The Happy Are Ye Crowd

1 Peter 3:14 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;”

In the States, my picture of suffering was very different than it is now. To me, suffering was:

• The rejected tract at Walmart
• The criticism of Christians by the Atheists downtown
• The Facebook comment that bashes biblical Christianity
• The anti-creationist blog post
• The city law requiring a permit for street preaching
• The restaurant manager who says tracts may not be distributed there
• The student told he couldn’t bring his Bible to class

Those things are difficult and most certainly are a form of persecution.

Matthew 5:11-12  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

But I must admit, my views of suffering have transformed since coming here.

It now looks more like this:

• The daughter kicked out of the home and family for becoming a Christian
• The wife rebuked for going to church
• The Bible college student beaten for wanting to plant a church
• The husband/son-in-law rejected for refusing to worship a statue
• The church bombed
• The man chased out of the village with machetes for being a Christian
• The political group fighting to force the nation to return to being Hindu-only
• The anti-Christian rallies
• Taxis driving around with loud speakers threatening Christians

And in recent months as have watched the news, my view of suffering has changed again. It looks more like:

• The mother raped and killed because she will not reject the Saviour
• The child beheaded because he owns a Bible
• The father shot execution style because he will not convert to Islam
• Heads mounted on stakes to drive fear into the heart of Christians
• People fleeing to the mountains, with no food or water

But there is another face of suffering that we as Christians should never forget…

Acts 16:23-25 “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

The news will never show it. It doesn’t fit their agenda. It doesn’t gain an audience. The “happy are ye” crowd.

“… if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye…” 

I have seen the "happy are ye" crowd. They walk into church with a smile on their faces. They preach with bruises. They attend Bible college without family support. They pray for their persecutors. And they sing.

In the States, I wasn’t in the “happy are ye” crowd. I was the victim. I couldn’t believe that I could be suffering such persecution or rejection. I had my rights. And I should be treated fairly! But the more my view of suffering changes, the more my response to it changes, too. I am no victim. I am blessed.

I wonder how many of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ are singing, though through tears at times. I wonder how many times the news media cameras edited out the Christian who praised Jesus with their last breath. I wonder how many people have knelt down to pray and tell Jesus He is worthy of it all. I wonder…

Sing on, my brothers and sisters. Your suffering is not in vain. And joy comes in the morning. Happy are ye…

     Pray for our persecuted brethren.

           Pray for our fellow missionaries who are reaching in to these areas.

               And search your heart.

                     Are you really suffering?

                          If not, is it because you are not doing anything to exalt the name of Christ?

If you are not facing persecution, it may be a symptom of a much greater problem in your life…

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Chicken Parmesan

So, is everyone as tired as I am with sweet desserts and candies after the holidays?! Although we have enjoyed the snacking and special treats at parties and gatherings this time of the year, our family is ready to return to a normal schedule with some more consistent meals. This Chicken Parmesan recipe is a great one to serve for your family or more company as it makes your house smell delicious! It is also pretty easy to prepare.

The left over butter is sprinkled on top to help crisp the chicken upon baking.

Ingredients:

2 cups dry bread crumbs

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup dried parsley flakes

1/8 tsp. Pepper

1 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. Oregano

2 Tbsp. Salt

Directions:

Mix above ingredients well and set aside. Melt 1 cup of butter (if unsalted butter is used, add a little salt for flavor). Dip chicken in melted butter then roll in crumb mixture until well coated. Arrange breaded pieces in shallow foil lined baking pan. Pour remaining butter over chicken. Bake in moderate oven (180 degrees Celsius) for 20-30 minutes until juices run clear and chicken is golden brown.

**I must note that normally when I make this dish for our family of five I use HALF of the recipe above. It makes quite a bit of breading, even enough for about a kilogram of skinless, boneless chicken breast. 

I serve this with pasta and some marinara sauce. Top with a little grated Parmesan cheese. Garlic bread on the side. Delicious!

When Bad Things Happen to Missionaries...

 



You've heard it over and over: PRAY FOR YOUR MISSIONARIES!  Why do you need to pray for us?  Because bad things can happen to us.  I hope if nothing else, this post will keep your missionaries at the top of your prayer list.

 

Our regular Missionary Monday contributor, Amy, is on a little break from posting.  With her permission, I'd like to share her and her family's horrific story.

 

One week ago our family went through a harrowing, life-changing experience. This is how my husband described last Tuesday evening in a prayer update:

Last night at about 9:45 pm at our house, Caleb announced to Amy and I as we worked on a paint job in the children’s room that three men had just entered our back door. When I got to the door, I saw two guns brandished among the three criminals. Though we offered all our money and goods to them they beat me and hit Amy twice.
We are praising the Lord that after about 15 minutes wherein they tore the house apart, we were able to chase them away. They took some material possessions, but our lives and honor were spared because of the good hand of our God who placed a wall between our lives and their weapons.

