Hi

It has been a long time since, I thought about blogging. I am not a writer but I like sharing about what is happening with my friends and others. I don't know how often I will write but just good place to write down and post things.

May 2006

Alena

This is Alena after her baptism in July. Please continue to pray for her growth in Christ.

Unexpected Gifts

Yesterday, I received 2 gifts for no reason, in Russian, prosta tak. They were given simply because. Both friends that gave these gifts I don't see very often and one lives many miles away. It was a reminder that they were thinking of me. And their kindness was shown though these gifts. I probably wouldn't have given it much thought if I received just one gift yesterday but receiving 2 added to the effect.

God is a giver of good gifts and as one of my friends said when she gave me the gift she said I just thought of you when I saw this! God sees us all the time and He knows the gifts that will be just right for us because He knows our hearts completely and knows our needs and the best for us.

Such kindness I felt from my friends made me wish to do the same for others. I wish for you some unexpected gifts to come around to you soon! Remember God waits on high to have compassion on you!

The light was suddenly gone

Sunday night we are walking on the bank of the Dniper river with my friend. There was a field, about the size of a soccer field that was lighted- up by big spot lights like those when work crews do road work. It was covered with white snow so it appeared really bright , far away in the distance.

My friend kept on asking people as we met, her friends,"What is over there, why is it all lighted up." Most of them said that it might be a new golf course, but they weren't sure what it was they only gave their guesses. We were walking there to see what we could find out, about a 20 -30 minute walk. When we were nearing the white field covered in snow - that might be a golf course - all the lights suddenly turned off. My friend said,"Well let's turn around." All interest and questioning was gone when all was dark.

God brought that situation to my mind again on Monday several times. My friend is not a believer she is walking in darkness and the light was attractive to her the whiteness, brightness and the unknown; the expectation of find something there interesting and new. Shouldn't that be her watching and seeking of Jesus? Am I the light that God is allowing for her to see and to understand truth? How brightly am I letting Jesus shine in me so that people are interested in knowing about Him.

Darkness disappoints and is not something worth walking toward or being in this world. I also remembered 1 John chapter 1. John walked and heard and his own hands touched Jesus. "As we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another,"

God spoke to me through that lighted field that I saw with my friend, something like as I shine with Christ she will be walking toward the light, if I am darkened, she will lose the interest to find something in my life.

Maybe.... just some thoughts...........

Seeking

To become a seeker you have to understand there is something to be found, otherwise why would you spend the time in seeking.

In order to have motion there must be energy given into an object or person to allow it to be moved.

Seeker in motion- Moving towards God because I believe life, hope, peace and true joy are found in Him.

Our salvation is secure in the hands of the Lord

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1:13-14

When we receive the gift of salvation we are placed into Christ and this is eternal agreement between God and us. We become alive in our spirit in which we were once dead. God is able to keep His children and He is able to maintain this relationship with us. We were bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. That is the power of our salvation and this doesn't come from us but from God by His Grace and Mercy.

God is able to save, we may choose to turn away and deny Him, but this doesn't keep God from His power and grace to keep our salvation and justification in Christ. God is able to forgive and Christ has all ready died for all our sins that we have, and will commit.

Therefore, be of great hope we can trust and rely on the Great Love that He has for us forever!