Wednesday, August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

She was no more than four years old. Moving from car to car, tapping on the windows and hoping the passengers would offer a shilling or more.

My first reaction to this scene was ANGER! Where is the girl’s mother, the beggar who claims this corner? How can she allow her small child to be here alone weaving through Nairobi’s “no-laws-respected” traffic? For the sake of her child, why has she not accessed the assistance offered by the government, religious and other help-groups? My anger subsided a bit and this question emerged: Is her mother one of the many who has lost all hope?

I viewed this common Nairobi occurrence last week while shopping in our neighborhood – a scene especially prevalent during Ramadhan when Muslims are seeking a stronger “link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others.” (1) The next morning, as I read Acts 2:37 during my devotions, I realized that I had not captured the little girl on my camera, but the memory was recorded. Like the listeners in Jerusalem who heard Peter’s testimony after he and others were filled with the Holy Spirit, I had been “cut to the heart” and I wanted to know, “What shall we do?”

I was reminded again of the hurt and needy Kenyans as I read “Less than a dollar a day” (2) in a local paper, an appropriate story as over one half of all Kenyans live on no more than 80 shillings/1 US$ a day. As I read this report of women who have united to meet their families’ needs, I recognized that like Jack’s students at our seminary and many others who share their struggles and pain with us, these women had something that not all in our world possess – HOPE!

Last week’s experiences were not coincidences, but God’s way of teaching, guiding and strengthening me, and reminding me of the HOPE I have as His child. I have the assurance of His strength and peace and I know “what I should do” about the things that “cut (me) to the heart” – pray and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance as I share my Savior’s hope with the hurting and needy. One way I can do this is by sharing the photo album, “What shall we do? PRAY!” (3) My prayer is that you will see my world and join in praying for hope for the hurting and needy.

Pray for Jack as he continues teaching this and next week at our seminary. Pray that he will strengthen the hope of the students and increase their ability to share this hope with their churches. Pray for us and our co-workers as we attend a meeting beginning on Saturday. Pray that we will be better able to know God’s will and answer “what shall we do” as we serve in Equatorial Africa.

I also ask that you join me in praying for those hoping during Ramadhan for a closer relationship with God, yet they are fearful or unsure of how to claim His love and salvation. Pray also for peace and acceptance by dissenters as Kenya’s new constitution becomes law at a special government ceremony on Friday – a constitution that many call the Hope of Kenya as it can answer many of the pains and hurts of Kenya’s people. BERT

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(1) WIKIPEDIA/Ramadhan – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
(2) “Less than a dollar a day… If you save less than Sh20 a day, read on (Saturday Nation, 8-21-10, pgs. 3,6) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/If%20you%20save%20more%20than%20Sh20%20a%20day%20stop%20here%20/-/1056/993874/-/3ubyfpz/-/index.html
Additional Links:
- “Praying Thru Ramadan” - http://namepeoples.imb.org/
- To know when daily Islamic Prayers are in your part of the world, one way to “join” them in their prayers for knowing the truths of God, go to: http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes/

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

August 18, 2010

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us” – This is a great prayer/promise from Psalm 67:1, but do you remember the SO THAT phrase that follows in verse 2? “THAT your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” Our heavenly Father wants to bless us, but He also wants to bless all peoples. He wants all nations to praise Him (v.3) and to “be glad and sing for joy” (v.4). These are the verses that God used this week to remind me of his desire for his eternal gospel to be proclaimed “to ALL who live on earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Revelations 14: 6).

The verse that spoke to Jack this week was Hosea 2:23, “I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’

It is no coincidence that God led us to these words in His Book this week. During the last week, Jack and I had several opportunities to travel around our city and to nearby towns, which in many ways is representative of our country. AND we cannot leave our home without reminders that there are many people in our world who have not claimed His salvation and love, some because they are of others faiths and others because they have yet to hear and/or understand the Good News. We also see many groups of people in our country that are not loved or given respect such as street kids, residents of slums, and others because they come from areas of Kenya where education, clean water, quality health facilities, safety, etc., continues to be limited or even non-existent!

I cannot adequately describe all of this to you, so this week, our Prayer Update is in the form of photos. I encourage you to view “Your Salvation Among All Nations” (1) and praise God with the aid of Psalm 67 and kids from Ruiru Baptist Church. Travel with us last week and hear the prayer nudges we experienced in Praying Until "They Say, 'You Are My God.'" (2) This will take some time, but you can consider it an investment in God’s work that leads to incredible returns!

