At the potter's house

Jeremiah 18:1-6 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD. "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me. "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

In this passage, we have a true and mysterious blending of the divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Lord used the potter to illustrate how He deals with humanity. Here, the Bible tells us how God revealed to Jeremiah His truths through an ordinary occurrence in a common workshop. As the prophet understood God's revelation, through inspiration, he put it in words that the people could understand and apply to their situation. We too can understand and apply it to our lives as well. As the potter molds the clay, so God molds believers in His image. He wants to make us the very best we can be. Our responsibility is to obey His truths written in the bible and to be willing servants.

Lets look carefully at this passage again. This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. God told Jeremiah to go to the potters house to learn some valuable lessons. As Jeremiah approached the workshop, the potter began to work on the wheels, literally "two stones". The potter rotated the lower wheel with his feet while shaping the clay on the upper wheel with his hands. An experienced potter has amazing control over this (though ones like myself seem to create disaster when touching it :) The potter exercising control over the clay is a great example of divine sovereignty. Nothing in the clay would make a beautiful vessel of itself. The wheels could do nothing except as the feet of the potter worked. They were under complete control of the potter. A poor potter, like myself, can do little with the clay to make much of it. But an experienced potter creates majestically. God is the supreme power of the universe, the ultimate potter.

He is sovereign over all the physical world. He "hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. (Nahum 1:3) Do you ever think about the earth in orbit or the sea rising and falling? During Christ's reign, He exercised control over the physical world by stilling the life-threatening storm on the sea of Galilee. God also declared His sovereignty over Judah. Because Judah disobeyed God, worshipped idols, and desecrated the temple, God said that He would bring desolation upon the land. "I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons: and I will make the cities of Judah desolate without inhabitant." (Jeremiah 9:11) Thirdly, God is sovereign over everyone. We act as if we are in control of our destiny and make plans for 10, 15, or even 30 years. However, each time we read the obituary column, death reminds us that we have little control over our future. "There is no man that hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit, neither hath he power in the day of death" (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. As Jeremiah watched, the potter's expert hands began to mold the clay into a useful vessel, perhaps a cup for drinking. For some reason the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, and the finished product would never meet his high standards. How was the vessel marred? A minute amount of sand in the clay or a hard clump would make it impossible to make a useful vessel.

The clay in this discussion is human clay, capable of ruining the divine plan. Although God is sovereign, He works with free men. Man is free to choose the response he will make to God. Very often we make wrong choices, violate God's laws and become unfit vessels. Sin separates us from God. "Your inequities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2) Those who practice sin become unfit vessels in God's kingdom. Jeremiah repeatedly pointed out Judah's stubbornness. When Judah refused to hear God's word and practiced the inequities of her forefathers, God warned them of judgement. Judah became an unfit vessel because she willfully and stubbornly refused to obey God's instructions. Our deliberate disobedience can have the same effect upon our lives. Selfishness also can mar our service and witness for the Lord. It can cause us to become calloused and hard hearted to the point of total disregard for others and no compassion for sinners God seeks to reach. Jeremiah's experience at the potters house taught him about God's patience and love. Whenever the developing vessel was marred and failing his high standards, he removed the unfit portion and worked it into something good. The divine potter can make something good of the sorriest clay. Upon a persons repentance, God can rework him or her into a vessel of honor.

Though this parable is meant principally for Judah, God deals similarly with all nations, and all people. Each is given the opportunity to repent and conform to God's purpose. God has called man to turn from their evil ways and to obey His laws. "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jeremiah 31:3) This is a beautiful passage of scripture. Although Judah was facing exile, God's love never wavered. Nor does His love for us ever waver. He promised to rebuild the nation and make them good vessels again. We must apply God's love in our lives as well. Christ not only died to carry the penlaty for our sins, He also rose from the dead to intercede for us at the throne of God. He desires to be the potter in our lives.. as we are the clay. He desires to mold us into the image of Christ. He desires to make new vessels out of the nation of Somalia and out of each and every life.

Some verses on prayer

Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

II Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

II Thessalonians 3:1-2 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.

I Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

some encouragement

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. Psalm 37:39-40

May God be your strength today. He is your help and your deliverer. Trust in Him for He will not fail you.

Follow

Its interesting that in all of the things the Lord commands us, the common factor is to follow Him. When Jesus called His disciples, He merely told them to come, follow Him. Today, that is His plea for each and every one of us. I think somehow we fail to realize exactly what that means. It is often viewed as bondage rather than the freedom it really is.

