Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the omnipresent God! He is with
every one of us, in every corner of the world, all at the same time. We are
never without His presence. One of the Bible's strongest applications of God's
presence is that we should not fear.
I recently came across this poem by E. H. Hamilton. He wrote
it after co-missionary J. W. Vinson was killed by rebel soldiers in China. As
Vinson faced imminent death, he verbalized that he was not afraid. If the
soldiers killed him, he would just go to heaven. I was touched by the
confidence and victory of the poem.
Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass
from pain to perfect peace?
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid - of
that?
Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Savior's face,
To hear
His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid - of
that?
Afraid? Of what?
A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;
Darkness,
light, O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid - of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize
with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid - of
that?
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not
able to kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28).
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and present with the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:8).
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"
(Philippians 1:20).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart
shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be
confident" (Psalm 27:3).
I don't mean to be morbid nor to imply that we should expect
martyrdom. The likelihood of that happening to any of us is probably pretty
remote, although that has not always been the case in missions. Just as one
example, the China Inland Mission deliberately called for hundreds of new
volunteers to go into dangerous areas before the doors were closed. Pioneer
works in many countries have been especially dangerous and deadly. Areas of
military and civil unrest have been problematic also. I was unable to find the
statistics I was looking for about number of missionaries killed in China, but
there was more than one period of danger. In 1900 alone, 189 missionaries were
killed in China.
In more modern missions history, I think it is somewhat
typical for mission fields to be closed or for embassies to recall their
citizens before things reach a boiling point. Nevertheless, there are still
dangers, and sometimes missionaries are in danger not specifically because they
are missionaries, but simply because they are foreigners in the wrong place at
the wrong time. When these "tragic" events happen, they are often
quite unexpected.
My desire is not to overemphasize the danger that some of
you may face, but to assure all of you of the wonderful truth that even death -
even a martyr's death, if it comes to that - is not a terrible thing for a
Christian. It is not to be feared. No matter how our days end, whether in
sudden violence or in peaceful old age, we will step from this life straight
into the presence of our Savior in Heaven.
"When all my labors and trials are o'er,
And I am safe
on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore
Will through the
ages be glory for me.
O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me!
When by His grace I shall look on His face.
That will be glory, be glory for
me!"
That glorious day is coming for each of us! Until it does,
remember that what you do today matters for eternity. Continue in that
eternally valuable work for as long as God allows you to do so. It will be
worth it!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Friday, August 30, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
08242019 Maude Cary
Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our grace-giving God! We all need His grace desperately. How else would we keep going when the challenges of life assault?
I just read a biography of Maude Cary, missionary to Morocco (northwestern Africa) for 54 years, beginning in 1901. She was among the first missionaries to enter that country during a 75-year window of opportunity for the gospel (1894-1969). She was part of a team of missionaries that started with a handful and grew to over 100. Her story abounds with challenges.
She experienced danger: Warring tribes, a violent revenge-filled culture, crime, rampant disease, murdered colleagues, revolution, military occupation, World War II, and another revolution that resulted in forced evacuations and the closing of the country.
She faced opposition: Much difficulty obtaining properties for housing and mission outposts, stones and dirt thrown at her, dogs turned loose while villagers laughed, overt ridicule, hatred of foreigners, false teachers, and threats.
She saw fruitlessness: Their entire team saw only one convert in the first 16 years and only five baptized after 25 years. The first convert later fell away following a second marriage. She saw many missionaries come and go for various reasons. The mission base was moved multiple times, often with no visible results after years of diligent effort. Many doors into new areas were closed rapidly.
She suffered deprivations: Travel was difficult, both to the country and within the country. Especially during some of the significant seasons of trouble, mail service and financial support were sporadic, clothes and shoes were almost impossible to find, and food sometimes consisted of little more than bread.
She endured isolation: It was 23 years before her first furlough. It seems she took only four furloughs, the third of which was for needed surgery, and the fourth was an urgent medical evacuation. She and three other single ladies were the only missionaries who stayed through World War II, and she spent much of that time alone in a remote outpost. When workers and leaders were scarce, she took on overwhelming responsibility, and was sent to open a new station at age 71.
She struggled with her health: Early on she had multiple persistent issues, which barely improved after four months of bed rest. A serious fever and a string of resulting issues led to false teeth and a permanent limp at age 41. Though at times she was a semi-invalid, she kept ministering and hostessing and teaching.
