in cruel conditions - abused, starved, and neglected. The boys
sleep in crowded tents with no blankets, only a thin layer of dirt that turns to
mud when it rains. The girls sleep in small cement block rooms with padlocks
on the doors to keep them in. Broken wooden bunk beds line the walls with
moldy foam pads as their only cushioning. Stained sheets are available to a
few, but with so many of the beds broken, the dirt floor is where most of the
little girls sleep. There are no shoes. No underwear. No toys but for one
plastic doll, a single toy car that ironically says “rescue vehicle” on the side,
and the trash that litters the property. There are no bathrooms. Corners
both inside and outside carry an unbearable stench, the evidence of being
used repeatedly as a toilet. There is no food, anywhere. Many of the boys
are naked and you find shame in the eyes of the ones old enough to know
the indignity.
Their skin is ashy white, cracked, and wrinkled from severe dehydration.
Their little bodies have scratch scars from untreated scabies. Their bellies
are swollen and hard from the worms that fill them. Their ribs protrude
from their skinny chests and their
knees are wider than their thighs.
Read that one again. Their knees
are wider than their thighs. And
they’re desperately thirsty.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
Tonight around 6pm we went back
to the orphanage. We carried
food and water and were met by
the pastor as we walked up to the
Gems
Cardo
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
gate. We hadn’t let him know we were coming and he wasn’t happy. He
didn’t turn us away but the spirit of control and darkness upon this man
made me sick to my stomach. I stood face to face with him as he gave
his reasons why we could not give food to the children. After listening but
remaining unmoved in our desire to see the children, he finally, reluctantly, let
us in ... without the food we had brought.
The thick darkness from the absence of electricity could not shroud the
truth of what was in front of me. These children were dying. Their bellies
were swollen and hard. They were filthy, mud caked on their legs. They were
either visibly frightened or completely expressionless.
We handed them water bags, but they just held them. Drink, we said. Drink
it now, not later, but they just looked away. One by one I began ripping the
corners of the water bags open with my teeth, handing them back to the
children, and when I did, every little mouth drank the bags dry. We found
out the pastor had told the children not to open the bags. He would take
them and resell them the following day.
I knelt in front of every boy until my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I
could make out each face. I found Davidson. He still looked frighteningly
thin and sickly. Then the littlest boy, Gems. He had a fever and was covered
in dust and filth, his belly nearly stone hard. Finally my eyes found Cardo,
the boy whose face has only ever shown me one expression - blank. During
our previous visit I sat and held him for over 2 hours and not once did his
expression change. I asked if him if he was ok and picked up his frail body.
He was soaked in his own urine. The stench enveloping the children was
thick and consuming. Cardo’s little frame was so light and skinny it was as if
I held an infant in my arms. He held on to me and put his cheek weakly up
against mine - the first response I’d ever seen from him.
These children don’t say anything. They are just too vulnerable. Too weak.
Too frightened.
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
Why is it so complicated to rescue children in bondage? Show us the
strongholds that block the way. Let’s go after them, tear them down, and
deliver these little ones. Father, come! Come in Your power and righteousness and justice. I know that You will deliver these children. I know that
You will rescue them and heal them. Let not one be lost, Jesus. Not one.
Come, Lord, and show us what’s next.
This is the reality of so many children in Haiti, and so many so-called
orphanges. But this one is different. It’s different to me because I know
about this one and I have looked into the eyes of the children there. And
now I am a part of it. I either move to act on their behalf or shut my soul to
the Father’s heart and join
in with their oppressors by
my indifference. There is
no middle ground for me.
But what I must remember
is that while I may lack in
myself what’s needed for
their rescue, Christ has
and is everything needed
for them. And I have
Christ! He is the help,
the healing, the provision, and the leading.
Our first response must
always be to look unto
Him.
I EITHER MOVE
TO ACT ON THEIR
BEHALF OR SHUT
MY SOUL TO THE
FATHER’S HEART
AND JOIN IN WITH
THEIR OPPRESSORS BY
MY INDIFFERENCE.
For their
Redeemer is migh
Proverb
hty: He will plead their cause...
bs 23:11
RESCUE update :
Since the first time we stepped through these gates, we have been working
toward the rescue of these children.
When we first approached the government for their intervention, we were
mocked for enquiring. “Don’t you already have 180 children at your creche?”
they said. “Why don’t you worry about your own kids. Did you actually see
the rape happen?” They had the testimonies and photos right in front of
them showing the mistreatment of the children, but in reality what everyone
is saying is, “No one here cares.” After all, this is happening all over Haiti,
right? But they’re wrong. For a start, you and I care.
So, we prayed. We stood upon the promises of who our God is. We spent
nights crying out through tears of ache and desperation. Lord, bring us
an advocate! Set these captives free from their abusive oppressor! Turn
indifferent hearts to feel the weight of responsibility to act! If there is another
way, lead us in it. We know You do not forget the oppressed!
I will surely hear their cry.
Ex. 22:23
After weeks and weeks of fervent prayer, a miracle happened - the very
government official who had mocked our outrage and deep concern, called
and said they had changed their position and would both shut down the
orphanage and bring justice to the man responsible for the abuse of these
children! God had turned the hearts of men!