Consider it this way: All we have to do is follow where He leads. That's ALL. We dont have to worry about what is to come.. about why events take place or how we will work out this or that.. we just have to abide and trust. Peter walked on water when his eyes were on Jesus. But when he looked at the storm, he began to sink. Fortunately for him (and for us), ALL he had to do was call out to the Lord and Jesus reached out for him. Then together they got on the boat.

I have been thinking about Psalm 40..verses 1-3 NIV says mud and mire, but KJV says clay.. I like that.. clay...I think David chose just the right word.. mud is dirty.. but clay.. you know how clay is.. you cant get it off anything. It is sticky, it is filthy.. it is uncleanable.

David speaks of being in a pit.. in a hole.. with no way out.. not only that.. but in clay... filthy, sticky, uncleanable clay. Quite a predicament.. but the result of nothing but ones own actions, ones own selfish desires, ones own plans and hopes and denial of the Lord's will. So here he is (figuratively of course) in this pit, in this clay.. calling out to the Lord.. not just calling out.. but having to wait patiently.. for the Lord is not to be ordered around.

He waits patiently and the Lord hears his cry, and sets his feet apon a rock.. a rock.. the most solid place. Firm ground. No longer sinking. Life is grand now compared to that miry hole. But thats not all. I'm not sure why NIV leaves this out, but KJV says He "established my goings' He doesn't just take us out of that pit and rescue us from sinking sand. He doesnt just set our feet on firm ground. He goes even farther. He gives us a path to walk.. direction.. so that we will not fall back into that hole. How dumb it would be for us to just stand in that place and never move.. how silly for us to try to find our own way.. he must help us.. He must show us.. He must give us that path.

And I love this.. verse 3.. He put a new song in my mouth.. and many will see and will fear and will trust the Lord.

Have you ever seen someone rescued? People want to know whats going on, they watch, they wait, they hope. It doesnt matter if they know the person or not. People are curious. And any rescue is going to bring at least some cheer for the hero. how wonderful to know that the story of our rescue brings light to our Hero. Many will see and will fear and will trust the Lord.

It is my prayer for you that the story of your rescue would reflect apon your Hero.. and that every individual who crosses your path will be touched by who Christ is in you.

To every Somali who has been rescued by Christ: Keep following Him. Your rescue will be a testimony even to your persecuters.

God will make a way

Time and time again in scripture we see God work out the impossible. The same Lord of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob is the One who calmed the storm, the One who hung on a cross yet rose again on the third day. The same One who made man out of dust, delivered one man from a lions den and three from a fiery furnace and spit another out of the mouth of a giant fish. That same God is our God. The one who walked on water, restored stength to the lame, and made the blind see. He is the One who desires to work wonders in our lives.

No matter what the impossible, He has a plan. Somalia looks hopeless. All of the reports list the country as the "worst" time and time again. Yet amazingly, most of the world knows nothing about what is going on there. But our Father sees possiblity there. He knows the extent of the problems and He has a plan. His heart leaps for the day that the fruit will be ripe on the vine. He is getting ready to move His hand and cause a great harvest. But the workers are few, because so many look at the field and see nothing. Can we possibly doubt our God's power and ability?

Continue to Pray

Father, we know that You are a mighty God and that no obstacle can hinder Your work. It is our desire to be tools in Your hand, to be used as You desire to testify of Your love and grace to unbelievers, to encourage and equip believers, and to function as a body to do Your kingdom's work in all nations. Thank You for the believers that You have raised up in Somalia and for the many who are willing to pray in faith, awaiting the mighty movement that You have promised there. Prepare every individual for what is to come. Lord, even when it seems Your promises are impossible, remind Your children that all things are possible through Christ and You are not a liar. Strengthen the Somali church and the missionaries You are raising up. Provide for the needs--physical and spiritual of each family and place a hedge of protection around them that they might openly testify of who You are in order that the nation will be transformed for Your honor and Your glory. In the precious and holy name of Christ, amen.

Borders can be brought down

The bride of Christ--the church--should not divided by borders between countries. As the apostle Paul wrote to the various local churches, he considered them to be one with him, other believers, and other local groups of believers. Yet today, we seem to forget that believers even exist in other countries. There may be some general prayer for believers elsewhere, but we as a body neglect the specific remembrance, intercession, and unity that is commanded among all believers.

