IDOP for the Persecuted Church

Did any of you know that tomorrow, November 4th, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church? Our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world are constantly beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith. It's so easy to forget about them, while in the comfort and safety of our own lives. Yet, Christ has called us to remember those who are suffering, as if we ourselves were suffering with them.

So tomorrow, as other Christians around the world lift up the persecuted Church before the Throne of our Father, let's join with them and do the same! 

Below is a video from Gospel for Asia, highlighting the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters. Please watch and then be encouraged to pray (and not just tomorrow, but every day). 

The Blogger's Prayer~

I found this a couple weeks back and was so challenged by it! Oh, that this would be my continual prayer!

"I am no longer my own blogger, but Thine.

Refine me with each post how You will, rank me how You will.

Put me to service, or put me to suffering.

Let me be a follower, instead of seeking followers.

Let me post for thee or be put aside for thee,

Lifted high, only for thee, or brought low, all for thee.

Do with me and each post whatever you will, because You alone know best.

Let me not strive but submit.

Let me not compete but care.

Let me not desire hits but holiness.

Let my blog be full of You, and let it be empty of me.

Let me crave all things of You, let me care nothing of this world.

Let my words be worthy of the greatest of audiences: You.

And You are enough.

May I write not for subscribers… but only for Your smile.

May my daily affirmation be in the surety of my atonement, not the size of my audience.

May my identity be in the innumerable graces of Christ, never, God forbid,

the number of my comments.

And may the only words that matter in my life not be the ones I write on a screen- but the ones I live with my skin.

I freely and heartily yield every sentence, every title, every post, every comment… or no comments… all to Your pleasure and perfect will.

My only fame is that I bear your name.

My only glory is the gift of Your Grace.

My only readership, Your eyes that seek to and fro to find a heart hard after you.

Make this so. Lord…

Yahweh, You alone are my God, not Google.

Jesus, You alone are my Savior, not site meters.

And Holy Spirit, you alone are my Comforter, not comments.

So be it, today, yesterday, and every post to come.

This is my prayer I have made on earth, over this keyboard…
may it be ratified in heaven.

Amen."

~ Ann Voskamp

A Cry for Deliverance ~ The Valley of Vision

"Heavenly Father,
Save me entirely from sin.

I know I am righteous through the righteousness of another, but I pant and pine for likeness to Thyself;
I am Thy child and should bear Thy image,
enable me to recognize my death unto sin;
when it tempts me may I be deaf to its voice.

Deliver me from the invasion as well as the dominion of sin.

Grant me to walk as Christ walked, to live in the newness of His life,
the life of love,
the life of faith,
the life of holiness.

I abhor my body of death,
its indolence, envy, meanness, pride.

Forgive, and kill these vices,
have mercy on my unbelief, on my corrupt and wandering heart.

When thy blessings come I begin to idolize them, and set my affection on some beloved object-
children, friends, wealth, honour;

Cleanse this spiritual adultery and give me chastity;
close my heart to all but Thee.

Sin is my greatest curse;
Let Thy victory be apparent to my consciousness, and displayed in my life.

Help me to be always devoted, confident, obedient, resigned, childlike in my trust of Thee,
to love Thee with soul, body, mind, strength,
to love my fellow-man as I love myself,
to be saved from unregenerate temper, hard thoughts, slanderous words, meanness, unkind manners,
to master my tongue and keep the door of my lips.

Fill me with grace daily,
that my life be a fountain of sweet water."

~The Valley of Vision

Join Us in Prayer!

Tomorrow, November 13, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Please consider joining fellow believers all around the world in prayer, as we lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being harassed, beaten, and killed for the name of Christ.

Here is a short video from Gospel for Asia, explaining some of their prayer requests and hearing from a brother who has experienced persecution firsthand.

http://www.gfa.org/pray/international-day-of-prayer/

In Romans 15:30, Paul entreats the Roman believers to pray for him in his struggle. "I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me."

If one of our siblings or close family members had been beaten for his faith or lived in an area of the world that was hostile to Christianity, how many minutes or hours would we spend in prayer for them? Would we have to be reminded to bring them before the Lord? Yet, how much time do we spend praying for our family members in Christ, who are suffering everyday? May we not just spend tomorrow praying and lifting up the Persecuted Church, but everyday hereafter!

O Lord, give us hearts to love our brothers and sisters around the world with Your love and may our eyes see them, not as strangers, but as our beloved siblings.

Faithful

Today marks the one week time limit before we have to be out of our current rental. One week.....and we don't know where we're going.

Depending on how well you know my family and our story, you are either thinking, "Oh my goodness! What are they thinking?!" or "Oh ya. That's always how it is with their family."

Many of our past moves have been trials of faith. It seems like the Lord loves to bring us right to the last hour and then show us the next step. Or in this case, the week before. Times like these bring up to the surface our true attitude toward the Lord.

Yes, it is confusing at times, it is hard. During these times, I often feel like David when he said, "To You, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not be deaf to me...Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary." (Psalm 28:1-2)

Each move, each test of faith, is an opportunity to learn to trust Him more. And yet, so often when it gets down to "crunch time", we start to worry or grow anxious about the Lord showing us where to go. In those times, we're reminded why the Lord continues to bring us through this same thing over and over again...we are so quick to forget the lesson He just taught us.

This morning, I was reflecting on the Lord's faithfulness during times when it seems like He is absent, and was reminded of these precious verses from Isaiah 43:

"But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."

What a blessed promise to know that our God is with us, bringing us through the trial every step of the way.

"But Makenna, why doesn't the Lord just show you? Why is the Lord not listening to your prayers?"

Those are questions I can't answer, except that by not showing us until the last minute, He is receiving more glory, somehow. At the end of each move, I'm reminded of the song Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns. Here are some of the lyrics.

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm


Over the past couple weeks, I have been convicted of wanting the Lord's will in my timing. By His grace, my prayer has changed from "Lord, please show us a house now" to "Lord, show us a house in your perfect time". Yes, we still desire to know soon and we are still looking at houses, but God's timing is perfect and He is faithful, no matter the circumstance.

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord. I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand." (Psalm 31:14-15a)

"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.'"(Psalm 32:7-8)

"'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'" (Isaiah 41:10)

The Lord will provide for us, even if it's not how we would think or hope. He will strengthen us, as He upholds us with His hand. We do need your prayers though. Please pray for us, that the Lord would give us the faith to trust Him and the strength to praise Him. Thank you so much!

A Call to Prayer

This week, my parents have been in Washington looking for a house to rent. They are returning tonight, but have not made a decision on a house so far.

So, I am asking whoever reads this post to pray for guidance and wisdom for my parents. Not only that, but also to pray that we would continue to trust the Lord through this time, however unclear it may be. We know that He will reveal the house to us in His perfect timing.

And if that means that my parents come home tonight without knowing anymore than they did when they left, then we are trusting that the Lord will show us the house through His own ways.

Please...prayer is needed and prayer is powerful!

As James 4:16 says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

p.s. When things become clear, I will let you all know how the Lord was faithful in providing a house for us. Even now though, may God alone be glorified!