Grains of Sand

Pixabay The media seldom reports on the persecution of Christians around the world. If we search the internet for information on the subject we come up with a number of organizations that speak for those who, for the most part, are not able to speak for themselves. The  Bible League Canada  estimates that there are as many as 100 million Christians suffering persecution.  Open Doors USA  says that 1 in 9 believers experience some form of persecution. One site posts that every day some 300 people are killed for their faith in Jesus. Perhaps the best known agency,  The Voice of the Martyrs , offers a variety of ways by which those of us who know little of being persecuted for our beliefs, can help those in places where being a Christian is a death sentence. The pilgrims of Peter's day understood persecution in a way that few of us can. In 1 Peter 4:12 to 19, Peter encourages them to rejoice in their suffering. What an odd thing to say! " Dear friends,...

Pixabay What is it that makes it possible to turn a valley of sorrow into a mountaintop of joy? Psalm 84:11 describes the believer’s journey toward the heavenly Zion as “ the valley of Baca ” or the valley of weeping.  "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion ." “Baca” or ”Bakah” refers to a tree that weeps resin, likely a Balsam or Mulberry tree. In the psalmist’s day pilgrims would pass through what is now considered to be the actual Valley of Baca, on their way to worship in Jerusalem. It was waterless, dry, barren. The psalmist uses the picture of this valley as representative of the journey of life which so often includes sorrow, suffering, and barrenness. But he insists that the pilgrim can turn that dark and difficult valle...

Pixabay I spent most of yesterday afternoon reading through page after page of notes I had taken last summer in preparation for a ladies’ retreat scheduled for early March. My jumping-off point for the three sessions I am bringing to the ladies are Jesus’ words from Matthew 22:37-39. The theme of the retreat is Indescribable and Glorious Joy . It might seem odd that the Law, summarized in the two great commandments that Jesus gave, should have much to do with the subject of joy. But it has everything to do with deep and fulfilling joy. We used to define joy this way: J = Jesus O = Others y = You And that is basically what the two great commandments are all about. Love the Lord your God = Jesus Love your neighbour = Others Love yourself = You It sounds simple—it isn’t. We are simply not “programmed” to put anything first in our lives but ourselves and what we think will bring satisfaction to our lives. That makes the first part of the command, Love the Lord your God so hard for us....

Pixabay My desk is piled high with books—and I ordered a few more. The quest? It's all in the name of research for an upcoming project. I even found, on one of my Bible apps, a week-long study on the subject I am researching. Last night that took me to Philippians 1:3-11. Here it is: " I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern ...

Pixabay When we buried my father in September 1991, a light rain was falling. One of the ladies standing by the graveside remarked: "Heaven is crying with you, Lynda." At the time, and three months later when my mother passed away, we thought we'd never get past the weeping stage. In a sense we never have, though with time, the tears are less frequent and intense than they were twenty-five years ago. They are different. Today they are softened by a certainty that had a hard time making its presence felt back then in the midst of the sharp edges of loss. Psalm 30:5 says: " ...weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning ." In 1893, James Black wrote the words to When the Roll is Called Up Yonder. I will never forget the less the complimentary comments of one of my Seminary professors who criticized the song because the eschatology didn't match his. But nevertheless, it came to mind as I was thinking of the verse from Psalm 3...

Pixabay Ahhhhh, what a wonderful thing it is to feel the heat of a warm stove on a cold day! A blankie. A cup of hot chocolate. The embrace of a friend. Sometimes even trouble has to find a corner to hide in. That's the essence of Psalm 71—a man with troubles, but a man who has wrapped himself in the embrace of God and, no matter how serious the trouble, he is comforted. The "punch line" (or one of many) is the first verse: " In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. " Not a chance. The one who places himself, or herself, within the safety of the " rock " (vs. 3) will never have reason to regret the decision. It's not that things have always been easy. To: " Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter..." , the psalmist adds, "...you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again " (vss 20, 21...

