Daily pray for others

God answers our prayers, sometimes even doubling our request. Sunday was a day of encouragement. A young guy repented after the morning worship time. He is very dear to me; I have been praying for him daily. The most wonderful thing happened though. After he prayed, his best friend did, too. You know, sometimes all people need is a little affirmation. Today is the day to start telling others how much you care and think of them. A few words of encouragement may be just what is needed for someone to take that next step. God bless you!
In His Love,
Les

English ministry update and praise!

We often divide into small groups to assist with the various levels in our English class at Golgotha. Buck is continuing with the adults at an upper-intermediate level. For the children’s class (parents and grandparents also attend), we have two levels—beginning and intermediate. One Russian young girl is helping me with a group. Ashlyn, Amielle and another young girl help with the other group. We studied about the Book of Life this past Sunday and if our names are written there, and a student prayed to receive Christ. It was such a joy to watch my own children participate in leading someone in a prayer of forgiveness.

A New Year's Prayer from Ashlyn

Since it is a start of a new year for everyone, I found this prayer appropriate for the time. Ashlyn sent me this concluding prayer in an update that she sends in an email to family and friends. Sometimes our kids put it better than we ever could. God bless you all!

"Dear Lord,
I pray that with this New Year many new things can be accomplished. I pray that more people will come to know You. I especially do pray for my neighbors… they are sweet people, Lord, and hope that one day they will come to know You. I pray for my friends and family today as they try to start a new project and complete it, and even as they are in the middle of it and want to complete it. Everything we do is for Your glory … and Lord please let that glory shine as we do the task that is set before us. So that it may show the people around watching how magnificent you are.
In your name I pray. Amen."

"I want to make a difference!"

I want so badly to make a difference in the world; it hurts. I look around to determine if there are any results from my efforts. Lord what have I done? Lord, what can I do?

I have been contemplating this for weeks, months and even years to be honest. I know he is the Potter and I am the clay (Isaiah 64:8); we are made by His hands and for the work He has for us. I ask Him: What kind of pot am I? What is my purpose? Lord, I desire for my pot to be used in the most effective way. Over the years I have discovered some uses for this ol’clay, but I feel like there is something else or there should be more. I am not doing enough. Tell me what to do.

Today as I write these things, my thoughts are a little clearer. I am sure one answer is that I need to let go of self. Humble myself. Give all to Him. I need to step back and let Him be glorified.

Then I ask how can I willing do this? A part of letting go of self requires daily submitting to the Master. I must trust His rule. When I admit it, I actually find stability and security in His control; but, I must let him lead. My answer is found in various ways, and this surrendering only comes through prayer.

What is prayer? Prayer is placing our requests before Him (Philippians 4:4-7). The interesting part from this passage in Philippians is the Lord is near. We are not to worry the least little bit, because our minds will be guarded in Christ. God guards our minds. This is a daily or moment to moment request. If my mind is to be guarded, I must pray. If I am to release self and submit, I must pray; I must be near Him.

How is all this possible? I must train myself to rejoice in the Lord by accepting the peace that He gives when I approach Him. Through this peace, my heart and mind is totally protected from damaging His work or purpose. My mind is guarded.

Why pray? We pray to be near to God. What country or nation is so grand as to have God so close to them as we do when we pray? We have the True God near us (Deuteronomy 4: 7). That speaks enough.

How often should we pray? Continuously. I must devote or give myself over to prayer. And, while I am praying, I am watching or allowing Him to guard my mind. I never really put these two scriptures or thoughts together before. I cannot guard and watch vigilantly without His power and peace being passed on to me. Just last week I wondered how I could watch in prayer. I can not; God can. Again He has promised to guard my mind and heart.

Where should I pray? Not necessarily thinking about a physical location, I questioned this. The scripture in Ephesians 6: 18 states that we are to pray “in the Spirit”. Here we find the word watch again — “watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. The word perseverance is determination. I must be single-minded. I must conscientiously let go and allow the Spirit to be master of my mind and thoughts. The Spirit helps me. He makes intercession for me. Also, when I am praying for others, self is placed on the back burner.

Supplication means plea. Plea seems to be a stronger word even though it is just a synonym. How can I place my pleas before Him? Uprightly. This can only be done when we hold to Proverbs 15:8. The prayer of a righteous one satisfies the Lord. He delights in our prayers.

