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)

“I Begged Them to Leave My Girls”

“I Begged Them to Leave My Girls”

Deborah’s life will never be the same, following the traumatic events of 2012. Within a few months time, Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group, killed her husband and son, and kidnapped her two daughters.

The horrific evening began like any other, Deborah’s two young girls raced up the path to greet her as she returned from a long day at work. Inside their home, her husband, Shettima, was preparing a children’s Bible study for the evening prayers at church. Setting down her belongings, she took a bucket to draw water from the village well for the evening meal.

While she was gone, armed young men arrived at the entrance to the compound and waited for her to return. “They followed me inside the compound. I tried to alert my husband, but they overpowered me and forced me to lie on the floor. I heard my husband who was watching through the window praying, ‘Father, today I will come to you, please receive my spirit.’” The attackers fired four shots, killing Shettima.

Deborah, convinced that her last moments on earth had also come, asked the Lord to receive her spirit. As she prayed, her daughters, who had been hiding, came running towards her. Deborah was helpless to stop the men as they grabbed the girls, aged 7 and 9, and dragged them from the compound. “Looking up to the heavens, I cried for help at the top of my voice, but did not get a reply.”

Three months later, the nightmare took another horrific turn as extremists forced their way into Deborah’s home and murdered her son, her last remaining child.

One With Them
It was one year ago, on April 25, when Deborah’s life was turned upside down. Still struggling with the trauma, devastation and grief, she longs to know if her daughters are still alive, and holds onto hope that she will see them again. Be One With Deborah as you pray this prayer:

Father, we know that You are the God of all Comfort. Please wrap Your arms of comfort and peace around our sister, Deborah, especially today as she relives the terror, grief and devastation that began one year ago, today. Bind up her broken heart and bring her the joy of Your presence in the midst of her pain. Nothing else can bring comfort; she needs to experience Your presence today. Please protect and rescue her little girls from the extremists who took them. Nothing is impossible for You, so we ask that the Boko Haram rebels would release them today. Restore this remaining part of Deborah’s family to each other, we pray! In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

One With Them CHALLENGE
Please write a message to Deborah today. Assure her that you are praying for her and that she is deeply loved.  

 

4/28/2013

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
(Psalms 147:3)

 

KUAT MENGHADAPI BADAI

KUAT MENGHADAPI BADAI

Bacaan Firman Tuhan: Mrk 4:35-41

Ayat 35, Yesus berkata/berfirman, “Marilah kita bertolak ke seberang”

Ayat 36, Para murid dan Yesus berangkat dengan menggunakan sebuah perahu. Mereka bersama-sama Yesus.

Ayat 37, Mengamuklah taufan, yang sangat dasyat dan ombak menyembur masuk dalam perahu, sehingga perahu itu mulai penuh dengan air. Gambaran suatu masalah besar menenggelamkan kita.

Ayat 38a, Yesus sedang tidur di buritan di sebuah tilam. Mengapa Ia dapat tidur dengan tenang? Sebab Ia telah berfirman “mereka akan sampai di seberang” dan Ia tahu hal itu pasti terjadi meski ada badai.

Ayat 38b, Murid-murid membangunkan Yesus dengan penuh kemarahan, ketakutan dan keraguan. Mengapa hal ini dapat terjadi? Sebab dekat dengan Tuhan belum tentu intim denganNya. Anda bisa saja berdoa atau membaca Alkitab tanpa memiliki kedekatan yang sebenarnya denganNya).

Ayat 39-40, Tuhan menghardik “badai” dan menegur para murid karena kurang percaya padaNya.

Saat kita dekat dengan Tuhan, bukan berarti kita tidak akan hadapi masalah dalam hidup. Tuhan mengizinkan taufan datang untuk memproses hidup kita. (Yer 18:4-6, Yak 1:12)

Salah satu cara Tuhan bentuk kita adalah melalui “jalan salib”, kematian terhadap daging dalam diri kita (Gal 5:24-25)

Saat kita “berhasil” melewati pencobaan, gambar Kristus akan nampak dalam diri kita (Kol 3:10, 1 Ptr 1:6-7).

Ayat 41, He is God of miracles. Sadari bahwa Ia sanggup melakukan berbagai mujizat. Rancangan Tuhan selalu indah pada waktuNya (Pkh 3:11)