Slave to sorrow or guardian of joy?

20 days ago 74

Love For Myanmar Ministries Update

Christ Centered, Servant Hearted, Myanmar Focused

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Christmas is an annual expedition into the wilderness of capitalism. Along the way, we experience anticipation, anxiety, confusion, disappointment, envy, gratitude, joy, love, sadness, surprise, and more. It has become a periodic experiment to prove or disprove the depth of our relationships in the face of a commercial landscape overgrown with countless gift options.

For a few weeks or days, we look beyond ourselves, uncage our hearts, and open that channel of kindness that allows us to see the world differently, at least for a while. It is a time of the year which bears witness to the goodness of humankind. Such worthiness only comes from a perspective that recognizes God as its source.

The kindness and generosity which flows from December should illuminate the truth of the greatest love story ever told. The story about the life of Jesus Christ. Unlike other times of the year, you are able to see the nature of Jesus Christ softly rippling over our day’s activities with our hearts softened, our spirits strengthened, and our thoughts awakened by the calming joy of a living Lord.

What shall you make of your Christmas this year? Will you expand your capacities to love and give? Will you be a slave to sorrow or a guardian of joy? Christmas tends to be the time when more people are spiritually altered or remade, a time like no other for transformation; hopefully for the better.
You may be the lifeline of kindness for someone this Christmas. You may be that tender heart that can understand someone’s pain. You may be that light of encouragement that reduces someone’s suffering.

Christmas provides us with the unique opportunity to be better human beings by acting more compassionately towards one another which can make the world nearest us more beautiful. Perhaps one day the charity, gentleness, and tolerance of December will spill over to the other months of our year.

Gary Watkins, LFM Co-founder

Our Christmas Hero

As you may recall, about three months ago, we shared the news that our lead Fellowship Coordinator in the Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar had been arrested. This month he was officially sentenced to ten years in prison for reasons which remain a mystery but have been described by the prosecutor as political. Our colleague was doing what he had been doing countless times for years: providing humanitarian aid to anyone in need. We have learned that the person who informed on our colleague is an Associate Pastor of a local Mon Baptist Church! The motive for such an act against a fellow Christian brother is both puzzling and, at this point, only speculative.

Our colleague has remained calm and focused throughout his ordeal. More specifically, following his sentencing (which was originally announced to be 16 years, but the testimonies from villagers throughout the region convinced the judge to reduce the time to ten years), he asked the prison officials for permission to conduct a Christmas event inside the prison. His request was granted. In my nearly twenty years of ministry in Myanmar, I have never heard of a Christian event being conducted within a Myanmar prison.

If ever there was an example of “God works in mysterious ways”, this would be one. Our Christian brother is exactly where God wants him to be, and our Christian brother knows it which explains his calm, that inner peace which fills your soul when you know you are completely aligned with God’s will.

May this Christmas find you aligned with God’s will.