Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

March 23, 2011 
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made....
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3, 11-14)

Ghassan Khalaf

It was one of the darkest periods of war in Lebanon. Beirut was like an open hell. Gun shells were showering over a vast area for several days. Many people were killed.

After the fighting stopped, I went to visit a young lady to bring her my sympathy. She had lost her husband in the final skirmish and was left with three little children. She was weeping and grieving - friends were trying to comfort her.

When she noticed me, she shouted, "I don't believe in God, don't speak to me about Him. He does not care for us. He let us die. He is just watching us."

A wave of compassion came over my soul. Thousands of people in my country say the same words.

After she calmed down, I said, "Dear lady, what you have said about God would have been all true, if He had not become flesh and died on the cross to redeem us and to prove that He does care. God in Christ was involved in our situation and because He has passed through suffering, He is able to help those who suffer. Do you believe that?"

She nodded.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

March 24, 2011 
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38)

Ghassan Khalaf

Often in life we go through times of troubled circumstances; like the disciples of Jesus at the Sea of Galilee. Our distress becomes very severe to the degree that we do not see Jesus who is very near to us; like the disciples in the boat who were so overwhelmed by the stormy sea, that they couldn't see the peaceful face of the Savior who was asleep on the cushion in the stern of the boat.

We feel that God does not care; that He has forsaken us. We begin to make the loudest noise we can to attract the attention of Heaven. We even wish to disturb God and make Him see our need. Just as the disciples, who lost their patience and disturbed Jesus while He was resting, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Be still." But He also rebuked His disciples, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

So let us in our turmoil be quiet.

Let us have faith and not disturb Jesus. He is with us. He is closer to us than we think He is.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

March 25, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2)

Ghassan Khalaf

When we suffer or see people suffering, a cry from the depth of our being comes up, "Where is God?" Especially when suffering lasts for years and years, then our morale deteriorates and our situation becomes frustrating. We begin to question even the essential attributes of God: His love, wisdom, and faithfulness. And still worse comes when we begin to question the reality of God's existence. I am sure many people, even Christians, are shaken by these doubts when their prayers have gone unanswered for years.

How can our faith be sustained in such circumstances? Our faith will be as deep as the cross is in our belief. People tend to look to heaven in the midst of their suffering and say, where are you God? They feel that God is on His Throne up there in heaven, far away and uncaring.

Those who have the cross as the center of their theology will not look up to a distant heaven as if to get help for their suffering, but will look to the crucified Jesus down here on Golgotha, and from His suffering, their hearts find healing in the midst of their suffering.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

March 26, 2011 
   
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. (Hebrews 10:34)

Ghassan Khalaf

Complete surrender is the only way to overcome anxiety. During the black days of Beirut the sky was continuously raining mortar shells and rockets. No place was spared from their shrapnel. Everyone was in danger of having his house burned, or losing his money, his possessions, library, car, or life.

Anxiety was about to rob me of my peace in Christ. Confusion hovered over me for days. In a period of meditation I put all I had before the Lord and asked His victory over the feelings of anxiety, and about losing material possessions. I prayed, "Oh Lord! I am resolved, by your grace, to accept with all contentment, with total surrender and joy, whatever physical or material harm may come to me."

I dreamed one night that my car was stolen. Feelings of resentment attacked me. A struggle began in my soul between complaint and contentment. After a cruel struggle I accepted the loss with pleasure and complete surrender. Then I woke up.

I was happy it was only a dream. But a thought captured me: It is beautiful to be victorious in a dream, but it is more glorious to be victorious over anxiety in real life while awake.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

March 27, 2011
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Ghassan Khalaf

Frequently after wars, there emerges a class of people called "the war rich'; those who seize the opportunity and improve their own conditions. This is exactly what happened after the war in Lebanon.

But what about God's children? Do we accept the hard times as opportunities to prove the genuineness of our faith which is more precious than gold, so we might receive the crown of life?

Believers in Lebanon benefited much from passing through the fire of war. They became "war rich" on the spiritual plane. Those who love God collect spiritual fortunes and plenty of practical experiences. In times of distress the cyclone shakes us so that our dry leaves and rotten fuit fall down. At the same time, trials increase our stability by extending our roots into the depths. After the storm you see believers still holding their hands high, and roses in their hands.

Because, if you see a person who has passed through the valley of terror and reached the land of peace, with a flower plucked from that valley in his hand, then you will know that God was with him and that his soul has kept the freshness of faith.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

March 28, 2011 
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


We love because he first loved us. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 1:19,21)

Ghassan Khalaf

Christianity is distinguished by the word "love." This is the only way to describe the Christian faith in just one word. We think always of God's love for us, and our love for others, and forget a very essential element which is that we can love God too. Love is a mutual relationship between Him and us. He loves us and we love Him.

