Hudson Taylor

In preparation for China I have been reading as many books about China and missionaries as I can get my hands on. I've read two different accounts of the life of Hudson Taylor and it's truly inspired me. Hudson Taylor had such amazing faith and focus. God gave Him a real passion for China... and such an amazing faith in God's provision... it has really given me the courage to step out and trust in God more than ever. Some of his accounts of God's provision in his life have really encouraged me that I should never ever doubt God... He has awesome plans for me and will provide each step of the way. I never need to be worried about it. I have heard this for years, but now I'm really living it... and challenged to take it to a new extreme... I have been learning to be generous even with my limited resources... after all, it's God's money not mine. Matthew 6 talks about how the lilies of the field don't worry about what they wear... and they are more perfectly dressed than King Soloman! What am I worried about? Why am I worried? I must put all my faith in Him and He will bless me!!!

Here are a few of the awesome Hudson Taylor quotes that really challenged me... If you haven't read the story of his life, I'd highly encourage it... His stories are amazing!

• "As I put myself, my life, my friends, my all upon the altar, the deep solemnity that come over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of God became unutterably real and blessed, and I remember, stretching myself on the ground and lying there before Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy. For what service I was accepted I knew not, but a deep consciousness that I was not my own took possession of me which has never since been effaced."
• "I had more than 2/3 of my income available for other purposes, and my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the more I gave to others the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become."
• "Now I am happy in my Saviour's love. I can thank Him for all, even the most painful experiences of the past, and trust Him without fear for all that is to come."
• "Unspeakable joy all day long and every day, was my happy experience. God, even my God, was a living bright reality, and all I had to do was joyful service."
• "12 million--a number so great that it is impossible to realize it-yes, 12 million souls in China, every year, passing without God and without hope, into eternity... Oh let us look with compassion on this multitude! God has been merciful to us; let us be like Him."
• "Would you not give up all for Jesus who died for you?"
• "To contemplate going out to China far from all human aid, there to depend upon the living God alone for protection, supplies of every kind, I felt that one's spiritual muscles required strengthening for such an undertaking. There was no doubt that if faith did not fail, God would not fail."
• "I shall have no claim on anyone for anything. My only claim will be on God. How important to learn to move man, through God, by prayer alone."
• "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee... may he keep me ever thus, simply depending on Him for every blessing, temporal as well as spiritual"
• "I know He tries me only to increase my faith, ant that it is all in love. Well, if He is glorified, I am content."
• "One who is really leaning on the Beloved finds it always possible to say 'I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.' But I am so apt, like Peter, to take my eyes off the One to be trusted and look at the winds and the waves... oh for more stability! The reading of the Word and the meditation on the promises have been increasingly precious to me of late."
• "I have made it (finding a house) a matter of prayer, and have given it entirely into the Lord's hands, and now I feel quite at peace about it. He will provide and be my guide in this and every other perplexing step"

Amen.