Their Perspective: I Like Being a Missionary in Russia by Luke Burch

Luke comments: “I like being a missionary in Russia. It is fun to tell people about Jesus, especially Anna and Igor. I brought Anna to church with me. I pray for them. I want them to go to heaven. Will you pray with me for Anna and Igor?”

Luke's little prayer: “Dear Lord, please help Anna and Igor come to know You so that they can go to heaven and enjoy being with You. And, thank you for everything you have done for the whole world. Jesus name, Amen.”

Their Perspective: Russia as I See It by Amielle Burch

Russia is an interesting place with tasty food. One type of food that I like is sashlik (B-B-Que pork on a stick). There are some things in the USA that you cannot get here. I miss Cheez-its, Goldfish crackers and A&W root beer. It has been fun living in different houses and different cities in Russia. We have lived in St. Pete, Bryansk and Moscow. There are so many interesting things to see in Saint Petersburg like Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and Peter and Paul’s Fortress. I am glad that God sent my parents to Russia. It is fun having Russian friends in Sunday school. I am thankful that I have been able to be here.
-Amielle Burch

Their Perspective: Seeing Russia through My Eyes by Ashlyn Burch

My life, since I was three, is Russia. I see Russia as my home. When we came to Russia, my mom and dad were learning the Russian language every day with a teacher. They would have to go to a class while a babysitter came and took care of me. Not long and I was speaking Russian fluently. I soon had many Russian friends. I even would be watching television in Russian. I have grown up as an ordinary Russian kid even though I did not go to public school. I would go to buy something and people still thought I was Russian.

I would enjoy the stay with my family and going out to different restaurants in America; but when it was time to come back home, I would feel joy in my heart. Yes, I cried before we left the USA, but I was also happy knowing that we were coming back. If there was one thing I would change, that would be for my family to come over here to Russia and live. I would be very happy and content in knowing that I was fully home.
- Ashlyn Burch, 2008

A lesson to learn— Reading and Meditating on the Word of God

We should read and memorize God’s Word (Psalms 119:11). The word for meditate in Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, is hagah and may have several meanings. Let’s focus on meditate, speak and moan. In Psalm 1:2 and Joshua 1:8 the word is used in this context. This word is interesting because in our relationship to God and His Word, we want to be able to meditate on Him and His Word day and night. If we concentrate on Him and read His Word constantly, we are placing His Word in our hearts.

Another word for meditate may be think, plan, brood, etc. What does brood mean? When a mother bird sits (broods) on her young in the nest, she stays for a period of time, cares and nourishes them. We must cherish God’s Word as a mother bird does her young. Spend time in His Word. Meditating and understanding God’s Word begin during times when we sit (brood) and read His Book. We will have moments when we will need to be prepared to speak His word from memory. We may not have the Bible in our hands. How can we speak in public about God’s truths if we have not meditated on these truths in private?

I can also identify with the word moan. There have been times in my prayer life when no words or thoughts would come to mind to speak. These thoughts may have come in the form of cries to Him or verbal moaning. Sometimes in our Christian lives, we experience times of utter despair and confusion. Maybe at these times we were trying to survive on our own. Maybe we were just at a point in our spiritual walk with the Lord, and He wanted us to rely on Him for strength. Moments like this I literally cried out Psalm 22 like David cried while in despair. Whether His Words are meditated, spoken or moaned, let them be hidden in our hearts, so our relationship with the Father can be intertwined as if we were one in spirit.

Let’s make a goal in our lives to dwell on God’s positive thoughts. We can learn of His thought by making a commitment to daily read His Scripture. Our thoughts and ways are not His thoughts and ways. His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). The only way that we are going to understand the Father is spend time with Him. Spend time reading His Message to you. All answers for life can be solved through prayer and reading of Scripture.
-A Women's Path to God, 2003, L. Burch

Overlooking Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia

March is almost over. Interestingly April is right around the corner. Our family traveled to Tallinn, Estonia, last week. We had to exit and reenter Russia for registration purposes. The children finished another grading period in school, and we were able to take a spring break, even though it still seems like winter here. We received a new blanket of snow last night. Oh, how I am ready to see a few flowers pop up! There is hope for April, though, as Luke and Amielle noticed some buds on the oak and birch trees near home.

