Shan Dai Advocacy

#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.

#14 His Next Verse: What is the most important commandment?

Part of the Bible translation process is testing the translated texts in several Dai locations. This was done recently for the first set of Bible texts and very good feedback was given. ”They can understand and follow the stories well. I think our materials really get into some people’s hearts. One guy in Mg even asked if he can keep the copy though he can’t read it by himself. Some really agreed along with the texts especially those guys who have ministry in the temple but they are not monks. They like the text a lot especially the great commandment from Matt 22:34-40”.

Lord, as we ponder the question, “What is the most important commandment?” may we not just know it in our heads, but live it in our choices. May we and the Shan Dai truly “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.” (From Matt 22:34-40)
Thank you for your prayers for the Shan Dai as Bible translation continues.

#13 His Next Verse — Plea for Burma

Thank you for the response of prayer to the recent letter addressed to the Prime Minister of China concerning the people of Burma (Myanmar). Our photographer for His First Bible journal offers us a glimpse of this plight in the photos for the devotionals for Nahum and in Zechariah. May we continually be prayerful for those whose lives are lived in continual strife.

Nahum 1:7— The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.
Zechariah 7:9-10— This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

May God’s Word as it is prayed and lived out among His people offer eternal hope that begins today. Thank you for your partnership for the Shan Dai and the hope of God’s Kingdom of peace to expand.