There are some new additions to the blog that might interest you. Because of the fascination a couple of us have with end times prophecy and the final re-establishment of the Jewish people in their homeland in 1948, I have added links to a few of the most prominent prophecy experts we know of. You can find them in the side-bar under the title "End Times Prophecy". I also would like to highly recommend watching "The Hal Lindsey Report", which you can view on his website. Also, for those who closely watch the events transpiring in Israel over the so-called "Peace" agreement and the attempt to divide Jerusalem, there are several Israeli newspapers for your perusal. You can find them under "Up-To-Date News From Israel and the Middle East", which is also in the side-bar. Posts and comments to both new additions can be found under the Label, "Israel and the Middle East".

I have also added the Label, "Christian Social Issues", and a few websites that specifically address them. If you have one to recommend, let us know!

As we await the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us all continue to pray for our nation, the nation and people of Israel, and for God's will in all that is being played out before us.

In Christ,

Karen

Rest

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Have you ever heard one or two, or perhaps a flock of geese flying overhead, their voices calling back and forth to each other, offering direction, instruction, or perhaps encouragement? As the seasons pass, they take to the currents above the earth, soaring high above the clouds, for their instinct knows when it is time to move on, either from the approaching cold of winter, or back to their nesting grounds and the bounties of summer. Their courses rarely change, their flight pattern wonderfully engrained in their very being. When I hear their voices, I, too, am encouraged and given direction, for I know their arrival or departure means that a season is not far behind them.

One cold spring day, I heard the distant approach of these heralds of the seasons and decided to make a closer inspection of them. Driving down to the lake bed where they were congregating, I was at first awestruck by their vast numbers. The geese seemed to cover the ground in an ever-moving ocean of gray, their heads bobbing and their voices filling the air with constant honking. I watched with amazement as they stepped aside to make room for the other geese that seemed to pour from the sky in an endless wave, sounding their calls of encouragement until the last goose fell gracefully among them. I marveled at how far they must have traveled and how grateful they must have been to at last be where their weary wings had carried them.

But as I sat and watched this amazing display of God’s creation, I soon tired of the incessant repetition of their honking voices that filled the air. Closing my eyes and letting my imagination run, I laughed at how the geese sounded like a huge crowd of people, each trying to talk over the top of another and none able to make out a distinguishable word. It was as if they were trying to make their voices heard over the tumult and confusion they found themselves in. Perhaps they had stories to tell; tales of the storms they passed through in their flight, of narrowly escaping the predator’s jaws or a hunter’s gun. Maybe they had been separated from their mates and were calling to each other with words only they understood. Whatever the case, their excitement was solely their own and I couldn’t be a participant in it, only an observer sitting at a safe distance.

Then, as sudden as was their raucous approach, their voices receded to murmurs and faint chirps as each bird settled their bodies onto the warm sandy lake bed. Opening my eyes, I looked out over the sea of geese, noticing an occasional head popping up above the blanket of gray; a sentry with a wary eye keeping watch over the vast gaggle of birds. Their sudden stillness was almost as deafening as was their overwhelming chatter and excitement, as if a voice, unheard by my human ears, had soothed and calmed them into a well-deserved rest. The same voice that led them away from one season had called them home to another; a voice they were intimately familiar with, a voice they could trust and had faith in to watch over them as they briefly closed their eyes under the warmth of the sun overhead and took their well-earned respite.

I slowly drove away from the lake bed, hoping my departure didn’t disturb the geese. But as I drove the short distance home, I began to contemplate the wonder I had just seen and heard. Thinking upon the sound of that many geese in one place and the droning roar of it reminded me of the cacophony and tumultuous rush of the world and how it overwhelms us. Our nerves are exposed and made raw by the pace that’s demanded of us, the world’s offending noise chasing us even in our sleep. To the majority of humankind, one season blends into another with harsh growls, making one indistinguishable from another. We work, toil, and play, idling through the seasons, making our own sets of rules, and establishing our own boundaries of life. We pile one burden upon another, “yoking” ourselves with debt, dismay, and despair, choosing to ignore the voice that gently calls out promising rest and release from the things our hands have made.

