Struggles that Strengthen

By Maria Fontaine
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The Lord knows that encouragement is very important to us, and He wants to give us a lot of it. Encouragement plays a key role in helping us to keep going, even when we feel like quitting. Encouragement is one of the greatest pick-me-ups—and when it comes from the Lord, I’d say it’s the greatest. God’s encouragement helps us to know that we’re not alone, that He understands what we’re facing‚ and that if we just hold on a little longer, we will make it.

God’s Word covers a variety of topics, but sometimes you just need to read something that’s pure encouragement and that provides you with an extra boost when you’re feeling down. The beauty of God’s Word is that whether it fits your situation to a T, or the principles are applicable‚ or you can adapt the concept to your situation, or the Lord uses it to speak to you about something completely unrelated, or it gives you more compassion or understanding of others—it’s going to benefit you. There is always something priceless to be gained from reading God’s Word, if you pray, as King David did, “Open Thou my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.”1

I pray that the following message of encouragement in prophecy will be words spoken at just the right time for you, like “apples of gold in pictures of silver.”2

Jesus said:

You can read the stories of any of My great men and women from the past, anyone who has served Me, and you’ll see that none of them led lives of ease. Every one of them fought against the Enemy and against the difficulties that an unbelieving world threw at them for the duration of their lives. It seemed to them at times that I didn’t always answer their prayers, or that I allowed things to be rougher on them than they thought they could bear. But it was those rough times and those obstacles that caused them to burn so brightly for Me, and that have made them an enduring example of dedication and love for Me, from those days till now, and beyond into eternity.

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”3 This earth life includes times of hardship and pain, difficulty and loss, struggle and hard effort. If all the friction were removed and you could glide effortlessly through life, that wouldn’t be earth. That would be heaven. Heaven is My kingdom, where perfection can be realized and where there are no disappointments. But earth is a battlefield. It is a place where you will experience hardship and heartbreak, pain and tears.

You are shining My light in this world despite all the difficulties you face, and for this I will someday greatly exalt you. But don’t be surprised that on earth it’s difficult. Everyone who has done anything of value for Me has found it so. It’s always going to seem difficult while you try to live for Me in the world.

In heaven I will make everything perfect. But not on earth. Not yet. It is not the time. To answer each of your prayers in the way you wish, and to resolve every situation, and to remove every thorn, would not fulfill the purpose for which you’re on earth.

A key to facing times of testing is to remember that I never promised smooth sailing, but I do promise to get you through the storm. Let the tests propel you through the storm and help you to be a support and blessing to others, because you have been in their shoes and know what it’s like.

It’s the struggle that strengthens you. What you see as your struggle, I see as your glory. I want to draw you closer to Me and comfort you. I want to encourage you and tell you that I am so proud of you for keeping the faith and remaining faithful to Me. There is great pain on earth‚ but great reward in heaven. There is great sacrifice on earth, but great glory in heaven. At times there is confusion and doubt‚ but someday you will see Me face to face and you will know fully, even as you are known.4

Have courage and know that I am always here for you. I promise that I will never allow you to be crushed beneath the load. My grace will be sufficient for you. I will bring you victorious through the storms and tribulation of this life. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!

Battles and problems you will always have with you in this life‚ but victory comes through looking to Me. Trust Me and believe, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, even when you do not understand. Remember, if you believe, all things are possible to him that believes.5

Moses did not understand how I would help him make it through the Red Sea. Gideon had no idea how I would help him to win the battle with only 300 men. Noah had zero understanding of boats; he didn’t even know what a boat was, and it took him 120 years to find out. He couldn’t see the end picture when he started recording the dimensions for that ship. He had no idea what the end would be. He simply followed Me one day at a time, one step at a time. He refused to give up, or give in to the crowds who were mocking him. He fixed his eyes on Me and kept them there. That’s how he made it through 120 long years—taking things one day at a time, by faith alone.

Make the most of your life on earth. Learn to count it all joy and honor when you experience battles and trials.6 You can overcome. You can make it. You’ve come this far by faith‚ so don’t give up. Keep going for Me. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. You can do it.

*

What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more he will shower us with his comfort and encouragement.

We are in deep trouble for bringing you God’s comfort and salvation. But in our trouble God has comforted us—and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.—2 Corinthians 1:3–77

Originally published March 2007. Adapted and republished June 2014.
Read by Carol Andrews.

Footnotes:
1 Psalm 119:18.
2 Proverbs 25:11.
3 John 16:33.
4 1 Corinthians 13:12.
5 Mark 9:23.
6 James 1:2.
7 TLB.

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Dificuldades que Fortalecem

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M. Fontaine

O Senhor sabe que encorajamento é muito importante para nós, e Ele quer nos dar em abundância. Encorajamento desempenha um papel fundamental para nos ajudar a continuar seguindo em frente, mesmo quando temos vontade de desistir. Encorajamento é uma das melhores injeções de ânimo — e quando vem do Senhor, eu diria que é a melhor. O encorajamento de Deus nos ajuda a saber que não estamos sós, que Ele entende o que estamos enfrentando, e que, se apenas aguentarmos um pouco mais, conseguiremos.

