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Today is Good Friday. I’m thinking about the death of Jesus Christ. I’m also thinking about the death of Charla Pereau. They both have had a great impact on my life. Jesus was God in the flesh. Charla was made in God’s image and was conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). Because of the death of Jesus my sins are forgiven, my guilt is washed away and I am redeemed. Because of the life of Charla, I found my place in the Kingdom of God; I also found my wife and have a precious family.
Before I met Charla, I met Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM). Charla started FFHM over 60 years ago. The ministry began as a home for needy children in Vicente Guererro, Baja, Mexico. I first visited in 1987 as a recent graduate of Bible college with a degree in Missions. I was disappointed and disillusioned with how the mission program of my denomination worked. Too many hoops to jump through before a person would get to be on the mission field. I had kind of given up on ever being a missionary. FFHM renewed my dream of serving God in another country. At this children’s home I saw a lot of normal, everyday type of ordinary people who just wanted to make a difference in the lives of poor Mexicans, especially Mexican children who had been abandoned, abused, neglected and were suffering the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual effects that come from not being wanted. The staff was made up of Americans, Canadians and Mexicans who simply wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus and bring healing to hurting people.
I had come for a week to volunteer and left with a hope and a lifetime ambition to one day be a permanent part of this incredible organization. Unfortunately I had to wait 18 years for my dream to become a reality. In the meantime I went to Vicente Guererro almost every year to help out for a week at a time, as thousands of volunteers have done since the founding of the Mission. I met Charla and talked to her a little bit over those years. Looking at her and chatting with her, I would never have guessed that she was the visionary who, full of faith, determination and grit, was making such a big difference in the Kingdom of God in Mexico. On the surface she just seemed another volunteer who cared. I knew better, because I had read her book, Charla’s Children where she described her vision from God and how she began to think God’s thoughts after Him with regards to loving the poorest of the poor in Mexico.
Fast forward to 2005 and I was finally at a place in my life where I could live full time doing the work of God in Mexico. But instead of Baja, Mexico, I went to Oaxaca, Mexico, where FFHM was putting the finishing touches on a new home for needy children. Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico and the need was great and still is great, to bring help and healing to suffering children. And not only to rescue children, but also to reach the lost in remote mountain areas and restore the broken lives of those in prison and rehabilitation centers.
I jumped in with both feet in March of 2005 and have been here ever since. These have been the happiest years of my life. I feel like a puzzle piece that never quite fit just right for most of my life and then the Lord put me here and it has been a perfect fit. Not only have I loved working in various aspects of ministry here, but I also met my wife here and we have two super daughters. I couldn’t be happier, and it’s mostly because of Charla.
Charla, and her husband Chuck, would come to Oaxaca every couple of years which was a joy for us all. She would tell stories to the kids and share with the staff how the Lord had spoken to her, used her, directed her, and sometimes rescued her through the years of her life. I never failed to laugh and cry when she spoke and was always inspired to trust God more, give more freely and love more deeply. Charla said one time that her daily prayer in the morning was “God, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me.” I wonder if some days I was that soul. I also remember her saying one time that God doesn’t want our ability so much as he wants our availability. That encouraged me as I don’t have all that much ability to give the Lord, but I have plenty of availability.
When different partners of this ministry would die over the years, Charla liked to say that they “graduated to heaven”. Charla “graduated to heaven” February 28. I imagine there was a heap of treasure waiting for her. She laid up a lifetime of loving others well and no doubt filled up many celestial coffers with her acts of compassion, her works of kindness and her obedience to the Lord in meeting the felt needs and more importantly, the spiritual needs of thousands of people. In Matthew 6:20 Jesus tells his followers to store up treasures in heaven. In Luke 12:21 Jesus encourages people to be “rich toward God” and in verse 33 to “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail”.
Charla was a great example to us all of storing up treasures in heaven by being rich toward God. Thank you God for Charla!
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“As Chuck and I face our few remaining days, we sense God would still have us focus on what matters the most – His commission to reach the lost with the message of Christ and His charge to believers in Matthew 25: feed the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, give shelter to the homeless, clothe the naked, care for those who are sick, and visit the prisoners. This is the foundation on which we built His Ministry.”
Charla Pereau – Charla: An Ordinary Woman with Faith in an Extraordinary God
I suspect everyone reading this lament has suffered from a broken relationship that was romantic in nature. I have. I remember the wonderful feeling of being “in love” (which is more often than not, being obsessed or infatuated), and all the hopes, dreams, longings and expectations that come with that feeling. And then one day it is gone. Dreams are dashed and hope has gone to hell. Depression and despair set in and tears fall. Christians can feel the pain as much as anyone, but for the Christian, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Lament of the Brokenhearted.
In the stillness of this twilight hour,
My heart weeps, weak and without power.
