In My Father's Arms

For Kieran Reed Brahs, who reminded me how often God holds us in His arms.

“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1

A stern word of rebuke to a two-year old very often inflicts a multitude of emotions in a grandmother’s heart. After all, we are constantly telling ourselves our grandchildren can do no wrong, and we shower them with far more doting affection than we ever did their parents. My father once said to my mother while gazing upon their first grandson, “There we are!” He saw within the newborn child a part of himself; a continuance, if you will, of his legacy here on earth. Our grandchildren are a precious gift, one that says if we didn’t get it right the first time, we most certainly will with this second chance so graciously given by God.

The day Kieran Reed received the rebuke was a typical day. He had walked the short distance from his house, as usual unbeknownst to his mother. It was a common ritual to visit Granny over a cup of sweetened tea heavily laden with milk. But on that particular day, I was attempting to conduct business over the phone and found him tugging at my pant leg and muttering some unintelligible words over and over again. Struggling to hear the gentleman at the other end, I gave Kieran “the look” and waved a shushing hand over the top of his head. He immediately retreated a few steps away, his face falling in dismay as I finally concluded my business and hung up the phone.

“Kieran,” I admonished. “Granny was trying to talk to that man!”

Now, if you’re a grandparent, you will understand the rush of emotion that washed over me the moment his tear-filled eyes looked up to mine. “Me wanted to talk to that man,” he innocently muttered.

At first, I laughed over the idea of putting a two-year old on the phone with someone I didn’t even know, the absurdity of it tickling me. But as I looked at my grandson and saw that his feelings had genuinely been hurt over the apparent slight, I scooped him into my arms and placed him in my lap. With his small arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and his soft downy cheek laid against mine, he rocked us back and forth as he poured out his disappointment into my ear. The brief interlude of love and compassion being exchanged soon ended with a giggling and once-again happy and content little boy. But, my heart lingered in that moment, and lingers there still.

A flood of memories swept over me that day, of times when my own “feelings” were hurt. There have been many times of standing as if all alone with no arms to run into and pour out my sorrows, and of retreating to a corner of my self in despair. But then, as I look up with tear-filled eyes, a hand reaches out to wipe them from my face, and strong and able arms enfold me in a warm and loving embrace. As I did with my grandson, God also does with us. When we feel that we are alone with no one to understand, He takes us in His arms, and laying His cheek against ours, gently rocks us back and forth while we pour out our despair into His attentive ear. His love and compassion are without depth and height, and His desire for His children to bring their troubles to Him has no boundaries. His soothing voice and comforting words calm our troubled hearts and minds as He consoles us and returns us to peace.

As my grandson was content in my rocking embrace, I, too, am content in my Father’s arms when I am there. It’s a brief glimpse and a small taste of what’s to come.

If you don’t mind, Lord, I’ll linger here for just another moment or two.




Copyright 2006 Karen L. Brahs

No More To Part

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.”
Isaiah 55:6-7


There’s a song that’s sung in heaven,
A sweet, melodic refrain;
From the lips of all creation,
And the tongues of those who confess,
That our Lord, our God, our Saviour,
Has granted eternal rest.

Come ye lost, despairing and broken,
Downtrodden and weary souls;
Lift your voices, join the chorus,
For your Lord will make you whole.

And with the Saints and angels,
Whose voices ring pure and clear;
Sing adoration, praise and worship,
For the Lord your Redeemer is near.

Bow down before His royal throne;
Accept the Grace He gives.
Embrace the proffered gift of love,
For he who does so lives.

Come one, come all into His presence,
Into His glorious light;
Receive the gift of pardon
And your eyes the gift of sight.

And then upon your lips He’ll place
The song that’s in His heart.
You’ll join the chorus and their sweet refrain,
“No more, no more to part.”



