Peace in the Midst of Persecution

The persecution of Christians is something very real in many parts of our world, and the following article is the testimony of someone from China who has experienced persecution first hand. This is the story of Ming; someone I knew sometime ago. The story goes in her very own words….

“I was at an underground house church worshipping, when four officers barged in and stood before me. Though I was frightened for a moment, my heart soon calmed. One of them struck me in the face, knocked me down, and then beat me with his baton. He did not stop until a woman of the church bravely intervened.

Then the officers cuffed me, confiscated my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook, and asked me many questions. I answered with wisdom from God, as promised in Matthew 10.19 & 20. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

They took me to the police station and cuffed me to a chair with a guard standing by. Through all their atrocities, I was not the least bit afraid, for I knew the Lord was with me. I prayed, Lord, I thank you because you are using this experience to make me feel more of your presence and witness your mighty works.

The next morning they asked me more questions, but could not find any fault in my answers. The officers then left me alone. During their absence, I was able to recover my Bible, hymnbook, and notebook. I was so glad to regain my most important possessions! Around noon two women of the church came to visit me. They requested my release, saying they were willing to take my place. I was greatly moved by their gesture. Around three o clock the officers took me for more interrogation before releasing me.

Back at the meeting place, I learned how my church family was praying for me. My heart was extremely grateful to the Lord for pouring His great love. I knew for the first time how much He cares. I can now join Job in saying, My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”

This is just one story that occurs on a daily basis in many countries around the world. We do not always hear about this because in many cases the media and information outlets are carefully controlled by the authorities. I was moved by her story of faith, and I hope it might just move you too.

Make it your MASTERPIECE

Developing an authentic lifestyle--one that truly reflects what is important to you in all areas of life--is a work of art. It is your personal statement to the world. Are you creating your masterpiece with both the intention and attention a great artist gives her creation?

Reflecting on the ideas and manipulating the materials over time, the artist begins to clarify the vision and, as the piece emerges, watches, refining her ideas, adding this, discarding that, reworking, until the materials begin to match the vision. Once the realization of the dream is glimpsed, work accelerates, and joy and passion carry the piece to completion. Isn’t that much like our lives?

Few artists receive their inspiration from attempting to fulfill someone else’s idea of what the clay, paint, rock, notes, words, fabric or wood might become. Imitation in art is only the tool of the student as the techniques are learned. The truly authentic work of art must come from within the artist, through the techniques and media, into reality.

Similarly, you cannot live the dreams of your parents, the desires of your friends or the visions of another with passion and integrity.

Great artists understand that their art is their personal expression, and is, therefore, unique. The artist values the medium for its potential to express the idea. The artist works diligently with it-- keeping the vision in view, making small adjustments, learning new techniques, experimenting--until the vision emerges in concrete form and becomes an extension of the artist. It is visible then to all who care to look. The piece bears the artist’s name and influences all who view it.

Sometimes, pieces do not please the artist and they are reworked, painted over, melted down, unraveled. These pieces have great inherent value. The artist’s vision is clarified, the materials better understood. This contributes much to the next project, the next work of art.

Sometimes, pieces become a legacy and influence many by their existence. These are the authentic works, the true expressions of the artist. These are the quality pieces, as Willa A. Foster, says, “Quality is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

You want your life to be of quality, filled with wise choices. Therefore, approach it with high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

When creating a work of art, you must be present with it, fully engaged each moment, totally absorbed by the possibility you are actualizing and the potential you are exploring. This intense focus is required if you are not to be distracted by the myriad of seductive, and easy to justify diversions. It is a powerful process uplifting, inspiring, sometimes frustrating, satisfying, and, most of all, creative. When you are making a success of something, it s not work. It‘s a way of life.

Now, if by chance, you are thinking that viewing your life as a work of art, or a lofty contribution to the world, is impractical compared to a factual time-management, goal-oriented, bottom-line approach, please consider this. Every successful business, organization and corporation has two types of leaders, visionaries and administrators. Both are required. You need to be both visionary and administrator in your own life, to live a life of integrity, of wholeness.

RESTORATION

We all know the parable of the prodigal son and how many sermons have been preached about repentance, from that parable. We are told that 'he came to himself and said, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.' In preaching, we speak of this as the first step in a changed life-as conversion, as repentance, confession, returning to God. But, as this is the first step for the prodigal, we must remember that this is also the step to be taken by His erring children-by all the ninety-nine 'who need non-repentance ,' or think they do not. Those Christians who do not understand how wrong their low religious life is must be taught that this is sin-unbelief; and that it is as necessary that they should be brought to repentance as the prodigal. You have heard a great deal of preaching repentance to the unconverted; but I want to try to preach it to God's children. We have a picture of so many of God's children in that elder brother. What the father told him, to bring about a consideration of the love that He bore him, just as he loved the prodigal brother, thus does God tell to us in our contentedness with such a low life: -'You must repent and believe that I love you, and all that I have is thine .' He says, 'By your unbelief, you have dishonored me, living for ten, twenty, or thirty years, and never believing what it was to live in the blessedness of My love. You must confess the wrong you have done Me in this, and be broken down in contrition of heart just as truly as the prodigal.'

There are many children of God who need to confess, that though they are His children, they have never believed that God's promises are true, that He is willing to fill their hearts all the day long with His blessed presence. Have you believed this? If you have not, all our teaching will be of no profit to you. Will you not say, 'By the help of God, I will begin now a new life of faith, and will not rest until I know what such a life means. I will believe that I am every moment in the Father's presence, and all that He has is mine?'

