The Christian life - Pray specifically, work doggedly, venture willingly, love passionately

As has been our tradition during our three family missions in Costa Rica, we usually end our day with a reading of a chapter from a missionary biography.  This year, Vickie brought "Hudson Taylor."

We've done a night-time family devotional since Bradley was very little, and we've continued up to the present day.  During these years, I can't say that all the devotionals have been listened to intently.  Drowsiness, a late hour, a grumpy leader (me) :), and bad attitudes from time to time have diminished their effectiveness.  However, I can say that all our family members have enjoyed these missionary stories, and have gained inspiration for what we're doing with the life of our family.

In the three chapters we've read so far, Hudson Taylor has crossed the line of faith and become a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.  He has learned the importance of having a friend in ministry (his sister).  He has received his mission (inland China) through a consistent prayer life.  He has come to understand the difficulty of what he has been given (the Opium Wars has left the Chinese filled with hate against the "white barbarians" as they called the British.  He has begun to prepare himself for his mission by working passionately to a) learn Chinese, b) improve his physical fitness for the journey to China and the terrain in China, c) learn the Chinese culture by voraciously reading everything he could get his hands on, d) praying regularly for God to lead Him.

What can my family and I learn from Hudson Taylor?

1)  Amazing is defined as causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing. Our family is not amazing.  We are generally speaking, an average family. We must work doggedly to accomplish anything of value for the Lord.

2)  We are to be grateful for the opportunity to be involved in ministry with family.  To have partners in ministry is one thing, to be with family is a rich blessing.

3) We must understand that the world despises the Christian message.  This manifests itself in dismissal, denial, and sometimes, hate.  We must respond to dismissal, denial, and hate, with love, love, and love.

4) We must pray regularly for God's leading in Costa Rica and also back home in the United States.  God has a plan for our lives, but we must make ourselves ready to carry out that plan.

5) We must be fit, alert, and well-studied to accomplish what we need to in God's kingdom.  Laziness and ignorance only bring shame to the Lord.

Now, I pose the question to you?  What can you learn, not from me, but from Hudson Taylor?

Have a great week!  

(Here is a picture of my children having some agua de coco with a friend in a fruit and vegetable market in San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica.)