Copyright 2006 Karen L. Brahs

Walking The Sea

Matthew 14:22-33

From my childhood, I have loved music. And I come by it honestly. What I mean by this is that both sides of my ancestral family were blessed with voices, ears, and abilities when it came to expressing themselves with music and song. A box of memories was found which are filled with photos of my father’s unnamed relatives; barefoot and suspendered in the woods of Oklahoma, holding their favored instruments. My mother’s family gatherings more than often ended with all of us assembled around a piano singing Irish ditties and old tunes. Guitars were brought out at BBQ’s and music would swirl around a campfire. But, one of my fondest memories of music was the old hymns that were sung in the little church in which I was raised.

By Biblical standards, the church was extremely legalistic and misguided in its tenets and doctrine. Grace was never mentioned, the cross was never taught, and the efficacy of Christ’s blood was ignored. They believed works and striving to attain salvation by their own merit was the key to the gateway to eternal life, and most still do today. Wrong as they may have been, this small group of people could sing, and each Sunday the rafters in the rickety old building would ring with their voices.

It was the practice of the church that no musical instruments accompanied their singing. As the Spirit led them, someone would either call out a particular hymn, asking for another to start it, or begin to sing it himself. Sitting next to my father on the hard wooden pew, I would often plead with him to start the hymn “Walking The Sea”. I loved to hear his deep and resonating bass voice sing the lines that echoed the melody. It wasn’t often we heard him sing. It would be over sixty years before the Gospel knocked the last chink from his stubborn heart and he would lift his voice in joy. But what is now obvious is that he must have also loved this hymn, for he sang it like no other.

At that time in my life, the song meant only that I got to hear my father sing it. The words simply recalled the story I had read in my childrens illustrated Bible storybook and the image of the man Jesus walking on the water. There was no deeply profound awe or amazement, no reverence and worship of a God capable of doing so. I was just a child who desired to hear a favored song from the lips of her father. And, it would also be a long time before I, too, understood the meaning behind the words.

Oswald Chambers was the encourager behind writing this story. In my tattered and worn daily devotional, “My Utmost For His Highest”, that I faithfully go to each morning, was a lesson based on Christ walking the Sea of Galilee. And as is usually the case, my imagination started running and my passion to write it down took over.

If you can, envision the disciples who struggled to row their boat against the buffeting wind on the high Sea of Galilee. Jesus had stayed behind to pray, telling the men He would catch up to them later. Because they obviously left without Him, they must have expected Him to catch another boat. Each stroke of the oars gained them only inches as they strained to reach the other shore. As Matthew and Mark recount this event, it is obvious they had traversed a great distance and that the wind was fierce and the waves were high. And on the shore they had left, Jesus stood on the bank gazing at the scene that lay before Him. To Jesus, there was no panic wondering how He would get to the boat and the men. He simply decided to walk out to them. Walk out to them? What human was capable of doing such a thing! The Man Who had just fed 5000 men, “besides women and children,” bringing the number closer to 15,000, with five loaves of bread and two fish. THAT was the Man Who simply stepped from solid ground and casually strolled across half the Sea of Galilee!

Now Mark tells us something interesting. As Jesus was walking towards them, “He was about to pass them by.” How long Jesus had spent on the mountain praying isn’t mentioned. The time it took the disciples to row to the middle of the Sea under the circumstances must have been lengthy. But the speed with which Jesus overtook them was astounding. My imagination tells me that the rolling, crashing waves were subdued ahead of His footsteps. There was no struggle up and over the waves for Jesus. Rather, the water recognized His feet and submitted in adoration that such a God would honor it with His presence. As He walked atop the waves, the fish of the sea danced below the waters and kissed the souls of His feet, worshiping their Creator. But in the account, it appears that the Lord was just going to keep on going rather than get in the boat, for His pace defied the disciple’s strength and endurance. It was as if He was saying, “I’ll see you guys on the other side!” and would have kept on going if the situation hadn’t called for a brief lesson in faith.

As Jesus approached the men, their reaction was typical, even to this day. They thought they saw a ghost, an apparition. After all, seeing someone walking on water wasn’t a very common sight. Their superstitious fear crept in, overwhelming them. I can see a smile beginning on Jesus’ lips, amusement bringing a twinkle to His eye. There was no end to the amazement these men felt each time Jesus revealed Himself. This Man Who continued to awe them was walking on water and doing it faster than they could row. It was as if He were saying to them, “Do you want to race? I bet I can beat you!” And to make matters worse, Peter appears to challenge Him!

