Lisa Barry: For the last two weeks, Elisabeth Elliot has been looking at the life and legacy of some of the women who have influenced her life. The woman we're going to hear about today had such a profound influence that Elisabeth refers to her as one of her spiritual mothers. Elisabeth even wrote her biography. Have you guessed who it is yet? It's Amy Carmichael. If you haven't read anything by her, I'm going to tell you how to purchase a few of her books at the end of today's program. But for now, let's get started with this Wednesday edition of Gateway To Joy. Here's Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says. "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, talking with you today about Amy Carmichael. I'm sure that many of you know that Amy Carmichael has been one of the most powerful influences in my life, although she is one whom I never met.

I've been telling you about some great women of God who have had deep influences in my life, and I had the privilege of meeting them. Mrs. DuBois. Of course, my dear Aunt Ann Howard. Miss Cumming. Isobel Kuhn. Mom Cunningham. Corrie ten Boom. These were all people that I met in the flesh.

But Amy Carmichael I never met. She was a missionary to southern India. She was there for about 57 years, never took a furlough. And of course, I never met her. But I was introduced to her writings through Mrs. DuBois, the headmistress that I spoke about the other day-a very amazing woman who loved Amy Carmichael's writings. She used to quote from them very often when she would speak to us in vespers. I began to borrow the books and I was very quickly hooked.

Among the many books that she wrote-she wrote about 40, I think-is a little book called HIS THOUGHTS SAID; HIS FATHER SAID. She had a rather charming way of putting her own thoughts into somebody else's mouth. She always makes us think that it's a man that's talking here, but of course it was she.

This little book begins with this statement. It's called "Leave That Book." These are just very short little bits. The very first bit in the book, number one, "Leave That Book." "His thoughts said,"-and I'm assuming that this is exactly what Amy Carmichael's thoughts were saying. "His thoughts said, 'I have been reading a spiritual book, and I am confused and tired with trying to understand.' His father said, 'Leave that book and read the book that thou lovest best. Thou wilt find it much simpler.'"

The second one: "Flies." "His thoughts said, 'When I would seek Him whom my soul loveth, confusions like flies buzz about me.' His father said, 'Press through these confusions as thou wouldst press through a swarm of gnats. Take no notice of them. Be not stayed by them. Be not occupied with them. Be not entangled by them.'"

Well, that's a good one for me, because I do have a hard time with my thoughts becoming confused and distracted, as though flies were buzzing around me. So this word, "Take no notice of them; be not occupied with them; be not entangled by them," it's a good one.

Here's another one entitled, "Ye Shall Be Trusted." "The son knew that if he came to serve the Lord, he must prepare his soul for temptation. But he had never expected the particular temptation that confronted him now. His father asked him if he had expected to choose his temptations. The son said no, but he longed to have done with temptation forever. His father said, 'Someday it shall be so. As a dream when one awaketh, so it will be. That dream will never come again, but you must learn to endure and to conquer. Blessed is the man that endures temptation.' And he told him of the hidden manna prepared for the overcomer. 'Watch for the hidden manna,' he said. 'It will come in hidden ways.'

Then to the son it was given to taste of the manna hidden in a word he had not found before. 'Put your trust in the Lord God, and you shall be trusted.' The son was greatly delighted with that word, and he prayed that he might be made worthy of so great a thing as the trust of his father."

I think that Amy Carmichael is speaking of the hidden manna as spiritual bread that the Lord gives us sometimes in our quiet moments with Him that we had not otherwise noticed. It's a special gift from heaven. He tells us to watch for the hidden manna, because it will come in hidden ways.

Oh, my, these are so wonderful, I hate to skip any of them. "His thoughts said, 'Suddenly a question is asked. Suddenly a decision must be made. The answer and the decision affect the lives of others. In me is no wisdom at all. Sometimes it's as if I could not even pray.' His father said, 'A breath may be a prayer. I hide not my ear at thy breathing. Be a simple child with me. Ask for the thing you need most. I will not upbraid you. I will not criticize you. If any lack wisdom, let him ask. And as thou goest on thy way, thou shalt do as occasion serves thee, for God is with thee. Do you lack strength? The Lord of hosts will be strength to them that turn the battle at the gate.'"