So, here is where this letter now finds us. We are finding property, preparing
a place to receive the children once they are officially removed, and gathering all that will be needed for their immediate care. Once the children are
received, we’ll begin seeking to find out if they have living parents, extended
family, or are true orphans. Reuniting as many as we can with their families
is our first priority and then, for those whom we are able, we will pursue
adoption into a godly, forever family.
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
The rescue still needs to take place. All these little hearts need the healing
power of the Gospel and the love of their Savior Jesus. And countless
children still have what is described in this letter as their daily reality. Our
hearts should break with this knowledge of such suffering. It is only by the
Lord’s choosing that we were not born into such a life, but this mercy and
goodness come to us with a responsibility, and the Gospel which we have
received now makes us doubly accountable to act on behalf of those weak,
oppressed, and fatherless.
While this letter may bring heaviness to our hearts, I want to remember with
you the triumphant power and faithfulness of our great King! He is in the
rescue business and no one does it better than He does! Take seriously the
weight and burden you feel by doing some serious praying. God hears the
prayers of the righteous and the enemy trembles when we get to our knees
and pray.
THE HAITI LETTERS
number four | October 2012
Please join with me in praying that this rescue will happen quickly and
that the perfect place will be provided to care for them. Pray for their
oppressor, that this man will turn and repent before the Lord; that God
would have mercy upon him and also keep him from further abuse of the
vulnerable. And pray also for us, that we would walk in all wisdom, Truth,
love, and in the leading of God’s Spirit.
The past few months have pressed me in many hard ways, but I have great
joy in our faithful Jesus and also your hearts that are for Him and for His
children. And as you can see in the photos here, even in the darkest
places, God’s love can break through and His Life always brings hope!
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and
full of compassion, and righteous. Psalm112:4 KJV
I eagerly look forward to sharing with you the rest of this rescue story!
His and yours, with unwavering joy,
Annie
THE HAITI LETTERS
bonus report | December 2012
BONUS: RESCUE update!
faces of hope | answered prayer
It is my joyful privilege to introduce you to two beautiful answers to prayer:
Erline and Karlinda. They are two out of ten children who have been rescued
from the corrupt orphanage! These sisters have endured starvation, abuse,
and hopelessness, but because of the grace and love of Jesus, there is such
a marvelous work being done in their hearts! Oh, what a glorious Christ!
Please continue to pray - remember the little ones still in bondage and also
these rescued ones who need the work of healing that only Jesus brings!
God is at work and what a high honor to be able to spend ourselves in
prayer for the royalty of God’s heart!
ERLINE - May 2012
ERLINE - November 2012
OTHER CHILDREN RESCUED!
KARLINDA - May 2012
KARLINDA - November 2012
JUSTICE
RESCUE
PROJECT
Inasmuch as you
did it unto
one
of the least of these...
you did it unto Me.
Proverbs 23:11
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Please visit our setapartgirl Etsy store to order!
Meet Ervina
SISTER OF THE
common life
1. When did you come to Christ and choose to live fully set-apart for
Him?
The desire for Christ has been a part of me for as long as I can remember,
but in the times when I haven’t maintained an intentional seeking after
Him and His character, I have become blindingly sidetracked. I remember
an intense talk with my mom one day that ended up with her looking me
straight in the eye and saying, “Ervina, life is just not about you.” What felt
like accusation was actually the truth of conviction because, at the time, my
sixteen-year-old life was revolving around me and my emotions, my desires,
my convenience, my schedule, my rebellion. I was surrendered to self, not
Christ.
When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what
matters most to the heart of God. This perspective is a stark contrast to the
average preoccupations of most girls. To gain this perspective and turn the
focus and direction of my life, I knew I had to make the decision to be
emptied so Christ could be all. I also knew I had to intentionally invest my
time and energy into something outside of myself. When I turned seventeen,
I felt a specific call to disciple young women and found myself amazed with
the brokenness that confronted me. Most of the girls came from abusive
homes or shattered families, and all of them with hard questions and a
desperate need for Jesus. I found I could only give what I possessed, which
forced me to press into Christ like never before. I had to know Him, not
just know about Him, because these girls saw through every cliché answer,
reacted against rehearsed knowledge, and knew if what I had was genuine
or just a pretense. This transformed my life with glorious purpose and fulltime learning, and constantly immersed me in new aspects of intercession,
spiritual warfare, the love of Jesus, and the power of the Gospel.
...I knew I had to make the decision to
be emptied so Christ could be all.
I look at myself five years ago
and how the Lord has drawn
me to Himself since then,
and see so clearly that He
will empty out all that I am
before He will put His own
resources in me. If I had
managed to avoid each hard
or challenging or growthproviding circumstance in
the past six years, my life
would look completely different. It might be safer, yes, and more in control,
but it would be lacking the absolute richness I’ve discovered. I would have
chosen what I thought was better but sacrificed the wealth of a relationship
with Jesus that is forged and purified and strengthened in the fires of
stretched abilities, admitted weaknesses, deep pain, wrestling prayer, and
impossible situations. With even the slightest taste of the victorious life, how
can an easy one even compare? 2. What have been some of the greatest challenges and joys in living as
a set-apart young woman?
