Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

It will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:2)

Lucien Accad

Nothing is impossible for God. We do not plant in a desert but our Lord grows all kind of plants in areas where nothing wants to live. Moreover, it is amazing to see some parts of the world which have been deserts for hundreds of years and which today have the attention of men who plant trees, grass, flowers and all sorts of shrubs.

It is true that some parts of the world are becoming deserts, but where money and attention are available, deserts are turned into green fields. This gives hope for areas of the world that have become spiritual deserts. They seem out of the reach of God and the rain of the Word of God. But suddenly miracles start to take place, especially where the focus of prayer is concentrated. Walls of darkness come down, and rain from heaven turns arid soil into gardens of trees and fruit.

[Judy Harder]

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:4)

Lucien Accad

It was late at night. We woke up suddenly because of the noise of shelling and realized we were again in the midst of a battle. I heard a knock at our bedroom door. Two of our young children came in and said, "Dad, Mom, it's frightening in our room. Can we stay in your bed? If we die, let's die together!" The youngest child did not wake up.

We started praying together and sang a few hymns, after which they fell asleep, but I could not. Many questions were coming to my mind. "Can the Lord keep us another time? Should we go and take refuge in the nearby shelter?"

I put on my clothes and looked out of the window in the direction of the shelter. The electricity wires had been cut by shrapnel and we were in the dark. Cars were ablaze just in front of the shelter not far from our own car, but no one dared go to extinguish the fire because of the shelling. Dark smoke was being blown in the direction of the shelter, and I could hear screams coming from there.

I heard a knock at the door of our home. Some of our neighbors asked if they could stay with us and sat down. "Please let us stay here," they said. "Why don't we all go to the shelter?" I asked. "No" they answered, "your home is safer because it is a place of prayer; please read to us from the Bible." Joy filled my heart. "You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14,16).

[Judy Harder]

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)

Lucien Accad

It was 4.00 pm. "Don't go home tonight," they told me at the office. I had to cross from the side of town where our office was located to the other side where we lived. "It is too dangerous; a group of young men are kidnapping people crossing between the two sides of town."  I knew I had to go; there was no way I could telephone home. As I reached the last crossing point the soldier told me to wait. "You can't cross now, there is a sniper; a man in a car has just been injured."  I asked if they were going to reopen the road soon, and was told they were, and that I could wait where I was. In the meantime a long queue of cars had formed and was waiting behind me.

After 10 minutes the soldier said, "You can go now." "How do you know things have changed?" I asked. "I haven't heard anyone contact you." "Well, it has been like this every day lately; someone has to try...!"  It was not easy to be the first to try.

In a situation like this it is good to remember that God is on our side and the angels are in charge, but it remains a frightening experience. No one was following me. At the end of the road the young men I had been warned about stopped me, demanding to see my ID papers. When they discovered that I was a pastor, instead of kidnapping me, they asked for a copy of the Bible.

"Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father."

[Judy Harder]

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Lucien Accad

Jesus' call is to forsake all and follow Him, and we willingly do this, declaring there is nothing too precious for us to give up for Him should He require it of us. But then, just as our lives are settled, the Lord takes away our precious things and we are left empty. Had we given up these things voluntarily it would be different, but this is out of our control. We see ourselves small, crying out to God in our pain, truly humbled, there is nothing we can do. We are left with a void; emptiness, described in the verse as hunger. The Lord does not replace what He took away; no, He teaches us to do without, and His promise is that He will feed us with manna from heaven, something we had never thought of before or are able to imagine.

Though we hunger, we don't want the manna; it is not real to us, and can it really satisfy us? We want the solid flesh pots of Egypt, the things we have known before. But then we see and know, we submit to our Lord; we trust in His causing us to hunger, and eagerly await His manna. We get a taste of the heavenly blessings, not a replacement of what we lost, but a completely new thing.

[Judy Harder]

In this psalm, it is evident how much power there is in the words, "We will triumph with our tongues."  Intimidation, bragging and blasphemy are used to bring God and David into discredit. To oppose these blasphemous words of the godless, David uses the sanctifying, cleansing Word of God.

David

Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the Lord. I will protect them from those who malign them.
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
(Psalm 12:1-2, 5-8)

[Judy Harder]

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
(Psalms 27:3)

Naji Abi-Hashem

To experience tranquility in the midst of tribulation is indeed a divine gift. One evening, during the long years of troubles in Beirut, the shelling over our part of the city was very heavy. However, I felt an urgency to go out and check on a certain family from our congregation. So I asked a brother, who happened to be in the church building waiting for the shelling round to end, to accompany me.  At first he hesitated and said, "If people see us running on the deserted streets they will think we have lost our senses." But then, we briefly prayed and left. We took with us some bread, fresh water, and candles for the family, some basic needs which were not always available those days.

