peace child and thoughts
I finished another book last night. “Peace Child” by Don Richardson. Basically it’s a narrative of when he and his wife Carol, along with their son Stephen, went to a small tribe in the Netherlands called the Sawi. The Sawi are cannibalistic headhunters that believe in the art of treachery. They have one saying that translates to mean, “to be fattened with friendship”. Despite the risk, Don and Carol immerse themselves with the Sawi. The whole first year is nothing but language study, as n one has ever translated their language. The determination and conviction of this couple is incredible. To be able to go as missionaries to a isolated place and not even be able to preach to them for a whole year shows the dedication they have to Christ and to the Sawi.
It’s truly an amazing story of God’s providence, grace, and mercy. When all hope seems lost of ever finding a way to relate the gospel message to this heathen child, God provides a way by what the Sawi call a “peace child”. A peace child is a child given from one tribe to the other as a peace offering, and as long as that child lives their will be peace. You can see where his analogy comes from.
Reading this book has only increased my desire to go over seas and impact the world. It has increased my desire to know and understand what God’s plan is for me. I can’t wait to just go. But I know I have to. God isn’t through shaping me yet. It would be foolish for me to rush what God is doing in my life right now to do what I want; I’d only mess things up. Something that I’ve been thinking about lately has been what Mr. Dan told me the other day, “you may or may not find yourself over seas. You have to accept what God is calling you to do in the moment and be obedient.” Then he asked me two other rhetorical questions. “Are you willing to die for Christ, but more importantly, are you willing to live for Christ. It’s almost easier to die for Him than live.” Thinking on those two questions, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s right. I could die for Christ. I would be honored to be martyred for my faith. Living day in and day out for Him, on the other hand, is much harder.
And then the other day I was reading in proverbs, I think, either chapter 3 or 4, and it was talking a lot about paths. “Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” and in proverbs4:25-27 it says “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only the ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; and keep your feet from evil.”
These to scriptures really speak to me. Of course I want my paths to be directed by the Lord, but there are things I must do. 1 trust in the lord with all my heart 2 lean not on my own understanding 3 acknowledge Him in all my ways. Basically it means to surrender everything. Harder said than done. But God is teaching me to.
One thing that stuck out to me on proverbs 4 is the word “firm”. When I hear firm I think of how God is our rock and how Jesus tells us to build our house on solid ground. To me it means our paths should be directed by the Lord. In psalms 37:23-24 it says “if the Lord delights in a mans ways, He makes his steps firm; though he stumbles he will not fall, for the Lord holds his hand.” It all ties together. It’s amazing when you think about it.
Then reading down I’m reminded that my “way’s are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all my paths.” (Psalms 5:21) It all goes back to trusting in the Lord to direct you because if He directs you, you’ll always be on the right path.
For me though I think what God is showing me the most is that I’m on a straight path right now. My path is that of growing and maturing and developing into what He is calling me to be. I can’t rush Him. Who knows, maybe around the next corner on the next straight away I’ll be on the field. But right now, I feel that God would have me focus on developing the gifts and talents he has given me. I feel that God wants me to really focus on Him; put all other things aside and focus on Him alone. It’s hard. With so many distractions and things competing for my attention, sometimes it becomes hard. But God is sufficient. He’s my source and sustenance. He’s my everything.
It’s truly an amazing story of God’s providence, grace, and mercy. When all hope seems lost of ever finding a way to relate the gospel message to this heathen child, God provides a way by what the Sawi call a “peace child”. A peace child is a child given from one tribe to the other as a peace offering, and as long as that child lives their will be peace. You can see where his analogy comes from.
Reading this book has only increased my desire to go over seas and impact the world. It has increased my desire to know and understand what God’s plan is for me. I can’t wait to just go. But I know I have to. God isn’t through shaping me yet. It would be foolish for me to rush what God is doing in my life right now to do what I want; I’d only mess things up. Something that I’ve been thinking about lately has been what Mr. Dan told me the other day, “you may or may not find yourself over seas. You have to accept what God is calling you to do in the moment and be obedient.” Then he asked me two other rhetorical questions. “Are you willing to die for Christ, but more importantly, are you willing to live for Christ. It’s almost easier to die for Him than live.” Thinking on those two questions, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s right. I could die for Christ. I would be honored to be martyred for my faith. Living day in and day out for Him, on the other hand, is much harder.
And then the other day I was reading in proverbs, I think, either chapter 3 or 4, and it was talking a lot about paths. “Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” and in proverbs4:25-27 it says “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only the ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; and keep your feet from evil.”
These to scriptures really speak to me. Of course I want my paths to be directed by the Lord, but there are things I must do. 1 trust in the lord with all my heart 2 lean not on my own understanding 3 acknowledge Him in all my ways. Basically it means to surrender everything. Harder said than done. But God is teaching me to.
One thing that stuck out to me on proverbs 4 is the word “firm”. When I hear firm I think of how God is our rock and how Jesus tells us to build our house on solid ground. To me it means our paths should be directed by the Lord. In psalms 37:23-24 it says “if the Lord delights in a mans ways, He makes his steps firm; though he stumbles he will not fall, for the Lord holds his hand.” It all ties together. It’s amazing when you think about it.
Then reading down I’m reminded that my “way’s are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all my paths.” (Psalms 5:21) It all goes back to trusting in the Lord to direct you because if He directs you, you’ll always be on the right path.
For me though I think what God is showing me the most is that I’m on a straight path right now. My path is that of growing and maturing and developing into what He is calling me to be. I can’t rush Him. Who knows, maybe around the next corner on the next straight away I’ll be on the field. But right now, I feel that God would have me focus on developing the gifts and talents he has given me. I feel that God wants me to really focus on Him; put all other things aside and focus on Him alone. It’s hard. With so many distractions and things competing for my attention, sometimes it becomes hard. But God is sufficient. He’s my source and sustenance. He’s my everything.
posted by JordanGautreau at 1:49:00 PM
1 Comments:
Jordan, I am so inspired by your post. You teach me more than you can ever imagine. I am proud to call you my son and can't wait to see what God has for you future. I'm reminde of 1Tim4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
I love you!
mom
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