Amy Carmichael-I Flunked the Physical

By Mary Vee

Year: 1893 

Amy Carmichael: 26 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy- Sea of Japan

My name is Amy. 

Last week I wrote the good news I'd received from Hudson Taylor's mission the China Inland Mission. He has agreed to accept me as a missionary candidate!

There was much to do! I had to go to the China Inland Missions office in London then begin my training to learn Chinese, how to act, how to dress, and how to eat as a Chinese person. These are important skills because I didn't want to offend any of the Chinese people. Who would listen to me share the good news of God's love if I offended them? Right. No one.

I took my bags and moved into the mission's quarters, ready to begin my training. One of the first steps was a visit to the doctor. The people who run China Inland Mission know how difficult survival is in China, especially for missionaries not use to the weather, water, food, and diseases. 

I knew I had been sickly, but still felt strong enough to do the work. A bubbly spirit grew inside of me, ready to sail for China on the first available ship!

The day after I saw the doctor, a woman from the mission came to me with a sad face. "I'm sorry, Amy. You have not passed your physical. We cannot allow you to go to China."

I hardly knew what to say. There must have been a mistake. I went back to Mr. Wilson's house and told him what happened. He was delighted to see me and happy I could return to my duties. After a few days, though, he saw my broken heart. 

I prayed everyday for God to show me where He wanted me to serve Him. I now understood China was not the place. I didn't know where God wanted me to go until one morning when the country of Japan popped into my mind. Could God be telling me I should go to Japan?

The next day, and this made me laugh, Mr. Wilson called for me. "I have received a letter from a mission that is asking for missionaries in Japan. What do you think of going to Japan?"

"Oh, Mr. Wilson." I jumped for joy. "I was just thinking about Japan!"

"Very well," he said. "I will write a letter to the mission for you and we'll see what happens."

Nearly a whole year had passed since I first thought God wanted me to go to China. The excitement inside my heart built so much I couldn't wait for a reply from the Japanese Mission any longer. 

I heard two women from China Inland Mission planned to leave on a ship in a short time. I asked if I could travel with them to Shanghai in China. By then I should hear of my acceptance to work with the Japanese mission. I planned to sail from Shanghai across the Sea of Japan to Japan. This sounded like a fantastic plan.

I paid for my ticket with what few funds I had saved, packed my bags and said goodbye to my mother, five sisters and brothers, and Mr. Wilson. 

Eeeeee! I can't wait!

Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Jeremiah-Despite What We Do...God Loves Us

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 31

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

God wants everyone to know He loves them.

Israel and Judah have sinned a lot. A lot! God has given me many messages to give to the people warning them of a terrible punishment that would come. 

They have not stop worshipping idols brought to our city from other nations. They have not given their whole hearts to worship the very God who made them and delivered them from slavery in Egypt. This is what God asks.

The punishment has already started. Many of our people have been taken as captives to the Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Do you think the people who remained behind would have been so troubled about what happened that they would have turned immediately to God and stopped worshipping idols? Sad to say, they have not.

Led by King Zedekiah, our king who has not listened to the messages from God, the people act as if they don't care. Like they don't believe God will punish them, too. But He will.

Sigh. Do I sound a bit frustrated? I am. 

But God continues to love His chosen people. These are His words:

"He who appoints the sun to shine by day,

 Who decrees the moon and starts to shine by night,

 Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar--

 The Lord Almighty is his name.

 Only if these decrees vanish from my sight

 Will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.

 Only if the heavens above can be measured 

 And the foundations of the earth below be searched out

 Will I reject all the descendants of Israel

 Because of all they have done."

You see? Despite what we do, God still loves us and always will. God then said,

"The days are coming when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hanannel to the Corner Gate. The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. The whole valley, where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."

Now, those are good words.

This doesn't mean God says it is okay to sin. No. We are to obey His words. But it does mean, God loves us.
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1.  What does God want us to know?
2.  What did the people continue to do wrong?
3.  What did the group of people left behind in the city continue to do wrong?
4.  What did God say would happen to the city, "The days are coming when..."

Jeremiah-Call to God. He Will Answer You.

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 33

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

I am still under house arrest. That means I'm not in the worst prison, but still under guard. I am in the Royal prison.

Why am I under arrest? Because I tell King Zedekiah and the people warnings from God. They don't like to hear that God will punish them for disobeying Him.

The last message I gave from God is what caused me to be here in the court prison. Don't worry, it won't stop me from telling the king and the people any new messages from God.

This morning God spoke to me and gave another message:

The Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it--the Lord is his name. He says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

This is the message God wanted to tell all the people in this city and the royal palaces of Judah even though their houses have been torn down to be used against the attacking armies from Babylon. "I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness."

