Fully Committed………
2 Chron 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
Last Saturday morning while talking with Sarah, my wife, she quoted the above verse, 2 Chron. 16:9. This verse stayed with me as I sat down at my computer and was reading the Word (yes, I read the Bible on my computer.) When I found the verse and read it in it’s context my mind immediately went to another verse…. also above, 1 Peter 5:8.
I think that these two verses are a simple yet clear picture of the two spiritual forces that are looking to impact our daily lives. The Lord is intently looking for those who are looking to Him. What is He seeking to do….to strengthen their heart. What is “your enemy” doing? He is prowling (that’s his nature…sneaky) in search of someone to devour.
So what responsibility or choice do I have in this matter? Our choice should be to be fully committed to the Lord, and to resist and stand firm in the faith all attempts of the Evil One to affect our lives.
James R. Smith
In Memory of Helen Issangya
Mama Helen with one of her daughters Rogathe and one of her grandchildren, Shirley.
The first time I went to Africa was in 1993; that seems like two lifetimes ago. Since 1993 I have been back to Africa well over twenty times (thank you MSCF!). Most of these times I have stayed in the home of my dear friends Eliudi and Helen Issangya, in Sakila, Tanzania.
The first time I rode from the Kilimanjaro Airport to the village of Sakila I felt as if I had travelled to some foreign planet, or possibly the moon, that’s how strange it was to me (and also to my good friend, Mike Wood). Now when I go to Sakila it is truly my “second home.” Other than my own house I feel most at home when I am in Sakila. Much of that credit goes to Mama Helen Issangya who saw to it that I was welcomed and cared for over the last seventeen and a half years. This dear woman, wife of my great friend Eliudi Issangya, and mother to six children, has now passed on to her eternal home, a greater home. A land that will never grow old.
This blog is a small attempt to show her the honor and respect that is due to her for taking care of me and the many other people who showed up at her home in need of care. Mama Helen was always there for me. She made sure that I had the food that I needed, the clean water that was necessary, and she showed great compassion towards me as I went through everything from malaria (1996) to a heart attack that caused me to be hospitalized and have surgery in Amsterdam in 2007. She had suffered so much with her illness that she knew how to care for those who were in pain or distress.
Helen treated me with such respect. I hope that I sincerely returned that respect back to her. Thank you Mama Helen for giving yourself to all of us for all these years. I, and many others, African and Americans, will never forget all that you did for us, and the “Mama” that you were to us. Be at rest, Be at Peace, Mama Helen.
Helen Issangya went to her eternal home on February 2, 2010.
James R. Smith
Sorry about that………
Over a month ago I had it put in the bulletin and announced that I would be doing more blogging. My intention is that these blogs would be of a devotional nature. Obviously I have not followed up on my plan, but now I am back!
As most of you know I was in Africa in February and that is what got me off schedule. My hope was to be able to blog from there but that was not technologically possible.
Recently I spoke for two weeks on God’s faithfulness to us in times of trials and suffering.
1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
We shouldn’t be suprised when we face “painful trials.” Why would we think that we would be exempt from them when all it takes is to read through the N.T. and church history to see that trials, storms of life, and suffering can, at times, be earmarked for us by our Loving Father. It’s not a popular teaching in most American churches, but nonetheless it is a truth from God’s Word
What we need to remember is that God is, and always will be, FAITHFUL.
Ps 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
James R. Smith
Because it Matters…Unity
Unity = 1.the state of being one; oneness. 2.a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. 3. the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification. 4. oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as among a number of persons; concord, harmony, or agreement.
There you have the definition of UNITY. All of those nice sounding words that we know are only possible to put into practice with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The importance of unity in a church cannot be stressed enough; it’s not just important but it is necessary for a church to function in a way that would correctly represent our Saviour, Jesus Christ. When you consider the option to unity it helps to draw a more clear understanding of the absolute imperative of a body of believers moving as one in the unity of Christ.
We have all heard enough toxic horror stories of church splits, factions and gossip within a church that render that church powerless to preach the good news because you can’t produce fresh waters of life from such a polluted, spirit-grieving environment. Sadly, some of the ugliest conflicts I have ever witnessed have been within the confines of the Body of Christ.
Yes, I know that correct teaching and doctrine are important. Also that we will not all agree with one another in some doctrinal areas, but we can be in fellowship and unity if we have built a correct scriptural foundation on the basis of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of His Word.
Unity matters becasue it is an expression of the Lord Himself. We can’t fake unity. Why does it matter? Prayerfully consider the following verses:
Rom 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
We are members of the Body of Christ. He has equipped with all that we need to work together for His Kingdom. In the end isn’t this all that matters? Our life for His Glory!
James R. Smith
“How Far Will God Travel?”
“How far will God
travel…to bring
refreshment and
His love?
This was the question I asked over and over again to myself and Sarah Jane B. I asked it to friends and audiences during conversations and public presentations while in Coventry, Bangalore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Mokokchung, Kohima, Dimapur, and Enkoping, Sweden.
