I had fun drawing this one today. This is one of the verses I read around this time last year when my husband and I were praying about moving to Spearfish to help with a new church. In my reading this morning, I was reminded of this verse – the devotional I am going through right now had me reading in Joshua 3&4 when the Israelites crossed the Jordan. God was protecting and guiding them from the front and the back. Remember this verse as you take steps forward in the direction God is calling you.
Remember to pray for God’s protection of the Ehty people. The translators are working to bring God’s Word in a tough place.
At YEAR 27, we are celebrating over 145 verses that the Ehty people will have in their own heart language. Our goal: the equivalent of the book of John (879 verses). Click here to sponsor a verse.
These verses really stood out to me yesterday…and so today I’m sharing them with you!
YEAR 27 = doodled verses everyday
YEAR 27 = helping you to see the truth found in ONE VERSE (or two!) each day – ONE VERSE can change a life!
YEAR 27 = trusting God for His provision
YEAR 27 = helping to bring the Bible to the Ehty people of South Asia for the first time
YEAR 27 = sponsoring verses to be translated – one verse at a time
On Sunday, my pastor’s sermon was about this verse. He is doing a series called Loving The City and one of the things he said was that “loving the city means doing the unexpected.” One of the other things he said was that “when you pray for your enemies, it changes both of you.”
When I think about the city that I live in, I don’t really think that everyone hates me or my church, but I do think that that praying for my city will both increase my capacity to love my city — in unexpected ways — while calling on the great God that I serve to open hearts to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. To those who might expect judgment, I want to offer love and hope. To those who have been hurt by church, I want my church to welcome them with open arms. To those who feel like they are not worthy of grace, I am reminded that God’s grace is sufficient for ALL.
As I think about this verse through the eyes of the Ehty people, I think about the 20 or so of them who have professed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. These Christians endure persecution on a daily basis — persecution that has actually caused some of them to renounce their faith. It may be easy for them and also for us (who are praying that there is a great movement among the Ehty people to trust Christ), to see the people who are persecuting these Christians as enemies. But Matthew 5:44! We have to love those who are persecuting and pray for them! AND it’s going to CHANGE THEM and us! Will you join me in praying for those among the Ehty people who don’t believe today? Let’s LOVE them from around the world!
Today’s guest post is by Johanna Fenton. Johanna is the Social Media Coordinator for The Seed Company and One Verse. She has been a HUGE encouragement over the past several months! She is an encourager, passionate about Bible translation and a social media whiz! Thanks for writing today’s post Johanna!
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Last week Jill’s half-birthday occurred on a momentous day for the Gamo people of Ethiopia. It’s a story I want to tell you about.
Seven years ago, 4,500 Gamo people gathered to watch the newly translated “JESUS” film in their language. For many, it was the first time they understood the gospel – because it was expressed in the language they understand best.
I invite you to take a moment to witness their moving reaction in this short video. I promise you won’t be disappointed (it’s our fans’ all-time favorite).
Well, guess what? On Jill’s half-birthday, over 10,000 Gamo returned to the same field where the “JESUS” film was shown to celebrate the arrival of the Gamo New Testament! Imagine with me: the joy was so intense that the stage almost broke under the weight of those dancing and singing at the celebration.
We pray that God’s Word will flourish and lives be transformed in this community of 690,000 people who speak Gamo.
In another corner of the world, in South Asia, Ehty believers endure persecution as they translate the Scriptures for the first time. Jill’s Project Year 27 is bringing hope to these people – one verse at a time. Through Project Year27, you can sponsor one verse for $26. Find out more about OneVerse, a program of The Seed Company.
Let’s together help end Bible poverty for the Ehty people. May they feast for the first time on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.
To date, Year 27 has provided 144 verses … with just 735 to go. Will you help? It’s quick, easy and secure to give one verse. Start now.