After the time of punishment, though, God said, "I will bring health and healing to this city. I will heal my people and will let them enjoy peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have done and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me joy, praise, and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it. And they will be in awe and tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I give to you." 

God also said, "You men of Judah say this place is a desolate waste, without men or animals. Yet in these towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, the sounds of joy and gladness will be heard. There will be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. There will be voices of bride and bridegrooms and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord saying:

"'Give thanks to the Lord Almighty for the Lord is good. His love endures forever.'

God also said, "I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before."

God had told me to write all the words He has told me in a book to help the people remember. And I did.

God said, "The days are coming when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave Abraham and Moses."

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1.  Why did King Zedekiah arrest Jeremiah?
2.  What new message did God give Jeremiah to tell the people.
3.  After the time of captivity ends, what does God promise to do?

Amy Carmichael-So Many Said Don't Go!

By Mary Vee

Year: 1892 

Amy Carmichael: 25 year old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy. 

Last week I wrote about a family friend, Mr. Wilson, who had asked me to help take care of him and his household. It was a good job and gave me the chance to study God's Word.

I also spent time leading Bible studies for people in the poor neighborhoods. There was a meeting for boys, one for girls, and one for factory women called Shawlies. 

My work kept me busy. So busy I barely took time to eat. Oh, I ate an orange or an apple for a meal, but to eat more than that I just couldn't take the time. 

My bad eating habits and spending much of my time around poor, sickly people cause me to become ill. I didn't want to take time to rest or eat. There was so much to do.  

God recently spoke to my heart, telling me to go to another land and tell the people about Jesus. I knew I needed to help the poor in some other land, and as I did, I would tell them about Jesus.

The more I prepared, the more I heard from friends, church people, and neighbors saying I should not go.

They said, "Who would want someone like you, Amy? You are a sickly person. What good could you do?"

I did look sickly. And often felt sickly. But I also knew in my heart God wanted me to go and serve Him in another country.

Mr. Wilson's two sons came to me and said, "You are so selfish, Amy. You know our father depends on you to do chores, care for his medical needs, and talk with him in the evenings. How dare you leave him like this?"

A few women from church stopped me one day and said, "Amy, dear, are you sure the Lord is calling you to be a missionary? Aren't you really looking for adventure? You really are being quite selfish forcing someone in another land to take care of a sickly person like you, after all we can't all be as strong as an ox."

With words like these, anyone would feel discouraged. And I did. 

But God did not give up. He continued to ask me to go and serve Him.

It took me a while, but I finally wrote my mother a letter explaining my desire to serve God in another country, and I sat down with Mr. Wilson to tell him. To my surprise, they immediately agreed to help me figure out what to do. They wrote letters to mission organizations asking where there was a need for someone like me. 

I wasn't surprised when Hudson Taylor invited me to go to China with his missionaries. He had strong rules, but he had a strong faith in God. I was so excited! My mind flittered with plans that needed to be done before I could go.

I was going to be a missionary in China!

Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Jeremiah-One Day We Will All Come Home

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 32

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

You may have noticed that some of the stories in this series are from the prophet Ezekiel and some are written from me.

Ezekiel is the prophet God is giving messages to in Babylon where many of the Israelites were taken captive.

I am the prophet God is giving messages to in Jerusalem where some of the people were left behind. So today, you are back in Jerusalem with me.

Zedekiah was allowed to remain king to the few people left here in Jerusalem--as long as he did what King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon wanted. Well, he chose to disobey and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. God gave me several messages to deliver to Zedekiah warning him not to do that. But he didn't listen.

Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to destroy Jerusalem because of Zedekiah's rebellion. While the army attacked, I was put in prison in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. I couldn't hide. I was locked up. Zedekiah put me in prison because he didn't like the messages I gave him from God.

Zedekiah said, "Why do you give messages from God as you do? You say, 'This is what the Lord says, 'I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hands of the Babylonians but will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. He will take Zedekiah to Babylon where he will remain until I deal with him, says the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.'"

He walked away from me and there I stayed in prison.

But this isn't the end. God spoke to me and said my uncle would come and asks me to buy his field.

Photo Courtesy

Then, just as the Lord said, my uncle visited me in prison and asked me to buy his field. Since he did exactly as the Lord said I answered, "Yes, I will buy your field." I gave him the money and signed the deed. I gave the deed to Baruch, my scribe, in front of many witnesses. 

"See?" I told everyone near. "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says. "Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of land purchase and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land by our people. We will, all our people will, one day be able to come back home."