Maybe you've already guess that I'm mixing up the "yous" and the "thees" and the "thous." She is writing all of them in that Old English way of using "thou" and "thee." I thought, "Well, some of my listeners may just want to turn off the radio, because they say, "Oh, there goes Elisabeth Elliot about that Old English stuff again. I can't really follow that." But I would urge you to get your hands on Amy Carmichael's books. I think you would find them not nearly as difficult as they may sound on the radio.

Now here's one that may tempt us. We think we could do better work for the Lord if we weren't tired. So this one is called, "Wearied With His Journey."

"His thoughts said, 'I could do better work for my Lord if it were not that I'm tired. I am tired of being tired.' His father said, 'Jesus, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well. Are you not willing to be wearied with your journey? Many are wearied in the service of self, the world, earthly glory. You are loosed from that bondage. Rejoice in the liberty to be weary for God's sake, the One who loved you and gave Himself for you. Abide in His love, and you will learn to give as He gave, even in weariness; to live as He lived, more than conqueror over the flesh.'"

I suppose that there's someone listening to me who is ill in bed or some older person who can just barely move around. You, too, are tired of being tired. The Lord is simply reminding you that He understands your tiredness and He will give you work to do that He knows that you are able to do.

Then I'd like to read a couple of poems from the poetry book called TOWARD JERUSALEM. People are always asking me if any of Amy Carmichael's poems are in print. I'm very glad to tell you, "Yes. They certainly are-a whole book of them."

I love this one before I go to sleep at night. It's titled "Before Sleep." "My Lord, my love, my heart's eternal light, shine on Thy lover through the hours of night. Shine on my thoughts; my very dreams be found about Thy business on some holy ground. Should friendly angel come to meet me there, let me not miss him, deaf and unaware. And if I may, one other prayer I bring. O Lord my God, make no long tarrying."

And here's a poem that refers to that occasion in Mark 4, where Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and a furious squall came up.

"Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow. Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea. What matter beating wind and tossing pillow, if only we are in the boat with Thee? Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute, while Thou art silent and the wind is shrill. Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it? Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?"

Some of you may have my little book called KEEP A QUIET HEART. As I read this poem, I think of the quiet heart that Jesus had in the midst of a furious squall, and the faithlessness of the disciples when they were so afraid that they were about to go to the bottom. But Jesus was in the boat, and Jesus is in your boat, too. Don't forget that.

One more poem. This is the last poem in the book called TOWARD JERUSALEM. It's my desire, too. She writes, "One thing have I desired, my God, of Thee; that will I seek: Thine house be home to me. I would not breathe an alien other air; I would be with Thee, O Thou fairest fair. For I would see the beauty of my Lord and hear Him speak, who is my heart's adored. O Love of loves, and can such wonder dwell in Thy great name of names, Immanuel? Thou with Thy child; Thy child at home with Thee; O Love of loves, I love, I worship Thee."

Lisa Barry: Since Amy Carmichael had such a dramatic influence on Elisabeth's life, we wanted to put a few of Amy's books into your hands. We've heard from so many of you that can't find them in bookstores, so we've come up with what we feel is a perfect solution, and that is to offer the Amy Carmichael packet. It's a collection of materials that puts five of her books at your fingertips. This packet includes IF, HIS THOUGHTS SAID, HIS FATHER SAID, TOWARD JERUSALEM, GOLD CORD and WHISPERS OF HIS POWER. Each is guaranteed to inspire and challenge you in your daily walk.

The cost of this packet is $30. You can order it by calling, writing or by accessing our Web site. In fact, the Internet is a convenient way to purchase materials. You get instant confirmation of your purchases via e-mail, plus secure ordering. That address is gatewaytojoy.org. Or if you'd rather, our postal address is Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68501. As always, you can order by calling toll-free at 1-800-759-4JOY. Today's program has been a production of Back to the Bible and is listener-supported.

There's more to come with Amy Carmichael next time, so join us tomorrow for another Gateway To Joy.