We have an awesome God

I have been feeling flat the last while – the arrival of my family from Australia has in some ways lifted me from depression only to crash after they have returned home – It was never going to be long enough , I was never going to see them enough . On the positive I have seen that despite what they have gone through they have come through it in a way that makes me feel very proud of them . All four live with my Bil , the boys no contact with their mother – my sister at all . The little girl has access for 4 days twice a month – how long that will continue I dont know – I fear for her when she becomes a stroppy teen with an independant spirit that does not bend to the will of my sister .

And its lovely to see answered prayer – its over 2 years since i found out they were at risk but didnt know who from . As time went on I knew it wasnt from my bil but it still took a while to accept it was from  my own sister . Then i cried out to God to keep them safe and i remember in particular praying that they where placed with the right parent – cause I sure didnt know  who that was .

I wish I could post picture of us all together – we had a lovely chinese at my house one night , a day out with other family , a meal with my whole family and of course they had to do it with pip`s family . Not a restful holiday for them at all . He hopes to bring them back in 2 years – that would be wonderful but expensive and of course the court case to get permission – my sister made it so difficult ( and expensive) .

So loads to pray about and much more to give thanks for . I feel loss, and guilt that Im not there to help , guilt that shes my sister and that she chose to follow in the footsteps of our mother . Pain for my BIL, and Im praying that God will place someone in is life , its no suprise a couple of days ago i was prayig for them all as i was driving , my eyes filled with tears when i thought of him on his own, the sun was shining through the clouds and for a brief second there was a dove – the dove of peace – Gods peace and understanding over him -we have an awesome God.

Open Doors: Eritrean

Evangelist fears for his life inside Eritrean prison

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

- 1 Peter 1:8-9 [NIV]

Eritrea

An evangelist imprisoned since 2006 for his Christian activities is reported to be undergoing especially harsh treatment because of his ministry to inmates. Sources said Teame Weldegebriel is on the brink of despair while he languishes at the Mai Sirwa Maximum Security Confinement prison.

“It seems that hell has broken loose on me,” Weldegebriel told supporters. “Please tell the brethren to continue praying for me. I am not sure I will see them again.” Prison authorities consider Weldegebriel dangerous because of his boldness in sharing his faith. The Rhema Church evangelist has been proclaiming Christ to other prisoners, and many have converted to Christianity.

Weldegebriel’s family is worried about his health after trying repeatedly, without success, to get permission to visit him. Inmates at the prison often go hungry and are said to be feeding on leaves.

The government views leaders of large unregistered bodies like the Full Gospel Church and Rhema Church as threats, according to Christian sources in the country. Eritrean officials fear church leaders will expose the abuses and conditions in the prisons. It is extremely difficult for relatives to see those in prison, or for inmates to send or receive letters.

A former prisoner described how God is at work in Eritrea, with many people converting to Christ: “For sure Christians are getting imprisoned, but God’s word cannot be imprisoned,” he said.

Source: Compass Direct

Prayer points:

1. Please pray for evangelist Teame Weldegebriel – that through His word, God would give him hope for the future, and that the attacks on him would relent

2. Please pray that the authorities would permit Teame’s family to visit him and that they would be able to encourage him

3. Pray that all the new believers will receive good teaching and discipleship and be able to grow in their new-found faith.

Thank you for praying with us.

John
Communications Team

Better again

pepper teapot was poorly which involved running her to the vets for an injection  every day – so nice bill to be paid but she does seem better – UTI poor girl – seems happier now that she allowed to run in and out again when she pleases – Yesterday she came into the kitchen – i gave her a carrot and of she went with it .

As you can see she got a bit close to the camera

Give Thanks…..

Today Im feeling sad , playing sad music, allowing myself to be sad.  My dear bil , nephews and neice have been over from Australia – today they travel home – please pray for them its a long journey – And its a sad situation all round – no their Mum – my sister was not with them . She has chose a different path .

Today Im giving thanks for the special time I have spent with them , each time the parting gets harder but I wouldnt swap the pain for anything – praying to being sad in 2 years again . Also giving thanks to God for all the answered prayers in their situation, he has placed them safely .

1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV)

8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.

Give thanks …..

Its such a beautiful day

Exodus 15:2 (NIV)

2 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

OPEN DOORS: IRAN

Christians charged with ‘apostasy’

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

- Acts 9:4-5 [NIV]

Iran

Two Iranian Christians have officially been charged with “apostasy”, or leaving Islam, as a draft law making the death penalty mandatory for those convicted of the charge is set to be debated in Iran’s Parliament.

Mahmood Matin Azad, 52, and Arash Basirat, 44, have been in prison since May 15, when they were detained while meeting with other Christians in a park in Shiraz.

Charges are based on Article 214 of the penal code and treatise on legal affairs, the Tahrir ol Vassileh. Iran’s legal system is based on shariah (Islamic) law.

