Prayers for Suffering Christians This Christmas

As we gather with loved ones this Christmas and worship God freely in our churches, let’s take a moment to pray together as a family for persecuted Christians throughout the world who don’t have that freedom or who are in the midst of a war they have no part in. To understand better what ourContinue reading “Prayers for Suffering Christians This Christmas”

A New Name for the Prayer Wall

The names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6-7 break apart the desolation and evil in today’s world with hope and light. Knowing the “government” is on Jesus’ shoulders gives us rest, not only in the midst of political conflict in our home countries, but also as we pray for those caught up in the horrors ofContinue reading “A New Name for the Prayer Wall”

When Christmas Is Hard

My dear brothers and sisters, I don’t know what all of you are going through right now, but I know for some of you this will be the first Christmas without a loved one. I want you to know my heart is with you and I love you dearly. Jesus’ arms are a safe placeContinue reading “When Christmas Is Hard”

Christians Killed in Gaza and Other Headlines

GAZA: IDF sniper fire killed Nahida Anton and her daughter Samar inside the Holy Family Parish on Saturday as they walked to the Sisters Convent. Seven more were wounded as they tried to protect others. The night before, heavy bombing resulted in three wounded inside the church. The compound is home to Missionaries of Charity,Continue reading “Christians Killed in Gaza and Other Headlines”

Freedom through Forgiveness

In yesterday’s post, the Lord was calling us as His people to open wide our hearts to forgive, to let Him set us free from the old offenses the enemy still uses to yank us around, so bitterness and fear will no longer control our reactions, but LOVE, grace and peace will. Mark 11:25, RomansContinue reading “Freedom through Forgiveness”

Forgive

This morning, I felt the Lord leading us back to forgiveness. Matthew 6:14-15; Psalm 32:1-5; Romans 12:17-21 When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for all our sin — from the tiniest infraction to that monstrous mistake we still regret. So, if our mile-high debt has been forgiven entirely, why are we so botheredContinue reading “Forgive”

Three and Three Hostages Returned to Israel

Yesterday, during combat in Shejaiya, Gaza, Israeli Defense Forces mistakenly killed three hostages who had managed to escape from Hamas: Yotam Haim (m, 28, abducted from Kfar Azza); Samer Talalka (m, 22, abducted from Nir Am kibbutz); and Alon Shamriz (m, 26, abducted from Kfar Azza). Just before that tragic event, the bodies of threeContinue reading “Three and Three Hostages Returned to Israel”

Warmth for the Lonely

Winters are cold in the dark area of the world where the Lord called our family to share the gospel for almost 30 years. Lots of snow and ice. Not many people outside. It can feel quite lonely, especially when you’re the only Christian around and an oppressive government forbids Christmas. No, I’m not talking about the Grinch,Continue reading “Warmth for the Lonely”

2 Hostages Found, 2 Soldiers Die Retrieving Them

Two Israeli soldiers, Master Sergeants Eyal Meir Berkowitz and Gal Meir Eisenkot, lost their lives Tuesday and several others sustained injuries retrieving the bodies of deceased hostages Eden Zacharia (f, 27) and IDF Warrant Officer Ziv Dado, (m, 36). Eden was shot and then abducted while fleeing the October 7 massacre at an outdoor musicContinue reading “2 Hostages Found, 2 Soldiers Die Retrieving Them”

Caught in a Battle Not Their Own, Lebanese Christians Choose Love

The day after Hamas invaded Israel, Hezbollah shot rockets from Lebanon, and Israel returned fire. The shelling that Sunday morning hit near churches gathered for worship in about a dozen Christian villages in southern Lebanon. Since then, many believers’ homes have been destroyed and their farmlands and surrounding forests set ablaze by hits from bothContinue reading “Caught in a Battle Not Their Own, Lebanese Christians Choose Love”