If we are to understand fully the deep meaning of this relationship, we need to compare love with mercy. Here the full meaning of this love relationship with God will appear. Mercy contains the meaning of "a higher to lower" relationship and not vice-versa.

God can say, "I will have mercy on you, people;" but we cannot say back, "We will have mercy on you Lord!" But God can say, "I love you my people," and we can say to Him, "We love you, Lord." Mercy language is between a lord and his slaves. Love language is between a father and his children.

There is nothing in the world like this loving mutual relationship between us and God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Writer of the Month: Ghassan Khalaf from Lebanon. Amidst bombings and destruction, Brother Khalaf faithfully visited victims of war to encourage them in their faith.

[Judy Harder]

In this second part, David does not talk about the Lord but to the Lord. 

People feel sorry for David. He is in great need. His faith in the almighty God is his comfort and hope.

David

Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, 'seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.   (Psalm 27:7-14)

[Judy Harder]

March 30, 2011 
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


...who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised.   (Hebrews 11:33)

Mona Khauli

Few people would choose to live a life of danger and risk. Those who do are either professional stuntmen or terrorists, for whom it is a way to make a living.

In our case, however, life at constant risk has been our experience for fifteen years now. Our beautiful country of Lebanon is paying a high price. Terrorism, bombings and shelling of residential areas have victimized thousands of innocent civilians. Our Christian community is being confronted with a great dilemma: flee the country and live in peace elsewhere, or stay to serve the people and accept the risk of getting killed. We have decided to stay and take a stand for our Lord. By serving people in distress and sheltering the displaced we have been able to light their path and motivate their tenacity for survival against the odds.

We experience great danger, but we also experience the presence of our God in a wonderful way. What more can we desire?

Are you faithful in your own situation serving God and men as He directs?  In doing so you will experience God's guidance and blessings.

Be available, be grateful, rejoice in the Lord always. Whatever your situation may be. If we can do it - you can.

Pray for peace in the Middle East.

Writer of the Month: Mona Khauli from Lebanon. Instead of leaving her country to seek peace, she chose to stay at great risk. She testifies of God's miracles.

[Judy Harder]

March 31, 2011 
   
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


The God we serve is able to save us ... but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods... (Daniel 3:17, 18)

Mona Khauli

Throughout the fifteen-year old war, God has moved in our midst, and through us to others.

The most recent example of God's miraculous protection involved a young couple. One day heavy artillery bombing took them by surprise, when a Syrian offensive was launched against Christian areas. Before they could run to take shelter, a phosphorous shell penetrated the roof of their bedroom and exploded, setting the place on fire. They were both severely injured and burnt. The woman, a few months pregnant, was miraculously saved. Her husband, however, was pronounced clinically dead on arrival at the hospital as he had sustained serious injuries from head to toe. His parents and church brethren pleaded with hospital staff to give him emergency care, while they committed themselves to the bedside in prayer. For months, he "existed" by way of instruments that pumped life into his shredded body, bandaged together like a cocoon.

But God intervened and performed a miracle. Six months later he was released from hospital a walking miracle, only in need of surgery to restore sight in one of his eyes. Doctors and nurses saw him off with these words; "Lazarus has risen from the dead."

Pray and trust. Have faith in God to perform a miracle. God is in control.

Writer of the Month: Mona Khauli from Lebanon. Instead of leaving her country to seek peace, she chose to stay at great risk. She testifies of God's miracles.

[Judy Harder]

 April 1, 2011 
   
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.  (James 2:17)

Mona Khauli

In our present world, with so much pain and suffering, it is imperative that faith should lead to action in order to create change. This process of change must start in our own lives and attitudes. We have no right to excuse ourselves for lack of potential, as we have been empowered by Christ for the task that lies before us. Though we stand helpless against the wiles of political manipulation in Lebanon we do not stand idle. With faith and perseverance our Christian community has given emergency assistance, year after year, to the orphaned and homeless.

As peacemakers they heal the wounds of war with love. As people who care they take immense personal risks when penetrating military checkpoints to insure medical help to the displaced. Though facing unprecedented levels of torture and violence, they refuse a life of safety in exile.

We do not share these facts with you to show you how good we are. We simply share this to show you it can be done.

Our Christian community in Lebanon wants to demonstrate faith through deeds.

What about you?

Writer of the Month: Mona Khauli from Lebanon. Instead of leaving her country to seek peace, she chose to stay at great risk. She testifies of God's miracles.