O, how my life spins with inner strife,
And sorrow grips the core of my life.
Oh, the anguish of broken hearts,
Torn asunder by obsession’s darts.
Grief’s silent tears, a river deep,
Wallowing in sorrow, we have to weep.
I mourn for days of laughter gone,
Replaced by silence, a mournful song.
The pain of longing, a constant achen’
For solace, for peace; my soul’s forsaken.
Yet in the depths of this lamenting cry,
Hope flickers, like stars in the night sky.
For even in sorrow’s darkest hour,
God’s true love has lasting power.
So let us lament, but not despair,
For joy awaits; someone does care.
In Christ’s embrace, we find our balm,
And turn our lament into a healing psalm.
It’s no news that Ukraine and Russia are at war, and Israel and Hamas are at war. It may be news to some that in Ukraine over 9.6 thousand civilians and over 61,000 soldiers have died since the start of the war (OHCHR). 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded. Over 28,000 people have died in the Israel – Hamas war. Besides death, countless people have been maimed for life and thousands of refugees have fled their homes, many of which have been destroyed. So much pain and loss in these two wars alone. Throughout history war has raged and ravaged lives, broken up families causing misery and suffering. Below is a lament for war and a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.
O Lord, God of our salvation, as we cry out before you today about the injustice, pain and sorrow in our world. We think of those impacted by war and terror. We know that each person and every child is precious to you, yet we see fear, suffering seemingly without end. You Lord are the great provider, you see the needs of those impacted by war and you love them and weep with them. Comfort them Lord as they struggle and nourish their souls with renewed hope each morning. Guide those who seek refuge to places where they can find help and rest, and move the hearts of nations to welcome them. Help your people Lord to find community and sustaining joy in places of refuge or exile. Lord you promise a time where there will be no more war, no fear, or pain, or sorrow, or suffering. Build your kingdom here, come Lord Jesus.
We pray for peace in our world: that all people may live free from violence, in safety and security, and with hope for the future. We pray for all people who are working to build peace in their communities: that they may inspire others by their example and be strengthened to carry on, even in the hardest times. We pray for families impacted by war; for those living in fear, for those indelibly touched by tragedy, for those who mourn; We pray for boys and girls whose childhood has been stolen in the cause of war, bring restoration, healing, family, love. We pray for those fleeing war and persecution, those seeking refuge and those seeking a fresh start in a land not their own.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Open Doors recently published its annual report on Christian persecution around the world. According to this report, more than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. One in seven Christians are persecuted worldwide. 4,998 Christians were murdered. 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked. For those who suffer because of their Christian faith, we lament.
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Oh, Lord of mercy, we raise our voices in lament, For persecuted Christians, their trials unbent. In lands where faith invites the wrath of hate, They endure the darkness, bearing a heavy weight.
Amidst the shadows of persecution’s grim decree, They stand as beacons of light, steadfast and free. Their voices silenced, their freedoms stripped away, Yet, in the face of adversity, they kneel and pray.
In the depths of suffering, they find their strength, Their faith unwavering, no matter the length. Through trials and tribulations, they cling to You, Oh, God of refuge, their hope renewed.
As tears fall like rain in the night’s embrace, Their cries ascend to Your throne, seeking grace. Grant them courage, Oh Lord, in their darkest hour, A shield of faith, a fortress of Your power.
For they are blessed, though persecuted they stand, Their inheritance secure in Your promised land. In the midst of anguish, let Your love shine bright, A beacon of hope in persecution’s blight.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV): “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Open Doors lists the 50 countries in the world where persecution of Christians is most prevalent. Mexico was 37th worst in the world. I have lived in Mexico for almost 19 years and have heard many stories of Christians being persecuted. A few years ago I met a young man who father was killed for preaching the gospel. The rest of the family had to flee their little village and their house and property was taken from them. According to the report the persecution primarily happens in remote, mountainous communities where people are reluctant to change their ancestral ways and hostile to missionaries who try to evangelize and to those who convert, and also in areas controlled by drug cartels.
Foundation For His Ministry supports missionaries who try to share the Gospel in these areas. One of those missionaries is Mabel. She ministers in the Sierra Norte region of Oaxaca. She recently told me about a plan to build a church in the small town of Tepanzacoalco. At first the community leaders were ok with it, but later told the small congregation that they could not construct a building and forbid Mabel to ever come back. She also told me about some believers in a little pueblo called Yagila, who had built a church, and that it had been burnt down by people opposed to Christianity.
