Going Against the Grain

These days it is hard not to become overwhelmed with sadness as we watch in horror the devastation that is hurting so many precious people. Having social media is a blessing and at the same time a curse. How much easier it would be to not know all the real time news of sorrow around the world. Yet at the same time knowing affords us the opportunity to prayer in real time. I know people are praying around the world for the crisis in Israel and other parts of the Middle East where Christians are being killed and driven out of their homes without mercy. 

I too am praying for these. I love Israel! I support them 100%! I even put an app on my phone that was alerting me of every bomb hitting Israel and I would pray at that moment. (Red Alert-Israel) It became too much. I had to turn the volume down and periodically check to see if new bombs had fallen. It was hard for me to listen to the alerts over and over. Can we even imagine what it is like to live in such a way? I can't. 

Yet I find I am troubled with the call for prayer just being for Israel. Where are the posts asking us to pray for the terrorists and the Palestinians? My prayers are not only for the victims, but for the victimizers. You see I have a personal past with Muslims. I once had a step mom who was muslim, which for a season gave me a muslim family. Of course I was just a teen at the time and really didn't know much of them personally. To my recollection, they were immgrants from Pakistan and very grateful to be in America. They were farmers in Tolleson and seemed as American as me. My stepmom, Amina, kept a Quran on a table in her house, but I never saw her practice Islam. I knew it was not what I was raised to believe, but I never saw any indication of anything radical. 

There came a time in my walk with God that he chose to show me through dreams and visions that the Islamic nation now had an agenda against us and was infiltrating America. This was news to me. In my dreams, I saw them buying our businesses and moving into our neighborhoods. I really didn't know anything about any of this at the time. I was living in the White Mountains. In a place that seemed so unknown to most and kind of tucked away. 

I never dreamed we would be a part of it. However, I began to notice women wearing hijabs and arab men running our gas stations and buying our hotels. It was around this time I began praying for every woman I saw wearing a hijab. I prayed that she would know the love of God and be drawn to Jesus. I continue that habit today. That is one thing about their dress, it identifies them to me. 

Who knows what the future holds. The day came when one of my own girls starting wearing a hajib after marrying a Pakistani Muslim, who was in this country for his education. The two of them moved in with us. A very enlightening experience. My son in law could not even receive love. Love isn't even a part of their world. It is about honor. Even that is so far from how  we would define honor. I learned that he lived in fear. Fear was his motivator and when he failed to live up to all the atrocious rules, he was consumed with fear. Fear of rejection mostly by his family. I observed the pressures that were on him. It was hard to see such bondage and they are indoctrinated from birth with it and the accompanying threats. They know nothing more. It has been their world, just as our peaceful one has been ours. 

All of this interaction with Muslims created in me a heart for them and I have to say that God loves them as much as he loves Israel. He desires for them to be saved from their enemies. He is not playing favorites with one or the other. There is neither jew or gentile. He died for us all. It is on this premise I have been praying for a mighty revival amongst our enemies. I call them enemies because of what the Quran says. I have been referred to as an infidel by one we would call moderate muslim. An infidel is one who in islam is outside of their religion and they must either be converted or killed. There is no other way according to their holy book. They consider us the enemy. Somebody who wants to see us dead is an enemy by any definition.

God loves them! Will you join me in praying for them? They are bound by a powerful enemy who has infiltrated them and has come to kill, steal and destroy what God really wants them to have. These are those who have devoted themselves to death to serve what they believe is a true god. They don't know the truth. It is us who do know that need to stand in the gap. It is us who have been granted authority to come before the throne of grace on their behalf. 

FYI This enemy has now invaded our nation at the highest levels. Who but God can deliver us? Do we hope they will leave on their own accord or even by force? Would that be the best? Or would it be best that they learn of the love of God for them who can break them free from their evil taskmasters? Maybe coming to our country and even into other parts of the world can backfire against the enemy's plan to kill steal and destroy their lives and the lives of others, and abundant life can be theirs. That would truly be the best outcome. 

