RPD 22 August 2007 Can or Can't?

I remember receiving a book once titled “Never Say Can’t”. I have heard many such motivating talks about following your dreams and seeing problems as stepping stones to opportunity etc. But recently I have been challenged with a different thought. Pride says “I can”. Humility says “I can’t”. Pride blocks the door to Jesus working in me and I start to function in my own power. Humility acknowledges that apart from Him I can do nothing. The world of modern humanistic western thought acknowledges accomplishment. We are an outcomes based society. Consequently we are full of pride. And subtly even the church measures success in similar terms. We are outcomes based rather than spiritually based. How much did I allow the Spirit of God to work through me today? Or have I sorted out my Christianity so that I can basically live it by myself and just top up on Sundays? I am more and more believing that I can’t. I believe true Spirituality is a lot more mystical and a lot less systematic than the Bible College courses like to teach us. O God, be my teacher, my guide, my life, my all.

People

This last weekend Max and Natasha from Prilukiy came for a visit. It was great to hang out with them. Max is a real encouragement in his desire to deeply know what it means to really and truly walk moment by moment with God. Thanks for the discussions and encouragement mate.

This is Ruth and Jon’s last week here before they move to Kyiv and get ready to start teaching. It has been great having them here and I believe we have truly got to know each other much better, understand and appreciate each other. Please pray that God would work mightily in and around them in their school in Kyiv.

Jon and I went and visited Yura and Dasha in a neighbouring village. They are both school teachers there and became Christians this summer. They are both full of life and energy. I’m enjoying getting to know them. Pray for them as they seek to grow in their love and knowledge of Jesus.

Masha’s mum broke her leg and so Masha has gone for a week or two to help her mum. This means she will not be earning while she is away. Pray also as her relationship with her mum is not always a smooth one. She desires to see her mum come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Do It For The Kids

This week I am helping out at a kids day time festival here in Rzhyshchiv. There are three leaders from Kyiv and a number of young people from the town here are helping to make an interesting week of games, crafts, friendship, food, lessons from God’s word etc. Please pray for the leaders – that their lives with Christ will be their strongest asset. Pray for the kids that will come. Today was the first day which is typically low in attendance as the best form of advertising seems to be word of mouth. I spent most of my time getting things that had not been organized. I also played that never ending tag game of stuck in the mud. It is a cruel game for a tiring aging man like me.

Parking This Way

Last week we did some work on the car parking space. One side of the front steps is almost finished and I just need some land fill and about two more days to finish the rest of it. Daniel drove on it before it was dry so he has his own autographed parking space that fits the tread on his tires. Thanks Yura, Sergei and Jon for helping out with this over a couple of hot days.

Prayer and Praise

• Pray for humility (for me and for yourself)
• Max and Natasha
• Ruth and Jon
• Yura and Dasha
• Masha and her mum
• Kids Festival
• Car parking space

Thanks

• To Ruth for an awesome chicken lasagna the other day and to Jon for being a servant and always washing up.

Jono Miller

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