Cristina’s Precious Treasure Box

Cristina’s Precious Treasure Box “These people do not even know us, but they care about us!” marveled Lucia, as she smiled at her five-year-old sister, Cristina. Cristina’s story, featured on the One With Them website, deeply touched our hearts, when we read that she had been orphaned and wounded in June 2011, during the fatal shooting of her parents and 13-year-old brother. Almost two years later, Cristina is finally doing much better. Recently, an Open Doors member visited Cristina and her sister, bringing letters of love and encouragement. Opening up one colorful card after another, she waved one to her older brother, exclaiming, “Look Arnulfo, how cute this one is!” Turning to her sister she added, “We have many who love us!” Arnulfo shared that Cristina has a box which she calls “my treasure,” where she keeps her favorite cards. Sometimes, her sister Lucia cannot find her because she is hiding in a special place where she can look through all her cards. This is a huge improvement. After the attack he shares, “She had stopped talking and her mood was not good. Due to serious bullet injuries in her arm,she had nausea whenever she ate.” Eventually, Cristina’s older brother sent her back to pre-school, which greatly helped. “Now Cristina once again has a sparkle in her eye, and a beautiful smile,” the Open Doors staff member added. “She is talking again and can eat without nausea. Praise God!” Despite physical therapy, Cristina has not fully recovered the use of her injured arm. In addition to medical assistance, Open Doors has been able to extend other practical support for Cristina and her family. “We can only be grateful to know how much our God loves us,” her brothers exclaimed. “We think it’s wonderful to have a great family that prays for us!” One With Them Be One With Cristina as you pray for full healing of her arm. Also pray for God’s ongoing comfort and emotional healing for Cristina and her siblings, as they slowly recover from the shock and consequences of this trauma.   5/8/2013

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. (Ephesians 6:22)

Praying with your heart

Praying With Your Heart
Located in northeast Iraq, somewhat removed from the mainstreams of war, the mountains of Kurdistan are used by many as places of refuge. 

Makruhi, a Christian teacher and servant of the Lord, knows the roads through the mountain passes well. But this year an early storm has made the trek more difficult. As her humble vehicle traverses the muddy ruts, she works hard to arrive on time.

High in a mountain village, 30 women are assembled, waiting for Makruhi to arrive. Some are ethnic Kurdish; others refugees, displaced from various cities in Iraq. All have suffered the ravages of war. Some are widowed, having lost not only their husbands, but also the provision they provided. Some have lost children. War is no discerner of persons. All suffer.

Arriving late, Makruhi quickly begins the Bible lesson with prayer. The women join in by repeating a rote prayer. Unaware they can talk to God directly from their hearts, Makruhi realizes what she needs to teach first.

“At home, some women kiss their Bible and put it near their pillow, but they don’t read it” Makruhi says. Demonstrating how to learn God’s Word, Makruhi picks up her Bible, and together they read several verses. Realizing the value of scripture, many women said that they wanted to pass on Bible stories to their children. Makruhi happily adds, “After several lessons some are now bringing their Bible to class.”

As Makruhi prepared to end the session, a woman approached showing her hand; on it was a small ring. “I rescheduled my engagement party so I could be here to learn from you today.” Another stood up saying, “I was going through depression, but I was encouraged to read the Bible. I will go back to my church and teach the children.” One student quietly added, “Please end our time with prayer. We love it when you do that!” Makruhi was delighted to show them how to pray… with their heart!

One With Them
Become One With Them by praying for these beautiful servants of God, in Iraq, to be enriched and enlightened deeply by God’s Word and His Spirit; that they may continue to carry it forth with boldness.

