John
March 23, 2007 on 1:06 pm | In His First Bible, New Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
Watermelon is a big cash crop for Shan Dai farmers. The ground is carefully cultivated, the small seeds are planted, watered, and in time the leafy vines grow in long rows filling large green fields. As the watermelon begin to form, it is important not to sever the vine while tending the field. The vine is like the umbilical cord, the life source, for the developing fruit. Shan farmers understand its importance; if the vine remains intact the watermelon will reach maturity and with much good fruit the pay-off on market day is great. But, if the vine is cut, the growth process is also cut and the immature melon dies, rotting in the field with nothing good to show for the investment. Farming wisdom is passed on from generation to generation among the Shan Dai people. It is a matter of well being or hardship. Jesus knows the importance of connecting the familiar with a Kingdom principle in order to teach truth in life-changing ways. Father, please send competent teachers to the Shan Dai. Open the ears of farmers. May they hear Jesus’ wisdom about the importance of being connected to Him, the True Vine. We pray they not only understand but with great joy see how their lives can grow and bear fruit abundantly, bringing glory to You. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). May this teaching grow like strong plants in a field.
Luke
March 23, 2007 on 1:05 pm | In His First Bible, New Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
“Does God really know my language? Can He understand me when I talk to him in Dai?” A middle-aged Shan Dai man asking these questions was amazed when he learned that the Most High God can communicate in a Chinese minority language. Communication with God, the Heavenly Father, was how Jesus thrived on earth, so much so that His followers wanted to know how to connect with God too. Jesus explained by praying and Luke recorded this brief prayer that touches the heart of God and changes the hearts of men. As we pray today, imagine an excited new follower of Jesus living in Asia (not too far from where Jesus taught his disciples) talking to God about hopes, dreams, needs. Though many centuries have passed, Jesus knew that the needs of His followers would remain the same throughout the generations and that our Father is more than able to meet those needs. “Father, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us our food day by day. And forgive us our sins- just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation” (Luke 11:2-4). These are simple words and yet deep insights as to how Jesus stayed closely in tune with his Father. His desire is for us to do the same. Jesus said, “Give us each day our daily bread.” Praise God that Shan Dai Christians are meeting together as a church and they recognize how Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is who we need each and every day.
Mark
March 23, 2007 on 1:05 pm | In His First Bible, New Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
In his biography of Jesus, Mark describes the ultimate Servant. Event after event we see Christ’s character as he interacts with people. Tucked between Jesus answering the Pharisees’ testing about divorce and His encounter with the ambitious young ruler, Jesus engaged not the powerful or the rich but the meek. His disciples were brushing these little people aside, thinking the Teacher was too busy to be bothered. But Jesus values children. Can you envision His arms open wide, while children run to Him drawn in by His love? “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14b, 15). God’s Kingdom belongs to those who long for His love and closeness. What a contrast between the religious know-it-alls and the children who are pure in heart. Jesus tells us our faith should be like that of children running into His arms. Lord, we thank You today for still calling children of all ages and all nations into Your love. May we run to You, holding nothing back. We pray for Shan Dai children to know You at a young age. Jesus, teach us to learn from You never to be too busy to reach out to the little ones in our lives. What joy we would experience if we would follow Your example: “Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).
Matthew
March 23, 2007 on 1:04 pm | In His First Bible, New Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
Jesus, the Messiah of the Kingdom of Heaven, tells a gripping story of the final judgment. Sitting upon His glorious throne, all nations will be gathered around Him. Jesus will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Then He will give to those on the right, the righteous ones, His inheritance: the Kingdom prepared since the foundation on the world. Let that soak in as it is a huge inheritance. Now allow God to bring to mind times when you were involved in the following: “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36). The righteous were surprised asking when did they ever do those things for Jesus. Can you see Jesus warmly smile as he replies, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40). The needs in the Shan Dai community are great; yet every community has needy people. How we respond to the people we can see is a true indication of our love and loyalty to the King we can not see. Forgive us Lord, when in selfish pursuit we neglect people created in Your image. We pray Lord for changed actions due to a true allegiance to You and to Your values of love.
Malachi
March 23, 2007 on 1:04 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
In the time of Malachi, God’s people had given up waiting for a king, and without hope, like a whole nation experiencing a midlife crisis, they sought after carnal desires to satisfy their emptiness. Men took foreign wives seeking excitement; divorce became rampant as covenants and families were broken. Money was no longer given to the causes of the Lord but instead sacrifices were made with blemished animals; going through a ritual as if to fool the Almighty. Even the priests despaired and stopped teaching God’s truth to a nation that desperately needed it. Thankfully, God did not remain silent but again extended His care to a hopeless turned rebellious, self-centered people. How our disheartened hearts long to know belonging and love. It is no different with the Shan Dai. With new found joy and peace young believers were baptized in a small market town in China. Can their hope withstand doubt and discouragement as opposition increases? How will they respond to the village headman who says Dai should not be Christians? Will they give up hope when faced with persecution from their own families? What will keep them truly anchored in the Lord? Father, we all need Your love in our lives, for without You we have no real hope. The arrogant and evil-doers will come to ruin yet Your Word gives us great hope: “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings…” (Malachi 4:2). We pray for new Dai Christians to know You as the Sun of Righteousness, bringing meaning, belonging, healing and love.
