Elisabeth Elliot -- A Woman to be Admired

Ok, so I must tell you that Elisabeth Elliot is one of my heroes. I love her book Passion and Purity where she shares her commitment to stay pure and holy in her relationship with Jim, who later became her husband. What intrigues me the most about her is her resilience. She has faced incredible hardships and yet continues to praise the Lord. When Jim was killed by the Auca Indians, she stayed to minister to the very people who murdered her husband. (They were missionaries in Ecuador and she stayed there with her young daughter after her husband was killed). What love! You can read her story in Through the Gates of Splendor and you can watch the movie, End of the Spear (if you watch the movie, keep the tissues handy).

Several years ago, she spoke at our church and I was blessed with the opportunity to meet her and to have lunch with her and her husband Lars. This was a day I’ll never forget! She is a remarkable woman who exudes humility and grace. I have always been amazed by her testimony but since Michael died, I feel like I relate to her on a totally different level. Knowing her story gave me the courage to continue serving Christ when playing it safe would have been much easier. She is a woman who pursues holiness and inspires others to do likewise. She is a real She-ra in my eyes (see previous post)!

Princess of Power

When I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up and be just like She-Ra (princess of power!). For those of you who are wondering about this wonderwoman, she was He-man’s twin sister and she was awesome! Not only was she beautiful, but she could whip any nasty villain that came her way! To catch a glimpse of She-Ra's power, click here.

As I grew up, what I looked for in a hero changed. No longer did I just want to conquer the bad guys (even though I still abhor injustice), but I wanted to fight against evil on a grander scale.

As I grew in my relationship with Christ, I learned who our enemy really is. Satan is much more deadly than Skeletor ever thought about being. The Bible describes him as a lion seeking to devour us. He came to steal, to kill, and to destroy us. I have to battle him daily as he tries to influence my thoughts, my attitudes, and my actions.

I now need a hero that knows how to put on the spiritual armor daily in order to fight the good fight. I need someone who doesn’t just throw darts at the “bad guys” but who battles the evil within. I want to be a true princess of power! Just as She-Ra had her sword, we have ours. My heroes are people who carry this sword wherever they go, whether physically or mentally – and they know how to use it!

Ok, now that you are wondering who I’m talking about, suffice it to say that I will tell you about my heroes in the next blog. For now, I am curious to hear from you. Who are your heroes and why?

Need Encouragement?

In a previous post, I discussed how depression can be one of three things: a result of sin, the consequence of circumstances, or a symptom of a medical condition. The treatment depends on the root cause of the depression. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to treating depression. I have met many people over the years that battle depression on an on-going basis. I was thrilled when a friend shared with me how she had been delivered from depression and how she was using her past sufferings to encourage others. I asked her to write a guest post sharing what God is doing through her today. Here are her words:

We all have a story. My story is about depression. To the point of self destruction. I knew God was with me. But I didn't trust him completely. Then I realized the devil was telling me lies. Little by little God showed me how to come out of depression his way. Although I can't guarantee anything, I just know, God did it for me and I know he can for you too. Since then, I have started this ministry, Texting people every day. Giving them Words of encouragement and how to do the same thing I did. You can email me at srothell@internetemc.net, and I will add you to my list.

Sherry Rothell

Even if you don’t struggle with depression, but you could use a little encouragement in your life, Sherry’s texts can be the nuggets you need to give you hope for the day. I praise God for the way He is using her texting ministry to encourage others.