1 Million Arrows

I finished reading, "One Million Arrows" by Julie Ferwerda on our vacation. I feel like God is definitely weaving a theme through my life right now and the life of our family. Each book I read kind of correlates with the one before, but adds to it. I wanted to share two parts that I found particularly applicable:

p. 111: "No matter how you slice it, being an arrow, shaping arrows, or sending arrows is costly for everyone involved. For Papa and other arrow shapers, the cost is steep: They give up daily lives, earthly ambitions, material comforts, and in countries like Papa's where Christians are persecuted, sometimes it costs their very lives. But the sacrifice required for the sake of the mission is really the same for you and me as it is for them. It's a total letting go of our worldly ambitions and selfish interest, exchanging them for new goals and priorities. It's placing all our hopes and dreams on the altar next to Isaac, waiting for God to resurrect them into something far beyond our wildest dreams.........So then it is day-by-day devotion, giving up of pride, convenience, popularity, laziness, materialism, and indifference. It's making all our God-given resources--all we have and all we are-mobilized and ready to be used for the mission. It is dying to self. (emphasis mine)

One other particular statement that "stuck" for me is: (p.145) I have lived as if the world was God's gift to my children, instead of living like my children are God's gift to the world.

It's a lot to process. It's simple, but oh so difficult to do. I felt nudged to begin looking and sewing into ministries that are shaping arrows (children being ministered to physically, spiritually, emotionally etc. and they in turn continue living that lifestyle and fulfill "The Great Commission" for the next generation)in their own countries.

Two of my favorites right now are:
Katie @
www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com


Tom Davis with Children's Hope Chest

I hope I don't forget these things. I'm praying that God will show us ways that the kids and I can do things throughout the summer to serve others in our community/neighborhood....Now, I need your help. What simple volunteer things do you do with your kids? Please comment and leave us ideas.

Thanks so much!
With much love,