A Palavra de Deus aborda uma série de assuntos, mas às vezes você simplesmente precisa ler algo que é puro encorajamento, que lhe dá um estímulo extra quando está se sentindo por baixo. A beleza da Palavra de Deus é que, quer se encaixe na sua situação “como uma luva”, quer os princípios se apliquem, quer possa ajustar o conceito à sua situação, ou o Senhor a use para falar com você sobre algo completamente diferente, quer lhe dê mais compaixão dos outros ou o ajude a compreendê-los — vai beneficiar você. Sempre ganhamos algo inestimável ao lermos a Palavra de Deus, se orarmos como o Rei Davi, “Desvenda os meus olhos, para que veja as maravilhas da Tua lei.”[1]

Oro que a seguinte mensagem de encorajamento dada em profecia, sejam palavras dadas no momento certo para você, como “maçãs de ouro em cestos de prata.”[2]

Jesus disse:

Pode ler as histórias de qualquer um dos Meus grandiosos homens e mulheres do passado, qualquer um que considere um cristão de destaque que fez um trabalho maravilhoso por Mim, e verá que nenhum deles teve uma vida fácil. Cada um deles lutou contra o Inimigo e contra as dificuldades que um mundo descrente jogou contra eles durante toda a sua vida. Às vezes lhes pareceu que Eu nem sempre respondi às suas orações, ou que permiti coisas que eles consideravam difíceis demais e que não conseguiriam suportar. Mas foram esses tempos difíceis e obstáculos que os fizeram brilhar com tanto fulgor por Mim, e que fizeram deles eternos exemplos de dedicação e amor por Mim desde aqueles dias até agora, e por toda a eternidade.

“No mundo tereis aflições, mas tende bom ânimo, eu venci o mundo.”[3] Esta vida na Terra inclui tempos de sofrimento e dor, dificuldade e perda, luta e muito esforço. Se toda a fricção fosse removida e você pudesse planar pela vida sem esforço algum não seria a terra. Isso seria o Céu. OCéu é o Meu reino, onde há perfeição e nenhuma decepção. Mas a terra é um campo de batalha. É um lugar onde você passa por dificuldades e quebrantamentos, dor e lágrimas.

Você está fazendo a Minha luz brilhar neste mundo, apesar de todas as dificuldades que enfrenta, e por isto o exaltarei grandemente um dia. Mas não se surpreenda por a vida ser difícil. Todo o mundo que já fez qualquer coisa de valor por Mim se deparou com essas dificuldades. Enquanto estiver tentando viver por Mim neste mundo, sempre vai parecer difícil.

No Céu farei tudo perfeito. Mas não na terra. Não ainda. Não é o momento. Responder cada uma de suas orações, solucionar todas as situações e remover cada espinho, iria derrotar o propósito para o qual está na terra.

Um segredo para enfrentar tempos de provações é lembrar que nunca lhe prometi um mar de rosas, mas prometo ajudá-lo a passar pela tempestade. Deixe as provações atuais impeli-lo pela tempestade e ajudá-lo a ser um apoio e bênção para outros, pois já esteve em seu lugar e sabe como é.

A dificuldade o fortalece. O que você considera dificuldade eu considero a sua glória. Quero aproximá-lo de Mim e confortá-lo. Quero encorajá-o e lhe dizer que estou muito orgulhoso de você por guardar a fé e permanecer fiel a Mim. Há muita dor na terra, mas grandes recompensas no céu. Há muito sacrifício na terra, mas grande glória no céu. Às vezes já confusão e dúvidas, mas um dia você Me verá face a face e conhecerá tudo plenamente, assim como é conhecido.[4]

Tenha coragem, e saiba que estou sempre aqui para você. Prometo que nunca permitirei que sucumba debaixo do fardo. Minha graça lhe bastará. Eu o farei sair vitorioso das tempestades e tribulações desta vida. Tenha bom ânimo, Eu venci o mundo!

Você sempre terá batalhas e problemas nesta vida, mas a vitória vem de simplesmente Me buscar. Confie em Mim e acredite, independente das circunstâncias nas quais se encontra, mesmo quando não entende. Lembre-se, se tu podes crer, tudo é possível ao que crê.[5]

Moisés não entendeu como Eu o ajudaria a atravessar o Mar Vermelho. Gideão não tinha a mínima idéia de como Eu o ajudaria a ganhar a batalha com apenas 300 homens. O conhecimento de Noé sobre embarcações era nulo; ele nem mesmo sabia o que era um barco, e levou 120 anos para descobrir. Ele não conseguia ver o quadro final quando começou a anotar as dimensões daquele navio. Não tinha a mínima ideia do que seria o resultado final. Ele simplesmente Me seguiu um dia de cada vez, um passo de cada vez. E recusou se render ou ceder perante as multidões que o escarneciam. Ele fixou os olhos em Mim e não os desviou. Foi assim que passou aqueles 120 longos anos — levando as coisas um dia de cada vez, apenas por fé.

Então aproveite ao máximo a sua vida na terra. Aprenda a considerar tudo uma alegria e uma honra quando passar por batalhas e provações.[6] Você pode superar. Você consegue. Chegou até aqui por fé, não desista. Continue em frente por Mim. Continue combatendo o bom combate da fé. Sei que você consegue.

*

Que Deus maravilhoso nós temos—Ele é o Pai do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, a fonte de toda a misericórdia, e aquele que tão maravilhosamente nos conforta e fortalece nas dificuldades e provações! E por que Ele faz isso? Para que, quando os outros estiverem aflitos, necessitados da nossa compaixão e do nosso estimulo, possamos transmitir-lhes essa mesma ajuda e esse mesmo consolo que Deus nos deu. Podem estar seguros de que, quanto mais suportarmos sofrimento por causa de Cristo, mais Ele derramara sobre nós o seu consolo e o seu incentivo.

Nós estamos em sérios apertos por levar a vocês o consolo e a salvação de Deus. Mas em nossa dificuldade Deus nos tem confortado—e isto, também, para ajudar vocês; para mostrar-lhes com a nossa experiência pessoal como Deus nos confortará ternamente quando suportarem estes mesmos sofrimentos. Ele lhes dará forças para aguentar.—2 Coríntios 1:3–7[7]

Publicado originalmente em março de 2007. Adaptado e republicado em junho de 2014. Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.


[1] Salmo 119:18, BV.
[2] Provérbios 25:11, SBB.
[3] João 16:33.
[4] 1 Coríntios 13:12.
[5] Marcos 9:23.
[6] Tiago 1:2.
[7] NTLH.