Bombs and shells were exploding right and left. We walked close to walls and took short cuts when possible. Finally, we arrived. The household was very surprised by our unexpected visit. Although they warmly received us, they looked afraid, frustrated, and very distressed. We visited with them, talked about the Lord, laughed and ate together, and soon forgot about the horror of the war around us. We carefully read Psalm 27 twice and we all prayed. Before we left, their faces looked cheerful, radiant, and relieved. They said they felt as if two angels had visited them during a dark hour.

On our way back, we marveled at the power of God's Word and Spirit. Although the shelling never stopped the whole evening, we learned that the climax of the Christian experience comes after we respond to and obey the Lord's calling in the time of danger and serious challenge.

[Judy Harder]

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

Naji Abi-Hashem

By nature we tend to escape suffering and avoid pain. We frequently complain about hardships and dream of a life without sorrow. But is that realistic? An old proverb in the Midrash Tehillim says, "If you want life, expect pain."

When we suffer, God often surprises us with a special blessing. Although we tend to blame Him, at times, for what we are going through, He is gracious enough to bestow on us a unique measure of grace.

As a result, we surprise ourselves with the degree of strength we have acquired to bear the unbearable and endure the hard seasons of life. He is willing to give our suffering a new meaning. Certainly, our character is best sharpened through pain. Hardships are not meant to defeat us but to develop us. Therefore, we become brighter and more refined, like the rays of the sun after the rain.

Naji Abi-Hashem from Lebanon.

[Judy Harder]

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. (Psalm 96:6)

Naji Abi-Hashem

If we had walked through the streets of Beirut, Lebanon in 1985 or Vukovar, Croatia in Europe, in 1994, we would have seen severe destruction and death, experienced deep sorrow and sadness, and would have come in touch with the dark side of human nature. But if we enter the sanctuary of God, we will be greatly moved and impressed by His glorious personal attributes and divine presence.

The very thought of entering into the presence of the Almighty God causes us to feel a sense of awe and reverence, the emotion of delight, and an attitude of trust and faith. The result is often a deliberate act of worship and commitment on our part. We come to realize that our God is still in charge.  Thus our spirits will be filled with peace, despite the circumstances. Our bones will be charged with energy and our mouths will testify the mercy of God for a dying world.

[Judy Harder]

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. (Colossians 1:15, 19)

Naji Abi-Hashem

Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. He is the absolute Word and God incarnate. He is the person that overshadows all other persons and the name that surpasses all names. He is the powerful Son of God and loving Savior of mankind. His personality and works are so profound that a genius cannot comprehend them. In addition, Jesus Christ is the ultimate standard for moral/ethical values and the supreme example of personal maturity.

He is our role model and comprehensive guide, gentle Master and wise mentor, empathetic Counselor and therapeutic Healer, reliable Savior and accomplished Redeemer, close Friend and faithful Companion, our holy and yet merciful Lord.

This is the Christ whom we love and serve and in whom we believe and trust. May His magnificent person be glorified forever.

[Judy Harder]

In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest?
(Isaiah 29:17)

Naji Abi-Hashem

How many times, while I was in the United States pursuing my doctorate, and when Beirut was under heavy shelling and bombing, I wished I could go home. I remembered the tragedies, fears, and endless agonies of my people. Oh, how many times I wished I could be with them, to go through the same suffering, bear the same pain, and experience the same horror. However, that triggered me to intercede intensely on their behalf and raise prayer support.  In the States people would often ask, "Aren't you glad you are here instead of there?" My immediate reply always was, "No, I'd rather be with my people at this critical time." For I have tasted the trouble of wars.

City wars mean surviving on extremely scarce resources, staying in basements for weeks with no electricity, fresh water, heat, or telephone lines. It means seeing your house hit or your car burned, hearing that a neighbor, friend, or relative has been killed, and putting your life on the line each time you go out and try to buy some bread or vegetables, if any were available.

Many others like me, who love Lebanon, and are genuinely interested in its future and potential for a productive ministry in the whole Middle East, are earnestly praying for its healing and recovery, are closely watching the unfolding of events, and are fervently claiming the precious promises of old. Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field? Will you please pray with us that this promise will soon be fulfilled?