Archive for June, 2023

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Acts 9:40-42

“A peasant, whose boy had just died, ran in anguish to Benedict, crying out, “Give me back my son!” The monks joined the poor man in his entreaties; but the Saint replied, “Such miracles are not for us to work, but for the blessed apostles. Why will you lay upon me a burden which my weakness cannot bear? ” Moved at length by compassion he knelt down and, prostrating himself upon the body of the child, prayed earnestly. Then rising, he cried out, “Behold not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, who desireth the life of his son, and restore to the body that soul which Thou hast taken away.” Hardly had he spoken when the child’s body began to tremble, and taking it by the hand he restored it alive to its father…

The saints never feared to undertake any work, however arduous, for God, because, distrusting self, they relied for assistance and support wholly upon prayer.”

Benedict of Nursia in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 21 March reading. As I stated previously, I am reading lives of the saints to find inspiration for my own generous service. I pray it also inspires you.

Among the first apostles, both Peter (in the Scripture above) and Paul (in Acts 20:7-12) raised a person from the dead and performed other miracles by the power of God at work through them. We hear of similar stories through church history like that of Benedict above.

But after the recounting of the story from Benedict’s I found what I was looking for. The keen counsel from saints of old for ordinary saints like you and me today who want to delivering help and hope to a neighbor in need or to a nation in the wake of destruction.

Never fear, distrust self, and pray. It’s what the Surrender Novena taught me and how I got myself here. And how I will navigate each moment of the rest of this trip. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!

Pictured above is a bridge that was destroyed north of Kyiv to keep Russian troops from invading the capital. I took the photo from this angle to show the devastation in the middle and yet, notice the workers rebuilding on the left.

You can also see a car on the right going across a temporary bridge. Part of rebuilding a people is putting raw materials in the right place, and part is navigating life in the meantime despite the brokenness, and not feeling defeated and giving up.

Yesterday, four dreamers from Ternopil, one YWAM (Youth With A Mission) director, two pastors, and a mayor drove 2 hours to visit with us in Lviv. They thanked us repeatedly for coming and said that our time together gave clarity to their dreaming.

Each shared their dreams for their people. Then they asked about GTP. I explained how we multiply stewards and mobilize peer accountability groups to restore trust and rebuild nations. We read from Nehemiah 9 together, discussing how Ezra and Nehemiah did it.

By the end of the evening they were convinced to start such a group for Ukraine working with the alliance of educators with whom we met in Kyiv the previous day. God’s working here. GTP is helping rebuild bridges.

And regarding the needs of GTP on this last day of the fiscal year, I have resolved today to let go of my fears, to distrust myself, and to pray for God’s provision and for peace in Ukraine. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!

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Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

“The champions of faith prove the truth of their teaching no less by the holiness of their lives than by the force of their arguments. Never forget that to convert others you must first see to your own soul.”

Gregory the Great in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 12 March reading.

Gregory uses a small statement to send a big message.  He teaches us how to prove the truth of our teaching. We make sure the holiness of our lives matches the force of our arguments.

I post this because it explains why we have been so well received in Ukraine. We said that we wanted to help ministries flourish with standards and we came to discuss this same message in person in the midst of war.

Our coming validates our message. In turn, they have wanted us to see the brokenness and the reason for their pain. Our hosts have showed us destroyed buildings, piles of burned cars, and innumerable unmarked graves (pictured above).

We have responded with empathy and with a reminder that we must not let the spiritual forces of evil overcome us. We can only overcome the situation with good. We can write a new story for their people rooted in righteousness and faithfulness.

Join me in praying for this and modeling this where you are. Otherwise the corruption around us will make us corrupt and we will become part of the problem rather than champions of faith who live out the solution.

At lunch with Oleksandr Geychenko yesterday, I shared this idea about not being overcome by evil but to overcome it with good. He said, during Soviet times there was a play called “The Dragon” about the evil of Marxist regime.

It carried a hidden message. “If you want to kill something as big and evil as a dragon, you must become one.”

The current Russian regime has become more evil than their predecessors. And rather than desiring to kill this enemy, we call out together together for deliverance. This is really the work of GTP globally. We urge God’s workers overcome evil with good.

And if you have not given to help us deliver hope and help (including aid to ministry workers in Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk) and to help GTP finish the year strong, please give today. We pray God supplies $22,140 by 30 June 2023. Please click here to give.