An ancient Hebrew Proverb reads, ”Like a cold glass of water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.” The theme of this, my second, trip to India and Nagaland and Europe was this proverb. Early on in Coventry, England as we, Sarah Jane and I, said our “first” of many goodbyes to our many hosts we were told, “Your visit refreshed us!” My reflection upon our effort and extent of travel caused me to meditate upon God’s effort expended in reaching human beings with His love. After all, “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to give us everlasting life.” If there ever was a long distance traversed to refresh the souls of mankind it was Christ’s first missionary journey from heaven’s throne to earth’s soil.
God’s love produced the desire within me to refresh friends and strangers alike in the nations that we would visit. My timeline would extend across 41 days and 41 nights, over 24,000 miles on 11 different air flights. I slept in 7 different beds, ate 7 different cuisines, and drank from 7 local water sources (after boiling, of course!). My carry-on and two luggage pieces were filled with clothing for 3 different cultures and 3 different climates. During travel slots within my itinerary I experienced several 24 hour periods with absolutley no sleep. One of the gifts given to me by the Lord were ”prayer nights”, all mentioned in my journal, during which 2 or 3 hours of sweet sleep met my need and the rest of the night was spent in intercessory prayer and worship. These nights I loved especially!
“Health is Number One!” – Ask Sarah Jane how often I declared this. When travelling in a developing nation staying healthy has to be on the top of the list. Despite my lack of sleep and the arduous & rigorous schedule, excellent health was mine from start to finish! Your prayers for me were effective, my dear Morning Star family! “Beyond my human ability!” was a frequent thought and statement from my lips.
With regard to bringing refreshment, my target audiences were three: 1) Morning Star Mission partners in Mokokchung, Nagaland, India and specifically Tiala Ao, Moa & Sentila Jamir, and the administrators, staff, and students at the Nagaland Bible College and the Nagaland Children’s Residential School; 2) both current and prospective HOPE FOR CHANGE (www.H4Cinternational.org) partners; 3) those Indian and South Asia Christians who have experienced or who are experiencing human rights discrimination and suffering for living the Gospel message.
In 7 different locations I was given opportunity to speak about The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) to those who were previously unaware of such a day and such a global prayer event. On seven different occasions my listeners were held in rapt attention as I explained the breadth of modern-day religious persecution in fifty-five nations affecting 800 million Christian believers. Each one pledged to pray on Sunday, November 8, 2009 and to observe IDOP in coming years.
On IDOP Sunday I was in a church service in Enkoping, Sweden and given “as much time as I needed” to teach about IDOP, share a personal experience, and lead the congregation in prayer for persecuted Christians. In my absence, Cynthia Peters graciously agreed to lead Morning Star’s annual observance during MSCF’s Sunday morning meeting. I thank Cindy for her heart and committment to this message and that, together, we both serve International Christian Concern (ICC) as volunteer representatives. In every location I left ICC’s literature and web site address (www.persecution.org).
I did not have to think long about which of the numerous personal testimonies to share with the Enkoping congregation. While at the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Bangalore base on Tuesday night, October 13th, my last night there, a young woman named Mercy sat at my table during my last supper there. I had seen her earlier in the day as she was cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms in the YWAM Hospitality Suite. I noted that she had done a superb job and the whole place was immaculate.
Mercy poured her heart out to me and told me that her father’s life had been threatened twice, her family had to flee their home, and that her home was ransacked in their absence. Mercy was giving me a first-hand account of the horrific violence that broke out in Orissa State during late August and continued during all of September, 2008. During last year’s visit to India I had met a pastor and Christian brother who told me their own compelling personal tragedies.
Mercy’s faith was shaken, her mind filled with anxiety and stress, and she told me that she repeatedly asked the Lord, “Why was He allowing this persecution to come to her people?” and “Since You are allowing it, why are You not helping my people?”
One week later I was in Gurgaon in Haryana District outside of Delhi. It had been a week since checking my email. When I saw my incoming mail, there was an email from Mercy…MercyOrissa to be exact. She told me that my words to her had answered her two questions which had plagued her for thirteen months. My words were,”On November 8, 2009 Christians in thousands of American congregations would be praying for Indian Christians, that India was on top of my list for IDOP 2009, that audiences all the world over were learning about persecution because of what happened in Orissa State, and that the courage of the Indian Christians was an inspiration to all of us.”
This part of her email read, “You are such a blessing sis for me. After talking to you I feel so relaxed in my mind and in my body. Because from a long time I been filled with sadness and pain. But when I meet you my heart filled with joy. Because the whole (Christian) world is praying for me. Thank you for telling me that on november you people are praying for Orissa. Your sis MercyOrissa”
“Like a cold glass of water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.” Proverbs 25:25
How far will God travel to bring His love, His refreshment, His peace? The answer that I have experienced is…as far as it takes.
In His grace always,
Sarah Anne Smith