“Hey, if it’s really You, ‘tell me to come to You,’” he said.

Jesus meets the challenge with his reply, “Okay you’re on. ‘Come.’”

With reckless abandon, Peter does the impossible, steps out of the boat, and stands on the water. He takes a few tentative steps, focusing his full attention on his Lord Who stands waiting. What must have crossed Peter’s mind as he met Jesus’ challenge and found himself able to do the impossible?

“Wow! I’m actually walking on water! No man has ever done this!”

That was Peter’s mistake. In the elemental and scientific realm of Creation, it was impossible to accomplish what he was doing. No man had ever done this, so how could he? Peter takes his eyes off Jesus. He sees the wind causing the waves to crash around him. Doubt and “little faith” overtake him and Peter begins to sink. But a hand reaches out to pull him up and as long as Peter holds onto that hand, his feet are firmly planted and he’s able to climb back to where he perceives safety to be.

Peter made the same mistake that I often make; “…he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went instantly.” (Chambers, June 18) At first, realizing Jesus was no ghost, his reckless abandon made him jump over the side of the boat. Then “self-consideration” entered his mind. Peter knew his limitations. He knew he couldn’t walk on water by his own power. His mind swirled with the realization of what he was doing, his eyes turned from his Lord to more material matters, and down he went.

Oswald Chambers states:

“God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is the process - that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea.” (Chambers, July 28)

All too often in my own life, I think my eyes are firmly fixed on Jesus. I rise to the mountaintop with Him where all is transformed. Peace and joy fill my life; knowledge and trust in my salvation keep me lifted up. But then, I take my eyes off of Him for just one second and down I go. My feet, which I thought were firmly planted with Him, find themselves sinking into doubt, worry over finances, dread over current events, concern over health matters; and the list goes on and on and continues to grow unless I take the hand He offers to pull me back up.

“God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now.” (Chambers, July 28) There is nothing too difficult for Christ, as the old hymn implies. He walked the sea! He walked on water! He can certainly help me overcome life’s difficulties if I just keep my eyes focused on Him and ignore the rogue waves of the world that come crashing down from time to time and threaten to drown me. I strive to keep “God’s end” in sight, not my own. I desire to always keep my eyes fixed on my God Who walked on water and Who is able to help me overcome all things. By doing so, I am assured that as I row through the sea of life, even if buffeted by the winds of trial and trouble, I will safely reach the other shore. And if I do begin to sink into doubt, there is always His hand reaching out to put me back onto my feet and help me back into the boat. That is a guarantee.

I now understand my love for the old hymns that are not often sung in churches today. The message this one contained was planted deep in my heart for another day, far in the future, when I would recall its mystery and revel in its wonder. God revealed to a child, in the simplest of ways, His mighty power and love so that one day I could join my voice with my father’s and sing of our God Who walked on the sea.

Walking The Sea

(Public Domain)

Out upon Galilee one night,
Angry waves dashed in maddening height;
As the disciples sailed in fright,
Over the deep.


Rowing against contrary wind,
Knowing not what might be the end;
Jesus came, He their dearest friend,
Walking the sea.

Chorus:
Walking the sea,
Walking the sea;
Jesus at night came unto to them,
Walking the sea. (Repeat)

Trouble sometimes may round you roll,
While on your voyage to the goal;
Just as they did in days of old,
On Galilee.

Faithfully strive your bark to guide,
Knowing through storm you’ll safely ride;
Jesus is ever at your side,
Walking the sea.

Chorus



Copyright 2007 Karen L. Brahs

A Short Hiatus...Or Maybe Not!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be staying the week with my Mom who recently had hip surgery. She's coming along great! In the meantime, I hope you re-visit some older posts. I was surprised to see how many there were to date! Don't give up on me - I'll be back soon! :o)

In Christ,

Karen

Persecuted Church Alert

Although by now you have probably already heard about this, I felt it necessary to post the news on the blog. Ri Hyon Ok, 33, was executed by the N. Korean government for distributing Bibles and "spying" for the U.S. and S. Korea. She is at rest with our Lord, but her family has been detained in a prison camp. Please pray for her husband and three small children.