Or if you want to know more information, please reply to this email. I will respond as I am able. I have limited my words here due to our rigorous schedule (sleeping on trains the last two nights and staying on the move with spotty connectivity).

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Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

“God often rewards men for works that are pleasing in His sight by giving them grace and opportunity to do other works higher still.”

John of God in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 8 March reading.

When we make the most of opportunities, God often pours out grace for other works higher still.

For example, I never dreamed I’d be helping an alliance of ministries in the former Soviet Union follow standards for building trust and growing local support. What about you?

Can you recall taking a bold step and then God gave you more grace for new opportunities?

On our first day of meetings in Lviv, a saying emerged that was repeated in every meeting after that. “Friends during the war. Friends after the war.” It means so much to them that we are here despite the danger of potential harm.

Our relationships and trust have gone deep fast because of our willingness to come at this time. Please keep us in your prayers.

We drove by a power plant that had been bombed today. We will see much more devastation in the days ahead. Lord have mercy. I would post a new header photo but we are on a 12-hour night train with no power outlets or wifi. Pictures to come.

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Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

“Adrian was exposed to a lion, and not being despatched by that beast, but only mangled, was at length killed by the sword. Eubulus was treated in the same manner two days later. The judge offered him his liberty if he would sacrifice to idols; but the Saint preferred a glorious death, and was the last that suffered in this persecution at Caesarea, which had now continued twelve years…”

“It is in vain that we take the name of Christians, or pretend to follow Christ, unless we carry our crosses after Him. It is in vain that we hope to share in His glory, and in His kingdom, if we accept not the condition. We cannot arrive at heaven by any other road but that which Christ held, Who bequeathed His cross to all His elect as their portion and inheritance in this world.”

Adrian and Eubulus of Magantia The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 5 March reading.

As I read The Lives of the Saints on my travels, I have found inspiration in their willingness to accept the condition of sacrifice of even their lives. A closer look reveals they embrace the cross as their portion and inheritance. They moved toward not away from suffering. On our first day in Ukraine, on the bus, I got a glimpse of suffering.

Every person on the bus, with the exception of the driver and steward who assisted and one other person, was a woman. Many who had fled the conflict appeared to be returning.

Then at the border crossing, let’s just say the young man with the machine gun was someone’s teenage son. I report these observations alongside a statement related to Adrian and Eubulus of Magantia for this purpose.

Our world is filled with brokenness and suffering. The Christian life must play some part in bringing healing and this might make us uncomfortable.

One young woman who befriended us on the bus, thanks to her limited English, thanked us for coming and going all the way to her home city, Kharkiv, from which she fled for her life.

If you take the name “Christian” ask God what it means for you to carry your cross after Him.

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For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13

“When the enemy has been cast out of your hearts, renounce him, not only in word, but in work; not only by the sound of the lips, but in every act of your life.”

Augustine of Hippo in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 19 February reading.

On Sunday, Jenni and I walked the streets of Vienna with Gabriel and Majka Hakulín. We actually went to two churches with stunning architecture like the one pictured above.

In conversation we learned that Vienna was rated the #1 most livable city in the world. They listed the reasons: education, medical care, culture, etc. When we asked why, in such a wonderful city, the churches were nearly empty, this is how they replied. “People have it so good, they forget they need God.”

Rather than point fingers at Austrians, each of us should look into our own hearts and at our own actions.

After we cast the evil one out, we must renounce him and replace him with word and work that points people to God rather than look like everyone else in the world. Our lips and life must send a matching message about God’s grace. If we don’t do that, we too will forget we need God our churches will be stylish buildings instead of self-controlled, upright, and godly bodies.

About this time this message posts, I will have entered Ukraine on a mission to deliver help and hope.

What will you do this week, this month, this year to renounce your former ways and remember God with your lips and life and bring salvation to all?

I am actually writing my sermon for preaching in two churches next Sunday Kharkiv on this long bus ride to Lviv.

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But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

“God loads with His favor those who delight in exercising mercy. According to thy ability be merciful: if thou hast much, give abundantly; if thou hast little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little.”

Severinus of Agaunum (d. 507) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 11 February reading.

Want loads of favor from God? Severinus shares the secret: delight in exercising mercy. This is not a magic formula for manipulating God. It’s fulfilling your rightful role and taking your rightful place in His abundant economy as a joyful distributor. We are here to bestow mercy through generous giving according to our ability.