I also encourage you to look at the below links (3/4) with guides for joining those celebrating Ramadhan (August 11-September 10) – “…a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others.”(5) Though not shared as a prayer request, this WIKIPEDIA description offers guidance in praying that as Muslims pray, they will recognize and accept the link to the true God! A unique prayer nudge can also be found in today’s ALL ABOUT FOOD article found in our local Kenyan newspaper, the Daily Nation, entitled “Ramadhan treats from the Ismali.” (6) Cooking can offer a time of prayer as you prepare and serve Fried Bananas and Sweet Spaghetti (vermicelli). Your prayers CAN AND WILL lead to all in our world praising the true God! BERT
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(2) Praying Until “They Say ‘You Are My God’” - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=266522&id=685050129&l=357f1c49b3
(3) “Praying Thru Ramadan” - http://namepeoples.imb.org/
(4) To know when daily Islamic Prayers are in your part of the world – one way to “join” them in prayer – go to: http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes/
(5) WIKIPEDIA/Ramadhan – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

August 11, 2010

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who do not seek me.” It is No coincidence that I read Isaiah 65:1 in my devotions this morning! For days I have searched for a verse to lead you in prayer during the 2010 Ramadhan and as the weekly All About Food article in today’s local newspaper shares, “Today marks the beginning of Ramadhan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar…a month when Muslims fast...a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God…(bring) one closer to God.”(1) Which to me says: Ramadhan is a time when many Muslims are extra zealous in asking and seeking God to make Himself to known to them, even though they are only seeking, as the article shares, “to re-evaluate their lives, in accordance with Islamic teaching.”

Did you know Muslims routinely pray multiple times each day! A North Carolina Baptist Men volunteer group were very aware of this last week! Four men and four teens (three with dads, plus one friend) arrived on an evening flight and when we met them for breakfast, one man said, “When I finally fell asleep, I was awoken by loud prayers outside my window!” Later, we showed him the large mosque beside their guest house which calls local Muslims to prayer at dawn (before 5:30) and again at sunrise (6:30). The volunteers left mid-morning for western Kenya to assist in building four homes for those in need and planting two churches – so they missed the mosque loudspeakers broadcasting prayers again at noon, afternoon, sunset, as well as the night prayers around eight!(2)

Isaiah 65:1 also says that God revealed Himself to a “nation that did not call on my name.” This is one reason Kenyan Christians must be their Savior’s ambassadors. Many Kenyan residents are from countries where our Father’s Good News cannot be freely shared – another reason many of us are committed to the new Parklands Baptist church plant on Mombasa Road(3) – an area where many residents are from nations that do not call on His name.

So, I ask that you join me in “joining” Muslims in prayer (see footnote 2) during Ramadan guided by these words from IMB CompassionNet(4): “This is a very spiritual time… as they try to draw closer to Allah and to attain forgiveness for sins… a time of heightened spirituality. Please pray that throughout this month, there will be many opportunities to share the story of the Son. Pray that the Father will reveal Himself to Muslims as they seek to draw closer to Allah. May the month of Ramadan be a time full of dreams and visions from the Father… please pray for Believers, asking that they will remain strong throughout this month.”

Our God promises that “Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24) – one of the many of His assurances that we can claim and trust and PRAY for others! When we seek Him, we will find Him and He will respond! Last week, He answered prayers for peace during and after Kenyans voted on a new Constitution. The Kenyan friend leading our church in prayer last Sunday said , “We have peace in Kenya today not because of unity, good security or our leaders, but because of God! Thank you for being a part of God’s work in Kenya and in our world through your prayers, BERT
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(2)To know when daily Islamic Prayers are in your part of the world – one way to “join” them in prayer – go to: http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes/
(3) Camera went to church last Sunday to catch pictures of the new adult Sunday School classes, but an incredible story of God's provision for His faithful children unfolded resulting in a new Photo Album: “This is Your House, Your Home” – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=263318&id=685050129&l=873712bdb0
(4) IMB/CompassionNet - http://www.imb.org/main/pray/
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Peace in Kenya - August 5, 2010

Thank you for praying for the voting related to the new proposed constitution for Kenya – Prayers have been answered and there has been peace around the country. The final tally is not in, but the YES team* has declared that the constitution has passed and the NO team have conceded. Throughout the reporting on the radio and television, the speakers have continually voiced thanksgiving for the peaceful atmosphere and said in many ways that no matter the outcome of the vote, Kenya had won!

