I wanted to take a few minutes today before I begin posting about Christian persecution and sharing some new prayer requests with you all, to thank you for making this VOM Persecution blog a success. Without you reading this, this blog would be nothing. And since I've been watching the statistics for this blog steadily increase, I wanted to share with you all just a few things from the stats that you may not know.

Today I would like to share with you a good news story from our friends at Compass Direct.

One of the fun things about being a blogger is that often times we have the honor of being nominated for blog awards. Yesterday, I received an email from Persecution blogger, Cindy, who blogs at Inspiration Korner because she nominated me and this blog for the award. This is what she wrote on her blog:

Have you ever wondered how persecuted Christians around the world maintain their joy and trust in Jesus Christ in the midst of great challenges. When we realize what they experience in order to continue their relationship and fellowship with Jesus, it puts certain things in our lives in perspective. This week I heard about a house-church in Malaysia that had three members for nine years. The Malaysian government does not permit native Malays to attend church, or purchase Bibles. Any other people group can openly attend services, but churches risk getting into trouble if they allow Malays to attend their services.

Earlier this week I had a very touching experience that I wanted to tell you all about. In my work as a counselor I always have the Lord teach me things and this week it was a gentle reminder that there are still many many people who still do not know the truth about what Jesus did for us, and that they would be amazed if they did.

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake - Phil 1:29

On March 8, 1839, 168 years ago today, Phoebe Palmer was born. Phoebe Palmer was the writer of the music for the great famous hymn Blessed Assurance. Fanny Crosby wrote the words after hearing the music.

As I was thinking about writing to you today I wanted to share with you a thought I had recently about denying Christ. In American culture there is a growing division between the world and the church. There has always been that division, but it seems like the darkness is getting darker and the light is becoming more evident as Christians begin to really stand for what the Scriptures teach us.