New business, new form of discipleship?

Lately Masha and I got involved in a team of business men and women who have a heart to mentor others in business. I have always blown off these dfferent schemes and funny money making businesses. But lately Masha and I have made this our ministry to encourage and equip those who like ourselves nee financial help and spiritual guidance. What a blessing it has been. God is teaching me daily to follow Him even more close. The other day my wife says "what's wrong?" My response, "nothing." This word is a lie. There was so much I was thinking about, worried by and consuming my thoughts. I broke. Finances! School! A new Job! No benefits! It is a perfect time to be at the bottom, depressed and lonely. But did I forget that I have all of these needs met. How foolish have I been. I am blessed daily by the presence of God in my life...this is health benefits, eternal benefits. Security of not just physical money, (like a 50 dollar bill I found in my mail box at church) but the eternal riches in Christand in the brothers and sisiters who help, pray and care daily. I could write so much more as my heart is overflowing with wonder in the awesome refining our God is doing in the life of us and many more.
"God, as we seek to honor you let us not take these blessings for granted but let them be a fuel for our service to you and others. Keep us obedient to silence our hearts and find you in our every move. May your spirit move us, teach us and empower us to glorify you."
Brothers and Sisters be blessed!

Untitled

I just got the letter I have been waiting for. At firt glance I knew that it was anouncing a door had been closed. This is great news because God has another door open for me to walk through. I am now applying to work in food service. This is an area where I feel God can use me to touch lives and mentor those working around me. In past experiences I have found i love the fast paced business of the work days in fod service. The long days and long weeks will hopefully provide for the needs of family and enable us to give back after paying some debt.
It is great to know we have options in life, but that means we must make decisions. These decisions are marks of our faith. What I mean by this is...when we make decisions we either are fully trusting in God, or we are trusting in another source (most popular, self). If we aim to honor God and have soaked he decision in prayer God will help you by His spirit to make the wise choice. If we rationalize with only our own desires most likely it will seem wise until God reveals the error of our ways.
Praying that God will cause me (and you) to be ever directed and lead by His spirit. That I will decrease and He will increase so that my decsions will be to His glory and in His wisdom.
In Christ,
Rich

Blessings in Waiting

So Masha is back home, praise God. I was sweating all the small stuff and realized all that she does in blessing me each week. Laundry, cooking, cleaning and above all this encouragment. When I had returned from picking her up we had talked about finances and the slow process of looking for employment. Then deciding to pick up more hours doing in home care our schedules become confused and transportation gets tricky. Then a small letter comes in the mail. This surprise blesses Masha and I and pays a bill that was going to have to be put off. My father offers to pick up Masha and drop her off on some days. This is God's grace living through others. Now I wait in God for His work in the leaders of the youth center to which I have applied a few months ago. Maybe this is God's way of refining a brother.
Service also brings blessing. I was asked to share at a youth retreat held in Southern Lancaster Co. it was very inspirational and I was blessed to spend it with my wife and a great group of teens who I know felt God's love and presence. It was also a blessng to recieve a monetary gift for the weekend, as well as free room and board.

So these are the blessings in waiting that those who remain faithful to the service of God may recieve and may He continue to refine His servants until he calls us home.

Intimacy Sparked by Illness

It is amazing how our great God works. In times of financial strain God breaks us and allows us to realize our spiritual strain. Lately I have tried to pick up some hours to help out a friend but I am home sick with a cold. I really could use the money to pay some bills, but God must have other plans. "Fast from people? Fast from certain foods? (liquid diet) But more importantly spend more time with Me." Now this was not an audible voice but I know God is working through this telling me to focus on Him, pray for those in need and to clean up my walk so as to focus on descision making.

Once again God has placed many options in my path, but He waits for me to call on His wisdom and to rely on His Spirit to lead me on. May we each take time to reflect on this today.

Back from Russia

Finally I am writing again. In the past few days I have been praying, connecting, and unpacking. I wait for my wife to return and pray daily for the passport to be delievered quickly. These next few weeks are very important for spending quality time with God nd seeking His divine Wisdom. Making life choices about provision of your family thrugh employment and service in the community is vital to my accountability in the Body and also vitl for my obedience to the calling on my life.
Paul wrote to Timothy that man must provide for His family. Today this includes meals, housing, transportation, health insurance, and so much more. This is what I desire to do.

The time in Russia was full of loving family, discovering hearts, and communicating Christ through modeling in our walk.
A few great opportunities: Sharing at Solid Rock Youth Center, Feb 10; Keynote Speaker Faith Calvary Youth Retreat, Feb 15-17.
Praise our lord for opportnities to serve and the Spirit who leads us.

How am I doing?: Evangelism

I need your help!
Lately God has immpressed upon my heart the need for reaching others in need. Not just spiritual needs but also physical, economical, and socially. It is amazing all the public programs our local government agencies come up with and the finances that flow through to the needy. Your help, comes in now. We as believers get comfortable with our status in God and society. Right? Our community, church, family, friends all seem to be doing okay? This is sometimes true, but at times we fail to see those right next to us that are deeply rooted in our local community but fail to make it on our list. Let me explain. Lately God has shown me in Scripture that He uses the testimony of His family. So as a community of believers what are we doing as a team of spiritually equiped beings to reach those less fortunate then us. No one individual or one family tackle this task alone. You may be able to build friendships with others...but may I suggest you build community with them. Community is different than friendships. You can befriend anyone, "Hey, how are you?" Response: "Good." (What a deep conversation?) But have we committed to serving them, this means at times being vulnerable.
Help me be biblical in my approach of reaching others for Christ. Look at Jesus with the woman at the well and the disciples in Acts 2 and beyond. Sacrifice, vulnerability, authentic, and relational. When they see your love for them may it be clear that it is God's love.

Lord use simple imperfect people complete in your love to build a community glorifying to your name. Give leaders wisdom to direct and equip, give servants a heart to sweat and bleed for your people. Protect and teach us on our journey to be made complete and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. For it is in His name we pray. Amen
Pray for a witness in Kursk.

You gotta believe...Provision!

Our Lord is so good and gracious. If you ask with a pure heart and aim to serve and glorify His name He will provide abundantly. Last week Masha and I booked the tickets for Russia. A grand total of over 2300.00 USD. Last night just for fun Masha and I checked online for the current price of tickets. Keep in mind round trip and holiday season. Only 631.70 USD per ticket. 1262.40 for the total. This is a savings of over 1000.oo USD. Praise God.

This is a prayer I read earlier today.
http://www.churchgrowth.org/

Oh God, I want to KNOW You. You are so great and do great things. I want to spend more time with you. Help me to make time to sit before Your throne in silent places, to read Your Word in order to know you more intimately, to develop an ear to hear Your voice so that I know when to turn to the right or to the left. I trust You to guide me in all things. In Jesus name. Amen

I Pray that we all seek to KNOW Him!