Learns

I met with Galina's daughter today. Marina was such a sweetheart. I was getting all her previous job experience down so I could make up her resume. She had a plethora of jobs to speak of and she's only a year older then me. She went on and on in Russian about the details of the jobs she's had and finally her interpreter let out a big "Ooooh." Then she explained to me that the reason is because every time that she started speaking about Christ they would find a reason to let her go or request her to quit. Isn't it surreal. I told them I have heard of these things happening in many other countries, but not so much in Russia lately. But they affirmed that the persecution and prejudice against Christians by the Orthodox in Russia is still very much a reality as it probably was during the Soviet Union days. They can't even hold a job in their supposedly free country because they love the Lord. They are grateful to be here, but the interpreter added her own comment that who knows how long that will last even in the States. I love these Russian gals. They encourage me so much with their faith and joy and testimonies.

I wanted to share a couple things that the Lord taught me this weekend through a friend that my folks had over. There were a couple things that really stuck with me and I've been thinking about them a lot.

Faith is a gift. We can't conjure it up or work it into being. I thought of things I've been "trying" to have faith for. I thought of particular moments of praying for healing where I was trying to conjure up the faith to make it happen. And I thought of things where I knew for a fact that I had genuine faith. (I guess the knowing for a fact is exactly what faith is all about). For example, I know for a fact that God is keeping this mole safe. I have this mole on my back and mom prayed over it when I was young and I've never forgotten it and I've never feared that I'd get skin cancer from it. Cause I just know that he's healed me past present future. And I have faith that even though I feel there's something missing spiritually that he's going to feed me, fill me up, and satisfy that emptiness. I wish it were right this moment, but still I just know that it's going to happen.

The other thing is that We are the Salt of the Earth. Salt does not serve to feed or fill you up. It serves to make you thirsty and wanting more. In sharing Christ with others perhaps as salt we serve to get them interested and hungry for more. We don't need to try to fill them up with food they can't handle by giving them the whole picture. They're liable to throw up.

Some interesting thoughts.

I'm so blessed right now. My totally awesome friend gave/lent me some furniture! She made my house a home. I actually have a place to sit in the living room now. And yikes she also threw in a TV and DVD player. So now y'all have to come visit me so you can sit on furniture and watch TV and let me be your hostess. I'll feed you. No charge... I promise. Be my guest. How fun is that!? This is a new thing for me, so as silly as it is, I'm going to enjoy it. Thank the Lord for the simple things in life like a place to rest your bum.