Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Daily Courage
Sunday, April 18, 2010   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Lung Singh

It was a beautiful day when Singh was baptized in the Mekong River. Many people listened to his testimony which he gave before his baptism. Among the spectators were Buddhist priests who knew Singh. They knew about his addiction to opium, about his conversion and deliverance from drugs and evil spirits. Singh finished his testimony by quoting from his love-song (he dare not sing, so he quoted from it).  "I have decided to follow Jesus.  No turning back, no turning back.  The world behind me, the cross before me.  I will follow Jesus - no turning back."

The congregation started to sing that song as Singh stepped into the river. After his baptism he looked at the fast flowing water in which he was baptized and said, "There goes my old life - the old has gone, the new has come."

Some days later, the Buddhist priests came to our house and wanted to know how Lung Singh had managed to break with the old way of life.  "It is impossible that a man can break with opium after forty-five years," they said. "How did he do it?"

Lung Singh looked at them and smiled. "I didn't do it - God did. All He asked of me was a willingness to break with my sin and when I said "yes" - He did it in me."  Christ can set us free - me and you.

From that day on, Lung Singh - at the request of the Buddhist priests, spoke in the Buddhist temple to other drug addicts about his deliverance - to the glory of God!

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

 I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)

You are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)

Lung Singh

Every Sunday afternoon was set aside for evangelism. The whole congregation was encouraged to take part. In the morning we would have our Sunday worship meeting, in the afternoon the Sunday service meeting: evangelism in unreached villages of Laos. Some villages were free - others were controlled by the Communist soldiers in the area.

When we entered a village where the Gospel had never been preached before, some people recognized Lung Singh.  "Is that not the man who was more addicted to opium than anybody else?" they would ask.

I called Lung Singh and asked him to speak to the crowd. By now the whole village had gathered around us. Lung was not a great speaker - but he was a great example! He stood up and simply said this, "Look at me. Look at me. Don't I look great?"

I felt uneasy about his remarks. I almost told him to change his testimony, "Don't say, "Look at me," you should say, "Look at Jesus." "Before I could say anything, Singh had already sat down ... and the crowd was astonished, they wanted to know what had happened to Singh.  Many hours later we left ... leaving a new group of Christians behind. They had seen the power of God.  "You are the light of the world."  They saw that light - and gave glory to the heavenly Father.

Does the world see the change of conversion in us? "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

 Daily Courage
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  (Romans 14:

Lung Singh

Singh's brother was the leader of a Communist group in the area where Singh lived. He was furious about Singh's conversion - and especially about Singh's continued Christian "propaganda." The reason why he decided to visit Singh was to warn him not to be actively involved in evangelism.  "I can't stop you believing in your religion," he told Singh, "but I warn you, don't talk about it. If you do, the consequences will be yours."

That evening Singh and his wife discussed the situation. They realized what the consequences would be if they continued to witness for Christ. Should they decide to only believe in their hearts - and thus escape arrest? Their discussion did not take long.  They had made up their minds.  "If we live, we live for the Lord, whatever the consequences might be. And if we die, we die for the Lord." They finished their discussion with a time of prayer together, followed by singing their love-song;  "We have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back."

When Singh's brother learned about their decision he went over to their house again, taking some Communist soldiers along - and arrested Lung Singh and his wife Bunmah. They were taken into the forest, from where they never returned. 

"Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

"Well done, good and faithful servant ... come and share your master's happiness" (Matthew 25:21).

[Judy Harder]

In this first part of the psalm, David cries out to God for help. He is surrounded by enemies. Even his own health is suffering because of it. In the midst of this sickness and strife, David calls on God for help. The Lord knows, the Lord sees. We can trust such a God under all circumstances.

David

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
(Psalm 31:1-8)

[Judy Harder]

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him and he makes known to them his covenant.
(Psalm 25:14)

Lung Singh

The Suffering Church is a praying Church. Persecuted Christians pray a lot. When it comes to praying, they even seem to be leading figures, for their prayers seem to be much more powerful and intensive than the prayers of many in the "free" world.

Many times when I listened to their prayers, I was deeply moved. And strange as it may seem, I often watched them while they were praying. I felt that they were so close to God that they could almost touch Him.  These were prayers without verbiage, without shame, without searching for sentences. Prayers with a deep realization of being in the presence of the living, holy God.

Their prayers were characterized by genuineness, simplicity and ... tears. Not from emotion, for the Suffering Church has learned to restrain emotion long ago, but because of the consciousness of their own sinfulness and weakness when meeting God. Is this the reason why their prayers are so powerful? And yet they know and address this holy God as "Our Father."

True friendship with God is brought about by intimate contact with Him, the Holy One ... Our Father.

"Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

In quietness and trust is your strength.  (Isaiah 30:15)

Lung Singh

In spite of the sorrow, a burial in Laos often looks like a celebration. Immediately after the death of the sick person, when the ceremonial dirges are over, there is a feast - apparently. Sometimes a film is presented in front of the house of the dead person, preferably a comedy. Inside, people play cards or dice, and there is drinking and talking.  It looks as if they are trying to laugh away their distress.

Of course this is not the case. There is sorrow - great sorrow, and they show it when the dirges are sung. But after this, the spiritual world must be given the impression that the dead person has already been received by the good spirits, while the evil spirits must be misled by pretending as if nothing has happened - by means of a comedy, drink and gambling games.

The night after the death, the so-called "death watch," the whole family sits around the dead body, while outside there is the film and inside there is the drinking and gambling. For Christians, the death watch is an opportunity to testify to the hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.

That is what Lung Singh did that night. Outside there was a high wind and Singh looked worried. He called me to a quiet place behind the house.  "Will you pray for me?" he asked. "The storm frightens me. I am not afraid myself, but I am worried about my wife and child and our little pile house. I want to stay here and testify, but I can't keep my mind on it."

I prayed for him and Singh prayed too. After we prayed he got up and said, "Well, I can go and testify in peace now."  He had presented the problem to the Lord and it was off his shoulders now.

Childlike trust - mature faith - and a divine answer.  "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

Lung Singh

An answer to prayer does not necessarily mean that God always gives you what you have asked for. Yet His motivation is always love, though we may not always understand Him.

After Singh had prayed, he calmed down. But the wind didn't abate. The storm grew more intense. I looked at Singh while he testified of his faith in Jesus Christ. The wind of which Singh had been so afraid of was whining around the house. I called Singh and told him that the wind was really very strong now and I offered to take him home in my land rover, so that his wife and child and he himself didn't have to be afraid anymore. Singh looked at me in astonishment, "But I am no longer afraid. We just prayed about it, didn't we? It's alright now."

Outside the wind was howling, but Singh was quiet. At home, his wife was sound asleep and their child was safe also. The wind didn't drop as I had expected it to. God answered our prayer by bestowing peace in the hearts of those who needed it. I had learned my lesson.

For today's storms the Lord has His own solution.

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  (Psalm 34:18)

Lung Singh

Singh and Bunmah had been married for eleven years when their deepest wish came true: they had a child. It was not a child of their own, it was adopted from an orphanage. They felt they were the happiest family in the world. Unfortunately their happiness lasted only nine months - then the child's real father suddenly showed up. It turned out that the man, a soldier, was not killed in battle as the orphanage had assumed. He was still alive and he wanted his child back, though, since his wife's death two years before, he had never concerned himself about it.

It was the beginning of the biggest crisis in Sing and Bunmah's life. "Why did the Lord allow this to happen?" they asked. "We prayed for a child so long and now this. Why?"  They asked many questions but they received no answer. Until one day Singh and Bunmah were praying for their child again, "Lord, you know where she is now. You are with her. You love her and You will look after her better than we ever could. Bless her, dear Lord, and do not forget us either. We need You more than ever now. Amen."

Singh looked at his wife. He didn't say anything but softly sang, "We have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back."  There was a brief silence, then Bunmah also joined in the song - uncertainly at first, but then with growing conviction. They missed their child. They suffered a great loss, but yet victory had returned.

Victory through acceptance - peace through submission. Again and again. Not just for Singh and Bunmah, but also for you.

Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

[Judy Harder]

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?
(Matthew 6:25-26)

Lung Singh

Is God only interested in big problems or is He also interested in our little day-to-day worries?

That was the subject of a Bible study in a small village inhabited by refugees from east Laos. All of them had had to flee the danger of war, the war between the United States and North Vietnam. Now they were living in the free part of Laos, robbed of house and home, in shabby little bamboo huts.

They had big problems, which was the reason why we had this Bible study about worries and confidence. But there were also small problems and these they often expressed in their prayers, which were sincere and uncomplicated.

A widow who had been able to take refuge with her only son was listening attentively. She had so many problems concerning many different matters. There were no social services, there was no work and every day they had to search the woods for food in order to stay alive. "Give us this day our daily bread" was an everyday prayer for her. At the end of the meeting she asked the others to pray for her. "Will you please pray for my pig, for it is ill?" There was no negative reaction whatsoever to this strange request. It was her only possession. So there was fervent and faithful prayer for the poor woman's pig.

Why would God make an axe float on water (2 Kings 6) and not cure a pig?

God is so great yet He is also interested in small matters.  'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything ... present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).

[Judy Harder]

The Lord answered David's prayer and David is aware of it, "In my alarm I said, I am cut off from your sight! Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help" (v.22).  For that David thanks his God.  Whatever happens, "You are my God. My times are in your hands" (v.16).

David

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.
In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
(Psalm 31:19-24)