What are you willing to sacrifice to protect the name of Jesus?

Sabina Wurmbrand was the young wife of a pastor and mother of a little boy during the Communist takeover in Romania in 1949. While sitting in a pastor's convention listening to one Christian leader after another blaspheme the name of Jesus, she asked her husband, Richard, "Will you not wipe the spit from the face of Christ?" He pointed at the Communist officers in the front row and told her that if said anything that they would kill him. Sabina quickly replied, "I would rather be married to a dead man than a coward." That was the encouragement he needed. He stood up and reminded the 4,000 delegates that their duty was to glorify God and Christ alone.

Didn't Sabina love her husband and son? Oh, yes! But, she loved Jesus even more. And she paid dearly for wanting to see His name glorified. She didn't know whether Richard was dead or alive while he was imprisoned and tortured from 1948-1956 and 1959-1964. She herself was in prison from 1950-1953, while their son survived on the streets. After her release she had to rely on the kindness of others since she wasn't allowed to buy or sell because she was the wife of a pastor. Still, she continued sharing Christ with whoever would listen!!! Jesus was everything to her and she was devoted to Him no matter what the cost.

How important is God's glory to me? Am I willing to lay down my personal joy, happiness and security to protect His precious name?



Want some inspiring reading this summer? I recommend both these books:

Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
The Pastor's Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand

Here's a link to their biographies and to get a FREE copy of Tortured for Christ.
http://www.torturedforchrist.com/

Ecuador

I know I'm not suppose to base my actions on how "I'm feeling", but instead should die to myself. And I got lots of practice doing that in Ecuador. For most of my time there, I was sick and felt much worse than I let on to the others on my team. The last thing my flesh wanted to do was to be kind or loving. I was weak and tired and could do nothing in my own strength. I had to rely fully on God. I prayed LOTS! Our leader gave us quiet time each morning from 7-8. It was such a sweet and peaceful time for me with no distractions! The first morning, God lead me to Philippians 2:3,"in humility consider others better than yourself". I quoted that verse over and over in my mind the 10 days I was there. My wise Father gave me the reminder I needed to help me keep my emotions in check. He is SO awesome!

Some of our time we spent in Shandia. It's the village where Jim and Elisabeth Elliot worked, lived and taught. I observed the Christians there living and working with an eternal perspective. It was so encouraging and inspiring to me! Their focus is on the immaterial. They know the things on earth are temporal and it's the relationships you make and the words you say that can make an impact on eternity. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to see those dear people living that out...all day long. They truly know REAL joy. Not the loud, jump up and down excitement, we often confuse for joy. But the quiet inner happiness and contentment that circumstances can't alter. For them, Jesus first. Others second. Yourself last isn't just some catchy acronym for joy...it's their lifestyle!

Latin American culture is all about the people. I found that Ecuadorians consider the day lost if they haven't made contact with anyone,even if they worked hard all day and finished the tasks at hand. And if they don't finish their tasks, but had conversations with people, they consider their day successful.

It's no news to anyone that in America, we are the opposite. It’s more about how much money we can make, stuff we can accumulate, or things we can accomplish than about building relationships. God has given us so many resources and instead of using them to bless others, we hoard them. What's worse is we don't worship the One who gave us those blessings! Instead we take them and make them our idols. We worship the gifts instead of the Giver!

Hell is REAL! Those without Christ are going to spend eternity there. If I truly believe that shouldn't I be investing my time and money into warning people?

My trip to Ecuador was an incredible experience where God taught me many things. But, if I resume my life, unchanged, the trip was just a fun experience.

Please pray for me. I don't ever want to forget.


Here are links to photos:

Eucador Experience

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73246&id=747394729&l=7a8577a5f4

Sightseeing in Ecuador

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=75009&id=747394729&l=2a9567f9e9

El Refugio Christian Camp in Quito, Ecuador

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=73251&id=747394729&l=f64b9ca162

Life is short...don't waste it!

Love, Living and Dying

“Love. The word screams at you from the car stereo speakers booming their way through traffic. Love is not, just an emotion, as the world sees it. It is action. While admittedly it does have emotion involved with it, it is not as unstable or changeable as emotions are. Affections come and go, grow and fade, but love does not. It is constant because it is more than an emotion; it is more a constant state of selflessness that produces action.”

