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Heart to
Heart
April 2001 - "You visited me
in the night..."
If you are a ‘Martha' (Luke 10:38-42) like me, time is
gold! I never want to waste it, even at night. So, I try to
put my sleeplessness to good use. "Give me the names, Lord,"
I ask, and one by one I bring them before His throne, especially
the suffering women to whom Project Hannah (PH) ministers. This
might sound spiritual, but the truth is that, after weeks of
short nights, even the "Martha" in me wants a break.
One night a few weeks ago, I noticed that resentment was settling
in my heart of hearts. The prayers became an obligation–the
"right thing to do." The sweetness of His fellowship
had given way to resignation and contempt. "OK God,"
I said. "Since I cannot sleep, let me serve You. Just give
me the names!"
Psalms 17:3 caught my attention that night: "You have tested
my heart. You visited me in the night...' And I sensed God saying
to me, "It is not you ‘working' for Me, Marli. It's
Me paying you a visit tonight. Your busyness has robbed you
of My sweet fellowship." What a God! In shame and repentance,
I prayed, "Forgive me, Father, I am missing the point."
What a blessing to enjoy His presence and then fall asleep at
His feet!
I think of our precious listeners. I have seen women in Asia
and South America abused by their "night visitors."
I have seen little girls locked in brothels as sex slaves or
trapped in sweat shops working nightly under cruel supervision.
Countless women live in fear of spirits, which they cannot appease,
or of men who come to hurt their bodies and strip them of their
dignity. Unfortunately, in their culture, females are viewed
as disposable.
In this issue, we have focused on our Haitian sisters living
in substandard conditions. They represent a multitude of women
all over the world! Darkness is their home. Depression, poverty,
ignorance, and loss are all too familiar. In sleepless nights,
they contribute to this "river of tears" which runs
throughout planet Earth. It is their dark night of the soul
when fear, despair, and confusion numb their hopes. What a comfort
to know that no matter how black or long the night–God
is coming to visit! The Bible guarantees that "The Lord
illumines my darkness" (2 Sam. 22:29)–and it will
become as noon day! That's Project Hannah's message to them!
Women of Hope programs are reaching these women in
the nighttime hours. God is visiting them–through our
broadcasts and through PH's prayer partners. These faithful
sisters are building a hedge of protection around our listeners
24 hours a day. How I praise God for YOUR part in this ministry.
Thanks to your prayers and gifts, women will face their bleak
plight tonight with hope and the assurance that "the Lord
is MY LIGHT, the defense of my life; whom shall I fear? Though
war arise against me, in spite of this, I shall be confident"
(Psalm 27)!
- Marli Spieker
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