Shan Dai Advocacy

#26 His Next Verse: True and Lasting Love

Around Valentine’s day we are reminded of everyone’s desire to know true and lasting love. And, like the rest of the world, the Dai’s view of love has been hijacked by perversity and evil. They live in a system of merit making and doing good in order to receive. They live a life of appeasing spirits in order to gain blessing and not curse. They live in community in such a duty-bound way, that love becomes guilt-ridden, bitter-filled, and joyless, which is really no love at all. Most Dai have yet to experience the free grace-filled love of Jesus. They do not know the love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever…”

One of the first Dai believers wrote about this amazing love in song (please refer to the prayer journal for the book of 1 Corinthians). This month Lydia, who has also written many Dai praise songs, has been traveling to a nearby area to receive help in producing a Dai Music video CD filled with these songs. Many years ago this was done with the very first Dai praise songs, and it had an amazing impact. Those videos were even played on local TV. This next project involves producing over 3 dozen new songs and has the potential to reach the ears of those who otherwise would not listen. Lord, we pray that your love would penetrate the hearts of the Dai people, please help us, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, to love you more and love others better. We pray especially for this video music project, that it would go forward smoothly and most of all glorify your name, that all the Dai may hear of true and lasting love. Amen.

#24 His Next Verse: Even though…yet I will rejoice

Sometimes the best teaching and learning moments are right in the midst of a challenge and with humble anticipation one goes beyond asking “why?” to becoming ready to listen for an answer. A young Shan Dai village church was excited! Soon it would be Christmas and they were planning to celebrate with a party of proclamation. Angel wings had been beautifully fashioned for part of the presentation, food had been purchased and prepared, fresh songs written and 10 new believers were ready for baptism. Then word came that the Christmas festivities would be canceled; the village leader did not want it to take place and it seemed like the area government church sided with the village leader on the decision. Disappointed and asking “why?” some of the translation team was ripe for the teaching Habakkuk gives to those who are ready to learn. Thank you God that no matter what comes or does not come, that you are a God worthy to be praised! Please, continue to grow the young church to trust You more and more in this New Year ahead. Honor their desire to honor you. In our loving Redeemer’s Name we pray.

“Even though, even though, even though…yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! (Habakkuk 3:17-19a)

#23 His Next Verse: Was your Christmas joyful, prayerful, thankful?

“Lydia” (see prayer journal article for Philippians for more background) was playing her guitar when we came to her house. She excitedly communicated how God recently had given to her not one but three songs while she was dreaming.
A few months earlier the following verses had been translated into the Shan Dai language: 1 Thessalonians 5:16,17,18: “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Lydia sang with contagious joy about God’s will for the Shan Dai people. Praising God for you who are prayerful on behalf of the Shan Dai we are thankful…and that can’t help but circle back around to joyfulness. Yes it has been a joyful, prayerful, thankful Christmas!

For those of you who enjoy completion, turn to 1Thessalonians in your prayer journal for the SD Bible translation and put a big “Praise the Lord!” Here is how
1 Thessalonians 5:16,17,18 looks in the Dai script:

#22 His Next Verse: Imperishable Gifts

Merry Christmas to all who pray for the Christ of Christmas to be made known among the Shan Dai of China.
In this wonderful season of gratitude, often our desire is to bless those that we love with a special meaningful gift. I think we do this because we are created in the image of God and He is the best gift giver of all. Take a minute to look up the article in His First Bible on 1 Peter. The photo is of a Shan Dai monk outside of a temple that houses idols of silver and gold. Silver and gold in themselves are not bad but what God has for us is BEST. He gave, bought us back, redeemed us with the very best there is and provided to us what every man, woman and child needs: Peace. Let’s praise Him like the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to his people on earth!”
Please pray for the Shan Dai and for those sharing the good news of Jesus among them this Christmas…may many open God’s best gift! Thank you. And many thanks to all who have given through the Lottie Moon offerings to help contribute to the expansion of God’s Kingdom among the Dai.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ… “(1 Peter 1:18-19)

#21 His Next Verse: Thankful

LORD, as it was with the early church, we pray that: The Shan Dai never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42

In this season which we intentionally Give Thanks, we are thankful to God for you, our Partners in Prayer for the Shan Dai. And we give thanks to God for each Shan Dai who now know and love Jesus the Christ. Amen!
Thank you also for your continued specific prayers for the Bible being translated into the SD language; the translation project manager (who has worked on over 50 Bible translations) recently met again with the translation team. He was filled with praise to God for the skill and unity of the team and for the effects of the translated Word in the lives of the Shan Dai. SO thankful for God and for each prayer partner who values His Word. Happy Thanksgiving—so much to be thankful for!

