Amy Carmichael-Arulai's story About the Living God

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1904-1906 

Amy Carmichael: 36 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

Last week I introduced you to ten-year-old Arulai. Before meeting Arulai, I had been discouraged. No one seemed interested in hearing about the great God who loved them. I began to doubt all the missionary stories I'd heard about men and women, boys and girls, who wanted to learn about Jesus. 

This all changed when I met Arulai. She told me her story. This is one well worth sharing with you. 

Arulai didn't have many friends because of her bad temper. She prayed to every god she could think of, begging for help to control her temper. Her father didn't have any answers for her. 

A few days later her baby brother died. Arulai asked her mother where her little brother went after he died. Her mother said, "He is with the spirits of the dead." Arulai worried about her brother floating around in a place where no one knew him. She heard him call out to her to come care for him. 

"How could a great God treat a little boy like that?" she asked. No one had the answer. 

She didn't know who the great God was, but she decided to pray to him at special times and places, hoping He would listen to her.

Then one day she walked to the well to get water for her family. Near the well an Indian man and other people stood talking with each other. Three of the people looked different. Their skin was white. They had trouble speaking her words. 

She listened while filling her bucket. The Indian man said, "There is a living God?" 

The foreigner answered. "Yes." 

The Indian man shouted with a happy voice, "There is a living God!" She wanted to stay and ask the foreigner questions but had to get home with the water.

The bucket was heavy. She thought about the foreigner's words as she walked. If there truly is one living God then Siva, her parents' god, was not real. If this was so, she wouldn't rub ashes on her forehead any more, not to a dead god. 

After the sun set and she finished her chores, Arulai thought abut the living God. She prayed to Him, hoping He would hear her. "Please God," she prayed. "Please send those foreign people to my village again. Let me hear their words about the living God."

The next day she went for water again and saw the foreigners speaking with other people. There were three, an older couple and a younger woman who wore a sari. 

She soon thought about what her parents would say if they knew she didn't want to worship Siva. They would become angry if they knew she wanted to worship the living God. 

She picked up her bucket and walked toward home, confident that the living God would help her speak to the woman with the sari. "Someday," she said, "I will become the daughter  of the woman with the sari and learn about about the living God."

Come back next time to read the more of this exciting story about little Arulai.


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!

Zechariah-Don't Be Like Those Who Disobeyed Before You

By Mary Vee
Ezra 5 and Zechariah 1, Haggai 2

From Zechariah's Journal

Photo Courtesy The Prophet Haggai

My name is Zechariah. I am a prophet sent by God to give His message to the Jews living in Jerusalem.

Haggai and I were sent by God to give messages to the people. Haggai was like a father to me. He had seen the temple before the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed it. 

He knew how magnificent the temple was. I could only imagine with what he and the other priests told me. I would have liked to have seen that temple. The good news is the message Haggai last gave the people. 

God told him to tell the older people a special message. They had cried because they remembered how wonderful the temple was. God told Haggai to tell the people "The glory of this temple will be greater than the glory of the former temple. And in this place I will grant peace," declared the Lord Almighty."

A year had gone by. The Lord spoke to me and asked me to bring a message to the people. This is what He said:

"I, the Lord was very angry with your forefathers. Return to me, and I will return to you. Don't be like your forefathers, the ones who would not turn from their evil ways.

I sent prophets to tell them, to remind them to listen, but they wouldn't. Where are they now? And will the prophets live forever to constantly remind you to turn from evil?"

"Your forefathers repented of their ways, but they waited too long. They said, 'God has done to us what our evil ways deserve. He is a just God.'"

The next month Haggai received another message from God. This one he was to deliver to those working in the house of the Lord. 

"You men who work in the house of the Lord, don't assume that because you work in the temple that you are holy. Your personal lives must be holy as well. Follow the laws that have been given to you. You are my example to the people. Holiness is to be in every part of your lives.

"Think about the seed you have tried to plant. There has not been strong crops, right? Now that you are doing the work on the temple and are obeying my words, From this day on I will bless you."

This was the last message God sent with Haggai. The people continued their work on the temple as God commanded...until...

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who is Zechariah?

2.  What message did God give Zechariah for the people?

3.  God asked Haggai to deliver one last message. What was it?

4.  Why do you think God asked certain prophets to give certain messages. Like in today's story God asked Zechariah to say one message, and he gave Haggai a different message?

Haggai-Something Amazing Will Happen In This Temple

By Mary Vee
Ezra 5 and Haggai 1

From Haggai's Journal

Photo Courtesy The Prophet Haggai

My name is Haggai. I am a prophet sent by God to give His message to the Jews living in Jerusalem.