As a woman, the challenge is in not being given over to the spontaneous
feelings and emotions that would sidetrack me from confidently following
God. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be,
or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He
is now doing for me.” In the past year especially, I have been asking God to
show me how to live steadfastly. I know it’s possible because steadfastness
is something I see all over Scripture, in men and women throughout history
who have given their lives for the cause of Christ, and in the life of Christ
Himself. If my God is rock-solid, as His follower I don’t have to be affected
by every changing circumstance or influenced by the trends and patterns of
this earth. I can maintain a quiet heart when the natural reaction would be to
erupt in anxiety. I can remain unmoved when the earthquakes of distraction
and noise and busyness shake me every day.
The joy of this life is made so much easier because I have been incredibly
privileged to be surrounded by iron: friends who not only support me in my
desire for Christ but whose lives deeply convict my places of selfishness
and challenge me to go far beyond where I am. I love the never-ending
exploration of the set-apart life alongside them. Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is
the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a
matter” (KJV).
I feel like my life is a constant exploration of the faithfulness of God. He does
conceal things that make me search out His glory, and I am no king but it is
an honor and a delight to treasure-hunt His depths.
3. Can you tell us about your
summer in Cambodia two
years ago?
I always smile when I’m asked
to tell stories about this place. It
was a season of unmistakable
calling and heart-wrenching
love and understanding more
of what Jesus wants from my
life. My sister and I spent three
months with a ministry called
Children at Risk in a slum
outside of Phnom Penh. In the
past few years, we’ve made
several short term trips to
Southeast Asia together and
neither of us could shake
the burden God had given
us for its people, specifically
this country. Going into our
summer, I told God what I
wanted out of it was not fun
...the best of my plans are always
a thousand times better when they’re
overridden by His.
and adventure; it wasn’t smooth adjustment and easy discipleship; it wasn’t
the fulfilling of my expectations or the accomplishment of overseas ministry.
What I wanted was for Him to define the summer by a purpose entirely His
own. I’ve found the best of my plans are always a thousand times better
when they’re overridden by His. And as mine were being overridden, I found
myself amazed at how He is so faithful to change me more than He changes
things around me. I saw Him work in so many different, unique ways, but
I’m convinced His deepest work was done in my heart, which is where it’s
needed most. Being in constant ministry, giving to the starving, having love
poured out instead of dug up, means I have to be changed to look like
my Jesus. It means I have to be God-burdened, not burdened by my own
doing. It means I have to learn in a deeper, daily way what it is to walk in the
Spirit. I am not a great missionary. I don’t come close to an Amy Carmichael
or a Hudson Taylor or a William Booth. But it’s their lives that spur me on
toward an all-consumed abandonment to Christ and the carrying out of
His redemption. The more time I spent in the Word, the more I saw how
strongly the heart of God beats for justice. Depraved indifference became
anguished awareness in those three months. I longed to meet the needs of
the sick, the poor, the starving, the fatherless, the enslaved. But there were
so many. Where do I start, God? “You start by loving the one.” The one
precious child who runs into my lap and lays her head on my shoulder and
transfers lice from her curly head to mine. The one old woman who doesn’t
have enough money for the day’s rice but still sings hymns and wants to
discuss 1 John. The one teenager who asks broken-English questions about
Christianity.
Mingled with thrilling anticipation of the summer was a heaviness in my soul.
From my research on Cambodia, I was very aware that we were walking into
one of the enemy’s playgrounds. Much of the physical evil happens after
dark and behind closed doors, but the spiritual darkness hanging over the
nation can be felt even on a sunny day. I’d heard countless speakers and
seen YouTube videos and read books and perused statistics. But statistics
are no longer numbers when you live in the middle of them instead of safely
on the other side of the world. They’re real people. They’re faces I walk
past every day. They’re children’s names I learn. They’re little personalities
I fall in love with. Each time I washed dozens of heads of hair, or walked
down a street followed by a crowd of children, or taught a girls’ discipleship
group, or found myself surrounded by a hundred and fifty kids on a Sunday
afternoon, the soul-deep joy got deeper. When He calls me to this place of
His purpose meeting my joy, pouring Jesus into every crack and corner of
little lives is one of the absolute greatest privileges I know.
...pouring Jesus into every crack and
corner of little lives is one of the
absolute greatest privileges I know.
Since the summer, I feel like I’m constantly aware of areas where I need
greater faith. Am I searching out causes I don’t know yet? Am I willing
to be stretched daily? Am I in a place where I am experiencing absolute
dependence on Christ, and if not, why? What am I doing to continue to
learn, to increase and strengthen that faith? “...Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the
kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5 KJV). James 2:5 will always remind me of Cambodia, the poor of this world being
radiant brown faces that are sometimes too poor to buy the day’s rice,
yet whose faith somehow exceeds mine. God chooses them to teach this
American the simplicity and childlike joy of the Gospel. If that’s what it takes
to be part of His kingdom, then I want this poverty in the world’s eyes.
4. What was one of the most impacting experiences you had there?
One of my favorite stories is from one Thursday while we were at our ministry
house in the slum. We were trying our best to clean the always-dirty tile floor
before the children arrived. But, like always, a crowd bursting with eagerness
danced outside the garage doorway and begged to be allowed to come in early.
One little boy caught our attention. “Can small-small children please come in?”
he called out. We told him we’re sorry but small-small children would have to
wait just a little longer. He sat on the ground to watch as we kept working. Ten
minutes later, his hopeful little voice came again. “Can small-small children
come in now?” “Yes,” we smiled even though the floor was still wet, “smallsmall children can come in now.” A huge grin lit up his dust-streaked face as
he jumped up excitedly to grab his friend. “Hey!” we heard him say, “Jesus said
we can come in now!”