She dealt with personal disappointment: As a novice missionary, she received deeply hurtful criticism which almost ended her service. In spite of strong desire and great facility in the language, she was repeatedly hindered from going to the Berbers. She watched numerous fellow missionaries join in marriage, but she remained single. Her own engagement ended when her fiance was sent to open the Sudan, where her frail health would never have survived. She saw the loss of a promising young couple who were called State-side to replace the deceased mission director.
After her broken engagement, she wrote a powerful poem that expresses truth fundamental to a life of service for God.
"When in the West my sun has set,/When wiped the lashes, often wet,/ When silenced every sad regret,/It will not matter then.
When all the wilderness is past,/ And I have reached the goal at last,/ When I can earth with heaven contrast,/ It will not matter then.
When I my Saviour's face shall see,/ And hear His welcome home to me,/ To share His bliss eternally/ It will not matter then."
Maude knew the truth that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). She knew what it meant to "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). Compared to hearing the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21), she knew that nothing else mattered. Whatever difficulty, challenge, or loss she faced would be insignificant when she met her Savior face to face.
What you do today matters for eternity, and it is only an eternal perspective that will enable you to continue year after year. I recently heard a sermon in which the pastor stated that God's greatest rewards rarely happen on this earth. But what a day is coming, when every labor will be proved worthwhile!
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ."
Are there earthly rewards? Yes. Maude saw people receive the gospel. She gained the respect and acceptance of the Moroccan people. She saw many materials prepared and much of the Bible translated into Arabic and Berber. She saw former Jews and Muslims worshiping together, the first church service, the first Christian wedding, and a strong desire for Bible conferences. She saw three Bible institute graduates. She saw many missionaries taught the languages, and she eventually saw ten male missionaries consistently on the field. From afar, she saw twelve years of abundant harvest that stretched from her retirement until her death.
While few modern mission fields match the extreme difficulty of the pioneer Moroccan work, there are still many challenges. At times they may make you despair and even want to quit. Remember then Maude's stabilizing words: "it will not matter then." Anything you suffer will immediately dissipate when you stand before your Master. So press on. Continue faithfully, and God will give grace.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Greetings in the name of our grace-giving God! We all need His grace desperately. How else would we keep going when the challenges of life assault?
I just read a biography of Maude Cary, missionary to Morocco (northwestern Africa) for 54 years, beginning in 1901. She was among the first missionaries to enter that country during a 75-year window of opportunity for the gospel (1894-1969). She was part of a team of missionaries that started with a handful and grew to over 100. Her story abounds with challenges.
She experienced danger: Warring tribes, a violent revenge-filled culture, crime, rampant disease, murdered colleagues, revolution, military occupation, World War II, and another revolution that resulted in forced evacuations and the closing of the country.
She faced opposition: Much difficulty obtaining properties for housing and mission outposts, stones and dirt thrown at her, dogs turned loose while villagers laughed, overt ridicule, hatred of foreigners, false teachers, and threats.
She saw fruitlessness: Their entire team saw only one convert in the first 16 years and only five baptized after 25 years. The first convert later fell away following a second marriage. She saw many missionaries come and go for various reasons. The mission base was moved multiple times, often with no visible results after years of diligent effort. Many doors into new areas were closed rapidly.
She suffered deprivations: Travel was difficult, both to the country and within the country. Especially during some of the significant seasons of trouble, mail service and financial support were sporadic, clothes and shoes were almost impossible to find, and food sometimes consisted of little more than bread.
She endured isolation: It was 23 years before her first furlough. It seems she took only four furloughs, the third of which was for needed surgery, and the fourth was an urgent medical evacuation. She and three other single ladies were the only missionaries who stayed through World War II, and she spent much of that time alone in a remote outpost. When workers and leaders were scarce, she took on overwhelming responsibility, and was sent to open a new station at age 71.
She struggled with her health: Early on she had multiple persistent issues, which barely improved after four months of bed rest. A serious fever and a string of resulting issues led to false teeth and a permanent limp at age 41. Though at times she was a semi-invalid, she kept ministering and hostessing and teaching.
She dealt with personal disappointment: As a novice missionary, she received deeply hurtful criticism which almost ended her service. In spite of strong desire and great facility in the language, she was repeatedly hindered from going to the Berbers. She watched numerous fellow missionaries join in marriage, but she remained single. Her own engagement ended when her fiance was sent to open the Sudan, where her frail health would never have survived. She saw the loss of a promising young couple who were called State-side to replace the deceased mission director.
After her broken engagement, she wrote a powerful poem that expresses truth fundamental to a life of service for God.
"When in the West my sun has set,/When wiped the lashes, often wet,/ When silenced every sad regret,/It will not matter then.
When all the wilderness is past,/ And I have reached the goal at last,/ When I can earth with heaven contrast,/ It will not matter then.
When I my Saviour's face shall see,/ And hear His welcome home to me,/ To share His bliss eternally/ It will not matter then."
Maude knew the truth that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). She knew what it meant to "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). Compared to hearing the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matthew 25:21), she knew that nothing else mattered. Whatever difficulty, challenge, or loss she faced would be insignificant when she met her Savior face to face.
What you do today matters for eternity, and it is only an eternal perspective that will enable you to continue year after year. I recently heard a sermon in which the pastor stated that God's greatest rewards rarely happen on this earth. But what a day is coming, when every labor will be proved worthwhile!
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So bravely run the race till we see Christ."
Are there earthly rewards? Yes. Maude saw people receive the gospel. She gained the respect and acceptance of the Moroccan people. She saw many materials prepared and much of the Bible translated into Arabic and Berber. She saw former Jews and Muslims worshiping together, the first church service, the first Christian wedding, and a strong desire for Bible conferences. She saw three Bible institute graduates. She saw many missionaries taught the languages, and she eventually saw ten male missionaries consistently on the field. From afar, she saw twelve years of abundant harvest that stretched from her retirement until her death.
While few modern mission fields match the extreme difficulty of the pioneer Moroccan work, there are still many challenges. At times they may make you despair and even want to quit. Remember then Maude's stabilizing words: "it will not matter then." Anything you suffer will immediately dissipate when you stand before your Master. So press on. Continue faithfully, and God will give grace.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Friday, August 16, 2019
08162019 Isobel Kuhn
Dear Missionary Lady,
How wonderful that God is using you! We cannot take such a privilege for granted. Do we realize how few Christians reach any exceptional level of usefulness? And do we realize how much God must intervene to prepare us for service? I recently read "By Searching: My Journey Through Doubt Into Faith" by Isobel Kuhn, and I loved the story of how God prepared her to serve Him.
Isobel ended up as a Canadian missionary to China and Thailand from 1928 to 1954. She was both a likely and unlikely candidate for missions. Her grandfather and father were pastors, and her mother led a ladies' missionary society. Isobel was deliberately trained to stand firm against the secular philosophies of university life. In spite of this background and training, she fell hard right away. A professor claimed that no one believed in God anymore, and anyone who claimed to was merely parroting what his parents had told him.
Isobel immediately decided she would not believe anything only on the word of others, and she rejected Christianity, although she couldn't quite bring herself to say God didn't exist. She lived a life of pleasure and entertainment, ignoring the spiritual influence of her family, and she continued in that mode for seven years.
Devastated when her learned her fiancé was unfaithful and intended to remain that way after marriage, Isobel briefly contemplated suicide. She was miserable and dissatisfied with life. She couldn't sleep and had a job she hated. In her aimlessness and despair, she finally called out for God to show her He was real.
God answered that prayer repeatedly over a period of years. Isobel's return to Christianity commenced immediately but was rather private and cautious. She gradually laid aside some of her worldly habits, and she progressively became more committed to God. For a long time her lifestyle and testimony lagged behind the progress and stirrings in her soul, until she was finally ready to fully and definitively commit to God with her whole heart.
Part of what amazed me about Isobel's story is the patience and persistence of God. He kept bringing the right people into her life. He kept putting opportunities in front of her. He kept answering her sometimes selfish and rather unspiritual prayers. Yes, Isobel was searching for God, but she was not easily convinced. She recognized ways in which God was working, but she was not quick to embrace Him. She wanted to see a consistent, long-term reality of God. And God was willing to do that. She had promised to follow Him if He would show Himself to be real, and God continued to do that even when she didn't really keep her promise for a long time.
Over the years, Isobel saw God do much for her. From an observer's perspective, God made it hard for her to get away from Him. He just kept doing things to show His interest in her and to keep pulling her more deeply to Himself.
Eventually, Isobel reached the place of being fully devoted to God and completely willing to do anything He asked. She recognized God's careful work in her life. She realized that her experience prepared her to minister specifically to others. She was willing to make sacrifices and hard choices to prepare for ministry. Through a false accusation that threatened her acceptance as a missionary candidate, she learned more about the deep spiritual needs she still had. She came to the conclusion that all the varied aspects of God's work in her life, including the very difficult things, were God's training. She saw that He was molding her.
Our stories may not match that of Isobel, but our God is the same. He has been so patient with us when we have sometimes been slow to take steps of growth. He has intervened to answer prayer and provide for us time after time, when we can quickly forget what He has done in the past. When God has seen us and has had a desire to use us for His service, He has set about to bring that goal to fruition. It has required way more work on His part than it ought to have taken. But patiently, day after day, and year after year, God has used a combination of blessings and trials to make us what we need to be.
He is still doing that work, because not one of us has yet reached the goal of consistent perfection. Every day we keep facing situations - challenges, heartaches, trials of all sorts - and it is so easy to forget that a patient God is molding us through them. His constant desire is to continue making us into fit vessels for His work, and He never gives up on us.
Oh, that we would learn to recognize and accept what God is doing! That we would compliantly place ourselves in His hands so that He can effectively do the work He wants to do. And may we thank Him for His choosing of us, for His patience in preparing us, for His goodness in placing us in His service.
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:20-21). "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it" (Jeremiah 18:4).
Yes, Lord, make us as You would make us. Give us the form that You know is best, through the method that You know is required. Please never stop molding us. And help us not to squirm and protest.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
How wonderful that God is using you! We cannot take such a privilege for granted. Do we realize how few Christians reach any exceptional level of usefulness? And do we realize how much God must intervene to prepare us for service? I recently read "By Searching: My Journey Through Doubt Into Faith" by Isobel Kuhn, and I loved the story of how God prepared her to serve Him.
Isobel ended up as a Canadian missionary to China and Thailand from 1928 to 1954. She was both a likely and unlikely candidate for missions. Her grandfather and father were pastors, and her mother led a ladies' missionary society. Isobel was deliberately trained to stand firm against the secular philosophies of university life. In spite of this background and training, she fell hard right away. A professor claimed that no one believed in God anymore, and anyone who claimed to was merely parroting what his parents had told him.
Isobel immediately decided she would not believe anything only on the word of others, and she rejected Christianity, although she couldn't quite bring herself to say God didn't exist. She lived a life of pleasure and entertainment, ignoring the spiritual influence of her family, and she continued in that mode for seven years.
Devastated when her learned her fiancé was unfaithful and intended to remain that way after marriage, Isobel briefly contemplated suicide. She was miserable and dissatisfied with life. She couldn't sleep and had a job she hated. In her aimlessness and despair, she finally called out for God to show her He was real.
God answered that prayer repeatedly over a period of years. Isobel's return to Christianity commenced immediately but was rather private and cautious. She gradually laid aside some of her worldly habits, and she progressively became more committed to God. For a long time her lifestyle and testimony lagged behind the progress and stirrings in her soul, until she was finally ready to fully and definitively commit to God with her whole heart.
Part of what amazed me about Isobel's story is the patience and persistence of God. He kept bringing the right people into her life. He kept putting opportunities in front of her. He kept answering her sometimes selfish and rather unspiritual prayers. Yes, Isobel was searching for God, but she was not easily convinced. She recognized ways in which God was working, but she was not quick to embrace Him. She wanted to see a consistent, long-term reality of God. And God was willing to do that. She had promised to follow Him if He would show Himself to be real, and God continued to do that even when she didn't really keep her promise for a long time.
Over the years, Isobel saw God do much for her. From an observer's perspective, God made it hard for her to get away from Him. He just kept doing things to show His interest in her and to keep pulling her more deeply to Himself.
Eventually, Isobel reached the place of being fully devoted to God and completely willing to do anything He asked. She recognized God's careful work in her life. She realized that her experience prepared her to minister specifically to others. She was willing to make sacrifices and hard choices to prepare for ministry. Through a false accusation that threatened her acceptance as a missionary candidate, she learned more about the deep spiritual needs she still had. She came to the conclusion that all the varied aspects of God's work in her life, including the very difficult things, were God's training. She saw that He was molding her.
Our stories may not match that of Isobel, but our God is the same. He has been so patient with us when we have sometimes been slow to take steps of growth. He has intervened to answer prayer and provide for us time after time, when we can quickly forget what He has done in the past. When God has seen us and has had a desire to use us for His service, He has set about to bring that goal to fruition. It has required way more work on His part than it ought to have taken. But patiently, day after day, and year after year, God has used a combination of blessings and trials to make us what we need to be.
He is still doing that work, because not one of us has yet reached the goal of consistent perfection. Every day we keep facing situations - challenges, heartaches, trials of all sorts - and it is so easy to forget that a patient God is molding us through them. His constant desire is to continue making us into fit vessels for His work, and He never gives up on us.
Oh, that we would learn to recognize and accept what God is doing! That we would compliantly place ourselves in His hands so that He can effectively do the work He wants to do. And may we thank Him for His choosing of us, for His patience in preparing us, for His goodness in placing us in His service.
"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:20-21). "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it" (Jeremiah 18:4).
Yes, Lord, make us as You would make us. Give us the form that You know is best, through the method that You know is required. Please never stop molding us. And help us not to squirm and protest.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 10, 2019
08102019 God Sees You
Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings to all of you who are scattered in so many different places around the world! Do you realize there are missionaries serving in countries that the average person has never heard of? Even in better-known countries or in the USA itself, countless numbers of God's servants are relatively unnoticed. Many times the specific avenues of service are unseen by men. But God always sees!
I was recently noticing a contrast in Job 23. Job speaks some difficult words out of a heart of pain. "Oh that I knew where I might find him! ... Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him" (vs. 3,8-9). Job couldn't see God, and this troubled him greatly.
Then comes verse 10: "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." If God knew Job's path, do you realize what that means? It means that God saw Job. The failure of vision was completely one-sided. Job didn't see God, but God saw him!
God always sees. Nothing escapes His gaze. "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven" (Job 28:24). "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings" (Job 34:21). There is never a time that you are out of God's sight, never a time when you are too insignificant for Him to notice. In fact, God sees every tiny sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29), and He uses that truth to reinforce that He sees us so much more than a tiny bird.
God sees every need and struggle. He saw Hagar when she was forced to flee, so that Hagar "called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13). God's rescue of Israel was because He saw them in their Egyptian bondage. God saw the blood that the Israelites put on the doorposts. God saw them trapped by the Red Sea. He saw them when they had no food or water. He saw them when enemies attacked. Jesus "saw [the disciples] toiling in rowing" in the midst of the storm, even though He was not with them (Mark 6:48). The psalmist was right. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path" (Psalm 142:3).
God sees people that He desires to use and bless, even when no one else recognizes their value or potential. God sees the very heart of man - his deepest motivations, desires, and passions (I Samuel 16:7). God saw Gideon when he was hiding in a winepress. God saw Hannah when she was barren. God saw David in the shepherd's fields. God saw the widow of Zarephath who was down to her last meal but who would feed His servant. Jesus saw Nathanael when he was sitting under a fig tree (John 1:48).
God sees your service, no matter how small or misunderstood. He sees your gifts to Him when no one else appreciates or notices. Jesus saw the poor widow who was offering God her two mites (Luke 21:2). God sees spiritual devotion and service that no one else sees. "Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:4,6,18).
You are never unnoticed, never forsaken, never overlooked, never belittled in your service. God sees you always, even when you may struggle to see Him. He sees your sorrows and trials, your struggles and loneliness. God sees the challenges of ministry, the doors He will open before you, and He sees every bit of your service to Him. What you do today matters for eternity, and if no one else is aware of what you do, God sees. So in your place of service, wherever that may be or whatever form it may take, continue faithfully on. There is One who sees you, cares for you, and receives your gifts of service.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Greetings to all of you who are scattered in so many different places around the world! Do you realize there are missionaries serving in countries that the average person has never heard of? Even in better-known countries or in the USA itself, countless numbers of God's servants are relatively unnoticed. Many times the specific avenues of service are unseen by men. But God always sees!
I was recently noticing a contrast in Job 23. Job speaks some difficult words out of a heart of pain. "Oh that I knew where I might find him! ... Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him" (vs. 3,8-9). Job couldn't see God, and this troubled him greatly.
Then comes verse 10: "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." If God knew Job's path, do you realize what that means? It means that God saw Job. The failure of vision was completely one-sided. Job didn't see God, but God saw him!