May the Lord God work this conviction in the hearts of all cold believers. Have you ever heard the expression, 'a conviction for sanctification?' You know, the unconverted man needs a conviction before conversion. So does the dark-minded Christian need conviction before, and in order for sanctification, before he comes to a real insight to spiritual blessedness. He must be convicted a second time because of his sinful life of doubt, and temper, and un-lovingness . He must be broken down under that conviction; then there is hope for him. May the Father of mercy grant all such that deep contrition, so that they may be led into the blessedness of His presence, and enjoy the fullness of His power and love!

Are You an Ugly Duckling?

Sometimes in life, we may feel like ugly ducklings.

We can't fit in. Our walk is not the right waddle and our squawk is off-key. In fact, we wonder if the other ducks are snickering behind our back.

Our life is an example of what does not work. And, in quiet desperation, we feel we may soon be down to nothing.

The original sin appears to have found its full manifestation in us.

But consider this: we may actually be swans.

And amongst swans, we fit in perfectly. Our feathers are the right shade, length, and texture, our gait is regal, our voice has a perfect pitch, and we swim with grace. And what we reflect is the original perfection.

Swans aspire to their spiritual splendor.

They recognize that this life is transitory and that they have a hunger to connect with the source of all life. In essence, a part of them wants to feel a connection with all of life.

They're really focused on reaching enlightenment itself.

It's a novel situation to be a human being, and when we grasp this simple concept, we aspire to move ahead in a different way than other people.

As a swan, you've realized for some time now that your beliefs will cause you to create or attract situations and events that you experience as your life.

It's your goal to explore your own belief system and you search to equip yourself with tools to modify those things of which you wish to change.

You must also seek to balance the understandings that you glean from world lessons, or experiences, as well as from word lessons, or intellectual understanding.

When you touch your true swan nature, I suspect, you will find an amazing love for life, and you will be a catalyst for positive change in the world. Your health, your relationships, your career, and your finances will all be touched and improved when you master deeper levels of your own consciousness.

Imagine feeling a profoundly deep connection to your own being, a connection that defies description. Imagine meeting others and see within them your own humanity and struggle for the light of truth.

As a swan, you aspire towards an experience of compassionate, accepting connection with all of life. You seek your own true power. In a world of lies, you seek truth.

If you find your life impossible right now--where you don't quite seem to fit in and things aren't going quite right for you--it may be that you're a swan pretending to be a duck.

It may be time to accept that a greater game than you had imagined is afoot.

Sometimes when you're down to nothing, your Spirit is up to something. The ugly duckling is about to recognize that it is a swan.

HEARTBEAT OF HOPE

The beating heart is a sign of life. Hope is what sustains that life. Yes, food, water, sunlight, these sustain life also but, it’s HOPE that really keeps you alive. Hope is what has brought you to today. Hope is what inspires us to move forward because we believe that tomorrow will truly be a better day. Tomorrow, will give you that new house that you have been saving for. Tomorrow, you will finally be able to spend time with your family – and, tomorrow is the day that you will receive your raise for a job well done. Hope is optimism. Hope is a belief that all your desires will be fulfilled and all your positive expectations will become realities.

Without Hope, our future darkens and the shadow of death is seen crouching at the door. Hope gives us the will to go. We hope in what is “to be”. We hope in what “can be”. Why hope for what is? Why hope for what you already have?

Indeed, why hope for the present. The present is littered with broken dreams, foolish ambitions and missed opportunities. But despite all these, Hope is the herald of a brand new day. Hope proclaims, “yes, we can”; “yes, it is possible”! Hope gives you the breath of life to live another day. This is the “heartbeat of hope”.

In truth, I should pause for a moment and tell you this: That although Hope is filled with endless possibilities and personal triumphs, all who are driven by the heartbeat of hope well know, that Hope can also carry with it defeat, disappointment and heartache. We have all “hoped” and have experienced the agony of heartbreak and the tears of tragedy.

The heartbeat of hope gives us life today through our Heavenly Father, GOD. Today is already here. Tomorrow, …… tomorrow will bring with it the answer to all of our prayers and the fulfillment of dreams. Tomorrow will indeed be a better day!

PROJECT RELIEF… RE:LIFE

ONE HOPE, ONE LIFE, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME

The suffering of a people spares no one who has a heart and hope is the touch of healing.

The horrendous devastation that typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) has caused in the Metropolitan Manila area and the adjacent provinces have changed the condition of many lives. The waters had nowhere to go because the rivers, the lake, the floodways are clogged with mud and debris. All the contents of homes were reduced to smithereens by the fury of the currents. And while we try to do our best to gather from the murky residue whatever else may be salvaged, the damage is beyond retrieval.

Project RELIEF…RE:LIFE is a long term holistic approach addressing the families whose sorrows are more severe, than the loss of property, but also the loss of a loved one: a child, a mother, a father, a sibling…or, in some excruciating instances, the loss of children, parents, a whole family, all mercilessly drowned by the rampage of the currents and the waters that swelled in a matter of minutes to the rooftops. The horrifying scene was beyond words: outstretched hands above the fury of the floods, desperately flailing for help…a family on a raft that violently smashed the underbelly of a bridge instantly perished in full view of those who desperately attempted rescue…the sight of a father who frantically foraged the hillside hoping that the lifeless, muddied body of the young boy he already held in his arms was not his son…a woman found seated and dead in her living room when the waters subsided, her eyes still staring in shock. And there were more.

Read more of this at http://mamamary.com.ph/2009/hope_project-relief-relife/#more-403