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Jesus É o nosso Consolo na Tristeza

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J. R. Miller

Muitas pessoas, mesmo acreditando na doutrina da ressurreição sofrem com a morte de um ente querido e se privam do consolo que essa perspectiva do futuro pode nos dar. Jesus assegurou a Marta que o seu irmão se levantaria dos mortos. “Eu sei. Ele vai ressuscitar no último dia”, disse ela sem esperança de que fosse acontecer naquele momento. O seu sentimento de perda superava qualquer outro. Marta ansiava estar na companhia do irmão que havia perdido. Todos que já perderam um amigo querido tiveram esse mesmo sentimento de não conseguir extrair consolo nessa esperança, mesmo acreditando firmemente na ressurreição dos mortos.

A resposta do Mestre ao coração faminto de Marta oferece um grande consolo. Ele disse: “Eu sou a ressurreição”. É uma afirmação maravilhosa que alimenta a fé do cristão. Para Marta, pensar na ressurreição era um consolo distante e anuviado. “Eu sou a ressurreição”, Jesus disse. A ressurreição era para aquele momento, não algo distante. Suas palavras abrangiam a bem-aventurada verdade da imortalidade: “Aquele que vive e crê em Mim nunca morrerá.” Para quem está em Cristo não existe morte. O corpo morre, mas a pessoa em si continua viva. A ressurreição se dará no futuro, mas não existe um intervalo na vida do crente. Jesus não está aqui, não O vemos nem ouvimos Sua voz, não podemos tocar Suas mãos, mas Ele continua vivendo, pensando, sentindo, lembrando e amando. A morte não extinguiu absolutamente nenhum poder que Ele possui, não esmaeceu a Sua beleza nem destruiu Sua capacidade.

Esse foi o consolo que Jesus deu em parte aos Seus amigos na hora do sofrimento. Ele lhes garantiu que, para o crente, não existe morte. Os que ficam sofrem a dor da separação e sentem falta de quem partiu, mas não precisamos ter receio algum quanto àquele que parte.

Como é que Jesus consola os amigos que ficam? A história da dor e sofrimento neste lar em Betânia nos revela a resposta. As pessoas dizem: “Ele ressuscitou aquele morto, portanto consolou a família porque desfez a obra da morte e da tristeza. Se Ele fizesse o mesmo agora, em todos os casos para aqueles que a Ele clamam, então o consolo seria real”. Mas devemos lembrar que a volta de Lázaro ao lar foi uma restauração temporária. Ele voltou à vida mortal, à tentação, doenças, dores e morte. — E apenas por um tempo. Não foi uma ressurreição para a vida imortal, apenas uma restauração da vida mortal. Ele teve que passar novamente pelo mistério da morte, e da segunda vez suas irmãs experimentaram a agonia da separação e sentiram falta dele. Na realidade, o que aconteceu é que a separação final só foi adiada.

Mas Jesus deu às irmãs o consolo verdadeiro, que vai além disso. A Sua presença era um consolo, pois sabiam que as amava. Muitas vezes antes de Lázaro morrer, Jesus entrara naquele lar e ali deixara a Sua bênção. Os três irmãos sentiam paz e segurança junto com Ele. E na ocasião, até mesmo a dor que sentiam ficou menos aguda quando se encontraram com Jesus. Com certeza o amor verdadeiro, forte e terno do ser humano pode nos consolar, e a companhia de um amigo de confiança nos ajuda a superar uma perda. Mas o crente pode suportar qualquer pesar se estiver na companhia de Jesus.

O problema é que muitas vezes nós não percebemos a presença do Mestre, mesmo Ele estando ao nosso lado, então deixamos de receber o consolo do Seu amor. Maria estava ao lado do túmulo vazio com o coração dilacerado, clamando ao Senhor, que a essa altura já estava atrás dela, mas despercebido. “Ela pensou que fosse o jardineiro.” Mas um momento ela ouviu o seu nome proferido em um tom de voz familiar. Jesus Se revelou a ela, e imediatamente a sua dor deu lugar à alegria. Assim nós, muitas vezes nos vemos nas profundezas da dor, ansiando por consolo e amor, sendo que Cristo está ao nosso lado, mais perto do que um amigo de carne e osso poderia estar. Devemos secar as lágrimas e contemplar a Sua face com fé, então o Seu maravilhoso amor inundará a nossa alma, e a dor será tragada por alegria plena. Não existe a mínima dúvida quanto à presença de Cristo nos nossos momentos difíceis. A única razão porque não somos consolados é porque não percebemos a Sua presença.

Outro elemento no consolo recebido por essas irmãs de luto foi a solidariedade de Jesus. Ele tratou a primeira, e depois a segunda, com muita gentileza. Maria sofria mais do que Marta, e quando Jesus a viu chorando, Ele gemeu no espírito e ficou perturbado. Vemos então o versículo mais curto da Bíblia, que nos revela o íntimo, o coração do Mestre, e a Sua impressionante empatia.

“Jesus chorou.” Nos momentos de sofrimento é um grande consolo ter alguém ao nosso lado, saber que alguém se importa, e divide a nossa dor. Teria sido um grande consolo se João, Pedro, ou Tiago, tivessem chorado com elas diante do túmulo do irmão. Mas as lágrimas do Mestre transmitiram uma mensagem inigualável. Foi uma demonstração do maior sentimento de empatia que o mundo já viu, o próprio filho de Deus chorando junto com duas irmãs, compartilhando de um momento de profunda dor humana.

Este versículo mais curto na Bíblia não foi apenas um complemento na narrativa, mas uma revelação dos sentimentos de Jesus que transcende as eras. Sempre que um crente sofre, Alguém está ao lado, sem ser visto, dividindo a sua dor. Não é possível dimensionar o consolo que se sente ao saber que o Filho de Deus partilha do nosso sofrimento, divide conosco nossas aflições, e tomou sobre Si as nossas enfermidades. Saber disso nos ajuda a suportar com mais tranquilidade os nossos problemas.