With the apostasy bill to be debated in Parliament, some Iranian Christians fear that authorities are seeking to make an example of the two prisoners or give the prospective law a “test run”.

In February this year, the Iranian Parliament proposed a draft penal code that demands a mandatory death sentence for leaving Islam. Under current Iranian law, although apostasy is considered a capital offence, punishment is left to the discretion of the judge.

Arash, who suffers from diabetes, and Matin are expected to appear in court within the next few weeks to begin their defence.

Despite many individual believers being severely oppressed by the authorities, the Church in Iran has experienced substantial growth as increasing numbers of Iranians from a Muslim background come to faith, often through satellite TV and radio broadcasts.

Source: Compass Direct

Prayer points:

1. Please pray for Mahmood and Arash as they begin their defence. Pray for wisdom and understanding for their legal team as they argue quite literally for their lives.

2. Pray that the proposed legislation, which permits Christians to be killed for reaching out to others with the love of Christ, will not be passed.

3. Pray for the impact of Christian communications through satellite TV and the internet.

Thank you for praying with us.

John
Communications Team

ButterflyHouse

These are  some of the photos I took when we went to the butterfly house – It was lovely day and Bear really enjoyed seeing all the butterflies., Especially when one landed on his hand.  Sadly the other two consider themselves too old to go, not interesting enough so it was just the 3 of us .

For a friend xxx

Itook this photo when we went to the butterfly house the Sunday before last  , I will try and post some more photos tomorrow, it was one of those days when we had a little bit of every weather – well except snow and the way the seasons are changing  that wouldnt suprise me – The verse is for a dear friend going through a tough time . Love and prays sweetie xxx

Positive Thoughts

Prayers :Depression

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

Amen
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Often I think I live in a bubble – not always aware fo what is going on in it – I dont read newspapers , rarely watch the news- but I now know what The Mighty Boosh is or at least that this programme has been doing my head in without realising it .

Often I think Dd should be on the stage , she regularty goes around acting and singing silly songs -Remember Charlie from candy mountain – she knows and sings it word for word- heres a reminder and a warning – there is now part 2 and 3

well I now know where her more of her talents have been coming from The mighty Boosh- any wiser? How did I miss this for over 4 years-lol

The song she sings is about half way through this one

Personally I think Dd is better

Open Doors: Nigeria

Muslim Extremists Burn Church Building in Nigeria

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

- Psalm 9:9 [NIV]

Nigeria

On Sunday 31 August, Muslim extremists set fire to a Christ Apostolic Church building in the Baboko area of central Nigeria’s Kwara state.

The Rev. Samuel Ogowole said that local Muslims had complained that the church building was located near a mosque.

The church building was 500 metres from the Baboko mosque, but to appease the Muslim community the Kwara state government had offered church leaders 3 million naira (£14,000) and ordered the congregation to relocate. Church leaders rejected the order, saying they had spent nearly seven times that much to construct the church building.

Rev. Ogowole said that Muslims initially applied pressure on town planning authorities in 2005. “This ultimately resulted in a relocation notice asking us to relocate the church out of the area in seven days,” he said. “However, we objected to the relocation order. Our position was that relocating to another place would mean creating hardship for our members here, who would have to travel many kilometres in order to worship.”

Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, secretary of the Kwara state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), told reporters he hopes the state government will intervene to prosecute the arsonists.

Source: Compass Direct

Prayer points:

• Please pray for peace to prevail in Kwara state. Ask God to strengthen and protect his people there.
• Pray that the church members would respond with love and forgiveness, not retaliation.
• Pray that the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice and that the church will be adequately compensated.

Update:

Yesterday Open Doors was told that the health of Shi Weihan, the Christian bookstore owner and house church leader imprisoned in Beijing for the past few months, continues to deteriorate. Apparently he is now hardly recognisable to his closest friends. Please pray for him and his family. You can speak up on his behalf by going to www.opendoorsuk.org/advocacy

Thank you for praying with us.

John
Communications Team

Please feel free to forward this email to members of your church, friends and family,
because it is your prayer cover which supports and strengthens our work!

Tara

So Not fair

Never liked those video clip programmes where it is deemed funny when people trip and fall over -personally cant see what is funny about people nearly breaking their necks . Society seems to love laughing at others as they fall flat on their faces .

Im sure if one of my neighbours had been out early yesterday armed with their video camera they would have been assured of the £200 or so for the funny clip as I fell and nearly broke something . Actually thought I had broken my arm as I fell and did a rather spectacular roll – bumped my hip and a few scrapes but otherwise thank God .

This morning I woke up in agony, awful spasms .  My back , I have damaged discs and was on painkillers for years – A year and a Half ago a couple of friends prayed over me and praise God I was great and didnt have any side affects of stopping strong tablets immediately .  So today Im resting , letting God have peace to do his work .

What I want to know if I was 2 I would have cried , got up and been fine – Why is that , why do kids bounce , and why at 21+++ do I not . So not fair.

