Monthly Book Giveaway-- Abandoned to God: The Biography of Oswald Chambers

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I am beyond excited to announce this month's book giveaway. Oswald Chambers is a man whose writing and experience have helped to shape so many in their Christian walk and to encourage surrender to the Lord in every area of life. Chamber's devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, has been widely read and has touched the hearts and challenged the souls of countless believers. 

I "met" Oswald Chambers when I was about 16 years old. That was the time when the Lord more deeply awakened my heart to spiritual things -- to wanting a very close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, even though I had asked Him into my heart as a young child. 

I wanted to know the meaning of surrender -- what it meant to surrender everything to the Lord, to live a life consecrated to Him. 

So I asked my mom, who herself possessed a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, how to have a more intimate connection with the Savior.

She gave me a book -- a worn, dog-eared book -- her own copy of My Utmost for his Highest-Chamber's devotional. I treasure it still. I cannot begin to describe the impact that this book has had upon my life. I am forever indebted to my mom for that precious gift and counsel to read Chamber's words. And I am forever grateful to the Lord for leading me to Himself through this man's writings. 

I later read Chamber's biography, written by David McCasland. This is a tremendous book, providing the reader with a rich look into the life of a man given completely into the hands of His almighty Father. I know that it will be a blessing to any who read it. I could not help it -- I am also giving away a pocket copy of Chamber's devotional, (compiled by his wife, Biddy) My Utmost for His Highest, as a companion to Chamber's biography. The Lord has used this book so mightily in my own life, and it is a rich treasure of insight and encouragement towards a deeper walk with the Lord Jesus.

The following is taken from the back of Chamber's biography, Abandoned to God:

"Oswald Chambers was a man for all time. His mind was the mind of Christ and so his words are compelling because they  reflect the thoughts of our Savior. I am not the first to say that no book outside the Bible has influenced me as much as My Utmost for His Highest. In David McCasland's book we have, at last, the story of this remarkable man's life and how, having honored God, God is now honoring him with the only fame that really matters." Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist

"Whoever has read or heard about My Utmost for His Highest must buy and read this book from cover to cover. Your tears will flow, your heart will be moved, the Holy Spirit will speak a word of peace, and your Christian life will never be the same." Harold Lindsell, Editor Emeritus, Christianity Today

"So many millions of us have read his words, been deepened by his prayers, been brought before God by his writing. And now we get to know him. I had no idea what a magnificent life was present behind these marvelous words. Oswald Chambers' writing is validated in detail after detail by his life." Eugene H. Peterson, James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology, Regent College

"If you are one of those who know and love Oswald Chambers' famous book of devotional readings, My Utmost for His Highest--edited and published by his faithful widow, "Biddy" in the late 1920s--you will want to become intimately acquainted with this giant among Christian devotional writers.This new biography offers you that opportunity." D. James Kennedy, Senior Minister,  Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

"Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God is a magnificent description of how one man sought God and lived out that relationship in the realities of life. It will stimulate you heart to follow God more fully. For years I have used Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest. In this biography I see where that depth of input was born and developed." Jerry E. White, General Director, The Navigators

"My Utmost for His Highest has become an essential part of the process of maturity for countless Christians over many decades, but we have know little about this man of God whose life has meant so much to so many. I welcome David McCasland's contribution,which goes a long way toward showing everyone how contemporary Chambers' writing really are." James Engel, Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Research, and Strategy, Eastern College

And now, for the giveaway! :-) Enter below to win a copy of BOTH My Utmost for His Highest (Chambers's devotional) AND Abandoned to God (McCasland's biography):

a Rafflecopter giveaway You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday

Part 2: The Importance of Prayer

“I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put Him. We have kept Him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on Him in prayer, we wonder where He is. He is exactly where we left Him.”
--Ravi Zacharias

Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees." 
--Corrie ten Boom

Part 2: The Importance of Prayer

Beautiful Savior -- is He to me? 

Beautiful, saving, all-wonderful, all-powerful, all-perfect Friend and Lord? 

How important is it to me that I honor Him, that I commune with Him, that I am guided and directed by Him through the humble, reverent submission and trust of prayer? 

Do I bring Him my griefs and concerns, my frustrations and anxieties?

Do I ask Him for direction and grace and understanding in the ways that He would have me go? 

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:4-5

Do I talk to Him -- or merely about Him? 

Is He a real and present help in my day to day life? Do I share the closeness of fellowship with Him, or have I distanced myself from Him by being distracted by other things?

Is prayer, is fellowship with the Father, important to me?

It was to Jesus--

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. (Luke 6:12-16) 

His choosing of the twelve flowed from a night spent in prayer, His obedience to the cross-death was undergirded by it, His unbroken fellowship with the Father was the product of it, and an example to us--

Jesus prayed. 

Do we actively, determinedly seek times of prayer with our Father in heaven, or are we distracted by the cares of this life? 

Do we care -- or are we unconcerned about our lack of fellowship with Him? 

Do we set aside special, specific seasons of prayer, to ask for times of revival and refreshing in our spiritual lives? 

