dW 05.17.07

scripture
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

thought
I always thought that this verse meant brothers were born to make you tough. My pastor used this verse and commented that a friend is there only when things are good. But a brother will be there when things are bad.

application
Ask yourself, am I a friend or a brother to those around me? Will I offer help when it is within my power but not really convenient? Do I stop and talk to someone that’s hurting to offer encouragement even if it means that I am five minutes late to where I am headed? Or am I the friend that is there only when it is suits me?

dW 05.16.07

scripture

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

thought

I always thought that this verse meant brothers were born to make you tough. My pastor used this verse and commented that a friend is there only when things are good. But a brother will be there when things are bad.

application

Ask yourself, am I a friend or a brother to those around me? Will I offer help when it is within my power but not really convenient? Do I stop and talk to someone that’s hurting to offer encouragement even if it means that I am five minutes late to where I am headed? Or am I the friend that is there only when it is suits me?

 

dW 05.15.07

scripture

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

illustration

My wife and I once lived in an area where a beautiful cardinal kept its nest. Cardinals are very territorial and will fight off intruding cardinals zealously. At that time, we owned a van which had large mirrors and chrome bumpers. Occasionally, the cardinal would attack the bumpers or mirrors, thinking that his reflection was another bird. One day, I watched the cardinal assail the mirror, I thought, “What a foolish creature; his enemy is merely the reflection of himself.” Immediately the Lord spoke to my heart, “And so also are many of your enemies the reflection of yourself.” – Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds

self inspection

Are the things oppressing us today the harvest of what we planted yesterday? – Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds

dW 05.14.07

scripture

Hebrews 13:18-19 AMP

Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things. And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

letter

Below is a portion of a letter that took me just 15 minutes to type. I have made an icon link for PrisonerAlert on the top right of the dailyWord homepage. Please click it and see how you can be an encouragement to our brothers and sisters in bondage for their faith in Jesus Christ.

How?

1) Write a letter of encouragement to the prisoner.

2) Write a letter to the prison asking for their release.

Dear Brother Dmitry,

Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus, the son of God, the redeemer of souls. I have heard about your imprisonment. I write to you so that you will know that you are not forgotten. I will pray for you. I ask God to give you strength to stand boldly before your accusers and to represent Him well. Jesus tells us all in Luke 6 verse 28 to bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Please do not lose heart. Know that your heavenly Father cares…

Scripture Memorization

A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.

Little Rick was excited about the task, but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Rickey was very nervous.

When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

dW 05.11.07

scripture

Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus spoke saying, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

overseas experience

How do you find a mate in India? First of all, it is not your job but your parents’ job to find your mate. There is no such thing as dating in traditional Indian family practices. Here are the criteria that your parents would use:

A Age

B Beauty

C Career

D Dowry

E Education

F Family

thought

If I did not wear my NOTW (not of this world) hat or my cross necklace, would people still know that I am a Christian? If you were put before a court, would there be enough evidence to prove that you are a follower of Jesus Christ?

dW expands

I received a request to make it possible to post prayer requests. I did some brainstorming and came up with an idea. This will be our test run; there might be changes to how we interact with the site. Praises & Prayers is now available.

dW 05.10.07

scripture

1 John 1:5-7

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

quote

It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay that price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us – so everyone was happy.

Tortured for Christ by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, page 41

news

India

Christians Attacked and Imprisoned

On April 22, Pastor Jayasheelan and eight other believers were beaten by more than 90 people at a prayer meeting in Rajankunte Village. After surrounding the house, the mob shouted slogans and threatened to burn it down if the Christians did not meet them outside. After Pastor Jayasheelan and the others came out of the house, they were beaten and kicked while the police looked on. The pastor was struck on his head, back and hip. The other believers were also injured. They were later jailed in the Central Jail and released after two days. The believers befriended the other prisoners while they were in jail and shared the gospel. Some of the 20 prisoners received Christ.

dW 05.09.07

scripture

1 Peter 5:8

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

thought

When we become followers of Christ then we become enemies of the devil.

quote

The areas of darkness we hide in our hearts are the very areas of our future defeats. – Francis Frangipane

 

dW 05.08.07

scripture 

Psalm 18:3

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

quote

When Russians occupied Romania, two armed Russian soldiers entered a church with their guns in their hands. They said, “We don’t believe in your faith. Those who do not abandon it immediately will be shot at once! Those who abandon your faith, move to the right!” Some moved to the right, who were then ordered to leave the church and go home. They fled for their lives. When the Russians were alone with the remaining Christians, they embraced them and confessed, “We, too, are Christians, but we wished to have fellowship only with those who consider the truth worth dying for.” - Tortured for Christ by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, excerpt from page 114

resource

http://www.prisoneralert.com/

A ministry of Voice of the Martyrs

dW 05.07.07

scripture

Jonah 4:1-4

But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

 

thought

Isn’t how Jonah describes God a complete oxymoron to how Jonah requests that God then take his life? Uncontrolled anger produces irrational thought and creates distance between us and God.  

 

quote

I avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward.

Charlotte Bronte

 

overseas experience

My wife and I went to the Middle East 3 years ago to visit an American friend of mine that was serving for a Christian mission organization. He introduced us to his Muslim friend Wil. Wil taught English at a local university to the Arabic students. While walking one day he and I were teaching each other our languages. He would ask me what an English word was or meant and then we’d say it in Arabic. We were laughing trying to pronounce the words and enjoying our new friendship. Then without hesitation he reached over and put his hand in my hand. I didn’t know what to do. I was freaking out inside. My head was racing, “I am walking down a street with another man that is holding my hand.” Behind us I could hear my American friend laughing.

Come to find out… In the Middle East men hug, hold hands, and greet each other with kisses on the cheek. In the West we have such a need for personal space. Overseas either the population size does not allow this space or the culture just does not require it like we do.