Remember the Persecuted

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." -Hebrews 13:3 ESV

This scripture is specifically referring to people imprisoned for their faith in Jesus. This verse is still very much relevant, but sometimes hard to remember if you live in America. However people are currently being persecuted in places all around the world...because they love Jesus and serve Him as Lord.

Most of us don't really want to think about it. It's disturbing. But actually, as I have read these people's testimonies and heard of their experiences, my faith is encouraged. It's not just about the terrible things that happened to them. They declare God's goodness and power even in those horrendous circumstances. In my last post I shared just one of Corrie ten Boom's many testimonies of His love, which nothing and no one can stop. Corrie's sister Betsie, who was with her at Ravensbruck concentration camp, used to always say, "No pit's so deep that God's great love will not be deeper still--His great love will endure." In fact these were Betsie's last words. She died in the camp. 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, not things present not things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, not anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:35-39 ESV

Richard Wurmbrand-Imprisoned 14 years-Founder of VOM

One good resource that I have found, which shares current stories and offers MANY ways to help, is "The Voice of the Martyrs". Their website is www.persecution.com. Please check it out! You can subscribe to their free newsletter here.

Again, the stories can be hard to hear. But what is even greater than the suffering, is the glory that they give to God! That is what I always come away with. That is what really sticks with me...encourages me. It doesn't stir up fear, it increases faith!

"For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners." -Psalm 69:33   Pray for your brothers and sisters around the world, and see how God might lead you to help them.

Solitary Confinement

The following was taken from "Clippings from My Notebook" written by Corrie ten Boom:

I Was in Prison, but He Was With Me
 "Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9 NASB

Do you ever feel alone? What a question! Of course you do. But I know from my own experience that the worst loneliness is that of solitary confinement. Years ago I was alone in a cell for four months. One day for the first time a beam of sunlight shone through the window. I jumped up and stood so that the sunshine touched my face. Slowly it moved on and I moved too, just to enjoy that beam as long as possible.

That was one of the moments when I realized my loneliness as never before. I cried to the Lord, and He answered; "Have you forgotten that there is always, under all circumstances, the sunshine of My love? Have I not said; 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world' [Matt. 28:20]? I am your peace. I can give you joy now also."

I started to sing, first softly, later more loudly:

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear.

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

I waited a moment, and then I heard from another cell:

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

It was an answer from a woman who also was in solitary confinement. Her husband had been shot before her eyes, then she had been put in prison. But she too knew Jesus as her Friend and Savior. I answered her by singing:

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

A guard banged on the door and shouted: "If you do not stop singing, I will take you to the dark cell." I stopped singing and threw myself onto my dirty bed. There was peace in my heart. The guard did not know when I sang so softly that only my Savior could hear:

Are we weak and heavy-laden

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Not only in solitary confinement can one feel alone. Often in the company of many others with whom you have no real fellowship you can be lonely. But Jesus is with you also. Have you asked Him to come into your heart? Then you can talk to Him without saying one word aloud. He hears and He loves you. You are very precious in His eyes. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

There is hunger in our heart that is never satisfied, but by Jesus. Do you feel lonesome, hungry? Do you have problems that you can't solve? Do you feel chased and you don't see a way out? Come to Him.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.    
[END QUOTE]

The song she was singing:
(If receiving this via email, click on the title "Solitary Confinement" to view on website.)

More Than You Can Handle?

I have a little pet peeve about the phrase, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I have often had more than "I" could handle.  So I have a sign on my wall that says, "God doesn't give us what we can handle; He helps us handle what we are given".  I guess I like to be precise.

I read this in Streams in the Desert, and felt it very much describes the point here:
     Why should God have to lead us thus, and allow the pressure to be so hard and constant? Well, in the first place, it shows His all-sufficient strength and grace much better than if we were exempt from pressure and trial. "The treasure is in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
     It makes us more conscious of our dependence upon Him. God is constantly trying to teach us our dependence, and to hold us absolutely in His hand and hanging upon His care.
     This was the place where Jesus Himself stood and where He wants us to stand, not with self-constituted strength, but with a hand ever leaning upon His, and a trust that dare not take one step alone. It teaches us trust.
     There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God's school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life.
     The lesson of faith once learned, is an everlasting acquisition and an eternal fortune made; and without trust even riches will leave us poor. (FROM DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH) [END QUOTE]

"For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)

God is good...all the time! And He is very gentle and intentional in His ways, just like a potter with clay. Without the pressure of the Potter's hands, the clay would be merely a lump! Not only is He preparing me for works on this earth, He is preparing me for His eternal kingdom! This life is extremely short, but eternity is forever. I want to live in light of eternity. I am learning to trust. I am also learning that the joy He gives me is so much richer than the fleeting enjoyment the world has to offer. 

Photo credit: dan