Eliza Shirley

 

Dear God,

Thank you for Eliza Shirley and her dedication to you.  She was a young woman who spread the gospel with the help of the Salvation Army.  She helped start the Salvation Army in America.  She and her mother were known as "Two Hallelujah Females".  What a blessed life!  We need more hallelujah females.  Please raise me up to be unafraid to share the gospel.  Give me courage to teach others that they can become a new creation in You.  We no longer have to live in our old sinful ways but we can be clean and new.  

Amen

Recommended Reading:

II Corinthians 5

The Hallelujah Lass 

History's Women

The Salvation Army 

Calendar

JANUARY

*Rachel Saint- January 2, 1914

Father Damien- January 3, 1840 (p 120)

*Max Lucado- January 11, 1955

Menno Simons- January 12, 1536 (p 48)

*Frank E. Peretti- January 13, 1951

Martin Luther King Jr.- January 15, 1929 (p 112)

Eric Liddell- January 16, 1902 (p 88)- 59

Susanna Wesley- January 20, 1669 (p 96)- 103

Amanda Berry Smith- January 23, 1837 (p 312)

Katie Luther- January 29, 1499- 61

Francis Schaeffer- January 30, 1912 (p 440)

FEBRUARY

Samuel Morris- Black History Month (p 136)/*Charles Mulli (Mully Children)

*Evelyn Husband and Rick Husband- February 1, 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia

Hannah More- February 2, 1745- 67

Rosa Parks- February  4, 1913- 75

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer- February 4, 1906 (p 240)

Dwight L. Moody- February 5, 1837 (p 200)- 65

*Jonathan Goforth- February 10, 1859 

*Mildred Cable- February 21, 1878

*Betty Greene- First official missions flight/one of the original founders of Mission Aviation Fellowship February 23, 1945

Gladys Aylward- February 24, 1902 (p 272)- 15

*Wilfred Grenfell- February 28, 1865

MARCH

George Washington Carver- March 1 is Peanut Butter Lovers Day (p 352)- 35

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER- March 5th

William Henry Sheppard- March 8, 1865 (p 392)

*S. Truett Cathy- March 14, 1921 (p 224)

Saint Patrick- March 17- 77

*David Livingstone- March 19, 1813

Anne Bradstreet- March 20, 1612 (p 216)- 25

Francis (Franny) Crosby- March 24, 1820 (p 128)- 39

*Richard Wurmbrand- March 24, 1909- 109

Johann Sebastian Bach- March 31, 1685- 17

APRIL

Mary Jones- Walking Day is the first Wednesday in April (she walked 26 miles barefoot to get a Bible)- 51

*Paul Hutchens- April 7, 1902

*William Booth (wife Catherine)- April 10, 1829- 23

David Zeisberger- April 11, 1721 (p 304) 

*Samuel Zwemer- April 12, 1867

George Frideric Handel- April 14, 1759 (death)

Corrie ten Boom- April 15, 1892 (p 56)- 21

*Robin Jones Gunn- April 18, 1955

*Saint George Feast Day- April 23

*Apostle Mark/Saint Mark Feast Day- April 25

Lord Shaftesbury/Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury- April 28, 1801- 85

MAY

National Day of Prayer (first Thursday in May)

George Chen/Chen Min Lin- Asian Heritage Month 

*Lois Gladys Leppard- May 9, 1924

Brother Andrew- May 11, 1928 (p 40)- 11

Florence Nightingale- May 12, 1820 (p 152)- 73

*James Hudson Taylor- May 21, 1832- 93

Elizabeth Fry- May 21, 1780 (p 192)

Reverend and Mrs. Paton- May 24, 1824 (p 208)

*Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf- May 26, 1700

*G.K. Chesterton- May 29, 1874

JUNE

*Rob Evans- DOUGHNUT MAN June 5th is Doughnut Day

*Rachel Held Evans- June 8, 1981

John M. Perkins- June 16, 1930 (p 64)

*Phil Vischer- June 16, 1966

*Charles Loring Brace- June 19, 1826

Charles Spurgeon- June 19, 1834- 89

Don Richardson- June 23, 1935 (p 256)

*John Williams- June 27, 1796

John Wesley- June 28, 1703- 101

Pastor Li De Xian- June 29 the Day of the Christian Martyr 

*Loren Cunningham- June 30, 1936

JULY

Charles A. Tindley- July 7, 1851 (p 296)

