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!

A time at the mall

Today I have to finish shopping for my wife. No, I am not a last minute shopper. Plus it is a great time to hang with on of my strong Christian brothers. Mat and I will be watching and observing people. Spending sometime in personal silence and prayer. Why? We have a need to know what they crave and what they fill themselves with. This holiday season to many American's, yes even Christian Americans will fill their hearts with the wrong things.
God give Mat and I the strength and the wisdom to share with one, two, or hundreds. Spurgeon once said not to limit God's ability to work supernaturally, afterall Our God is a supernatural God. Amen. It is only for your glory. May we be examples of Your son Jesus and honor His name.

What will you do this holiday season to get the right perspective on our need for a Savior?

How I am doing with: Spiritual Disciplines

In the past six weeks I have shared with a few men in the church areas of interest and struggles common with man followers of Christ. Each evening we took a spiritual practice to discussed, shared and study in hopes of causing us to discipline ourselves more. In the next few months I will share more of my triumphs, failures and experiences in these areas.
Prayer
Journaling
Fasting
Meditation
Silence
Solitude
Sevice
Worship
Evangelism
There are many more to mention but this shall have to do for a list of topics to be discussed.

To Russia with LOVE

Brothers and Sisters,

The time has come to travel to Masha's homeland and visit with the family. In years past the love of God has blessed us with unique challenges and many intense moments of God's intimacy with our hearts. This new year is quickly coming and we are blessed to have the funds to travel abroad. This is a personal missionary journey for Masha and I. Family is an institution that God created and has blessed. This world and culture does not view relationship and family in a correct way. Even in the church we can get caught up in impure views of where we are in our relationship with God and others. I have to stop and ask God, "Let me see others as You do." We desperately need to view others in light of how God sees us, according to His Word. In this manner we will understand our depraved minds, lost souls and a need for a Savior.

I ask for your prayers, for God's wisdom to fall upon us, for protection in a culture that is growing more hostile to God and America. Pray for God's provision when we return. Both of us are in need of jobs and health insurance.

Lord, you have provided and blessed so far, continue to strengthen my faith and establish my love for you and others. Amen