Put Your "Yes" on the Table

Curt and Hilary Alan were hotly pursuing the American dream. They had everything they wanted: new cars, big house, awesome job, great kids. They were active in their local church, loved Jesus, read their Bibles, prayed regularly. But still something was missing. They were not content. God was calling them to a different place, not just physically but spiritually as well. Before they knew it they were ridding themselves of all that they had worked so hard to possess and moving across the world to a Muslim nation in need.

The book invites you in to the lives of a typical American family who seems to have it all and yet walks away from that to heed the call of the God who gave it all for the world.  It was encouraging to read how God asked them to do the unthinkable according to our society’s standards and yet the more they gave up the more God provided for them.  Even in a foreign country, an unfamiliar culture and lacking many of the luxuries of our convenient lives they found peace and grace to walk out God’s purpose for their family. What looked to their friends and family to be a radical life change was really nothing short of obedience to the voice of the Lord. Hilary says, "Back in 2004 my family was on a fast track to gaining the world but forfeiting our lives, and we didn't even realize it. We finally "found" our life in Christ when, in obedience, we put our yes on the table and followed Him to Southeast Asia."

This is a well-written account of one family who in the midst of a world who puts so much value on success chose the narrow way of obedience and found that you can’t out-give God.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Read the first chapter of the book here.