12312022 This Year Also

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our longsuffering God. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). The day of judgment is coming, but for now God continues to hold out His hand of mercy, inviting sinners to be saved.

I was recently thinking of the parable found in Luke 13:6-9. “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

Because of the references to bearing fruit, and that this tree is planted and cared for at the guidance of the master, I suspect the application is regarding Christians who are slow to yield fruit as they ought to. Whether it is regarding believers, or whether it is about unbelievers who have not yet shown the fruit of salvation, I think the character of God is the same. He gives opportunities, but for each person, those opportunities do not remain open forever.

Thankfully, in this parable, there is a faithful servant with a compassionate heart. This servant asks for more opportunity – for one more year. He is willing to continue his labor even in the face of previous unresponsiveness.

This reminds me of you in your labors for God. Your hearts of compassion long for continued opportunities. Your labor of love continues, as you persist in working with both resistant unbelievers and with carnal believers. Some have seemingly taken steps forward, only to stagnate.

One more year begins tomorrow. This year also, you can dig and fertilize, plant and water, exhort and instruct, encourage and plead. This year also, you can pray for fruit. This year also, God can work. Perhaps in the coming year you will see results for which long you have sought.

The time until the Lord’s return is growing short. But for now, there is one more year. May God supernaturally work through your earnest and compassionate efforts to bring some into His kingdom that so far have resisted. May He get hold of the hearts of professed Christians, that they may truly begin to live lives of devotion and fruitfulness, when so far they have been content to remain on the fringes.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:10). This year also, let us labor. God bless.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

12232022 Handel's Messiah

Dear Missionary Lady,

Warm greetings in the name of our Savior! I trust you will have a blessed Christmas with your families and ministries. May God’s work be advanced during this season of the year.

Recently I have been listening to Handel’s Messiah a lot, and I am learning to love it for its rich choice of Scripture texts. The following passages (I believe) are what is actually sung, so it differs slightly from the King James Version on which it was based. These are a few of my favorites. By the way, I am also currently listening to sermons from Isaiah, and this enhances my appreciation for these selections.

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God” (Isaiah 40:1). There is unmatched comfort in the coming of our Savior and in the redemptive plan He fulfilled.

“O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God” (Isaiah 40:9). Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1). There is wonderful news about the greatest Light ever!

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). Praise God for the Light that makes such a difference, that changes everything!

How wonderful that we can rejoice in the Light who has changed us and who can change all who come to Him. Merry Christmas!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

12172022 The Hound of Heaven

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the Great Seeker of Souls. Francis Thompson called God “The Hound of Heaven.” His poem tells the story of the sinner. “I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;/ I fled Him, down the arches of the years;/ I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways/ Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears/ I hid from Him, and under running laughter.”

As the poem progresses, the sinner seeks solace in many things but never finds it. Meanwhile, the Hound of Heaven pursues. “Those strong Feet that followed, followed after./ But with unhurrying chase, and unperturbed pace,/ Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,/ They beat – and a Voice beat/ More instant than the Feet -/ ‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’” The sinner, still running, continues finding emptiness, but is relentlessly pursued by “the following Feet” of the One who sought him.

For some, the journey to God is slow, but praise God that He is longsuffering and patient! He often gives repeated opportunities. He continues whispering longings into the soul of man. He continues putting Christians into the sinner’s path.

Today was the fourth out of the last five Saturdays that I have spent most of my day traveling to my doctor, receiving treatments, and then resting while my body absorbs them. I have a long history with this doctor, and I have a concern for her soul. She has always been respectful when I have shared anything about God, but nothing more. The format of these treatments, often 1-2 hours in her office, sometimes just the two of us, and with nothing to do but wait for the IV to drip, has given unprecedented opportunities to speak more deeply with her.

The doors really began to open when I asked her (of all things) about the significance of her tattoo. Several weeks ago she shared that she has been on a spiritual journey for a little over a year, before which time she was an agnostic. Most weeks we’ve had some opportunity to talk along these lines. Today was phenomenal! It was almost like she wanted me to tell her what I believe. I was able to talk about man’s need for redemption and God’s provision for it, tying in the Christmas story and sharing some specifics of my own conversion.

I truly believe the Hound of Heaven is after Andrea. She is not ready to embrace Christianity, but she is curious. She told me that a doctor friend of hers tells her the same things and that her brother gave her a study Bible. So there are others on God’s team in her life. (Doesn’t that sound like, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase”?)

