But no, the same mercy, the same grace from my Father in Heaven! New years are a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. For me it marks the end of a year of incredible change: From knowing about God and His son, to actually Him. From striving in the flesh to be moral, to living my life obedient from the heart. From rejecting the the forgiveness paid by Jesus on the Cross, to openly embracing it.

I’ve been so blessed to be an adopted son of God… & Jesus calls me His Friend. “Who Me??” He desired and desires me for himself. God is a jealous God!

Can’t wait to see what this New Year holds.

love you all,
in Jesus,
sam

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

That is the Christmas story. JP and I read through the first several chapters of Matthew and Luke Sunday. Some amazing prophecies Joseph and Mary heard of their little baby boy.

From God’s heaven to a manger, From great riches to the poor, Came the Holy Son of God, a little Child; From the azure halls of heaven to a lowly manger stall Jesus came, and He gave His life for all.

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit; Redeeming love, a love that never dies; My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages The adoration of this great love on high.

From a loving heavenly Father, To a world that knew him not, Came a Man of sorrows Jesus Christ, the Lord; In my wandering Jesus found me, Touched my life with His great love, And this Babe has grown to be my Sovereign Lord !!

Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit; Redeeming love, a love that never dies; My soul shall sing through-out the endless ages The adoration of this great love on high.

Redeeming love: This is the kind we need. The kind that radiates from a cross, which flows in Jesus’ blood. Not the kind that one finds at feel-good “Christmas services” (where organizations rake in the dough). I was listening to NPR the other day, and they advertised a upcoming news item about pastors adjusting their message for the holiday visitors. Tickling their ears? Have to, in order to pay the bills…

Come Lord Jesus! Have mercy on us!

“We are still in Baghdad. Nobody from our church group has left. We feel like we are called to continue. We will not leave. Danger is escalating. We are in a worse situation. Because of this, pastors are starting to get together to pray. They never met before. One brother visited almost all the churches in Baghdad and encouraged them to have a weekly morning prayer meeting for Iraq. Now, about five or six denominations are gathering together every Tuesday morning.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Also, I stumbled across this New York Times article, “Rich and Poor Christians” published way back in 1884. Old, yet relevant news.

Now I don’t know of any resource for martrys, prisoners, and other persecuted Christians in the US (anyone?), but good places to find information on Christians world-wide is http://persecution.com/. An estimated 150,000 Christians are martyred each year.

Here is some recent news:

VOM News and Prayer Update: October 16, 2007
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail
not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “(Lamentations
3:22–23)

CHINA
Prominent House Church Leader Repeatedly Beaten by Police – China Aid
Association

On October 11, prominent house church leader, Hua Huiqi, was repeatedly
attacked by police at his home. According to China Aid Association, “Hua was
reading his Bible at his home despite police surrounding his house. He was
sent to Beijing Tiantan Hospital, because he lost consciousness after
repeated beatings from the police.” China’s Public Security Bureau (PSB)
recently put Hua under house arrest. PSB officers had been surrounding his
house when they attacked him. Pastor Hua’s 77-year-old mother, Shuang
Shuying, remains very ill in prison, serving a two-year sentence. VOM
contacts say she is being held hostage by police in order to put pressure on
Pastor Hua to reveal names and information of believers. Pray for Hua’s
speedy recovery and for God to encourage him. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict
his attackers and draw them into the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
3 John 1: 2; Psalm 107:20  

SUDAN
Suicide Bomber Kills Youth, Wounds Others in Sudanese Church – VOM Sources

On September 27, a suicide bomber in military clothing detonated a grenade,
killing five youth and critically wounding four others, in Sudan’s Upper Nile
state. According to The Voice of the Martyrs’ contacts in Sudan, “A pastor
was having an overnight service in Khorfullus town, when an unidentified man
walked into the service and detonated a grenade, killing himself, five
children and critically wounding four others, including the pastor and his
wife.” VOM contacts added that the bomber was dressed in full military
clothing, normally worn by government officials. VOM is assisting families
affected by this tragedy during this difficult time. Pray God comforts and
encourages the families of those killed. Pray for a speedy recovery for those
injured.
Psalm 118: 17, Isaiah 40:31

GAZA STRIP
Gaza Bible Society Worker Murdered – Christian Broadcasting Network

On October 7, 26-year-old Rami Ayyad’s body was recovered near the Teachers’
Bookshop in the Palestinian territory of Gaza where he worked. His body had
stab wounds and bullet holes. According to the Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN), Ayyad was kidnapped the day before by an unidentified group. CBN
quoted the spokesperson for the Palestinian Bible Society, Simon Azazian, who
said, “We do not know the exact identity of the group, but we know he was
martyred for his faith in Christ.” The report added, “Ayyad told co-workers
he’d noticed a car with no license plates following him. At 6 p.m. (on
Saturday), his wife received a phone call from him saying he’d been taken
captive by a group of people and would be home late. A second phone call
relayed the same message.” Rami is survived by his pregnant wife and two
young children. Pray the Holy Spirit comforts his family during this
difficult time. Pray Rami’s testimony will bring non-believers, especially
his killers, into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ask God to protect believers
in Gaza.
Psalm 23, Psalm 91

NIGERIA
Christians Killed by Muslims; Hundreds Displaced in Kano, Nigeria – VOM
Sources

On September 28, angry Muslims killed 10 Christians and set churches, homes
and businesses on fire in Tudun Wada, in Nigeria’s Northern state of Kano.
According to The Voice of the Martyrs’ contacts in Nigeria, “At 9 a.m.,
Muslims began the attacks, setting fire to homes and churches. They attacked
and killed any Christian they came across.” More than 50 people were injured,
while more than 500 members of the minority Christian population were
displaced. VOM contacts added, “Muslim attackers burnt down all eight
churches existing in the community, homes and businesses in the area.“
Christians believe the attack resulted when Muslim students at a government
secondary school in the area claimed a Christian student drew a cartoon of
the Prophet Muhammad on the wall of the school’s mosque. VOM contacts
reported, “No Christian student would do this, since the school has nearly
2,000 students and only seven are Christian.… [also] the mosque is usually
busy with Muslims praying around the clock during the (Muslim) Ramadan
fasting season; therefore, no Christian student would have any way of getting
close to the wall of the mosque to make such sketches on the wall.” Pray for
the families of those killed. Pray the Holy Spirit will be their greatest
comforter. Ask God to encourage and provide for believers in this area.
Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5, 6

ERITREA
Senior Pastor Arrested – VOM Sources

Pastor Oqbamichael, a well-known leader of the Kale-Hiwot Church in Eritrea,
was arrested and imprisoned. This was the second imprisonment for the pastor
in the past two years. In 2005, he was arrested at a Christian wedding and
was later released after 10 months in prison, which included solitary
confinement and hard labor in the Sawa Military Camp. The arrest of Pastor
Oqbamichael follows the recent arrest of Evangelist Mussie Ezaz, who is also
a minister in the Kale-Hiwot Church. Pray God sustains and strengthens Pastor
Oqbamichael while he is in prison. Pray the Holy Spirit encourages his family
and church. Ask God to protect Christians in Eritrea who are serving Him in
the midst of severe persecution.
John 16:13, 14