Perhaps the beginning of this negligence is within our own communities. Prayer, one of the most powerful tools we have within the body is often placed on the back burner as church events fill up the calander. This should not be so. It is through prayer that we get to know our Savior more deeply. It is through prayer that we are united in Him. It is through prayer that we can reach across the boundaries. It is through prayer that His hand is moved to transform the world, to make the impossible possible, and to change lives.

Please join us in prayer--first that God would move within you and prepare you. Second that He would move within the local body and teach you. Third that He would move on a worldwide level and use you.

We are to be His hands, His feet, His body...........................................

AAbbahayaga jannada ku jirow

AAbbahayaga jannada ku jirow
Haddaba sitadan u tukada, AAbbahayaga jannada ku jirow, magacaagu qoduus ha ahaado. Boqortooyadaadu ha timaado, doonistaada dhulka ha lagu yeelo sida jannada loogu yeelo. Kibis maalin nagu filan, maanta na sii. Oo naga cafi qaamahayaga sidaannu u cafinnay kuwa noo qaamaysan. Oo jirrabaadda ha noo kaxayn, laakiin sharka naga du. Waayo, boqortooyada iyo xoogga iyo ammaanta adigaa leh weligaa. Aamiin. Matayos, 6:9-13

Who do you say I am

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Today that question may seem rather easy for us to answer with words, but we must consider how our actions answer the question. If people look at your life who do they suppose you say that He is?

Does it say He was just an ordinary man whose life is of no significance to you? Does it say He is a prophet, whose words you hold dear? Does it say that He is a "good idea" or a "hope to believe in"? Or does your life tell others that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who not only forgives but transforms lives?

We spend a lot of time trying to convince people to believe words that we speak, but our actions will need no convincing.

Go...

The United States sends thousands of missionaries to other countries every year. (and ironically thousands go to the US from other countries every year). South Korea sends more missionaries all over the world than the US does--despite the fact that it is much smaller of a country. And you can pick about any country--even predominately Hindu or Muslim ones, and find that they at least have some missionaries go. There are missionaries all over the world, seeking to take Christ to lost and dying people--or perhaps just seeking to wake up lost and dying "Christians"! Astonishingly, over 90% of missionaries are serving "Christian" areas. They are preaching the Gospel to the same people who already profess Christ.

There are no missionaries serving in Somalia. As a matter of fact, there are no "churches" there according to published literature. I guess they failed to realize you dont have to have a building to have a church. There is most certainly a church in Somalia--otherwise Christians wouldn't be dying there continually. It isnt "missionary" Christians who are being killed--its natives of Somalia who risk their lives to profess Christ and denounce Islam. We avoid Somalia because it is "Dangerous". Have we forgotten the danger in allowing lost souls to persih for the sake of our own comfort? Will you sit and do nothing while Somalis die daily without knowing Christ?

I was amazed to find that while nearly one million Somali's are refugees in other countries, there are reportedly only around 20 Christian missionaries serving them (in countried other than Somalia--again, there are no missionaries in Somalia). Even in areas with a lot of Christian influence, Somali's are neglected or overlooked. I suppose if we think carefully though, we may find that in our own neighborhoods the lost are being overlooked.

We are the hands and feet of Christ, but simply moving doesn't accomplish the task. We must be obedient to the Master's desires and follow His instructions. Then, and only then, can His will be accomplished and His kingdom's work done. Rather than picking "safe" places to send our missionaries, we need to ask the One who has power over all obstacles where it is He would have us to go.

Will you go where He leads? Will you stop and seek to find out where He desires to lead you? Will you ignore all obstacles and walk in obedience for His name's sake--Even if it means facing the dangerous perils of a place like Somalia?

Fear not

The word of God repeatedly uses the phrase "fear not". This is followed by "For I...", "because I.." and other similar phrases.

We have no cause to fear anything or anyone because HE has a plan that cannot be hindered.

Today consider what it is that you may be avoiding or putting off due to fear or impossibility. Then remember His words... Fear not.. because HE is in control.

Who do you serve?

