Acknowledging Danger

Josh must be exaggerating about the danger. She didn’t want to think about it. Her words came out sounding defiant. “It’s not that bad!”

Jacob came to her rescue. “Don’t try to scare her, Josh. She’s got enough on her hands without that.”

Josh tossed his hair back. His eyes caught hers and held them for a long moment. “A good scare might be just what is needed right now.” He pushed himself away from the tree and strode off.

It's just the excerpt from my book “Susie's Story”, a true story of course, but one that happened to my mother a long time ago, way over in Russia. It couldn't have anything pertinent to do with what is happening to us today, in our democratic country, or could it?

Things were changing rapidly in Russia in the late 1920s, but to Susie and her mother, acknowledging the dangers would mean having to step out of their comfort zones, not something they were prepared to do until it was almost too late. A “good scare” did wake them up to their danger, and the story ended triumphantly, but what about us now.

I know we don't have the option that Susie's family did. The Canadian CPR had put out a call for the Mennonites to come and settle in western Canada providing them with a loan for the money to get there. It was a short window of opportunity, and the Plett family were part of the last group to come across before Canada closed it's doors.

Running from the coming persecution is not an option for most of us, but it still is important to acknowledge our situation, and be prepared. Maybe God is depending on us to be a comforter; maybe a prayer warrior. As Christians we all have a purpose in this life, and we should be asking our Heavenly Father to fulfill that purpose in us.

As far as just moving away from our problem like Susie's family did, there is really no place left to go. But then again, maybe I am wrong. Maybe there is one place left. Yes, it is true, there is one place, and one place alone that is still safe. It is a secret place, a safe place, a place of refuge, a fortress.

Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Yes, we do have a place to flee to, just as Susie and her family did; we can flee to Christ, and no matter what the future holds for us, we can rest secure in Him. But that door will soon be closing. This is no time to hold onto a false sense of security. We need, above all things, to make absolutely certain we are found in Jesus Christ.

Strength to Stand

 It was 3AM and I definitely was not ready to get up yet but no matter which way I turned, the pain was unbearable. 

I had been having problems for the past few weeks, maybe from pulling too many weeds, maybe from the all the stretching to reach climbing beans above my reach, but most likely from a combination of bad bed posture,weather that encourages arthritic pain, and too many acidic foods.

I gave up and got up. Maybe the Lord wanted to talk to me through His word, or maybe, just spend some time with Him in prayer. Usually my first thought when I wake through the night like that is that the Lord wants me to hold my children or even someone else's children up in prayer, but I was so tired so at first I tried to lie down on the couch. Sometimes it's a bit more comfortable, but tonight it was not. I sat back up, turned on a light and reached for my Bible.

I don't usually pay much attention to the words on the carrying case but today I did. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13. I thought about it. 

I thought about the many Christian families in Afghanistan and around the world who are suffering untold horrers for their Christian stance. And then I thought about my shoulder and I wondered how I would be able to handle the kind of pain that could come with persecution, and I felt ashamed.

I unzipped my Bible and let it fall open on my lap. It opened to Philippians, and you guessed it, the verse I was, once again, staring at was "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

My pain is subsiding slightly as I write this, and I am being called to prayer ... prayer for the persecuted church in Afghanistan, prayer for the strength to stand when our turn comes, and yes, prayer for the children.

Eventually, the Lord will send me back to bed and I will wake up refreshed in the morning, blessed to have spent some time talking and listening to my Lord.