WORD OF THE DAY - 02 December 2011 from Mykolaiv, Ukraine

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:16 ESV)

И будет непоколебим дом твой и царство твое на веки пред лицем Моим, и престол твой устоит во веки. (2-я Царств 7:16 Russian)

І буде певним твій дім та царство твоє аж навіки перед тобою. Престол твій буде міцно стояти аж навіки! (2 Царе 7:16 Ukrainian)

Dear God, our Merciful Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for the incomparable blessings that we experience on this new day because of our trust in your unfailing love. Give us wisdom so that we will more fully appreciate the role of Christ as King of Kings over the worldwide spiritual Kingdom – the Church that he purchased with his own blood. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

In the morning yesterday, we were running around the town trying to get a key made and finally made it up to the central bazaar and found a guy we had used before. We needed an extra key to the Post Office, but when we came back to the P.O. the key didn't work. So, today we have to repeat that performance. We were given much joy as we returned to our work at the University with a group of 4th year students. Lesya Dobrovolskaya is the English professor who coordinates our activities along with Tatiana Myronenko, who is head of the English Department at Mykolayiv Sukhomlynsky National University. We had a great time with these bright young people by answering some of their questions about our recent trip to America. One young woman had visited the Columbus, Ohio area. They were very attentive to the lesson I presented from the Scripture about the benefits to society of following God and the perfect teachings of his Son Jesus Christ. It was a drizzly day for our walk over there and back to the church meeting place which is only a ten minute walk. We returned just in time for our Thursday Bible study with the church. David Ciolkosz, who hails from the United States, is visiting Nikolaev and was able to meet with us at our 3.00 PM meeting. After we dismissed, Tatiana who is the leader of the cultural department in the House of Culture where we meet, came to go over her request for help for many of the children in her group who are severely disadvantaged due to living in broken home situations. This is the Ukrainian folk dancing group that has represented Ukraine in international festivals in Bulgaria and Belarus. Last year we presented each child with one of the Children's Bibles and soon we plan to begin studying these lessons with the children who have parental consent. After we finally arrived home from our long day, Galina started back on her Dorcas ministry. She volunteered to wash clothes for a homeless man that we are working with to help him turn him life to God. A certain missionary, who was homeless in Magadan in 1994, was the recipient of her kindness. Vitaly is living in a little makeshift trailer which someone made available to him that doesn't have running water or other conveniences. Thank you for the prayers. 

WORD OF THE DAY - Monday 28 November 2011 from Nikolaev, Ukraine

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen--”  (Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV)

Пророка из среды тебя, из братьев твоих, как меня, воздвигнет тебе Господь Бог твой, --Его слушайте, -- (Второзаконие 18:15 Russian)

Пророка з-посеред тебе, з братів твоїх, Такого, як я, поставить тобі Господь, Бог твій, Його будете слухати, (Второзаконие 18:15 Ukrainian)

O LORD our God and Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the incredible gift of life on this new day that radiates with fantastic blessings from your providence. Give us deeper spiritual insight so that we will not be blind and refuse to recognize the truth that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the true Messianic Prophet whom all people must pay attention to in order to avoid eternal damnation and to inherit blissful interminable life. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

Yesterday was a most refreshing worship experience with fifteen people present. Prior to the meeting, one of our very first English students was waiting to greet us. We met her at a McDonald's in Odessa in 2009. She lived here in Nikolaev with her parents for a while and studied English using the Bible. We will resume our studies with her today. We were also very happy that Tetyana, a good friend of Natasha who is currently in the USA visiting her daughter, was with us for worship. As usual, this retired English teacher had some thoughtful comments and a question before she left. Nikolai Gagarkin, the doctor who originally welcomed us to Nikolaev was present with his wife Olga. Also, we had Yuri and his wife Sveta to visit with us. They live in a small village several miles from here and normally worship at home. They sell their dairy products at a market in Nikolaev two days a week. Our dear young friend Nastya was there to greet us early also. Galina helped her organize her notebook where she keeps copies of all children's lessons and my sermon outlines. The Australian man Neal was there also and explained that he will be departing Nikolaev soon to go back home. Later we spent some time with David who has taken a job teaching English here in Nikolaev. We are hoping that he will become a valuable part of our work. Now is is trying to find his way here. Thank you for the prayers of faith.

WORD OF THE DAY - Sunday 27 November 2011 from Mykolaiv, Ukraine

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV) 

Умоляю вас, братия, именем Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, чтобы все вы говорили одно, и не было между вами разделений, но чтобы вы соединены были в одном духе и в одних мыслях. (1-е Коринфянам 1:10 Russian)

Я благаю вас, брати і сестри мої, іменем Господа нашого Ісуса Христа, щоб усі ви погоджувалися одне з одним, щоб не було розбрату між вами, і щоб були ви єдині в думках своїх і прагненнях. (1 Коринтяни 1:10 Ukrainian ERV)

Dear God, our Kind Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for this new Lord’s Day and the joyful privilege we have as believers to assemble with one another in order to worship in spirit and truth. Grant us wisdom so that we will sincerely love, honor and respect one another as those who also have rights to eat of the tree of life in the new eternal paradise that is being prepared by Christ our Lord. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

We had a wonderful day with the boys at the Boys Home yesterday! They were prepared with their lesson book and ready to resume our studies of what it takes to be a person of good character. It was a cold day along the river and I joked with the boys that we noticed a bird walking on the water. (ice) They were very excited to see us and we enjoyed our two hours with them. Normally, we are allowed an hour and a little more, but Natasha (their teacher/leader) had questions to direct them in the right way. We used a lesson from the scriptures on gratitude since they had questions about Thanksgiving. Following the Bible lesson, we passed out some bandanas that we noticed on one of our last walks through Wal-mart looking for something light that we could stuff in our suit cases. They had lots of fun with those and will use them in the winter. We are having beautiful weather. It is still below freezing in the night and around freezing most of the day. But, the sun is shining and with only a gentle breeze, it makes things comfortable. Over the past few days, we've been trying to notify people that we are back in town and hope to meet with them soon. We are looking forward to our worship service today. Thanks for the fervent prayers of faith for this work and others around the world.

WORD OF THE DAY - Wednesday 23 November 2011 from Nikolaev, Ukraine

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV) 

За все благодарите: ибо такова о вас воля Божия во Христе Иисусе. (1-е Фессалоникийцам 5:18 Russian)

Дякуйте Богові при всіх обставинах, бо саме так Господь хоче, щоб ви жили в Христі Ісусі. (1 Солунци 5:18 Ukrainian ERV)

Our Dear Father in Heaven ~ Thank you for this wonderful day that runs over with countless blessings from your wise providential care for your creation. We are most grateful that we have been given the opportunity to sow seeds of the gospel so that other people in the world may be saved by obeying Jesus Christ. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

We are extremely happy to be back in Nikolaev, Ukraine. Thanks to those of you who have been praying to God about our journey. We had a comfortable flight and never missed a connection. Unfortunately, we didn't arrive back in time for our Wednesday evening Bible study, but we talked to some members and since it is cold and dark around 5.00 PM, we'll have meetings for those who can come at 16.00. This is what we do for our elderly members who must ride public transportation and don't like to be on those busses and bus stops after dark. It worked out well last year. Galina and I hang around until 18.00 which is the time we have advertised in case a visitor comes by.

WORD OF THE DAY - 20 November 2011 from Montgomery, Alabama

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.  All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name."  Selah (Psalm 66:3-4 ESV)

Скажите Богу: как страшен Ты в делах Твоих! По множеству силы Твоей, покорятся Тебе враги Твои. Вся земля да поклонится Тебе и поет Тебе, да поет имени Твоему. (Псалтирь 65:3-4 Russian)

Скажіть Богу: Які Твої вчинки грізні! Через силу велику Твою Твої вороги піддадуться Тобі, вся земля буде падати до ніг Твоїх, і співати Тобі буде, оспівувати Ймення Твоє! Села. (Псалми 66:3-4 Ukrainian)

Most Holy God, our Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for this new Lord’s Day on which all believers in Christ the Lord have the unique opportunity to assemble with one another in holy and sweet communion. Please accept our worship from the depths of our heart as we do our human best to sincerely serve you in spirit and truth. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

WORD OF THE DAY - Wednesday 09 November 2011

Because he himself was tested in what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.  (Hebrews 2:18) 

Ибо, как Сам Он претерпел, быв искушен, то может и искушаемым помочь. (К Евреям 2:18 Russian)

Бо в чому був Сам постраждав, випробовуваний, у тому Він може й випробовуваним помогти. (Евреи 2:18 Ukrainian)

Most Holy and Righteous God, our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the delightful joy we experience on this new day that arrives with good news from Heaven as we consider your amazing grace and mercy toward us sinners. It is almost incomprehensible to think that Christ fully identified himself with us by going through such strong tests and eventually the supreme test of the humiliating death on a Roman cross. Strengthen our faith as we do our best to walk in the steps of our Savior while we look forward to meeting the One who helps us in our weakness. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

We rejoice that Mike Soto along with his wife and son have safely arrived in Nikolaev after their long journey from Portland, Oregon. They will be there for a couple of weeks so that Andrea can become more familiar with this work of the Lord that Mike has fallen in love with. This photo was taken in July during the gospel campaign we conducted using World English Institute lessons. They will have the opportunity to become familiar with the city and church without our prejudicial influence. We plan to be back in Nikolaev in two weeks by the grace of God.

WORD OF THE DAY - Thursday 20 October 2011

If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9 ESV) 

И подумал я: 'не буду я напоминать о Нем и не буду более говорить во имя Его'; но было в сердце моем, как бы горящий огонь, заключенный в костях моих, и я истомился, удерживая его, и не мог. (Иеремия 20:9 Russian)

І я був сказав: Не буду Його споминати, і не буду вже Йменням Його говорити! І стало це в серці моїм, як огонь той палючий, замкнений у костях моїх, і я змучивсь тримати його й більш не можу! (Еремия 20:9 Ukrainian)

Our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the brightness of your love that greets us on this new day as we look up at the heavens and the stars sing your praises. Grant us wisdom so that we will always be able to correctly handle your precious word that contains the message of eternal life for all who will hear, believe and obey. Lead us to some soul today who is thirsting for the truth. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.