I was sad to see the people working so hard on fixing their homes, making clothes to wear, building up businesses, planting crops to store food.

I was sad because these people who have been chosen by God have neglected the most important job for their return. King Cyrus gave them permission to return to their home and build the temple.

They were even given supplies by the Jews who chose to stay in Babylon.

I've already told them of God's unhappiness. Now I will say the next part of the message to them. This is what I said and was told to me by God:

"Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house so I may take pleasure in it and be honored. You expected to have a lot to use in building the temple but as you see, it has turned out to be a little. Why is that? Because I blew it away with everything else you have wasted. Go now and get new materials."

The people listened. Because of their fear for the Lord, they set to work and within three weeks the construction of the temple began.

God gave me a new message for the people, "I am with you." Which meant He was pleased.

A month later, God gave me a new message. He saw the older men and women crying. These were the ones who saw the temple before Nebuchadnezzar burned it. The building was much larger and wonderful to look at. God told me to say,

"Who has seen the temple in its former glory. How does it look to you now? Does it seem like nothing? Don't weep. Be strong and work. For I am with you. I will keep my promises. My Spirit will remain with you. Do not fear.

"In a little while I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is mine and the gold is mine. The glory of this temple will be greater than the glory of the former temple. And in this place I will grant peace," declared the Lord Almighty.

Like the other leaders, I thought about God's words. Something amazing would happen in this temple we were now building. 


Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who is Haggai

2.  What had the people done wrong?

3.  What did they need to do to fix the problem?

4.  What happened when they obeyed?
5.  Why did the older men and women cry?
6.  How did God comfort them?

Amy Carmichael-Arulai's Angry Temper

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1904-1906 

Amy Carmichael: 36 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I'm going to tell you a story about a ten-year-old girl I met named Arulai.

Arulai didn't have many friends. Everyday at school her temper leaped like a lion. She yelled at the other kids and hit them.

She was always sorry afterwards. So sorry she prayed to her family's god begging for help to make her angry temper go away. 

She rubbed ashes on her head the next morning and prayed to her parents' god "Silva." She begged to be heard and to have the angry temper taken away.

Nothing happened. The next day at school her anger grew during recess. She yelled at her friends. None of the kids wanted to play with her.

After school she talked with her dad. "What can I do? I want to stop but I don't know how. I've prayed to our god Silva. I don't know what else to do."

Dad sighed. He kneeled and hugged his little girl. "Other than what you've done there is nothing, Arulai. You must find a way to calm your temper yourself."

At school Arulai's friends stayed away from her. She felt so lonely.

More than anything she wanted her bad temper to go away. Her parents' god, Silva wasn't helping. She tried praying to other Indian gods. One of them must be able to help her. She prayed to Brahma, Vishnu, and other gods. 

"Please," she begged, "take away my angry temper."

That day at school she became angry with the boys and girls in her class again. That night after supper she ran out to the field. "There must be a God who is powerful enough to help me. One I can worship." She fell to the ground and shouted. "Please show me who you are. Please help me with my angry temper."

She stood and brushed the dirt off her clothes hoping to find out who the great God was.

Come back next time to read the exciting story about the little girl!


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!

Ezra-Why We Have Failed

By Mary Vee
Ezra 5 and Haggai 1

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy The Prophet Haggai

My name is Ezra. I am with the Hebrews who chose to return to Jerusalem after the captivity. King Cyrus gave us permission to return home and rebuild the temple for the Lord. We should be happy, but aren't.

You can read in the last stories how time has passed and the temple has not been built. King Cyrus and his son have died. 

Evil men came to Jerusalem and watched the work on the temple. They didn't want us to succeed. They wrote to the king and received permission to make us stop the work.

In truth, many of the Jews in Jerusalem didn't mind. Their goal was to prosper in their homeland. Plant crops, build businesses, and great homes. Yet, no matter how hard they tried something went wrong. Unwilling to give up, the men continued to plant and care for their crops. They cared for their animals and maintained their homes. Still none of them succeeded in becoming prosperous.  

Droughts and famine came. Sickness followed. 

The men pushed forward, not understanding the problem.

One day the prophets Haggai and Zechariah came to Jerusalem with a message from God. Haggai was older, he had seen the temple before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. Zechariah was younger. He was born in Babylon but had trained with the priests and had heard about the great temple in Jerusalem.

Darius, a relative of Cyrus, was now the king of Persia where many of the Jewish captives still lived. Darius had been on the throne for two years when Haggai delivered God's message to the Jews in Jerusalem. 

He said, "You Jews in Jerusalem say the time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built. But God says, 'Is it a time for you to be living in your paneled houses while the temple remains a ruin?

"Give careful thought to your ways. You've planted but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are never warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a wallet with holes.