Below is a prayer from Open Doors for persecuted Christians in Mexico.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible courage of our family in Mexico who speak out against violence and promote peace. Protect them, we pray, and continue to embolden them in their ministries. May their words and lives touch the hearts of criminal leaders, so they turn from violence and hatred to follow You. Strengthen the faith of those living in indigenous communities; encourage them with your love and show them how You are powerfully at work in their neighborhoods. May our sisters and brothers in Mexico not be despondent as opposition increases, but may they be empowered to grow in their faith and witness. Bring peace, justice and wise governance to all areas of Mexico. Amen.
Mexico highway 190 passes in front of FFHM’s home for needy children in Oaxaca, Mexico. For the last six months or so, hundreds of migrants from Central America and South America have walked down that highway making their way to the United States. Many are motivated to make the long trek by fear of dying in their homeland, oppression, economic downturns or simply a hope of a better life. I see mostly men, but also a lot of women and children, almost everyday, walking, walking, walking north, down Mexico highway 190. Here is a lament for them.
Oh, Sovereign God, we lift our voices in lament, For those who flee, in anguish, their homelands rent. In lands of strife, where war’s cruel embrace, Forces hearts to abandon, seeking a safer space.
In shadows of oppression, where fear takes its toll, Families shattered, dreams crushed, a heavy toll. They embark on a journey, through the unknown, Desperate souls, seeking a place to call their own.
Through perilous seas and treacherous lands they roam, Hoping for refuge, a glimpse of a welcoming home. Children, wide-eyed, their innocence scarred, By the harshness of a world deeply marred.
Oh, God of mercy, hear our solemn cry, For those who suffer, beneath the unforgiving sky. May your compassion guide them through the night, A beacon of hope, a source of eternal light.
Grant strength to the weary, solace to the pained, A haven of peace, where love is regained. In the midst of chaos, let justice prevail, And may the winds of freedom fill each sail.
May nations unite with hearts compassionate, To ease the burdens of those in a dire state. In this lament, we seek your divine grace, For a world where all can find a dwelling place.
Oh, Comforter Divine, embrace those in despair, Bring healing to wounds, and answer every prayer. In the symphony of sorrow, let hope resound, Until every refugee’s feet find solid ground.
“I was a stranger, and you took me in.” Matthew 25:35
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Lord God, help us to remember those who tonight will go to sleep unfed and unwelcome,
strangers in foreign lands, people who have fled for their lives and are far from their homes.
We lift up to you those who are escaping persecution and conflict, having fled death, torture or ruthless exploitation.
So many carry wounds, mental and physical. So many have suffered greatly.
Lord Jesus, give us more of your compassion for their plight, soften our hearts to their situation,
and help us follow your lead in seeking justice and mercy on their behalf.
We pray for an end to the wars, poverty and human rights abuses that drive desperate people to become refugees in the first place.
We give thanks for people working in troubled countries and ask for more of
your blessing so we can bring life, dignity and hope to those that remain.
We thank you that you are Lord of all the earth and all its people are loved by you.
We pray these things in the name of your Son who loves us and gave his life for us. For all of us.
Oh Lord, my soul cries out for the injustice that scars our world, A mournful song echoing the cries of those whose stories often go untold. In the corners of society where oppression takes its hold, We lift our voices in anguish, longing for a justice manifold.
Lord, in the face of systemic wrongs and blatant disregard, We grieve for those whose lives are marred. The oppressed, the marginalized, their voices suppressed, In the labyrinth of injustice, may Your light manifest.
As tears fall like rain for those denied their rights, For the ones overlooked, trapped in societal fights. In the courtrooms of indifference, where fairness is denied, Grant us the courage to stand, to speak, to abide.
In this lament, we confront the harsh reality, Of a world where prejudice distorts morality. Racial divides, economic disparities stark, In the lament’s cadence, we embark.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
May our actions reflect Your call to defend, The rights of the oppressed until injustice meets its end. In this lament, may we find the strength to pursue, A world transformed by Your justice, bright and true.
My first blog post was January 1, 2013. I call my blog To Enjoy God, and for 10 years I have been writing about how God loves us and wants us to be happy. That idea moves me, stimulates me and keeps me going from day to day. That idea is on almost every page of the Bible, if you look hard enough. But there is another concept found throughout scripture that most of us would rather ignore for the most part, including me, and that is LAMENT. Many times a season of lament is the dark tunnel that people have to go through before they come out into the sunlight of God’s peace and joy.
This year I want to write about lament, ponder lament, read laments in the Bible and elsewhere and share laments in this blog. 52 laments is my goal, one for every week. Laments that take a broad look at a dark, sinful, painful world, and laments that consider the heart of one lonely child. Laments that speak to the issues of war and violence, and laments that lean into anxiety and fear.