Fear grips,
Panic takes hold.
Restricting, Consuming,
helplessness leaves me
feeling weak and cold.

Running away,
I bow my head and hide.
In denial and disbelief,
I long to hide in my bed,
blanketed in sorrow.

Without strength,
Without power,
I wander aimlessly.
Till finally I turn to you,
broken for repair.

For every step and every breath,
God still is in control

GARDEN

The garden hasnt done well this year , the window boxes etc that Bear and I planted where just starting to come on when we had the wettest Augusts ever . I took a few photos around the garden of any colour I could find.

I particularly like the last little flower- very cute

Open Doors: Indian

Violence in Orissa claims many lives

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

- Matthew 5:9 [NIV]

India

A tide of anti-Christian violence has erupted in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, after suspected Maoists murdered Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his disciples on Saturday 23 August.

Over 3,000 police have been deployed but attacks on churches continue. Hundreds of Christians have fled their homes. The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the violence as a “national disgrace”.

The number of suspected deaths has risen to 21 after a week of ongoing violence in Kandhamal district and other parts of Orissa. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that more than 114 anti-Christian attacks have taken place in various parts of the state.

GCIC President, Dr. Sajan K. George, stated: “The worst hit are the people in Kandhamal district, where more than 400 churches, 500 houses and many Christian institutions have been demolished. The people have fled to jungles for safety.”

A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said Christians in Orissa were living in fear and anxiety. “The law enforcing agencies have not been able to contain the violent elements that are still at large,” he said. “The violent mobs are destroying churches, orphanages, hostels of children, convents of religious women and houses of Christian families. There appears a sense of helplessness among the Christian community that has borne the brunt of the communal frenzy created by some fundamentalist organizations.”

Christians account for less than a million of Orissa’s 37 million population.

Source: Compass Direct / BBC

Prayer points:

• Please pray for peace to prevail in Orissa. Pray that God would raise up ‘peacemakers’, men and women who are able to positively influence the deteriorating relationship between the Christian and Hindu communities
• Please pray for our Open Doors local coordinator, who was only able to escape Baliguda fractionally before the colony he lived in was torched by a Hindu mob
• Pray that Open Doors’ ministry in the region will be able to continue.

Thank you for praying with us.

John
Communications Team

Please feel free to forward this email to members of your church, friends and family,
because it is your prayer cover which supports and strengthens our work!

Prayer :Contentment

Lord, grant us true contentment…

Acceptance of what each day brings,

Joy in you and not in things,

Tranquility in storm or strife,

Serenity in all of life;

That when you whisper, ‘Peace, be still,’

We’ll wait upon your perfect will,

Knowing we will soon be blessed

By love that only wants our best.

Help us see that we are meant

To rest in you… and be content.

~ B.J. Hoff

Ikea

Oh the joys of Ikea- what did we do before without it . Bank holiday Monday and we went down to look at desks etc – Dd`s room needs a revamp . She`s too big and grown-up for her high bed with settee below , so its dismantled and she is sleeping on a matress on the floor till the room  is decorated . So we got a new desk , chair and bedlinen , Bear got a new night light and I ( drum roll please ) got a cheese grater , fab red and black clothes pegs and a really cool black and red reusble shopping bag . Sad thing is Im really pleased with my purchases.

The cafe is great in it and bear enjoyed watching all the planes taking of as its beside the city airport .Now I have to decide what to do with the old high bed . Too good to throw out and the matress and setee cushion done .

Open Doors: Yemen

Nine detained for converting from Islam to Christianity

“Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

- Psalm 12:5 [NIV]

Yemen

Yemeni police have detained at least nine people for converting from Islam to Christianity, a security official has admitted. The nine were arrested between May and early August and remain in police custody, said the official.

Converting from Islam to any other religion is illegal in Yemen and can be punishable by death. But in previous cases, those arrested are usually released after they revoke their new faith and pledge to return to Islam.

Three of the nine were detained in the capital, San’a, said the official, but he declined to provide details about the others. A family member of one of the detainees said he fears those arrested could face torture or abuse in prison. He said that Hani el-Dahayni, 30, was detained in May after police stormed his office and confiscated computers and compact discs.

Mansour Hayel, vice president of the Omar al-Gawi Political Forum that advocates for human rights and civil liberties in Yemen, blamed the arrests on the growing influence of extremist Muslim groups in Yemen.

Source: Assist News / International Christian Concern

Prayer points:

• Ask God to give strength and endurance to the nine prisoners and their families
• Pray for their protection and swift release
• Pray that God would prosper the work of those working for religious freedom in Yemen

Update on Christian girls kidnapped in Pakistan
The custody battle over Saba and Aneela Younis, who were allegedly forced to convert to Islam, remained inconclusive after a hearing on 20 August, with rights advocates for the family suspecting Muslim fundamentalists of pressuring the minors and a medical board. The next hearing has been set for 9 September. For the latest information see www.opendoorsuk.org/news.

Thank you for praying with us