Cameron Townsend- July 9, 1896

Toyohiko Kagawa- July 10, 1888

 Mary McLeod Bethune- July 10, 1875

*John Calvin- July 10, 1509- 29

 *Klaus-Dieter John- July 13, 1952

Lilias Trotter- July 14, 1853- 95

Rembrandt- July 15, 1606- 81

*Dr. Paul Brand- July 17, 1914 

*Rebecca St. James- July 26, 1977

AUGUST

*Norman Grubb- August 2, 1895

*John Newton- August 4, 1725- 71

*Adoniram Judson- August 9, 1788- 53

*William Carey- August 17, 1761- 31

*Francis Asbury- August 20, 1745

-Birthday of Moravian Missions/Protestant Missionaries- August 21, 1732 ("Do all in the Spirit of Jesus Christ")

Selina, Countess of Huntingdon- August 24, 1707- 83

William Wilberforce- August 24, 1759- 107

Mother Teresa/Missionaries of Charity- August 26, 1910 (Feast Day is Sept. 5th)

Saint Augustine of Hippo- August 28th Feast Day- 13

*Nate Saint- August 30, 1923

 SEPTEMBER

Peter Cartwright- September 1, 1785

Prudence Crandall- September 3, 1803 

*Sundar Singh- September 3, 1889

*Katharina Zell- September 5, 1562 (death)- 113

-Zinzendorf and Countess Erdmuth Dorothea von Reuss married- September 7, 1722

Saint John Chrysostom- September 13 (Feast Day)- 37

Robert Raikes- September 14, 1736- 79

Thomas Barnardo- September 19, 1905 (death)- 19

*Helen Roseveare- September 21, 1925

*J.R.R. Tolkien- Hobbit Day/September 22

*Lillian Trasher- September 27, 1887

George Mueller- September 27, 1805- 69

Argula von Grumbach- September 30ish or September 1 (she was Bavarian so celebrate her around Octoberfest?)- 49

OCTOBER

Pastor Appreciation Month

Jimmy Carter- October 1, 1924

William Tyndale- Death October 6, 1536  (p 280)- 97

*Michael W. Smith- October 7, 1957

Jim Elliott- October 8, 1927- 45

*Florence Young- October 10, 1856

King Edward VI of England- October 12, 1537- 43

Joni Eareckson Tada- October 15, 1949- 41

Horatio Spafford- October 20, 1828

Keith Green- October 21, 1953 (p 264)

Henrietta Mears- October 23, 1890!

Reformation Day/Martin Luther- October 31, 1517- 63

 NOVEMBER

First Sunday in November is the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church

*Edith Schaeffer- November 3, 1914

Watchman Nee/Ni Shu-tsu- November 4, 1903

Billy Graham- November 7, 1918- 47

*David Bussau- November 10, 1940

*Jago (Illustrator)- November 12, 1979

*Jacob DeShazer- November 15, 1912

*Lois Walfrid Johnson- November 23, 1936

John Knox- November 24, 1572 (death)- 55

*John Flynn- November 25, 1880

C.S. Lewis- November 29, 1898- 57

*John Bunyan- baptism November 30, 1628- 27

 

 DECEMBER

Mary Slessor- December 2, 1848- 87

*C.T. Studd- December 2, 1860- 91

*Ida Scudder- December 9, 1870

Lottie (Charlotte) Moon- December 12, 1840

Frances Havergal- December 14, 1836 (p 448)

*Clarence Wesley Jones- December 15, 1900

George Whitefield- December 16, 1714- 105

Amy Carmichael- December 16, 1867- 33

*Isobel Miller Kuhn- December 17, 1901

*Charles Wesley- December 18, 1707- 99

*Elisabeth Elliott- December 21, 1926- 45

*John Wycliffe- December 31, 1384 (death)- 111

Fanny Crosby

 

Dear God,

Thank you for Fanny Crosby and blessing us with her beautiful hymns.  I don't think I could even pick a favorite.  They instantly transport me to my childhood at our church in California.  I especially remember singing "Jesus is Tenderly Calling You Home" while the deacons with their handsome, crisp suits would file into the aisles and kneel on the stage steps in absolute humility.  My childhood heart saw this ritual performed over and over again with such love and grace.  I knew you were there.  I knew you were calling me.  You were the only one who could change my rebellious, sinful heart.  

"Jesus is waiting; O come to Him now-
Waiting today, waiting today;
Come with thy sins, at His feet lowly bow-
Come, and no longer delay. 

Calling today,
Calling today,
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling today."

I confess I am in a place that I do not like.  It is hard.  It kinda sucks.  I am fearful.  I am nervous and could cry every minute of every day.  I miss my freedom, but I believe and trust that this is where you want me right now.  And I know the freedom I have in you will be the ultimate prize.  This is a test of faith.  Fanny Crosby is an example of that faith to keep me going.  I cling to Jesus and I can't wait till I reach my true home.

Amen

Recommended Reading- Psalm 48

Fanny Crosby Hymn Playlist

Instrumental "Jesus is Tenderly Calling" 

Lyrics "Jesus is Tenderly Calling" 

Piano Fanny Crosby Hymns

3 Gifts Stamped

-Almost any handmade art by my girls

Thank you, God, for my family.  They can turn my whole day around.

-Books, stamped from the library

Thank you, God, for being able to borrow books from the library and opening my world. 

-Christmas cards stamped with art or in the mail stamped with a stamp

Thank you, God, that people some people do send physical Christmas cards.  I love seeing them and thinking and praying for the person who sent them. 

December Joy Dare

3 Gifts Ugly Beautiful:

-My body
Thank you, God, for my body.  It may not be conventionally beautiful, but I am choosing to believe it is beautiful to God and to those who truly love me.

-My house
Thank you, God, for our ugly beautiful house.  It is ugly because it is mostly hallway and the dining room leaves much to be desired but it is beautiful because I have my family here. 

-Christmas sweaters
Thank you, God, for funny "ugly beautiful" Christmas sweaters.  They are fun and festive. 

November Joy Dare

3 Gifts Government:

-EBT/Food Stamps

Thank you, God, for food stamps.  It is uncomfortable and embarrassing, but I don't know how we would be able to eat even marginally healthy without the money to buy food.

-Humor for late night talk shows

Thank you for the hilarious news that is crazy and horrible but made bearable by how many jokes come from the president and his administration.

-The history of our government

Thank you for all the things I have learned and still have the opportunity to learn about the history of our government. 