Unlike the geese that follow their Master’s voice, man allows the voices of the world to lead him away into an unfamiliar wilderness where no rest can be found. At first glimpse, the grass may seem greener on the other side; but disappointment and heartbreak are sure to be found there. However, within that wilderness a voice is heard calling you to come and rest on His “lake bed”, to release your burdens of “flight” onto Him, and to close your eyes for a much-needed rest while He stands sentry over you. Jesus Christ’s rest is perfection, a promise of not only present rest, but also rest from our past mistakes as He frees us from the burden of sin. And when our “flight” is over, when we rest our weary wings that the breath of His Word has carried us through our lives, He promises future rest, eternal joy, and peace forevermore.

“Come unto Me…and I will give you rest.” The geese and I heard His voice that day.

Copyright 2006 Karen L. Brahs

A Farmer and His Tractor

Today has been emotional and tiring, and I welcomed the cool evening breeze and a quiet moment to stand alone in the dark and gather my thoughts. I snuggled in my oversized bathrobe, poured myself a cup of coffee, and walked out to the back porch. Only a few stars seemed to be out tonight and due to the darkness, I couldn’t tell if that was because of the clouds or not. The backyard is shallow and just beyond the hot wire that lines our boundaries is a farmer's field. Throughout the winter it has laid there dormant and lifeless; but apparently today has become the new beginning for this vast stretch of ground.

I remember last year meeting the farmer who worked this field for the first time. I'm guessing him to be in his mid to late 60's who owned the most beautiful and well trained black lab I had ever seen. In looking back, it was probably his dog that inspired my family to finally get one of our own. Every day we would watch this farmer tirelessly, day in and day out, work, prepare, work, and cultivate his crop. Not having ever farmed myself, it became an obsession for me to watch him. I had so many questions that even surprised myself. Why am I so interested in what this man is doing? But each time I had the opportunity, I would ask him my "city girl" questions. Why do you work the field back and forth and then diagonally, before you plant it? Why don't you water the entire crop at the same time? Is there anything I can do to help you? Would you like some water? He was always ever so patient with me, but I often wondered if he just wanted to be left alone. I tried to keep my distance as the season went on. I would be pulling weeds, or cleaning ditches, and would try to leave this poor man alone, but then would feel I was being rude.

One night I had noticed just before the sun began to set, before he had begun to plant his crop, that he had spent a great deal of time working on his tractor. As the evening passed we paid little attention to him, until it became dark. Once the sun had set and the sky was black, he fired up that tractor, turned on his lights and went to work. First plowing the field from east to west, back and forth, for what seemed like hours. I'm sure it was. That night I had stayed up particularly late, and I noticed from my dining room windows that his lights appeared different. Again, like tonight, I went outside and watched him. He was now plowing diagonally. How long into the night was he going to do this? And why at night? Wasn't it incredibly hard to keep everything as straight as he was, in the dark? Finally I reached a point where I could no longer stay awake and I went to bed.

When I awoke again at 5:30, he was still working! My word, this man had not slept all night and a wave of guilt went over me as I thought about how he had toiled all night while I was just a few yards away sleeping like a baby. And what about his wife? She had spent the entire night without him. Did that make her uneasy to know he was out there alone, and working harder than most men half his age? Within an hour of the day's light beginning to lighten the darkness, he parked his tractor, walked wearily over to his pickup and went home. I fixed breakfast with an entirely different attitude. He had worked at least 9 hours in the cab of that tractor while the world around him slept. I wasn't going to complain about being tired today.

As the weeks wore on and spring and summer came and went, we watched him every day. Once the crops were planted he spent many long days watering his crops, cleaning irrigation ditches of debris and an occasional ball that my kids had kicked into it, and pulling weeds. Yes, pulling weeds. By hand. I had thought, in a field this size, that was something of the past. Apparently I was wrong. He, his wife, and another helper would walk the entire field throughout the season, pulling weeds by hand. One hot summer afternoon out of pure guilt, I offered to help them. He informed me that he couldn’t pay me for my help, and so I tried to explain that I wasn’t offering to help for the pay, I simply wanted to help. Still he refused to allow me to do so. Without paying me, he said, it just wouldn’t be right. There was something about the way he said it that made me realize if I pushed the issue, I would insult him. He had an accent, from where I’m not certain, but I had a pretty good feeling that wherever that accent came from was the same place he acquired his pride. And I respected that.

