Sunday, January 10, 2010

Sunday Faith Blog...and a Muslim baptism addition to this post

"I could never have sought my happiness in thy love, unless thou had'st first loved me."*
With beauty like the above picture, He just has to love us.
Have a beautiful Sunday.........Z *The Valley of Vision
RE: the Muslim Baptism....we had a baby baptized in church today and it's quite a story: Her father is a Christian, very cool guy in his early thirties raised nearby in Venice. They live a few hours away now but his parents are still here so they came to visit at Christmas time, came to our church, and decided to have their daughter baptized there. The mother is an Iranian Muslim who is 'on the fence' about Christianity, or was, when I met her 2 weeks ago. Today, I hear the mother, after some good question/answer time with our pastor, has nearly made the decision to be baptized at our church herself.
Some of her Iranian relatives were there today. One man, in particular, was right in front and mouthing the responses to Pastor about God....This wasn't something we do every Sunday so I've forgotten quite what the sentences were but something like "If you believe in the Sovereignty of God and that He loves you, say I believe ..." And this Arab man was responding with us. Finally, after 3 or so of these "God responses", Pastor mentioned Jesus Christ and the Arab went along and answered as he had been and caught himself and giggled to the two women who'd come with him. It seemed to me like he was saying 'Oops! He mentioned Jesus and I went along with it!!'...I had to laugh at a rather charming moment.
I want to add another thing (I told you these Sunday Faith Blogs write themselves, didn't I?) about Iranians and faith. A dear friend met an Iranian parking attendant who she saw was reading a Bible in the garage where she was parking. My friend has MS and can use help with her SUV and getting her scooter out from the back when she feels she needs it so this fellow was helping her very happily, unlike the attendant who'd been there for years (it's where she has her hair done once a week) and has rarely helped her at all. She asked where this new very helpful young man was from and he said "Iran but I'm Armenian...." She asked what it was like there for Christian Iranians...and he said that it's very tough, Iran killed the head of the Christian church there five years or so ago....but that MANY Muslims are coming to faith every single month and they can't talk about it and the media, of course, won't admit it. I'd heard this from missionary friends but there's nothing like hearing it first hand.
Pastor told me today that he was told Muslims like to frequent Armenian establishments in Iran because the Christians are fairer with their prices, etc.. I thought that was interesting, too.
Anyway...wanted to tell you about this and to ask you to pray for the baby's Muslim relatives here and in Iran......I can't say their names, but God knows who they are :-) Pray for ALL of Iran's Muslims..... Thanks.. xxx me
z

20 comments:

Beth said...

Thanks for sharing beauty today and always, Z, because you are a beautiful person!

Linda said...

What a beautiful tree with beautiful flowers! They certainly aren't around here! One more day of cold, and then it is supposed to get warmer.

I hope you have a beautiful Sunday too.

Anonymous said...

What would life be without Beauty?

God provides so many lovely things like these roses climbing and encircling the tree, and stunning, breathtaking natural phenomena like the geysers at Yellowstone Park, the Grand Canyon, the Sequoias, the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains, and countless other wonder all over the world.

The beauties, both small and awe-inspiring, encourage us to carry on -- to preserve and maintain the understanding that life is essentially beautiful -- at its heart.

Every flower -- even the humblest dandelions, buttercups and daisy fleabane -- gives a small indication that heaven exists and is always worth striving toward no matter what.

~ FreeThinke

Sue said...

Z,You are so right! Romans 1:19 and 20 says, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..."

Have a blessed week! As Linda said, it IS supposed to get warmer. SPRING is on its way!

Jan said...

Beautiful, Z..thanks so much!

My husband always says that Nature is God's billboard! :)

Pasadena Closet Conservative said...

That photo captures the wonder of God's gift of nature to us. God bless you, Z.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Thank you Z. I will be the first to admit that I am firmly wrapped up in so much extraneous garbage that I have a difficult time seeing what is really THERE to be seen. I haven't taken a long hike by myself along the tracks in the mountains where I live (what I do to clear my head) in, literally, over a year now, since all of the issues with my father (and other things). I told myself I'd be getting back to Basics and, well, I can see I still need some stepping-back and some more reflection.

God bless you, Z.

BZ

David Wyatt said...

So true! 1 Jn.4:19 agrees! I know I'd never have come to Him unless He 1st loved me with that amazing love shown to us in the cross! All our Hope is wrapped up in Him. God Bless you.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Z. A true gift among many.

It has occurred to me that the unusually cold weather the world over, is a reminder from God to mankind, that it is not man who is in charge.

Pris

Linda said...

What a great testimony! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for visiting my blog today too.

Beth said...

I came back to read the additional part about what happened in your church today, and it reminds me of how the pilgrims came to this land to get away from religious persecution, and how our nation was founded upon the freedom of religion as basic right, and we often forget how precious that freedom is that others have risked their lives to believe. God bless them, and I will pray for them all!

David Wyatt said...

Z! How good our God is! I will pray for these dear people! God can use any situation to point lost, seeking souls to Him! He used a 1965 Impala to get my attention! God Bless you!!

Law and Order Teacher said...

Z,
I hope God's day finds you well.

Teresa said...

That was beautiful!! I will definitely keep all of the Muslim relatives in my prayers. It sounds like some of them are warming up to Christianity. I hope that continues. God Bless, Z.

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