Stands Strong Against Bullies

By Mary Vee
Matthew 10

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple, a follower of Jesus. I and the other disciples have listened to Jesus teach for a while. 

Jesus gathered we twelve disciples and gave us an interesting assignement. He felt we had learned what we needed to carry on this project. 

We were to go in teams to cities not yet visited by Jesus. Teach the people His teachings. Heal the sick. And help the people. In the last two posts below this one you can see what He has said to prepare us for this mission. Here is what he said next:

"People will realize you are talking about a living God and not some idol they have worshiped. They will be offended and angry. They will turn against you because you bring my message. Don't quit. Stand firm to the end. Your strength and faith will be worth all you experience in the end. You are not after success. That is God's business. You are after survival and the continued teaching of my truth. And don't worry. Before you run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. 

"At times this will be a difficult task for you. A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. All the student must do is to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. There are those who have called me Beelzebub, sadly, they will do the same to you. Don't let this stop you. Soon everyone will know the truth. Stand strong. Don't hesitate to complete this mission.

"I have taught you hidden meanings to my teachings in private. Take these and tell the people. Don't be afraid of those who threaten you. They are bullies who may even kill you. And while what the bully says and does may frighten you, the one who should be feared is the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

"Think of a small sparrow. Two are sold for only a penny. God cares about what may happen to that bird even more than you do. So don't be intimidated by those who threaten you. You are worth more to God than many sparrows.


I thought about his warnings. What all could happen to us while we were gone. The assignment seemed scary in a way. Exciting in another. Jesus didn't send us just yet. He taught us more before we left. I'll share that next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Nehemiah-The Torment My Brothers Had Faced From Bullies Finally Stopped

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 6

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

The king of Babylon sent me to oversee the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

Ugh, I'm sad to report life has not been good. 

Have you ever tried so hard to get something done but ran into troubles because a bully kept getting in the way? Yeah. That has been life here.

When I worked in Babylon as a slave to the king and heard the news that the walls for Jerusalem had not been built, I couldn't understand why my Jewish brothers living in Jerusalem didn't get the work done. I, sad to say, thought they were lazy.

I was wrong.

Now I see my Jewish brothers had constantly been tormented by bullies, men who were not Jews, men who prevented and threatened my brothers if they did any work on the walls. And how could my Jewish brothers stand up to the bullies when an army of trouble makers helped?

Now I understood. 

I am so tired of fighting these guys who continually pick on us. 

I spend many hours in prayer asking God to comfort me, to help me know how to handle the situation, to...I don't know...do something. And God has. Everyday I am here I am surprised to see progress on the wall. Progress God has helped us to make.

And now, as we are closing in on finishing the work, the bullying is increasing. Remember Tobiah, the friend of Sanballat? The two who led the bullying? Yeah. Well, he has been writing letters to the nobles who live in Jerusalem. Yes, you remember those lazy Jewish nobles who felt they shouldn't have to help build the walls. The ones who paid others to do their work but expected to receive all the benefits. Well, the nobles received letters from Tobiah asking them to meet with me, although I didn't know that was why they came, and asked questions Tobiah wanted them to ask.

The nobles may be lazy but they are my Jewish brothers. I thought they just wanted to talk. But no, they were aiding Tobiah. After speaking with me they wrote my answers back to Tobiah who used the information to send letters to me. All to cause more trouble. This is just such a miserable time.

I'm not sorry I came. I am sorry I didn't realize the torment my brothers had gone through while living here.

In all fairness I brought these sorrows to God. "Remember what Tobiah and Sanballat did to us, O my God. Remember also the evil prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me."

I know God will take care of the problem. There is nothing more I can do to make them stop.

Photo Courtesy

The good news is, the wall has been completed. the gates hung. There is no way for anyone to enter the city without permission.

AND THIS....THIS...is what our enemies did not want. 

When they heard the news that they could not enter the city to cause trouble without going through a guarded gate, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence. They realized that this work of building the walls to protect the great city of Jerusalem had been done with the help of our God.


Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Jonathan Goforth-The Day The Bullies Showed An Interest In My Projects

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1887

Jonathan Goforth-28 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Toronto late 1800's - Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. Deep inside, I feel the day is getting closer. Until then, I am doing what God shows me to do each day.