Also, please be in prayer for another Christian woman who was arrested and tortured. Seo Kum Ok, 30, has not been seen or heard from since, and it is unclear if she survived. Her husband was also arrested and their two children have disappeared.

Praise God that there are people bold enough to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this dark nation in spite of the persecution they suffer. Pray that His Holy Spirit will pour out His Word upon the people and that they will embrace Him as their Savior.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5htjkn2uYbcOJC8azoyb2TkOh6B4AD99KVD2O0

The Persecuted Church: Chiapas, Mexico

Not far from the southern border of America is an area with which few Christians are familiar. Lying in the southwestern portion of Mexico is the State of Chiapas.

Chiapas, Mexico has proven to be a conundrum in my online search for information. The amount of information is not the problem. It is the confusing mixture of conflicting data that causes me to have trouble assembling it and putting it into perspective regarding the persecution of Christians within its borders. When Chiapas is Googled, the first page is full of travel information, touting it as a place worthy of visiting, with pictures of beautiful waterfalls, quaint villages, and green mountains. One thing is clear, however: Protestant and evangelical Christians are persecuted there. Of this, there is no doubt.

The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) lists Chiapas Mexico as a "hostile" area. This means that local law enforcement attempts to provide protection for Christians, but Christians are often persecuted because of their witness. Religion statistics by VOM are not available for this region; however, they list Chiapas as a "mixture of Pagan, revolutionary and liberation theology" (The Persecuted Church Global Report). It is regularly stated by most agencies and statistician websites that the theology is predominately a mixture of Catholocism and ancient Mayan "syncretists". "Catholic/Mayan Syncretists" are those who have blended the rites of Catholicism and witchcraft into a religious form. They view evangelical Christians as a threat against their political, economical, and indigenous culture. The result is a lack of tolerance for those who bring outside influence into their communities.

The fact that the Catholic Church encourages this type of paganism by turning a blind eye to it is more than just disturbing. It begs the question, "why"? It is not my intention to offend anyone who adheres to Catholic theology. But the Catholic Church does more than just tolerate it. They also allow the Syncretist's pagan rituals to be performed within the confines of the church building (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XopnOQ-0qFs). There have also been reports from evangelical missionaries in Mexico of Catholic Priests who have at times encouraged their congregants to persecute those who are witnessing to Mexican Catholics (for more information on this, see Dana).

When the Spanish Conquistadors conquered Mexico, the indigenous people were forced into subjection to the Catholic Church. It was not until 1810 that it gained its independence from Spain and established itself as a republic in 1822. In 1917, a constitution was instituted. It took another 74 years for increased religious freedoms to be granted, but restrictions still apply. "For example, religious groups are required to gather only in their own buildings and church leaders are not permitted to criticize Mexico’s laws or authorities." (VOM)

"In the past several years, relations between evangelicals and the Roman Catholic Church have improved but there continue to be conflicts. Protestants are sometimes viewed as a threat to Mexico because they are suspected of having ties with the United States. Evangelical Christians in the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca have suffered attacks often provoked by Caciques, powerful community chieftains who practice 'traditionalist' religion, a semi-pagan mix of Roman Catholic beliefs and ancient Mayan religion. In late August 2008, a Christian family was attacked in Chiapas by neighbours who accused them of witchcraft. Three were killed and six seriously injured." (http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&idelement=5567&lang=en&length=short&backpage=archives&critere=Chiapas,%20Mexico&countryname=&rowcur=0).