Zechariah
March 23, 2007 on 1:04 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
God values right relationships. Reflect on how you live out your faith in God in comparison to what Zechariah was told. “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each other” (Zechariah 7:9-10). Sadly, even after generations of godly teaching, we can still miss God’s point. Father, we ask for Your forgiveness when we fall short of Your way for our lives. God, we pray we would get back on track with You. Out of gratitude to You, we pray today for a variety of Christian ministries that prove a new community for many orphans and Shan aliens that now live in Northern Thailand. May Your mercy and compassion continue to extend to these children and young adults, many who have lost parents while fighting continues in Myanmar. Although few outside of Asia know of the daily violence and the heartbreaking situation in Myanmar, You God, know all things and we ask for Your true justice. We pray for the strength to overcome the desire to repay evil for evil in our own lives and in the lives of those affected by war. Lord, as You change individuals with Your love and Your truth, whole communities can have hope. Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. May we show honesty, mercy and kindness to one another. Let Your peace reign in us and through everyone that has interaction with camps for the displaced and orphans.
Haggai
March 23, 2007 on 1:03 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
Do you feel too old to make a difference for God’s Kingdom? Haggai was qualified for all of the senor citizen discounts of his time when God chose him to stir up the Jews. Complacent in making their homes just a little cozier, they neglected God’s temple and their individual spiritual condition. God warned the people to give careful thought to their ways. “Wei” thought carefully about how he lived so he diligently followed the eight-fold path of Buddhism. Living in the bamboo back woods of Dai-land, he was a Buddhist temple leader, highly respected and prosperous. Then Wei heard that Jesus not only pointed the way to meaningful life but Jesus is the Way. He placed his trust in Christ and burned a lifetime of Buddhist paraphernalia. Giving up his social security as a Buddhist elder and in his second half of life, he was born again. Now it is the Lord who directs his priorities. Wei excitedly teaches others to give careful thought to their ways and leads them to Jesus. These new Christian bothers and sisters need our prayers. In a society where there is not a church on every corner with hot coffee and a welcome committee, these believers face hardships from many directions. As they live out life with honor to You God, may they experience this simple yet powerful blessing that the Jews received, “I am with you, says the LORD!” (Haggai 1:13b). No matter what their age, may the Shan Dai truly find new life in You and comfort and strength in knowing that You are with them.
Zephaniah
March 23, 2007 on 1:03 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
Destruction will come to all that attach themselves to sin, regardless of the nation. Zephaniah’s message embraces the same truth today. But there is a way to avoid being slain by the sword of the Lord. It comes with a price; self-pride must be cut off. We are advised to humbly seek the Lord. God will purify the lips of the people so that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. God gives us promises that extend beyond the boundaries of our neighborhoods, reaching into the Dai neighborhoods as well. God’s Word says that the nations on every shore will worship Him, everyone in his own land. Father, give this encouragement to Shan Dai leaders who seek to live in purity and reach out to their neighbors with the good news of living life immersed in God. The same God who is capable of devastating justice is also mighty to save. Our God is also a God of gentle loving care. Have you experienced this week how the Lord takes great delight in you? Have you felt His nearness as He seeks to quiet you with His love? “For the LORD your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17). Father, we pray that we and the Shan Dai will hear Your voice as You rejoice over us with singing.
Habakkuk
March 23, 2007 on 1:03 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
God will not tolerate idolatry. There is no sense in pursuing guidance from a piece of wood that man has carved and covered in gold, in fact, God says woe to those who follow such foolishness. The people of Judah were influenced by the surrounding nations and they began to value idols over the living God. Can you imagine pursuing direction from mute gods covered in gold and silver? Sadly for many Shan Dai, they too take the route of Judah when they bow down desiring guidance from a golden Buddha. As we pray for the Dai who lift up idols, let us keep in mind that an idol is anything we value more than God. What are we pursuing, bowing down to or lifting up? Anything we trust in outside of God is our idol. But just as God offered hope to Habakkuk to pass on to those in his realm of influence, and for all who read his conversation with God, there is hope for us and the Dai people. Even though things around him looked bleak at best, Habakkuk learned to trust that God was worth the pursuit. Habakkuk recounted several times “even though…” concerning his difficult circumstances, and then proclaimed, “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). This is not an easy proposition, but may our prayer today be “even though ________________________________, yet I will live in joy for God is my Savior and He alone is my strength.”
Nahum
March 23, 2007 on 1:03 pm | In His First Bible, Old Testament, PrayerGrams | No Comments
Picture your neighborhood; your home, neighbors, the church where you worship; the school where your children learn. Imagine that during dinner one evening your country’s military enters your neighborhood with loaded weapons, forcing everyone to leave their home. The strong are enslaved with unbearable labor, children are separated from parents, women are violated, and the elderly are brutally killed. Neither you nor your neighbors have broken any law; the government wants your community weakened, so they destroy it. The military controls the media; no news of this atrocity will reach the outside world. Who will help? Pain and suffering wear you down until you are no longer an asset. You die of starvation; another body thrown on the heap of those who have perished before you. What you have just pictured is actually happening in present day Myanmar (Burma). Hundreds of Shan neighborhoods have been invaded by the Burmese military. Some Shan people have escaped and are living in Thailand as refugees, seeking to piece together a life. The less fortunate Shan live each day in endless brutality. The prophet Nahum wrote of the stunning cruelty experienced by God’s people from the ruthless Ninevites. Just like in Myanmar, even if CNN had been there broadcasting, it would be difficult to believe. As a seemingly elusive promise, the Lord assures ultimate deliverance. Just revenge will come at the hand of the Lord to the oppressors. We plead for the suffering Shan to experience, “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).
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