How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. Acts 10:38
“Genevieve was born at Nanterre, near Paris… During the siege of Paris by Childeric, king of the Franks, Genevieve went out with a few followers and procured corn for the starving citizens. Nevertheless Childeric, though a pagan, respected her, and at her request spared the lives of many prisoners. By her exhortations again, when Attila and his Huns were approaching the city, the inhabitants, instead of taking flight, gave themselves to prayer and penance, and averted, as she had foretold, the impending scourge. Clovis, when converted from paganism by his holy wife, St. Clotilda, made Genevieve his constant adviser, and, in spite of his violent character, made a generous and Christian king. She died within a few weeks of that monarch, in 512, aged eighty-nine… Genevieve was only a poor peasant girl, but Christ dwelt in her heart. She was anointed with His Spirit, and with power; she went about doing good, and God was with her.”
Genevieve of Paris (419-512) in The Lives of the Saints by Alan Butler, 1894 (Global Grey edition, 2019) 3 January reading. Here’s the link to a PDF copy of this book if you want to download it freely.
I am safely in Vranov, Czechia, just north of Brno, in the home of a friend, Milan Hluchý (pictured above at sunset last night). Because I am traveling the next three weeks with limited internet, I downloaded this classic to inspire my service and yours.
Notice how Genevieve rallied others to join her in procuring corn for the starving citizens. This reminds me of part of the reason for our mission to Ukraine. With 6.5 million internally displaced people, many are starving and in need of food.
Through Bread of Life ministry in Donetsk, we can purchase 3,000 small loaves for only $1,000. That’s one example of the aid will supply. And we trust God will be with us and protect us despite the siege of Ukraine by Russia.
Additionally, we have many meetings in Kyiv and Lviv. An alliance is forming with 39 organizations wanting to exhibit consistent stewardship and follow standards for sustainable ministry now and after the war.
But right now, join me in praying for the Czechs and the Slovaks, whom I serve this week. And give as you are able to our efforts in Eastern Europe and Ukraine. We can do good together and bring healing because God is with us.