We thank the Lord that we had a great trip in Estonia as we traveled by bus for eight hours across the border. Even though the ride was a long one, our family had a great time together. We took the kids swimming at an indoor water park, watched satellite TV in English, had coffee at a few European cafés and just hung out together.

Thanks for your prayers as we are on our last grading period for the homeschool year. Buck continues to travel, so please keep me in your prayers as I guide my little ones while Daddy is away. Actually notice Ashlyn in the picture. She is not so little anymore, and the rest are catching up with her.

Also, please be in prayer as our family is involved in teaching English as an open door to witness and disciple others at our local church. We meet on Wednesday nights. The entire family is participating in this outreach. We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and your faithfulness to remember us as we partner to share the Gospel to those that the Lord brings near. God bless you, and we pray that you had a great Easter. We will observe this wonderful holiday next month in our churches.

Do you find yourself doing what you do well to relieve your grief?

I jotted down a passage that relates to this question: As soon as they landed, they saw a campfire with fish cooking and some bread. Jesus said, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask “who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. -John 21:9, 12

Peter had just denied Christ. Therefore, Peter, possibly hoping to relieve his grief, did one of the things he knew how to do well. He fished. Yet he toiled.

We may think our ministry comes natural for us. We have great results. Generally we do our jobs well. However, there are times when we strongly struggle in our work or times when we work in vain. I have felt this way often. In this scripture reference Peter fished all night. Sometimes we try to “do” a great deal for God in the ministry. Maybe the Holy Spirit pleads for our attention, and we are just too busy to listen. He may already have prepared for us a huge catch. If Peter had been paying attention, he would have known that all the fish he needed was waiting for him.

I find myself often reverting to what comes natural. I teach. I write. These things we do are even good things, but sometimes God is calling us just to listen and see what He has for us. Unfortunately sometimes I busy myself with good works when God is calling my attention to be on Him. He is the only one that can help me with my grief. And, look he has a huge catch already prepared!

Please comment if you desire and share your thoughts with others. Just click below. Do you find yourself doing what you do well to relieve your grief?

Devotion of the Month- "Nurturing"

Read Isaiah 55
Key Passage: In the same way that the rain falls, like snow from heaven, and doesn’t go up without watering the earth and making it produce growth to provide seeds for the farmer and bread for the table, my Word will also go from my mouth. It won’t return to me without accomplishing what I want, and it will meet with success wherever I send it. -Isaiah 55:10-11

During the nurturing process of winter, I watch and wait in order to see what the land will produce in the spring. Through the long winter months, I look out my bedroom window and see a beautiful blanket of snow covering the ground. Contemplating the process of nature, I patiently wait to see what is to be revealed in the next season as the ground is being nourished underneath the snow. Autumn left many, fallen leaves to die and decay. As winter fades, the snow and leaves become water and nutrients replenishing the soil.

The same can be compared to our spiritual lives. Just as the process of nature continues and the various seasons appear, so does various seasons of our lives. With much prayer and meditation, God’s Word can provide the nutrition we need as the Word infiltrates our lives. During moments of our missionary journeys, we may feel drained and stripped of everything. But God’s Word replenishes our soul as the leaves do the soil. God makes us ready and prepared to work in the harvest fields.

Path Application: Let us pray that when people see our lives that they see purified and cleansed fields as white as snow because of Jesus. Pray for your field of service no matter the stage of harvest. Stay in the Word so that you stay in season.

Walk Farther:
1. How often do you spend time in God’s Word? How could you deepen that time?
2. How could you compare your own spiritual life to nature’s seasons?
3. What are some ways you could be an encouragement to someone experiencing winter in their spiritual walk?
-L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 42