In the early morning hours after Christmas day, the Iranian government arrested 25 Christians in Tehran and other locations. They also planned to detain sixteen others, but were unable to locate them. There are also unconfirmed reports that the authorities have arrested over 50 other Christians. According to BBC Persian, the Governor of Tehran has vowed to arrest more evangelical Christians. One of those detained was able to make a call to friends from an unknown location on the morning of the arrests, leaving this message - "Unfortunately early this morning the authorities came to our homes. They arrested us and many other believers. I want to ask you to pray for us. We are sure God will never leave us or forsake us. God bless you. Sorry for giving you bad news over Christmas, but I believe God will do something for us." Those who received the voice message were impressed by the caller's courage and calmness. Armed, plain-clothes, special security officers forcefully entered the homes of Christians while they were asleep, and verbally and physically abused them. They were handcuffed and taken for interrogation. Among those arrested were five married couples. One couple was separated from their two-year old baby. Another couple was also forced to leave their baby that the mother was breastfeeding. A number of single young women were also among those taken. Another sixteen Christians would have been arrested, but were not at home. The security forces broke into at least five such homes, ransacking them, taking personal possessions, changing the locks and placing a government seal on the door. Family members of these Christians have been called by the authorities and threatened and harassed. They were instructed to tell the Christians to surrender themselves. After many hours of interrogation, eleven of the detained were released. The other fourteen are still in prison. There has been no contact from eight of the arrested. Six have been able to make a very short call to their families. In one of the brief calls, one of the arrested complained that they are being subjected to sleep deprivation. None of them have been granted any legal representation. No charges have been made, though it is clear that they were arrested for their active Christian faith. There has been a gross lack of due process. The government authorities have not provided any written documents as to the reason for the arrests, any record of the items confiscated, and family members are not allowed to visit the detained. There is an urgent need for Christians all over the world to intercede for our brothers and sisters in prison in Iran. Let us pray that they will experience the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, even in their prison cells. Pray they will have supernatural endurance and courage through this trial, and be shining witnesses to the guards and other inmates. Pray for peace and wisdom when they are being interrogated. Pray for their health. Pray for comfort and confidence for their families. Pray they will soon be released. Pray for the welfare and protection of those the government is still seeking to arrest. Pray the Lord will guide their every step. Pray for the wider church in Iran to continue faithfully and fearlessly proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel. Pray for those who are working to help the persecuted and their families. It is comforting to know that our sovereign, omniscient, all-powerful God knows about every single arrest that has been made, and that He will bring glory to His name through this suffering. He will cause this persecution to bring victory for His Kingdom in Iran. Thank you for your prayers,

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one. MATT.6:9-13

I love the way you love me Regardless of what I do I know you'll never leave me Your love will always be true I love the way you hold me So tight in your arms You give me all I ever wanted Make me feel safe from any harm I love the way you kiss me Within I'm set afire You make me week in the knees Melt my heart with desire I love your beautiful eyes And your cute little nose Your sexy legs turn me on Love your body from head to toe I love the way I need you To be part of my everyday life I love that I can call you my husband And call myself your wife I love the way you make me smile Even when you aren't around And the way you make me laugh You always turn my frown I love the way you take my breath away Every time I look at you You make me feel so complete In everything I do I love to watch you sleeping To listen to the beating of your heart I love to wake up next to you To my day, a perfect start I love the special memories We have created together The future holds so many more That will be cherished forever I love to make you happy Strive so hard to make you feel All the love I have for you Reassure you it is real I love your passion for your interest Your intelligence in all you do But most of all I just love you for you.

You ask why I follow this Jesus? Why I love Him the way I do? When the world’s turned away from His teachings And the people who serve Him are few. It’s not the rewards I’m after Or gifts that I hope to receive It’s the Presence that calls for commitment It’s the Spirit I trust and believe. The Lord doesn’t shelter His faithful Or spare them all suffering and pain, Like everyone else I have burdens, And walk through my share of rain. Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose, And that joy only Christians have known, I never know what comes tomorrow, But I do know I’m never alone. It’s the love always there when you need it; It’s the words that redeem and inspire, It’s the longing to ever be with Him That burns in my heart like a fire. So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus? Well, friend, that’s so easy to see, But the one thing that fills me with wonder is Why Jesus loves someone like me.

"So, what is beauty?", you have asked. It could be many things. For instance, something it could be, The notes a song bird sings; A flower's bloom; an eagle's flight; The fragrance of a rose; The way that from a tiny seed That lovely flower grows. It too can be a growing child, A sparkle in the eyes Of infants learning how to walk Then reaching for blue skies. It is a feeling that's within We get when we "reach out..." To find another piece of us We can't become without. A tender touch from one we love, A mother's warm embrace, A welcome smile and tears of joy Like diamonds on a face. The drink of water from a stream And breathing in fresh air. Our 'Mother's' other gifts to us For showing that we care. Then beauty is to feel again After a tragedy That seemed to leave a hole inside We felt we could not flee. Because beauty is in "the eyes..." I could list many more. But all will have the same effect; It makes our spirit soar.