Voice of the Martyrs

I was going to write a funny, lighthearted blog post tonight. And then God changed my heart. I was reading a monthly subscription that I get called, The Voice of the Martyrs. Every month I genuinely look forward to reading this short magazine when it comes in the mail because I can see God using it to change and increase my faith. This magazine shares stories of Christians all over the world who have faced and continue to face persecution. It tells their story of faith and gives ways that you can pray for believers in other parts of the world.

Tonight I was reading an article that focused on a 26 year old mother of three who was living in a refugee area, taking care of her 3 children after her husband had been killed by radical Hindus in their community. God challenged my heart to have compassion for this women, who is a year younger than I am. I get anxious thinking of raising one little girl with my wonderful husband while she struggles to provide for 3 children alone. I was reminded to praise God and be thankful that tonight I will sleep in a safe home and that throughout the week I can worship God publicly and freely. As Ryan meets with other young pastors at a meeting tonight, I am thankful that he will likely return home safe to me. The magazine story continued to tell of how so many pastors in the areas are persecuted, jailed, and killed for their faith.

The encouraging part of stories like this is that people all over the world continue to have faith in Jesus. They trust God and rely on him regardless of their circumstances. They believe in God's unfailing love and promise not to leave us. I hope that my faith can become stronger and more like this. The circumstances I face daily are nothings compared to their struggles.

If you are interested in reading this magazine, I linked the title above to their website. The subscription is free and I definitely recommend it.