So, I ask. What must I do? Nothing; He does it all. How can I make a difference? I can’t; He can. How do I humble myself then? Watch and pray. Will the desire, the hurt, to make a difference ever go away? The answer is found only in prayer.
L. Burch, Journal, Dec. 2008

Prayer- the voice of silence

Join with me in prayer this month for three areas. Let's pray for:

Russia's drinking dilemma

• a typical bottle of vodka contains 40% alcohol

• some turn to risky drinking (i.e., normal household items like perfumes, men’s aftershave and medicines containing alcohol)

• alcohol is a disease

• alcohol creates a problem for the Russian soul




European Russia encompasses over 100 million people, most of whom are Russian not only by nationality but also as a people group. The land size of European Russia is approximately the same size as the United States of America.


Golgotha Baptist Church

Our family will start an English speaking ministry at this church for evangelistic and discipleship efforts. Our target month for beginning a Sunday School class is February.

Coffee Moments- do not forget about us

….yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. – Jeremiah 14:9b (focal passage- Jeremiah 14: 1-9)




At this time Judah was mourning. There was a drought in the land. They actually were crying in anguish because the cities’ wells, grounds and fields were barren and dry. The people were at the point of despair. Have you ever been to the point of desperation like the people of Judah? Are you now?

The Lord recounts these words to Jeremiah. We can understand the fear of the people. Appearing next are pleas in the form of prayers admitting the sins of the people. Have you thought about praying like this and begging God to hear you?

Prayer for the moment:
Our sins show our guilt, Lord. Please help us. We have backslidden immensely; our sins have offended You. You are our only hope in this time of ultimate despair. You seem as a stranger to me right now or like a person that passes by me unknown. It is as if You are a soldier that has been approached unaware, unarmed and stunned. However, I know that You are right here with us. We know this, Lord. Others may think the opposite. We know that we are Yours. Please do not forget about us (Jeremiah 14:7-9)!

Do you desire to feel His presence so strongly in your life? I do.

In His Love,
Les
-Coffee Moments- a time to reflect on God’s Word, 2008

Prayer is a top priority these days.

I pulled up a section from my journal from 1999. We had only been in Russia a year and were moving to our first city of service. Prayer became our top priority in those days. Prayer is a top priority these days.

Buck writes in a year in review newsletter in 1999:

"We are beginning to understand why prayer is so important. A pastor once told me that God would stop the world, the sun, and the universe, if He wanted to get the attention of His children. I believe it. Sometimes I’ve wondered if one of the reasons God has led us to Russia was just to strip away from us all the superficial in our relationship to Him and simply allow us to view our standing before Him with clear vision. I believe that God desires for every man to be saved; I believe that God will send a great outpouring of His Spirit onto Russia in these last days. But I also see that God’s desire for my relationship to Him to be one of simplicity, wholeheartedness, and total dependence upon Him. That kind of relationship only comes through a life priority of prayer.

It’s really a matter of a logical spiritual function. If the world is to be won to Christ, it will take men and women of God who are filled with the Spirit sharing with boldness. 'How can they hear without a preacher?' And if men and women are to be filled with the Spirit, they must have a deep relationship with Him. 'Walk in the Spirit'. And a deep relationship with God only comes through deep, quality time with Him in studying the Word, walking in experiences with Him everyday, and unceasing prayer. It’s that simple.

We are all called to be lights of the world. We are discovering that God as simply moved our lights from one part of the world to another part. And even though the faces have changed, and the entire culture is different, our relationship to Jesus in unceasing prayer through the Holy Spirit has not changed. Or if it has, it is being called to a deeper level."

-The Chosen Path, Journal entry "the unseen battle continues to rage in the forest land", L.Burch

direct link for prayer video

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thanks for your interest in praying with me. Some of you, though, are unable to view the video in the previous post. There are several possible reasons for this difficulty (i.e., internet service, web-browsers, or various applications). No fret. Try loading the link below in your address tab (copy and paste). This is the direct link that I use to feed the video. Your computer may find this easier. Have a great day! Here it is:

http://www.e-zekiel.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=4f8afe3df4886f5e516e&page=1&viewtype=&category=mr

Do you see what I see?

The kids and I enjoyed working up a home video clip from the previous post- voice of silence. One of my task as an IMB missionary of the SBC is to lead you to be on mission with God. There are many ways you are involved in this: pray, give, partner and go to bring all peoples to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. I want to focus on prayer right now and to do my best from across the Atlantic Ocean to help you see what I see. Please join me for a 3 1/2 minute "prayerwalk"...

*click on the arrow tab below.


Or, you if you cannot play it here, click on:
E.zekiel.tv

Feel free to show this to various church groups and Sunday School classes.

My Little Prayer (video by Luke)

Many of you have used the stories and prayers from my "children's perspective" postings in your missions classes. You many now click on a very short video and share Luke's Little Prayer. We thank you for your continued support through prayer and for your encouraging e-mails. God Bless!