#19 His Next Verse: Harvest Season

We pray today for Shan Dai believers from Galatians 6:7: God, it is hard work to continue on faithfully, so we pray for the Shan Dai to not to become weary in doing good, for at the proper time they will reap a harvest if they do not give up…
Across Asia rice fields are ripe unto harvest. The back-breaking labor of the planting season is about to pay off in the harvest. (As you have time today, look up the awesome photos in the Shan Dai prayer journal for Ecclesiastes and for James) Please reflect on these passages from Eccs. 3:2 there is “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest.” and “those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness,” James 3:18. Please continue to pray for the Shan Dai in this season of harvest as each does his part to share God’s good news with another… may the harvest be plentiful as God’s Kingdom expands!

Thankful for you in your participation in the planting-harvest cycle among the Shan Dai nation.

#18 His Next Verse: Monks Migrating from Myanmar

Images of the recent abuses suffered by the monks in Myanmar may no longer flash across the media but they remain in the minds of those whose hearts cry out to God for justice and peace. Some of the monks that have been released from horrific situations have fled to near-by Thailand. Although Thailand has less than 2 percent of its kingdom trusting in King Jesus, please pray for the Buddhist monks to encounter Christians who can offer hope in a Kingdom of Peace that has no end. God, we pray also for the families of the monks who suffer as their sons and communities are in great need of You for healing. Help our hearts not to grow cold to the injustice in this sin-filled world, but to take our many needs to You. Amen.

For more info on the tragedy in Myanmar, please turn to the page of Nahum in His First Bible and as you read and journal be thankful and have hope: “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)

In Myanmar, an Ominous Calm Settles

This is a collection of photos from the New York Times that convey the calm and normalcy (or lack of it) that has resulted in the wake of protests there recently. Let’s continue to pray for true peace to be brought to the Burmese and all the ethnic groups that live in that great country.

#17 His Next Verse: Earthly Tents

The photo in the His First Bible for the devotional of 2 Corinthians wonderfully captures a Shan Dai grandmother viewing her own “earthly tent”. Death is certain. And the older one gets, the more certain it becomes. Beliefs of what happens after death varies and a life lived in peace or fear can largely be traced back to how death is viewed. A funeral was held for a Dai grandmother. She, her daughter and granddaughter all embraced forgiveness of sins and new life in Jesus. But due to strong Dai Buddhist community, the funeral was performed in Buddhist tradition. A monk chanted, candles were lit, and food and water were presented to “feed” the grandmother (the monks later ate this offering). Other offerings were made in the form of burning paper money, a paper car and a paper T.V. –all things the grandmother would need in the afterlife. The daughter and granddaughter were respectful to the ceremony and yet it was clear when they did not bow down that they no longer believed in the Buddhist values. Father, we pray today for the peace that You bring would be experienced by more and more Shan Dai to where whole villages see You as the way to live life and communities are changed by hope. You are more certain than death. “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

Thank you for your partnership in praying for the Shan Dai. May God bless your days with full life in Him. Amen.

#16 His next verse: Prince of Peace come to Burma

Tension is rising in Burma (Myanmar) again. The military government (SPDC) have doubled the price of fuel and there have been demonstrations in Yangon. Elsewhere in the country too there is talk of possible fighting. As the “government” gets to the end of its discussions on creating a new constitution the pressure to strive for one army over all of Burma is creating tension with ethnic minorities who have their own armies. Many of these armies have fragile ceasefire agreements with the SPDC. One man recently said, “We don’t want to resort to arms, we want to live peacefully, but the Burmese army come and take all of our produce leaving us with nothing. We have no alternative but to leave our homes and protect ourselves.” Please join us in praying for the Prince of Peace to rule in Burma.
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Yesterday, we had the privilege to host nearly 40 servants among the Shan/Tai/Dai. These God has called out from several countries represented work going on within Thailand, Burma and China. The one day retreat was a time of Praise to God for His goodness, honest reflection on the year with Psalm 66 as our guide and focused prayer for each who serve. Please pray that the relationships that were strengthened through time together in the living room would be a wonderful start to the Tai Consultation happening this week and for God’s guidance lead on to the joyful expansion of His Kingdom.
The devotional from Nehemiah in His First Bible talks of communal living. We are so thankful that although miles may separate prayer partners from one another, yet we labor together for a common good for the Praise and Glory of our Everlasting Father.
With love and thanksgiving to God for you,
The ShanDai advocacy team.

For more information on the current protests in Burma, read this article.