November 2010
Dear friend,
Every month I like to read the prayer calendar all at once. This way I immerse myself in the prayer focus and feel better prepared to pray. This month there is much to praise God for – changed lives, new languages on the air, our new website, the release of my new book, the opportunities and miracles God is giving us and more. I must confess that even though I am so very thankful to God for what He has done for Project Hannah, I found myself asking, “Is it worth it? Wherever I go, I still see evil ambushing women at every turn in their lives! How long, God, will we cry out to you and you will not answer?” Just like Habakkuk, the prophet, my soul was struggling and disturbed by the ongoing suffering I see.
God reminded me of a precious lesson I learned when our son Fabio was killed by a limb of an oak tree two weeks before Project Hannah’s 5th Anniversary celebration. The night before I went to bed saying to my husband, “How will I speak at the celebration tomorrow?” He said, “It’s okay. You do what you can.” I was too broken, too hurt and too weak. In the middle of the night I woke up to a loud and beautiful choir singing an old hymn favorite of mine, “Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks AND sing!” I asked Edmund, “Can you hear it?” He couldn’t; the song was only in my soul. We prayed that God would give me the strength to rejoice, give thanks and sing! I decided to be grateful in midst of my darkest night, and for four consecutive days, God allowed me to rejoice, give thanks and sing!
Perhaps you are in the middle of a season of pain and disappointment, and giving thanks poses a challenge to your soul. Maybe life is tough right now, and your joy has faded away. I know how that feels. But – in an act of our wills – we can CHOOSE to rejoice and give thanks to God, even if that means offering our “sacrifice of praise” this month. I hope you do, because it is all worth it! Thank you for your endurance in this work of prayer we do together. Come, let us praise the Lord, for great is His faithfulness!
Marli Spieker
Global Ministry Director/Founder
Project Hannah
TWR