Do we truly bring our needs before Him and ask Him and depend upon Him to provide for us -- or do we always seek the help of others before His -- the help of friends, the government, a Google search that yields "answers" and advice? 

Whose help do we honestly seek? 

Is prayer important to us? 

Or is it a nice idea -- quietly placed on the shelf of our hearts next to our dusty Bible memorization? 

Is prayer, is the pursuit of God through prayer -- our breath and help and life? 

Or are we empty vessels through our own quiet refusal of His authority and direction in our lives? 

How, where do we even begin to make prayer a priority in our lives through the grace of His Spirit?

By praying. 

By yielding ourselves, our wills to Him morning by morning, as we walk through the day, as we drift off into the rest of sleep at night. 

By being open to Him -- through prayer -- through a quiet listening heart that lays aside its own ideas of what is good and right and true -- and listens to Him -- no matter the cost. 

When we hear Him speaking to our hearts to our spirits through prayer, calling us to wait, we wait--

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

Calling us to go forward in obedience and trust we obey--

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. (Exodus 14:15)

Calling us to yield, to submit to His will and authority, we yield. 


I delight to do Your will, O my God,And Your law is within my heart.”  (Psalm 40:8)

How important is prayer to us? 

It is important to the point that we desire His authority, His fellowship, His leading, His blessedness and peace in our lives. 

The importance that prayer takes in our day to day lives speaks volumes of what kind of relationship we have, we want to have with Him. 

If He is important to us, we will pray; we will talk to Him. 

And He will come in then and eat with us and the fellowship will be the breath and touch of sweetness itself. 

Part 3: Next blog post -- The Perseverance of Prayer

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday

When We Cannot Pray

"The best prayers often have more groans than words."
--John Bunyan

"In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without heart."
--John Bunyan

“When I cannot read, when I cannot think, when I cannot even pray, I can trust.”
--Hudson Taylor

It was night and everything black.

I had turned off the light, before I was married-turned off the light in my room--

And all was bleak and black and my father had left and times were difficult--

Intensely, frighteningly difficult.

And all was black.

I had been praying.

Pleading, pleading with God over an unanswered prayer--not related to our family's difficult times, but more keenly felt because of them. 

That night, I came to the place where I could not pray.

My words dried up like a barren well--

Every circumstance closing in around me --only darkness and the heavens brass and foreboding to me. 

I had prayed. I had prayed and cried and pleaded and wept and fasted. 

No answer came. 

And I lay down--utterly defeated, utterly spent--utterly discouraged--there in the darkness--

And I wept and I wept and I wept--

The kind of weeping that wholly consumes a person in sorrow, the kind of weeping that eats into the bones and flogs the spirit that is already broken. Rocking and weeping, utterly, utterly spent--

I heard a voice.

Barely audible to me, but there--

And I saw light, shining at the end of the hallway that connected my room with another's. 

My sister was praying--quietly, fervently, just audibly--

I could not hear her words, but I knew that she was praying for me. 

There in the darkness, my body quieted from the tense, awful, wordless desperation that gnawed into my anguished spirit. 

My tears came more hushed. I listened to her soft voice and settled into sleep as she prayed for me . . . 

For me. 

Very shortly afterward, the Lord answered my prayer--

Marvelously, miraculously. 

Moved His great hand and His willing heart, for me--and answered my prayer.  

My sister's action reminded me of a great truth--

We have an Advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ the Righteous,

He is praying for us. 

There are times when we do not have the strength to pray.

Our resources are exhausted, completely spent.

We come to Jesus only with groaning and sighs and tears and sorrow.

And we have an Advocate with the Father.  

He "shows His wounded hands of love" and pleads before the throne of grace.

We receive mercy.

And the Spirit helps--the Spirit Who lives and breathes and moves inside of us--translates our groanings to the Father of grace.

We receive grace. 

He prays for us. 

He loves us.

And answers in mercy. 

I believe that there are seasons in a believer's life--after we have pleaded and fasted and prayed and almost lost heart--that He allows us not even the privilege of words--

So that we realize our utter dependence upon Him. 

Then the Spirit takes up our plea-- and Jesus advocates for us before the throne of grace. 

An answer of love--

In His perfect time.

Our faith is strengthened--the ripened fruit of persevering prayer drops into our yielded, quiet hands with joy. 

Our petitions and pleadings and fastings the reaping and hoeing and preparing the soil.

Our tears watering and nourishing the plant that will bring forth fruit.

And at the end--quiet, surrendered joy--feeling the sun of His love on our backs as we eat the bounty of His faithfulness. 

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, SDG Gathering, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Every Day Jesus, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Blessing Counters Link Party, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Faith and  Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday

Part 1: The Place of Prayer

To desire revival…and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another. ~ A.W. Tozer

There is a place where thou canst touch the eyes

Of blinded men to instant, perfect sight;

There is a place where thou canst say, “Arise”

To dying captives, bound in chains of night;

There is a place where thou canst reach the store

Of hoarded gold and free it for the Lord;

There is a place–upon some distant shore–

Where thou canst send the worker and the Word.

Where is that secret place–dost thou ask, “Where?”

