How Nabeel Qureshi's Death Spoke to Me

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

Lately, the Christian world was saddened to hear of the passing of Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim-turned Christian apologist for RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries). He died of stomach cancer, leaving behind his wife and two-year-old daughter. He was only 34 years old--

34 years old--my age. 

The news of his death jolted me. In all honesty, I hadn't been following his story closely. But my sister kept bringing up his name for prayer in church and so I gradually became more aware of what was transpiring at the end of his battle with cancer. 

Recently I flew with my husband and our small daughter to California and sat on a crowded plane for 5 hours with people from all different walks of life and backgrounds. I was struck strongly on this trip of how very dark the world is without Christ--for one thing, I was not aware of how powerful the hold of all forms of media have become, strangling out human interaction and flesh and blood "realness." I watched men and women sitting on a plane for nearly five hours, completely immersed in their own worlds and completely distracted by various forms of electronic devices. And I realized how very lost humanity is without Christ, how very lost I would be without Christ. 

And we are a light to this dark world. Because we hold the light of truth.

Nabeel held that light; he was not ashamed of the Gospel.  

And his light burned brightly, only for a brief hour--but it burned. And many were changed through his powerful, bold, unceasing witness. 

He was only 34 years old. 

And we, and I am compelled to ask ourselves--am I holding His light? Is it burning brightly? Or am I so consumed and concerned and immersed in the comforts of my world, of my cozy Christian world, that I am failing to see and connect with the dying world around me on a deeper level than wearing a cheesy Christian t-shirt and eating at Chik-fil-A? 

It is so easy to become comfortable. 

Nabeel wasn't. 

And other dear, faithful saints come to my mind--men whose entire life was Christ and who died very young by this world's standards--David Brainerd (29), Oswald Chambers (43), Jim Elliot (28), and the list continues. 

They counted all things loss--to gain Christ. And their lives, although so very short have had an amazing impact upon the church and the world--and even being dead, their testimonies still speak. 

Do our lives speak Christ? Are they the aroma of life to some and of death to others? 

Are we burning brightly or just flickering in the shadows? 

For me to live is Christ . . . and to die is gain. 

Gain. 

Because there is a way of living that we gain the world and lose our eternal soul . . . 

Are we burning brightly? 

And so I thank the Lord Jesus for Nabeel's life, and with sadness, for his death--because his death has caused me to ponder my own life and it's devotion to the One who gave all for me. 

One is never too young--or to old--to give all for Christ. 

This world is passing away--

We hold the light--may it burn within our hearts and pierce the darkness of whatever sphere the Lord has placed us in. 

And may our lights shine. 

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Rich Faith Rising, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party, Fabulous Warm Heart Party, Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday Linkup, Writer Wednesday

A Romantic Giveaway!!!

Until the will and the affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not begun to understand, let alone accept, His Lordship. The Cross, as it enters the love life, will reveal the heart’s truth.

~Elisabeth Elliot

In the spirit of Valentine's Day and to close my blog series on Marriage, I am so excited to host . . . 

A Romantic Giveaway! 

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

This is something that I've been looking forward to for a long time 😊. I've been gathering together some resources and fun "romantic" items that I hope you'll enjoy and including them as part of the giveaway. Please feel free to share about this giveaway with your friends; let's "spread the love." (Haha; my attempt to joke :-)). 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💗

If you are new to this blog, or haven't read my Marriage Series blog posts and would like to, you can find them here--

Introduction HERE,
Part 1 HERE  
Part 2 HERE 
Part 3 HERE
Part 4 HERE
Part 5 HERE
Part 6 HERE

I hope and pray that this giveaway would bless someone and that the Lord Jesus would lead each of us into a deeper and deeper love for Him. 

Here's what it includes:

• A paperback copy of Ravi Zacharias' book I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah (this is a wonderful, encouraging book on this topic)
• The DVD, Old Fashioned  (you can read my review HERE) :-)
• A very lovely lace scarf (this reminded me of Anne of Green Gables :-)). 
• "I have loved you with an everlasting love" rose mug. 
• Beautiful rose and pearl earrings  (well, I think so!)

Please enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter form below; it is very easy to use. 

The Lord bless each one of you and cause the light of His great love to brighten your path. 

*Giveaway open to residents of the continental United States for shipping reasons. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party

When You Just Can't Do It

HE GOES BEFORE! Be this thy consolation!

He goes before! On this my heart would dwell!

He goes before! This guarantees salvation!

HE GOES BEFORE! And therefore all is well.

--J. Danson Smith (from Streams in the Desert)

I didn't think that I would be able to do it, and I was right. 

Coming here, to a tiny town in the Midwest, moving away from everyone, everything that I held dear--

I came here weeping. 

I didn't think that I would be able to do it -- to be without the constant loving interactions with my family members in my day-to-day life--

Moving away from the home that I had called home for 33 years -- the home that I have lived in all of my life -- first as a baby and a little girl, then with my husband and children -- We lived with my mom after we married. 

I didn't think that I could do it. 

And I left with the physical ties cut, bleeding -- it felt like a death--

The death of the things that I love most, cherish most, hold the most dear--

Beloved family, beloved friends, beloved New England, beloved memories. 

