Lovefast 30: Love

Vlad Tchompalov

Lovefast 30: Love

By Elliot from Mahabba Derby
Inspired by 'France: praying for those who persecute you' from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet

Daily verse

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

— Matthew 5:44, NIVUK

Thought for the day

Remembering birthdays, special events, and celebrations are all tricky for me - even if these happen every year.

I’m not good at sending cards or buying gifts.

So it will be no surprise or huge confession to state that to be honest I’m not much good at loving my friends.

Yet Jesus tells us to go even further and tells us to love our enemies.

It’s not a suggestion, a handy hint, a possibility but a command.

Not only did Jesus instruct us with his words but he lived out his life as an example.

One response to extremism is fear of others - xenophobia.

Another response is love of strangers - phileoxenia.

Today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet

Inspiration for today's entry - click to open

Prayer for the day

Pray for courage to live out this teaching today.

Daily action

Read this challenging article: http://www.preemptivelove.org/loving_your_enemy_isis_detainees

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 17: Family guy - Community

Image: modenadude, Flickr

Lovefast 17: Family guy

By Simon from Mahabba
Inspired by 'The Ishelhayn Berbers' from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet

Daily verse

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”

— Ephesians 1:13-14

Thought for the day

Family guy

Family means everything to the Muslim community - securing a good marriage; having healthy children; financial security; and keeping it all together.

It's a worthy ideal in many ways, and something that Western societies have much to learn from.

In Britain and the West, we are so individualistic - just look at how many family-sized homes have been carved up into one or two room apartments.

Muslims invariably spend their weekends visiting family and relatives, cooking food and hanging out - compare that with how we pursue our personal hobbies in relative isolation.

As we have explored earlier in Lovefast, whether we gain identity and security in family, finance or position, nothing compares with knowing our inheritance in Christ.

Let's learn all that we can from our Muslim friends about how we can be more community-minded and model inclusive-family, drawing in those outside our immediate families.

Let's also seek to share about what we know about Jesus - the only way truly to know our Father God in heaven.

Today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet

Inspiration for today's entry - click to open

Prayer for the day

Give thanks for your family and your relationship with Father God through Jesus Christ. Pray that God would open the eyes of your Muslim friends this Ramadan, that Jesus be revealed to them in a new way. Pray for a fuller revelation of Jesus Christ as he or she reads about Isa in the Qur'an this Ramadan.

Daily action

Ask a Muslim you know about what they know of Isa (Jesus) in the Qur'an. Share a few things that you know of Jesus from the Bible. Ask your friend what he or she thinks about the portrayal of Jesus in the Bible. Ask your Muslim friend if he or she would like to read more about Jesus in the Bible.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 10 | Family in Yemen: where tradition prevails

Image: rod_waddington, Flickr

Lovefast 10 | Family in Yemen: where tradition prevails

By Gordon from Mahabba Oxford

Daily verse

“Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that”

— Mark 7:13, NIVUK

Thought for the day

I spent a few years as a child growing up in Aden which is now South Yemen.

Travelling through the region and what we called “the Crater” area, it was as if nothing had changed for centuries.

Years later I was to see the same traditional family values and culture hidden for centuries in the Alamut valley, in Iran, just north of Tehran.

“Traditional Family” is at the core of the preservation of Islamic culture, and whilst we know how controlling and dominant it can be sometimes, it can also be a significant factor in halting the erosion of secular and worldly pressures on family values and morality.

As Christians, we can use this factor of common family values and morality which we share, and see it as a bridge into their world.

Often their aversion to Christian faith is a misunderstanding that our culture is Christian! Quite the opposite!

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Prayer for the day

Father, let me see the traditions which I keep which have nothing to do with your word. Help me to stop judging Muslims and realise that I also am blinded by my own traditions.

Daily action

Sorry - no action today. Put your feet up!

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 7: What concerns Muslim parents?

Image: babasteve, Flickr

Lovefast 7: What concerns Muslim parents?

By Chas from Mahabba Croydon

Daily verse

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”

— Ephesians 5:25

Thought for the day

Care for the family

Here are some real stories of families in London. (All names have been changed.)

Mohammed is married with two young children.

He suffers with back pain and has been out of work for several months. He feels disgraced and can’t support his family in the way he wants to.

Abdu and Maryam have three small children. The youngest is autistic. They don’t get much understanding or support from their community.

They are trying to do the very best they can for their son to support him through school.

Aisha's husband is from the village in Pakistan. He adheres strictly to traditional village values although Aisha was born here.

Aisha is not allowed a life of her own, but must care for their three children and demanding extended family without complaint.

These are typical Muslim families who might be living near you.

How could you be a good neighbour to them?

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Prayer for the day

Pray that the Lord would open your eyes to the needs of ordinary Muslim families near to you. Pray that the Lord would show you how you can be a good neighbour to them.

Daily action

Build a bridge of friendship with a Muslim family and listen to their story. Consider how you can be a good neigbour to them.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 6 | Lebanon: the church as a family for refugees

Image: marcveraart, Flickr

LOVEFAST 6 | LEBANON: THE CHURCH AS A FAMILY FOR REFUGEES

By Elliot from Mahabba Derby

Daily verse

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

— Hebrews 13:2, NIVUK

Thought for the day

Church as a family for refugees

It’s great when we as the church can welcome new people into the family of the church.