O soul, it is the secret place of prayer!
~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity…if we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."        
 ~ J. Hudson Taylor

Part 1: The Place of Prayer

source

Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

Psalm 2:8

Soaring bird, high above the jagged landscape -- dipping, dipping, catching the currents of wind, light reflecting from his feathers all-beautiful, the sunset dancing on his back. 

The bird is prayer and the wind is the Spirit moving, directing that prayer, the rays of truth and light and grace reflecting on its golden feathers. 

Thinking over these past days on the place of prayer . . .  

In my own life, in the life of the Church, as the breath of the body of His fellowship. 

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

So much emphasis these days upon study--studying God's Word, learning more, storing up facts--

And study of God's Word is important -- and has its place in the life of the Church--

Study has its legitimate place. 

But Jesus never said, "Study, that you do not enter into temptation . . . "

He said, Pray. 

There is power in believing, Spirit-filled prayer--

And the gates of hell cannot prevail against that all-consuming, never-tiring, eternal-reaching power. 

The power of prayer. 

Prayer -- what everything else flows from, what everything else must flow from, if there is to be any power attached to it. 

What evangelism flows from . . . 

What revival flows from . . . 

What personal holiness flows from . . . 

And study puts truth into our minds. 

But persevering, believing prayer gives that truth wings. 

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves, we have to honestly evaluate--would I rather study or pray?

Prayer is difficult. Prayer is the hard work of tilling the rugged soil and waiting for the rain of heaven to pour. 

Prayer is the Elijah-altar drenched and dripping until the fire of God falls to consume the sacrifice. 

Reading the biography of George Mueller has encouraged me and opened my eyes to the place of prayer in the believer's life. 

Mueller, a very intelligent, studied man spent hours on his knees -- and this is how he spent those hours--

With the Word of God spread open before him, praying through the Scriptures, quietly listening and meditating on the Word of God. 

Mueller believed that the Word would speak to him in any given situation -- in his sermon preparation, he would wait on his knees for the Lord to open the truth to him when he came across difficult passages. 

He was a man of prayer, a man who moved heaven through his humble obedience to the will and to the Word of God. 

And Heaven moved to hear him, a man upon his knees, a man who trusted God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

A man knitted to the Holy will . . . on his knees -- his mouth open wide that God alone might fill it. 

A.W. Tozer, another faithful, humble servant of God--

His power in preaching and writing is attributed not to his study (although he did that much) but to his prayer life. 

He was labeled at times as a recluse because he would withdraw for so long into his prayer closet.

When he arrived at his study, he would change into his "prayer trousers," a pair of worn pants dedicated to the time that he spent upon his knees -- He didn't want to ruin the suit that he needed to preach in. 

So these trousers became the testament to the hours that he spent in communion with his Father. 

Tozer loved and held a high regard for the "Mystics" because of their prayer life -- He collected their works and revered their devotion through prayer and meditation. 

D. Martyn LLoyd-Jones recalls a conversation that he had with Tozer in Snyder's In Pursuit of God: 

'Once', Martyn Lloyd-Jones recalled, 'Dr. Tozer and I shared a conference years ago, and I appreciated his ministry and his fellowship very much. One day he said to me: 'Lloyd-Jones, you and I hold just about the same position on spiritual matters, but we have come to this position by different routes.' 'How do you mean?' I asked. 'Well,' Tozer replied, 'you came by way of the Puritans and I came by way of the mystics.' And, you know,' said Lloyd-Jones, 'he was right.'

Tozer regarded study as a high pursuit, but revered the place of prayer, in his own life and in the life of the church. 

Tozer's biographer, James Snyder, further says of him, 

"Tozer's hunger for God led him to study the Christian mystics. Their know-ledge of God and absorbing love for Him profoundly attracted Tozer. They were spirits kindred to his own. 'These people know God, and I want to know what they know.' But at the same time, the Bible remained absolutely central."

Tozer was a man filled with the Spirit, in his personal life and in his preaching and writing because he realized the place of prayer and meditation and exercised the discipline and joy of it . . . 

source

I can become so caught up at times with studying the Word of God, with filling my mind with more and more facts, that I forget the place of prayer. 

Martin Luther, the great Reformer said, "Work, work, from morning until late at night.  In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer. "

Luther recognized the place of prayer in accomplishing any true good, in sowing any lasting fruit for the Lord. Because it is the Lord who works through us, through prayer, through His Spirit groaning and praying in and through us. 

Prayer. It has its place -- a place of prominence in the believer's life. For me to neglect it is to neglect communion with the One from whom all things flow. It is to distance myself from the Fountain, the Wellspring, the River of joy and delight. 

Study makes us dry without the accompanying grace of prayer. Prayer is the fire and the water and the breath, pouring life into our relationship with Christ, fueling heart-revival and empowering the saints.  

Part 2-- next blog post: The Importance of Prayer

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Yes They Are All Ours, Missional Call, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Messy Marriage, My Teacher's Name is Mama, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Saturday Soiree Blog Party, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Monday Link-Up, A Little R&R Wednesdays. TGI Saturdays Blog Hop. Totally Terrific Tuesday