5/1/2013

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.
(Psalms 119:50)

 

God Pursues His Children – Part 2

God Pursues His Children – Part 2 Yesterday we heard Tursun’s story. Although he has not yet accepted Jesus, God is not letting go. Today, Jun, an Open Doors contact in China, tells us about former Muslim converts. “There was one lady who could have stayed in the relative safety of a big city, but God called her back to her village. The police immediately went after her. Fortunately, she had not taken Christian materials with her and had cleaned her computer of any ‘suspicious files’. The police told her they would be watching her. Open Doors helped her start a business, giving her a reason to stay in the village and to travel and meet other believers. By engaging in business activities, she was able to operate more freely.” Jun continues, “One Christian woman was held at the police station for an entire night. The atmosphere was initially hostile, but she eventually won the trust of the police officials and ended up giving marriage counsel to them. Another woman I know is afraid to tell anyone about her faith in Jesus, especially her father. He will definitely beat her and she will quite possibly be disowned. Because people gossip; the family cannot take the risk that anyone may learn of an apostate family member.” “Some say that converts should boldly declare their new status in Christ, and face the consequences of persecution, potential bodily harm, even jail,” Jun continues. “Others claim the best approach is to remain quiet, carefully sharing with those who show a hunger for more.” In both approaches the questions remains for converts, “Is persecution the price we need to pay for revival? Will my family ostracize me? Will I spend the next 5 years in a jail? How can I demonstrate Kingdom lifestyle without jeopardizing the other believers I meet with? Am I denying my Lord if I don’t boldly declare Him?” “It doesn’t matter if we are in a village, a city or a prison cell,” Jun adds, “We need to realize who we are in Christ, and be His light wherever we are.” One With Them Be One With Muslim Background Believers today by using your freedom to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ to those around you, and pray that God would give divine wisdom to our brothers and sisters as they seek to shine the light of Christ in the face of persecution. 4/30/2013

"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd." (John 10:16)

God Pursues His Children – Part 1

God Pursues His Children – Part 1
“Is this your birthday?”

Tursun (alias) was taken back by the question. Thinking it was a sort of birthday… it was exactly ten years ago that he had met a Christian girl who shared the gospel with him. After reading the Bible, he decided that the cost of following Jesus was simply too high. A seed had been planted, though, and God continued to pursue him. 

Eating with friends in a restaurant, Tursun shared that not long after the encounter with the Christian girl, he had cried out to God to know the truth. To his amazement Jesus came to him in a dream, not once, but on three occasions! In each dream Jesus wore brilliant white clothing and was surrounded by sheep. Jesus beckoned him to come and follow Him. Tursun still believed that the cost was too great and instead chose to follow his Muslim friends.

Turan shared with the men in the restaurant until late that night. Around 2:30 a.m., they joined hands and gave thanks for the divine appointment. They prayed for God to shine the absolute truth of Jesus into Tursun’s heart.

Around 25 million Muslims reside in China; most belong to ethnic Turkish groups. Among them are several thousand secret Christians. The central government allows ethnic Han Chinese believers more freedoms, and generally does not interfere with local traditions and majority religious groups. China’s government has recently adopted a softer approach toward the Church, but opposes conversions. Christians from a Muslim background face fierce opposition, not only from the government, but also from their family and community.

One With Them
Be One With Tursun and Chinese Muslims like him, praying that the chains of Islam will be broken, and they can enjoy freedom in Christ. Pray also for the many secret believers in China, as they struggle to decide whether they should openly declare their faith in Christ, or keep their faith hidden.

4/29/2013

“...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 
(Luke 19:10)

 

