WORD OF THE DAY 03 May 2011 Nikolaev, Ukraine

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)

И будет, прежде нежели они воззовут, Я отвечу; они еще будут говорить, и Я уже услышу. (Исаия 65:24 Russian)

І станеться, поки покличуть, то Я відповім, вони будуть іще говорити, а Я вже почую! (Исая 65:24 Ukrainian)

Y será que antes que clamen, responderé yo; aun estando ellos hablando, yo habré oído. (Isaías 65:24 Spanish)

Most Holy and Righteous God, our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the incredible blessings from your treasure, that makes it possible for us to face this new day with a spirit of optimism and hope. We know that you always hear our sincere prayers of faith and when we are down you pick us up even before we have time to express our cries for help. Give us wisdom to use each opportunity that comes our way this week to encourage another person to obediently follow Jesus as Lord in order to receive forgiveness of sins and the sparkling hope of eternal life. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Yesterday, the city of Nikolaev along with the entire country of Ukraine was in a festive mood while the celebrating of the May 1 holidays continued and extra day. We continued to nurse my lingering difficulties with whatever infectious bug or perhaps pollen that is making normal breathing something to look forward to. Many people who have government jobs, and that represents a large part of the employed population, were enjoying a day off work. Who doesn’t like that now and then? We went on a long walk around town to pick up some natural vitamin D and stopped at the very prominent statue of Lenin. There remain many prominent statues of this Soviet leader who used to write extensively about the Russian Revolution that helped to expand Communism far beyond the borders of Russia. We who have faith in the all-powerful and invisible God who created all things and sustains all things by His Word, must continue to work untiringly to expand the borders of God’s kingdom throughout parts of the world where atheistic communism still has its tentacles of influence. Lenin, who continues to be revered all over the territories of the former Soviet Union decried, “Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man.” Source: “Lenin Collected Works” – translated “Marxists Internet Archive”. That is just one small portion of much rambling about the enslaving effects of religion according to Marx, Lenin and Mao. We cannot ever forget that Christ promise us that “the truth shall set you free.” Jesus is the source of believable truth that ensures real freedom. Thank you for the many prayers.