By the time the season was over, he had raised two separate and different crops out of that field. In a distant kind of way he became a part of our family. His dog was always playing with the kids, and he always welcomed fresh baked cookies and iced tea when I offered it. I felt a sense of sadness when his last crop was harvested and the field was plowed one final time before winter. I knew it would be a few months before we saw him again, for his house didn’t sit on this same piece of ground. And on that day of his final plowing of the year, I sat and watched him again. I wondered if the world knew or understood the long, tiring hours these men put in for us? I thought about his wife and the amount of time alone she spent during the season. I thought about the afternoons I had watched them working together under the blistering sun because they couldn’t pay, nor would they hire, the cheap and sometimes illegal help around here. I wondered if there was ever going to come a day when the farmer, the true old-fashioned farmer, became extinct. And I wondered why he did it. Was it handed down to him from generations before? Was he carrying on what his fathers before him had done all of their lives? He seemed to like the work he did and so I could only guess that whatever his reasons were, he was happy with them. And at that very moment I wanted the world to appreciate him and his work as much as I did. I sent up a prayer for him and his success. I hoped that the next season would be as fruitful and that people would show their appreciation for the food they have on their table.

Tonight, as I sipped my coffee on the back porch and let the spring breeze blow through my hair, I heard it again. That familiar sound of a good friend and his tractor.

Red Envelope Project

It is still not too late for everyone to become involved in the Red Envelope Project. The idea was created by a woman named Chris Otto whose aim is to send as many empty red envelopes addressed to President Obama with a clear message on the back regarding the importance of life. The deadline is March 31st, when all the envelopes will be mailed in unison and hopefully delivered enmasse to the White House. She is praying for 50,000,000 envelopes to be mailed, which represents the approximate number of lives lost to abortion since Roe v. Wade.

For more information, including what is to be written on the back of the envelope, go to :
http://www.redenvelopeproject.org

Join me and others in this worthy cause. The unborn can't speak for themselves. It is up to us to do it for them.

In Christ,

Karen

The Persecuted Church: Iraq - Part 2

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:10-12

How beautiful are these words. Spoken by our Lord Who suffered for our sake the ultimate persecution, they are intended to bring us comfort amidst increasing hatred. There are many brothers and sisters around the world who daily face what Jesus warned would come. But in spite of it, they "rejoice" and are "glad" because they know that, regardless of what the world may bring upon them, they have a far greater "reward" awaiting them. They boldly and fearlessly continue to present the Gospel of salvation to their dark corners of the world for God's honor and glory. One such man in the city of Mosul, Iraq faithfully goes forward in his witness to Muslims who are looking for answers about God.

"Hassan" watched as 10,000 Christians fled the city of Mosul because of the dangerous threats against them. Fearful for his own life, he, too, went to Lebanon where he established connections with a church. But it wasn't long before the church asked him to return to Mosul as a missionary and plant churches in Iraq. It meant returning to a war zone, but Hassan felt that "the war provided a great opportunity to advance the Gospel". Once back in his own country, a house church was established and within five months had 60 members.

It wasn't long before an "Imam" from a local mosque ordered his execution for converting Muslims to Christianity. In the attempt, Hassan was shot and paralyzed from the waist down which forced him to return to Lebanon. In his wheelchair, he continues to encourage others about Christ and supports the evangelists who remain in Iraq. As he so eloquently stated, "They are carrying a bigger and heavier cross than most Christians. And despite this difficult situation the salvation of souls is taking place in big numbers among masses in Iraq. They are going and hiding under the wings of the Lord and knowing Him as Savior, and then they are more zealous and determined to witness about the gospel to other people like them...Pray the Lord will intervene directly to strengthen, encourage and empower us to do His work so that we can bring truth to Iraq."

***

Fourteen year old Aysa Ahmad Muhammad's crime was considered severe and unjustifiable by the strictures of Islamic Law. She and her family had publicly converted to Christianity, a blasphemous and "shameful" act, according to her Uncle and other extended family members. On July 9, 2006, her Uncle entered her family's kitchen utensil store and began cutting Asya's mother and severely beating Asya, or Maria, as she is also called, and her little brother. Fearful for her family's lives, Asya fatally stabbed her Uncle and was sentenced to five years and placed in prison where she remained until November 10, 2008. Because of her good conduct, Asya was given early release. However, there is great fear that extended Muslim family members may retaliate. Her father, Ahmad Muhammad Abdurahman, has received threatening phone calls. “My sisters called me, and my brother’s wife called me also [and said], ‘You are a shame. Don’t be happy in your family; we will never let you be happy in your family,’”. Please pray for their safety.

