Filled with fear Joe walked down the street. Not too fast, not too slow. Unpleasant thoughts, of how this day might end, flooded his mind.
“I don’t look Eastern European, will someone notice?”
The bags he carried were getting heavy, hard to hold onto. They were filled with printing supplies – including fluid for the mimeograph machine. There was his destination, he walked to the door and it suddenly opened
A woman grabbed him, pulling him in.
Terror showing over her entire being.
She had a right to be terrorized. If Joe were spotted entering her home neighbors may call authorities – then what would happen to she and her husband?
Joe was fearful, but if he were caught, he would just be sent home. If this couple, a Professor and his wife, were caught they could be sent to prison and tortured. They had information of the underground church.
- Who were the people wanting the Bibles the professor would print?
- Who was in the communication line that brought an American with gifts?
- The authorities would do whatever was necessary to get information of the underground church from this couple.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THIS KIND OF LIVING?
Are your children prepared?
Following is a prayer journal entry as I have seen more and more acceptance of Communism in the Unite States my heart has grown weary. I see the possibility of persecution, like what our Chinese brothers and sisters have endured for years. What about North Korea and Nigeria? We are living in a time of the highest, most intense persecution of Christians ever. Let us not be proud and think it can’t happen in the United States.
Amazing Triune God! You continue to guide me through these days of turmoil. You are orchestrating everything!
You are the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
The more I learn of You, the more I fear You.
The more I learn of you, the more I appreciate Your amazing love!
“You have been allowing my body to rage with terror this past week – for Your purposes. You have given me the desire and strength to cling to You, to not let go.
Even as I write this now, the raging hounds me and weakens me and I just want to give up. The world around me is crazy – what is coming next? Oh my Lord, I scream out …
COME, LORD JESUS, COME!
Oh Father, you continue to set the stage for that day. Only You KNOW when that day will come. Even Jesus does not know.
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:32
Father, you have taught us that every tribe, every nation shall have been brought the truth. Revelation 5:9; Romans 1:5; Revelation 7:9
Father, You led me last week to the article about Chinese Christians going places American Christians are not allowed to go – “Americans are too afraid to go where the Chinese Christians are going,” spoken by a Chinese Christian some years ago. Father, I agree with that statement.
Have You, the Triune God, lifted the protection that has been on America all these days? Are You pouring Your wrath out on America because we Christians have not surrendered as You wanted? Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (ESV)
Father, are we holding too much onto ourselves and not onto You? Please teach me how to give more of myself to You. What do I need to die of in myself?
Are You now using Chinese Christians because Americans have become weak in their walk with You and shallow in the depth they walk with you? You have been preparing Chinese Christians as You have walked them through horrid persecution. Even in this moment. Have You given them a deeper understanding of who You are and how You work? Is that why they have a willingness to walk into more fire?
Father, we American Christians have put
our human feelings before Biblical Justice!
Please have mercy on us.
Father, I can take no credit for raising my children to be ‘Wong’ children. If they are, it is because You brought different ‘Wong’ families into our home. My children heard the stories directly from individuals who had suffered persecution. And of course, they heard stories from Joe every time he came home.
For explanation of ‘Wong’ children read Coffee Chat.
Father, You also granted that while we were in Cuba my children heard the couple, who was caring for them, being told, “If Joe and Wanda get killed in Cuba, it will be your fault. They couldn’t have gone if you hadn’t offered to stay with their children.” Oh the faulty reasoning of Christians, or those who think they are Christians.
Thank You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for raising up my children to walk with You.
PARENTS – how are you raising your children in preparation for what God is granting to come to America?
I urge you to watch this video! Dr Wong’s Testimony
Are you raising Wong children?
I first heard this story from Dr. Wong’s mother. It was 1980; Joe and I had just brought Bibles into China and upon returning to Hong Kong were told we were going to meet a family of whom we had heard many stories. The Wongs had just escaped from China.
This on top of our trip to Cuba drastically changed my walk with the Triune God. It changed how I viewed doing ministry. I discovered a great deal of ministry in the United States – whether it be Children’s Ministry or ministry to the under-served – we tend only do what is comfortable. Actually – that is how we parent too.
I also urge you to listen to this sermon
Revelation 14: 6-20 The Harvest of Humanity
I would suggest for better context the previous two sermons also, actually the whole series. We don’t know when the heavy persecution will come – are you prepared?
Are your children prepared?
If you would like a few ideas to prepare your family for the coming persecution, write me at wanda@kidtrek.org and I will send you some beginning steps.
Whether America falls to the Communists next year, 10 years from now or even 20 plus years from now, your children need to be prepared to not renounce Christ.
We are already in the time of cancel culture.
Christianity will have to be canceled – what will your family do when it is?
The Triune God is giving us time to prepare for persecution.
Does your family have a plan?
If this is the first time to my Blog, Refining Fire, it is the story of my walk through more than 40 years of horrid internal terror. A terror for which neither doctors nor psychologists have been able to find a reason.
I thank the Lord for the terror because without it I would have never known the wonder of the Triune God’s love at the depth I have. The Refining Fire has burned away a lot of sin within me.
Amid the Refining Fire He has walked me on a most amazing path, some of which involved serving the persecuted church. That path would greatly change how I viewed walking with the Triune God. He showed me how so often we take the Triune God off the throne and put others on – all the while thinking we are loving others.
Following are a few links to when the Lord took me to Cuba and China. While my body raged with internal terror He showed me there is a much greater terror. They may give you insight as to why I’ve come to this place today, to beg you, to prepare your family for persecution.
Blessing in the Midst of Terror!
The Day Arrived! I Knew This Was Where God Wanted Me… CUBA!
China! God Has a Surprise for Me
Wanda, this is your best blog post yet. Thank you for warning us. Jesus told us over and over to “keep our lamps burning”, “build your house on solid ground”, “pray because you do not know the hour or day” and many other warnings to be prepared for the day of Christ’s return. LORD, deliver us from sloth and bring us to a righteous zeal to serve you in Spirit and in Truth because of the love that God has lavished on us.
Thank you – may Almighty God use it to His glory.