08252018 God's Love

Dear Missionary Lady,

Sometimes life passes through particularly challenging stages, and sometimes those challenges are not even extraordinarily difficult. The hard times of life don't have to be rooted in a family emergency, a medical crisis, an overwhelming setback, or a serious threat. Though we may be a little ashamed to admit it, sometimes the most difficult times stem simply from an accumulation or a convergence of multiple factors that in themselves are really not that significant.

For example, disappointing setbacks come in areas where we thought we were making progress. Friends cancel plans, or just completely forget about something they were going to do. An intended helpful evaluation is worded too strongly and comes across as a harsh criticism. Needs or burdens are overlooked by others. Attempts to minister to others are rebuffed. An area of ministry we had always enjoyed disappears.

Taken one at a time, such factors might cause brief disappointment or manageable pain. Taken together, the burden can be more oppressive and have lingering effect. We live in weak human bodies and are susceptible to grief, disappointment, and pain; naturally, we are affected when difficulties come.

Paul knew something about this. He wrote, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). Granted, the struggles he faced were greater in magnitude than what most of us will ever face, but what he is talking about here is the combination of assaults from every side. He is describing the crushing oppression of multiplied trials.

The Bible has so much help for times like these, and there are many helpful directions in which we could lead our thoughts. One of my favorites is to think about the love of God. The love of God is by no means limited to providing salvation. Thank God, it includes that! But God continues to love us every day throughout our entire lives. As His children, He cares deeply for our needs. So when we are in a time of struggle, disappointment, and pain, - when we particularly want someone to care - He does.

I habitually sing this simple song to myself:

"Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so."

Because it is so familiar, this song doesn't require a high level of concentration, making it is easy to sing even while in the midst of handling tasks and living life. I often sing it over and over, letting its truth calm and comfort me. The fact that it is considered a children's song and talks about "little ones" doesn't bother me. In fact, I change the words to match my situation. I might sing "lonely ones" or "hurting ones" or "older ones." Whatever words we might fill in - "busy moms" or "serving ones" - the song is still true. We belong to Him, we are weak, and He loves us.

Another favorite of mine, "Loved With Everlasting Love," is a little more complex, but reminds me of the same powerful truth.

"Loved with everlasting love, Led by grace that love to know;

Spirit, breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His and He is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green –

Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen.
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, Flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms Cannot now disturb my rest,
Closed in everlasting arms, Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here, Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear – I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss, Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heaven and earth may fade and flee, First born light in gloom decline,
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine."

God loves me. I belong to Him. His love makes everything better. His love can carry me through any struggle. His arms will hold me and His words will speak to me. This wonderful love will never end and will never fail.

These songs are so helpful because the central truth comes straight from the Bible. "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love" (John 15:9). "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:16).

When we rest in God's love, we can go on. Our situation may still be difficult, as Paul's was, but it will not be impossible. God's power can work through us to accomplish His plans. What you do today matters for eternity, and God's love will help you do it even when life is challenging.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com

08182018 Every People

Dear Missionary Lady,

Are there hard people groups to reach with the gospel? Are there impossible groups? Are there mission fields that are just too hardened to receive any gospel impact?

The answer to the first question is "Yes," but, of course, the answer to the second and third questions is "No." It might seem that way though. From an American mindset, with the acts of terrorism and the hype about Muslim inroads and potential takeover of society, there seems to be some skepticism or even pessimism that Muslim people can be reached - either here in our country or in the regions of the world where they dominate. It seems that Muslims are so deeply and so fanatically entrenched in an ideology that is so utterly opposed to Christianity that there is no hope for them.

My pastor just returned from a trip to the Netherlands, where he was ministering in an Arabic church. The members are primarily Syrian and Iraqi immigrants and refugees - people who have relocated due to war or other reasons. Many of them have passed through difficult times and hard challenges, but somewhere along the line, they got saved. These "hopeless" people heard the gospel and embraced it, and they are now redeemed - part of God's family and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Two of you ladies are working in Muslim-dominated countries. You have seen these stories happen over and over again - God's work of redemptive grace. You know of dozens of men (close to 200, if I remember correctly) who are training and preparing to reach their own people with the gospel. One of my friends is at this moment on a trip to an African country with a strong Islamic influence - another "hopeless" location. But in the past year that a new medical clinic has been in operation, many thousands of people have heard the gospel, and nine have been gloriously saved.