Lamenting is not a popular thing to do. Many don’t know exactly what a lament is. I like this definition of lament:
In a Christian context, lament refers to a passionate expression of grief, sorrow, or mourning. It is a form of prayer or song that acknowledges pain, suffering, or injustice, while also turning to God with a sense of trust and hope. Lamentations in the Bible, especially in the Psalms, exemplify this expression of deep emotion and a plea for God’s mercy and intervention in difficult circumstances. Lament is seen as a way for believers to honestly bring their struggles before God while maintaining faith in His goodness and sovereignty.
Here is my first lament offering for 2024.
In the quiet chambers of my heart, I lament, O Lord, For the brokenness that stains a world deeply scarred. A fractured landscape of pain and strife, A symphony of suffering, echoing through life.
In the quiet corners where shadows dwell, Broken dreams and stories too painful to tell. Nations at war, hearts torn apart, A reflection of a world far from Your heart.
The cries of the oppressed, the marginalized unheard, In the brokenness of systems, justice deferred. Poverty’s grip, a relentless hold, A tale of inequality, stark and bold.
Nature groans, creation in despair, Exploited and wounded, it bears and forbears. Environmental echoes of our reckless ways, In the brokenness of ecosystems, we see our strays.
In this lament, Lord, I lift my gaze, To Your mercy and love that never decays. For in the brokenness, there’s a glimmer of grace, A divine plan unfolding, a redemptive embrace.
May our hands be instruments of healing and peace, In the brokenness, may compassion increase. Restore what’s been shattered, make all things new, For in Your love, redemption breaks through.
In this lament, I send up my plea, For a world made whole, where all are free. May Your kingdom come, Your will be done, In the midst of brokenness, let Your victory be won.
Psalm 34:18 (NIV):
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
In the midst of shattered dreams and harsh realities, we turn to the assurance that God is near. His presence is a balm for the brokenhearted, and in His closeness, we find hope and reconciliation. As we lament the brokenness, may we trust in the promise that the Lord is intimately connected to those who bear the weight of a wounded world.
I read an insightful article from Fuller Studio entitled Silence, Patience and Presence. I especially liked
what the author, Dr. David Augsburger, had to say about Silence, and want to share some with you. He begins the article recounting an experience when he was a young pastor and went to be with a man whose wife had just died. They went for a long walk in the rain. Neither man talked. When they got back to the house, the man told the pastor to go home. On the way home, the pastor, the author of the article, felt ashamed, an utter failure, because he had not give the man any advice or words of comfort. Later he realized that silent presence was probably the best pastoral care that he could have given.
He follows with some wonderful quotes about silence.
To every thing there is a season …
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time for mourning and a time for dancing,
A time for silence and a time for speech. (Eccles. 3:4,7)
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Silence is the gift we give when words are untrustworthy, unnecessary, unwise.
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“Those who know do not talk; those who talk do not know.”
Chinese wisdom from the Tao Te Ching
“If your speech is no better than silence, be silent.”
Dionysius the Elder
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.”
Abraham Lincoln
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Silence precedes speech:
only the one who has learned to be silent is prepared to speak.
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“No moment of silence is a waste of time.”
Quaker Rachel Needham
“It is often more effective to fast with words than with food.”
Rabbi Vilna Gaon
“The deeper one’s nature, the more time is necessary for solitude.”
Soren Kierkegaard
“Nothing in all creation is so like God as silence.”
Meister Eckhart
“Those who hear the word of God can also hear his silence.”
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Richard Rohr’s Prayer from Psalm 46:10:
“Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.”
“In silence and hope shall be your strength.”
(Isa. 35:15)
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Silence is the language of respect.
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“Be quick to listen, slow to speak.”
(James 1:19)
Job and friends:
seven days of silence waiting for the sufferer to speak first.
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Ezekiel: at the end of his journey, to be present with Judean exiles:
“For seven days I sat in silence dumbfounded.”
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One who loves God loves silence also.
One who loves Christ loves the silence of the desert.
One who knows the Spirit knows the winds of silence.
If we root our lives in silence we grow deep into God.
Dr. Augsburger
I have been thinking a lot about the importance of silence after reading this article. I wonder if I spend enough time in silent reflection of God and his will; of Christ and his sacrifice; of the Holy Spirit and what he is saying to me. I am concerned that maybe I speak useless words without thinking that may offend or hurt a brother or sister. Perhaps I need more time alone to consider the deep things of the Father and the Word and listen to his still, small voice. I will go off by myself to a quiet place and give it a think.
Or, Be Happy and Flourish!
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:12
May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 115: 14,15
I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 52:8
O LORD God, Who lives in eternity,
The heavens declare thy glory,
The earth thy riches,
The universe is thy temple:
Thy presence fills immensity,
Yet thou hast of thy pleasure created life,
and communicated happiness:
Thou hast made me what I am,
and given me what I have:
In thee I live and move and have my being.
(A Puritan’s prayer from the book The Valley of Vision)
To Enjoy God 