God always sees. Nothing escapes His gaze. "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven" (Job 28:24). "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings" (Job 34:21). There is never a time that you are out of God's sight, never a time when you are too insignificant for Him to notice. In fact, God sees every tiny sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29), and He uses that truth to reinforce that He sees us so much more than a tiny bird.
God sees every need and struggle. He saw Hagar when she was forced to flee, so that Hagar "called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13). God's rescue of Israel was because He saw them in their Egyptian bondage. God saw the blood that the Israelites put on the doorposts. God saw them trapped by the Red Sea. He saw them when they had no food or water. He saw them when enemies attacked. Jesus "saw [the disciples] toiling in rowing" in the midst of the storm, even though He was not with them (Mark 6:48). The psalmist was right. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path" (Psalm 142:3).
God sees people that He desires to use and bless, even when no one else recognizes their value or potential. God sees the very heart of man - his deepest motivations, desires, and passions (I Samuel 16:7). God saw Gideon when he was hiding in a winepress. God saw Hannah when she was barren. God saw David in the shepherd's fields. God saw the widow of Zarephath who was down to her last meal but who would feed His servant. Jesus saw Nathanael when he was sitting under a fig tree (John 1:48).
God sees your service, no matter how small or misunderstood. He sees your gifts to Him when no one else appreciates or notices. Jesus saw the poor widow who was offering God her two mites (Luke 21:2). God sees spiritual devotion and service that no one else sees. "Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:4,6,18).
You are never unnoticed, never forsaken, never overlooked, never belittled in your service. God sees you always, even when you may struggle to see Him. He sees your sorrows and trials, your struggles and loneliness. God sees the challenges of ministry, the doors He will open before you, and He sees every bit of your service to Him. What you do today matters for eternity, and if no one else is aware of what you do, God sees. So in your place of service, wherever that may be or whatever form it may take, continue faithfully on. There is One who sees you, cares for you, and receives your gifts of service.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 3, 2019
08032019 Esther
Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our sovereign God. He is always in control, always using both the big and small things in life to accomplish His plan. We can trust that wherever He has us, it is the right place; whatever our circumstances, they are under His careful supervision.
I read the book of Esther one day this week, or maybe last week. Every time I do, that book just leaves me amazed. God is not mentioned in the book. There are no heavenly visions, no declarations by prophets, no word of the LORD, no sermons preached or parables taught, no dramatic miracles. Even prayer is not mentioned, though it is probably implied by the fasting.
In spite of that "non-spiritual" context, God's hand is obviously at work throughout the book. A few years ago as I read through a new Bible, I highlighted various things. I used blue for themes or recurrent ideas within books. In Esther, I have highlighted in blue all the times that God's hand was at work although His name was not recorded. There are so many minor, ordinary things that apparently were entirely inconsequential, but God transformed them into interwoven facets of His great plan.
The king decided to give a great banquet. He decided to have Vashti brought from her women's banquet to parade before his guests. She refused. The king's advisors decided the appropriate response was to dethrone Vashti and choose a new queen. Esther was beautiful. Esther was chosen as a participant, pleased the man in charge, and was sent to the best spot in the harem. She continued to find favor and was chosen to be presented to the king. The king liked Esther so much that he suspended the contest. Mordecai overheard a threat against the king. A particular man, Haman, was put on the fast track in politics. Haman was irked by Mordecai's refusal to bow - so much that he wanted to destroy all Jews. The roll of the dice resulted in the most advantageous result. The king rubber stamped Haman's request without investigation. Mordecai sent Esther an extraordinary request. Esther had not recently been summoned to the king. The king extended his favor to Esther and offered her anything she wanted. Haman's anger against Mordecai exploded on the wrong night, and he ordered gallows built. The king couldn't sleep. His chosen response was to be read court records, and they happened to include the incident of Mordecai's warning to the king. No reward had been given to Mordecai at the time. Haman was instructed to honor Mordecai. Esther's request to the king met with approval. Haman unwittingly placed himself in a situation that appeared compromising. The perpetrator of the plan against the Jews was hanged. The king found a way to make a law to protect the Jews. Out of fear, the Jews' enemies easily acquiesced, and 75,000 enemies were killed. Mordecai ended up as the king's counselor.