Arabs Find Christ Through Books

Arabs Find Christ Through Books Throughout the Arabian Peninsula, sharing the gospel comes with extreme difficulties. Importing or printing non-Islamic religious literature is almost universally restricted or forbidden. Still, God opens doors. Somehow, Christian books find their way to the Peninsula. A bookseller shares how these books have changed lives: One day, Adeeb, an active member of the mosque, entered the bookshop and discovered books with crosses; “I have been looking for these,” he explained to the bookseller, “tell me about the person this book is about.” After their conversation, Adeeb’s curiosity grew stronger. One night, while playing the radio, he stumbled upon a station that was broadcasting Bible readings. Though he did not fully understand what he heard, he still gave his heart to the Lord. Returning to the bookshop, the bookseller then began to teach Adeeb about Jesus. Adeeb’s brother-in-law began to suspect that he had converted. Adeeb brought him to the bookshop, and asked the bookseller to talk to him. Presenting him a book, the bookseller said, “It’s about Gods love.” The brother-in-law angrily shouted, “It’s a dirty book, why do you give this to me?” The bookseller then carefully began to explain the gospel to him. The message was so beautiful, that the brother-in-law’s heart was changed immediately and he accepted Jesus. Embracing Adeeb he cried, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know,” with tear-filled eyes, he added, “Forgive me, my brother!” Another time, the bookseller remembered a boy who visited the bookshop with his mother. As the boy lingered near the books with crosses, she informed him, “These books have nothing to do with our beliefs!” The young boy seemed oblivious and began to leaf through them. When he asked her to purchase one, she grabbed him and dragged him out of the shop. To the bookseller’s surprise, within minutes he was back; somehow he had broken free. Alone with the bookseller, away from the ears of his mother, he quietly asked to know about Jesus. One With Them Stand One With Christian booksellers in the Arabian Peninsula. Our brother has requested our prayers saying; “We earnestly need you to pray for each and every visitor; that they would have the chance to read the scriptures and know the Lord.” One With Them CHALLENGEConsider becoming a World Bible Sponsor. For just $5.00 a month you can send a Bible to a believer…opening many doors for people to read His Word. 4/25/2012

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Set Free!

Set Free! Three believers, Peter, Paul and John, were finally reunited in prison after being arrested for their Christian activity. They endured backbreaking work in prison – farming, mining, and working on government building projects – in blistering temperatures, with no shade or rest from the intense sun. “The prisons are very dirty,” reported the men. “There is no washing, no cleaning. And the food is very little—just bread many times, sometimes even no food. This makes many prisoners sick. They did not allow us to see a doctor. Many people died. It is very sad. Also, they beat us very much, for no reason. Some had broken hands, legs, even chest bones and most of the time no doctor to attend to our injuries. Some died from their injuries. We think some also died because they lost hope. Their hearts just gave up! We saw some die like this.” While in prison the three men faced repeated demands to sign an official document recanting their faith. “The police threatened to arrest our family members if we refused to recant and sign the document. But we refused because we do not want to leave Jesus.” Finally, one evening they hatched a daring plan. The men broke out of the line and jumped over the fence surrounding the prison. One said, “The fence was made up of plants with big thorns. We jumped over them and ran. When the prison guards started shooting, we went in different directions. We heard bullets flying over our heads, but none hit us.” The Lord protected each of them that day. Not knowing the fate of one another, their joy overflowed when they were miraculously reunited at a refugee camp in a bordering country. Informed that they could still be arrested and repatriated, they moved on to a safer place through the help of Christian brothers, whom God provided at just the right time. There they are waiting on God to open doors, in order to be resettled in a more secure place. One With Them Even in prison, Peter, Paul and John lived in the freedom of Christ. Join us in standing One With Them, in freedom and in prayer, as they find ways to build new lives in another country. One With Them CHALLENGE Over 125 Christians have been arrested in Eritrea just this year. Click here to receive weekly prayer updates on current news reports.   4/7/2013

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

The Ultomatum

The Ultimatum A Tajik woman, we will call Suraz, was teaching children at the local school when two police officers showed up in her classroom to escort her to the principal’s office. Trembling, she stood before the men as they accused her of trying to convert the children to Christianity. “You have committed a crime,” they said, “and can be sentenced to five years imprisonment.” The school principal gave Suraz an ultimatum—either resign from her job, with no court case to be initiated, or remain on the job and a criminal case against her would be filed. Suraz resigned. Two days later, she was ordered to appear before the prosecutor. “If you continue to spread the gospel,” he informed her politely, “I will do my best to have you expelled from the country.” One With Them Stand One With Them as people like Suraz face such ultimatums. Pray that God will strengthen them, dispel their fears, and grant them opportunities to share the gospel. And stand One With Them as you faithfully share the gospel as well. One With Them CHALLENGE Tajikistan is ranked #44 on Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of countries where persecution of Christians is most severe. Click here to learn more about Tajikistan. 4/4/2013

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

GREAT QUOTES on "SURRENDER"

GREAT QUOTES on "SURRENDER"

"The Cause of the weakness of your Christian life is that you want
to work it out partly, and then have God help you. That cannot be.
You must come to be utterly helpless, to let God work. He will
work gloriously." ~ Andrew Murray

"To DIE TO SELF, or to come from under its power, IS NOT AND
CAN NOT BE DONE by any active resistance we can make
against it OR by our own power of nature. The one true way of
dying to self is the way of patience, meekness, humility, surrender
and RESIGNATION to God." ~ Andrew Murray

"We Can not please God by what we do for Him in our own human
effort, we can only please Him by surrendering and letting Him work
in and through our lives." ~John Mulinde

“I will die for my God. I will die for my faith. It's the least I can do
for Christ dying for me.” ~ Cassie Bernall, Columbine High Martyr

"We must be careful not to choose, but to let God's Holy Spirit
manage our lives; not to smooth down and explain away, but to
stir up the gift and allow God's Spirit to disturb us and disturb us
and disturb us until we yield and yield and yield and the possibility
in God's mind for us becomes an established fact in our lives,
with the rivers in evidence meeting the need of a dying world."
~Smith Wigglesworth.

SELAMAT JALAN SAYANG

SELAMAT JALAN SAYANG

Sebab rancanganKU bukanlah rancanganmu, dan jalanmu bukanlah jalanKU, demikianlah firman Tuhan. (Yes 55:8)

Rasanya tegang sekali menantikan kelahiran anak kami yang kedua, harap-harap cemas sebab anakku ternyata sungsang hingga harus dilakukan operasi Cesar. Kulihat seorang perawat tergesa-gesa membawa tabung oksigen ke dalam ruangan menambah suasana menegangkan bagi diriku. Putraku bertanya, “Ada apa, Pa?”
“Papa tidak tahu apa yang terjadi, Phil (nama putra kami).” Jawabku dengan tegang. Proses persalinan ini terlalu lama, pikiranku sudah bercampur aduk, ada perasaan sesuatu yang buruk telah terjadi di dalam sana tetapi apa? Aku pun tak tahu apakah itu.
Dua jam kemudian, dokter spesialis kandungan keluar dari ruangan dengan wajah tegang. Melihat raut wajahnya menambah jantungku berdebar-debar, sepertinya ia pun tengah menyusun kalimat untuk disampaikan dengan berhati-hati. Ia pun lalu berbicara,” Maaf, Pak. Kami telah berusaha semaksimal mungkin namun putri Bapak meninggal akibat praeklamsi. Ia hanya bertahan selama satu jam saja. Sedang istri Bapak berhasil kami selamatkan, saat ini sedang dalam proses pemulihan. Saat mendengar kabar itu, rasanya tiba-tiba dunia di sekelilingku berhenti berputar.
Aku diizinkan untuk melihat jasad putriku, kutatap wajah mungilnya yang cantik. Air mataku menetes, sebelum ia lahir telah kupersiapkan sebuah nama baginya yaitu Regina, artinya Penasehat Raja. Putra kami sangat bersemangat menanti kelahiran adiknya, ia telah mempersiapkan ranjang adiknya dan memenuhinya dengan boneka-boneka, kami telah membeli semua perlengkapan bayi untuk menyambut kedatangannya.
Putraku terdiam dan hanya menundukkan kepala, ia saat itu baru berusia 4 tahun. Orang bilang anak seusia itu belum mengerti banyak namun aku mau katakan itu salah besar. Putraku sedih dan terpukul karena sebelum lahirpun, ia senantiasa mendambakan kehadiran adiknya.
Ada peperangan dalam batinku, mengapa hal ini harus terjadi pada diriku? Bukankah aku sudah dengan setia melayani Tuhan selama belasan tahun terakhir ini? Bukankah aku tidak hidup dalam kebiasaan dosa? Mengapa hal ini terjadi padaku sekeluarga, TUhan? Kecewa, marah, bingung dan segala perasaan lainnya bercampur aduk menjadi satu.
Dalam keadaan hati yang pedih itu, tiba-tiba aku teringat Firman Tuhan yang berbunyi,”Ucapkanlah syukur dalam segala hal”(1 Tes 5:18) dan “Kecaplah dan lihatlah betapa baiknya Tuhan itu.”(Maz 34:9).
Saat itu juga aku berdoa dihadapan Tuhan Yesus,” Tuhan, terimakasih untuk waktu satu jam yang telah Kau berikan bagi kami untuk menjadi orangtua dari Regina. Terimakasih Tuhan, sebab sekarang ia sudah ada bersama dengan Engkau di tempat yang terbaik. Tuhan titipkan salamku padanya, tolong katakan padanya bahwa Papa sayang pada Regina.”
Aku mengucap syukur istriku selamat dan dapat pulih kembali, berkumpul bersama kami kembali.
Aku tidak tahu mengapa hal ini harus kami alami tetapi iman kami pada Bapa di surga tidak lalu padam. Kami tetap percaya bahwa jalan-jalanNya itu indah bagi kami. Selamat jalan, sayang. Kami mengasihimu, sampai jumpa kembali di dalam kekekalan Bapa.