No people group is impossible to reach. God is "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). God has people everywhere that He is drawing to Himself. Does that include Muslim countries? Yes. Does that include Catholic countries? Yes. Does that include countries dominated by animism or any other false religion? Yes. Does that include secular countries that think they no longer need God? Yes. Does it include countries that are so refined and advanced that they think they can improve on their own? Yes. It includes rural areas that are still unreached, and it includes urban areas ridden with poverty and crime. It includes young and old, rich and poor, powerful and insignificant, educated and ignorant. God can reach all of them.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

You know this. You are there. You have seen it happen. You have been involved in God's work of sharing the gospel, and you have seen people saved and lives changed.

Those stories may not happen every day. You might go for weeks or months without seeing anyone saved, but it does happen. I think of the stories of pioneering missionaries - those who opened new countries to the gospel. Some of them worked for years without ever seeing a convert. Some lost their lives without ever seeing any fruit. That doesn't mean God wasn't working through them. Their labors were part of His plan, and gradually people were saved, churches were started, and lives were changed.

From time to time, it seems there are countries where God does a tremendous work in a very short amount of time - when there are widespread conversions of large percentages of the population. Those situations are exciting, but they are not the normal. In most cases, the work is much more gradual, but it does happen. What you do today matters for eternity. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9).

If you don't see scores of new converts, faithful growth of new Christians, or establishment of new churches, be patient. Endure. God is doing His work, and He will continue doing it for His honor and His glory. Some day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, some to the mighty God they had never acknowledged before, and some to the God whose love and salvation they have embraced. Many of those converted people will be from hard countries, "hopeless" people groups, and "impossible" cultures. God can call them, and God can save them.

God is saving Muslims and Catholics. He is saving those caught up in animism and syncretism. He is saving those mired in secular humanism and those deceived by dead denominations. He is saving atheists and agnostics. No one is beyond the reach of God's love or of His power to save.

"Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9). May God help you this week to make progress in reaching the particular people to whom He has called you to present His gospel.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com

08122018 God Exceeds Expectations

Dear Missionary Lady,

Sorry I wasn't able to write last week. I needed to evaluate some feedback together with my pastor's help, and he was unfortunately out of the country. Please know that I was still thinking of you and praying for you.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

God has some pretty amazing power. The Bible particularly highlights God's power in the creation of the world and in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If God can do those things, He can certainly manage the details of our lives.

What makes God's power even more astounding is that He can do things that we can't even think of or imagine. I am reminded of the Israelites as they were fleeing Egypt, trapped between a powerful army and an immense sea. All they could imagine was their imminent destruction - or perhaps a return to slavery under what would most likely be harsher conditions than before.

As the Israelites feared death, Moses spoke unexpected words of hope from God. "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever" (Exodus 14:13). And we know what happened next - something truly awesome that none of those people would have ever expected to see.

When I was preparing to go to Mexico, my plans were pretty small. I hoped to find a missionary family to help, both in their church work and in the education of their children. As I visited churches, a certain family was mentioned to me over and over again. Finally, one pastor helped me to meet up with them. This family was involved in an MK school, which is where I ended up going. It still was not a huge place of service, but God unexpectedly took my plans and multiplied them. Instead of helping a single family, I was able to help many families.

I expect your story is the same, though different. Different in that the specific facts will vary, but the same in that the same powerful God worked out a plan for you that you would not have imagined. Perhaps opportunities and openings for service that you wouldn't even have thought of. My childhood pastor once said that God "has a very wonderful way of bringing His laborers and their tasks together." And when God has done that for you, it provides a lasting sense of wonder, stability, and encouragement, because you know that God arranged it all. You know that you are in a place of service that God specially designed and orchestrated.

I trust that God will continue to direct you each day and each year as you continue in His service. Maybe that will be through doors that currently seem stubbornly shut. Maybe that will be into new areas of service that you haven't yet considered. For sure, it will be the power of God that directs it all. What you do today matters for eternity, and God will use the avenues of service that He has arranged for you to accomplish His good work through you.

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

As always, please don't feel pressured or obligated to respond. My desire is to be a blessing, not a burden.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
Archived letters can be found at www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com

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