Exodus 32:1-6 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron said to them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord." So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Idolatry is not simply spiritual ignorance. It is also deliberate turning away from the spiritual knowledge and worship of God. By nature, we as humans have difficulty exercising faith in the unseen. Human nature also grow impatient with God's method and timing of His work. What was true for the Israelites in Moses' day is all too true for many of us. The cry is for something that can be seen and touched. But when we turn to an idol, God is dishonored and man is misled, degraded, and exposed to the possibility of ruin. The idolatry of the Israelites was a very serious sin that had profound effects on them and led to dramatic intercessory prayer by Moses. Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days receiving the Law from God. The Israelites should have used that time to prepare themselves for the reception of the Law. Instead, they succumbed to the temptation to disobey the teachings of God that they had already received .
Moses, they implied, had forsaken them, so they would need another leader.

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Yielding to their demand for an idol, Aaron told them to bring their golden earrings to him. Aaron said to them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." In rejecting the authority of Moses, the people were actually rejecting God. With the gold he had received, Aaron made a statue of a calf. After making the calf, he constructed an alter for it and proclaimed a feast day. Aaron tried to pass off the calf as being representative of God by proclaiming the feast day as being "to the Lord".

While still on Mount Sinai, Moses was told about the idolatry of the Israelites. Exodus 32:7-8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, "Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. "They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!'" He was told that God intended to destroy the rebellious people and replace them with a "great nation" which would descend from Moses. Exodus 32:9-10The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. "Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation." He asked God to spare all of the people because of all that he had done for them. He feared that their destruction would only dishonor the Lord.

When Moses returned to the camp, He learned that God had indeed spoken the truth. What he saw completely dismayed and disgusted him. There were only 2 sides.. A right side and a wrong side. There was a side for God and a side against God. This was actually the second time Moses had interceded for the people in this sort of matter. Exodus 32:11-14 Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? "Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever." So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. This time, however, he was ready to offer a sacrifice for atonement. Exodus 32:30 On the next day Moses said to the people, "You yourselves have committed a great sin; and now I am going up to the Lord, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." What could he offer? He decided to offer himself. Exodus 32:32 "But now, if You will, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" If the Israelites could not be forgiven any other way.. He was ready to be a sacrifice for them.

God would not allow Moses to be an atonement for the Israelites, however. Each individual would have to account for his or her own sin. Exodus 32:33 The Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. Moses would continue to serve as Israel's leader. In His own time and His own way, God would deal with the rebellious people. Surprisingly Aaron was not judged harshly, as he was permitted not only to live, but to continue to serve as Israels high priest.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Taking captive means to kidnap. False teachers are "kidnappers. Satan is behind all unscriptural teachings and practices. In our society today, we do not see him using golden calves to entice people, but he does seek to lead them astray in other ways. One of the motivating factors in the idolatry of the israelites was their impatience. Perhaps they were weary of waiting for the promised land. They had been at Mount Sinai too long, they reasoned. They were ready to move on. "Make us gods which shall go before us", they demanded. They had a God who abode them and manifested His presence by a cloud and a pillar of fire. But they wanted more. They were hurrying to a land flowing with milk and honey and could not wait for the Lord to accomplish His purposes for and with them. We too sometimes get impatient with God, don't we? When we do, we are very likely to sin. In turning away from God, we probably turn to something else. That is the essence of idolatry.

Having been given a god which they could see and touch, the people worshipped it. They had made a god to please their fleshly nature and used religion as an excuse. Moses challenged them with the question of who was on the Lord's side. To be on God's side requires commitment. It requires trust. It means trusting and not trying to do things our way. It means not giving up on His promises. Are you serious in worshiping and serving the Lord? He has given specific instructions in all these matters. It is just as important for us to follow the paths He has laid out for our lives as it was for the Israelites to do so then.

Consider what decisions He might have you make now and what changes might be in order to make Your life more pleasing to Him.

Contemplating the cross

I was thinking about the cross.. what it means to us.. I think we often think about it but dont contemplate it. We dont realize the fullness of all that happened there.. all that the cross means. We need to stop and focus and truely grasp the meaning. The Lord brought this to my mind a few years back and it has been a passion of mine.. the realization of what the cross really means. With the Easter season and all.. thinking about His birth.. why He was born, Who He is, my thoughts have again wandered to the cross.

Matthew 27:27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.Matthew 27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,Matthew 27:29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.

The guards mocked Jesus by dressing him as a king.His head was pierced by long, sharp thorns.
I envision the blood running down his face.

Matthew 27:30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
They spit upon HimThat was the deepest form of insult in the Jewish culture
They hit him.