Existe outra maneira sugestiva de Cristo consolar Seus amigos. A empatia humana é um sentimento. Nossos amigos choram conosco, dizem que sentem muito, no entanto não podem fazer muito para efetivamente nos consolar. Mas a empatia de Jesus em Betânia teve caráter prático. Ele não só demonstrou o Seu carinho pelos amigos ao vir lá de Perea para lhes fazer companhia naquele momento; Ele não demonstrou o Seu amor apenas por meio de palavras divinas de consolo que marcaram o mundo positivamente, e não só chorou com elas naquele momento de dor, mas também realizou o maior de todos os Seus milagres para lhes devolver a alegria.

Sem dúvida, milhares de outros amigos de Jesus que estavam sofrendo desejaram receber o mesmo consolo na forma de ter a pessoa amada de volta ao convívio. Muitas vezes o Senhor faz isso em resposta à oração cheia de fé. Ele poupa a vida dos que nos são queridos e que aparentemente vão partir desta vida. Ao orarmos pela cura de um amigo doente, devemos pedir com aceitação, e sempre terminar dizendo, “não seja feita a minha vontade, mas a Tua”. Conseguimos conter até mesmo o nosso grande desejo e carinho pela pessoa, no sossego e na confiança da fé. Se não for o melhor para o nosso amado, se não seria uma verdadeira bênção, se não é como Deus quer agir, então, “seja feita a Tua vontade”. Se assim orarmos, devemos acreditar que, qualquer que seja a questão ou situação, o resultado será o que Deus achar melhor. Se nossos amigos forem levados desta vida, encontraremos um consolo inexprimível na certeza de que foi a vontade de Deus. Se eles se recuperarem, então Cristo vai devolvê-los a nós, como devolveu Lázaro a Marta e Maria.

É importante entendermos claramente a questão da dor e do pesar, para que, na hora do sofrimento, possamos receber a bênção e não ficarmos sofrendo com a experiência. Deus faz com que todo pesar na nossa vida resulte em algo positivo. Jesus Cristo possui uma fonte inesgotável de consolo, basta abrirmos o coração para receber. Dessa forma passaremos pela situação difícil apoiados pelo auxílio e amor divinos, e ao final da experiência estaremos com o caráter mais forte e a vida mais abençoada. Nossos pesares determinam lições para nós, e deveríamos procurar diligentemente assimilar o que o Mestre deseja nos ensinar. Toda dor inclui também a semente da bênção, e deveríamos nos certificar de dar a essa semente a oportunidade de crescer para podermos colher resultados. Toda lágrima esconde um arco-íris, mas só quando o sol brilha sobre a gota cristalina é que o esplendor se torna visível.

Trechos adaptados de The Ministry of Comfort (Hodder & Stoughton, 1901). Publicado no Âncora, em outubro 2013. Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli.

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Weeping With Gang Members:How God used my vulnerability to soften the toughest.

Link By Paco Amador
Eight years ago, when I became a full-time pastor, I could never have imagined how many tears I would shed over people—or how God would use those tears.

A good friend who has pastored for almost three decades in one of the most violent neighborhoods in our country introduced me to what he calls "Jesus' ministry of tears." "Coach," as everyone knows him, is one of the most vulnerable pastors I know. "A week does not go by in which I do not weep aloud with people at their brokenness," he told me.

Our church is in Little Village on Chicago's west side. It is the largest Mexican community in the Midwest. We also have the youngest demographic in the city. Unfortunately, many of our young neighbors end up involved in gangs and victims of the violence that comes with it.
Touching lepers

One afternoon I was invited to lead a prayer vigil for a young man who had been gunned down by the rival gang. As I made my way to the house where I would join the family who had lost their son, I noticed a large group of young people—many apparently gang members—were walking that way as well. Feelings of fear and doubt started creeping up my spine. "Where are they going?" I wondered. "Was something dangerous happening around the corner?" Turning the corner I realized they too were headed to the vigil. They were joining with me to honor and mourn their fallen friend.

Matthew tells us that when Jesus sent the 12 on their preaching assignment, he told them, "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near'" (10:7). In the very next sentence, he prescribes the actions that should accompany their preaching: "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons." It's difficult to cleanse lepers without touching them. For healing, proximity is required. Preaching alone does not fully demonstrate the kingdom—it must be accompanied by immersion in people's lives, by touching them, like Jesus did.
No one in our neighborhood fits the "leper" profile better than gang-involved youth. People literally cross the street to avoid them.

No one in our neighborhood fits the "leper" profile better than gang-involved youth. People literally cross the street to avoid any contact with these young people. It takes a deep change of heart for most people to realize that these kids are not only loved by God, but that they are also our kids.

A large crowd of young people had already gathered around the sidewalk where I would be praying. I made a beeline to one of the few people I recognized. Matt was one of the organizers of the prayer vigil. "What should I do? What should I say?" I asked him.

I felt fearful and inadequate. What could I say to these young people whose lives were so radically different from anything I had ever experienced? What if they rejected me? "You don't know what it's like to be in our shoes," they might say. "Just say your prayer and shut up."

Yet they had gathered for this prayer vigil. I had to believe that somehow, in this moment, heaven would meet earth.

Amid my fears, I prayed silently, "Jesus, what do you want me to do here?"

As I looked out over the crowd, I realized most of these scary-looking gang members were just kids, mostly in their mid or late teens, with some in their twenties. I was old enough to be their father. They had surely been told repeatedly by authority figures how wrong their actions were and how foolish gang activity was. But as I looked at these hurting teenagers, I wondered,What would the king say to these young people? I felt a burning deep within my soul to give them grace.
As the words poured from my lips, I could not control myself.I began to weep. I wept bitterly.