For those of you who are not my FACEBOOK Friends, these are the two notes that I have posted in the last 24 hours:

Wednesday evening, 4 hours after the closing of the poll: Praising God for peace in Kenya today and speedy reporting of votes - a major change from the Dec 07 elections. A wise 103 woman, a victim of the post-election crisis, may become the
face of this election - Her comment to a young reporter (who was unsure if she
was still mentally astute): We can vote YES/GREEN, or NO/RED, but no matter what happens, the vote belongs to Kenyans - whoever wins, we are all children of Kenya! Continue praying for acceptance of the results.

Soon after lunch today (Thursday): Things remain peaceful - the greatest praise is for the confidence that Kenyans are gaining in their ability to have peaceful voting and a voice! As I passed this road-side vendor today, I couldn't help but think she will have good sales in the next few days as people celebrate peace!

Thanks again for praying, but don’t stop. Pray now that those who were against the passing of the constitution will accept the vote. Pray that those who disagreed on certain points will find peaceful ways to bring about changes they desire. Thanks again for praying! BERT
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* 'Yes' team declares referendum victory – Daily Nation - http://www.nation.co.ke/Kenya%20Referendum/-/926046/971472/-/fxedp7z/-/index.html

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

August 3, 2010

Visiting the local grocery store this morning reminded me of grocery shopping in North Carolina the day before a hurricane lands! The lady ahead of me and the couples at both check-outs beside me had two or more overflowing buggies of food! We live within walking distance of three large grocery stores and several beside-the-road vendors, so I usually shop every day or two for milk, bread, bananas, etc., but seeking to be “wise”, I considered buying triple my norm today. I then remembered that everything had to travel home on my shoulder, so I even more wisely limited myself to twice as much fresh milk, bread, etc!

No, we are not expecting lashing rains and wind, but many fear turbulence as Kenyans to go the polls tomorrow (Wednesday, August 4) for the first national day of voting since the December ’07 presidential elections – which ended in turmoil. Tomorrow’s vote is to say YES or NO to a new constitution. Kenyans agree that a new constitution is needed, but there are many contentious issues in the proposed constitution and some have been “interpreted” and “misinterpreted” to the point that many voters are very confused. There are some who have gained power, wealth, property, etc., from the current constitution and they do not desire change. Also, as I added last week, “Many are using this vote to strengthen their own agendas, rather than seeking what it best for the whole country.”

NO – yes, I know to never begin two paragraphs with the same word, BUT – NO! WE ARE NOT FEARFUL. We expect peace tomorrow and in coming days, but we know that there are some who may seek to cause problems, so I am sending this week’s Prayer Update a day early with these prayers requests: Pray for peace and wisdom as Kenyans go to the polls tomorrow and as results are shared. Praise God for Kenyan Christians who are seeking His guidance and will as they vote. Pray that the vote will support what is best and beneficial for the country and the majority of her citizens, not just a few. Pray that those seeking discord will be unsuccessful! Pray for a speedy and transparent announcement of the results. Pray for comfort and safety for those who live in the parts of Kenya where the pain and suffering was greatest during the ’07 Post-Election Crisis. Pray that those who disagree with the outcome will find peaceful ways to seek change and PRAISE God for those who are already working at bringing peace in this situation.

Even with added tensions and stresses this past week, it was a great week with happenings so wonderful that I have to share them so that you can also praise God for how He is at work in Kenya. Last week included two special times hosting young Southern Baptist volunteers in our home,
a farewell for a missionary couple which included a Surprise Burst of Colour, attending the wedding of a very special Christian Maasai friend, being a part of the 5th service of the new Parklands Baptist Church Mombasa Road Church, and simply times of enjoying Kenya! God is at work in Kenya – and He WILL BE in the next few days – so once again, I thank you for joining in His work as you pray for the needs of Kenya and our world! BERT
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Photo Albums of things I saw last week that I promise will strengthen your prayers and often make you smile:
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