It’s been a fruitful time in Czechia and Slovakia. Reply if you want a copy of the trip report. Jenni has arrived safely to Vienna and after some meetings here today, we travel from Vienna to Budapest to Lviv tomorrow. There’s still time to contribute here to support GTP’s efforts to deliver help and hope.

However, I must say that I am unsure of my connectivity over the 7-10 days. If these Daily Meditations do not post or post and different than normal times, I’d appreciate your prayers for safety and fruitful ministry. And from my heart, this has been my prayer as I approach my beloved Ukrainian brothers and sisters.

Father, bring peace by your Holy Spirit and grant Ukrainians the grace to show mercy to their Russian aggressors so they are not overcome by evil but so that they can overcome evil with good and so they can receive loads of favor from heaven. Hear my prayer in your mercy I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

“The life of John of Matha was one long course of self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor. As a child, his chief delight was serving the poor; and he often told them he had come into the world for no other end but to wash their feet.

He studied at Paris with such distinction that his professors advised him to become a priest, in order that his talents might render greater service to others; and, for this end, John gladly sacrificed his high rank and other worldly advantages…

[John] founded the Order of the Holy Trinity. [The order] fasted every day, and gathering alms throughout Europe took them to [the barbarians of North Africa], to redeem the Christian slaves. They devoted themselves also to the sick and prisoners in all countries. The charity of John in devoting his life to the redemption of captives was visibly blessed by God.

On his second return from Tunis he brought back one hundred and twenty liberated slaves. But the Moors attacked him at sea, overpowered his vessel, and doomed it to destruction, with all on board, by taking away the rudder and sails, and leaving it to the mercy of the winds.

John tied his cloak to the mast, and prayed, saying, “Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered. O Lord, Thou wilt save the humble, and wilt bring down the eyes of the proud.” Suddenly the wind filled the small sail, and, without guidance, carried the ship safely in a few days to Ostia, the port of Rome, three hundred leagues from Tunis…

Let us never forget that our blessed Lord, bade us love our neighbor not only as ourselves, but as He loved us, Who afterwards sacrificed Himself for us.”

John of Matha (1160-1213) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 8 February reading.

John of Matha set aside his desires through fasting and pleaded with people across Europe to give money so he could aid those in crisis. In the case of this story, he did a massive fundraising effort to save the lives of 120 people. He valued people over possessions and asked others to share this view.

Here’s the sad reality. Not everyone will.

I had a young Christian worker that I really liked working with in India ask to unsubscribe to my GTP emails. Here’s what he said. “Good to see the progress of GTP. However, I have been receiving a few fundraising appeals from GTP in the recent times, requesting you to please take me off the list.”

I loved and served that bloke freely, and it would be one thing for him to delete the emails. But to ask to unsubscribe broke my heart not for myself but for him. This verse comes to mind. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17

Like John of Matha, I am unashamedly crying for help to aid people.

If you have been reading my posts daily, you know that I have called and gathering alms for serving war-torn people in Ukraine. But don’t give because I am asking. Give here because “our blessed Lord, bade us love our neighbor not only as ourselves, but as He loved us, Who afterwards sacrificed Himself for us.”

And I am doing it before I enter as connectivity may be greatly limited.

As I enter Ukraine I pray this prayer with John of Matha: “Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered. O Lord, Thou wilt save the humble, and wilt bring down the eyes of the proud. And I trust that the wind of the Holy Spirit will guide us safely on our journey and help us lead many to faith through preaching and teaching.

Free 120 prisoners from slavery to sin, Lord Jesus, through our service and sacrifice.

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I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8

“Make your people known for the unity and profession of their faith. Inspire the hearts of your people with your word and your teaching. You called us to preach the Gospel of your Christ and to encourage them to lives and works pleasing to you. “I now return to you, your people, your gift to me. Direct them with your powerful right hand, and protect them under the shadow of your wings. May all praise and glorify your name, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Cyril of Thessalonica (827-869) as quoted in an old Slavonic biography of Saint Cyril.

Cyril and Methodius (815-884) are know widely as the Apostles to the Slavs. Here in Slovakia, I see many signs to this day celebrating them as the fathers of the Christian faith.

I cite this prayer today because of this phrase: “I now return to you, your people, your gift to me.” Their service aimed to win a people to Christ and they gave the fruits of their efforts, the people, back to God.