After introducing myself and stating the purpose for our gathering, I asked permission to speak from my heart. "Since most of you are half my age, I am the age of your fathers. Would you allow me to address you on behalf of your fathers?" All eyes focused intently on me. There was no stopping then. "I know you have heard plenty of times that this back and forth violence in our neighborhood is complete nonsense. You have heard it at school, at home, and by the many people with authority over you. You've been told how destructive gang behavior is."

Then I stared into their eyes and said some of the most frightening words I have ever spoken on the streets of our community.

"But today, on behalf of your dads, I want to say to you what should have been said a long time ago. My son, my daughter, would you forgive me for not being there for you when you were little? Will you forgive me for not being there when you took your first steps, said your first words? Will you forgive me for not being there to throw the ball around when you when were young? Will you forgive me for leaving you when you most needed me? Will you forgive me?"

As the words poured from my lips, I could not control myself. I began to weep. I wept bitterly. Tears ran freely down my cheeks. I had not planned to cry. I was making a fool of myself, completely exposed and emotionally naked in front of this hardened crowd of gang members. But to my surprise many of them responded in kind. They too began to weep.

Something special happened in that moment. A fearful pastor was becoming the conduit of heaven's tears. It was sacred. Jesus was there.

A similar event happened many years earlier when Jesus was overwhelmed with compassion for another city. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem," he cried. "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings … " (Matt. 23:37). Longing to reach his lost children, it's natural for a father to weep.

There are many who weep in my city, but that day I realized that we pastors have been given the special privilege to weep for our cities. We are called to weep on heaven's behalf. We are called to become fools for the sake of the king, to share in Jesus' ministry of tears, and to mourn with those who mourn.
Fruitful tears

My vulnerability that day was completely unplanned, but God had a purpose behind it. My uncontrollable tears, and the crying it provoked among the young people at the vigil, opened a door that I never could have opened through my own cleverness.

Following the gathering I was able to develop a deeper connection with many of the gang members. They opened up to me. They trusted me even though I had no credibility in their world. I had not shared their gang background or lived through the same experiences. But my vulnerability at the vigil had given me credibility in the neighborhood. I hadn't shared their life, but I had shared their pain. As a result my preconceived ideas about them changed. God gave me a love for these young men I had not experienced before, and God gave them a pastor.

Many of us want a closer connection with the people we minister to. We want them to trust us, to seek us for help or guidance, and to be honest about their struggles and pain. But we should not expect others to be open if we are not open first. As pastors we must model for our communities the vulnerability and transparency we desire from them. I discovered that doing this took more courage than I possess. It took a courage that comes only from Jesus being with me.

Jesus' most frequent command to the disciples was, "Be not afraid," and it was closely linked to his most important promise, "I will always be with you." I feared looking like a fool in front of those tough, dangerous gang members. I was worried about my image and my reputation. I imagine it is a fear shared by many others in church leadership even when they're not surrounded by a street gang. I found the courage to overcome my fear only when I was overwhelmed by the presence of Jesus and his love for these hurting, broken young people.

Since then I've been on a journey of self-forgetfulness. I'm learning to accept that being a pastor means being a fool. I'm learning to trust Jesus more and abandon my desire to be seen by others in a certain way. And I'm learning that the best ministry doesn't happen because I've devised a great plan or calculated an outcome. The best ministry happens when in my fear I pray, "Jesus, what do you want me to do here?"

Paco Amador is a pastor at New Life Little Village in Chicago, Illinois.

Copyright © 2013 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.
Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.

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Like the Syrians, I fled my country. Here’s what you don’t understand about refugees.

By Mikra Krasniqi, Washington Post, September 18, 2015
Mikra Krasniqi is a writer who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In much of America, Syrian refugees are seen as threats, not victims. In February, the House Homeland Security Committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), said that accepting Syrians would create a “federally funded jihadi pipeline” to the United States. In June, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) called a hearing on the issue, arguing that terrorist groups might use refugee programs “to carry out attacks in Europe and America.” Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina has agreed, warning that we have to be “very careful about who we let enter this country.”

These arguments fundamentally misunderstand what it means to be a refugee. Abandoning your home during wartime is not a choice or a political opportunity. It’s a survival instinct, a frantic attempt to protect yourself and your children from violence, starvation or death.

This is a reality I know only too well. Sixteen years ago, I was forced to flee Kosovo after the Serbian military burned my house to the ground. That experience taught me just how desperate life can be for a refugee and how important it is to treat asylum seekers with kindness and grace.

The war in Kosovo began in the spring of 1998, but sporadic fighting between the Kosovo Liberation Army and the Serbian military started much earlier. In 1990, Serbia stripped Kosovo Albanians of their political rights and occupied their institutions. In response, the KLA attacked Serbian-run police stations and army bases; eventually they seized control of entire towns.

The Serbians retaliated with a full-scale assault on Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians. Over a couple of months, they forced some 850,000 to flee the country; thousands more were displaced internally. Endless lines of refugees poured over the borders into neighboring Albania and Macedonia. It was one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since World War II.

At the time, I was 22, living in a small Albanian town just southwest of Kosovo’s capital. Though my family and I worried that we’d be targeted by the Serbs, we stayed. We hoped the war would end before it reached us. And besides, we had nowhere else to go.

We wished in vain. One afternoon in early April, I heard gunshots outside my parents’ house. I dashed through the door to find a dozen uniformed, masked men clutching Kalashnikovs. Grenades and knives were strapped to their hips. They summoned me over and marched me, guns to my back, toward the town square. As my friends and neighbors looked on, the soldiers began pummeling my body with the butt ends of their rifles. One pressed the barrel of his gun against my chest.

I prepared to die. But a commotion in the crowd distracted the soldier before he pulled the trigger. He turned away, and in the chaos that ensued, I sneaked behind a brick wall. Eventually, I was found by some neighbors, who carried me to my family.

