Far to the east, on the other side of the globe, is the nation of China. How many of us had dreams of digging a hole straight down all the way through the earth when we were kids so that we could go there?

China has always been a place of mystery to us. It is so far from us geographically that it might as well be on another planet. On the other hand, if you walk into a Dillon’s you might just find a Chinese kitchen where you can pick up some “traditional” dishes.

The people of China are not a free people. The Communist party strives to control every aspect of the daily lives of the Chinese people. There is an entire government office charged with the task of censorship. The work it has done to restrict the information coming in via the internet has been dubbed the “Great Firewall of China”. The government wants the people to only think thoughts that it approves of, and uses forced labor to “re-educate” people who do not meet the standards.

Because of this, the government has worked to eliminate all religion from the nation. Starting in 1949 when the Communists came into power, the government has worked to purge religion from the hearts and minds of the people.

Over 90% of all Christians in China are members of underground churches. More Christians are in some form of detention in China than in any other country in the world. Every Christian faces unimaginable persecution because of their faith.

In spite of this, the Christians of China continue to preach the Gospel despite the costs. In fact, Christianity is growing so rapidly in China that even though the government still holds the official stance of being against it, it has lessened some on the persecution.

God is at work in the hearts of the people of China. His hope is spreading like wildfire through a people who have been in real bondage for over 60 years. We need to keep lifting up our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world in prayer. Trust that they are praying for you.

There are probably few countries that have as much of a place in the collective American psyche as Vietnam. It was a war that divided the American people. The wounds of that conflict are still felt today, and not all of them are physical.

Because of our history with Vietnam as a nation, it is easy for us to overlook it. Many would like to forget about it altogether. Regardless of how you felt about the Vietnam War, we all can agree that it was dark time for America. It was a dark time for the Vietnamese as well. For them the darkness is not over.

Reconciliation between the north and south did not really start until the mid 80’s. It was a short time after that the Vietnamese government started trying to reunify with the rest of the world. One group is still under attack, however: the Christians.

Though the government claims openness to religion, all churches have to register, and are then subject to very strict restrictions. Because of this many Christian churches do not register, and then become persecuted by the state.

In 2008 a newly built church was set on fire. As hundreds of Christians rushed in to put out the flames, they were beaten by police with electric cattle prods. Five were seriously hurt including a young child.

Christians are regularly arrested and tortured. Many die because of this. Due to the oppressive climate towards Christians, most baptisms happen at night in secret, and people have to walk for miles just to get a bible.

Despite all of this, the church continues to grow. There is a rapid acceptance among the ethnic minorities in the mountain regions. Like Israel in Egypt, the harder the government works to stop the church, the more it grows. God will not be stopped by man!

Pray for the Christians in Vietnam this week. Ask God to give them strength to face the persecution around them. Ask God to bless them for their faithfulness. Also, pray that God will send more teachers and missionaries to instruct the new Christians in how they are to live.

If you watch the news just about any day of the week, you will have heard of Afghanistan. It is one of the main nations that the war on terror is focusing on today.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s poorest and least developed nations. It is also home to the largest part of the world wide opium trade. Because of this, much of the farm land that would grow food crops now grows poppies. The poverty and Afghanistan’s history of warfare and violence have left this nation in chaos. The government is powerless to stop the crime that runs rampant.

It is a land that has been devastated by war within itself and with other nations. For much of its history, it has known very little true peace. It is also home to a very different kind of warfare- spiritual warfare.

It is a heavily Muslim nation, with over 95% of its population followers of Islam. Because of this, it is a place of great persecution. All Christians face oppression from their families and neighbors. One man was banished from his family home when he became a Christian. Christian evangelists who were once Muslim receive death threats and even assassination attempts. One was severely beaten by radical Muslims, and the police turned a blind eye towards it. On the most extreme side, one Afghani Christian led several of his friends to Christ, and two of them were later killed because of it.

