The SG Notebook

We’ve recently finished VBS at our church, with a theme of Moses and the Ten Commandments. So, naturally, Pharoah was a principal character in the Bible stories. Many times was it demanded of him: “Let my people go.” There is nothing new under the sun. God’s people, continue to be treated shamefully in more places and in more ways than you can imagine. Pictured here are a few of them.

Remember saints, God has His purposes. No one can stay His hand. I would not want to go up against this God as Pharoah was foolish enough to do at the Red Sea. His people are His people. I don’t know what He’s going to do about all this in the long run, but those who are holding any of God’s people in a place where He does not want them to be would be better off to let them go.

Get updates at the Persecution Blog.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

You can find a lot of news on the situation with the South Korean hostages here.

Keep praying.

I’m sure that sooner or later I’ll be able to post about happenings here at Speakable Gifts, but at the present things are rather slow and writing projects are temporarily at a standstill. God will lead us in the direction of His choosing when His time, the right time, comes. See my post about this on my devotional blog.But sorrowfully, the number of those being martyred and imprisoned is never at a standstill. There are always more of them, more heroes to write about. May the Lord grant His mercy and peace to these dear ones and their families.

Here are two of them, a martyr and a hero:

Pastor Bae Hyung-kyu

Abraham Bentar

I hope the Lord will impress them on our hearts and that we will see some of His glory in their sufferings.

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blashemed, but on your part He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14

Our Christian hero for this week is a prisoner. He has been accused of a heinous crime in the eyes of those who have sentenced him to death. His crime? He has been preaching the gospel.

We don’t know how God will finally deal with this matter, but many people are pleading with North Korea for the release of this man. For particulars on the matter read the posts for this past week at the Persecution Blog. You may even feel inclined to send a letter to Mr. Son via the Prisoner Alert website. I know we have so little spare time to spend on things like this; may God help us to take the time.

From my perspective, Mr. Son is a Christian hero.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Persecution does not take us away from our home. Persecution helps send us along the way to our true “home.”
PASTOR J. COLAW

This is a quote from the Vom book Extreme Devotion.

You may want to catch up on prayer needs of the persecuted church. Sadly, every week there is something new.

Here are a couple of prayer requests from the Voice of the Martyrs Persecution Blog for this week:

UZBEKISTAN
Imprisoned Pastor Transferred to Harsher Camp – Forum 18 News/ VOM Sources

Imprisoned Pentecostal pastor, Dmitry Shestakov, has been transferred to a harsher labor camp in Navoi, Uzbekistan. The new camp is a longer distance from his wife and three children. In May 2007, Shestakov was sentenced to four years in an open work camp, in Andijan, for “religious activity.” Christians in Uzbekistan told Forum 18 News, “The authorities claim he misbehaved in the open work camp and that’s why they ordered his transfer to a harsher camp. We believe this was deliberately set up.” Forum 18 News reports that Pastor Shestakov’s transfer comes as authorities prepare administrative trials against members of his congregation in his home town of Andijan in the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan. Pray for Pastor Shestakov and his family. Ask God to watch over them during this difficult time. Psalm 32:7, Psalm 91:14-16

TURKEY
Pray for the Families of Martyred Christians – VOM Sources

Continue to pray for the families and loved ones of three men martyred in Turkey in April. Pray God will heal their hearts and meet their needs. Some Christians have been singled out in media coverage of this case; pray for their protection and God’s provision for them. Pray that Muslims in Turkey will be drawn to ask why these three men were willing to die, and through their testimonies will be drawn to faith in Christ. Psalm 68:5

While our Child of Courage page focuses on a particular family in Vietnam, the Voice of the Martyrs’ Persecution Blog has reports of yet more violent acts against Christians because of their faith. As the president of that country comes to the US this week, I’m sure that he won’t want to talk about THAT.

More cause for prayer, saints. But didn’t our Lord say it would be this way?

Talk to you Soon,

Maxine (a/k/a Nanna)

Focus this month is on Vietnam. Our Child of Courage is a girl named Rachen. Follow the link to the VOM site to read the entire story. Have your children think about this for a bit. How important it is that they know about these things.

Also, go to the Persecution Blog to read about Pastor Y Wo Nie. Perhaps your children could write him a little note. What a practical way to teach them about true Christianity and to help them along in that sweet character trait called compassion.

Talk to you soon.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Featured persecuted saints for this week are in China, Pakistan, Romania and Iran. I posted about this on my personal blog this time. Please read what I had to say there today and then, go to Persecution Blog to read the full stories. And then, please, PRAY.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Remember that Jesus died.
Remember why He died.
Remember that cross.
Remember that hill called Calvary.
Remember the Resurrection.
Remember the One who died, and why, and how, and where, and that He lives, calling you to come to Him as your only hope if you don’t know Him, and to praise Him if you do.

Remember on Sunday to rejoice.

And then remember those who are in chains.

Have a blessed Easter.

Maxine (a/k/a Nanna)