***

Refugees from Iraq often end up in nations where allegiance to Islamic Law also prevents them from living in safety. According to Compass Direct News, approximately one third of those who fled the violence in Iraq to Turkey have returned to their native land only to have the hatred for them renewed. Many of them have asked to be given a safe haven in one of the Western nations where they can live and worship in relative peace. As one refugee points out, “We don’t have hope,” he said. “If these doors aren’t opened, we will be killed.” Compass Direct News has received reports that those who returned to Iraq are once again leaving.

***

Before closing, I would like to honor a few of those who faithfully gave and defended the Gospel and are now at rest with the Lord:

Ziwar Mohammed Ismaeel - February 27, 2003; shot dead in front of his taxi stand by a Muslim man who believed he was “'fulfilling the will of Allah'” by killing an apostate from Islam. “'I don’t feel guilty for doing it,'” the killer told police investigators after his arrest."

Father Boulos Iskander, 59 - October 9, 2006; kidnapped and beheaded

Elder Munthir - November 26, 2006; kidnapped and murdered

Fadhila Naoum, 85, and Margaret Naoum, 79 - March 26, 2007; alledgedly murdered by robbers, although a police chief ruled out attempted theft

Father Ragheed Ganni and 3 church Deacons - June 3, 2007; kidnapped and shot to death

Hazim Thomaso Youssif - October 4, 2008; shot to death. According to VOM, the rampage against Christians continued: "...Oct. 6, a disabled 25-year-old shopkeeper was shot and killed in the neighborhood of Karama. Four other Christians, a pharmacy employee, a disabled man who owns a spare-parts store, and two day-laborers have also been killed."

Thank you for your continued prayers.

The Light Unto The World

I thought it would be fun to provide a small Scripture study in the blog once in a while. A few years ago, I began a small workbook on daily devotions. I hope you take a moment to read this and consider the questions at the end and that it brings the Lord closer to your heart. Have a wonderful day, everyone!


"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23


Jesus Christ - from before the beginning unto eternity. He was, He is, and He always will be. Never has there been a second in this vast span of the cosmos that He has not been. He was, before the beginning, eternally in the blessed Trinity. He was the First born of every creature, the express image of God. From the opening word of the Old Testament to the closing note of Malachi, He is spoken of. Each act of God, each word that was written down tells of Him. Creation reveals His majesty, His awesome wisdom and might, and groans in anticipation of His return. Men testify to God’s great mercies and grace that was bestowed upon them, and eventually all men will bow down to Him with the heavenly hosts who have always known Him. All will cry out in unison that only He, the Lamb of God, is worthy of praise and honor, for all will see that He is the beacon to forgiveness and salvation.

Recently, I received an email from a friend asking me to describe her in one word. When you know someone well, that is a difficult thing to do because of their many attributes and characteristics. It took me some time to come up with only one word to send back to her. Afterwards, I found myself applying this question to Jesus Christ. That is when true difficulty began. There isn’t enough pen and paper in the world to contain the words that describe Him.

Jesus cannot be summed up into one word, for within Him is contained all things: creation, emotions, wisdom, power, majesty, justice, mercy, grace. He is God. How can one put a label on Him? He is “I AM,” the compilation of everything that is good, moral and just. His very Name speaks of incomprehensible omnipotence. Our puny minds cannot comprehend God’s essence and nature in any physical form. But, He gave us His Son, the exact image of Himself, in order that we could comprehend. The plan that the blessed Three established before the foundation of all things was revealed to us through Jesus so that we could come out of the darkness and stand in His glorious Light for ever and ever.

1. Read 1John 1:1-10. What qualifies John’s testimony regarding Jesus Christ?
2. What three reasons does John give us in defense of his testimony?
3. John speaks of false claims people often make. List each one and apply them to your walk with Jesus Christ.
4. What remedy is provided in the text?

Watchmen On The Wall

As promised, I have provided a few links that address the growing threat of Christian persecution within our own nation. Please take a moment to read them and keep yourself aware of this rising problem. None of us can afford to be apathetic or complacent. Although we do not yet see the degree of hatred that other nations have towards Christians, Christ warned us that in the end times we would experience it and to place our trust in Him (Luke 21:12-18).


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/28/AR2006032801632.html

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59219

http://christianadc.org/news-and-articles/125-top-ten-instances-of-christian-bashing-in-america-2008

Forgotten Pocket

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God." 1Peter 1:23

Within my heart, deep in my soul,
A pocket has been sewn;
By able hands and fingers deft,
Each stitch is made my own.

Woven from wool of purest white,
It's borders they doth gleam;
Embroidered by the hand of God,
With love in every seam.

