Widespread suffering in Myanmar

Myanmar (Burma)

"Prayers are needed for the Christians and other civilians under attack by a renegade national army." 

ICC (International Christian Consern): "Widespread suffering continues in Myanmar civil war" (full text)

https://www.persecution.org/2023/06/17/widespread-suffering-in-myanmar-civil-war/

"The two-year civil war in Myanmar (Burma) has killed an estimated 30,000 people and displaced some two million more. There is wide dissatisfaction with the military junta that threw out the elected government and took over the country in early 2021. --- The widespread opposition is looking to organize its efforts against the junta. They have not, however, been able to garner support from other nations."

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"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4 ESV)

" I will run to You"

 

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Zeh. 4:6 (ESV)

"I will run to You" (Hillsong)

"Nunca pierdas tu sonrisa"

 “Don’t ever lose your smile. Don’t ever let anything take away the joy from your laugh. You never know when the taste of laughter on the tongue or the scent of happiness in the air might save one’s life.”

(Emory R. Frie)

Foto: KL

“Where is the outcry? Where is effective action?"

 - Nigeria, a twenty-year-long genocide on Christian communities.

 "A church pastor and his wife were among the 43 Christians murdered last month in two separate village attacks. 

“The Rev. Daniel Danbeki of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Takalafiya village, Karu County, and his wife were killed along with villagers who were sleeping in their homes the night of May 11 in the attack that lasted until the early hours of May 12,” survivors told Morning Star News. A church building was also burned down along with numerous homes." (ICC)

https://www.persecution.org/2023/06/02/central-nigeria-massacre/

"Last year, Nigeria earned the distinction of being the country with the world’s worst persecution in ICC’s Persecutor of the Year report. Radicalized and armed Islamist Fulani have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than three million homeless in a 20-year genocide against them.  

“Christian communities in the Middle Belt of Nigeria have effectively suffered a twenty-year-long genocide,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims. This, coupled with a twenty-year lack of response by these agencies, should naturally lead to deeper questioning by the international community.  Simply put, the time for cheap talk, and platitudes is over. The world is waking up and asking, “Is the Nigerian government complicit in these attacks.” (ICC, read the full text in the link)

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Christ saves. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebr. 12:1-3 (ESV)

Trial and triumph

Anastasia Dashkevich (Палажанка): "My wise husband teaches me to look less at Satan, who destroys, and more at Christ, who saves."

Nasta Dashkevich: "Мой мудры муж вучыць мяне, менш глядзець на Сатану, які руйнуе, а болей на Хрыста, Які ратуе." (Zmitser Dashkevich)

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https://prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/zmicer-daszkevicz

https://charter97.org/en/news/2022/7/14/506617/

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Anastasia Palazhanka-Dashkevich, is a winner of Hillary Clinton’s 2011 International Women of Courage Award.

Broken and fixed

- There is some comfort in the song lyrics below, even if I don't like the whole text. Sometimes visibility also is necessary, but nothing to strive for personally.

Everyone is broken, and everything is broken in some way, but as Christians we know that Christ has overcome sin and the world. 

Fixing our eyes on the cross, on Christ is the answer.

"... when everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."

"And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am."

"Iris" (Goo Goo Dolls) 

- My text, from my heart, is dedicated to my struggling friends.