I KNOW YOU ARE HURTING

I Know You Are Hurting
“It’s a girl, Mr. Ziglar!” the nurse announced on May 10, 1949. After 30 hours of labor, Jean Suzanne Ziglar arrived. We called her “Suzan.” My joy knew no bounds.
“There’s nothing else we can do,” the doctor told us on May 12, 1995. The next day, May 13, a nurse said, “She’s gone.” My sorrow knew no limits.
Suzan was confident in her dying because she knew Jesus Christ as her Savior. She—and we—had the assurance that to “be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). But as I write these words, I weep again…not tears of despair, but tears of hurt.
The Pain that Lingers
You may be grieving the loss of a loved one. Or you may be feeling the pain of divorce, a job loss, a house fire, or the loss of your health or that of someone close to you. Whatever it is may always return in your memory from time to time. But your grief and pain will become more bearable as you understand the love and care that God has for you. His mercy and grace are even stronger in your time of need: “Blessed be the… Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God understands as no one else can.
I can’t tell you that God will answer all your why questions. He may, but he may not. His purposes ultimately are beyond our knowing. His timing is always unfolding for the righteous according to divine precision: “All things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). And even if he reveals a great deal to us, we will never know as fully as he knows.
To continue to dwell on “Why?” and “If only” leads to bitterness and misery, which are burdens a loving God never intended for his children. I’m more content, for example, knowing that Suzan has all of her why questions answered by her Lord, whether I ever do or not!
I also know that God understands your grief. Isaiah 53:3 talks about the pain that Christ endured during his life on earth: “He was despised and rejected… a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Jesus understands whatever agony you’re going through. He knows how to get you through your most painful experiences—regardless of their length or intensity. How long will that be? It’s different for each of us. But I trust that you will find comfort in knowing that God completely understands your makeup (Psalm 139).
The God Who Heals Our Hurt
As you are hurting, may I suggest some things that have helped me in hard times? First of all, I urge you to find strength in applying God’s Word to yourself. Here’s what I mean. One morning after Suzan’s death, I was reading in Psalm 46. Verse 1 was enormously encouraging to me when I applied it this way: “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in my time of trouble.” I’ve since found it a powerful comfort to read such psalms aloud like this.
Look expectantly in Scripture for God to provide you with fresh insights, joy, and help: “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!” (Psalm 119:28). He wants to heal your hurts while he strengthens your faith.
It makes perfect sense that God wants you to express your dependence upon him daily in prayer. Tell him how you’re feeling. Grief is the price you pay for caring; God’s grace is the solution to any burden you carry. Your recovery to a great extent lies in your daily communication with him. I like the way the psalmist puts it: “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2).
Ask God to put someone in your life to create a necessity for shifting gears from grief to gratitude. Look for opportunities to share the hurt of another person so that you “may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). That person needs your reassurance that God can get him through too. And in that process God will continue to heal your hurt.
In our pain we hope for the outcome that we think would be best. God understands that, but his plan is often entirely different. We did not know what lay ahead for Suzan, but God did. Our loving Heavenly Father will always act in the long-range best interests of his children. Please understand that God’s motive toward us—not only in every moment of our lives but also in death—is love.
God knows better than anyone when we are hurting, and how much we are hurting. He understands the agony of loss and personal pain better than any of us can imagine—he willingly sacrificed his own Son Jesus for us—for our present and eternal well-being (Romans 8:32). “Christ also suffered… for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh” (1 Peter 3:18).
You can have the assurance of God’s comforting love by placing your trust entirely upon the risen Christ for forgiveness of your sins and the gift of eternal life. Then you can confidently say “…that neither death nor life…nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). And you can claim God’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Let God’s promise and presence sustain you when you are hurting.
The death of the Ziglars' grown daughter, Suzan, struck the family a devastating blow. God showed them how to recover and as they did, others benefited by God's comforting of the Ziglars. This tract is adapted from Zig's book Confessions of a Grieving Christian.