Fruitful Lives/Missions Spotlight Ideas

• Brother Andrew: May 11, 1928 God's Smuggler Trailblazer & Christian Heroes
• Menno Simons: January 12, 1536 when he joined the Anabaptists and became a Mennonite Church founder, Trailblazer
• Corrie ten Boom: April 15, 1892 (movie and book) The Hiding Place Christian Heroes
• John M. Perkins: June 16, 1930 many books, African American fighting for jobs and fair wages, Dream with Me
• Pastor Li De Xian (China/newspaper/persecuted church): May 8 his church was raided, introduce Jesus Freak and The Voice of the Martyrs (June 29 is the Day of the Christian Martyr)
• Jimmy Carter (Habitat for Humanity) October 1, 1924 If I Had a Hammer and various biographies plus Faith
• Eric Liddell: January 16, 1902 + Kids of Courage/Torchlighters & Chariots of Fire movie Christian Heroes
• Susanna Wesley: January 20, 1669 Sower Series
• Amy Carmichael: December 16, 1867 Christian Heroes
• Martin Luther King Jr.: January 15, 1929 various books
• Father Damien: January 3, 1840  (various) Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (movie) Hawaiian Saint who worked with lepers
• Francis (Franny) Crosby: March 24, 1820 blind hymn writer Trailblazer & Heroes of the Faith
• Samuel Morris/Taylor University: Kids of Courage/Torchlighter & Trailblazer ? no date but could be celebrated in February for Black History Month
• Jim and Elisabeth Elliot: October 8, 1927 & December 21, 1926 MANY resources and books- Through the Gates of Splendor, End of the Spear (movie), Christian Heroes, Kids of Courage, Torchbearer 
• Florence Nightingale: May 12, 1820, nurse, lady with the lamp, Trailblazer, and various
• Henrietta Mears: October 23, 1890, Christian Educator, has a PHD and wrote What the Bible is All About? help founded Gospel Light and she has a biography called Dream Big: The Hennrietta Mears Story
• Ni Shu-tsu/Watchman Nee (China): November 4, 1903 Against the Tide: The Unforgettable Story of Watchman Nee (he wrote quite a few Christian life books)         
• Toyohiko Kagawa- July 10, 1888 Japanese Christian, earthquake, writing
• Peter Cartwright: September 1, 1785 Backwoods Preacher and revivalist Trailblazer
• Elizabeth Fry: May 21, 1780 British prison reformer and humanitarian Heroes of History & Trailblazer
• Dwight L. Moody:  February 5, 1837 founder of Moody Bible Institute Christian Heroes
• Reverend and Mrs. Paton: May 24, 1824 (John G. Paton and Mary Ann Robson Paton) missionaries in the South Seas also known as the Republic of Vanuatu (New Hebrides and the island of Tanna) Trailblazer
• Anne Bradstreet: March 20 1612, Pilgrims first American published poet- books I would like to review: here and here  highlight Puritan influence and/or Women in Church history
• S. Truett Cathy (Samuel): March 14, 1921 founder of Chick-fil-A (various)  Cow Appreciation Day July 9th
• Billy Graham: November 7, 1918, (various), Christian Heroes & Young Christian Library & Trailblazer Hope for Each Day (Devotional for kids)- here
• Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer: February 4, 1906, Christian Heroes & Trailblazer also this might be a good time to introduce the Lent devotional here
• Mary Slessor: December 2, 1848 missionary to Nigeria Christian Heroes & Trailblazer  & Heroes of Faith & Trailblazer
• Don Richardson: June 23, 1935 author and missionary, he is Canadian and possible Canadian Day celebration (July 1st)- Peace Child and Eternity in  Their Hearts Websites: here & here
• Keith Green: October 21, 1953 musician No Compromise & various Youtube Website- Last Days Ministries
• Gladys Aylward: February 24, 1902 missionary to China, Christian Heroes & Kids of Courage & Trailblazer + Trailblazer & Little Lights & a movie Inn of the Sixth Happiness
• William Tyndale: death October 6, 1536 movie God's Outlaw translated the New Testament into English in 1526 Kids of Courage & Heroes of Faith & Trailblazer + Trailblazer
• Grace Chang: missionary to China ????? Called to the Hard Places
• Charles A. Tindley: July 7, 1851 minister and gospel music composer- "We Shall Overcome" & "We'll Understand it Better By and By" & "When the Storms of Life are Raging (Stand By Me)"  By and By (biography)
• David Zeisberger: April 11, 1721 a missionary from Moravia (Czech Republic) to Native American Indians Trailblazer & a PDF file book called Scenes from the Life of David Zeisberger
• Amanda Berry Smith: January 23, 1837, former slave "God's image carved in ebony" Courageous World Changers 
• George Chen/Chen Min Lin: Chinese pastor imprisoned for 18 years article & "The Garden" pray for China- use PDF Bold Believers in China- May Asian Heritage Month
• George Muller: September 27, 1805 Christian evangelist who worked with orphans and Jews in England Christian Heroes & Kids of Courage & Trailblazers & his book Release the Power of Prayer
• Horatio Spafford: October 20, 1828 (hymn studies) wrote "It is Well with My Soul" after family tragedy found Spafford's Children's Home in Israel biography It is Well
• Mother Teresa/Missionaries of Charity: August 26, 1910 MANY BOOKS 
• George Washington Carver: January 24 is Peanut Butter Day or Peanut Butter Lovers Day March 1 many books & Heroes of History 
• Mary McLeod Bethune: July 10, 1875 African-American school teacher and champion of racial equality kids biography & Trailblazer could also read This Far By Faith & Little Leaders
• C.S. Lewis: November 29, 1898 author of The Chronicles of Narnia could be a nice transition to holidays with Advent in Narnia & Tolkien plus many many other resources into Christian Fantasy Literature Christian Heroes **************************** 
• Robert Raikes: September 14, 1736 Father of Sunday School biography and an old book called The Story of Robert Raikes for the Young (try Abesbooks)
• Charles Wesley/John Wesley: December 18, 1707 & June 28, 1703 Charles wrote many hymns and these brothers lead the Methodist movement- books to try or review here & here & here & here
• William Henry Sheppard: March 8, 1865 African-American missionary to the Congo biography & maybe also talk or learn about David Livingstone
• William Wilberforce: August 24, 1759 Heroes of History & Trailblazer & Amazing Grace (movie)
• Lottie Moon: December 12, 1840 missionary to China Christian Heroes & Trailblazer & others Also learn about Annie Armstrong biography
• Prudence Crandall: September 3, 1803 Quaker fighting for equality biography & movie & maybe a good time to introduce Christy
• Joni Eareckson Tada: October 15, 1949 Christian Artist and author and advocate for those with disabilities many books and a movie & her accident occurred July 30, 1967 & her website and ministry 
• Cameron Townsend: July 9, 1896 founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators Christian Heroes & Operation World Prayer Resources 
• Francis Schaeffer: January 30, 1912 Trailblazer & many books he and his wife, Edith Schaeffer November 3, 1914, wrote
• Frances Havergal: December 14, 1836 Trailblazer & she wrote poems and devotionals for children
• OCTOBER is Pastor Appreciation Month 

-Saint Augustine: Feast Day August 28 Christian Biographies for Young Readers 

-Johann Sebastian Bach: March 31

EXTRA Ideas
Authors
Ministries
Missionaries/Heroes in Christian History
Trailblazers
Lightkeepers
Days of Prayer- May 7th, Meet, See You At the Pole Prayer Week for Students September 25th
Church History
Missionary Day- March 5th
Kids of Courage Downloads