[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Thursday, March 20, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all on this first day of spring in northern climes, and I suppose that would be the first day of autumn in southern climes, if you folks in the southland do anything to celebrate this day.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that you are all doing well today.

I know that I've shared this article with you last year, but there are others who haven't read it before.  The author, Elaine L. Schulte, writes from Arizona.  The title of her contribution is entitled "A Generous Donation?" which is rendered as follows:

While on a Danube riverboat several years ago, my husband and I took a "City and Countryside" tour from Russe, Bulgaria.  Our young tour guide, Lena, stood in the front of our small bus, microphone in hand.

"Our driver and I welcome you to Bulgaria," she said.

She was an attractive young woman, the only one in her family who remained in Bulgaria when Communism was overthrown.

"I love my country," she said.  "I want to help it recover."

We applauded her courage.

Twelve of us nearly filled the small bus.  We rode for several hours through countryside where farmers still plow with horses and bright yellow sunflowers are a major crop.

"Communism put us 50 years behind Western Europe," she said, "but if we work hard, maybe we catch up."

An ancient fortress turned out to be a worthwhile visit.  We climbed up into the fortress ruins, whose year and builders are unknown, and surveyed the land around us.  Bulgaria is a lovely country.

It was nearly noon when we returned to our riverboat.  My husband said, "This is billed as a city and countryside tour.  Can't we see the city?"

Lena reddened with embarrassment.  "I tell you the truth.  The city is nothing to see."

"Isn't there a church?" he asked.

"Yes, of course, the church!" She glanced at her watch.  "It is Sunday, so someone should still be there.  Yes, we go there."

Indeed, someone was at the church:  three elderly ladies tidying up the books and brochures after the morning service.  The church had been beautiful in its day; unfortunately, on the walls, the colors of angels and the holy family had faded.  Though neat and clean, the building was in disrepair--another example of how this church, probably like many others, had suffered under Communism.

After we'd toured the church, my husband looked for a donation box, but saw none.  He asked our guide, "Where can I give a donation?"

"I can give it to the church ladies."

We noticed that she did.

The donation was only ten Euros; we had no use for Euros on our way home.  It amounted to less than ten dollars then.  We didn't know it amounted to one or two days' wages there.

When we settled back in the bus, she stood in front with the microphone again.  She said, "The ladies of the church wish to thank you for your very generous donation."

Our very generous donation?

She was serious.

We cringed.

If ten dollars was a "very generous donation," how much more we could have given to God's work there!

A lesson for us.

Be generous.

And there you have Elaine's article which hopefully, in the words of each "Unshackled" radio broadcast, made you "face yourself and think." Now I know that the majority of my readers can't give much owing to your financial state, but just think how much you can give.  Material items in countries like Bulgaria cost a whole lot less than they do here.  Perhaps you know of a reputable Christian agency that sends donations to such countries.  Just pray about it, and do what the Lord leads you to do.

Before I close, if any of you are interested in learning in detail about the persecuted church in other countries, I'd highly recommend the book "By Their Blood:  Christian Martyrs of the 20th Century" by James and Marty Hefley.  In audio format it's available from Learning Ally, and in print, if available, you just might try your local Lifeway Christian bookstores or even go online to http://www.christianbooks.com.  Essentially it could be considered as a companion work to "Foxe's Book of Martyrs." I have a copy of this publication, and it always inspires and encourages me how Christians in very adverse circumstances cope with their problems of persecution etc.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought message for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul