We still Believe Part 3

 

 

This is the 137^th letter:

 

Text for the day: John 16 (King James Version)

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

 

Our Theme for the day:  We still Believe Part 3

 

Our Devotional

 

In 1956, the pastor of San Pietro in Vincoli, the Roman church that houses Michelangelo's ''Moses,'' decided that the basilica needed a new pavement. So he ordered the old floor taken up, to be replaced by the polished travertine marble found there today. Before the digging had gone very far, the workmen came upon some ancient remains; and the simple replacement of the floor turned into a complex project of excavation that went on for several years. Like almost every building in the heart of Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli was built over layers of other constructions. Somewhat to his dismay, the pastor found a cross section of Roman history beneath his feet.

Everywhere in Rome there are patches of the subterranean city, or rather cities: a special world, of catacombs, of which the grandest of all excavations lies beneath the shabby gardens on the eastern slopes of the Esquiline Hill. It is here, where now homeless immigrants sleep and children play soccer against the startlingly big backdrop of the Coliseum where Christians if found were fed to lions or killed by the spear. Years ago these places provided shelter for thousands of people. It is said these subterranean areas or catacombs were the connecting link with the city. Histories say long galleries had been tunneled through the earth and rock to procure material for the vast structures of the capital, and the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the walls. In these underground retreats, many of the followers of Christ, when suspected and proscribed, found a home; and here also they buried their love ones who had died. The apostle Paul in his discourse to the Thessalonians reminds us that soon the life giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight, many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns or grave. (Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Today there are Houses and workshops in the older neighborhoods of Rome where massive granite columns sprouting from basement floors, Roman brick archways ridging foundation walls. The inhabitants, often elderly Romans whose families have lived in the same buildings for generations, guard their secret subterranean area carefully, fearing eviction by government authorities if word gets out. These elderly Romans are acutely aware of the lower city beneath their surface lives where their love ones of years ago hide in the earth for their faith in Jesus, for fear of their lives.

Persecution is not a good thing, but history reminds us that under force persecution, the true followers of Jesus kept their faith unsullied, and the Lord added to the church in its growth. Though deprived of every comfort, shut away from the light of the sun, making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience, and hope, they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress. Let me pause by asking this question. What do you do when things are not going right? Do you complain or do you seek God for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding? Or are you like most people that complain at every thing that seems to be going wrong?  If you fall in the later, and do nothing more than complain, then learn a lesson from those Christians in enchant Rome. Although they loss every earthly blessing, this could not force them to renounce their Faith and belief in Christ. Trials and persecutions were but stepping stones, bringing them nearer to their rest and reward.

As they recalled to their minds the words of Jesus that they must suffer for His sake, they were not just glad, but exceeding glad. Knowing that great would be their reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets that were before them. (Matthew 5:11-12). Like God's servants of old, remember you will be misunderstood, disliked, talked about, not accepted, tortured, and some of you killed. "All this I have told you, said Jesus, so that you will not go astray or in other words, give up the faith. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. (John 16:1-4). Deliverance from this earth my fellow servant leaders was not their cry, instead they counted it great joy to suffer for Christ sake. Today let us ask God to help us do the same.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

Our Prayer for today: Lord help all your servants be content with what ever state their in, in Jesus name Amen. Prayer Request Update.    Thank you for your prayers for the Amory Family.   Daily the Amory family are seeing the power, love and   healing of God in their son Shakir's life.    On Wednesday his blood pressure was a concern and   his breathing was very rapid.  He would become more   agitated when the nurse had to suction his mouth.   (The family tried to calm him by talking and reading to him.)   Then the doctors asked them to leave so that a chest x-ray   could be completed and a cat scan was also required later   in the day.  When they finally got back to see him, the tube   that was draining his collapsed lung had been removed   and one less machine was noticeable (Praise God).    Yesterday Shakir had surgery around 12 noon to correct   both of his legs.  Thanks again for your prayers. Our   God is an Awesome God, He reigns from heaven on   high with Wisdom, Power and Love, Our God is an   Awesome God.     Our teams are praying for you, so send us your prayer request. Remember a person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.   We are into our 39th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?   Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.