What do you think you could do to add more of a godly, positive attitude to your life?

Thought we might start something new…I have received much positive feedback about the blog and so many encouraging personal notes from you. Thank you so much for your prayers and kind words! I have been informed that these testimonies and requests are used to spur discussions in your church groups as well as to share our news with many prayer warriors. Wonderful!

Maybe opening up with a thought provoking question at times will give us an opportunity to participate in a light forum. I have been motivated by your responses to me, and I am sure others will benefit from your thoughts, too. If you would like to share just tap on the comment section below the post, the responses will appear in my section, and I will add accordingly.

a positive attitude
Passage of Encouragement: And Caleb got everybody settled down in front of Moses, and said, “Let’s go now, and take over this land, because we’re capable of overcoming it.” - Numbers 13:30 (Background reading: Numbers 13:25-30)

Commentary: At the end of forty days the spies came back from exploring the Promised Land. They approached Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community. They brought back some of the rich fruit and told that the land was plentiful with milk and honey. They also told of the powerful people that lived there. They knew that they would have to face these powerful leaders. And Caleb spoke and said, “Let’s go now, and take over this land, because we are capable to overcome it.”
Reflection: I wonder sometimes how others see me reacting to a seemingly impossible situation. Do I find myself being more positive or negative? One of the most positive people in my life is my mother. She always views situations optimistically and takes things as they come. I know she is this way, because her relationship with the Lord is solid. She places her trust in Him totally. We can certainly do anything, forbear anything and accomplish anything because God is with us. I want to have the same positive attitude as Caleb and my mother. I want to seek God’s will on all matters. He will help me be victorious (L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 25).

What are some things that Christians can do to add more of a godly, positive attitude to their lives?

Grasping a Vision in Zelenogorsk

Here is a sight we don’t see in South Georgia on our coastal shores! Buck is standing on broken ice that the waves formed and pushed onto shore in a town outside of St. Pete on the Gulf of Finland. He visited a church planter’s conference in Zelenogorsk that was held by one of our IMB teams in European Russia. Please pray with us that the pastors and church planters in the Northwest region of Russia will grasp a vision for multiple churches, especially with the ever changing Russian laws.

Just be Faithful

Read Luke 16: 1-13
Key Passage: Whoever is trustworthy in little things can be trusted with big ones… -Luke 16:10a

The past few weeks I have been struggling with the desire to see more people come to the Lord. Maybe this desire has felt somewhat like a burden. I look around at the mass of people in my neighborhood that do not have a personal relationship with the Lord. The average person on the street would answer positively if asked the question: Do you believe in Jesus? Their response would be, "Of course, I 'believe' in God".
We live on a block that houses about 10,000 people in high-rise type apartments. I look out of my kitchen window and just wonder about the many families that live in the windows across, above, and below me. The burden for lost souls becomes so heavy. I often ask Lord, "What can I do about this lostness, when I am so small, Lord?" I walk the streets and see the drunkenness. I see men and women sleeping off the alcohol while the curb serves as their pillow. I see black eyes and punctured faces on public transportation. I hear the stories of volunteers that come to give love to orphan children. I see children in gangs that meet right outside my home. My children have even walked over spilt blood where no body was left to be seen. We watch as street kids do manual labor for a "boss" down the street, who knows their every move. I often think, "If they only knew You, Lord."
The burden is too great to carry! As I have been having a home Bible study with one lost friend the past few weeks, the Holy Spirit lightened this burden I have been trying to carry alone. If I remain faithful in the small ways, He will allow me to be faithful in much. My friend began a relationship with the Lord this week. Last night, God brought me to this scripture again as I read the parable of wise management. Just be faithful with the one. Be trusted with very little. The one. The little. He will be faithful with the masses. Because of your faithfulness with the little, the one, you are faithful in your service for Me, and I will bring the masses of St. Pete through the one. You ARE faithful in much when you first obey and do the little!
Application: Tell the one.
-L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 40

Month of Love

February is celebrated as the month of love, not just in America but in other countries now, too. My daughter, Amielle, sent me this drawing just to tell me she loves me. I remember something she said at six years old. My older daughter, Ashlyn, was baptized, and we were discussing the topic. Amielle said that she was not ready for baptism because she was scared of the water. However, she quickly informed me that she knew Jesus was in her heart. She said, “Mama, it is like this, I place my hand over my heart and feel my heart beat. It tells me that Jesus is there.” Then she asked the most interesting question: “Mama, when my heart goes up and down, I think Jesus is telling me that He loves me. Is that right?”

The things kids say. They are so innocent and sweet. Everything is understood so simply. As an adult, I must accept God’s love so openly as well and never forget my first love. Try it: Place your hand over your heart today and sense His presence as you hear Him say, “I love you!”

“Is it a secret?” Part 1

In a country where many things once were kept in secret, the truth can now be shared freely. As I traveled about an hour and half from my home the other day to share the Gospel with a new friend, I was amazed once again how some people have never heard how to receive the free gift of eternal life.