I never want to forget that. I never want to forget what a responsibility and
privilege it is to be the hands and feet of Christ. I never want to forget that
sometimes I may be the only picture of Jesus someone has seen in their lifetime.
Another experience was about a month after we left and we found out one
of our children drowned during a water festival. I remember thinking, “A few
months ago, this wouldn’t have mattered.” I wouldn’t have heard about it, and
even if I had, I wouldn’t have known him. He might have been a picture, but
definitely not a child I saw riding an oversized yellow bike through the slum
streets every day. He might have been a face, but not a soul I prayed for. He
might have moved me to pity, but not to compassion. But he wasn’t just a
picture or a face. He was Panya, an espresso-skinned boy with one eye that
drooped and a tendency to laugh. I’m not sure what made me think life would
freeze for my Cambodian kiddos, that they would stay the same after I left, but
this was a harsh awakening. What do I do when I hear the news of death taking
someone so young and my head is on the pillow but my heart is wide awake on
the other side of the world? I felt intense sadness at first, but then I was struck
with the realization that there shouldn’t be sadness in this precious life getting
to see Jesus before I do. Where is the tragedy in trading a slum world for a
heavenly one? What are dirt roads and tile floors compared to golden streets
and the presence of a Father he never had? What is the love of a twenty-two-
year-old missionary from America next to the love of God? Out of a little boy’s
death, my perspective shifted from mourning a life on earth to longing for my
own slum world goodbye.
I never want to forget what a
responsibility and privilege it is to be the
hands and feet of Christ.
5. What is your desire for the young women in this generation?
I have a desire for the young women to radiate purity in their everyday lives.
Godly femininity is a high calling and the fact that I am a Christian should make
me a radically different kind of woman. There is a tendency to accept a high
standard in certain areas while drastically neglecting others. The desire to be
like Christ must be all-consuming, in every way possible cultivating purity and
blamelessness in body, soul, and mind. If only the knowledge of the Holy would
press on us so deeply that we would fall on our faces more often than we fall
to temptation. There is a huge need for discipleship, the older girls teaching
the younger, and taking them not to a place of human dependence for their
spiritual success, but to the rock-solid Truth of Jesus Christ and love of His
Word. I want to see triumphant femininity, untainted by worldly influence and
rooted in the radiant confidence that comes from knowing who God is.
6. Since your recent marriage, what has the Lord taught you about setapart femininity in specific regard to being a wife?
I loved my time of engagement. Eight months can be a long time to anticipate
marriage, but it can also be a wonderful time set aside to prepare your heart
for more than just the wedding day. During this time of planning and waiting,
I sensed the Lord wanted it to be an Esther season. More than dreaming
up a beautiful day with a meaningful ceremony and blog-worthy details, He
wanted me to seek out what it meant to actually be a wife. And not just any
kind of wife, but one that follows His pattern and intent. What does it look
like to go from being single to entering a lifelong commitment? What does
it mean to become a man’s helpmeet? What sacrifices will be necessary?
I loved the opportunity to read good books, have intentional conversations
with wise older women, study Scripture, and seek the Lord’s wisdom through
prayer. My wedding day came and went, and it was one of the most splendid
days of my life, but more than anything I was excited to begin life as a wife.
There are so many expectations the world puts on marriage. It assumes
that the romance dies off around the time babies come along, that vision
decreases instead of increasing, that the man gets consumed in his job
while the woman becomes frustrated with the restrictions of motherhood,
and that they might eventually retire to a sunny place in Florida with no
goals bigger than themselves. The world also expects it to be a rarity that
wives would hold their husbands in highest respect. Within their womanly
circles, they feel free to share every intimate secret and personal frustration
in their marriage. Lately, I’ve been meditating on Proverbs 14:1: “Every wise
woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands”
(KJV). A foolish woman, I realized, does not just let her house decay and
eventually collapse from neglect. She is intentional about tearing it down
with her words, actions, attitudes, and responses. Likewise, a wise woman
does not just happen to have a godly house erected around her head as she
goes about her days. A home of vision, peace, joy, purity, and love doesn’t
just go up automatically. She is intentional about building it with her words,
actions, attitudes, and responses. As a Jesus-loving woman who wants to
be set-apart in my marriage, I want Him to constantly be training me in the
truth of His Word and the ways He wants me to build my marriage and honor
my husband. I must be purposeful in respecting my husband, both in private
and public. I must seek his best above my own, trust his spiritual leadership,
cultivate an atmosphere of peace for him to enjoy in our home, and support
him in prayer and encouragement. What matters is not the standard set by
other women, but the standard set by the Lord and His expectations for our
marriage.
1. What is your advice to young women who greatly desire marriage,
but find themselves in a season of waiting?
We’ve heard it before: marriage is the greatest opportunity for selflessness.