"In Oaxaca, four Christians were jailed in mid-November 2008 when they refused to participate or help pay for a festival that blended Catholicism and native religious beliefs." (VOM)

In November, 2003, a evangelical Pastor in Chiapas was assasinated. (http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&idelement=2424&lang=en&length=short&backpage=archives&critere=Chiapas,%20Mexico&countryname=&rowcur=0

The following YouTube video provides an excellent, well-produced look into the persecution of evangelicals in Chiapas, Mexico: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-oGzG12XQI

In spite of what I see as misinformation about the wonderful tourism possibilities in Chiapas, Mexico that the web provides, the dark side of this State can also be glimpsed if one is willing to dig deep enough. We cannot blindly accept that all is well simply because a picture of a cascading waterfall and forest-covered mountains appear alluring. It is what is hidden within the hearts, minds, and souls of the people living there that should concern us. It is all too often that we refuse to believe a church that is recognized internationally as the "authority" of Christianity has buried within it a darkness that is hate-filled and oppressive. We must look beyond the exterior and into the heart of it.

I, along with The Voice of the Martyrs, Compass Direct News and others, ask that you remain in prayer for those who faithfully strive to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Chiapas, Mexico. As we lay our requests before God's throne, I pray they will be a fragrant incense to Him and that out of the faithfulness of those who remain bold in their witness, a great harvest will be presented to Him.

The Only Way

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

There is a great deception being taught by some that Jesus was merely one of many great prophets, such as the likes of Mohammed, the Dahli Lama, or Ghandi. To further compound and confuse the weak is the persistent declaration that all religions worship the same God, only in different ways. It is the most destructive heresy being perpetuated and the intent of this lie is to unite and blend all religions into one massive ecumenical system of belief.

The other night while watching the Fox News Channel, contributor Juan Williams stated he was a Christian. Then in the same breath, Williams unknowingly denounced his claim by minimizing the God he claims to worship in the way described above. I have heard Bill O’Reilly and others make the same assertion. And because there is rarely, or never, a guest present with the truth embedded in their heart and the strength and willingness to express it, these men and women go unchallenged. The lie dangles in the air like an offensive stench to the true believer. But it permeates the minds and souls of those ignorant of Scriptural truths.

Because of the present state of world affairs, there is a growing unwillingness to offend, even at the cost of Christians compromising God’s truths. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being rewritten in such a way that prevents the reality and validity of it from being presented in its entirety. Many denominations that once preached it in its purest form are white-washing and watering it down to one that is more palatable and “seeker friendly.” The likes of Rick Warren and his ilk feel it is necessary to embrace and draw all religions into one big happy family. This accomplishes nothing except pervert the very core of the Gospel. The masses are being spoon-fed a diet rich in distortion and the main dish is called “tolerance." And if the people can be subjected to tolerance, there is no longer a desire to hear or to speak the truth to a lost and dying world.

The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of God (Revelation 19:10). But if His testimony is being twisted into a doctrine of combined faiths, then it becomes a lie. Because we know that God cannot lie (Titus 1:1-2), those who falsely proclaim Jesus as a mere man and prophet and place Him in the same category of liars will bring swift and just condemnation down upon themselves (Jeremiah 9:5; Jeremiah 14:14; Romans 1:25; Galatians 1:6-7; Revelation 21:8).

There is one God. He is sovereign and there are no others (Isaiah 40; Jeremiah 10:7-16). He has prepared a way back to Him by providing a substitution, Jesus Christ, Who took upon Himself God’s wrath and punishment for our sins. There is no other “way” to salvation and eternal life except through our God Who came in the flesh - Christ Jesus. To perpetuate the lie that there are other ways only deceives and brings eternal death.

Although we are commanded to do so with love for the sinner, we must remain firm in our deliverance of the Gospel, never wavering or altering it out of a fear of offending someone. The only fear of offense we should have is that of insulting and angering our Maker by denying His sovereignty and classifying Him as a mere man of faith. We must stand firm on His foundation of truth because millions of lives depend on it.

Kicking Against The Goads

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Acts 26:14-18

Not many know what a “goad” is now days. In today’s fast-paced and abbreviated society, terms used only a few decades ago are no longer part of our vocabulary. To modern man, it is easier to use a form of shorthand when communicating with others, as is most evident in the electronic technology flooding our markets. For those of you who are not familiar with this archaic term, a “goad” was a wooden stick or rod that was sharpened to a point on one end. Used by men training oxen to pull, its purpose was to break the animal of its stubborn kicking. The more it kicked, the more it was poked, and eventually the ox would move forward in its attempt to get away from the painful object behind it. As cruel as it may seem to some, it was not long before the animal learned the commands and became subjected to obedience.