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. Why? because of my temple which remains a ruin while each of you is busy with your own house."

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  What prophets did God send with a message?

2.  What did the people in Jerusalem want?

3.  What were they sent to do?

4.  What were they doing wrong?
5.  How can they fix the problem?

Ezra-The Scoundrels Convinced the King

By Mary Vee
Ezra 4

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I am with the Hebrews who chose to return to Jerusalem. Not everyone wanted to come back to our homeland. Some of our brothers preferred to stay in their new homes in Babylon. At this moment I think they are better off.

King Cyrus had given us permission to return to Jerusalem to build the temple.

I must admit, the work has not gone well. Besides the lack of willingness to do the work on the part of nearly everyone here in Jerusalem, there are a group of Babylonian followers who are trying to stop the little progress we've made.

King Cyrus died. His son was murdered. The man who took his place received a letter asking for permission to make us stop our work. I just received news what the new king's answer to that letter was:

To Rehum the commanding officer Shimshai the secretary, and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:

Greeting.

The letter you sent has been read and translated in my presence. I investigated your accusations against the city of Jerusalem and found the city has indeed had a long history of rebelling against kings. Jerusalem has had powerful kings in the past, ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates. Taxes, tribute, and duty were paid to them. 

Because of this new report I am ordering the men of Jerusalem to stop work. They are not to rebuild until I so order. Be careful not to neglect any portion of this matter. I don't want this threat to grow to the detriment of the royal interests.

Your King, Artaxerxes
(also known as Cambyses)

Rehum, Shimshai, and their associates wasted no time traveling to Jerusalem. They showed us the letter and commanded us to stop, by order of the king.

As they ordered, the work on the temple came to a stop. 

Not long after, King Cambyses died. Darius, a relative, became the new king of Persia. Maybe Darius will listen and let us resume building.

*********************************************************************************************

1.  What did the king say in his letter?

2.  Why did the men and their associates rush to Jerusalem?

3.  What did the Jews have to stop doing?

4.  Who is the new king?

Amy Carmichael-He Didn't Know Where He was Going When He Died

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1904-1906 

Amy Carmichael: 36 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined the Walkers in their ministry in Southern India. 

The Indian people have many festivals. It seems they have one almost everyday. One of the ladies who works at the mission went with me to a recent festival. The plan: share the story of God's love to everyone who will listen.

There were many booths set up selling vases, jewelry, food, books, etc. And, like so many other days, the weather was excruciatingly hot and muggy. 

We walked past many booths, hoping to find a place to speak to the people. We tried several times and had women stop. But they only stayed a moment then moved on. 

Celebration was the atmosphere at the festival. Music, dancing, laughing, buying, selling, and large crowds moving through the area. As the time moved on, I began to feel faint. We found an empty booth and stood in the shade. Still, I felt sick with thirst. The men in the booths around us offered me some milk. I refused because I didn't have money, but one man paid for me saying, "Helping the poor counts to help me after I die."

Many of the Indian people believed their current behavior would determine what their next life would be like. They believed they would come back as a person of higher or lower caste or something terrible like an animal. How sad. None of this is true. 

Days after this festival ended a funeral celebration was held for a man who died. No one in the crowd mourned. Only the family in the home wept. A woman said, "Enjoy yourself. This is a celebration. That man didn't know where he was going anyway."

How sad. He didn't even know. I had read books written by missionaries that told of people who welcomed them warmly and were excited to hear about the God who loves them. I haven't seen that here. Instead, because I am a white woman I cannot go many places and women of certain castes will not listen to me.

How can the people hear about the God who loves them. Can you hear my frustration?

Come back next time. Because once this event passed, I heard about a little girl who really did pray for someone to come tell her about the God who loves her. Now can you see me jumping up and down? Yes! God is working. I only need to be ready to do the work He gives.

Come back next time to read the exciting story about the little girl!


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!

Ezra-The Rebel's Letter to the Fake King

By Mary Vee
Ezra

From Ezra's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezra. I am with the Hebrews who chose to return to Jerusalem. Not everyone wanted to come back to our homeland. Some of our brothers preferred to stay in their new homes in Babylon. 

King Cyrus gave us permission to return to Jerusalem to build the temple.

I must admit, the work has not gone well. Everyone wanted to first rebuild their homes, plant their crops, fix all the broken things. No one seemed interested in rebuilding the temple.

We received word that King Cyrus died and his son Cambyses took over the Persian throne. He allowed his father's word to stand. The word that said we could be in Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

Cambyses led his troops to Egypt and conquered the land. While he was gone, his half-brother tried to take over the country. King Cambyses's aids killed the half-brother to stop him.

