December 2015
Merry Christmas!
Most Richly Blessed
I want to wish each of you a “Happy Thanksgiving” every day of the year in accord with the Triangle of Triumph that we shared with you last month. Do you remember? Since repetition is the mother of learning, I want to repeat it and ask you to thank your “mother” — for another chance to learn it, memorize it, and share it with others. As you repeat it, share it and live it, your attitude of gratitude will grow exponentially, your recognition of being “most richly blessed” in spite of hardships and disappointment will blossom, and your positive example will also vastly increase your influence on others as well as your joy in Jesus. As I contemplate on being most richly blessed, I think of family, friends, and faith in the future. What about you? We can focus on the fearful reports or focus on the faithful promises of Almighty God. As we also quoted last month, “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.” (Abraham Lincoln). If President Lincoln had chosen to focus on all the tragedy and trauma of the Civil War instead of looking up to the Lord and casting cares on Him, would he have become our most beloved president? I doubt it!
“Forgive Christmasses”
“A little girl who had been counting the days till Christmas could not help but be puzzled by what the day before Christmas was like, reports Gospel Herald.
“On Christmas eve she had noticed:
Dad seemed to be loaded down with worries as well as bundles. Mom’s anxiety had reached the breaking point several times during the day.
“Anywhere the little girl went, she seemed to be in the way more than usual. There was such a hustle and bustle by so many to do so much, all in the name of being ‘ready for Christmas.’
“By the time the child was hustled off to bed, the feverish planning for Christmas had completely unnerved her. So, as she knelt to pray the Lord’s Prayer, she got part of it mixed up and prayed: ‘Forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.'” (From Stories for Speakers and Writers).
If you doubt that you need to memorize and live in the Triangle of Triumph – how are you doing with your time pressure and Christmas stresses?
Compassion Corner
Please remember when God has touched the compassion button in your heart that the urgent needs for the believers caring for refugees from the war zone, for orphans and for outreach to those in prisons, in police stations, in political circles, or in philosophy classes are ongoing.
There are always more needs than funds, so whether you can send $5 or $25 or $250 or more, we are deeply grateful. If you want it designated for a particular purpose, let us know. Also, if you know someone willing to put up a matching fund challenge, please let us know!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Dear Rick…in regard to your request. Before I start I would like to thank you for praying for Iryna and me and for the orphan children of Ukraine. Thank you for your prayer ‘wish’.
“Love Cradle Int. continues the work of reaching the orphan and under privileged children of Ukraine with the ‘Good News’ through a number of programs which I will list below. The one program that needs a little explanation is the Transition Home in central Ukraine that is purposed as a discipleship center for older aging out orphans and orphans who have already left the orphanages. By applying discipleship -mentoring along with teaching/training children by giving them a safe and trusting Christian family environment does impact and help older children to the Kingdom.
Four projects I would like to share about that are running at this time and actually all year round.
1. Warm Coat Program (excellent used and new warm winter coats/hats/scarves/mitts.)
2. Winter & Summer Shoe Program (new shoes and financial donations to purchase shoes in Ukraine.)
3. Mattress Program (financial donations to purchase brand new mattresses/comforters/pillows/water proof sheets pkgs. in Ukraine)…one mattress combination pkg. costs $75.00.
4. We need sponsors (ongoing if possible) for the Transition Home. $3,500 sponsorship needed for water filtration system $3,500 sponsorship needed for field equipment (cultivator/plow/front end tractor bucket and $5000 sponsorship needed for home/building renovations.)
Any help that you may afford the children, this ministry would be greatly appreciated.
God Bless you
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Stephen” (Yagilnicky)
Judgment Is Coming!
Are you Ready? Are you Witnessing for Jesus?
Among the best of the best radio programs for 2015 on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk was his three-program interview with Jonathan Cahn about his new book, The Mystery of the Shemitah. Did you hear it? It is very interesting – fascinating. Actually, you can still order the DVD from Family Talk (or perhaps hear it on the internet). You can also get a copy of the book – I’m ordering mine. “Shemitah” is the Hebrew word for the Sabbath year, and Jonathan Cahn is the author of the 2012 bestseller, The Harbinger.