Saul of Tarsus carried his own goad on the road to Damascus. A Jew of Jews, a Pharisee in the first order, Saul moved from synagogue to synagogue, and even into foreign cities with his own sharpened stick. He arrested and imprisoned, had flogged and stoned those who were followers of Christ and who refused to deny Him. As Stephen was martyred, his clothing was laid at Saul’s feet as Saul nodded with approval while the false witnesses cast their stones (Acts 7:57-58). Saul’s goad was honed to a keen and brutal point, intent on destroying what this man Who called Himself God had started.

But Saul also learned about God’s goad on the road to Damascus. Saul the persecutor of Christians became Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles. By all appearances and human logic, Saul was the worst choice God could have made. He was obsessed with his hatred for Christians. His cruelty knew no bounds. His determination to stop the blaspheming Jews consumed him and he made it his mission to put an end to it once and for all. But God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. He had His own sharpened stick which He used to subject Saul to obedience. And as history reveals to us, Paul’s mission dramatically changed history the day he met the Lord he was persecuting on the road to Damascus. His “kicking against the goads” had finally come to an end.

As I read this account, I am forced to ask myself how many times I have “kicked against the goads.” How many times have I stubbornly refused to heed God’s commands? God is not a harsh taskmaster or a cruel herdsman who harnesses and drives his children with no concern for their well-being. He does not force subjection and obedience, but His goad can be painful when we kick against it. My life has proven this to be true. On my own road to Damascus, many times I have felt the sting of the rod when I refused to obey.

Our God is a faithfully persistent God. He is patient when applying His lessons. As He proved with Saul, if we are chosen by Him, He will have us no matter how much effort we put into ignoring and avoiding Him. I began my search for Jesus early in my childhood. But it took half a lifetime to finally yield to His gentle prodding. The pain I felt along the way was caused by my own doing, not by Him. I kicked. And I kicked some more. He did not poke me and prod me with His goad. But I was painfully aware that it was there every time I kicked against it.

This is not to say that I no longer “kick against the goads”. I do it often; more often than I care to admit. I kick against His providence; thinking there’s never enough. I kick against His mercies, wanting a picture-perfect Christian life, if there is such a thing. I kick against His call to witness; fear and inconvenience often slip in and convince me not to approach others. There is a multitude of things we kick against if we would only stop and consider them. We may not be a Saul, a persecutor of Christians, but all of us can claim the title persecutors of Christ. If you are offended, think of this: each time we ignore Him, each time we fail to stand up for Him and help bear the cross, we persecute Him - and this to our eternal shame.

But I am learning, as I hope you are. My Teacher is the best one could have. And like the ox, I am beginning to resist less, to submit to Him more, and yield to His gentle prodding. It is not the goad I fear and the pain it produces. If I kick it is my own fault, not His. It is the fear of letting Him down, of not demonstrating my love for Him as well as I could and should. So, I will pull the plow that prepares the ground for the seeds He plants. I will strain against the weight the world stacks onto the cart behind me. And with His help, I will move forward in obedience and devotion as Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, did on the dusty road to Damascus.

Untold Persecution

You won't read about this in the mainstream media. Unless you make efforts to be kept aware of events outside your comfortable existence, you will never know that our brothers and sisters in other nations suffer greatly for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to help you obtain that awareness and to encourage you to be in constant prayer for those who are persecuted in ways that seem beyond comprehension to us. If I can play but a small part in remembering those who faithfully continue in spite of the hatred, I am content that I am serving the Lord in the best way I know how.

