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Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus:
I love the insight our sister Susan has on Joshua and its relationship now to Liberia. Here's her key message:
Pastor Jeff, my heart was stirred when I read Joshua’s “appeal.” Much of yesterday, I contemplated and prayed…the LORD reminded me of many "things" I hesitate to send this but through my deliberation and prayer, I was reminded of so many "things" and felt led to write down a bit....there was much...so I submit this to you and IF you pass it on to Joshua, I hope he will be encouraged. (Evangelist William Joshua Dunbar)
Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society for freed African American slaves and 25 years later, through independence, Liberia became Africa’s first republic. The history of Liberia is impressive, as are the people…their heritage of hope is their very name. In 1980 however, Liberia suffered a military coup and between the late 1980’s and early 2000’s, the people endured two civil wars. Much of the conflict was fueled for control over natural resources and due to governmental mismanagement.
When the wars ceased, the Presbyterian Church partnered with craftsmen and women in Liberia to create these tiny crosses from spent bullets. To me, the imagery is as powerful today as it was then. It is said a picture tells a thousand stories but I say, “the Cross tells of stories too numerous to count.” Over the years, I purchased and gave away many, this one pictured is my last, cherished. [ pictured above]
Together with the Cross these are the words that went with the Cross:
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Isaiah 2:4
By creating these crosses, craftspeople in Liberia transform instruments of death, spent shell casings, into symbols of peace and hope. While serving as a reminder of the brutal ugliness of war and crucifixion, the crosses also provide a reminder of God's redeeming transforming act in Jesus Christ.
Susan continues:
Yesterday morning as I read from Joshua, I made a note of 5:1, “When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.” And later that morning I read from another Joshua who was urgently seeking “earnest prayers for his Blessed Nation of Liberia West Africa.” He wrote the Republic of Guinea seems to be planning harm for the entire region and mentioned Guinea is a Muslim nation. I checked and it is 85% Muslim but Liberia is 85% Christian, interesting. As I prayed for the LORD’S intervention and protection over Liberia, I remembered Deuteronomy 29:29, another verse I have noted. “The hidden things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.” I was reminded of so many things as I prayed for Liberia.
Dear LORD and Heavenly Father, I praise You for Joshuas, old and new, who You know and love and who were (are) both empowered by You. As I prayed, I remember hearing boundaries and nations and uniqueness. I remember hearing “COME” resonate as I prayed. I remember reciting Matthew 11: 28-29 where Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” LORD, You spoke those words after declaring, “All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” You are the Eternal One, who created boundaries and nations and placed people with unique qualities into each but from one people, You raised a mighty nation, one set apart as holy for You, chosen to be Your own unique treasure out of ALL the people on the face of the earth. 85% of all Liberians claim to be Christians, which makes them ingrafted, adopted… also a unique treasure who You love and who confess, believe and love Jesus Christ, their Savior. I pray You will secure and protect Liberia’s boundaries from Guinea and any other nation seeking to encroach and to harm. I pray You will provide for this nation supernaturally, and decisively and Guinea and all others who plan harm, will lose heart and their courage will fail. I pray You will take care of the hidden things and provide great strategies and plans of action in the revealed. May Your yoke be upon the nation of Liberia and may they learn great things as You are the source of revelation now and Revelation to come. As for Guinea and all the nations surrounding Liberia, may they too be drawn into a heritage of hope and liberated in a name... free in The Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
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