7 replies to this topic

[Charles Miles]

Things are changing for Christians in this world, and the change is rushing upon us like an oncoming train.  For several generations now Christians in Europe as well as here in the US have lived an unchallenged life, as far as suffering for our belief.  My parents, grandparents, and even 2 generations before them, have all been able to tell anyone  with whom they associated that they were Christians and that they had a Savior in Jesus Christ.  Our family has always prayed before meals, before trips, and prayed as a group when events merited it. No problems, no difficulty, just a family praying together......and we all took it for granted.  It was and is the "right" thing to do....right?

 

Well, as I listen to the news and read articles about events in the middle east and north Africa, I see things that chill me a bit.  People beheaded for being Christians, shot in their dorm rooms for being Christian, and now thrown overboard in a storm for praying as Christians.  I know this is probably nothing new in muslim controlled countries who have strict sharia law, but these incidents seem to be more "out in the open" than ever before during the last 500 years or so. Now we not only see them in the middle East, but in Europe, and even here in our own country. Our government does not seem too excited about these incidents, other than to keep stating that these things are the actions of a few radicals.  Well, the incident on the boat in the Med 2 days ago was not caused by radicals!

 

I certainly do not want to be an alarmist, but facts are facts.  Could I stand on my foundation, my faith in the Lord, my assurance in His word, and give the answer..."Yes, I am a Christian"...to the man with a knife at my throat or gun at my head? As I reflect upon my faith and trust in the Lord, these thoughts are on my mind.

 

Does anyone else here think about what they would do if this type of question was posed to them, as it was to those in Lybia, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Kenya, and so many other counties during the past several weeks?

 

Your brother in Christ,

 

Charlie

[Ginger]

Charlie,
God grace you with what you need regarding these thoughts. 
 
All I know is that my heart is being affected about your question....
 
My wee brain works as it works and this is okay too.
 
God graced me with remembering a long time ago some Christians were having to suffer watching their children be tortured and killed because they would not deny Christ.  And then words between Corry Ten Boon and her father came to mind.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
I burst into tears, “I need you!” I sobbed. “You can't die! You can't!” “Corrie,” he began gently. “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” “Why, just before we get on the train.” “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need – just in time.”
 
Sometimes just dealing with a few minutes at a time can be overwhelming and God KNOWS all about all and somehow meets each Christian's need, even when we feel we fail and fall and don't give Him glory....
 
God bless you Charlie.
 
Love and prayers,
Ginger

[chipped china]

I read and think about what's happening in the world and our country a lot. My emotions are sadness, anger, depression. I clearly struggle with feeling alone with everyone around me living their lives like everything is OK, or they are busy trying to save the planet. Except with a small circle of friends I can't talk about what I've been learning these last couple years. Most people even " Christians" don't understand prophesy and understand that events are being played out the way God and the Bible unveil. 

Christian's are being persecuted in other country's and with Obama's agenda it's starting to come here too. We are moving closer to the one world order, turning against Israel and brainwashing our children in schools. America is fading into being a good little world citizen. 

Sorry if that offended anyone, it's just how I feel. The good news is I trust God to get me and you through anything we have to endure. From reading books on persecution I believe the Holy Spirit will take over and give us the strenght to endure. I know where I'm going and the joy of knowing I'll be with Jesus in eternity is such a comfort and blessing. 

[Ginger]

Chipped China, thank you for your sharing and bringing things together and expressing them so well.
 
I appreciate what Charlie and Marvin shared, it made me consider what I may need to think on and hopeful help me to say some things,.... 

 

Peter didn't realize that he would deny Jesus and Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him.  Some thinking on Peter and what happened and the furtherance of Peter's experiences in living and loving the Lord Jesus generates hope for me too.

 

God Knows all about all is what sometimes helps me whenever I can't grasp how to live a Scripture in this day and feel badly about whatever ....

 

God bless each of you for sharing and enriching me about what Jesus has said and may the Holy Spirit not be grieved by any of my thoughts or words....
 
Trying to keep my focus on the Word of God the best I can ....

• Christ in you the hope of glory
• In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you
• Jesus began a good work in us and He will bring it to completion
• Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us
• Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.

These are some things for me to Bible search as needed per situation.... I don't remember the book, chapter and verses because I have not memorized the locations ... use e-Sword and study aids as needed.
 
God graced me via Christian Audio's free book for April, Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand. Anyone can go to Christianaudio.com and download the free audio book and there is a PDF of the book that I found online too.

 

I believe that God graced me to have this book to listen to and to read just after Charlie posted a question that I am to think about....and to believe in being graced for whatever happens moment by moment.

God bless your Charlie, Marvin and Bets, and thank you...... all I know is God Knows.... and meets the need regardless of anything about me.... please forgive me for being so wordy.

 

God is with us.

 
Love and prayers,
Ginger

[chipped china]

Peter didn't have the Holy Spirit when he denied Him three times. Such a great change came over him when he did receive Him. I've read Richard Wumbrands book and it was an eye opener, especially the part where their beatings no longer hurt them and they would instead be praying for their oppressors. I think we greatly underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in times of great trial. In fact even in small trials if we are trying to handle things ourselves it seems to very much hinder what the Lord can do for us.

[Ginger]

Amen and amen.
 
The things each person has in their personal sphere .... if I can't get myself to do or whatever all I know to do is STOP and begin to see where I'm missing God and just leaning to my own understanding or another "They say"....

 

Presently working with Joshua 5 and some commentaries as I listen to and read the 4th Chapter of Tortured for Christ.  Learning to come to grips with personal application and praying and seeking can take me however long it takes.  Just having the Holy Spirit correct me in wee daily matters can be more than I can make sense of..... So tis time to STOP, and enjoy the Lord, and look into a Scripture reference from Chapter 4, and look at some commentaries too.

 

Reckon tis something for me to smile about when I find myself neglecting some things to be reading, listening and using study aids and trust that God Knows me better than I know me.... so back to Joshua 5, commentaries, and Chapter 4 Defeating Communism With the Love of Christ. 

 

Getting the point about defeating and overcoming any personal problem with the Love of Christ is the thing I'm to learn about. 

 

Don't know how to share any better about what the Lord is helping me to learn and sorry to ramble on and on .... Just grateful to not be getting into beating myself up for things.... and tis so nice to just enjoy the Lord and biblical teachings ....

 

Joshua 5:13-15, a reference from Tortured for Christ (chapter 4), F.B. Meyer Commentary is one part of the commentaries that God is gracing me to enjoy and to be grateful for. 

 

Reckon all that is happening for this study began from reading Charlie's post and up to this moment of blessing it is just nice to be able to enjoy and be grateful and believe that Jesus saves us to the uttermost because He said so.

 

Thankful for Charlie starting 'How firm is our foundation'.  Reckon God Knows about how firm anything in us is and all the rest...  Seems that our foundation firmness the Holy Spirit will tend to and our humanness is something that He will mold and shape too....

 

The ramblings I've posted.... may be way too much and not make much sense.... well, reckon God Knows so I leave it all with Him and thank you all for sharing.

 

Thank you Charlie and Marvin and Bets.

 

God bless each of you. 

 

Your sister,

Ginger

[chipped china]

Thank you Ginger. Sometimes I forget about doing what the Lord wants us to do the most. To be in His Love and give it to others.

It's interesting being on this site for several years and growing through ups and downs. We are always being refined more and more to see His reflection or not in us. I have to admit the more I come out of the "world" I have to deal with anger over the sadness of it. I guess I need to ask more often, What sayeth my Lord unto his servant?