The headlines are grim from RELIGION TODAY.  Christians are being persecuted around the world, and we hear very little about it.  It is hard to bear.  Yet, it is written.  Persecution will continue until the last days, until the number of martyrs killed would be completed, according to His Plan.  We are not yet destined to be free of such atrocity. 

Still, I wonder.  Why do we not hear about this in our usual media outlets?  ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, and all the rest, shame on you!  You are so censored that even worthy news can no longer be broadcast.  It actually embarrasses me.  I can no longer watch this boatload of pap in America.  It is a travesty and smacks of neglect, brainwashing, and elitism.  Apostasy!  Ugly!

Following are just a few of the headlines that are being kept from Americans today:


Christian Persecution Abounds Worldwide

Syria: Christians Increasingly Being Targeted, Driven From Homes

Church Attacks in Kenya More Reason for U.S. Focus on Growing Africa Terror Groups

Murder of Nigerian Christian Senator, Physician Sends Shockwave Through Community

Syrian Christians Fear for Their Future if Extremists Take Control

Indonesia: Church Set on Fire as Forced Closures Continue

Iran: Imprisoned Pastor in Critical Condition

Egypt's Coptic Women Abducted in the Name of Islam

Christian Surgeon's Heart Center Under Threat From Muslims in Egypt

Unrest in Jos as Nigerian Army Launches Offensive in Plateau State


The Fifth Seal, The Martyrs

9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Revelations 6:9-11


You can help.  A very good place to start is to order a free copy of The Voice of the Martyrs for yourself and for your friends.  Without going into too much detail about the torture and abuse that Christians endured under Communist Regime (and are still enduring today), Richard Wurmbrand, himself a prisoner, gives great insight into the workings and the successes of the Underground Church, not only in his homeland of Romania, but around the world.  Please visit persecution.com to find more current news and to order your free copy of this enlightening message.  It is a message of hope, one that may lead you to become a working member of the Underground Church.  God works His Plan in the most incredible and wondrous of ways.

I have noticed subtle changes happening within and without since becoming born again.  We read about this all of the time.  There are many references to a holy kind of change that occurs when one decides to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Though we are still sinners, desires shift.  Patience grows.  Calm takes over.  The old behaviors leave, and I am very glad to see them go.  Love and joy are things I have always striven for, but this newfound patience, faithfulness and gentleness in attitude is a real pleasure to experience.  Something I like to do is read the words of Jesus, highlighted in red in my bible, and when I do, my very cells vibrate with goodness. 

I have been looking for scripture to define the changes that occur in new Christians more succinctly.  Today in the One Place newsletter, Galatians 5:19-23 was published.  Ask and you shall receive, for there was the verse for which I had been looking!  I will post it here, if for no other reason than to highlight my gratitude.  Praise the Mighty Lamb, as David would say, this day and every day!

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23

Oh, how intimate our relationship with our God is!  To understand this helps one to trust Him and to love Him with all the heart, and to walk confidently by His side.  Based upon Paul's letter to the Ephesians (6:11-17), this video helps us to understand how deeply God's love truly runs.  We, as Christians today, do not seem to understand the depth of God's love for us.  We stumble and trip, easily stray, worry, fret, and disdain; we are the victims of the Great Deceiver, because we are not fully confident of the places we hold in our Maker's heart. 

In this video Mark Blitz teaches us about the Full Armor of God.  It is not what you may have learned!  He also emphasizes the importance of God's love, how loudly it has been proclaimed, again and again.  He then blesses us in the ancient priestly tradition.  Pastor Blitz also stresses how important it is that we bless our children in similar ways, each and every day!  

When things are right and good, we embrace the love of God easily, happily.  There are times, however, when circumstances seem to turn against us.  We feel down on our luck, lost and abandoned.  We sometimes even lose our hope.  This video is a powerful testament to the love God has for each and every one of us.  We can lean here when times are tough.  The love of God is always present, ever there.  We must not forget.  Not ever!  Thank you to Father's Love Letter for assembling these verses to create such a powerful message and for making it available to the public on YouTube.  Hopefully, it will help one of you if the goin' gets rough.  We all have days when we need a little boost, a little reminder.  Here it is, straight from the powerful word of God!  For you!  With love!