Tomorrow, we are taking a leave for our family. Please pray that we would be comforted the way the apostle Paul was comforted when he was in pain (2 Cor. 1:5). We also need wisdom as we consider how best to honor God in light of our family (1 Tim. 5:8) and the gospel (2 Tim. 2:10).

          Trusting God,

         Seth and Amy

 

To read more about the events that took place that day, click here to go to their blog.

 

Please pray for Seth, Amy, and their family as they continue to heal from all this.  Missionaries need your prayer.  When the Lord wakes you in the middle of the night to pray, don't fall back asleep, PRAY!  When you see our prayer card on your fridge or on your Bible, don't overlook it, PRAY!  When you see our country in the news, don't just pass it by, PRAY!

 

 

Sunday Scriptures Psalm 27:1

Lighthouse near Odense Denmark(by Missionary Wife Carole Shull)

The Shower Advice

I am not a huge fan of baby showers or bridal showers. I am not exactly sure why. OK, actually I am pretty sure I know why. It is because I feel like I am such a terrible gift chooser! I can just picture as people open my gifts, the expectant mom or bride pasting on a smile and saying in a timid voice, "Wow... um... that's really... sweet of you." As I purchase my gifts I usually console myself with, "It's the thought that counts, right?"

Sigh...

But since showers are such a great opportunity for fellowship, I usually go.

Sunday Scriptures - Lamentations 3:22-23

"Sunrise at Lake Lukuba"
Lukuba Island, Lake Victoria, Tanzania
(by Missionary Wife Tammy Brouwer) 

Did We Fail?

Photo by: David Castillo Dominici

Here are a few true ministry scenarios. These examples are typical of ministries all over the world, including yours. My purpose in sharing is to encourage. (Hang on, the good stuff’s coming!) 

1. Many years of effort and hundreds of dollars help a young man with a heart for missions get a college education and start on deputation. He marries, divorces, remarries . . . .
2. A young woman comes to church, gets saved and baptized. She drops out of church, marrying an unsaved man and having other immoral relationships. A life issue brings her back to church, and she starts to grow and change. Later, she backslides and goes back to old habits, including dating another unsaved man.
3. A person makes a business decision that harms another believer. When confronted, there is no favorable resolution, so the offended party gets the pastor involved. Instead of resolution, the whole family leaves the church.
4. In counseling, a divorced woman is advised to give up the boyfriend she’s interested in. There are red flags all over the place. (This will be yet another abusive relationship.) She continues toward another harmful marriage.
5. A man ignores all sound, biblical advice and does exactly the opposite of what he should. Now, he wishes the consequences of his actions hadn’t happened.
6. A mother balks at the teaching that she can and should protect her children from the world. She criticizes. How can her teacher be so narrow-minded? Years later, sadly, this lady only has one out of her many children attending church services.
7. A wife will not respect her husband. She puts him down, criticizes, and is unthankful. She doesn’t see the problem, though she has been counseled many times to change how she talks to her husband.
8. The pastor’s wife has to confront several young women one-on-one about their lifestyles, specifically fornication. The women never return to church.

Sometimes, it seems there are more failures than successes. We did and said exactly what the Bible says to do. We did our best to be kind, loving, and Spirit-led, but we got the result we least wanted:

• We wanted resolution and got rebellion.
• We wanted restoration and got leaving the church.
• We wanted to encourage growth in the Lord and got more sinning.
• We wanted to warn and got stubbornness.

Now, for the encouragement:

• Our ministry is not in vain. God says so. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
• When you take biblical, loving steps, God honors them. You might not see the results you want, but you’ve been faithful. That’s what counts! God judges our faithfulness. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12).
• Each person is responsible for his own reaction to admonition or correction. Your responsibility is to give godly advice in a sweet, loving manner. The other person is responsible for heeding it. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me (Ezekiel 33:2-7).
• God uses His Word in His way and in His time. Never think what you have shared from the Bible was useless. You never know how or when the Holy Spirit will speak to hearts. The word of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9b). For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

In this New Year, remember:

• When you see failure, God sees faithfulness.
• When you are disappointed in people, God is not disappointed in your biblical message and actions.
• When you followed the right steps toward conflict resolution, God knows you did right.
• When you warned, you did the right thing. It’s the listener’s responsibility after that.
• When you see no “results,” you might not be seeing the whole picture. There are many testimonies of Christians who never knew in their lifetimes the impact of their consistent witness. Remember to Whom we’re responsible. It’s God’s work, after all.

In 2015:
Love your Lord! (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Be zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)

Don’t lose hope! (Romans 15:13)

Be thankful. (Ephesians 5:20)

Be joyful. (Philippians 4:4)

_______________________________

Now thanks be unto God,

which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,

and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge

by us in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Illustration by: franky242

May God bless your life and ministry!