I can only keep trying to give God's messages. Maybe some of the people will listen.

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1. Where is Ezekiel a prophet?
2. Where is Jeremiah a prophet?
3. Who is king in Jerusalem?
4. Why did the king put Jeremiah in prison?
5. Who came to visit Jeremiah in prison?
6. What did Jeremiah buy? Why did he buy it?

Ezekiel-A Tale of Two Eagles

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 17

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

This time, God asked me to tell His message using a allegory. An allegory is story with a meaning.

"A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of different colors came to Lebanon. 

"Taking hold of the top of a cedar, the eagle broke off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants. He planted it in a city of traders. (This eagle is God)

"The eagle took some of the seed from the land and put it in rich soil. He planted it like a willow by a place where clean water flowed. The cedar sprouted and became a low spreading vine. Its branches turned up toward the eagle, but its roots remained under the soil. So it became a vine and formed branches putting out leafy branches.

"But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full of plumage. (This eagle is the king of Babylon) The vine now set out its roots toward the new eagle from the plot of land where it was planted. It reached out its branches to this new eagle for water, even though it was planted in good soil before and near delicious, clean water. And even though it grew tasty fruit where it was first planted."

God asked, "Will it grow strong in the new place. Won't someone come along and pull the vine up and take away its beautiful fruit so that the plant dies? All the new growth will wither. It won't even take a strong arm or many people to pull the vine up by the roots in the new place. Even if someone transplants it to a good place, will it thrive? No. It will wither completely when the east wind strikes it."

The house of Israel is just like this. The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back to Babylon. Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, forcing him to promise to do what the king said. The king of Babylon also took away the leaders of the land so the people would not be lead. This forced the people in the land to obey the king of Babylon. 

"The king of the land rebelled against the king of Babylon. He sent men to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he escape? 

"No. He will die in Babylon in the land of the king who put this man on the throne in Jerusalem. Because this man wanted to serve other gods and please other men instead of enjoying the wonderful things I gave, he will not escape."

This is what God asked me to tell the prisoners in Babylon.

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1. Who was the first eagle?
2. Who was the second eagle?
3. Who did the king of Israel decide to follow, the first eagle or the second?
4. What will happen to the king of Israel?

Amy Carmichael-God said, "Go."

By Mary Vee

Year: 1887 

Amy Carmichael: 20 year old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy Amy's family moved from the
rich city of Millisle to a poor section of Belfast

My name is Amy. I used to live in Belfast. My father had loaned much of our money to a family members. The person said they would pay it back shortly, but never did.

Soon the remaining savings was used for paying bills. We couldn't afford to stay in our home and we couldn't find jobs in our city. My mother, sister, and I moved to England to look for jobs

I missed leading the Bible study in Belfast with the factory girls, called shawlies.

But, people need money to pay bills. Fortunately, a man named Mr. Jacob, who happened to know my father, heard about our need and made sure we found work.

After I started working at the factory, Mr. Jacob said, "I heard you conducted a Bible study for the shawlies in Belfast."

"Yes, that's right."

"Would you consider starting one for the factory girls here?"

I loved the idea! Right away I looked for an apartment near the factory. A place where girls would come for the Bible studies. The only apartment nearby was rather dirty. I refused to let the filth discouraged me. 

I cleaned the apartment until it shined. Unfortunately, rats and bugs kept coming back. The whole building needed a thorough cleaning, and I had only rented one room. There was nothing I could do. I at least found a way to protect my food.

During our free time, Mom, my sister, and I visited Mr. Wilson, a long time friend of the family who lived at the Keswick center. His wife had died recently and his daughter died when she was my age. We  found ways to make him laugh, read to him, and keep him company. He taught us many Bible truths.

Living in the rat apartment and working long hours to pay the bills caused me to become too ill to work or have the Bible studies. Mr. Wilson insisted I move into a room in his house where I could receive medical care. His three sons were not happy about the idea, though. They said I came to steal their inheritance. This, of course, wasn't true.

I lived at Mr. Wilson's house for three years, doing chores and studying the Bible. I learned so much about God and wanted to serve Him. After a while, I felt God telling me to become a missionary in a far away land. I didn't know where, but somewhere. 

I spent time in conversation with God. I said, "Lord, I don't think you really want me to go to the mission field even though you have put the idea in my heart." I grabbed a piece of paper and kept talking with God. "Here are my reasons: 1. My mother needs me to be with her. 2. Mr. Wilson depends on my caring for him--he is so sickly. 3. I could be an encouragement to others who really should go to the mission field. 4. I am sickly, myself. You really don't want a sick person to go to the mission field, do you?"

