Prayer Works, People!!

This man, Said Musa, was listed on my "Prayer for the Day" just two days before the following article came out. (Praise be to God!)


As reported by the New York Times and other sources, Said Musa, an Afghan man who had been in prison for the past eight months and faced death by hanging for converting from Islam to Christianity, has been released.

Under enormous international pressure, government officials in Kabul, Afghanistan, said they freed Said Musa. His release followed intense negotiations between the Afghan government and United States Department of State and members of Congress and other foreign embassies.

CFI and other human rights organizations launched petition campaigns on behalf of Said Musa. “I want to thank everyone who prayed for this man’s release and who made phone calls, and sent in petitions,” said CFI president Jim Jacobson. “This case demonstrates that we can make a difference when we speak out.”

The Good, The Bad, and the Unethical

I complain a lot about my job. And then I feel bad that I complain, because I HAVE a job! I thank God for letting me have a stable job and have tried to keep a good attitude.
Then I have days, like today, where I'm reminded why I complain. Then I pray for God to deliver me from this job.

It's one thing to be underpaid for what you do (which I am and have been for almost 5 years).
It's another thing to work in an unpleasant environment (which I do. It's a sewer plant and it stinks).
Both of these things I have accepted and have chosen to learn from rather than loathe. I look at it from as humble a perspective as I can, being a spoiled American, and say that I'm able to handle things that others might not and have learned to live with less than others with my same skills and experience might have. According to my faith, these are not bad lessons to learn, no matter how frustrating.

Then there is the issue of ethics. I have to agree with Woodrow Wilson's sentiment when he said he would rather "break than bend." I just CANNOT abide unethical behavior. I can't. The blatant misuse of authority, disregard for policy, and mistreatment of people in my company is more than I can bear. Literally.
I've struggled with this issue over and over in my job and it only continues to get worse. I look, almost daily, for other employment opportunities. I utilize my company's "whistle blowing policy" when issues arise. Unfortunately, it seems that my HR department is just as corrupt as my manager is, or possibly just negligent. I can't say for sure.

What I can say is that I'm done. I've been done for a long time now and I feel like a piece of me dies every time I witness another one of my manager's immoral or unethical behaviors.
But I can't be done.
I have a husband and three beautiful girls who need me to stay in this job. It makes me feel like I'm being torn in half mentally and I'm really tired of it.

The only hope I have is that God will answer my fervent prayer and provide a way for me to have both an upright job with an upright employer and manage to cover the bases for my family.

I hope to be able to blog about my amazing new job in the near future! Until then, I'll keep praying and keep applying...

Immune Boosters

My family has been sick lately. Really sick. Since Christmas, we've had a total of 10 separate illnesses between the five of us! It's ridiculous. I think if I had all the co-pays, lost work hours, and prescription fees that I've spent recently, I would be able to pay for a nice weekend get-a-way with my husband (which, according to some medical studies might actually improve my chances to fight illness.)
Since I avoid harsh chemicals and use only natural cleaning products, I thought it might be wise to "sterilize" my house. I broke down and bought Lysol and, trying not to breathe, cleaned every square inch that could be cleaned with it. I changed out my a/c filters, washed all bedding and made sure everyone was using anti-bacterial soap. To no avail, folks. At least no significant change in our health has been evident. I say this between sporadic coughs and with, yet another, low-grade fever.
I got to thinking that I should research how to "boost" our immune systems. After reading extensively, on Harvard University's medical website, I came to the realization that it's all a big mystery. There is no significant proof that diet, exercise, or stress-reduction have anything to do with the direct increase or decrease of immune response! There are promising studies, but ultimately nothing to hang your hat on. How crazy! I can walk into any store and find a myriad of immune-boosting remedies, vitamins, drinks, etc... and yet none of them have been PROVEN to work.
It got me to thinking about my "spiritual immune system." We, who are so quick to trust the latest health remedy, regardless of proven effectiveness, often overlook the proven "life-remedies" we have been given in the Word of God.
The Bible is full of information on the subject. From Proverbs, which is full of practical tips for living a good life, to Revelation which gives us insight into that which is to come. He didn't leave a thing out and there is no further proof required!
If sin is a terrible virus, God not only gave us excellent avoidance strategies, but He provided a CURE!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
It doesn't get any simpler than that. When I feel myself start to weaken spiritually, I know that the one and only remedy is to get into the Word and to pray.
It's amazing to me. There is no co-pay, no adverse side-effect, no risk of recurrence.... Nope.
It was finished.