But why wait until marriage to practice selfless living? Why not take your gift of
singleness – so easily manipulated into a self-absorbed, “me-first” mentality
– and use it as an incredible opportunity to allow God to build unselfishness
and servanthood in you right now? The world practically begs you to spend
time, money, energy, and creativity for the benefit of yourself. Consider the
refreshing perspective of Elisabeth Elliot: “This job has been given to me to
do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I
may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here,
not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God
looks for faithfulness.” As an unmarried woman, don’t let the offering of your
singleness be wasted in self-promoting interests and pursuits. Turn it into a
glad sacrifice. You’re not laying down your life for a husband right now, but
who can you lay it down for daily? Your family? Your church body? Pray that
the Lord will fill you with His joy, His purposes, and His love for others. Develop
skills that will bless other people. If you live at home, find ways to relieve your
mother’s responsibilities around the house. Cook a meal and take it to that
mom in your church who has her hands full with three kiddos four and under.
Initiate a discipleship group with a younger group of girls. Spend time overseas
to broaden your vision. Go visit the older woman in the nursing home who
doesn’t get many visitors. Write that note of encouragement. Don’t look at
the waiting like it’s preparation for a future of marriage so much as it’s simply
walking in faithfulness to your Jesus. Single or married, it’s always first and
foremost about Him, His Gospel, and His glory. To be faithful in little is to be
faithful in much. His reward may not always include marriage, but it will be
Himself, and that is a reward that will never disappoint. ]
Single or married, it’s always first
and foremost about Him, His
Gospel, and His glory.
A few of Ervina’s favorite things:
holding my husband’s hand, walks down country
roads on summer evenings, the book of Isaiah,
cuddly babies, the frugal beauty of thrift stores,
quiet corners at coffee shops, my sisterhood,
rainy days when husband stays home, our little
house in the city, a plane ticket to anywhere,
my blonde-haired nieces, earl grey tea
with milk and sugar
Romance
CHRISTIAN
?
NOVELS:
Friend or Foe?
by Tessa Thompson
sa
style
W
hile strolling through any typical
bookstore, the Romance section is
a pretty obvious place to avoid – the
uncomfortably steamy cover illustrations
alone are enough to cause innocent
eyes to stumble. However, the Romance
section at a professed Christian bookstore
paints a different picture. The beautiful
women bracing the front covers are
dressed quite modestly, appearing rather
pure and innocent. You can even read
the back cover descriptions without your
imagination going somewhere it should
not. These descriptions promise a story
that will “inspire faith, love, and life,“ and
usually involve the lovely lady on the front
cover, some sort of life dilemma or sudden
calamity, and a handsome “man of faith”
who helps her figure everything out – oh,
and tenderly falls in love with her along
the way.
sa
style
In comparison to the scenarios and content
found in an abounding supply of crude
romantic comedies and sensual novels,
these “Christian love stories” appear to
be absolutely harmless, the wholesome
and upright choice for hopeless romantics
who love an engaging plot with charming
characters. After all, they do not contain
profanity, they usually talk about biblical
themes, and they inspire us to see God’s
hand upon our own life stories.
WHAT,
THEN, ARE THE
GROUNDS FOR
QUESTIONING?
At the beginning of his epistle to the
Philippian church, Paul writes, “And this
I pray, that your love may abound still
more and more in knowledge and all
discernment, that you may approve the
things that are excellent…” (Phil. 1:9-10).
Paul’s great desire for the Philippians was
that they would be a people who were
able to discern correctly between things
that were “excellent” and things that
were not, and as a result, live as true and
faithful examples of Jesus Christ. Without
this careful judgment, they would easily
end up entangled by things that didn’t
necessarily appear harmful, but would
nonetheless deceitfully lead them into sin
and keep them from a life abounding with
fruit for the glory of God.
A few years ago, I went through a season
in which God more deeply revealed to
me what a set-apart life really looks like.
I soon realized how far I was from truly
having separated myself from the world in
order to follow hard after Him. God gently
showed me that in my quest for innocent
downtime I was giving mindless hours to
books, magazines, and movies that did
not bring me any closer to Him, and only
caused my mind to be fixed on earthly
things rather than heavenly things.
I may have had higher standards than
most Christians when it came to how I
used my time and what I put into my mind,
but I had failed to recognize what things
were “excellent,” and what things were
not. Though I wasn’t watching R-rated
horror movies or spending entire Saturday
afternoons watching reality TV reruns, I
was giving hours to amusements that,
although seemingly innocent and a cut
above the rest, did not help to develop
the lily-white purity I so desired my life to
exhibit, or press me on in a fervent pursuit
to know and love the Lord.
...I HAD FAILED
TO RECOGNIZE
WHAT
THINGS WERE
“EXCELLENT”...
Unfortunately, it seems that the majority of
us as Christians are more concerned about
finding ways to enjoy the same modes of
leisure and relaxation as the world than
we are with carefully distinguishing what
pursuits and interests – including Christian
romance novels – steer our gaze even
slightly away from Christ, distort Truth, or
distract us from living the poured-out life
romance novels – steer our gaze even
slightly away from Christ, distort Truth,
or distract us from living the poured-out
life He has called us to. There is nothing
wrong in and of itself with a fiction love
story; however, if we are not careful, we
can all too easily become engulfed in a
pursuit that causes us to run the race with
a mediocre stroll rather than a resolute
bolt to the finish line.
While Scripture doesn’t specifically
address romance novels, it does give us
everything we need to carefully weigh
their value and make a Christ-honoring
decision as to what role they should have
in our lives. Let’s consider a few different
points in the matter:
Thinking on Things Above
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind
on things above, not on things on the
earth.” When our thoughts are constantly
occupied with the intriguing lives of the
characters we’re reading about, it is quite
difficult to fix our mind upon heavenly
things at the same time. How can we be in
tune to God’s agenda throughout the day,
pray without ceasing, or simply meditate
on His faithfulness if we’re daydreaming
about how the main character might fall
for the handsome hero?