We loaded ourselves into a trailer with about 25 other people and started out of town with just the clothes on our backs. We had no choice: By late afternoon, hundreds of Serbian soldiers had infiltrated our town of 1,000. They lit homes on fire and shoved people into trucks at gunpoint. Their message to us was clear: Leave.

Over the next 10 hours, our caravan of cars and trucks wove its way through a landscape of torched towns and villages. Serbian paramilitaries set up checkpoints along the road, robbing people of cash, jewelry and whatever other possessions they deemed worthy of pillage. They assaulted drivers, throwing rocks and shooting at them. Once, I watched soldiers drag a screaming woman out of her car. I don’t know what became of her.

When we reached the checkpoint just before the Albanian border, a large group of Serbian paramilitaries was waiting for us. Though it was pitch black, we listened as they approached each vehicle and ordered riders to give up their ID cards, passports, birth certificates–everything that gave us a legal claim to Kosovo.

In Albania, we were welcomed into a 1,400-person refugee camp run by Caritas Spain. For 10 weeks, we slept in overcrowded tents, ate canned food and sweated through scorching temperatures. I became an insomniac and spent hours wandering alone at night through an alien landscape of endless canvas cones. I heard people sobbing in the dark.

Though we were finally out of danger, I felt depressed, heartbroken, hopeless. Without the constant distraction of war, I could obsess over the violence I’d faced, the traumas I’d endured. They haunted me. And I struggled to imagine what tomorrow could possibly hold. As a refugee, I had nothing. Where would I be resettled? What would I do? How would I make a living? My future was entirely in somebody else’s hands. That uncertainty only fueled my despair.

But there were also moments of grace. One day, I took my little cousin to the makeshift hospital inside the camp. Spain’s prime minister, José María Aznar, was visiting. We shook hands, and I expressed my gratitude to him. With moist eyes, he looked up at my bruised face and then embraced me and my cousin. That day, I learned that refugees need more than food, safety and shelter. They need people who will listen to the stories of loss, people who can offer not only kindness but also empathy and understanding.

In July 1999, my family and I returned to Kosovo. I worked for the United Nations for a few years, then moved to the United States on a student visa. I stayed to finish college, earn two graduate degrees and start a family.

The Syrian conflict is much larger and more complex than the crisis in Kosovo. An estimated 9 million Syrians have fled their homes since 2011, when the war began. Of the 4 million refugees registered with the United Nations, 1.6 million are children under the age of 11; 708,000 are 4 years old or younger.

We had other advantages, too. The Kosovars were welcomed to Albania–thousands of families offered to host refugees in their homes. We shared a language and a culture. The Syrians, on the other hand, face angry officials, threats of arrest and a rash of hostility from border countries.

Still, as I watch news reports chronicling asylum seekers’ desperate boat trips to Europe, I’m struck not by our differences but by our similarities. I hear men and women speak of the amorphous trauma of leaving home behind. I see children, smiling and playful despite the chaos of war. And I catch glimmers of hope amid the despair.

The loss of a home is a near-impossible burden. Europeans and Americans must do everything they can to make the Syrian refugees feel safe and welcome.

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Whoopi Goldberg Says There’s “Nothing in the Bible About Abortion!”

From: Link

The hosts of The View on Tuesday ranted about Catholicism, the Pope and his visit to America. Whoopi Goldberg, offering her thoughts on the faith, complained about Pope Francis discussing abortion: “Well, there’s nothing in the Book that says anything about abortion. Let’s make sure of that. The Ten Commandments are the Ten Commandments. There’s only ten.”

One might argue she forgot the Sixth Commandment: “Thou shall not kill.” Apparently, starring as a nun in Sister Act made Goldberg an expert. The entertainer attempted to explain why some conservatives have issues with the current Pope: “The objection to him, if I may, is that people feel, or some of the staunch Catholics feel that he’s too loose….If you’re gay, God hates you. They want to keep that going.”

Speaking of Pope Francis, Joy Behar sneered, “No matter how compassionate he is, he still follows the rules of the church, anti-choice, anti-birth control, anti-divorce. Women can’t be in the priesthood.”

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It was left to new host — and practicing Christian —- Paula Faris to say of Francis: “He’s still standing by his values because he doesn’t think those change. They don’t change with the wind, like the culture does. He’s doing it with compassion.”

As to Goldberg’s claim about the Bible, there’s also Job 31:15: “Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?” and Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

A partial transcript of the September 22 View segment is below:

[Discussing Pope Francis.]

JOY BEHAR: What is the objection to him?

WHOOPI GOLDBERG: The objection to him, if I may, is that people feel, or some of the staunch Catholics feel that he’s too loose. They want to keep it — if you’re a divorced person you can’t get any sacraments. If you’re gay, God hates you. They want to keep that going and I think his feeling is, like, “You’re missing the point. We are a religion that is supposed to be about forgiveness and understanding. If we’re always pointing the figurer and say you don’t matter and you don’t matter, you don’t matter, petty soon won’t nobody matter.

BEHAR: So, when they insinuate religion —

PAULA FARIS: But I still think— I think the overarching word and one word to describe this Pope is compassionate. He still stands about his convictions. He still says the Bible is the same yesterday, today and forever. It does not change and most Christians believe that. The culture can change, our belief system can change. But the one thing that doesn’t change is the word of God. But the way you approach it with Christianity is compassion. And they’ll know your Christians by your love for one another.

…

BEHAR: No matter how compassionate he is, he still follows the rules of the church, anti-choice, anti-birth control, anti-divorce. Women can’t be in the priesthood.

…
FARIS: Joy, I want to come back. You said he’s still pro-life and you listed a couple of other things. But don’t you think what makes him so unique? He’s still standing by his values because he doesn’t think those change. They don’t change with the wind like the culture does. He’s doing it with compassion.

GOLDBERG: Well, there’s nothing in the Book that says anything about abortion. Let’s make sure of that. The Ten Commandments are the Ten Commandments. There’s only ten. Only ten.