Matthew 27:32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Jesus was so weak from his earlier 39 lashes with a cat-`o-nine-tails ( strips of leather with pieces of stone and glass embedded in them) that he could not carry his own cross.

Matthew 27:34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.He refused to drink the wine mixed with gall (vinegar) because it was given to numb his senses.
He was unwilling to numb the pain of dying

Matthew 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Large spikes were driven through both wrists and feet and hammered deep into the wood of the cross.
Christ's whole body received a painful jolt as the cross fell violently into its hole.
The cross wasn't just eased up in place.. No, it was lifted up and then dropped down into a hole.
With the body stretched out on the cross, the person would usually die of suffocation.
Some would last for days on the cross, suffering a terrible death.

The cross was brutal.
What actually put Christ up there?It wasn't the Romans or the Jews, it was us.
We deserve death for our sins.We should have been put up there, not Christ.
But He willingly took our place.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ loves us so much that he chose to take the punishment for our sins so we could have eternal life with Him.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When you think of the cross, and may you always think of it...may you truely grasp the depth of His love for you.

Victory

Some scripture to think on :

1John 5:1-5 -- Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is He that overcometh the world, but He that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is such an awesome reminder of what it means to be His child. It is also a promise for the future, that no matter what, in Him we can overcome all of the trials and tribulations of this life. He is faithful always!

I pray He is leading you moment by moment and is meeting your every need. You will overcome!

Trust

Scripture likes to tell us to trust the Lord. As a matter of fact, "Trust me" is quite a common statement to hear today. When people say it, it is quite often an indicator that perhaps we should not. But when our Father in Heaven says it, it is a gentle reminder of all that He is. We do not simply hold our breath and hope that all works out as He says it will. Instead we joyfully walk the path He has commanded and confront obstacles without doubt, knowing He will make a way.

The biggest deterent to trust is self. If we can see possibility, we find it easier to trust. But that trust is not in Christ, but rather in what can be seen. The kind of trust He requires of us is the faith scripture so often mentions--even more than it mentions trust. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is "Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." So, the possibilities that seem to help us trust may quite often be hindrances to it. For God's way is not often the way of men.

He would not deny his Savior.... will you?

A notable Somali pastor wrote this song many years ago while suffering in prison. Though it may lose a bit of its flow in the translation to English, it still touches the heart. It speaks of the dedication he, as well as many Somali Christians today, had to serving Christ at all costs.



I will not miss the promise of the everlasting God, the creator of the world

On the mountains, if I stay a month, and the freezing winds hit me, I will not deny my Savior.

Hundreds of years if I stay on the plains have no farm, livestock and wife I will not deny my Savior.

If I am being slaughtered, thrown into the sea or beaten by club, I will not deny my Savior. .

If I am hungry and have no money, I will not deny my Savior.

I am sick, my chest is paining, and He will take care of me and heal me, I will not deny my Savior.

Aden Jimale Farah

all things are possible

Reports twelve years ago listed Somalia as "the most lawless nation", and "the highest on the human suffering index" and "zero tolerence of other (non-muslim) religions". Now the reports say "the most lawlessness in Somalia's history", "unprecidented human suffering", and "executions of all Christians". The death tolls keep rising--those from the gunfire, those from disease, starvation, and lack of shelter, and those of Christians unmercifully being killed.

Years ago, the world new about Somalia--when it wasn't nearly as bad. But somewhere in the early to mid nineties, the world started forgetting. Now, so few remember. To those in Ethiopia, Kenya, and neighboring countries, Somalia is real. The problems are real. To Ethiopian Christians, there is a duty. But much of the world sleeps peacefully, choosing not to remember Somalia.

Somalia's only answer is Christ. The small number of Christians there are making a difference. They faithfully serve the Lord despite the orders of their government (or lack thereof). They risk their lives with every breath, and yet they still sing and rejoice and they give God glory---because they understand, as did the apostle Paul, that in all circumstances we can have joy. Obviously these believers are making too much of a difference in the world, or satan would leave them alone. How many people want YOU dead because of Your faith?

Most churches and missionary agencies dont have Somalia on the calendar--or even on the prayer list--either because they dont know, they dont care, or because it just doesnt seem possible. God knows. God cares. With Him ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Please seek what the Lord would have you do concerning His children in Somalia and the many unreached He desires will come to know Him there.