Passion and Purity

She gave me this book to read by Elizabeth Elliott, whose husband was
a martyr for Christ. While reading the book it was so nice to see her
comments in the margins. Normally that irritates me, but in this
case, it touched me. I could see her comments reflected our
relationship. You poor thing, you just are looking for love. That is
all she wants, not money or material things, but just someone to love
her.
"There is no purity in any of us apart from the blood of Jesus." (15)

This brought tears to my eyes, Only in Jesus can we be made whole and
complete and new again. Only in Jesus do we want to. There were
numerous other things in the book. Overall it is about the
relationship of two young missionaries. They were in their early
twenties when they met. The things she is asking the reader is to put
all things on the altar. Don't hesitate to give up anything for
Christ. Whatever we hold dear he will ask us to give it up for him,
and like the seed which has to die to yield life, the same has to
happen to us. "We die in order to live." (73)

I don't know what God has in store for us. I know that He may make us
wait. I can accept that, I am also praying and feel that at the end
of this month He will confirm and reaffirm things. If things go
smoothly, I should pass my exam, the trip to India should be
successful for both of us, and we should know her call a little
better. My parents should also approve as well as her pastor-- and
the pastor has given his approval. That right there is a miracle. So
these should be all confirmations. If these things don't happen, we
should pause and reevaluate. To know God's will and timing for the
marriage there should be confirmation from all around us and there
should be a sense of deepening peace. These things are happening
already. Back to Passion and Purity, everything is on the table, yet
I feel we are in an OK situation because God is leading us to marry
soon--within the next year most likely. I really feel that. So I
feel that all the things in this book apply to us, but at the same
time we are not in their situation. So rather than follow things
blindly, we should evaluate whether they are appropriate for us. Yet
we shouldn't hold on to anything to tightly. I did read the whole
book, and at times the book felt disjointed, and not very smooth, but
the principles were very real and appropriate.