I didn't know what to do. My head said not to go to the mission field, but my heart said go. I went to the sitting room where Mr. Wilson was. "I have a problem. I think God is calling me to be a missionary." I explained to him all the reasons it was a ridiculous idea.

Mr. Wilson pushed his glasses up and said, "The Bible says, Go. So, you should go."

I knew then what I should do. Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Ezekiel-God Shows the People What Will Happen

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 12

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

Other prophets were given messages from God to tell the people of Israel. Recently, though, God has asked me to show the people His message.

This is what God asked me to do:

"Pack your belongings for exile [exile means someone is taking you from your home and not allowing you to return]. In the daytime, as the people watch, go from where you are to another place. Maybe they will understand what I am warning them.

"During the day, while the people watch you, bring out your belongings that you packed. At night, while they watch, leave the place like a person in exile would do. As the people continue to watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings with you. Put your things on your shoulder and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so you cannot see the land."

I did as God commanded. I packed my things and took them with me. In the evening, I dug through the wall with my hands and took my belongings out with me, carrying them on my shoulders.  All of this was done while the people watched.

The next morning, God spoke to me, "Did the people of Israel ask you what you were doing?"

"Yes," I answered.

God said, "Tell them 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Everything you did concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all Israelites who are there. What I showed you is a sign of what will happen to those still in Jerusalem.

"The prince of Jerusalem will attempt to escape. He will be caught and brought to Babylon. He will not see the land and there he will die. His staff and troops will be try to run but will be captured and made prisoners. Then they will know that the God of Israel is the Lord."

I told the people His message.

Next, God said "Tremble as you eat your food and shudder in fear as you drink your water. Tell the people, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says will happen to those in Jerusalem. They will eat their food in fear and drink their water in sadness for the land will be ruined because of the evil there. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord.'"

Then God said, "I will do everything I have said."

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1. Who did God say would be punished? Where did these people live?
2. But who did Ezekiel tell the message to? Where did they live?
3. Why did God tell one group of people what would happen to a different group of people?

Ezekiel-What Are Cherubim? I Saw Them

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 10

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. God recently gave me a new message for the Israelite prisoners in Babylon. He showed me in a vision what He wanted me to say. In that vision, I saw cherubim. 

Have you wondered what real cherubim look like? 

This is what I saw:

"I saw beside the cherubim four wheels. The wheels sparkled like chrysolite. The four of them looked alike. Each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 

"As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced. The wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning. 

"Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands, and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

"I heard the wheels being called 'the whirling wheels.'

Photo Courtesy

"Each of the cherubim had four faces. One face was that of a cherub, the second face of a man, the third face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

"Then the cherub rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River in Babylon. 

"When the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 

"When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still. 

"When the cherubim rose, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

Photo Courtesy

"While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground. As they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord's house. The glory of the God of Israel was above them.

"These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River. I realized--that they were cherubim. Each had four faces and four wings. Under their wings was what looked like the hands of a man. Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead."

What a breathtaking sight!

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Aren't they amazing creatures? And when we go to heaven, we'll be able to see them!

Amy Carmichael-The Shawlies

By Mary Vee

Year: 1885 

Amy Carmichael: 18 year old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy Amy's family moved from the
rich city of Millisle to a poor section of Belfast

My name is Amy. Even though I'm eighteen, I'm living at home with my mother and siblings. 

My dad died when I was seventeen. Even when dad was alive we didn't have very much money, but we were happy. Now that I'm older I'm looking for what I can do with my life. In my heart, I know that God wants me to serve him.

For now, I need to stay at home and help Mother care for my sisters and brothers. One of my brothers is only a year younger than me, so he helps, too. 

During my free time, I gathered boys and girls from the neighborhoods and streets and taught them Bible stories. On Sunday mornings, I noticed the poor girls from factories walking around. These girls couldn't afford to by hats to wear to church, so they didn't go. People in the city called these girls, Shawlies because they were poor working girls who usually wore a shawl.

I felt bad for these girls. Few people want to be around them. They needed to learn about the Lord as much as anyone else. 

I went into the city neighborhoods, everywhere the girls hung out on Sunday mornings and invited them to a Bible study. Sometimes people warned me not to go to certain streets where gangs lived. I couldn't stay away. The girls needed to hear about God's love for them.

The shawlies who came to the meetings wore dirty clothes, many hadn't bathed in a long time. Their clothes had holes and patches. Thanks to God, they saw how much I truly cared about them. This made me love them all the more and pray that they would grow up to be godly women.

I looked forward to each Sunday morning. 