Together in Chains

Somewhere in the city of Tehran, Iran, Pastor Saeed lay in a hospital room. He is now unshackled, but hasn't been for long and though he has received some care, the surgery he desperately needs to repair injuries still hasn't happened. Most of us would agree we would prefer not to be in a hospital, but for Pastor Saeed this must be a welcome relief from being tortured and neglected in Iran's most horrible and evil prison. For months he has been deeply tortured and has carried unhealed wounds and afflictions in his body. What was his crime? This faithful pastor, who is a US citizen from the state of Idaho, was imprisoned in 2012 for helping to build an orphanage and sharing his faith in Christ. 

His beautiful, loving wife Naghmeh, has led the charge to free her husband. She has worked tirelessly recruiting as many believers as possible, reaching millions through social media, as well as politicians inside and outside the US. It would seem that by this point, the US would put great priority in demanding the freedom of an American citizen, but little has been done in regards to those who have authority to make such things happen. Many have been storming the gates of heaven on his behalf, but what is it accomplishing? Plenty I am sure, but not Saeed's release. I myself have prayed that Saeed, like Paul and the other apostles, would have supernatural experiences leading many to Christ and in my heart I believe that to be true. However, would this be a path Saeed would have chosen for himself? Maybe he would. Maybe he is a better Christian than me as I am certain torture, pain, discomfort, and imprisonment would absolutely not be on my bucket list. 

As I was thinking about my own life the other day, it crossed my mind that God seems to use many troubles in our lives that allow us for a season to be imprisoned. A circumstance in which we feel out of control and unable to change, could be a type of prison. For me eight years ago, I went through a horrible life changing experience and in my mind, not for the better. I lost control of something I never realized was such a gift. My health was robbed in what seemed like an instant. To have one's health is huge. To not have it can change everything. I have a list of all that I have lost during this season. Plenty and somedays I wonder if I will never have it back. I can't accept that I won't and believe God has shown me the day will come I will be set free, but in the meantime, life is unpredictable and mostly a battle. 

I am embarrassed to be in this situation and feel extremely vulnerable. I don't like being out of control and some days, I honestly feel like a little kid who threatens to hold my breath till I pass out if someone doesn't let me out! I can just picture what that would look out. On second thought, let's skip that selfie. 

Prayer after prayer and doing all the quote unquote right things hasn't opened the door. Where is the key Lord and why can't I have it? 

On my birthday I awakened with the thought of maybe today will be a new day and my day of freedom, immediately I heard "wait." "What?!" I exclaimed. I thought, then what is the point of getting out of bed today. Talk about bursting my bubble. After I got over my attitude, I said again as I have many many times before, "I trust you Lord."

When I was younger and thought I was so spiritually enlightened, I know it freaks me out too that I once thought that, I would tell people, quit trying to get out of your troubles and let God have His way in you through them. I wasn't speaking what I didn't know as I had been applying that principle to my own life. Then here is comes: the valley of the shadow of death. To get out has been my constant obsession. To find what will heal and set me free my one desire. 

One day I heard Him say, "fellowship with me in your sufferings." In other words, it is time to embrace this place. It is time to quit expending all your energy on a futile endeavor and see what God is and wants to do. I can think of many great things that have come out of my prison experience so far. One is dependence. The realization I can't even breathe without help. I know to whom I must cling. I have learned grace, when in the past, I was far from it. To hear of another's physical weakness causes such compassion where before it didn't. I pray and fight for those who are also imprisoned through sickness. I have met people and ministered to people I wouldn't have otherwise. I have become exposed to truths I never dreamed. Yet somehow there is something so profound in this fellowshipping with Jesus in this dark place that I have yet to tap into. It is something Paul asked for, though I am pretty sure I had to be forced into. I am here and with eager anticipation awaiting this rich life changing place. Maybe this freedom I long for will be found in the very place I have been begging to have opened up for me. Now wouldn't that beat all!