Google Images If Zechariah and Elizabeth were taken by surprise by the announcement that they would have a son in their old age (Luke 1:12, 13), we can just imagine how surprised Mary was to learn that she would have a baby without ever having a relationship with a man. Today that would be possible, but not back then in ancient Israel (Luke 1:30)! Mary took the announcement in her stride—a testament to her faith—and hurried off to see her cousin, Elizabeth, who was in her sixth month of pregnancy by that time (1:39). Several years ago, when in a transition period in my own life, I laid claim to the words that Elizabeth pronounced over her young relative, recorded for us in Luke 1:45. " Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. " Both Elizabeth and Mary had entered significant transitions in their lives. Mary, by the time she returned to her hometown, would be obviously pregnant. The fact that she was engaged, but not ...

Google Image In my Bible Romans 12:9-21 is titled: Love in Action . But one particular verse stuck out this morning among the many characteristics given that describe a believer “in love with Jesus.” Romans 12:12 says: “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer .” While all the other characteristics seem to have a here-and-now sense to them, these three also have a what-happens-tomorrow feeling. We hope something will be true, but we aren’t sure. Perhaps the present circumstances make things feel like our hope might be in vain. We get gloomy and depressed as hope fades. Paul tells us to turn our gloom into glory and our depression into dancing and be joyful as we hope for the Lord’s grace in whatever is yet to be. Affliction can be a present circumstance, but it can also be something to which we see no end. Because we understand that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33)—that’s a promise—we are to endure it with patience. There are lessons to be le...

“ The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing ” –Zephaniah 3:17, NIV. Wrap yourself in it. When your island isn’t a Paradise anymore and feels more like solitary confinement, have tea with Him. When you are weak and the present “enemy-of-the-month” seems sure to overcome you, remember how big and strong your “Daddy” is. When you are uncertain of your value, let Him tell you how proud He is of you, no matter what. When anxiety and fear run riot in your mind and heart, feel Him rocking you gently in His arms. When doubts threaten to kill your song, sing along with Him. Wrap yourself in it.

I cringe every time I hear someone headline Satan. He craves attention, feeds on our focus, delights when we make him bigger than life. That's why I like what James has to say about the struggles that we all face. Rather than making "good press" for the devil, James calls us to look beyond the minor players in the great drama of life to the One who gives us good gifts even when they come wrapped in dirty rags. " Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. . .Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him " –James 1:2-4, 12, NIV. Our tendency is to give Satan credit for what God is doing in our lives. We don't usually look on difficulties as "...

We look forward with eager anticipation to what this new year will bring. We hope for the best, but understand that in the midst of all those blessings will come sorrow and pain. Despite our resolutions to the contrary, we will be disappointed in ourselves and in others. No matter how pristine tomorrow's page will be, it will soon be smudged. We will do our best, with God's help, to keep those smudges to a minimum and we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord just that little bit more during the year that is about to dawn. Today's verse reminds me that there will dawn a day that will mark, not a new year, but an eternity of years. Unlike tomorrow, this new year of years will be greeted without that lingering shadow of reality that hangs over my shoulder as I anticipate 2010. Here's what John says about that year of years: " He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things h...

The office staff at mission headquarters in Guelph meets every Tuesday for devotions and prayer. During my few months there we were working our way through the book of James. I remember clearly the discussion on these verses: " Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything " —James 1:2-4. In a world of "instant" perseverance has gone the way of the dodo bird. We seldom ask God for perseverance to remain firm in in our faith in the face of a trial. We ask for relief as quickly and painlessly as possible. From what James says "quick and painless" is not the road to spiritual maturity. Well, we say, at least give us an explanation of the reasons behind this trial and what the gains for us are going to be in the end. More often than not the heavens are silent on those ...

Over the last several years, shortages have become routine for us here in Venezuela. Flour, sugar, milk, grains, coffee, rice, chicken, and lately, margarine, are among the items that disappear out of the stores for long periods of time. They tell me car parts are scarce too, but since I don't drive, they are not high on my priority list. So when I read this morning's verse, I had to laugh. It couldn't be more appropriate to our reality—materially, and oftentimes at the level of ministry as well. " Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior " —Habakkuk 3:17, 18. No matter what else might be scarce in our lives, the Lord is always generous with His presence, His mercy, His love, and His forgiveness. And that deserves joy, praise, and continual thank...