...WE CAN ALL
TOO EASILY
BECOME
ENGULFED
IN A PURSUIT
THAT CAUSES
US TO RUN THE
RACE WITH
A MEDIOCRE
STROLL
RATHER THAN
A RESOLUTE
BOLT TO THE
FINISH LINE.
Taking in Strong Meat
While most Christian romance novels
attempt to carry some sort of spiritual
essence, let’s admit it – they do not
exercise the brain in the same way a C.S.
Lewis book does. We are instructed in 2
Peter 1:5 to “add to…faith virtue; and to
sa
style
virtue knowledge.” While the end goal of
Christianity is not to become a scholar,
we should constantly be growing in our
understanding of spiritual truths. Reading
novels may be easier on the brain, but if
we avoid books of more substantial Truth,
we hinder ourselves from maturing into
daughters of the King who are able to
digest the “strong meat” of Scripture (see
Heb. 5:12-14), apply it to our lives, and
impart it to others.
Discerning Sound Doctrine
One of the most important reasons for
growing in understanding of spiritual truths
is so we can recognize that which is not
Truth. Paul instructs Timothy to “hold fast
the pattern of sound words which you have
heard from me” (2 Tim. 1:13). If we do not
have a firm grasp on Scripture, we will not
be able to recognize the subtle lies a story
may be teaching; without even realizing it,
these half-truths will soon begin to shape
our beliefs and lifestyles.
For example, many of the romances in
Christian novels are instigated by nothing
more than fleshly whims and desires rather
than the Spirit of God. Unless we have a
solid understanding of the sinful flesh and
its necessary death in the Christian life, or
a familiarity with what the Bible says about
purity, we will start to have many unbiblical
ideals as to what a godly romance looks
like. Just because that beautiful woman
on the front cover goes to church every
Sunday, it does not necessarily mean she
has wholly surrendered to God and is
allowing Him to script her love story.
Not Stirring Up Love
Song of Songs 2:7 says, “...Do not stir
up nor awaken love until it pleases.” As
females with a strong capacity to feel,
it is easy for us to “stir up love” (or the
desire for it) when we get wrapped up in
a dramatic tale of heartbreak, love, and
heroism. We don’t just observe the stories
– we enter into them, relate ourselves to
the characters, and allow our emotions to
run free. As a result, continually reading
one enchanting love story after another
can quickly cause us to become obsessed
with our own God-written romances,
breeding self-pity and discontent with the
fact that a man like the one in the story
has yet to sweep us off our feet, or cause
us to start imagining ways that perhaps
God could start a similar romance in our
own lives.
WE DON’T JUST
OBSERVE THE
STORIES - WE
ENTER INTO
THEM...
There is a quote by Amy Carmichael that
has been a great challenge to my soul when
it has come to making decisions about the
practical side of the set-apart life. In her
book God’s Missionary she says,
“It is not that He forbids us this or that
indulgence or comfort of our life; it is not
that He is stern, making upon us the call of
the ascetic: but it is that we who love our
Lord, and we whose affections are set on
the things that are in Heaven, voluntarily
and gladly lay aside the things that charm
and ravish the world, that, for our part, our
hearts may be ravished with the things of
Heaven, and that our whole being may be
poured forth in constant and unreserved
devotion in the service of the Lord who
died to save us.”
If we are taking forward steps down the
narrow path with a sincere desire to be
wholly devoted to our Lord, and a soft
yielded-ness to the gentle whispers of
His Spirit, He faithfully continues to point
things out to us that steal our affections,
or keep us from being true reflections of
Christ to the world around us. If this is a
specific area in your life you sense the
Lord putting His finger on, take some time
to honestly examine your motives, and
how it may be affecting the state of your
heart and mind.
While the world seeks to find its
entertainment and thrill from the fictitious
stories in books and movies, we are
ravished by the real-life, thrilling adventure
of a life spent with and for Christ. While
the world seeks downtime and mindless
escapes in order to relax, we seek the
strength and wisdom of Christ, and find
great joy in using our brains to pursue a
greater understanding of Him. While the
world spends countless hours dwelling
upon their own love story and daydreaming
about the perfect romance, we have the
confidence to surrender our love stories
to the Lord, and go on pouring out for His
kingdom in patience and trust.
...that I may gain
and be
found in Him.
Christ
...WE ARE
RAVISHED BY
THE REAL-LIFE,
THRILLING
ADVENTURE OF
A LIFE SPENT
WITH AND FOR
CHRIST.
Later on in his epistle, Paul makes it clear
to the Philippians what his sole aim in
life is: “…that I may gain Christ and be
found in Him…that I may know Him, and
the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:810). Whatever did not press him closer
to that goal, whatever did not prove itself
“excellent” for the purpose of becoming
more and more like his Savior, Paul counted
as unworthy of his time and energy. Dear
sisters, may this be our same goal each
moment, and may we discern with humble
honesty anything that may be keeping us
from it. ]
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connected
with us
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& our
mailing list
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Leslie’s Blog!
Marriage
&
mamahood
Moments from my life.
