Book Review: God’s Missionary by Amy Carmichael

~Recent Reads~

Books Worth Reading

Thoughts Concerning the King by Elizabeth Prentiss
Originally published in 1890, these selections from Elizabeth Prentiss' private papers represent the cream of her thoughts and relationship with the Lord. While simply a collection of quotes and poetry, the depth and insight of these quotations make this book a treasure indeed.

Children of the Storm by Natasha Vins
Natasha Vins tells the story of life as the daughter of the persecuted Russian pastor Georgi Vins.

Release the Power of Prayer by George Muller
George Muller testified that he had received at 50,000 specific answers to prayer. Read the powerful testimony of a man who looked to God for all needs and believed that God delights in the prayers of His children.

Studies In The Sermon On The Mount by Oswald Chambers
The Sermon on the Mount would bring us to despair apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Oswald Chambers expounds on the meaning of these commands of Christ and shows us that Christ enables us to follow His teachings.

Mimosa: A True Story by Amy Carmichael
A young Indian girl one day heard of a Savior who loved her and from then on she chose to worship only Him even though for many years she could not remember His name. This story reveals the amazing power of our Savior's love.

If by Amy Carmichael
If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
This convicting book, in short, pointed sentences, reveals the true meaning of Calvary love.

Rose from Brier by Amy Carmichael
Written not from the well to the ill, but from the ill to the ill, this book contains the treasures of Amy Carmichael's spiritual life during the final years of her life. This collection of poetry, short stories, and encouragement for fellow-sufferers addresses many aspects of human suffering and points us to Calvary as the only source of peace and comfort.

Set-Apart Femininity: God's Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman by Leslie Ludy
In contrast to the shallow, selfish, pleasure seeking femininity found today, Set-Apart Femininity lays out a blueprint for life-changing, world altering femininity that is based on God's sacred call and purpose. This book calls young women to make an eternal impact on this world rather than indulge themselves in today's self-focused culture. Speaking forthrightly to the corruption of today's culture and its infiltration into the church, the message of this book drives deep into the heart of true set-apart femininity and the heart of God.

To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston
A fascinating story from Colonial Jamestown. As a struggling colony faces the threats and dangers of the new world, a Godly soldier braves all odds to defend the sanctity of marriage. This is a story of courage, faithfulness, and total dedication to God's sacred laws.

Golden hours: Heart-hymns of the Christian life by Elizabeth Prentiss
In this book, Elizabeth Prentiss puts into verse her experiences of both intense joy and suffering. Born out of a time of the darkest pain, these poems reflect the lessons learned by a life consecrated to God.

Essays on Various Subjects Principally Designed for Young Ladies by Hannah More
Written over 200 years ago, this thought-provoking collection of essays expounds on various qualities that are unique to femininity. Chapter topics include conversation, meekness, education, and religion. This book affirms the God-ordained distinctions between men and women and encourages young ladies to pursue excellence. A very refreshing book for those who desire to return to a Biblical pattern for womanhood.

Vanya by Myrna Grant
The story of a young Russian soldier whose faith did not die in the face of torture and martyrdom. The amazing miracles God did through his life fanned the flames of Christianity in Russia.

A Day's Time-Table by E. S. Elliott
Written over a century ago, this simple tale of one day in a young unmarried woman's life incorporates and reveals powerful truths concerning the relevance of God's Word to every detail of our lives. This fictional story is written in the style of a novel, yet is full of Scripture. God's design for womanhood flows throughout the book, untainted by modern feminism.

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
A collection of letters written to the author's daughter on the meaning of womanhood.

No Graven Image by Elisabeth Elliot
The fictional story of a young single woman missionary who is given the enormous task of starting a work among the Quichuas of the high Andes. As she begins her life as a missionary, she quickly learns that she is supposed to project an image of herself as a successful, spiritual missionary. Then something happens that shatters that image and she learns to put no created image, no matter how "spiritual", in the place of God.

The 1599 Geneva Bible
The original 1599 Geneva Bible with notes written by the reformers. Nothing has been updated except the spelling. This translation is characterized by simple and beautiful language that is surprisingly understandable even to modern readers.

Aunt Jane's Hero by Elizabeth Prentiss
The heartwarming story of a Christian couple seeking to establish a home whose happiness flows from a beautiful relationship with the Lord Jesus. Biblical truths about marriage and family life are interwoven throughout this lovely story.