While this long list may seem tedious, I hope you get the point and can make personal application. There is nothing so random or insignificant that God cannot use it to accomplish His plan. Consider some of these components: the decisions of politicians, a queen's insubordination, physical appearance, the favor of ordinary people who happen to be in the right position, an overheard conversation, political pride and ambition, a game of chance, insomnia, the random choosing of reading material, unforgiveable oversights, misconstrued physical position, and momentum shifts in social issues.
Might not some of these same components (or something similarly random) be at work in your life and ministry? Perhaps you face situations that bring fear, uncertainty, or even danger. Those are under God's control. Maybe you are dealing with politicians, community leaders, neighbors, even church leadership that seems bound to cause contention that will hinder the ministry. They are under God's control. It may be that puzzling or frustrating things have been happening in your health or the daily routine of life. Those are under God's control also.
We don't always see how these things work out, but they do. We might see the providential impact with the passing of time, but maybe not. Regardless of what we can humanly perceive, we can be confident that God is indeed working, coordinating, and orchestrating everything for His purposes.
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35).
Just keep walking forward, trusting God each day to work out His plan. He is able!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
Greetings in the name of our sovereign God. He is always in control, always using both the big and small things in life to accomplish His plan. We can trust that wherever He has us, it is the right place; whatever our circumstances, they are under His careful supervision.
I read the book of Esther one day this week, or maybe last week. Every time I do, that book just leaves me amazed. God is not mentioned in the book. There are no heavenly visions, no declarations by prophets, no word of the LORD, no sermons preached or parables taught, no dramatic miracles. Even prayer is not mentioned, though it is probably implied by the fasting.
In spite of that "non-spiritual" context, God's hand is obviously at work throughout the book. A few years ago as I read through a new Bible, I highlighted various things. I used blue for themes or recurrent ideas within books. In Esther, I have highlighted in blue all the times that God's hand was at work although His name was not recorded. There are so many minor, ordinary things that apparently were entirely inconsequential, but God transformed them into interwoven facets of His great plan.
The king decided to give a great banquet. He decided to have Vashti brought from her women's banquet to parade before his guests. She refused. The king's advisors decided the appropriate response was to dethrone Vashti and choose a new queen. Esther was beautiful. Esther was chosen as a participant, pleased the man in charge, and was sent to the best spot in the harem. She continued to find favor and was chosen to be presented to the king. The king liked Esther so much that he suspended the contest. Mordecai overheard a threat against the king. A particular man, Haman, was put on the fast track in politics. Haman was irked by Mordecai's refusal to bow - so much that he wanted to destroy all Jews. The roll of the dice resulted in the most advantageous result. The king rubber stamped Haman's request without investigation. Mordecai sent Esther an extraordinary request. Esther had not recently been summoned to the king. The king extended his favor to Esther and offered her anything she wanted. Haman's anger against Mordecai exploded on the wrong night, and he ordered gallows built. The king couldn't sleep. His chosen response was to be read court records, and they happened to include the incident of Mordecai's warning to the king. No reward had been given to Mordecai at the time. Haman was instructed to honor Mordecai. Esther's request to the king met with approval. Haman unwittingly placed himself in a situation that appeared compromising. The perpetrator of the plan against the Jews was hanged. The king found a way to make a law to protect the Jews. Out of fear, the Jews' enemies easily acquiesced, and 75,000 enemies were killed. Mordecai ended up as the king's counselor.
While this long list may seem tedious, I hope you get the point and can make personal application. There is nothing so random or insignificant that God cannot use it to accomplish His plan. Consider some of these components: the decisions of politicians, a queen's insubordination, physical appearance, the favor of ordinary people who happen to be in the right position, an overheard conversation, political pride and ambition, a game of chance, insomnia, the random choosing of reading material, unforgiveable oversights, misconstrued physical position, and momentum shifts in social issues.
Might not some of these same components (or something similarly random) be at work in your life and ministry? Perhaps you face situations that bring fear, uncertainty, or even danger. Those are under God's control. Maybe you are dealing with politicians, community leaders, neighbors, even church leadership that seems bound to cause contention that will hinder the ministry. They are under God's control. It may be that puzzling or frustrating things have been happening in your health or the daily routine of life. Those are under God's control also.
We don't always see how these things work out, but they do. We might see the providential impact with the passing of time, but maybe not. Regardless of what we can humanly perceive, we can be confident that God is indeed working, coordinating, and orchestrating everything for His purposes.
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35).
Just keep walking forward, trusting God each day to work out His plan. He is able!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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