If we had the cure for the common cold, influenza, or cancer, wouldn't we share it? We would surely receive awards and worldwide recognition, but even then, there is no promise of eternal life here on earth!

Such a precious gift we have in our Lord and Savior. It makes me want to "immunize" the world! Unfortunately, many willingly choose not to open the Word. They deny the cure altogether.
That is the only catch. Each person must accept Christ for His cure to work. It would be far better to live a life on this earth with cancer or another horrible ailment, then to deny the eternal life promised to each of us if we choose to accept it. Yet so many do just that.

It's no wonder that the last thing Jesus asked people to do before he ascended to Heaven was to go into the world and spread the "cure." (my paraphrase of Mark 16:15)

I think, rather than praying for a better earthly immune-system, I'm going to start praying for more opportunities to spread the good news that there is an eternal cure for all who accept it.

Rescue

At dawn arriving, bathed in light
amidst dew and budding blooms
unaware of pain or fright
dancing onward into days

Swept up in breezes from darker places
subtly warned, though unconcerned with night
blind to exploit behind fond faces
pulled slowly into a haze

Surrounded by fog, no sense of the hour
helpless to fly with wings weighed down
all thoughts muddled, hopelessly cowers
enveloped in madness

Against the weight of past imparting
choice to fight, to spread out wings
a chance to fly as fog is lifting
The Son reaches in.

Enemies

How do we (people) define enemies?
Those who are opposed to us? Those who are set to destroy us? Those who undermine us?

Merriam-Webster says the following:

Definition of ENEMY
1: one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2: something harmful or deadly
3a : a military adversary b : a hostile unit or force

How do we (Christians) define enemies?
Those who are opposed to Christ? Those who hate us for our belief in Him?

The Bible refers to many enemies, the most consequential of which is, not surprisingly, satan.

Christ Jesus said to pray for those who persecute us and to love our enemies. He asked the Father, in his most excruciating moments to forgive those who hurt him for they knew not what they were doing...

In light of this, do believers even have enemies?

An enemy of the light is not necessarily an enemy of the one holding the light. If ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23), then one person is no better or worse than another. The only difference is the choice of one to accept salvation and become a bearer of light while the other one chooses to stay in darkness. Is that choice, in itself, grounds for labeling someone as an enemy?

I work in a place that is filled with darkness. I don't claim to be the best reflection of the light of Christ, but it is no secret that I believe in Him. My "enemies" know that.
So, are they really opposed to me, or is their animosity a direct result of their opposition to the light that I carry through the grace of God?

Just thoughts, I guess.

Another interesting verse:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:20

Those coals are his own shame, aren't they? And if doing good and spreading love and light cause someone in darkness to smolder with conviction, it puts an interesting spin on the concept of "enemy."
What greater good could you do for another person, even an enemy, than to show them the light of Christ?

Who By Fire - Leonard Cohen

How I feel today...

And who by fire?
Who by water?
Who in the sunshine?
Who in the night time?
Who by high ordeal?
Who by common trial?
Who in your merry merry month of May?
Who by very slow decay?
And who shall I say is calling?
(Who shall I say is calling?)

And who in her lonely slip?
Who by barbiturate?
Who in these realms of love?
Who by something blunt?Who by avalanche?
Who by powder?
Who for his greed?
Who for his hunger?
And who shall I say is calling?
(Who shall I say is calling?)

And who by brave assent?
Who by accident?
Who in solitude?
Who in this mirror?
Who by his lady's command?
Who by his own hand?
Who in mortal chains?
Who in power?
And who shall I say is calling?
(Who shall I say is calling?)

Prayers for Egypt

I attended the monthly "Underground Faith" meeting at my church last night. Our topic of prayer this month was the country of Egypt.

We had a guest speaker who has been living in Egypt for the past 6 months and plans to move there long term in the near future. He told us about his visit and how much he longs to reach the Egyptian people for Christ.

In light of the recent upheaval in Cairo and the violence being inflicted upon Christians in the region, I would like to ask people to join me in prayer.



*Pray that the Spirit of God would be upon Egypt and that the violence would cease.
*Pray for the Christians in Egypt to have protection and to be strong witnesses to non-believers.
*Pray for the Muslim people in Egypt to seek the truth that can only be found in Christ Jesus.
*Pray for the families of those who have been killed, that they would have comfort and provision.
*Pray for those who are going to this area of the world to share the gospel of Christ.

For more information about how you can support the spread of the gospel in Egypt and other hostile nations, please visit:

http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51