My prayers for this part of our family are in response to Paul's request to the Ephesians: "Pray also for [them], that whenever [they] open [their] mouth, words may be given [them] so that [they] will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which [they are] an ambassador in chains. Pray that [they] may declare it fearlessly, as [they - and even I] should." Ephesians 6:19-20

The Voice of the Martyrs Prayer Update
On Tue. Jul 14 2009 at 01:43 PM Moderator wrote:
SOMALIA - Sons of Christian Beheaded – Compass Direct News

Islamic extremists have beheaded two boys in Somalia because their Christian father, 55 year-old Musa Mohammed Yusuf, refused to give them information about an underground church leader, according to Compass Direct News. The extremists from the group al shabaab killed 11-year-old Abdi Rahaman Musa Yusuf and 12-year-old Hussein Musa Yusuf, after abducting them in front of their mother. The terrorists are currently looking for Yusuf in Kenyan refugee camps. Yusuf was a leader of an underground church in Yonday village, 19 miles from Kismayo, Somalia. On February 20, the extremists interrogated Yusuf about his relationship with Salat Mberwa, the Christian leader who discipled him in the faith and led an underground fellowship with 66 believers. When Yusuf told them he did not have any connection to him and knew nothing about him, they left and vowed to return the next day. Yusuf fled immediately and the next day the extremists killed his sons. Yusuf’s wife and 7-year-old son have joined him in the refugee camp in Kenya where Mberwa and other believers are helping them. VOM encourages you to pray for Yusuf and his family as they have lost their sons. Pray God comforts them during this difficult time, and provides the family with other believers who can encourage them with scriptures and songs.

1 Thessalonians 2:2

One Word

Have you ever struggled to pray? When your circumstances seem so overwhelming that you find yourself unable to form your thoughts into a structured petition before the Lord? I think we all have been in that position at one time or another, whether in trials, grief, or trouble. Our emotions rise to a boiling pitch and we are at such a loss for words that the only thing we are able to do is groan.

Before I knew Jesus, there were many times I felt this way; perhaps too many to count. I would cry out to God. I would beg for relief. I would plead forgiveness. I had been raised to believe there was a wrathful God Who would pour out His vengeance upon me if I did not live and think a certain way. Recalling the spiritual agony of these false teachings brings much regret over not knowing sooner that He is also a gentle and loving God Who is quick to forgive with just one word.

I used to be impressed by those who prayed with fine-sounding eloquence. Their many words seemed to flow from their lips with practiced ease. Their sentences were filled with flowery phrases. And the length of time in which they prayed seemed endless. But Jesus condemned the “hypocrites” whose desire it was “to be seen by men”, those whose intent it is to impress others and gain attention (Matthew 6:5). He instructed us that our prayer should be a time of communion and fellowship with God. Although there are times for public prayer, Jesus encourages us to seek Him in private, to “go into [our] room, close the door and pray to [our] Father Who is unseen.” (v6). This time of prayer should be intimate. It should be a time when you alone seek His audience and lay your petitions before His throne. And because He “knows what you need before you ask Him,” it is not necessary to burden God with the “babbling [of] pagans” in order for Him to hear you. Shallow repetitions coming from an insincere heart will not be heard by Him. But the few words from a honest and sincere heart will gain His ear (v7-8).

When Mary Magdalene wept at the tomb of our Lord Jesus, consumed with and stricken by utter grief, I am convinced she was unable to express it except with groans of complete sorrow. But Jesus heard her, and with one word lifted her from the depth of her despair. “Mary.” Her name was all it took to relieve her, and her single word response, “Rabboni!”, all that was needed to dispel all doubt and re-instill hope (John 20:10-18)

We know we have an Advocate, One Who “searches our hearts” and “intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Eloquent and lengthy prayer should never be a concern, for “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26-27) I am greatly comforted by this knowledge. Although I may often struggle in prayer, the utterance of just one word will cause the Holy Spirit to carry my plea to the Father Who waits patiently to hear from me. And the greater promise is that my “groans” will not go unnoticed by Him, and according to what He sees as best for me, He will respond.


Recommended reading (all citations are hyperlinked):

Psalm 6
Psalm 65:1-4
Matthew 21:18-22
Philippians 4:4-7
Colossians 4:2
James 5:13-16
1Peter 3:10-12
Revelation 5:8