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Fundamentos Inabaláveis

Link
Hannah Whitall Smith

“... do que pode ser abalado, isto é, coisas criadas, de forma que permaneça o que não pode ser abalado.”[1]

Imagino que todos nós concordamos que, para podermos nos sentir consolados e em paz, devemos nos firmar em fundamentos inabaláveis.

Existem ocasiões quando sentimos que a nossa fé está tão firme e irremovível quanto uma cordilheira de montanhas. Em algum momento tudo começa a ficar de pernas para o ar; nossos fundamentos se abalam e desmoronam. A vontade é de nos desesperarmos. Questionamos se vamos conseguir sequer perseverar na fé. Às vezes as mudanças ocorrem em circunstâncias externas, outras vezes é uma experiência interna. Se a nossa segurança é o fato de servirmos fielmente a Deus, muitas vezes o Senhor tem que retirar toda a força que nos capacita para a obra, ou todas as oportunidades, para a nossa alma poder se deslocar daquele local de falso repouso e ter apenas o Senhor em quem se apoiar.

Às vezes, nós nos apoiamos nas boas sensações ou emoções de uma vida piedosa, então a alma tem que ser privada desses elementos para poder aprender a se apoiar apenas em Deus.

Existem ocasiões quando ocorre uma reviravolta nas circunstâncias externas. Tudo parece firmemente estabelecido a ponto de nem cogitarmos um possível desastre. Nossa reputação está garantida, nosso trabalho próspero, nosso empenho rendeu sucesso além da nossa expectativa, e a nossa alma está descansada. A necessidade que sentimos por Deus corre o risco de se tornar algo isolado e vago. Então o Senhor tem que dar um basta. A nossa prosperidade desmorona como uma casa construída na areia, e o nosso primeiro pensamento é de que Deus está bravo conosco. Mas na realidade é amor, terno amor, e raiva. Jesus, no Seu amor, retira toda a prosperidade exterior que impede a nossa alma de fazer uma imersão no reino espiritual interior que tanto ansiamos.

Paulo declarou que contava todas as coisas perda para que pudesse ganhar a Cristo. Quando nós pudermos ecoar essas palavras, passaremos a possuir permanentemente a paz e alegria que o Evangelho nos promete.

Os antigos místicos ensinavam a doutrina do “desapegar”, significando que a alma devia se desapegar de tudo o que a afastasse de Deus. A razão por que ocorrem muitos desses “abalos” na nossa vida é justamente pela necessidade de nos desligarmos do mundo. Não é possível seguir plenamente a Deus se estamos presos a outras coisas, da mesma forma que um barco jamais chegará ao alto mar enquanto suas amarras estiverem no cais.

Para chegarmos à “cidade que tem fundamentos”, devemos sair como Abraão, deixar outras cidades e nos desligarmos de todas as amarras terrenas. Tudo na vida de Abraão que podia ser abalado passou por mudanças. Nós, como Abraão, procuramos uma cidade com fundamentos, cujo artífice e construtor é Deus. O Salmista aprendeu isso, e depois de muitos abalos na sua vida, afirmou: “Descanse somente em Deus, ó minha alma; dele vem a minha esperança. Somente ele é a rocha que me salva; ele é a minha torre alta! Não serei abalado! A minha salvação e a minha honra de Deus dependem; ele é a minha rocha firme, o meu refúgio.”

Ele finalmente chegou ao ponto em que Deus era tudo na sua vida, e então aprendeu que Deus bastava.

O mesmo acontece conosco. Quando tudo em nossa vida e experiências que pode ser abalado passa por reviravoltas, e apenas o inabalável permanece em pé, percebemos que Deus é a nossa única rocha e alicerce, e aprendemos a contar apenas com Ele.

“Por isso não temeremos, embora a terra trema e os montes afundem no coração do mar, embora estrondem as suas águas turbulentas e os montes sejam sacudidos pela sua fúria... Deus nela está! Não será abalada! Deus vem em seu auxílio desde o romper da manhã.

“Não será abalada” — que declaração mais inspiradora! Será possível que nós, tão facilmente abalados pelas circunstâncias, conseguimos chegar a um ponto em que nada nos perturba ou tira a nossa calma? É possível, e o apóstolo Paulo bem sabia. Quando ele estava a caminho de Jerusalém, previu “ligaduras e aflições”, disse vitoriosamente: “Mas nada disso me abala”.

Tudo que podia ser abalado na vida de Paulo teve uma reviravolta, a tal ponto que ele não tinha mais amor por suas posses ou nada na sua vida. Se conseguirmos deixar Deus agir conosco como Ele deseja, talvez cheguemos a esse ponto em que os imprevistos ou as grandes e difíceis provações na nossa vida não nos farão temer nem tremer, ou tirar a nossa paz que sobrepassa todo o entendimento. Então teremos aprendido a nos apoiarmos apenas em Deus.

Adaptado do texto The God of All Comfort, de Hannah Whitall Smith (1832–1911). Publicado no Âncora em maio 2014. Tradução Hebe Rondon Flandoli.


[1] Hebreus 12:27.

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Engaging Our Societies

A compilation
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Audio length: 10:14
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Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.—Acts 17:16–171

*

The effectiveness of Paul’s evangelism was not just a consequence of divine calling, but also of careful planning. An important principle he applied to his listeners was to teach what is unknown by means of what is known. If our attempts to communicate something new begin with the unfamiliar, we will almost certainly confuse our listeners and leave them disinterested. But if we start with what is already familiar and carefully build a bridge to the unfamiliar, we are likely to gain interest and understanding.