The word about our Bible study spread among the factory girls. The number grew. We prayed together for God to send enough money to buy land and to build a building. 

God did send the money and we built our own Bible study meeting place. On the first Sunday we met in our new building we voted to name the place The Welcome, Because the building was for all who needed help, both physically and spiritually, to enter there and find hope.

I had hoped this Bible study could last forever. But life doesn't always turn out the way we want them to. I don't really understand what happened, but it seems someone took all of our savings that Father left us. Without money to pay the rent, Mom, my sister and I decided to move to England to look for work.

If you think of it, please pray for the girls at The Welcome.


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Ezekiel-The Mark That Saved

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 8-9

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. I am a prophet living in Babylon with the prisoners from Israel.

God has given me several messages to give to the people. This time, though, God is showing me in a vision what is going to happen. Afterwards, I am then to warn the people in Babylon.

Last time I told you about a man who glowed brightly from the waist up and had the look of fire from the waist down. He took me to Jerusalem and showed me the terrible things the priests and elders were doing. 

The people of the city then did as the priests taught them. I felt terrible. The people should not be worshiping other idols. They know there is only one God and that He alone should be worshiped.

After the man showed me the evil idol worship, he called out in a loud voice. "Bring me the guards." Six men came with weapons and another man came with a writing kit. They stood by the bronze altar in the temple. 

The Lord said to the man dressed in linen and carrying the writing kit, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who are sad and crying about the terrible idol worship that is taking place."

The Lord turned to the guards then and said, "Punish everyone who does not receive the mark. Bring those who have been punished to the temple."

I was left alone while the guards obeyed their instructions. I fell on my face and begged the Lord to forgive the terrible ways of the people.

The Lord said, "Their sin is very great. There is no justice in the city. They've said, 'The Lord has left the land. He does not see us or what we are doing.' So I will give them what they want. I will give them no mercy or spare them and will punish them for what they've done."

The man in white linen came back, carrying his writing kit. "I have done what you asked."

The Lord had warned the people not to worship other idols so many time. But the people would not listen. Sadly, they will be punished for not listening and obeying God. 

There is still more of this vision, I will tell you about it next time.

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1. What were the people doing wrong?
2. Where were the people?
3. The man in linen with the writing kit was told to ________
4. The guards with him were told to ____________
5. The people who were sinning thought God could not ______ them.
6. Is this true?

Ezekiel-Cherubims Showed Me

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 8-9

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. As a small boy, I never expected my life to be so...unusual, and in truth, exciting.

God called me to be a prophet, someone who tells the people His messages. 

God didn't just tell me what He wanted me to say. He showed me and then explained.

At this time, I was in Babylon with other Israelites who had been taken as prisoners and slaves. One day as I sat with the elders of Judah, I looked and saw someone else in the room. He had the form of a man. From his waist down he was like fire and from there up he glowed brightly. 

He stretched his hand out and took hold of my hair then lifted me up between earth and heaven. I was in a vision, being moved to Jerusalem to the inner court near the north gate. An idol had been put there by the Israelites who had been left behind. In front of me was the glory of the God of Israel.

He said to me, "Son of man, look to the north." 

I did what He said. 

"Do you see what they are doing--the terrible things the people of Israel are doing here? Things that will drive me far away from my sanctuary? Wait. I have more to show you."

Next he took me to the court's entrance. I saw a hole in the wall. 

He said to me, "Dig into the wall."

I did as He said and saw a doorway.

He said to me, "Go in and see the terrible things the men are doing here."

I stepped inside. Paintings of all kinds of crawling things and horrible animals filled the walls.  In front of the paintings, seventy Israelite elders stood with censers in their hands and a cloud of incense rising from it.They were worshiping the animals!

He said, "Have you seen what the Israelite elders are doing in the darkness?  Each standing at a shrine of his own idol? They say, 'The Lord does not see us. The Lord has forsaken the land.' Come with me. There is more to be seen."

He took me to the inner court of the Lord's temple. At the entrance, between the portico and the altar were about twenty-five men. Their back turned toward the temple and their faces toward the east. They bowed down to worship the sun in the east.

He said to me, "Have you seen this? Is this a small sin? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually disobey me? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! I will deal with them in anger. I will not spare them with pity. And if they shout out to me, begging for mercy, I will not listen because they are not sorry in their hearts."

This was very sad for me to see. God had more to show me, though. I'll tell you about it next time.

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1. Where was Ezekiel when he saw the man?
2. What did the man look like?
3. Where did God take Ezekiel in the vision?
4. What did God want to show Ezekiel?
5. Why did God show Ezekiel these things?