The pocket has a purpose,
Divinely sewn and placed;
For within its soft and downy depth
Are laid the seeds of Grace.

God chose the seeds and placed them there
For me to scatter and sow;
Each seed of Grace that lies in wait
Has a name to which it should go.

But the pocket, full and bulging,
Lies forgotten, forsaken, ignored;
The seeds of Grace that lie in wait
Remain where they were stored.

Its weight bears heavy on my heart,
A reminder they are there;
They call to me from deep within
To cast away my fear.

So, deep within my pocket,
I will reach with trembling hand,
And cast the seeds He gave me
Upon the hearts of men.

I'll sow the seeds that lie there,
I'll scatter them broad and wide;
Upon the hearts prepared by Him,
I'll plant the seeds He provides.

And as each one is taken
From the pocket so lovingly sewn,
I'll watch with great delight and joy
As each takes root and grows.

Forsake not these seeds of Grace
So carefully placed within;
The Lord has laid them there with purpose,
To turn men from their sin.

Reach deep, my friend, inside your pocket,
The one you forgot was there;
Cradle the seeds that God has placed,
And cast away your fear.

Sow them far and wide upon man's heart,
And share the message from above;
For the pearls of Grace are precious and few,
And created from Divine Holy Love.


Copyright 2007 Karen L. Brahs

The Little Things

The simplicity of life is where God most often reveals Himself. We just don't see it because, to us, it is mundane and uneventful. We should look for the hand of God in every aspect of our lives and perform our daily drudgery with joy and expectation. The little things may often become the greatest.

The Big Fix

Let me tell you a story to help you understand the "Big Fix." There was this girl, we'll call her Jan, who grew up in a family where her dad drank a lot. Her mom blamed herself for his drinking and she did everything she could to fix that. Consequently, the love relationship between her mom and dad was, well, nothing that she would want to copy for herself later in life. Jan didn't understand at the time but her parent's relationship would be her model for later in life. Because her parents were so into their own issues, they didn't really know how to show love to the little girl either. Oh, they loved her, and she loved them, but it wasn't a love that was comforting.

As Jan grew up, she searched for love in the same way it was modeled for her. Her first boyfriend drank, just like her dad. He told her he loved her and she loved him back. In fact, she did everything she could to make the relationship work. She even gave him the gift of her virginity. Then he dumped her, leaving a gaping hole in her heart where true love is

supposed to live.

Jan tried to fill that gaping hole with alcohol, sex and drugs. For a while, that worked and it was even fun! Fourteen years, many boyfriends and one husband later, she realized she was tired of having that life. Oh, sure, she looked successful on the outside, but inside she was empty and confused. Nothing was the way she thought it would be. To make matters worse,

she couldn't fix it.

"Of course, you can't fix your own life," a friend told her one day.

"What's up with that? Why not?" Jan retorted.

"Because we're not created to run our own lives," the friend answered.

"Yeah, right. If I can't do anything to fix my own life, who can?" questioned Jan.

Enter the Big Fix:

Jan's friend had this explanation: "We were created by God to have a relationship with Him. (Yeah, I didn't know that either.) The weird thing is we can't have a relationship with Him because He's holy and we're not. Holy can't mix with unholy and we're born unholy. We are born wanting to do our own thing which is usually opposite of God's idea for our lives. That's called "sin" and sin is what separates us from God."

"Okay, so now what?" Jan asked.

"Well, God loves us so much that He made a Fix for this mess. You know how when you go to work and get paid, that paycheck is called your wages, right? The wages for sin is death. We sin, our paycheck is death. God sent His son, Jesus, to die in our place. That's right, a couple of thousand years ago, Jesus was crucified for your sins and mine. Jesus got the paycheck for our sins! Not only that, but because Jesus did that, in God's eyes now we are holy! Whoa! God did His part to have a relationship with us, now we have to do our part. We get to choose."

"Sounds too good to be true. I have a lot of crummy things in my past. Jesus would want a relationship with me?" wondered Jan.

Her friend replied. "Everything from your past could be wiped out and forgiven on the cross! Turn to Jesus, ask Him to run your life and you get a clean slate. THAT IS THE BIG FIX!"

So my question to you is: Is the way you're living your life now working for you? Is it time to draw the line and start over? I'm telling you that you can, no matter what you have done. You can change your life. You see, my name is Jan, and I did choose to let Jesus run my life. That big gaping hole in my heart is filled with True Love. It is the best fix I could ever dream of.