This may seem boring, but in truth these events had a major impact on those of us living in Jerusalem. There is a little more I must tell you to help you understand our troubles. A man by the name of Guamata pretended to be Cambyses half-brother. He convinced many people and talked them into revolting against the throne. He called himself Artaxerxes which is a common name used for the king, and took over the throne while Cambyses was gone.

At the same time there were many evil men who didn't want our Hebrew temple to be built. The leaders of this group were: Bihlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and other associates. They wrote a letter to Guamata, the man pretending to be Artxerxes. This is the letter:

The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.

Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute, or duty will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer. Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. 

In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

Ack. This is terrible news. If the men are successful, we will end up as captives again. Next time I will tell you what the king, the man who stole the throne and lied to the people, wrote back.


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1.  Who led the people to Jerusalem?

2.  Which king gave them permission to rebuild the temple?

3.  Why did this king leave his land?

4.  Who stole his throne?

5.  What did the letter say? Why do you think the evil men sent the letter?

Daniel-The End, A Message from the Angel

By Mary Vee
Daniel 12

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am still living in Babylon and in service to Cyrus king of Persia.

Many of my Hebrew brothers and their families traveled back to Jerusalem a short time ago. King Cyrus gave them permission. Ezra led the people. 

An angel came to speak to me after I'd seen a vision. I don't know if I had such a difficult time because I am older or because of the vision that scared me, or maybe both.

The message has been long, I know. This is the fourth and last time I'm writing you about this message. If you missed any, scroll down these posts to read the ones before. The news is very important for us to hear.  It can help prepare us for the day these events will come to pass. This is what the angel explained next: 

"At the time when the king of the North will come to his end, Michael, the great prince who protects your people will arise. Terrible things will happen, such as has never happened from the beginning of nations nor will be until that time. 

"At the appointed time your people, everyone whose name is found written in the book, will be delivered. Those who have died before will come to life. Some will go to where they will live forever, others will go to where they will live their shame and forever be condemned.  Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 

"Now Daniel, you are to close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."

Two men joined us. One on this bank of the river and one on the other. One asked the angel, "How long will it be before these amazing things happen?"

The angel answered, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

I didn't understand what this meant, so I asked, "My lord, what will the result be?"

The angel answered, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be made spotless but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. 

"From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the horrors that cause destruction is set up there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

"As for you, Daniel, go your way till the end. You will rest, then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your inheritance."

After the angel said those words, he left. 


*********************************************************************************************

1.  Who is speaking to Daniel?

2.  What will happen to those whose name is written in the book?

3.  What will happen to those who are wise?

4.  When will this happen?

5.  What will happen to the words until the end time?

Amy Carmichael-The Sweet Baby Girls

By Mary Vee

Year: January, 1904-1906 

Amy Carmichael: 36 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael. I am a missionary in India.

I have joined the Walkers in their ministry in Southern India. Mr. Walker left me in charge while he took his wife back to England for medical help. 

While he was gone, I carried on my calling to save the little girls. From being forced into slavery at the temple. Parents who were in need of money sold their daughters there.

One day, I walked with several girls who worked with me at the mission. We happened near the temple. One pointed out the beautiful lotus plant. The other reached down to pluck the flower. The first girls said, "Stop. That flower belongs to the temple."

Photo Courtesy

I looked at the lovely flowers, their buds raised to the light and remembered the words of Ezekiel, "Behold, all souls are mine." 

I realized then that no little girl belonged to the temple. She belonged to the Lord. I called each child forced to live at the temple a lotus flower. Sweet, innocent, belonging to the Lord, and in need of rescue.

More little ones came to live at the mission. I loved helping them, but soon discovered a huge problem. The babies needed milk. None of the Indian women would agree to feed the infants. I tried goats milk and added other ingredients to make a formula.

The babies became ill. I didn't know what from. Long hours were spent in the nursery trying to help these little ones get healthy. The first baby died. Then a second. Months later a third baby died. 

I sobbed not knowing what to do. The lord heard my prayers and sent a wonderful gift. Mr. Walker returned to the mission with a guest. My mother. She stayed with me, holding the babies and playing with the older children.

Soon people from the village yelled terrible words saying I couldn't take care of the babies. Evil thoughts played in my mind saying I was a bungling do-gooders. I know, these were words from Satan and I should put them aside. Each little one was in the hands of the Lord.

My mother stayed fifteen months. I couldn't have organized and helped the needs of all those children without her help. God truly blessed me.

Not long after she left I found out why the three little girls died. It has nothing to do with me. There had been a mysterious epidemic. Since that time, no babies died. I had fifty adopted little girls in my home. I never realized that God wanted me here to care for these precious little girls, to teach them about Him, to care for their needs, and to show them love.


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!