That quote was written by a young man named BJ Higgins. It’s from his book, “I Would Die for You.” Much of the book is entries from his journal and they are incredible! In them he shares his struggles and failures as well as what God is showing him through His Word. I was especially encouraged with what he wrote about the armor of God. His love for God and desire to bring Him glory is inspiring! If you want to be challenged and encouraged in your faith, read this book!!!

He also has a blog and here are a few entries from it:

“Living is all for Christ and entails many trials and persecution, and is better for those around you, but dying and going to be the Lord is better for yourself. We need to live with courage and character worthy of citizens of heaven, fight boldly in this spiritual war we are immersed in, and take our suffering boldly, for it is a pleasure to suffer for Christ."
— July 4, 2004

“And so now I challenge you, if you are not involved in missions or supporting missions to do so, for each of us has a different task to do in the body of Christ, as it says in Romans 12, but we are all to work together for the glory of God. And I also challenge and encourage you to continue to grow in Christ, daily reading his Word, praying, worshipping, and fellowshipping. Do not be satisfied with staying the same person and doing the same mundane routine each day, but change, grow closer to God and move deeper than just ankle-deep in him every day you live, for it may very well be your last.” — October 11, 2004

“How often do we really live as Christ? How often do we lay our own dreams and wants down for God? At church camp? On mission trips? Maybe even every Sunday or Wednesday? But Christ says DAILY. Too often do we attempt the whole “Christian living” on Sundays and Wednesdays, and forget the whole “DAILY Christian dying.” Christ calls us to die daily. — August 2, 2005

That last entry was written while he was on a mission trip to Peru. After returning to the states, he became ill and after six weeks of hospitalization died… just 6 days before his 16th birthday.

Like BJ, I may not have tomorrow or I may live to be an old lady. Either way I only have today. My choice is to live it for me... or die to myself and live it for Him. With God's strength and power, I'll live and die for Him.

Valentine's Day

I wrote this a couple years ago. Some of you have read it. I’ve added to it and am re-posting it in hopes that it will encourage someone this Valentine’s week.

Valentine's Day is a day that many singles who aren’t “in a relationship” dread. They feel like everyone is celebrating something they don't have. Something they long for very much. They want to be special to someone... to be valued and loved. They watch others receiving attention and presents and they can't wait for the day to pass.

Even though I’ve never really had a “Valentine”, I’ve listed some of the most commonly exchanged Valentine gifts and guess what? My loving Savior has given me every one of them!

Flowers
They are beautiful and fragrant. There are so many kinds to choose from but can any of them compare to Jesus?
Song of Solomon 2:1, "I am a rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys."

Candy
It's sweet but nothing like God's Word.
Psalm 119:103, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

A Love Song
Sure, there are some moving love songs with powerful words that are sung by great voices. But, there is no way they are better than God singing over me! Who could possibly write better music and lyrics or sing more beautifully than God?
Zephaniah 3:1, "The Lord God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will exult over you with loud singing."

Romantic Dinner
There isn't a chef in any 5-star restaurant that can make a meal that will compare to the one I'll be sharing with Jesus some day.
Revelation 19:9, And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

True Love
The gift everyone wants if for somebody to always be there and to always love them. God's love is for eternity and He will never leave me!!
Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love."
Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have all these gifts too! You are IN Christ. These past few weeks, I’d been pondering the meaning of those two little words. I’ve used this phrase so often without thinking about its meaning. As God often does when He’s teaching me something, He tells me through multiple sources…probably because I’m so slow in getting it! So, yesterday I received an email on this very topic. I have permission from the author to copy and paste what he wrote, but I am not to use his name. Here it is:

"In Christ" -- what a loaded phrase. I have been marveling at the thought for more than a week now. The love, the fellowship, the promise, the belonging, the righteousness, the holiness, and the power that this little phrase communicates. It makes everything in this world, both that which is real and that which is imagined, pale in comparison. The very best that this world has to offer is vanity and chasing after the wind when set next to the eternal reality of our being "in Christ". He truly is the pearl of inestimable value and we, if we have an ounce of sense, should be "The Pearl" freaks. We should be so wowed by "The Pearl" and our being "in Him" that simply nothing else really matters. In Him alone do we find what we've been looking for, what we've been created for, and what we have become in the heavenly realms.

So, remember that when you are feeling left out or sad about Valentine’s Day…you are “In CHRIST”!!! Be encouraged!

And if you do have a special someone in your life, make sure your focus is on GOD and not your special person. Don't put anyone on the throne of your heart except for HIM.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!