I. Lilias Trotter was an English woman born into a wealthy Victorian-era family. She was an accomplished artist whom many thought was the best female artist in England and perhaps the world. Lilias loved her God and lived a life of full surrender to Him. She turned her back on fame and wealth as an artist and traveled as a self-supported missionary to Algeria. In the late 1800’s this was an unheard of decision, and fraught with risks. She would spend 40 years serving the people there, and ultimately would die in that land. Her writings are some of the best available on what it means to be truly Christian.
“Oh, that we may learn to die to all that is of self with this royal joyfulness that swallows up death in victory in God’s world around! He can make every step of the path full of the triumph of gladness that glows in the golden leaves. Glory be to His Name!” – Lilias Trotter
“It is a broken spirit that we need–a spirit keeping no rights before God or man, longing to go down, down, anywhere, if other souls may be blessed.” – Lilias Trotter
“Behind my back I fling Like an unwanted thing My former self and ways And reaching forward far I seek the things that are Beyond time’s lagging days. ” – Lilias Trotter
There will be more to come on this amazing missionary in April. Stay tuned!
Hat tip to Miriam Rockness and her excellent blog, “Lilias Trotter” for the excellent information about this amazing woman of God. Subtitled as “Miriam Rockness: Reflections on the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter,” her work can be found at https://ililiastrotter.wordpress.com/. The artwork by Trotter here is taken from her work.
Banner image via author, unnamed lake in the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon.
One Pursuit 
One of my favs… A great light to her generation and to the Muslims…
https://aword.info/gods-arithmetic-loss-and-gain-excerpt-from-coming-book/
Blessings
BT
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Dear Tim, I can’t thank you enough for including this piece on Lilias Trotter. A dear blogging girlfriend introduced me to Lilias a few years ago. Interestingly, during my childhood, a former youth leader and world traveler (and my swim teacher) shared about Lilias and it wasn’t until recently, I have returned to learning and reading about her. And now, you share. That’s God tugging at me! I visited the Miriam’s link and read all the responses. I’m blown away, my friend!
Perhaps Lilias’ life and testimony will be a topic at a future fireside with my women friends in the future. Either way, a spark has been lit by her faith!
Often, we limit ourselves. IN every way! NOT Ms. Trotter! She knew and lived by the power of God and used her gift to reach countless lives! May her legacy live on (and so many are doing great things to keep her work alive!). God bless you, dear friend, for keeping it alive here on 1 Pursuit! You’re a blessing! And so is Rascal!
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