YOU lit a candle this last week in your prayer for Burma’s persecuted Christians. Thank you.
As I began my journey in writing for the persecuted church, God gave me the sweetest birthday present! One year more than 10 years ago he wakened me on my birthday. My eyes barely opened, and I heard him say this:
“Persecution is a great darkness over the lands.
If one person lights a candle, there is light.”
“This little light of mine–I’m gonna let it shine!”
I want to ask you NOT to share this blog online. This update is for your eyes only, so please do not post on Facebook or elsewhere. You are the core believers who jumped in and prayed, so I want to share this update with you, for your eyes only.
Doi asked me to thank all of you as well. Her heart was so encouraged that we rallied behind her in praying for Burma, particularly the Kachin state in northwest Burma.
I like what Larry wrote in one of his comments:
It’s my sincere belief that we need to “remember the prisoners as though in prison with them” so that when we Americans are going through horrendous times in the future, the Lord will direct believers throughout the world to remember us. Larry
I agree. I’ve written articles about persecuted Christians for about 17 years now. I’ve written for many magazines, including Focus on the Family’s parenting magazine, Clubhouse, Clubhouse Jr., Christianity Today, Campus Life, Charisma and Christian Life, Ministries Today. PRAY Kids, and God’s World Today. As I invested my time and energy into interviews, travels, and writing, I discovered much about the persecuted church. Most of all, this:
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS.
They do not stand in judgment of our flaws and offenses; they stand in prayer together with us. Why? They LOVE US.
They request prayer from us as well. One Chinese pastor who endured much in prison said, “You American Christians have seminaries and churches full of God’s word. I request–will you pray for us?”
And now YOU did it! YOU prayed. Even the smallest heartfelt prayer is heard in heaven.
One small PUSH means more than no push at all.
Oh, Father in heaven, let that flame burn within each of us and inspire us to offer another prayer, and then another. For we realize that we are one family with all persecuted Christian from all nations.
A few years ago, I met a Hispanic believer who loved the Lord. He couldn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Spanish, but yet we communicated love to each other by just saying the name above all names: Jesus Christ. His words still brings a smile to my face: “Jesus Cristo is too good, too good.”
So, although I don’t speak Burmese, our Father knows how to make our prayers work: “Shine Jesus shine. Fill Burma with the Father’s glory. Blaze Spirit blaze. Set their hearts on fire. Flow river flow. Flood Burma with grace and mercy. Send forth Your word Lord and let there be light in Burma.” (Based on lyrics from Shine Jesus Shine)
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Jesus Cristo is too good, too good. Love that. We need a visitation from heaven such as happened at Pentecost when everyone heard the Gospel and glory of God in their own language and with God’s power. I can’t think of a better place for it than the melting pot nation.
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