Voice of the Martyrs prayer update

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

INDIA — Church burned in Andhra Pradesh — VOM Sources

Romans 8:34-36

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

On Aug. 20, The Best Friends Church building in the village of Mahasamudram in Andhra Pradesh, India, was burned to the ground by suspected Hindu extremists, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. A dedication service for the newly constructed church building had been scheduled for Aug. 30. The pastor constructed the building on his property after hosting the services in his home for seven years. Ask God to protect the pastor’s family who live near the burned church. Pray that the believers of this church will continue to gather together for worship. Pray that those responsible will experience repentance and salvation, just as Paul did.

SOMALIA — Christian Convert Murdered by Extremists — Compass Direct News

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Compass Direct News reports that on Aug. 18, a Christian convert from Islam was shot dead in Bulahawa, Somalia, by members of al-Shabaab, an Islamic extremist group. In early 2009, Ahmed Matan began facing harassment from Muslim extremists who demanded to know why he had expanded his trading business to Mandera, a town in neighboring Kenya. Two weeks before his death, Matan informed the former leader of the underground church he had attended since 2001 that extremists were monitoring his activities and preventing him from working in Kenya. Matan is survived by a wife and three children, ages 7, 4 and 3 months. Pray for those grieving the loss of Matan. Pray that Somali believers will remain faithful even upon threat of death.

BELARUS — Church Evicted — Forum 18 News

Psalm 91:11-16

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

On Aug. 20, New Life Full Gospel Church in Minsk, Moscow, was issued an eviction notice by government officials, forcing them to abandon their church building purchased in 2002, according to Forum 18 News. The church is adamant they do not fear the government’s threats. “We’re here praying and believe God will protect us,” Sergei Lukanin, the church’s lawyer told Forum 18 News. “As a lawyer I believe the state could do anything, including the use of force. But as a believer I rely on God.” Government authorities have not disclosed why the church is being evicted, but have repeatedly refused to grant the church’s application for registration. In 2002, Belarus passed a restrictive religion law that made all unregistered religious activity illegal. New Life Full Gospel Church is one of many churches in Belarus facing increased restrictions by the government. Forum 18 News said the government has fined two other churches since July in the western town of Baranovichi. Ask God to encourage members of New Life Full Gospel Church and for their testimony to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Christ.

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Obsession

August 30, check

Image by vandan desai via Flickr

So we have crossed a personal threshold chronologically; I dont see it all but I'm sure thats the case.  (For more on this, read my post on Eleven Twenty-three from June of this year).

The changes under way are surprising many, including me.  I formally begin several weeks now of intense prayer for the will of God for my family.

Not all points in life are equal.  There are unique occasions when the Lord arranges circumstances to let the truth of whats on the inside of you be manifest.  This is either for your approval and pending release to assignments and entrustments, or for your correction and adjustment so that this might occur later.

Quick shoutout to my friends who have been encouraging... its appreciated and together with you we marvel at God's love and patience... and His ability to bring us into the image of His Son!

Keep on truckin'

Yesterday I had one of those interesting moments that just make life so intruiging. I was taking a couple of my kids (along with 4 other children from the neighborhood) over to the theater to see the movie 'Up'.

We were on 485 heading over to Matthews and as we were zipping along we came up to a moving truck and were in the process of passing it. At that moment I had a one way conversation with God, because the name of the moving company was "New Beginnings". I read the name and looked at the big truck and kind of smiled inside and told the Lord thats the kind of truck He probably uses some times to speak to people. You know the kind, when you're looking for confirmation of some kind... that sort of thing. I thought it in my head kind of as a ha-ha thing, though I sincerely wasn't being cynical. We pushed past it and rolled on to the show.

About 2 hours later we finish the movie, stopping briefly at a gas station so my daughter can get a drink. Then we segue via the onramp to 485 again, headed back the opposite direction as before. We're all talking about the movie, what we remembered from it and thought was funny, etc. Then I look up ahead as we're zipping along and I see a truck in the right hand lane, going in our direction again. It was the same truck: New Beginnings. As I pointed it out to my daughter that we saw the same truck on the same highway earlier, she laughed and pointed out the vanity license plate phrase of the car in front of the New Beginnings truck: "Thy Will".

Really interesting.