I just finished reading the book, "Bless God and Take Courage, The Judson History and Legacy" by Rosalie Hall Hunt. What an inspiring and empowering story of our first Baptist missionaries. Although we always seem to focus on Adoniram Judson, after reading this book it is quite clear the important role Ann, Sarah and Emily (the 3 wives of Adoniram Judson) had in brining Christianity to Burma. All different but all had a strong faith and were willing to use the gifts that God had given each of them. They were all Women, Destined for God's Purpose......
These are the women whose shoulders we stand upon. We need to share their story, sing their song so that their legacy will not be forgotten. They were women of discipline and determination who suffered loss, endured hardships and yet had joy in their hearts to share the love of God with the Burmese people.
What can we learn from them? As Women Destined for God'sPurpose they followed their heart and their faith and it was their faith that sustained them through the good and the bad. "Bless God and Take Courage". As we follow the pathways that God leads us on our faith journey, we need to remember to Bless God along the way for good and the bad and to Take Courage as we step out in faith to new opportunities and new challenges. The pathway we take may not be the way we envision or their may be detours along the way but as I have learned, it is a part of the journey. It is not always easy to remember to "Take Courage" when we are in the midst of a detour or land in a pothole but that is when God surrounds us with his loving arms to guide us on our way.
So, as we step out tomorrow, another day on our journey as Christian women, let us remember our sisters Ann Hasseltine, Sarah Boardman and Emily Chubbuck who left us a legacy of determination and faith and they traveled the pathway to being Women, Destined for God's Purpose.
Until we connect again, Bless God and Take Courage
Barbara
Barbara, I was similarly impressed when I read this book right after being elected to national office. I also read "To the Golden Shore". I was filled with pride in our heritage and challenged to live up to it. I've written a Christmas season program for the program guide based upon the three Judson wives. I think it will be in the 2011 material.
ReplyDeleteI read the book last summer and THOROUGHLY enjoyed it! I've passed it on, and others have said the same as well. This book is a MUST for all women and I think would make great Bible study material. It is definitely inspiring!
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