dW 03.22.07

scripture
Luke 6:22, 26
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man… Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

quote
In order to realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm.

news
Thirty-Six Christians Arrested in Henan, China - VOM Sources/China Aid Association
On March 6, 2007, the police raided a house-church Bible study in Wancheng District, Nanyang City, Henan province. The leaders were taken to the police station and interrogated for a day. After international pressure, however, the local police have released 33 arrested house-church leaders and three leaders from South Korea. One leader, Pastor Dong Quanyu, was sentenced to 10 days administrative detention for "illegal" gathering. Pray Christians in China demonstrate the love of God through constant love and prayer for those who persecuted them. Pray for strength for Pastor Quanyu, as he serves the remainder of his sentence. Matthew 5:43-48

dW 03.19.07

scripture
Jeremiah 29:11-13
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

thought
It does not say, For you know the plans I have for you. It says, For I know the plans I have for you. God is not surprised by the circumstance in our lives. He knows they are coming and He either prepares us for them, or He grants us the strength the bear them when they come. He never leaves us in the storm alone. We only question His presence in the storm because our eyes are closed so we cannot see Him or because we are screaming so loud we cannot hear Him. Peace be still our souls and listen to our Lord, “I am with you!”