MAMAHOOD: Waking Up with a Heavenly Attitude
Have you ever heard that old saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”? I used
to laugh at this quirky phrase, but now that I’m a mother, I’ve found that it has a lot of
truth to it! I have learned that my attitude affects the spirit and atmosphere of my home,
husband, and children in a dramatic way. If I am tense, stressed-out, and frazzled, then
the entire household seems to follow suit. If I am peaceful, joyful, and constant of soul,
then our home feels peaceful as well – even if things are a mess and the kids are acting
a bit wild...
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sa
motherhood
SAYING “YES” TO THE
INCONVENIENT
Joyfully yeilding to God’s agenda
by Leslie Ludy
sa
motherhood
It started with a casual email.
Just a few friendly exchanges back and
forth between myself and a young woman
– a missionary to Haiti – who runs a rescue
mission for abandoned babies. I wanted
to interview her for setapartgirl; to find
out more about her story and her work so
that our readers could be inspired by her
testimony and sacrificially poured-out life.
But after the third or forth email exchange,
she sent me pictures of two tiny babies.
They were skinny, sickly, malnourished,
and in desperate need of a family to take
them in. She wrote, “God has put it on my
heart to ask you this...will you prayerfully
consider adopting these twins?” Suddenly
this was no longer about an interview for
setapartgirl. God was speaking to my
spirit as I stared at the photos of the two
little lives that had been thrown away and
left to die on the filthy streets of Haiti.
Completely out of the blue and at a very
inconvenient time of life, God was showing
me not just one little baby, but two, who
needed a godly, loving home.
For about five years, life with the Ludy
children had been a roller coaster of
intensity, with four children coming along
one right on top of the other, and coinciding
with the launch of Ellerslie, our discipleship
training school in Colorado – one of the
most challenging ministry ventures we’ve
ever undertaken. And now things were
finally starting to settle a bit, getting a little
more sane and predictable. My three-yearolds were finally potty trained! Our diaper
days were gone! Our ministry and family
life had been busy, full, and demanding for
years. And early last year, we were finally
Will you adopt them?
at a point where we felt
we could come up for air.
But then those pictures
came across my inbox;
and the question, “Will
you adopt them?” And
though my flesh was
balking and protesting,
my heart already knew
the answer.
Eric and I had been praying for several
months that if and when God ever wanted
us to adopt again, He would show us the
specific children that we were to take in.
We didn’t feel led to apply at an adoption
agency and be put on a waiting list. We
weren’t even sure that God had more
children for our family, but we wanted to
make ourselves open and available to
whatever He had in store. An email with
specific children, specific stories, and a
specific adoption request was certainly
about as clear of an answer we ever could
have asked for!
Still, we had to wrestle through the
inconvenience of the whole situation. Two
babies, fragile, sick, and needy, added to
a family already brimming over with small,
loud, and demanding kiddos seemed a
little...daunting. I mean, how much more
noise could the Ludy parents handle? Our
neighbors already thought that we ran a
daycare center because of our odd mix of
little kid dynamics. (For about two years,
we pushed two double-strollers down the
street whenever we took a walk. I don’t
really blame them for wondering.) What
will they think if we took in two more? How
will all the car seats fit into our car? Can
our washing machine handle all the extra
loads of laundry? (We are already working
it to its max each day!) Will we ever get
a full night’s sleep again? Can we really
afford all the expenses of six children? Will
it hinder our ministry?
God’s answer to all these petty concerns
was clear and unmistakable. All we had to
do was open our Bibles to see His heart
on the matter:
“Whoever receives one little child like
this in My name receives Me”
(Matt. 18:5).
“Is this not the fast I have chosen...
to share your bread with the hungry,
and that you bring to your house the
poor who are cast out?”
(Is. 58:6-7).
“God sets the solitary in families…”
(Psalm 68:6).
It didn’t take us along to realize that to say
“yes” to this inconvenient task was to say
“yes” to the King of kings. To receive these
little ones was to receive more of Jesus
Christ into our home. To touch them was
to touch the very heart of God.
It was certainly not convenient for Jesus
to leave His heavenly throne and sacrifice
His life to rescue us. There was nothing
comfortable or easy about it. Yet, He
willingly gave all He had to give. And once
again He was challenging us with the
question – Would we not give all we had to
Him in return? Suddenly, we could see it
clearly. What a privilege and honor to say
“yes” to the inconvenient; and in so doing,
say “yes” to our Lord and Savior!
So, here we are, building more rooms in
our home, stocking up on baby supplies,
getting ready for another couple years
of diapers, and preparing for the honor
and blessing of receiving two little gifts
from heaven into our home. Each diaper
change, each sleepless night, each loud
and demanding cry, each inconvenient
moment, will be an opportunity to bless
the heart of God – if only we are willing to
say “yes” to Him, not just once, not just
twice, but every moment for the rest of our
lives. May we joyfully respond to such a
privilege! ]
sa
motherhood
What a privilege and honor to say
“YES” to the inconvenient...
TO TOUCH THEM WAS TO
TOUCH THE VERY HEART
OF GOD.