The other week we went to visit some people who had just arrived in the city.

The day was cold, damp and blustery. It didn’t look like anyone was in.

I banged hard on the door expecting to jump back into the car after a few seconds.

Instead the door opened and I was welcomed to join the family eating breakfast of bread, yoghurt, walnuts and tea.

In my mind I was the welcomer to a new Kurdish family.

However, the reality was the other way around - I was welcomed into the heart of the family, fed, introduced to family members and their relatives who had come from out of town.

I had gone to be welcomed and received a lesson in hospitality

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Prayer for the day

Pray that the church in the UK would increasingly be family for refugees.

Daily action

Consider setting up a Welcome Boxes project with your church: https://www.upbeatcommunities.org/welcome-boxes-project

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 3: Multicultural North America

Image: Mayowa Koleosho (Chicago), Unsplash

LOVEFAST 3: MULTICULTURAL NORTH AMERICA

By Phil from Mahabba Woking

Daily verse

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

— Galatians 3:28, NIVUK

Thought for the day

America has often been described as a great melting pot, into which the peoples of the Old World emigrated and integrated into the New  World, a sort of multicultural soup.

This song  suggests: “You simply melt right in, no matter what your skin”.

Some people prefer the analogy of a Salad Bowl, where the different flavours are retained and enjoyed.

In this one-minute explanation, Prof. Dr. Magala explains the difference:

Coke recently stirred up some strong feelings in their Super Bowl 2017 advert, when America the beautiful was sung in different languages (perhaps suggesting more of a Super Salad Bowl!):

If you have time, watch this 15-minute video, in which each of the seven singers explains how they felt singing in their own language.

Some people felt it should be only sung in English since that is what melting-pot multiculturalism means for them.

These are very deep issues that divide people at the moment, and not just in North America.  

So what about you?  Would you prefer soup or salad as your starter?

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Further information about Lovefast and past entries can be found here:

Prayer for the day

Pray for your own context - the town where you live - that peoples of any and every nation, tribe and tongue - all God’s children made in his image - would be welcome, no matter where they come from. What can you do to welcome them?

Daily action

One way of getting to know local people is to get a take way or visit a local restaurant - going out for an Indian, Lebanese or maybe even a Somali, depending what is around you. Get to know them one bite at a time. Enjoy !

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 2: The Andalouse of Zaghouan, Tunisia

Image: nystagmus, Flickr

Lovefast 2: The Andalouse of Zaghouan, Tunisia

By Chas from Mahabba Croydon

Daily verse

“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’

‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?’

Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”

— John 4:10-14, NIVUK

Thought for the day

Living water

As a devout Muslim I was happy with my belief. I did not feel the need of a Saviour because it was all about me and my good works.

At school I met a Christian girl and we fell in love. Controversially we got married.

Six months later, we went to a Christian camp. I just went for the holiday!

I entered the end of a meeting as some people were being prayed for. They offered me prayer too.

I thought nothing would happen and they would see that Allah is the true God! When they prayed I started to weep uncontrollably!

God showed me a presentation of all the wrongs that I had done:

This is what you did, I am throwing it into the trash

It was a very humbling and sobering experience. That was the moment when I met with God, and I wanted that forever.

Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

Further information about Lovefast and past entries can be found here:

Daily action

Jesus said, ‘whoever drinks of the water I give will never be thirsty again’. Ask God to give you an opportunity to share this message with a Muslim you know.

Prayer for the day

Encounters with God are life changing! Pray for the Muslims you know to have an encounter with Jesus.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!

Lovefast 1: A family fasts - a mother's view

Image: Rachael Gorjestani, Unsplash

Lovefast 1: A family fasts

By Chas from Mahabba Croydon

Daily verse

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.””

— Luke 10:38-42, NIVUK

Thought for the day

Preparing food

I’m Zahrah, a wife, and mother to four young children, and this year again, I face thirty days of cooking special meals along with very little sleep.

When Ramadan falls in the summer, it’s particularly hard:

1am
Get up to cook curry and chapattis. Lay the table

2am
Wake my husband and other family who may be staying over
Eat the meal, finishing with a hot drink
Do our ‘namaaz’, praying we can keep the fast and not think about food
The men go back to sleep and, after clearing up, I can get a few hours’ sleep.

6.30am
Get children up; school run; housework; cooking

7pm
Preparations for opening the fast

9.30pm
Open with dates, water and fruit, followed by dishes like biryani, pilau, samosas and pakoras
Wash dishes and clean up

11.30pm
Bed, after preparing another meal

1am
Out of bed, in time to start all over again!

Inspired by today's entry from the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World entry

Further information about Lovefast and past entries can be found here:

Daily action

Consider fasting in your own way for Muslims to come to know Jesus this month.

Prayer for the day

Think what it must be like in a Muslim family during Ramadan.  Pray for your Muslim neighbour to find freedom in Christ.

Your turn

Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!