She has been turned off by empty religion, by “Christians” in the past who have lived wicked lives, and by Christians who have spoken harshly and condemningly to her and her daughter when they were seeking answers. She has been most impacted by those who have shared the truth in a caring way. “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” She thanked me for praying for her as she continues her spiritual journey.

I have hope. I believe God is drawing her and putting people in her path. He is giving her the same message from multiple angles. I might never again have opportunities like those of the past five weeks, but God can open up other opportunities with other people. He can pursue her and tug at her heart until she finally turns to Him.

I share this story to encourage you as you work with those who are running from God. First, that people respond to caring. Love will make a difference. Second, that you might play only a small part within the big picture. For some, you will intervene at the end of the process, when people are ripe for the harvest. For others, you might be at the beginning, while the person is still running as hard as he can in the wrong direction. Thank God that you and I are not the only Christians in the world, or in these people’s lives. Someone else may cross their path, planting more seed, sprinkling more water, sharing more truth, until the person can no longer resist the Hound of Heaven who has orchestrated it all.

Be encouraged as you continue your ministry, even if progress is slow. God will reap His intended harvest! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

12102022 Redemption

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our Redeemer. In recent months I have been studying the book of Ruth, in which redemption is the theme. There are so many precious lessons and pictures in that book.

One of the precious lessons is that redemption is only necessary (and possible) when things are messy. In the Jewish system, redemption happened when someone went bankrupt or when someone died. If everything was going fine – the fields and flocks were prospering, the family was healthy and growing – no redemption was needed.

In Elimelech’s family, things were messy. The family had moved out of the land of promise during a famine. Within ten years, Elimelech and his two sons had died, leaving behind three widows, the matriarch of which was embittered and living in a strange land. Even when Naomi returned to her land, with Ruth at her side, things were still in a mess. Naomi had no hope or joy. Ruth was a stranger. Neither had a means of support. There was no heir for the family. Naomi was in the position of needing to sell her husband’s inheritance.

Then God provided Boaz as a redeemer. God worked out what those two ladies could not have done on their own. They didn’t dream up the answer; God did. God took care of the mess. Naomi’s joy in God was restored. Ruth was married. The land was purchased and kept in the family. An heir was born. The ladies’ needs were met abundantly.

Do you work with any messy people? Are there messes so big you can’t fully wrap your mind around them? You can’t think about them for very long at a time? Or you can’t get them off your mind?

Then there is hope! Those messy people can’t save themselves, and you can’t save them, either, but there is a great and loving Redeemer who specializes in messy situations. I doubt anyone had hope for Saul of Tarsus, but God created a gem out of a mess. Each of us was once a mess until God redeemed us. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see” (John Newton).

I pray that during this Christmas season and in the coming year God will redeem some of the messes you see. May He redeem Sauls that will become great men of God. May He redeem Naomis who have no hope. May He redeem Ruths who are strangers and alone. And maybe a Rahab, Nicodemus, Zaccheus, Levi the tax collector, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea, demoniacs of Gadarenes, lepers, and many more. Some messes are way too big and complicated for us, but none are too hard for God, our Redeemer.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

12032022 Closed for the Season

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our always-available God. I recently decided to pick up some locally-made jam as Christmas presents. I found a website listing local farm stands and stores. As I perused the list, I kept coming across “closed for the season” – in September, October – and it’s now December. Finally, I found one that I could visit this morning, on the last day before they also “closed for the season.” This reminded me of the wonderful truth that God never closes.

God does not have business hours. One of the frustrations of those who work is that it seems many businesses are open only at the times that they themselves are working. Evenings and weekends? Sorry. But God is always open. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). “He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3).

God does not close for the season. With some businesses, if you miss their prime selling season, you have to wait until next year, but never with God. Thomas Chisholm captures this truth in his hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” “Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,/ Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above/ Join with all nature in manifold witness/ To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.” God oversees, rules, protects, provides, and guides from January 1 to December 31.

God never goes out of business. When businesses close, people have to search out new sources; they may lose out on gift card redemption, extended service contracts, or trusted expertise. The children and grandchildren are unable to shop in the same stores. Not so with God. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth” (Psalm 119:90).

As you labor for this always-available God, you can hope in the one who is perpetually at your side, the one who sends both the early and the latter rains. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). The one producing the harvest isn’t going anywhere. He is there for the plowing and the sowing. He is there for the waiting. He will be there for the harvest. God is never “closed for the season.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA