WORD OF THE DAY - Thursday 23 July 2009

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

Our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for this another glorious day because of the knowledge of your abiding presence among your people. Revive our full measure of faith in this message of Good News that contains more revolutionary good than all the systems of world order that are devised by humanity. Grant your travel mercies to those servants who travel across continents, seas, and islands on behalf of our precious Lord who showed us what it means to love one another. In Jesus name, Amen.

October 2008 – We are stranded in a remote area outside of Moscow while we waited to learn if we would be able to catch a flight to Magadan. Sometimes, going means sitting on your bags while someone is working out contracts with financially troubled airlines.
We leave Montgomery in a few hours when our ride to the Atlanta airport picks us up. We are busy with last minute things and praying for a safe journey to Nikolaev, Ukraine and later to Magadan, Russia. We are hopeful that at least one soul in each city will hear, believe and obey the teachings of Christ. Thank you for the many prayers and words of encouragement.

WORD OF THE DAY - Wednesday 22 July 2009

With complete humility and gentleness, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2)

Glorious and Mighty God, our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for granting us life along with provisions on this another day. As we study and obey the teachings of Christ, give us wisdom so that we will be filled with your Spirit of peace and proceed to do everything possible to ensure unity among those who follow Christ as Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

Photo: Magadan Christians having tea with a few visitors following one evening of preaching in Magadan 2008. After our work with the new church planting in Nikolaev, we plan to be in Magadan toward the end of October. A group of three brothers from the Northern Lights Church of Christ in Fairbanks, Alaska has been in Magadan for about 2 weeks and have brought much encouragement to the congregation, especially the young people. This church in Fairbanks has been unwavering in their support of the work in Magadan through their regular help with the rent for the meeting place. It has been several years since anyone was there from Fairbanks, and we hope they will be able to return more frequently. We pray for their safety as they make that long journey home.

WORD OF THE DAY - Monday 20 July 2009

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3 ESV)

Most Holy and Kind Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for showering us with blessings and challenges again on this new day. Help us to communicate to all people of the world the plain teaching about baptism that we find in the scripture. Give those who teach the Word the courage and wisdom not to tamper with the words of Christ and his apostles. In Jesus name, Amen.

Photo: On one of my first visits back to Magadan, Russia in 2006 when I was first allowed to get a visa. I went without Galina because we did not know for sure if I would be allowed to enter Russia after those 6 years of being denied a visa. It was a time of great joy for myself and the church to get to be together and study the Word. I was handicapped without my best helper, but somehow stumbled along and we had several baptisms with people that heard the Word. In just three days, we leave for Nikolaev, Ukraine. We will be there until October, and then we go out to Magadan. Your fervent prayers are very valuable to us. Galina is fighting a bad cold and we are hoping that this will go away before our flight on Thursday. Thank you for your constant encouragement for this work that is devoted to souls in Russia and Ukraine. The Russian language is one of the world's great languages and millions of people can now read their Bibles and learn God's will in their native tongue. We must act now while we have time and opportunity.

WORD OF THE DAY - Wednesday 15 July 2009 from Manassas

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7 NIV)

Almighty God, our Kind and Holy Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for another day that dawns with superb blessings and even more yet unseen incidences when we will be aware of how much you constantly listen to our pleas. As we study, believe and obey your supreme word, help us to pause in the midst of all the rush and consider that all good things come from your kindness. In Jesus name, Amen.

Photo: Misha reads a poem he wrote about God's love to the church following the morning worship. He and his younger brother Ilya are growing up in the church at Magadan, Russia.

WORD OF THE DAY - Saturday 11 July 2009

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

All Powerful and Merciful God, our Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for the dawn of a new day and the mysterious gift of life that we see pulsing from every direction we look. This is no dead planet because it was your purpose to place life here! Strengthen us as we follow Christ especially during times that we feel like we are the only people that must experience certain temptations. Help us to choose the good path that you provide out of each temptation. In Jesus name, Amen.

Photo: Galina with Vitaly and Ivan. She made several trips to Magadan during those six years that I could not visit Russia. She provided much encouragement to the church by her presence and wise counsel. Now we are in the final stages of our preparation for our upcoming trip that will include visits with our brothers and sisters as well as teaching the Gospel to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as Lord.

WORD OF THE DAY - 04 July 2009

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34 NIV)

Most Holy God of our fathers ~ We exalt you and praise you as we lift you to the highest place in our thoughts and deeds. Help the leaders of nations and the people feel shame instead of honor whenever a nation forgets your perfect law. Restore within your people a love for truth and righteousness. Give us courage and wisdom so that we will talk openly about Christ our Savior and Lord in all countries of this earth. In Jesus name, Amen.

Photo: Magadan, July 2007. Children who are "growing up in the church" pause for chai (tea) following a evening Bible study. Nations can be saved from disgrace when families bring the kids up to love God's word. Let us pray that the children and grandchildren of Christians will learn to love the Lord and have a burning desire to serve Christ.
UPDATE: Yesterday the Post Office worker delivered my Passport that has a new Russian Visa pasted on a blank page! We are very thankful for another one-year, multi-entry religious work visa. Now, we must wait until the 10th of July to know about Galina's visa. This makes it hard for us to proceed with ordering our tickets, but our patience is always tried in these circumstances of preparing for a lengthy mission journey. It is all a miniscule inconvenience when we consider all that our Savior gave up when He left Heaven to come to this sinful world as a sacrifice for our sins. We have such a wonderful salvation because we have a wonderful Savior - Jesus Christ!