October 9, 2011

Before I can post anything at all... I have to post this.

Yes, it is painful.

Yes, it is horrific.

Yes, it is indescribably inhumane...

and what words can relieve, describe or change what happened that day?

I know that in the face of their sacrifice, all the words I may say will sound hollow and empty, void. But I have to. The words flow through my mouth, through the pain of my heart and I know I will never forget. I cannot. Not even if the whole world tries to deny it... because I know it happened. They know what happened and we cannot keep silent. The tears and pain of those left behind, the agony of those who are now lacerated more than with mere bullets, but with the horror of what they saw... experienced... and those who died for Christ, the One Precious to them, the One who died for them and set them free, for the One who gave them the life that will never end. It all vibrates in my heart. 

The day I heard the news,  I wrote this out...

(please forgive my poor grammar and the raw emotion; I was near tears at that moment...)

"O God, hear the cry of the poor and needy, those who seek You day and night. They are your children... You, O Lord Jesus, are suffering with your people again. You know their pain and suffering... Oh Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy. Deliver them in their chains, their sufferings. Forgive us, we who forget part of the Church that suffers such horrors, for our worldliness, materialism and doubt. Help us, that we may cry with those who cry, weep with those who weep and pray with those who pray. Give us the grace that we may suffer with those who suffer. You've promised to be with Your children always, Lord. Be with them now. Hold their hands as they  walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Comfort the ones who've lost loved ones... strengthen Your people, give them boldness to speak Your name, faith to see it through the darkness, the song to sing in the midst of pain and the night. Give them hope in the midst of despair, joy in the morning that will drive out the shadows. May their valley of weeping be turned to joy. Oh Lord, You are Worthy--for You were slain, and You have redeemed us to God, and made us kings and priests to Your God and Father... Please look on Your people and hear them. Let the world know! Let them see and not be silent at the horrific, revoltingly inhuman shedding of innocent blood, let them cry out against this injustice. But O Lord, there is none but You that we look to; do not be far from us. Hasten to help us! For in You we trust. Do not let us go...

Most of you would have received an e-mail throughout last week explaining what happened in Egypt among the Coptic Christians. My sister Sarah also posted about it in her blog, "Gems in History"... I felt I really didn't need to write more... just pour out my heart. Last weekend my parents found on YouTube some close-up footage of what happened. It was a really close filming through a mobile camera showing what happened. It was just so horrific and brutal. I found myself truly shaken and crying... the horror of those people crushed by those army trucks and the shootings. My heart broke as I watched the stories of the families of those who had been martyred; many of you may have heard how a girl's fiance was run over by one of those trucks and was killed and so many other stories... a widow lost her son, a young wife with three children lost her husband, another man lost his son... that thought gripped me that these are real people and their agony and grief right NOW is so real!!! May the Lord have mercy them and give them that Strength, that Heavenly Comfort and Peace that the world can never know.  The Lord has put it on my heart, my family and many of my friends to spread the news to all we know so that they may pray for our brethren in Egypt and to tell others. In our Parliament here in Australia, they passed a bill condemning what happened on October 9 and demanding that there be a stop to the violence against the Coptic Christians. It has been a great answer to prayer. Many of my friends have e-mailed me... they told me they were praying and many have spread the word! I am so thankful for that, of course all that we do is hardly enough... it can never be really. But I know that above anything that we can do, there is one thing that is so powerful and important that we can do... in fact, I know it will affect our brothers and sisters dramatically for the good. PRAY!!! Please join in prayer for our brethren there in Egypt now... and not only Egypt but everywhere where our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering untold agonies and trials for Christ! To get more news about what's happening go to: http://gemsinhistory-sarah.blogspot.com/2011/10/urgent-prayer-for-christians-in-egypt.html?zx=ac943dd60966cfea

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That y shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy...And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." ~John 16:20;22 KJV

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." ~Revelation 1:5-6 KJV

In His unfailing love,

~Joy

Postscript: I really have to apologize for not posting "Part 2" of Lady Jane Grey's life last weekend as I promised. I felt I really couldn't until I posted this one, and for some reason it was extremely hard to post this one up... for many reasons. I hope you understand, and please continue to look forward to Jane's Part 2 sequel as it is on my priority list!