Monday, May 27, 2013

The Miracle Resurrection!


"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Acts. 26:8

The past several days I've been weighted down with a huge burden. As many of you know, most of my work with ARME and the Prayer ministry is done on the computer, and as a result, I have accumulated a LOT of files over the last 4-5 years. These files take up a lot of hard drive space….several Terabytes worth of space, in fact.

Well, as my last computer was about to die this past year, I loaded up all my most recent crucial files and pictures and ministry projects on to an external hard drive. (About 450 GB's worth of stuff!)

Thankfully, this Spring God provided me with a new computer. However, I've been pretty busy, and I never made time to put these files on my new computer, or to back them up on a second hard drive. (I just kept carrying around this external hard drive, and using my files from off the hard drive.)

Well, this past Thursday, that hard drive crashed! And with it, I lost (or so I thought) many of my key files and projects from the past 4-5 years, since ARME began. As you can imagine, I was most distraught. And I began praying passionately that God would resurrect my hard drive. Not only had I lost most of my important ministry files, but I'd also lost most of my pictures from this past year…which included our ARME trip to the United Kingdom and Wales, and my prayer ministry trip to Germany. (And I had gotten to travel around quite a bit in Germany with Raluca, visiting the trail of Martin Luther, so these pictures were irreplaceable!)

So for the last three days (minus Sabbath) we have done everything we could (and even with expert help) to restore the hard drive and to retrieve my files, but with no success. I kept praying! As I've done some more research I've realized there is still hope if I send the hard drive away to experts, or if I try to download a program that would help. But all these options cost money, a lot of money, and more money than I want to spend.

So I kept praying, reminding God that first, He's raised the dead to life, so He can surely raise my hard drive back to life. Secondly, my money is His money, and I know He doesn't like His money wasted, so if He doesn't want me to waste His money, He needs to do the "healing work" Himself, so I don't have to pay a worldly wise-man to do the job!

This morning I spent two hours out walking around my trail, praying and crying. I finally told God, "It's ok. You can have my hard drive. If this helps me be more dependent on you, it's ok. I don't need all those files. BUT…if you feel that those files would help me be more effective in your service, I know you can bring them back, either by yourself or with a professional's help, and I'm just going to praise you in advance. Because I know whatever you do will be best."

After I got back from the walk, my mom and I tried again to get the computer to read the hard drive, but no success. Then after lunch, I attempted to get the hard drive to load on my computer, but still to no avail. Then I looked online, and decided, even though I didn't really have the funds to pay for the program, and I didn't think it was a good use of God's money, I'd try a "recovery" program and see if it would work. So I filled out all the online form, put in my payment info, and right before I clicked "submit payment," I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go back ONE MORE TIME and try to open my hard drive files.

I clicked, and suddenly, everything was there…I almost was in shock as I was able to view all my folders, my pictures, and my ARME files, and quickly, with tears clouding my eyes, I began downloading all the files to my computer!!!

It took THREE HOURS, and I probably cried half the time in thanksgiving and gratitude, but with God's help, I was able to rescue and save ALL my lost files!!!!!!!!!!! (You can believe I will have them all double backed up from here on out!)

Most of us view things that die as being dead. How could God possibly bring something back to life! But He can…In Acts we are told:

"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Acts. 26:8

This shouldn't be incredible. This should just be normal life!!! Yes, God can raise dead people to life, and if He can do that, He can raise dead computers, dead hard drives, and dead hearts! I just praise the Lord! Once again, He has come through for me, right at the last minute, right when I was seconds away from spending money I shouldn't have been spending for earthly wisdom and solutions!!!!

I just want to praise God for hearing and answering this prayer!!!!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Another Answered Prayer…God doesn't miss anything!!


I shared this on my "Morning Sonshine" devotional today, but I wanted to share it here too!

One of my favorite promises is Ephesians 3:20. I've probably already quoted it on this blog a couple times. It says:

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

For quite a few months now, I've been writing down each answer to prayer that I receive. I actually challenged God awhile back that I wanted to see Him answer at least one prayer every day. I don't have the courage yet to pray for "one soul a day" like Praying Hyde prayed for, but I do have courage to ask for one answered prayer every day!

Well, since I put God to this challenge, I've of course been praying quite fervently. And He's been faithfully answering. Every single day He gives me answered prayers, often times more than one. I never realized before how faithful He always takes care of me, and how He's working in my life until I started trying to keep record. It's amazing…

Well, yesterday was extra-ordinary as I have SEVEN answers to prayer, all in one day!!!!! ;-) But there's one in specific I have to share about. To most people this wouldn't seem that exciting or special, but to me, it means the world.

You see, for a number of months now, I've been trusting God with my needs. One thing that I've been praying for since January is for some gravel to make a parking spot for my car, and for my driveway, so I don't get stuck when it rains. It's not anything urgent…and I could probably survive another few years without getting it, but it's just something I need. God has sent me funds…but to be honest, besides paying essential bills, I just have a hard time using them on myself or on stuff here around the house as I know there are so many people dying without a knowledge of the truth. So…. although I probably could have bought the gravel by now, I just haven't been able to do it. So I've kept praying!
Well, yesterday, Dad came to my office where I was working and he was very urgent. I need your help to drive the truck to the local community church, about 5 miles away. They have a pile of gravel there, and they have used all they need, now they are trying to get rid of it. They just called and asked if we could use any? I was so shocked. I was like, "Daddy! I've been PRAYING for GRAVEL!! In fact, I just prayed for it this morning!!!" Now my dad was shocked. "Really?? You never told me! But I guess you told the right person. You told God."