With all of this going on, the Christians there keep going. Nothing is going to keep them from serving God and spreading the gospel. We can join them in their struggle through prayer. Support our Christian brothers and sisters who are fighting for the eternal lives of the lost in Afghanistan by lifting them up to the Father.

On Africa’s Mediterranean coast between Algeria and Libya is the small Arab country of Tunisia. With desert in the south and lush fertile farm land in the north, it is a land of striking extremes.

Considered the most liberated of Arab nations, it is a place where the pursuit of wealth is the chief goal of its population. In a backlash to the fundamentalism that once ruled it, it is almost as secular as any western nation. The more militant ideas of Islam are actually outlawed. It is considered to be open and progressive.

On the other hand, according to its constitution, all laws have to be founded in the teachings of Islam, and the president has to be Muslim. While small amounts of foreign minorities are aloud, only the Catholic church is recognized by the government, Christian evangelists are not welcomed.

Of the 10.4 million people in the country, only about 0.22% of the population claims to be Christian. The US state department estimates that only a few hundred natives have converted to Christianity. Many of those will return to Islam due to the oppression they face.

Though not outlawed by the government, Christianity is not welcomed in this nation. It is illegal to distribute Christian literature, and the government does nothing to stop the actions of the population when they act out against the Christians. While almost all other religions are given total freedom, Christianity is still held at arm’s length.

Be praying that the few native believers can have the strength to keep moving ahead; that they will not lose faith, no matter how hard things get. Pray that the Gospel will continue to spread.

A brief look at what our Christian brothers and sisters are facing in other parts of the world. This information comes from Voice of the Martyrs

At the southernmost end of Mexico is a lush and beautiful land. With rain forests, mountains, valleys, highlands and coastal regions, it could be called a paradise. When you look at pictures of the area, it is easy to see why the Aztecs valued it. Today, it is the economically poorest part of Mexico.

Chiapas is the most malnourished region in the whole country, and because it shares a border with Guatemala, it is the entry point for illegal immigrants and Central American gangs. Also, because of how isolated the towns are from one another, it is largely uneducated.

Like most of Latin America, Catholicism has a long tradition with the people in Chiapas. As a culture, most people claim afflation to the Catholic church. However, the theological and spiritual beliefs of the people are more pagan than Christian. The Catholic structure there is more about power than it is about Christ. As a result, it feels threatened when evangelical groups come in spreading the gospel. These groups weaken the stranglehold the Catholic church has on the people.

The true Christians there face real persecution from the so-called “church”. Radio stations have been torn down and people have been detained because they would not participate in Catholic rituals.

Though this is a “Christian” area, believers are under attack. These brave Christians need our prayers as they brings the message of Christ and hope to some of the neediest in the world. Please lift them up this week.

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

Psalms 12:6 (NLT)

There was this saying that we had when I was a kid. It went like this: "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt men." We would say it when someone would say something mean to us. (I preferred the "I’m rubber your glue; words bounce off me and stick to you", but that’s beside the point.) I think this saying was created with the best of intents, but it is just not true. Words can be destructive. I sometimes think that there is nothing that can hurt us more than words. The worst part is, we throw our words out with out even thinking. They’re dangerous, and we are so careless with them.

God is concerned with what we say. He cares very much about the words that come out of our mouths. In fact, the words that we say, say a lot about what is in our hearts. If our heart is pure, then our words will be pure. If not… you get the picture.

God is perfect. Everything about Him is pure and holy, even His words. If we are to be like God, then our words need to be as pure as He is. We really have to watch what we say. We have to be very careful about the things that come out of our mouths.

Consider This…

How well do you watch your tongue? Do you take care with the words you say? Do you try to build people up with your words? Are only holy things coming out of our mouth?

Pray that God will have control over your tongue.

But God hasn’t moved to the mountains; his holy address hasn’t changed. He’s in charge, as always, his eyes taking everything in, his eyelids Unblinking, examining Adam’s unruly brood inside and out, not missing a thing.