Irina and I started our day viewing the palace of Paul I, son of Peter the Great, walking through a park, and having tea at a café. For the entire day, I quietly thanked God for even being given the opportunity to witness. Many people were praying for this day, and the Holy Spirit was working in the life of Irina. The Holy Spirit was also speaking to my heart the whole time. Days and opportunities like these are not only for those who need to hear about Christ but are also given to us for maturing in our relationship with Him. Opportunities to witness are given so that we can share the “secret” that we have been privileged to have heard. We do not need to be ashamed of the Gospel. This secret does not need to be kept silent but needs to be shared with all.

We spoke of times when the pages of the Bible were just torn and passed out in Russia. Today the Bible can be read. I asked her what she thought about this change. She mentioned that this was now a good change, but to many it is strange for someone to just pick up the Bible and start reading it. My response was that we need not be ashamed, just read.

I know that this time to share Jesus with my friend so freely was possible because of prayer. The day was bathed in prayer. There was such an open door to speak that day. This freedom was evident even as I asked her two critical questions concerning her salvation. “If you were to die a sudden death, Irina, where would you spend eternity? If you were standing before God and He were to ask you, why should I let you come and live in Heaven with me, what would you say?” Her responses were, “I don’t know.”

I immediately responded that I am so glad that I can know and that I know the answer to these questions. “You can know where you will be after death. You can know where you will live for eternity”. Irina leaned toward me and whispered, “Leslie, is it a secret?” I almost cried, and I looked at her and said, “NO, it is no secret, and yes, I will tell you the answer!”
A great secret had been told to us. Now we must boldly tell this secret, the Gospel, to others. However, no matter where we are, or what we are doing, we must be in a state of prayer to look for these opportunities along the way.
-L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 45

Continued “Is it a secret?” Part 2

Traveling home on the bus after that wonderful day in the park, I reflected upon what God had taught me and was thankful as I counted the many blessings in my life. I looked out the window of a small crowded bus and saw the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen in Russia. I began to cry; I knew that God was showing me a sign of one of His promises. I almost punched the man sitting next to me to tell him to look out the window at one of God’s blessings, but in some countries a person doesn’t punch someone on a bus to speak to them. We just punch people to get out of the way.

I felt I needed to talk to this man, but I did not know what to say. I sat frustrated at this point in silence. Today had gone so well I was ready to tell my “secret” some more. There was only silence. Then I heard an inner voice from the Lord say, “Pull out your Bible now!” I struggled a second with that idea on public transportation because I would then be labeled a fanatic or member of a cult. However, I silently sighed and pulled out my Russian Bible. I turned to John 1 where the Word could be revealed.

I was about at the end of the chapter, and I knew that he was reading along with me. He soon leaned over and asked if I was a believer. My response was affirmative. Now I started getting excited again. Unfortunately his next questions threw me. I was ready to give the Gospel at once. However, he asked in a stern manly voice, “Tell me, does the Bible say the husband is Lord over the wife?” I thought I was having trouble with the language and understanding his question. I made him repeat it to me. I was thinking surely He is not asking me this deep question, and now I have to answer it in Russian. Well, I made him repeat it again the third time. Being the submissive wife that I am, I answered how I should have, “Yes, the Bible does say that, and it also says that a man is to love his wife as Christ loves the church.
Here I will show you these passages.” I smiled to myself as God did allow me to witness to this man, Nikolai. I was able to share with him the Gospel as well. Thank you, God that You gave a child of Yours another opportunity to tell a secret. As His children may we first pray, be ready to listen and obey, and just tell our secret unashamedly.
-L.Burch, A Woman’s Path to God, path 46

Questions to ponder:

1. How often do you share the good news of Jesus Christ with people?
2. Who do you know that is someone who really needs to hear this good news?
3. Would you be willing to pray for this person on a consistent basis until he/she receives Christ?

Devotion for the Month

the messenger

Read John 13:1-16
Key Passage: Truly, Truly, I tell you, the one who serves is not greater than the one he serves; neither is the missionary greater than the sender - John 13:16

Sometimes we really have to deal with feelings of inadequacy. We must realize that although Jesus commissioned us to be His witnesses, we sometimes struggle with our own calling. I recalled this entry in my spiritual journal: Yesterday as I was out in my neighborhood, I was given the opportunity to witness three times to various people. Each time I walked away upset because I knew that I should have done better. I began asking the normal questions: "Why did I not say...? Oh, why am I not better with the Russian language? My grammar was terrible." Read again what Jesus says in John 13.

Application:
See yourself this week as the messenger Christ has sent. As you are at work, shopping, or just taking a walk in your neighborhood, be that messenger to your people as Christ works through you.

Walk Farther:
1. Who do you really serve?
2. How do you handle feelings of inadequacy?
3. What do you do to make sure you don’t miss opportunities to witness?

-L. Burch, A Winter's Path, path 1