A "NOW" WORD FROM THE LORD

A "NOW" WORD FROM THE LORD TO YOU!
"You are never alone, for I am at your right hand. Never despair, for I am watching over and caring for you. Be not anxious. Difficult situations are all part of My planning, and I am working out the details and
circumstances to the end that I may bless you and reveal Myself to you in a new way.

As I have opened your eyes to see, so shall I open your ears to hear, and you shall come to know Me even as did Moses in a face to face relationship. For I will remove the veil that separates Me from you and you shall know Me as your dearest Friend and truest Comforter.

My peace I give you. I shed my blood to cleanse you. I made you new. You must believe it. In my eyes you are worthy of love. Do not criticize yourself for not being perfect in your own eyes. This will only lead to frustration. I want you to trust me for every step you take, one day at a time.

Abide in my love and in my power and be free. Be yourself. Do not allow others to manipulate you. I will guide you if you will let me. Be aware of my presence every moment. I will give you my joy, patience, peace. Call upon me and I will answer you. I am your shepherd and I will guide you. Follow me, only me. Never forget this! Listen and I will show you my will.

Don’t be so concerned about yourself. You are my responsibility. I will change you without your being aware of it. Accept yourself and love others simply because I love you. Take your eyes off yourself. Look only unto me. I lead. I change. I work. But I will not do it if you are striving to do it yourself. I cannot fight for you if you are fighting your own battle. You are mine. Let me transform you into the image of Christ. Let me love you. Let me give you joy, peace, and goodness. No one else can do it. Haven’t you noticed?

You are not your own. You have been bought with a price. Now you belong to me. It is not your business how I deal with you. Your business is to seek me and me only. Never yourself. Never others. I love you! Stop struggling! Rest in my love for you! I know what is best for you and I will work it in you. I want freedom to love you freely.

The Song of Solomon is my song to you. Stop trying to be what you desire to be and let me make you what I want you to be. My love is an everlasting love, a transforming love. Receive my love. Rest in my love. Relax in my love. Revel in my love and you shall surely prosper in all your ways . And you shall be a delight unto me, says the Lord, your Redeemer.