One year of college has come and gone. I'd taken a lot of harassment from the guys who stayed in my dorm and sat in my classes. Okay, it was more than just harassment, they physically hurt me several times, destroyed my belongings, and made life really miserable.

I made it a personal policy to never return their meanness. Strangely enough, word spread throughout the school that I didn't retaliate, hide, or go home proving I was a serious student.

The word also spread that large audiences attended the services where I preached. What was my secret, besides studying and prayer? I visited each home in the area of any church that scheduled me to speak, inviting each person who lived in the house to come to the service. Apparently, the people were so honored I'd paid them a visit, they all wanted to hear me preach. Once the guys at the college heard the news, the harassment and teasing stopped. 

I mean, I didn't visit people or work hard to preach and get good grades just to make the guys stop. I did all of those things to prepare for missionary work in China. I showed only my sincere heart to honor and serve God.

Not only did the teasing stop, but the guys also showed interest in my side projects. I'd heard about some of the books J. Hudson Taylor wrote and read them. These works inspired me. If I could have left the next day for China, I would have.

In the meantime, God put an amazing idea in my head. I used every spare bit of change to buy copies of Taylor's books and sent them to local pastors. Letters poured into my mailbox with the gratitude of the pastors. Every time I found more change, I bought more and sent them to other pastors. Each time, letters came to my mailbox with pastors showing an interest in China's missions. The guys in the dorm were curious what I was doing. I loaned each a copy of Taylor's book. The next night all of them came to my dorm room bringing change to give to my cause. "This book has to get to into the hands of every pastor in Canada," they said. They stayed and helped me package up books and take them to the post office.

My classmates asked questions about China and what I hoped to do there.

The last three years went much better for me. I had friends. Some of the guys helped me with Greek and Hebrew, two really difficult languages to learn. I, in turn, help where I could. 

Graduation day drew closer. So did China.

And now, I needed a new suit. The four-year-old suit I'd worn for every event requiring nice clothes looked worn, to say the least.

So, I needed a new suit coat, and I didn't have any money. I didn't have any money because I used every spare cent for mailing the Hudson Taylor books to the pastors.

How was I going to get a new suit? I'm going to think and pray about this for a week and let you know the answer next Monday.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

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Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Jonathan Goforth- Bears, Cops, Dangerous Alleys

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1883

Jonathan Goforth-24 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Toronto late 1800's - Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. I feel it deep inside. Until then, I am doing what God shows me to do each day.

I realize walking around the area of town called Ward may have been a bit....um, risky. None of my college friends didn't dared to go there. They mocked me for trying to tell the men and women who lived in that scary part of town about the God who loves them. 

I don't know. God asked me to go there, so I did.

Yes, it wasn't easy. That's for sure. I saw the guns, drugs, gangs, and other very bad things happening there. One day an officer from Ward stopped me. "Yes, Officer," I asked. 

"I'm surprised you walk down the alleys in the district. Aren't you afraid? I never go there without taking another officer with me."

I answered, "I don't go alone." And that was the truth. "I've never felt alone. God was with me. Protecting me each time."

The day came where I had to prove just how much I believed my own words. I was scheduled to preach at a church some distance away. I didn't have any money for a cab. The walk took me through a thick, deep woods. I stepped around a tree and found a huge grizzly. Remember, I live in Canada, so yes, there were huge grizzlies in the woods. 

I didn't know what to do at first. Running would tell the grizzly he could chase after me and eat me. I didn't want to be his lunch. Standing still for a long time would tell the grizzly he could lunge out and maul me. "God is with me," I said to myself over and over until my feet inched forward.

I walked as if my legs had roped bound around them. Little tiny steps around the bear. While I walked the bear stayed staring straight ahead. No, I didn't look back to make sure he stayed...I'm not crazy!!!  I don't even know how long the bear stayed in that spot. I figured he and God could have a tea party if they wanted...I was out of there!!

Since I'm writing this way after seeing that bear...you know that I made it safely through those woods. I think my breath whooshed in and out the whole time, but I made it safe to the church. All thanks to a loving God who protected me.

One last thing. If the bear had attacked me, that would not have meant that God couldn't protect me. It simply meant He would have had another purpose in mind for me than preaching at that church. God has a wonderful plan for each of us. Sometimes it includes danger, fierce animals, evil people, bullies, and sometimes it includes beautiful sunrises, lakes, rivers, meadows, fun friends, and mountain peaks.


Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

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Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Jonathan Goforth-Bullies Might Win For Now, But...

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1883

Jonathan Goforth-24 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Toronto late 1800's - Photo Courtesy

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I will be a missionary to China some day. I feel it deep inside. Until then, I am doing what God shows me to do each day.

I am a brand new college student. I am living away from home. I am a country raised person now living in a city. Translated...I have a lot to learn and I make lots of mistakes.

I had all these dreams about coming to a Christian college. I'd automatically have lots of friends who love to study God's Word and enjoy doing fun things together. And that is what should have happened. But it didn't for me.

After I told the guys who sat at the dinner table in the cafeteria about my trip to the poor section of town called Ward, they laughed at me. It was then that I noticed their clothes. Quite different from my country suit made by my mother. 

No use in getting upset about their bullying me at the table. I needed to try harder. I went to my dorm room, had a time of feeling sorry for myself then decided to do something about the problem. Get a new suit I told myself. One that my classmates would wear. Then I'd fit in and they wouldn't have a reason to bully me.

I opened the box where I hid the money Dad gave me for the semester and pulled out what seemed like the amount needed to buy fabric. I'd have to skip some meals and give up other things, but I was okay with that. I walked up the street looking at the shops and found one that sold quality material. The clerk helped me choose the right amount of good quality fabric. He then told me where I'd find a tailor.

Back at my dorm room I pulled the fabric out of the bag and laid it on my bed. I ran my hand over the expensive material and knew this would end my problems with those bullies. Just then a knock sounded. A couple of the guys burst into my room. The bully look plastered all over their faces. They wanted to pick on me. They picked up my things and made jokes. 

One picked up the fabric.  He unfolded it and waved it around the room. "Aww, the little country boy wants to be like us." His eyes widened. "I have an idea." He picked up scissors from my desk and cut a hole in the middle. His friends grabbed my arms and held me while he pushed the material over my head. "So you want a new suit like us. Here. We'll help you."

They took some rope and wound it around the fabric like a strait jacked. I couldn't move. I could barely walk. "I know. Let's parade him down the hall so everyone can see his new suit." About thirty guys lined up. They pushed me, twirled me around, and shoved me until I reached the end. There was absolutely nothing I could do. No one would hear my cries for help.

The bullies made me parade down the hall and back four times before shoving me into my room and closing the door. It took me so long to wiggle out of the ropes and remove the fabric-- hat expensive material once intended to be a nice suit.

I felt so stupid. A nice suite wouldn't convince bullies to be nice. I couldn't tell anyone from the school because the bullies would find out. I couldn't tell my parents because they would make me come home. I had four years of training for the mission field ahead of me, and each day would be one without any friends. Loneliness seeped into everyone of my cells. 

My heart ached. I'll admit it...I cried. I reached for the only thing that could bring me comfort, my Bible. 

After reading, praying, and crying, I pushed my shoulders back and made a decision. No matter what the bullies did to me, I would not give up. They may think they are winning for now...but some day, God will turn all of this sadness in my soul into something unbelievably good. I just know it. I won't quit and I won't let the bullies make me quit.

The hardest part about telling you, reader, what happened years ago is I know what God did for me much later. I'm no different from you. Bad things happen. BUT, God has a reason for everything...it all works into His big plan. Stick around. Every Monday there will be more of this story. 




Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Hezekiah - Sennacherib the Bully

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 32

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo Courtesy

A few days after we finished rebuilding Jerusalem and preparing for war, I received a message from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Like I've said before, this man is a bully. 

He sent his supreme commander, his chief officer, and his field commander with a large army to deliver the message. Did he really have to send that many people?

I sent my officers out to meet with them.

The field commander from Assyria delivered this message:

"Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king of Assyria said: 'What makes you think you can be so confident? You say you have strategy and military strength, but your words mean nothing. Who are you depending on to give you the power to rebel against me? Look. You are depending on Egypt to save you.

"And if you say to me, 'We are depending on the Lord our God'--isn't he the one whose altars you removed? Didn't you say to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"? 

"When you say, 'The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' you are  misleading your people. You want them to die of hunger and thirst.

"Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to all the peoples of other lands? Did the god of those nations deliver them from my hand? Were any of the gods from other lands able to save their country from me?