Imagine giving to God the fruits of a lifetime of effort? What would that look like for you? What would you give the Lord? Imagine the impact? More than a thousand years later, your toil is still remembered and celebrated.

At the church where we met yesterday in Poprad, Slovakia, I saw this cross above the open door to our meeting room. I paused, snapped the photo, and gave thanks for the open door for ministry this week going so well.

Has God set before you an open door like He did for Cyril and and Methodius? Or like He has for Gabriel and me this week. What would it look like for you to inspire people with the word of God and teaching?

Last night, Gabriel and I made it to Košice, Slovakia, near the western border to Ukraine. Relief workers here are exhausted! Few remain willing to aid refugees. If you have not yet made a gift to deliver help and hope, give here today.

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For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

“Balthildes was an Englishwoman, who was carried over whilst yet young into France, and there sold for a slave, at a very low price, to Erkenwald, mayor of the palace under King Clovis II. When she grew up, her master was so much taken with her prudence and virtue that he placed her in charge of his household. The renown of her virtues spread through all France, and King Clovis II took her for his royal consort.

This unexpected elevation produced no alteration in a heart perfectly grounded in humility and the other virtues; she seemed to become even more humble than before. Her new station furnished her the means of being truly a mother to the poor; the king gave her the sanction of his royal authority for the protection of the Church, the care of the poor, and the furtherance of all religious undertakings.

The death of her husband left her regent of the kingdom. She at once forbade the enslavement of Christians, did all in her power to promote piety, and filled France with hospitals and religious houses. As soon as her son Clotaire was of an age to govern, she withdrew from the world and entered the convent of Chelles.

Here she seemed entirely to forget her worldly dignity, and was to be distinguished from the rest of the community only by her extreme humility, her obedience to her spiritual superiors, and her devotion to the sick, whom she comforted and served with wonderful charity. As she neared her end, God visited her with a severe illness, which she bore with Christian patience until, on the 30th of January, 680, she yielded up her soul in devout prayer.”

Balthildes of Chelles (c. 626-680) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 30 January reading.

As I travel in Eastern Europe, I am finding inspiration from saints whose generous service shaped society in the castles and structures of days long past.

Bathildes is one of those saints who made the most of her “for such a time as this” moment.

She went from slave to queen long after Esther in the pages of the Old Testament, and did not let this shift corrupt her. She used her place as consort to serve as a conduit of blessing.

What about you? What work has God “furnished” you to do?

Let’s read again what Butler reports about Bathildes: “Her new station furnished her the means of being truly a mother to the poor; the king gave her the sanction of his royal authority for the protection of the Church, the care of the poor, and the furtherance of all religious undertakings.”

And notice what else she did. Rather than hold the post indefinitely, she passed the work on to her son, Clotaire. That may be her greatest accomplishment. This act would ensure sustainability.

Ponder today both on the work God has furnished you to do, and how you will pass that on to others so it continues to shower generous blessing long after you are gone.

And thanks for your prayers for our program work in Slovakia today.

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Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

“You will catch more flies,” St. Francis used to say, “with a spoonful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar. Were there anything better or fairer on earth than gentleness, Jesus Christ would have taught it us; and yet He has given us only two lessons to learn of Him—meekness and humility of heart.”

Francis de Sales (1567-1622) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 29 January reading.

Related to our generosity, we need to think: honey. Francis equates it with meekness and humility of heart. What is the difference between meekness and humility?

Meekness (often translated as gentleness) refers to our posture toward others, whereas Humility is our view of ourselves before God.

I am learning in Europe that my interaction with people needs to drip like honey with meekness and humility as the typical American posture often exhibits the opposite traits.

And let me explain the connection between today’s post and the new header photo. Southern Czechia is Moravian wine country. Between every other row they plant beautiful wildflowers.

I learned this accomplishes two strategic purposes. Firstly, it brings insects that eat the pests that could harm the grapes (or in the words of Francis, “You will catch more flies…”).

Secondly it enriches the soil for more healthy grapes. Likewise, imagine how we can draw and enrich others generously with meekness and humility. Make it so, Lord Jesus.

Heading from Czechia to Slovakia today for meetings and training work in Bratislava, Poprad, and Košice. Appreciate your prayers for receptive hearts. And still praying for additional aid to deliver to Ukraine.

Give here to deliver hope and help: $10 provides 30 small loaves of bread for suffering people in Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. This bread is the perfect compliment to the honey of meekness and humility. Thanks.

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