Meet Barbara Spooner

England has been much in the news of late with the death and funeral of her beloved longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. With my own tea and tears, I sat alone and watched for twelve hours as the world bade farewell to this amazing woman. Now today, another exceptional English lady, of far less notoriety, is the focus of this blog post: Barbara Spooner.

“Barbara Spooner became the wife of William Wilberforce, the leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. Imagine! Two weeks after their initial meeting, Wilberforce proposed marriage to this remarkable lady, to which Barbara agreed. They were married a month later, six weeks after they met.

“They were held as such an example of strength and fidelity that those around them—and around the country—took notice. ”

— World-Changers: Live to Serve

The marriage of William and Barbara was so strong, so unshakable, that historians agree it had an impact on the institution of marriage in England for the next 50 years. They were held as such an example of strength and fidelity that those around them—and around the country—took notice.

“They raised the bar and modeled something for their culture that was rarely seen at the time. ”

— Ibid

The pair ran against the culture of the time, which said it was acceptable to demean women or to be unfaithful to your wife. Add to that, Barbara’s constant exposure to the public—she was very much a public figure in her husband’s life. All these things combined so well that their marriage—and the strength of it—became public knowledge. They raised the bar and modeled something for their culture that was rarely seen at the time.

More importantly, Barbara had a tremendous impact on her husband. She was his constant encourager, his staunch ally, and his fiercest friend. She helped him carry the abolition banner for the rest of his life.”*

Barbara Spooner

1771-1847

*Bob Beltz and Walt Kallestad. World-Changers: Live to Serve. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2007. Print.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

"He has also placed eternity in human hearts" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:1).

How did this world-changing couple live counter to the culture of their day?

What attributes of their marriage encourage us today?

If Queen Elizabeth and Barbara Spooner could have met, what do you think they would have discussed?

How Can I Pray for You?

How Can I pray for you?

My answer comes from a Roman prison cell. Paul in his Letter to the Colossians tells the church how he brings them before God in prayer. And he doesn’t leave out anything.

“For this reason since I first heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1: 9-14).

According to Dr. Charles Stanley, “This prayer covers every area of our lives that needs the Lord’s touch.” Furthermore, I have found that committing the passage to memory brings even deeper meaning to intercession for my precious family.

So now when asked, “How can I pray for you?”: “Colossians 1:9-14,” is my heartfelt response. And, I look forward to heaven when the amazing answers are revealed!

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3":11).

As you read these verses, which element of this prayer means the most to you?

How would you like to proceed in committing this prayer to memory?

Who Is She?

The woman with whom George Müller shared his life, his faith, his love, and his Lord was Mary Groves Müller. Please get to know this remarkable lady in the words below.

In George Müller: Delighted In God,* author Roger Steer gives insight into this remarkable marriage and ministry partnership of Mary and George. The following glimpse into Mary’s life is gleaned from his work.

“My darling, do you think there is a couple in Bristol, or in the world, happier than we are?”

— George Müller

“Our happiness in God, and in each other, was indescribable. We had not some happy days every year, not a month of happiness every year; but we had twelve months of happiness in the year, and thus year after year. Often did I say, ‘My darling, do you think there is a couple in Bristol, or in the world, happier than we are?’”

These words were spoken from the heart of George Müller, a man called by God to confront the abominable social ills affecting a population of children in England in the 1800s. The woman who shared his life, his faith, his love, and his Lord was Mary Groves Müller. She was his faithful wife and coworker in establishing orphanage houses in Bristol, England.

“Müller felt sure that it was better for him to be married and prayed much about the choice of a life’s partner. Miss Groves could hardly have been a more ideal answer to his prayers. According to Müller, she played the piano nicely and painted beautifully, and as for providing him with intellectual companionship, she had studied English grammar, geography, history, French, Latin and Hebrew —and she could teach George a thing or two about astronomy. On August 15, 1830, he [George] wrote asking her to be his wife; four days later, Mary accepted his proposal, and they fell to their knees asking God to bless their marriage.”

“Expect great things from God, and great things you will have. There is no limit to what He is able to do.

”

— George Müller

As the work with orphans grew to become five large orphanages housing thousands of children, no individual was ever asked for money. “Oh, it is good to trust in the living God, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ Expect great things from God, and great things you will have. There is no limit to what He is able to do.”

“Mary was the ideal wife for the director of five large children’s homes. “My darling,” Müller often said to her, “God Himself singled you out for me, as the most suitable wife I could possibly wish to have had.”

“Müller believed that one of the greatest secrets of their marital bliss was that besides their times of private prayer, and family prayer, he and Mary frequently prayed together. ”

— Living With Eternality®

Of his marriage to Mary, Müller said:

“Every year our happiness increased more and more … Thousands of times I told her, ‘My darling, I never saw you at any time, since you became my wife, without my being delighted to see you.’” Indeed, Müller believed that one of the greatest secrets of their marital bliss was that besides their times of private prayer, and family prayer, he and Mary frequently prayed together.

At seventy-two years of age, on February 6, 1870, Mary left this world and went Home to her beloved Lord Jesus. In her earthly partnership with George Müller, their lives had been characterized by prayer, faith, and mutual self-denial for the cause of Christ.

Mary Müller

1797-1870

*Roger Steer. George Müller: Delighted in God. Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2008. Print. (Content quoted and paraphrased).

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in human hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

“Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).

How did this extraordinary couple live their lives with eternal intentionality?

What aspect of their vibrant faith motivates you to trust God more fully?