Gold Cord by Amy Carmichael
The story of the Dohnavur Fellowship in Amy Carmichael's own words. An amazing testimony of the work of God.

They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman
This is a book about the exchanged life, the life that is of Christ. This collection of 20 short biographies of men and women who discovered the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will increase your desire to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your own life. The Christian life is, first and foremost, about a mighty, resurrected Lord whose Spirit can indwell and completely transform those who surrender to Him.

Edges of His Ways by Amy Carmichael
Selections from the notes of Amy Carmichael arranged in a daily devotional style.

Toward Jerusalem by Amy Carmichael
A collection of poetry and songs written for those who are about the King's business.

His Thoughts Said. . .His Father Said . . . by Amy Carmichael
The thoughts of a child of God are often troubled and questioning. The Father has an answer to all of them.

Thou Givest They Gather by Amy Carmichael
Gleanings from the previously unpublished writings of Amy Carmichael arranged in daily devotional readings.

A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
My favorite biography of Amy Carmichael. Full of excerpts from Amy's writings, this well-researched book gives us a glimpse into the life of one of the great lovers of God.

Love to the Uttermost by F. B. Meyer
An exposition of John 13-21. The author digs deep into the events of Jesus' last hours in order to bring us to a closer, passionate devotion to the Messiah.

God's Missionary by Amy Carmichael
"The Cross is the attraction." This fiery little book reveals Christ's standards for the true soldiers of the Cross.

Testament From Prison by Georgi Vins
A collection of personal testimonies, stories, sermons, letters, and poetry written by Georgi Vins, his family, and other persecuted Russian believers.

Book Review: God’s Missionary by Amy Carmichael

May 22nd, 2009

Don’t miss the other book reviews I’ve posted this week:

Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss and Dannah Gresh

Keep A Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot

Kohila: The Shaping of an Indian Nurse by Amy Carmichael

Testament From Prison by Georgi Vins

Also be sure to check out My 10 Most Favorite Free Online Books.

This is the last in a series of book reviews I’ve posted this week. God’s Missionary by Amy Carmichael is a fiery little book I have read several times. Its message was controversial when it was first written. It was ” . . . tossed into the fire, flung across bungalows, torn into fragments and thrown into wastepaper baskets, dissected, misquoted, written against in ‘opposition tracts,’ used as a foil for opposite thought in at least one missionary training-college . . .” I hope I have gotten your curiosity up enough to read this book! The power of the conviction of the message of this book has evoked a variety of reactions over the decades. Despite being reviled and written against and the fact that its message is considered profoundly “uncool” in this day and age, this little book has never gone out of print since it was first written.

So what in the world is this book about? It is about the need for God’s true missionary to be disentangled (2 Tim. 2:4), separated (Num. 6:2-4), and crowned (Lev. 21:12). When Amy Carmichael first arrived on the mission field, she observed that missionaries often did not live the kind of life that they preached. As one Indian woman said to her,

“We Indian Christians observe. We observe you not only when you are at work but when you are off work too. Is there anything remarkable about you? Are you burning-hot people? We look to you to show us patterns and you are showing us crooked patterns.“

Should we content with mediocrity and the dictatorship of the status quo? This book would not have been written if the author had not believed otherwise:

“We are here to live holy, loving, lowly lives. We cannot do this unless we walk very, very close to our Lord Jesus. Anything that would hinder us from the closest walk that is possible to us till we see Him face to face is not for us. We need to be sensitive to the first approach of the hindering thing. For the sake of the souls that may be stumbled if we turn even ever so little aside, for the sake of our Master’s glory – dearer surely to us than all else – let us ask Him now to show us whether in anywise we have been showing ‘crooked patterns’.”

Amy goes on to explain that a Christian, a missionary, is to be free from the entanglements of this world. Useless social obligations, hurtful talk, ambition, and selfish recreation are some entanglements that keep God’s soldier from winning on the battlefield. Anything that does not pertain to the advancement of the Master’s Kingdom is an entanglement. The missionary must narrow down his life to those things that are truly important.

What, then, is the attraction of the Christian life? The Cross is the Attraction. It is a separated life, separate unto the Lord. It is a life of soldiership, of battles, of difficulties. It is a life of Love – Love as true as steel.

And in conclusion,

“Love is the answer to all things: love ends all questions. Lord, ever more give us this love.”

You can get this book here.