Intercessory Saturday July 11, 2009

Islamic extremists shot and killed an American teacher in Mauritania on June 23, because he was spreading Christianity, according to a report by Compass Direct News.

Christopher Leggett, 39, was killed in front of the language and computer school he ran in Nouakchott, the capital city. The North African unit of the al-Qaeda terrorist network claimed responsibility for the murder on a Web site, accusing Leggett of “missionary activities.” A North African al-Qaeda spokesman aired a statement on an Arab TV station saying the group killed Leggett because he was trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.

His family issued a statement saying they forgave the murderers, but asked the murderers be brought to justice. “In a spirit of love, we express our forgiveness for those who took away the life of our remarkable son,” Leggett’s family said in the statement. “On a spiritual level, we forgive those responsible, asking only that justice be applied against those who killed our son.”

Please Pray!

Please join The Voice of the Martyrs in praying for Christopher Leggett’s family in this time of grief. Pray they will find comfort, strength and peace in the Lord. Pray their testimony of forgiveness for those who took Christopher’s life would serve to draw others to Christ. Pray the attackers will be found and brought to justice.

Photo: Courtesy of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home (www.ralphbuckner.com)

 

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

Friendship Fridays July 10, 2009

My friend, Amanda, recently asked for feedback on daily themes for her blog.  I was trying to be witty by offering some alliterative options when I came up with “Friendship Fridays.”  Immediately, I decided I wanted it for my own blog! 

I am going to start dedicating Fridays to my friends.  Watch out; you might get featured. 

To kick off this new tradition, I would like to mention the best Friend of all:

I first met Yeshua when I was about five years old.  I had heard about Him before, but He was never a big part of my life.  Of course, I called him Jesus back then. 

My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Bennight, was the one who really opened my eyes to the fact that I should think about being friends with Him.  I don’t remember any specifics about what she said, but I do remember feeling this compelling need to pray to Jesus.  After my mom tucked me into bed that night, I told Yeshua that I really wanted to follow Him and that I was really sorry for the bad things that I did.  I told Him that I wanted Him to come live in my heart (which is what all us Baptists used to say).  Then, I fell asleep.

I prayed the same prayer night after night, afraid that God would think that I was just a kid and that I wasn’t serious.  I repeatedly reassured Him that I was not kidding around.  And I imagined Him literally living in my heart.  I pondered how He could fit in there, but I simply concluded that He was magic and could do whatever He wanted.  Silly, but true.  I really believed.

And He has never loosened his grip on me, despite my harlotry.  Now that’s more than a friend; that’s a Savior. 

I love you, Yeshua.

Soul-Sucking Social Networking July 9, 2009

I am not going to join Twitter.  Some of you have caved to the pressure, but I will not. 

In addition to writing and reading blogs, I have Facebook and it takes more than enough of my time!  There’s something about knowing what people are doing or thinking, and knowing what people think about what I’m doing or thinking, that is just compelling.  And it’s trying to suck my soul from my body.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with social networking.  God made us social beings; we’re meant to care about others and to want others to care about us.  I’m not sure, however, that we’re meant to have computers beginning to grow into our thighs because we’re so obsessed with what just happened since we got up to pee.  (Oh, wait!  That’s why we have Facebook on our phones now!  One hand to refresh the page, one hand to, well…)

Why do I need to have yet another vehicle to wasted time?  Facebook status updates are overwhelming enough! 

DOWN WITH TWITTER!

May This Be the Song of My Heart Always and Forever July 8, 2009

Always Forever
Phil Wickham

You are the hand that catches my fall
You are the friend that answers my call
You are my day, You are my night
You are my love and all of my life

You are the love I need
You are the air I breathe
You are my love, my life, always forever
I would lay down my life
Just to be by Your side
You are my love, my life, always forever

You are the grace that covers my sin
You’re everything, the beginning and end
You have my soul, my heart and my mind
You have my love and all of my life

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, forever

The Sinfulness of Entertainment July 7, 2009

I don’t have much to say because what has been said is phenomenal.

I have a high tolerance for violence, high tolerance for bad language, and zero tolerance for nudity. There is a reason for these differences. The violence is make-believe. They don’t really mean those bad words. But that lady is really naked, and I am really watching. And somewhere she has a brokenhearted father.  ~John Piper

Read the rest.

A Very Special Day! July 6, 2009

Today is July 6, 2009.  Do you know what that means?!  It has been 7 years since I went on my very first date with Justin AND it’s been 7 years since my baby kitty was born!  Because these two things happened at the same time, I knew right away that Justin and I were meant to be!  (But, I didn’t tell him for at least a week or two.)

I can’t believe Justin and I have been together since 2002.  (I was such a baby – only 19!)  It’s weird because, in some ways, it feels like it couldn’t have possibly been that long.  But, then again, I can’t even imagine what life was like before him!  He is truly the love of my life and I constantly thank God for him.  I love you, Husband!

~*~*~

And I can’t believe my baby kitty is already 7!  Isn’t he cute?!

Intercessory Saturday July 4, 2009

On June 12, nine Christian foreigners were abducted and three of them killed in Yemen. Reports indicate they were targeted because they were Christian relief workers suspected of being involved in evangelistic work.

According to officials, the Christians left the city of Sa’ada without an armed escort. Eyewitnesses saw a group of armed men stop the Christians. Investigators believe the kidnappers executed three of the hostages a short time later. The bodies of German nurses in training, Rita Stumpp and Anita Gruenwald, and a South Korean woman, Eom Young-sun, were found four days later in the al-Qaeda infested Noshour Valley.

According to a member of the security committee in charge of the investigation, the six hostages, German doctor, Johannes Hentschel, his wife Sabine, their three children, and an unidentified British engineer, are alive. At last report they were handed over to tribesmen. Two suspects were arrested after surrendering to Yemeni authorities.

Please Pray!

Please pray the remaining hostages will be released! May they sense the Lord’s presence in their captivity. Ask God to comfort the families of Rita Stumpp, Anita Gruenwald and Eom Young-sun. Pray the Yemeni people will have an opportunity to hear the Gospel and find freedom in Christ.

 

 

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

Happy Birthday to You! July 3, 2009

(Disclaimer:  I have mixed feelings about America.  But, I still have a 4th of July post.)

As you know, tomorrow is our great and terrible nation’s birthday!  I would be completely remiss if I ignored an opportunity to give credit where credit is due. 

I will not go on and on about how this is the best place on earth.  I will not even exaggerate the supposed “Christian calling” of the founding fathers to subliminally reinforce the idea that feeling pride in America is  part of the Baptist Faith and Message, the Westminster Confession of Faith, or, heck, the Ten Commandments.  I think stuff like that is misleading propaganda.  America, or those operating under her name, has done things both admirable and abominable.  Therefore, national hubris is misguided at best.  A deep sense of gratitude, however, is hopefully unavoidable.  So, what I will do is remind you to be thankful.

While there is a long list of things to be thankful for in this country, I will only mention two.  Honestly, you could stay in constant prayer for days over these:

1. Be thankful that thousands and thousands of people from every race bled and died (and are bleeding and are dying) for you.
2. Be thankful that you can publicly call yourself a Christian or an atheist or anything in between without worrying about being beaten, burned, raped, pillaged, humiliated, or murdered by those in authority over you.

Thank you, Yeshua.

PS – Happy birthday, Shannon!

I’m an Ass July 2, 2009

 

No thanks to Peter for this horribly convicting video. 

Prayer Request July 1, 2009

From my friend, Amanda.  Click here.