Discovering God’s Names: El Roi
photo credit: 0239 via photopin (license) “Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘Thou art a God who sees’; for she said, ‘Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?’” Genesis 16:13, Nasb After being used and mistreated, she ran away. I can’t blame her. Hagar must have felt so helpless when Sarai gave her to Abram as his wife. No one asked for her opinion. No one considered her feelings. They just did what they wanted for their […]
No. Matter. What.
“And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12, NASB Strange dreams have entered my sleep the last few days. Some have been downright odd and amusing, but the one this morning greatly disturbed me. Though I can’t remember it exactly, I do recall waking in the dark with a tangible sense of dread. In my gut. The uncanny feeling that persecution is coming–that it will affect me personally–filled me with fear. Perhaps this fear emerged into my sleep because I […]
Cry of the Afflicted
“The LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed … He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.” Ps. 9:7-9, 12, NASB I can’t get her face out of my mind. A beautiful six-year-old, she stood weeping next to a grown man. He smiled triumphantly. Crowds of people surrounded them and colored in the photograph’s […]
In His Hand
It’s hard to imagine the suffering he’s enduring. Over one year ago, Pastor Saeed Abedini was arrested while in Iran establishing an orphanage. Though his wife, Nagmeh, and others have valiantly sought his release, his body languishes in a horrific prison. The ACLJ has said, “Iran has sent him to disappear.” Clearly his captors and fellow prisoners mercilessly torture him and withhold the most basic of human decencies. Day and night, Pastor Saeed lives through unimaginable agony. His body is failing. Weakness pervades. Life is uncertain. […]
For Precious Chloe …
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:18 She’s only eleven. My daughter’s friend: sweet, endearing, engaging Chloe Scott recently was diagnosed with bone cancer. Oh … words fail. A child dealing with such traumatic suffering–my heart wrenches for her and her parents. What are they feeling? Thinking? Enduring? This devastating news already has changed their lives, and suddenly they’ve embarked on an unanticipated, […]