Our family and our church body have been praying for Youcef. Would you please pray for him too? We received this email today:
URGENT PRAYER NEEDED for cancellation of execution for Pastor Youcef in
IRAN
This Prayer Chain is calling ALL Christians into action NOW on behalf of
this Iranian pastor, who faces execution!
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani never practiced the Muslim faith and converted to
Christianity at age 19, becoming a pastor later. But the courts say that since
his mother and father were practicing Muslims, he must recant his Christian
faith or die. So far, in three court appearances, he has refused to do so -
RISKING EXECUTION AT ANY MOMENT. The Iranian Supreme Court often
acts quickly in administering the death penalty.
According to a report, when asked by judges to "repent," Youcef
replied: "Repent, What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had
before my faith in Christ?"
The judges replied: "To the religion of your ancestors - Islam." To
which Yousef replied: "I cannot."
It's time for the body of Christ to act, to pray, to plead for the life of our
Brother before Christ so that His servant may be spared.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Greatness
While prepareing a cup of tea the other day, I noticed that the tag on my tea bag said, "To be great, feel great and act great". This made me laugh out loud! :) I guess it's that easy in the world's system. :) In God's kingdom, good works turn into great works when we glorify God and draw people to Him. Putting our trust in Him, to do His work through us, produces great works! And the focus isn't on our own greatness but on His. No feeling or acting involved - just rest in His Greatness! :)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Change
The other day, we were taking down the Christmas tree and all the decorations which led to a full blown house cleaning project. As I was cleaning the glass patio door, I decided to reinstall the wooden grid inserts that came with the doors. We had taken them off one day while cleaning and had decided then that we liked the view better with the grids out of the windows. Well they have been out for years, so I figured it was time to put them in again.
After I finished cleaning the windows and installing the grids, the kids all commented on how nice the doors looked. As I looked at the doors, I thought to myself, "I like change!" I always have. My relatives used to tease me because I was constantly moving the furniture around. Unfortunately, due to the size of our house, most of our furniture is now in fixed positions, but every once in a while I will get creative and come up with a new arrangement. :)
As I continued on with my cleaning that day, I was thinking about how life IS change, and how we should embrace change. While God never changes, all that He created does change. Going through life hating the idea of things being different from the way they are right now will definitely make one miserable, because nothing ever stays the same.
Our spiritual live should not stay the same either. We would think it a horror if a baby never changed! Growth equal health! Just like children, our spiritual lives should be growing stronger and healthier by the day!
At church yesterday, one of our elders was talking about the changes we need to make as Christians. When we hear God speaking to us, we need to respond to Him in fear and honor, willing to do whatever He is asking us to do, no questions asked. He read us Psalm 55:19.
During testimony time, one of the dads exhorted us to think about the voices that cause us to change. Sometimes worldly influences can motivate us in an effort to be accepted. What is changing in our lives and why? Who are we listening to? Are we drawing closer to the Lord or drifting away from Him? It's one or the other! Let's trust the One who never changes, to bring about necessary changes in our lives...and CHANGE!
After I finished cleaning the windows and installing the grids, the kids all commented on how nice the doors looked. As I looked at the doors, I thought to myself, "I like change!" I always have. My relatives used to tease me because I was constantly moving the furniture around. Unfortunately, due to the size of our house, most of our furniture is now in fixed positions, but every once in a while I will get creative and come up with a new arrangement. :)
As I continued on with my cleaning that day, I was thinking about how life IS change, and how we should embrace change. While God never changes, all that He created does change. Going through life hating the idea of things being different from the way they are right now will definitely make one miserable, because nothing ever stays the same.
Our spiritual live should not stay the same either. We would think it a horror if a baby never changed! Growth equal health! Just like children, our spiritual lives should be growing stronger and healthier by the day!
At church yesterday, one of our elders was talking about the changes we need to make as Christians. When we hear God speaking to us, we need to respond to Him in fear and honor, willing to do whatever He is asking us to do, no questions asked. He read us Psalm 55:19.
God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.Do we fear God? If so, we will be willing to change!
During testimony time, one of the dads exhorted us to think about the voices that cause us to change. Sometimes worldly influences can motivate us in an effort to be accepted. What is changing in our lives and why? Who are we listening to? Are we drawing closer to the Lord or drifting away from Him? It's one or the other! Let's trust the One who never changes, to bring about necessary changes in our lives...and CHANGE!
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Best Test
Happy New Year! It is that time of year when everyone starts talking about New Years resolutions. Well here is a simple resolution that can be applied to every area of your life:
The poem goes like this:
Make the best choice in all that you do! :)
...the good, better, best test!
The poem goes like this:
Good, better, best,
never let it rest,
until your good is better,
and your better, best!
The test is simple, when you are about to make a decision about something you are going to do, ask yourself what would be best. Say you have some time to sit down and read a book. Reading a magazine would be good, but after a little more thought you decide a self-help book would be better. Then one more thought brings to mind the Bible - the BEST choice!
Make the best choice in all that you do! :)
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