So we went to get gravel. We got like 4 truck loads of the stuff, plus 2 trailer loads. It was enough to fill in most of the ruts in our driveway, make me a parking spot, plus put gravel on the wet places around my jogging trail. At the end, our neighbor even brought over one more tractor barrow of the stuff that he still hadn't found a place for. (Talk about personal delivery!) I couldn't believe it! My mom told me, "All the years we've lived here, we've never been given free gravel before! Truly God answers prayer!"
Again, to some, this may seem crazy to get excited about, but I have just been in awe and thanksgiving ever since. God knew I didn't want to spend the money on the stuff, so He just gave it to me, without charge! Isn't He amazing???
I could go on and on telling you stories of the way He's answering my prayers. It's unbelievable! We truly serve an amazing God. And I'm so grateful that He cares not just about our big problems, but about little things too, like gravel for our driveway! ;-))))

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Lessons from Those who've Suffered for their Faith!

Just finished reading the Sabina Wurmbrand story in the book "The Pastor's Wife." Simply amazing! I had already read the book "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand, and have really been getting more and more involved in supporting the ministry they started, "Voice of the Martyrs." Anyway… If you need a fresh dose of faith and inspiration up against unbelievable hardships and trials, this book has it.

Let me share a little bit about this amazing women of God!

Sabin Wurmbrand, at the age of 23, met and married Richard Wurmbrand. Neither were Christians when they married. However, while they were spending some time that first year in the mountains of Romania for Richard to recover from a health issue, both Sabina and Richard were converted to the Christian faith. Upon returning to their home in Bucharest, they joined the Anglican Mission Church.

During occupation Romania during World War II, Sabina’s parents, two sisters, and one brother were killed in Nazi concentration camps and in the ensuing years the couple spent their time rescuing Jewish children from ghettos that they were forced to live in by the Nazi regime. They also taught in bomb shelters and were arrested several times for underground Christian activities.

After the war a million Russian troops poured into Romania, enabling the Communists to seize power. As the communists attempted to control the churches for their own purposes, Richard & Sabina Wurmbrand immediately began an effective “underground” ministry to their enslaved people and the invading Russian soldiers. The Wurmbrands also traveled to Budapest, smuggling in goods and food that were needed by refugees living there. During her travels, Sabina actively spoke to the Russian occupation troops about the Christian faith. In 1946-47 she organized Christian camps for Romania’s religious leaders of all denominations and conducted street meetings with gatherings of up to 5,000 people. This was the beginnings of what would become “Voice of the Martyrs.”

One day during a great communist convention on which they were required to attend, they sat watching pastor after pastor get up and praise the new Stalin government and leadership. Both Sabina and Richard were infuriated. Finally, Sabina whispered to her husband. "
Will you not wash this shame from the face of Christ?” He responded. “IF I speak, you will loose a husband.” She replied, “I don’t need a coward for a husband.” Richard did get up and speak for the glory of Christ that day and what he said made such a stir and had the leaders so angry that they had to shut down the entire convention for that day, and they severed the wires to the microphone as his message was going out all over Romania!

A few months later, Richard was arrested. It was 1948. As a result of his stand for Christ and Christian work, he spent a total of 14 years in Communist prisons, three of those years in solitary confinement, suffering unimaginable torture at the hands of his captors. 

Not many women have had their faith tested like Sabina Wurmbrand. Though she suffered much sorrow and loss during the war and post-war years, she never gave up her faith. During Richard’s imprisonment, Sabina selflessly helped the persecuted church while struggling herself for survival for her and her young son. Sabina was eventually arrested herself and spent three years in Romanian slave labor camps and prisons, where they were beaten and abused and starved, and had to deal with unimaginable conditions of hardships. Many women died, and only those who had faith kept their sanity. What was the hardest is that she had to leave her young son to live on the streets and with the care of friends. 

After being released, she spent several years under house arrest. The Communist leaders offered her freedom if she would divorce her husband and renounce her faith. She refused although she didn't even know if he was still alive. They then told her that her husband died in prison. She would not believe the report and kept a hope alive that she would see her husband again someday.

In 1964 Richard was released from prison returned home. He soon resumed his work. In 1965, the Wurmbrand family was ransomed from Romania for $10,000 and Richard was warned again not to preach. The family traveled to Scandinavia and England before arriving in the United States, where Richard testified before the Senate in Washington, D.C. regarding his inhumane treatment in Communist prisons. His story and the stories of many thousands of persecuted Christians from behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains were carried across the world in newspapers in USA, Europe, and Asia.

For the rest of their lives, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand worked with “The Voice of the Martyrs” to serve the persecuted church around the world. 
Sabina actively spoke to churches, groups, and conferences for 32 years after the founding of the ministry and accompanied her husband to testify at Congressional hearings on religious persecution. 

Here in the freedom of the United States, we don't even understand what Christians around the world are dealing with today! However, I'm ashamed at my ignorance for so many years as I've discovered Christians are persecuted and imprisoned right now (over 200,000 of them) in Vietnam, China, North Korea, Cuba, Laoas, and even still in the former Soviet Union. In many other countries like the Middle East and in parts of Africa, Christians are threatened on a daily basis by radical Muslims. Many Christians are killed each day….yes, even today. I think of Pastor Saeed, an American Pastor from Idaho, that still lies locked alone in a prison in Iran! He's one face I know…but there are so many others that I don't know!

The Wurmbrand's challenge us today to not be silent, but to stand up, speak up, and do all in our power to help our persecuted brothers and sisters! What will you do today? What will I do today?