Amy Wilson Carmichael (1867-1951) was a missionary in India who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur.  She served in India for 55 years and wrote many books about the missionary work there.

One of the little books she wrote is in my possession, and it has come to be a book that I read quite often in my devotional time with the Lord.  It is not a book to pick up read once, and put back on your shelf.  It is a book you can read a little tidbit of every day.




IF is a little book with a huge impact about how Calvary love can be found in our daily lives.

In this book, Amy speaks deep into your heart with questions that start with If... and the answers to these questions she asks will illuminate what is living deep within your heart.









This scripture often speaks to my heart and perhaps sums up the message of this little book so well...


Oh the love of God! How unspeakable are its reaches, its depths unknown!

Ephesians 3:19 

A promise given to us... that we can be FILLED with all the fulness of God when we know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.

That is my hope, my desire, my longing today... to know the love of Christ in such a way that I would be filled with all the fulness that God has to offer.

A little book with a profound message. IF.... it is a book that probes deep into the dark spaces of your heart, and cause you to think, even as you go about your day... do I know Calvary's love?

On this beautiful Lord's Day, I pray that the love of Christ will be shed abroad in our hearts in a greater and mightier way than ever before. This dark world needs to know about the love of Christ, and we need to be ambassadors of His love in all we do.

May the light of the love of God be in all you do today.  :)

I may be sharing this post with: 

Strangers & Pilgrims

Home Matters
Roses of Inspiration
Mosaic Monday
Darling Downs Mondays
No Place Like Home
What Joy Is Mine

I heard spring in the happy clucks of my sweet girls and rowdy Rudy when the snow had melted enough for them to get out of their coop.


"Happy, happy, happy" they were saying through their little chortles of glee as they eagerly searched the ground for tidbits to munch on.


As the snow began to melt quickly, the ground underneath was still frozen, so a lot of water and mud were in the yard.  Poor Goldie looks like she fell into the mud puddle!


They were quite thrilled with finding new things to explore again, instead of being confined to tight quarters.





This was our driveway as the melt began in earnest... a nasty mess for sure!


A neighbor invited me to walk with her and her sweet dog,  Neecha.  Neecha is a sweet girl, but she and Annie don't get along.  So Annie didn't get to walk with us.


It was a rather gray day as we walked, but the mountains in their stately blue glory under the dark cloud cover were lovely.


Another neighbor's horses came out to greet us as we passed by.  These are her "babies" ... foals and colts born last year.


They were starting to shed their winter coats... and were kicking up their heels in joy about it all!


The neighbor keeps treats in her pockets for them, and so we got to pet them as they came to the fence to get their treats.


They didn't stay at the fence long.  A treat or two, some petting, and then it was off to the races again!


The snow is fading fast from the fields and valleys, but the mountains hopefully will keep their snow for a while yet!



Neecha enjoyed her walk and looked at me sadly when we parted ways.  What a sweet girl she is!


Back home, this one was dreaming of spring too.  But since he doesn't like mud and water, he was staying warm and dry inside for now.


And nothing speaks louder about spring than tulips!


Bright, and beautiful, and full of hope!


I picked these up at the store.  I don't have tulips planted yet here.

I remember as a child being told by my parents that in church we must sit very still.  As a very young child I have memories of my father holding me on his knee at home and having us practice sitting very still and quiet so that we would know when we got to church that it was not a time to romp and play, but to sit still and listen.  I remember being upset at having to learn to sit still, but my father persisted because he knew there was a valuable life lesson that he was endeavoring to teach us, regardless of our dislike of the lesson!

And throughout my life I have had to learn the lesson of sitting still over and over again.  Being still when the very thing you want to do, is to do something, anything - anything would be better than simply sitting still and waiting!

Have you ever struggled with sitting still?  Being quiet, having a thousand things you would rather be doing, but instead.... it was not the time for busy, it was the time to be still!

I again experienced the painful lesson this past weekend about being still.



My husband was hurt and in pain several thousand miles away, and there was NOTHING I could do... but pray!  (See my post here if you have not read it.) Oh the agony of it all was quite hard for both of us.  He wanted me there, and I wanted nothing more than to be there for him.  But I was miles away, and all we could do was be still and wait.  He was waiting in the Emergency Room, alone... and I was waiting to hear what the outcome of his burn would be.

Then I remembered this scripture...