The core of the issue is found in these Scriptures:
“the children of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do….” 1 Chronicles 12:32
“ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“ Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 2 Corinthians 16:13-14
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11.
From Our Mailbox
“Thank you for letter. I see how our God is Great!!!!
I am in Kenya now in Kisumu near lake Victoria…One day ago I arrived – was 35 hours in trip; I was very, very tired! Now I am good – Praise God!!!!
Please pray for me so God provide all purposes for my ministry, and gives me good team and all He is willing be done !!!
With God’s Love, Olena” (Filipova)
********************************************
“Praise God you are home safely !! You are a blessing to so many. I really enjoyed your news letter. May God richly bless you as you serve Him so faithfully wherever you are. I feel so blessed to know you…..
I am blessed with basically good health, warm house and good friends. Mainly blessed with a Savior that loves me unconditionally and promises eternal life. We are redeemed…..what a Savior !!!
Love and Prayers and a wish for a blessed Thanksgiving day with family and friends.
Lela” (Shold)
********************
“Dear Rick and Della and family,
We would like to thank you especially during this season.
We are thankful for your love and care during all these years, your influence and financial support.
Thank you,
Zhenya and Natasha Molodchy”
********************
“Dear Rick and Della,
It’s very kind of you to send me this letter. It makes me feel so special. I am thankful to God for both of you as well and the ministry you do here in Ukraine.
I liked your note that God never blinks……
Vika” (Havva)
*****************************
“How wonderful to experience God’s workings through your reports! I am filled with joy over your safe return and many successes as you walk in the path God directs you through. Your blessings reverberate through your reports and in turn fill each one who receives it with abounding feelings of joy and the love of God. Della is your faithful messenger – what a team – what a God!”
David Black
*****************
“Lord, we trust You. We know You have it all under control. As we pray for our brothers and sisters in Crimea, we ask that You hold them tight in Your hand. Give them a spirit of courage and boldness. We praise You, Jesus. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. ”
Al Cinnamon
*******************
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for God’s miraculous intervention to restore power to Crimea.
2. Pray for more and more refugees from the war zone (I.D.P.) to be led to Jesus Christ as Lord.
3. Pray for hearts to be touched and souls won to Christ from the prisoners to the pensioners in Ukraine.
4. Below are some excerpts from prayer requests from and for those in Crimea dealing with the power outages and even problems in getting water – to give you a glimpse of what they are experiencing.
“We did not have power in the house, not in the morning, nor during the day, nor in the evening. We asked Tanya, one of our residents who has a car, to help us bring the water to the students. The pumps are not working nor in our house nor on our neighborhood, so even if there is power at night for several hours there is no water at all. So we collected as many empty bottles as we could and went to Natalka’s place to fill them up. We trying our best not to be depressed.
Monday we have Yura looking at pumps and how to hook up the generator to them (Just in case). We’ll probably go to collect more water for us and students.”
“PRAY FOR resolution to the electricity problem and that this problem between Ukraine and Crimea (Russia) will not lead to more fighting and deaths.
PRAY that our House residents and staff have the spirit of Christ at work in them as they cope with the lack of electricity, internet, water and other things that depend on electricity. Pray for their stamina and perseverance.
PRAY FOR God to redeem the dark situation with the Light that dispels darkness wherever it is found. ”
**********************
As we contemplate the difficulties of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Crimea and Ukraine and pray for them, let’s make it a point to thank God for our many blessings and ask God to give them a special Christmas and a much better 2016.
Will you earnestly pray for the believers in Ukraine, and send us word that you are praying for them, as Paul prayed for the Thessalonian believers suffering persecution? “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3.
We will then send them the reassurance of your prayers,
along with your names if you wish.
Yours & His,
Rick & Della