Something happens to us Americans over Christmas. We feast. We present gifts to family and friends. We receive from family and friends. We feast again. We are given and give piles of baked goods, candy, chocolates, and sweets.  Then we feast on them, too. Even with our current economy, I’m willing to bet everyone who is high enough on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and with the leisure time to read this post certainly has a roof over their head, a bed to sleep in, and food in the fridge. Not to mention plumbing and electricity. We are, especially on these days after Christmas, at our most super-saturated state as Americans.

We are even supersaturated in our spiritual state. Many of us are cognizant in our giving and receiving of the extravagance of God. The outrageous gift of His Presence in the humble and fragile capacity in which He is with us in the incarnation. Many of us have enjoyed Advent readings this month, beginning with reading prophecies surrounding the coming of our Messiah and building up to climactic celebrations by candlelight singing some of our favorite hymns.

Yet as the candles die out, the trees begin to dry, and our waistlines grow uncomfortable from the feasting, we are cognizant of our discontent. We flick on the news, check facebook and emails. We emerge from our haze of excess to a world that is no less broken and hurting. Missionaries labor in dark lands, isolated from fellowship. Orphans languish in the third world, and in our own foster system. Our own countrymen fighting in the hills of Afghanistan faced casualties and life-altering injuries even as we were feasting.  

So here we are, the day after Christmas, awakening to a clearing fog. Stores are full of return lines and clearance decorations. I ran into Target for milk tonight on the way back into town after we arrived back from our tour across the Lowcountry visiting family over the past few days. The push for the next holiday of commercialism (Valentines’s) has already begun. Come January 1st we’ll make our resolutions, most of which somehow or another end up connected to our love-hate relationship with excess. These few days between Christmas and the New Year are their own entity.

There is also, during these few days, an opportunity frequently referred to as Year End Giving. Here we can find a path to turning outward again. Since our tax year ends as the calendar year does, this is when many families schedule their decisions regarding most of their financial gifts to charities, both Christian and secular. Out of our super-saturated American life, sweeter than my mamma’s iced tea, we can pour out into the needs of others. We can plan this time of year to be full of gifts beyond the toys and the ipods and the excess. We can choose to reach those with actual need, to put food in empty stomachs and hope to those in darkness. We can encourage our missionaries.

Yet how materialistic of us to presume that the route to helping is only through our wallet. Do we not believe God’s sovereignty works through our prayers in some mysterious and beautiful way? Do we not seek His face in the midst of intercession? As we write checks and put them in the mail, let us resolve to be intercessors. The opportunities are countless. A couple weeks ago, I received the following email from a missionary with whom I once worked doing medical missions in the jungles of Venezuela.   I’ve omitted his name, but since he asked for help spreading the need for prayer, I am posting his letter.

Dear Brothers,
It is a blessing to be able to write you. Many people receiving this letter has been a part of our ministry in one way or another and many have been to Venezuela. Thanks for your friendship and ministry.
 
This letter is not a request for financial support. Financially we are ok. You don’t need to send money. Nor is it a request for teams or solicitation for anything….except prayer! I am writing to inform some and update others about the situation in Venezuela and our ministry in particular. And I truly need prayer and help in establishing intercession for Venezuela….. not just a reassurance “we’re praying for you.” I hope you will make us an object of intercession and utilize your churches, ministries, or contacts to stimulate regular and consistent prayer.
 
So what is going on here? The government is in the process of establishing cuban style communism. It is a dictatorship with only a facade of democracy. Land is being expropriated which is a fancy word for stolen. Banks are failing. We are experiencing a crime wave that is out of control. There are political killings. Many pastors realize the next step is the government closing churches.
In fact we are having to prepare plans for the church to continue in homes only.
 
And it is personal. I have friends injured today in a fight between the National Guard and landowners. I have friends who have lost their farm to expropriation. Church members who have had their cars shot. Others tear gased in protests. I have been visited by a government lawyer to warn me that I should be quiet because it would be bad for me if I was arrested for opposing the government since I am an American. People have had their land invaded by squatters. People can’t leave their home alone because they will be taken. Several weeks ago ****’s mom was attacked in the day…
money was stolen and a niece was injured. Businesses are robbed and people killed in the middle of the day. The least of our problems are the power outages most days, water shortage, and food shortages… we have food jsst some items are missing.
 
Why don’t we leave? Sounds like a plan to me. But there are several reasons we CAN”T leave. God called us here. We can’t desert our assignment. Our adopted daughter doesn’t have a passport and we still lack required legal documents and court authorizations. A family can’t leave a daughter behind. Even if all of that was solved…what about ****’s family?..our church and friends?…. We have been here 11 years, so we have to make our stand here. I have no option but to win this battle and war.
 
We have organized prayer groups here. We are truly praying for our lives. We have formed relationships with pastors and churches so we can pray together. We are doing many things to get the spiritual victory. Now I am calling on the International community to help us. You know me and know Venezuela. I need you to contact others, get people praying… Pray for our protection and do warfare to free Venezuela from this satanic attack.
 
I will be sending email updates with points for prayer. You can forward them or send me email addresses for updates. I have started a website www.venvision.wordpress.com with regular updates. Other websites are planned. And I am open to suggestions.
 
Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
The government may have the power, military might, guns, prisons…. but we, the church, have the Spirit of God. I like our chances. I can make a stand with that promise!
 
Dios te bendiga,
*****
Iglesia Torre Fuerte