To come here where nothing was familiar. To come here where people do things differently -- where the buildings and the houses and the landscape are so different. Where everything is farther apart, where I can't find all the familiar things that I'm used to. 

I didn't think that I could do it--

Do what the Lord had called me to do -- years and years ago, pressing a burden on my heart to begin a ministry here with my husband. 

And before I left, my little daughter curled up beside me on blankets on our floor -- our bed was packed, ready to go -- I took comfort in the closeness of her little person beside me -- close to me -- and I held on to the promise that the Lord had given me months before. 

That His Presence would go with me. 

My brother-in-law pressed a notecard into my hand as we left -- a promise written in his beautiful calligraphy--

My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.

And I couldn't do it -- but God could--

He could do His work through me--

He could give me the strength that I needed to face changes and separation and uncertainty and fear.

Because He promised to go with me -- and He is greater than all of these things. 

Just before we made the decision to come here and the Lord opened doors in miraculous and unusual ways--

I was still pleading with Him not to go -- not yet. 

I was listening to a message given by Ravi Zacharias -- about the missionary David Livingstone--

The Lord spoke to me powerfully through it; his words pierced me--

Zacharias shared a quote from David Livingstone--

God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.

― David Livingstone

The Holy Spirit spoke to me through his words -- Weeping, I surrendered my will to the Lord and knew peace.

I knew that He would go with me. 

And I went. 

The pastor at the church that we've been attending said this in a sermon recently, and his words touched my heart--

"The idea that God never gives us more than we can handle -- He does -- God gives us more than we can handle so that we can run to Him and cry out to Him, so that we can see His magnificence in it all -- when I am weak, then I am strong."

The Lord gave me more than I could handle. 

Called me to do something that I didn't think that I could do -- so that I could see His power worked through my weakness and know His sufficiency in it all and depend upon Him in my loneliness and trust that His Presence has gone before me. 

These months have been some of the most difficult for me and some of the most blessed. I have held on to His promises and He has held on to me. He has given me His strength and His joy -- an indescribable joy and peace in my heart -- through a Midwestern winter in a drafty rental house -- a knowing that I am where He wants me. 

Joy. Strength. Peace. Only because of Him. 

And when we surrender and feel like we are falling and losing and dying--

We find His arms beneath us,

We find our hands full of His promises,

We find His life.

As I keep explaining to my little daughter -- the trees lose their leaves during the winter so that they can be clothed in fresh new leaves and life in the spring--

Spring is coming.

And I know that I am here with Him, 

And He is with me.

You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, 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,, 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, Theology Thursdays, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Thought Provoking Thursday, Count My Blessings, 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, 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, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, So Much At Home Link Up Party

Monthly Book Giveaway--Walking From East to West: God in the Shadows

For more information about Monthly Book Giveaways, click HERE.

“Sometimes in the shadows of one’s self lie the problems, and in the shadows of one’s shaping lie the answers.” 
― Ravi Zacharias, Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows

This month's giveaway is for a copy of Ravi Zacharias' Walking From East to West: God in the Shadows. 

I cannot speak more highly of Zacharias' books. The Lord's work is so evident through his words and through his humble Spirit-filled ministry that when I listen to him or read his words, I have to admit, I stand in quiet awe of the Holy Spirit working in and through this man. 

I read this particular book several years ago. It gives the reader an eye-opening glimpse into Zacharias' early life and conversion, and the Lord's subsequent use of Zacharias as a willing vessel for the spread of the Gospel. I am excited to offer this book and pray that the Lord would use it greatly in someone's life. 

Description of the Book from the Publisher:

For more than three decades, apologist Ravi Zacharias has shared bits and pieces of his personal life and experience. In Walking from East to West, now in softcover, Zacharias invites you to follow him on a journey through his life: to see and smell the neighborhood in India where he grew up, to feel a mother’s love and the consternation of a harsh father … and the lure of a rebellious soul. In a crisis experience, Zacharias exchanged pantheism for monotheism, and meaninglessness for true fulfillment in Christ. He has traveled from the East to the West, and then back again to answer skeptics’ penetrating questions about the meaning of life and the existence of a God who is there for his children. Zacharias invites you to follow him on this journey through his life and into the lives of others, and to see how he has become more convinced with each year that Jesus Christ is the one who came to give you life to the fullest.

Author Biography (from CBD)

Ravi Zacharias is President and Founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).  Their global outreach grew from humble roots in 1984 and includes fielding a team of itinerant speakers who operate from offices located around the world including the U.S., the UK, Romania, the Middle East, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canada.  The Hallmark of Ravi’s heart is his strong evangelistic and apologetic that manifests itself from a position of compassion.

R.S.B. Sawyer is a writer whose work has appeared in HarperOne’s Best Christian Writing Series.  He and his wife, Joy Roulier Sawyer, live in Denver, where they are active in the Lighthouse Writers Workshop community.  Their editing work together has earned awards from the Associated Church Press and the Catholic Press Association.

And now for the Giveaway! :-)


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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, Theology Thursdays, 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, 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, RaRaLinkup