Little Trouble in Big China
My mother-in-law teaches English in China and one of the books she uses to do this is the Bible. Sometime this weekend they found a burnt Bible on their doorstep. Underneath that Bible was a threatening letter demanding (with much profanity) that they leave China. They’re not worried, but understandably, my wife is.
This morning while browsing Facebook I ran across the standard Monday morning sentiments. “It’s Monday again, blah, when’s Friday going to get here?” Since I’m in a rare mood for morning (I’m NOT a morning person, at all) I felt the need to seek out some familiar scripture to express my appreciation for the day. (This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24) What I found as I read the full chapter was something that applied very well to the situation in China, so I felt the need to post it in its entirety here.
Psalm 118
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes.All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD,
Through which the righteous shall enter.I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
God is the LORD,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
(Emphasis Mine)
I would like to request your prayers, not only for the safety of our family overseas, but that we may obtain peace in the face of worry.
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Sep 14 2009 @ 12:23 pm
So many Chinese people (and mostly the government) hate Christianity. I’ll be praying for your mother-in-law!
Who ever said that the church isn’t physically persecuted today? There is some pretty intense stuff happening in China. It’s so great to know that when God’s on our side, no one can ever take from us the most important things! Thanks for the scripture. I’ll be praying for your mother-in-law.