Psalms 11:4 (MSG)

The story of Robin Hood is an interesting one. We have a character who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He’s looking out for those that can’t defend them selves. He is a champion for the people from a corrupt leader. The reason he needs to exist is because the king is gone and evil men are ruling in his place. Because there is no king, evil men have taken control.

There are lots of people who think that God is like King Richard in Robin Hood. They think He is somewhere else and can’t see what is going on. They think they can get away with what ever they want because there is no one there to stop them. They think no one sees what they are doing.

God is on His throne. He has never left. He is still as much in control today as He was at the beginning of time. He is watching and waiting. He sees all that is going on, and He will judge. Those who think they are getting away with things have another thing coming. They will regret for all eternity the evil they’ve done.

Consider This…

Are you living in light of the fact that God is watching what you are doing? How would this truth change the way you are living your life?

Pray that God will show you how you should live right.

You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

Psalms 10:17 (NIV)

Does it seem like the world is backwards? You’re a Christian, and it seems like nothing goes right for you, while on the other hand those who want nothing to do with God seem to have it all. Makes it kind of hard to stay the course doesn’t it. It can make everything seem kind of hopeless.

There are many evil people in the world that seem to have it all. I am thinking of one man who has made his living defaming famous people in the world. He says really nasty things about them, and they bend over backwards to keep on his good side. He is now very rich and seems to have what we all want. On the other hand, I know Christians who are living the lives that God wants them to, and they seem to be barely making it through. Where is the justice in all of this?

God knows what is going on. He knows the issues that His people deal with. He knows how they suffer, and He hears their cries. He also sees the works of the wicked. He knows what they are doing, and He is keeping track of their sins. Just because He is not judging them now, does not mean that He won’t judge them at all. He is just waiting for the right time. This is the best they are going to get, our best is yet to come.

Consider This…

Don’t loose heart. Don’t stop just because things don’t seem fair. Praise the Lord that He is not "fair". God is aware, and when the time is right by His plan, He will act.

Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Psalms 9:19-20 (ESV)

I have a dog named Shade. She’s about a year old and loves to play. I know she’s ready to wrestle when she drops down into a crouch and stares at me. We will wrestle around on the ground for a while. (I’m ready to quit long before she is.) The way we play is she jumps around me and tries to bite my hands while I try and pop her on the side of the head. After a few minuets of this, I grab her and roll her on her back and hold her down till she submits. When we play like this, I always win because I am bigger, stronger, and smarter than she is. It is an unfair fight, yet as soon as I let her up, she is ready to go again.

People are a lot like my dog. We think that if we just try hard enough, that we can beat God. We ignore the fact that we are not even on the same playing field. When we go against God, He will always win. The crazy thing is, when God wins, it’s for His glory.

God acts so that we know who He is, and so that we can glorify in Him. He will save us so that we can praise His name. He will deliver us from our enemies so that we will tell others about what He has done. God wants us to know exactly who He is, and who we are in relation to Him.

Consider This…

Are you fighting against God? Does it fell like you are loosing? You are.

Stop fighting God, and seek His help for your life. Then praise Him for all that He is doing for you.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Psalms 9:1-2 (NLT)

Have you ever had one of those days that seemed like it wouldn’t end? You know, the kind of day when it seemed you couldn’t do anything right and when everyone was out to get you? The type of day that makes you wish life had a "reset" button? I’m sure you have, and if you haven’t, just wait.

These days are rough. It’s hard to get through them. You wonder why you ever got out of bed. All day long you just want it to end, and then it does. You go to bed and wake up the next morning and things start to get better. Even if you have one of those days that seem to last a whole year, the next is always better.

That’s how it is. Nothing about this world lasts forever. Everything ends. The worst times of our lives only last a season. There is always a better time just around the corner, we just have to wait for it.

The only thing that is truly eternal is God. He always was, is and will be. More than that, He never changes. He will always be the same. This is why we can have complete trust in Him. Bad times will come and go, but God will always be here.

Consider This…

Today, just take time to think about the unchanging God. Thank Him for always being there for you and work on placing all of your trust in Him.