In Matthew 7:8 we find these words: “Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” The words used in this passage, “ask”, “seek”, and “knock”, imply continuous, persistent action. Jesus didn’t tell His disciples that they should only ask once, seek briefly, or give a single knock when they pray […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…8/9/2023…”Everlasting to Everlasting”
A question that comes to mind at times, and badgers us as believers, is will God’s love for me truly endure? Will it continue even through my failings and sinful mistakes? Can my own weaknesses as a Christ-follower ever wear down His love for me? Psalm 103:17 tells us that The love (mercy) of the LORD is from everlasting to […]
MIDEAST UPDATE….8/1/2023….”Strengthen the Hands Which Hang Down”
With so much chaos and misery in our world today, a bit of encouragement and a brief reminder of what our lives as believers and followers of Jesus Christ are all about, might be welcome. I have turned back to Hebrews 12 several times in the past few days and have found it quite refreshing. Sometimes it is good to […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…7/6/2023…”Knocked Down But Not Destroyed”
Just before sharing the latest call from Pastor R, I would like to refer to a passage of Scripture found in the fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians the Living Bible. 7 But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…6/22/2023…”By the ‘Foolishness’ of Preaching, Those Who Believe Are Saved”
In light of the approaching Muslim pilgrimage known as the Hajj, and the Muslim day of sacrifice on the third day, Eid al-Adha, this is a timely update. Pastor R mentioned the upcoming date in a call this week. Most readers are aware of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. This year, about 2 million Muslims are expected to journey […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…6/16/2023….Our God Has All Things Under Control!
One request that is made quite often in the Mideast Updates over the past 11 years, is for prayer. Why is prayer requested? It is because God’s intervention is needed. I wonder how many of us, yours truly included, pray in a nonchalant way, not really grasping the gravity of what we are doing and not realizing what is involved […]
MIDEAST UPDATE….6/3/2023….”Groaning”
In God, every heartache, every tear, every difficulty, and every sorry that we experience in this life will bring forth the birth of new life. The pains we experience in this world will be forgotten in the next in the joy of new life. Notice the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8: 18 “For I consider that the sufferings of […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…5/22/2023…”When GOD’s Answer Isn’t So Prompt”
One of the things that sometimes can cause frustration in our Christian lives is when we are in difficult situations and, seemingly, no amount of prayer is changing things — or at least, not that we can see. Gary Wilkerson in his World Challenge Newsletter, addressed the subject by using King David’s prayer in Psalm 6 as an example. I […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…4/30/2023…”The Scroll of Life”
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Psalm 139. Here is just a sampling of the verses: 1 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to […]
MIDEAST UPDATE…4/18/2023…”Let Your Light So Shine…”
As the dark shadow of the approaching Great Tribulation comes ever closer, the more we as followers of Jesus must realize that what little time we have left on this earth, is crucial. If we are still here and breathing, it means that God still has a specific purpose for each of us. There are unfortunately those who, out of […]