THE HEART
T OF GOD.
given photography
o
d
d
Ki
.
t
o
p
S
FEATURING:
f
f
u
t
s
e
cut
the
ludy kiddos are
SAYING
& DOING
HUDSON, age 8
HARPER, age 6
Hudson and his siblings just started
school at Ellerslie Prep Academy! He is
the only one out of the Ludy kids who is
in the “big-kid” classroom – everyone
else is still in the “learning how to read”
little kid classroom. Hudson came up
with a plan to help graduate Harper,
Kip, and Avy to the big-kid classroom
as soon as possible. He invented a
reading program called “ABC, 123”
and illustrated it with all kinds of funny
characters. He told me, “This will
speed things up in teaching them how
to read – their teachers at school are
taking too long!”
She just had her very first ballet recital!
It was quite possibly one of the most
adorable things I’ve ever seen, and I
honestly don’t think it’s just because
I’m her mom! I had never really
observed her ballet class, so I wasn’t
quite sure what to expect. With a
bunch of four- and five-year-olds, I
kind of thought they would all just get
up there and do “freestyle.” However,
they had some cute choreography
and Harper actually knew all of the
moves. Her favorite was the “penguin
turn” where you flare your hands out
and spin around – she was quite
nervous to be on stage, but once she
finally did it, she was beaming with joy.
AVY, age 3
This has been a very big season – she
moved out of her crib and got her first
big-girl bed. Now we have the challenge
of keeping her in it. When I put her down
for a nap she always asks, “Are you going
to come back in and check on me?”
which is a sure sign that she’s plotting
some kind of nap-time escapade. She
also got her very first big-girl bike! It
looks a lot like my old bike – a white
basket with a pink flower, and purple
streamers on the handles. She cruises
around the driveway on that thing with
a huge grin plastered on her face – she
couldn’t be more excited.
KIP, age 4
I was changing his shirt and he said,
“Mommy, do you want to push my belly
button?” I said, “Sure!” and pretended
I was pushing it like a button on an
electronic toy. After I had pushed it
two or three times, he said, “Don’t
push it over and over again. Do you
know why?” I said, “No, why?” And he
answered, “Because if you do, it will run
out of battery!” What a funny little guy!
@
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THE NUCLEAR “ARK” OF PRAYER
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith
and do not doubt...if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into
the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you
will receive.”
- Matthew 21:21-22
Doubt is a prayer killer. Just as selfishness disables the effectiveness of prayer,
so does unbelief. Jesus says, “Do not doubt.” In other words, our faith must
be unwavering, stouthearted, persistent, and immovable. It cannot be a hybrid
of doubt and faith. It must be the pure-strain, the bold and daring request of
the God-confident. The promises of prayer are extraordinary, but for prayer to
work as God promises it to work, it must be purged of self and doubt.
When David took the throne of Israel, one of the first things he ventured to do
was bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Certainly this plan pleased
God’s heart. But God had prescribed a means of transporting the Ark...
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OUR TEAM RECOMMENDS:
CLASSIC SERMONS
With the beginning of a new year, we thought you might enjoy a fresh take on
the Staff Recommendations page. In the months to come, we will be sharing
with you several powerful sermons that have greatly impacted our walks with
the Lord. Our hope is that you will prayerfully read or listen to these messages
with soft hearts and open ears, and that God will use them to grant you deeper
revelations of Truth, increase your love for Him, and further conform you to the
image of Christ! Happy reading (and listening)!
Marlene recommends:
SONGS IN THE NIGHT
by Charles Spurgeon
FOR THE TRANSCRIPT, CLICK HERE
Night. We have all met him. When trials and troubles switch off our light and the shadows
of doubt mock us in the frightful silence. When our minds are just one mute question mark.
But in the pitch-black darkness a wonderful star is brightly shining. Wow, Spurgeon found
such a sparkling diamond in God’s Word! He lighted on Job 35:10, where it says that in
the night – yes, in our nights – God, our Maker, gives us songs. Songs? Who can sing in
the night? What is there to sing about in the night? That’s what Spurgeon asked also, and
he answers these questions in this sermon. We can sing in the night, for God gives us the
songs. And in His goodness, He ordered that a night will always be in between two days.
The sun will shine again. That is His promise. And that is life’s most beautiful refrain.
Lauren recommends:
TEN SHEKELS AND A SHIRT
by Paris Reidhead
FOR THE AUDIO, CLICK HERE
FOR THE TRANSCRIPT, CLICK HERE
I remember being gripped by this sermon during my year of Advanced Training at Ellerslie.
As my class finished listening to the message, many of us were on our knees in greater
realization of our need for humility and consecration. The Truth in this sermon resonated
with me because it gave articulation to the cry of Christ’s worthiness that had begun to
form within me. As Paris Reidhead explains, if our sole motivation for coming to Jesus
is our happiness and comfort, then we are actually participating in humanism, which is
abominable to Him. When we truly catch a glimpse of the incredible worthiness of Christ,
we will come to Him in love and obedience, embracing His cross with gratitude. My prayer
is that this fiery sermon will leaving you crying out with the Christ-consumed Moravian
missionaries, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”
“Do not be lazy. Run each day’s
race with all your might, so that at
the end you will receive the victory
wreath from God. Keep on running
even when you have had a fall. The
victory wreath is won by him who
does not stay down, but always
gets up again, grasps the banner
of faith and keeps on running in the
assurance that Jesus is Victor.”
– Basilea Schlink
inthenextissue
THERE’S THIS GUY
Leslie begins a new series on relationships!
NORMAL CHRISTIANITY
gain a fresh vision for your high calling in Christ
INSPIRING TRUE BEAUTY
practical ideas for cultivating Christ-like radiance