"Listen to my advice, people of Jerusalem. Don't let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Don't believe him because no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver you from my hand! I'll give you a chance. Make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I'll give you two thousand horses, that is, if you can put riders on them. Hah.

"How can you turn me down by depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? You know I have come to attack and destroy this land without any word from your God. The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it." This ended his message.

My officials were quite concerned. The Assyrian messengers shouted their words loud enough for our soldiers on the walls to hear. The words sounded right, even though they were wrong. We didn't know how many of our soldiers would surrender to that bully Sennacherib.

My officials, Eliakim and Shebna and my field commander, Joah said to the Assyrian officials, "Please speak to your men in Aramaic since we understand it. Don't speak in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."

Do you think they spoke quieter?  Come back next time to see what happened.

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1.  Who was the bully?
2.  Who did the bully pick on?
3.  This bully lied. He said ___________ could not help them because no other god had helped any other land.
4.  Why did Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah ask the Assyrians to speak in Aramaic instead of Hebrew?

Bullies

By Mary Vee
Genesis 37: 12-24

Reuben and his ten brothers searched for fresh pasture in Shechem. They'd led their family's flock for many days away from their home in Hebron and had become concerned about the animals. "Let's go further north. There should be decent grass in Dothan." His brothers agreed. The sheep bleated and fussed as the shepherds pressed them to move forward.

As they neared Dothan, Simeon shaded his eyes from the sun. "Hey, look at that pasture! It's perfect. We can take a break while the sheep eat." The brothers slapped each other on the back and cheered.

An hour later their family's flock grazed on hearty grass. Dan sat under a tree and drank some water. He noticed someone in the distance. He squinted and realized Joseph, their little brother, was walking toward them. "Hey, Reuben, look. Here comes trouble."

Reuben slapped his forehead. "What's he doing here?"

Gad turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Dan pointed. "Look back at the road. I'd recognize that coat of many colors anywhere." Dan waved to the other brothers. "Look. There's Joseph. The dreamer who says we'll bow down to him."

Reuben leaned against the tree. "He shouldn't have come."

The other brothers laughed and shouted. "We should kill him. That'd get rid of the trouble maker." "Yeah, we're far away from home." "Father always treats him better than the rest of us. Let's see what happens when his favorite son disappears."

Reuben held his hand up. "Wait. Slow down. We can't kill Joseph."

The brothers shook their head. "What? Why not? He's been nothing but trouble since the day he was born." "Yeah, Let's kill him."

Reuben pushed his way into the middle of his brothers. "I tell you, we can't kill him. Here, I have an idea. See that pit? You could thrown him into there. That would leave him out here in the wilderness where no one would know to save him. At least his blood won't be on our hands. What do you say?"

The brothers stood quiet for a few moment. Simeon peered over at Joseph who was getting closer to them. "OK. Let's throw him into the pit. That would get him out of the way. Who knows, maybe a wild animal will come." The brothers laughed. They piled their hands together and shook on the idea then sat under the tree to wait for Joseph.

Reuben wiped sweat from his forehead. At least they won't kill him.

Joseph arrived a little while later. Levi stood. "So, you found us."

Joseph wiped his hands on his tunic. "Ahh, yeah. Father told me to see if everything is well with you and the flocks."

The other brothers stood and joined Levi. Joseph took a step back. The brothers grabbed Joseph and yanked his coat of many colors off. One shouted, "Here's what you get for being a trouble maker." They dragged Joseph to the pit and threw him in.

Joseph tumbled to the bottom. "My head! My leg! Let me out. Please help me out of here."

Reuben stepped back. I can't stand hearing him scream. He walked to the pasture to check on the sheep. I'll let the other's have their fun for a while then sneak back, pull Joseph out of the pit, and send him home.

Reuben cringed with each dastardly cheer from his brothers. He kneeled by one of the sheep. "I hope they keep their word. What would father say if they killed Joseph? He'd blame me." The lamb looked up at him and bleated.

Sometimes we see someone being picked on. What can we do? Reuben didn't want Joseph to be killed, but he didn't want his brothers to turn on him either. If Reuben could hear you, what would God want you say to him? Do you think Reuben made a wise choice when he told his brothers to throw Joseph in the pit? What's going to happen to Joseph?