Paul looked for a common platform on which he could build a bridge that would take his listeners from their familiar territory to the unfamiliar truths of the Gospel. … In the one recorded Scripture of Paul preaching in a synagogue, he connects with his Jewish hearers by addressing them as ‘children of Abraham’, and begins to talk about the dramatic deliverance from Egypt under Moses, all very familiar territory to them. To a group of women in Philippi, worshipping a God they didn’t know, Paul joins them and introduces a positive message about a God they could know. To the pagans of Lystra, he finds common ground in creation, and how a living God sustains it all, putting food on their tables and joy in their hearts. To Greek philosophers in Athens, he refers to futile attempts of men to express God in terms of gold, silver and stone, and tactfully leads them to a God who gives life and breath.

When reaching people for Christ, our starting point should be in the thinking, culture and presuppositions of our hearers, so that we first get into their territory. Then, like Paul, tactfully building that bridge that will lead them to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Charles Price

*

Jesus indicated that our problem is heart trouble. The greatest need of our great cities at this moment is evangelism. The apostle Paul stood in the heart of pagan, secular, immoral, and violent Corinth and said, “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks [Gentiles] foolishness, but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”2 The proclamation of the Gospel is still the desperate need of men today. We are never going to reverse the moral trends without a spiritual awakening, and we are never going to have a spiritual awakening until the cross of Jesus Christ is central in all our teaching, preaching and practice.—Billy Graham

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Many sincere Christians everywhere find themselves in situations where the Lord leads them to invest more time in building relationships with people, in being willing to be patient as they live their faith, witness as the Lord leads them, and wait for the fruit to come in God’s time. As the “salt of the earth,” the Lord is putting more of us in situations where we can build relationships, friendships, and give a more in-depth witness over time, which will allow people to discover the truth and the Lord’s Spirit for themselves as a result of seeing it lived before their eyes by faithful Christians.

Many past methods of reaching people still work. Of course, much depends on individuals and their needs, as well as the culture and mores of the society you’re in. In general, however, the world has become more skeptical, and more people are looking for “proof” and have a need to be fully persuaded before accepting spiritual concepts. Your example and your interactions with them can go a long way toward convincing them that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus is the ultimate businessman. Nothing in His creation is squandered, from the tiniest molecule to the greatest star. So if He places you somewhere, He will bring people across your path who need you.

If you’ve been discouraged and thinking that your efforts to share your faith are not accomplishing much, look again. Your words and example of His love shining through you can convince others of the truth of His love and power in ways that will cut through the skepticism and unbelief that is so prevalent today. Your actions, words, and love for others can cut through the darkness of this world to reach those who need the truth.

Whatever situation you may find yourself in, God can raise up opportunities for you to be a force for good. They may be visible and far-reaching, or they may be less visible and small, but He has promised that if we are seeking, He will help us to find.3 The Holy Spirit is always working, always guiding people in their search for happiness, in their search for “the unknown God.”4 He wants to become known to them, and you can be the instrument He uses to help them to make that connection.—Maria Fontaine

*

The Great Commission gives every Christian the privilege and responsibility of preaching the Good News until the end of history: “Go and make disciples of all nations.”5 Every Christian alive today is linked, through a complex chain of historical events, with this pivotal moment. Each of us has a family tree of faith reaching back into the mists of time. Down the ages, like runners in a great relay race of history, others have passed this Good News from one generation to another. And now the baton has been handed to us. It’s our turn.

We have been entrusted with passing on the Good News to those around and beyond us. It is an exciting thought. For a start, it helps us to see how we fit into the bigger picture. Yet for many it is also a rather challenging thought. It seems too big a demand. Are we really up for this? How can we cope with such a weighty responsibility? It is important to realize that Christians have always felt overwhelmed by the challenges of passing on our faith. We feel that we lack the wisdom, insight, and strength to do this—and we are right to feel so. But we must appreciate that God knows us, exactly as we are.6He knows our deepest secrets, our strengths, and our weaknesses. And God is able to work in us and through us to speak to the world for which Christ died.—Alister E. McGrath

*

Daniel did not protest as an observer outside the system: he protested as a participant. It is important to bear this in mind, not least when we hear the term “apocalyptic literature” being used in connection with the book of Daniel. This description tends to conjure up the idea of some wild and irrational prophet of doom, warning people to flee society, barricade themselves like monks or hermits against the world and await the imminent, all-engulfing cataclysm that marks the end of history. Well, if that is what “apocalyptic” means, it clearly does not apply to Daniel or his friends. We do not deny that Daniel has much to say about the future in his book, some of it bleak in its implications. But, far from leading him to run away from society and responsibility, the revelation he had of the future led him to live a very full professional life at the highest levels of administration in the empire. Daniel’s understanding of God did not lead to his developing a ghetto mentality but to taking a full and prominent part in the life of Babylon.—John Lennox

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True holiness does not mean a flight from the world; rather, it lies in the effort to incarnate the Gospel in everyday life, in the family, at school and at work, and in social and political involvement.—Pope John Paul II

*

The word evangelism often stirs strong and conflicting emotions, even for the follower of Christ. Engaging with others in this seemingly daunting task may incite enthusiasm as well as discomfort. Yet one thing is certain, as article four of the Lausanne Covenant recognizes: “Our Christian presence in the world is indispensable to evangelism, and so is that kind of dialogue whose purpose is to listen sensitively in order to understand. But evangelism itself is the proclamation of the historical, biblical Christ as Savior and Lord, with a view to persuading people to come to him personally and so be reconciled to God.” As such, evangelism done properly will awaken a sense of need within the hearer, and more importantly, evangelism done persuasively will show that if Christianity is true, it will provide an answer to that need. Christ must be seen not only to be the answer: His words must also be seen to be true.—Ravi Zacharias

*

“Ye are the salt of the earth.”7 Salt makes one thirsty. Does your life make others thirsty for the water of life?—Billy Graham

Published on Anchor September 2015. Read by Carol Andrews.

Footnotes:
1 ESV.
2 1 Corinthians 1:23–24 KJV.
3 Matthew 7:7–8.
4 Acts 17:23.
5 Matthew 28:18–20 NIV.
6 Psalm 139.
7 Matthew 5:13 KJV.

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