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THANKSGIVING IN MAY
You perhaps have heard of and enjoyed events called “Christmas in July”. I remember them as a kid.
This month let's focus on being thankful.
So, how about THANKFUL IN MAY?
Let CHRISTMAS IN JULY follow.
Last month I reflected on our era when many countries, churches and communities are divided over issues large and small.So, is being thankful a reasonable paradigm? We do have much to be thankful for.
What do you do or how do you feel when things don’t go right. What do you feel on a bad day?
Years ago when living in Ukraine we met a couple of young women who were there as missionaries from an organization that had a phrase I liked. It was, “go and stay”. In a time of greater international travel mission assignments had changed from the David Livingston days of going to another country and investing your life sharing the gospel and not returning home often or never.
What we really liked was a phrase these women used the things did not go as planned. It was “for this LORD we prayed”.
They were there because of choices they had made and a pledge to God to serve him in a foreign missionary assignment.
This leads me to consider this about prayer.
Do you pray for God’s leading in your life?
If you do when things don’t go right you can take comfort in realizing this is what God has planned for you.
It helps to be thankful at all times.
Even times when things don’t go the way you planned or even thought they would or should.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col 4:2
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Col 3: 15
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
Hebrews 12:28
This month let's focus on being thankful.
So, how about THANKFUL IN MAY?
Let CHRISTMAS IN JULY follow.
Last month I reflected on our era when many countries, churches and communities are divided over issues large and small.So, is being thankful a reasonable paradigm? We do have much to be thankful for.
What do you do or how do you feel when things don’t go right. What do you feel on a bad day?
Years ago when living in Ukraine we met a couple of young women who were there as missionaries from an organization that had a phrase I liked. It was, “go and stay”. In a time of greater international travel mission assignments had changed from the David Livingston days of going to another country and investing your life sharing the gospel and not returning home often or never.
What we really liked was a phrase these women used the things did not go as planned. It was “for this LORD we prayed”.
They were there because of choices they had made and a pledge to God to serve him in a foreign missionary assignment.
This leads me to consider this about prayer.
Do you pray for God’s leading in your life?
If you do when things don’t go right you can take comfort in realizing this is what God has planned for you.
It helps to be thankful at all times.
Even times when things don’t go the way you planned or even thought they would or should.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col 4:2
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Col 3: 15
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”
Hebrews 12:28
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Report from Prague, Czechoslovakia
The first phase of the Ukrainian refugee crisis went well, so far. We are delighted that over 3 million mothers with children found refuge in Poland (7.8 % of the population of Poland). To give you an idea, it's as if the US was flooded with 26 million mothers with children in just 2 months! About 700 thousand mothers with children found refuge in the Czech Republic and Slovakia (4.6 % of the population of Czechia and Slovakia), 850 thousand in Romania, etc. Over 10 million out of 40 million Ukrainians (25 %) have been displaced and 5.5 million (13 %) have left Ukraine. They were welcomed with open arms.
A father says goodby to his son and wife at a train station in Ukraine. The ring on the right hand is common and the mother has hers on her right hand too. We are wearing the wedding rings on our right hands that we wore when we lived in Ukraine for most of the 1190's.
The government, individuals, churches, and the immigration authorities quickly organized lodging, health insurance, placing children in schools, and helped especially those qualified to find employment as assistants and aides in hospitals, nursing homes, and factories. The solidarity with refugees is unprecedented. All 6 small churches we work with care for about 60 Ukrainian mothers and children.
Phase two, integration of refugees, is on a good track as well. It is interesting how quickly we are brushing up on the basics of Russian, Polish, and Slovak languages. We hardly need any help with translation. Slavic linguistic similarity is a great help.
Phase three pertains to the future. For now, many mothers and children are safe. Their husbands, sons, and fathers (all men from 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave, except fathers of 3+ children) are putting their lives on the line to defend the independence of Ukraine. Most refugees have families back home, many have nowhere to return to. When and if this war will end remains a question.
Phase two, integration of refugees, is on a good track as well. It is interesting how quickly we are brushing up on the basics of Russian, Polish, and Slovak languages. We hardly need any help with translation. Slavic linguistic similarity is a great help.
Phase three pertains to the future. For now, many mothers and children are safe. Their husbands, sons, and fathers (all men from 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave, except fathers of 3+ children) are putting their lives on the line to defend the independence of Ukraine. Most refugees have families back home, many have nowhere to return to. When and if this war will end remains a question.
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The past two years everyone encountered conflict. That is unless you live under a rock. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in closures and shutdowns everywhere, not just locally but globally. Dramatic life change happened. People were divided. People were angry.
People for the most part do not like change. Change in every aspect of life was necessary and conflict on a variety of issues resulted. We experienced this even in our churches. Personal face-to-face contact was restricted and resolution was difficult if not impossible.
Our Daily Bread is a devotional we read every morning at Breakfast. A recent reading included the following:
People were also divided in Paul’s day, though over different issues. Topics such as what foods were permissible to eat and what days were considered holy brought disagreement among the Christians in Rome. Despite being “fully convinced in their own mind” on whichever position they held. Paul reminds them of their common ground; living for Jesus (Romans 14:5-9). Instead of passing judgement on one another, he encouraged them to “do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (v 19).
In an era when many countries, churches and communities are divided over issues large and small, we can point to one another to the unifying trust of Christ’s work on the cross to secure our life with Him eternally. Paul’s reminder that we ought not “destroy the work of God” (v. 20) with our individual positions is as timely today as it was 2,000 years ago. Instead of passing judgement on one another, we can act in love and live in a way that honors our brothers and sisters.
THINK ABOUT IT QUESTION
When did a difference of opinion cause division between you and another believer? If you resolved your differences, how did you do it?
For further reading try Romans 14:13-23
People for the most part do not like change. Change in every aspect of life was necessary and conflict on a variety of issues resulted. We experienced this even in our churches. Personal face-to-face contact was restricted and resolution was difficult if not impossible.
Our Daily Bread is a devotional we read every morning at Breakfast. A recent reading included the following:
People were also divided in Paul’s day, though over different issues. Topics such as what foods were permissible to eat and what days were considered holy brought disagreement among the Christians in Rome. Despite being “fully convinced in their own mind” on whichever position they held. Paul reminds them of their common ground; living for Jesus (Romans 14:5-9). Instead of passing judgement on one another, he encouraged them to “do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (v 19).
In an era when many countries, churches and communities are divided over issues large and small, we can point to one another to the unifying trust of Christ’s work on the cross to secure our life with Him eternally. Paul’s reminder that we ought not “destroy the work of God” (v. 20) with our individual positions is as timely today as it was 2,000 years ago. Instead of passing judgement on one another, we can act in love and live in a way that honors our brothers and sisters.
THINK ABOUT IT QUESTION
When did a difference of opinion cause division between you and another believer? If you resolved your differences, how did you do it?
For further reading try Romans 14:13-23
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A pastor friend of mine shared:
Last Sunday, Easter, I preached from I Corinthians 15:35-58. I Corinthians 15 is Paul’s persuasive argument to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus and to look forward to our own resurrection. Many of the Corinthians thought there was no resurrection – that such a belief in resurrection was beyond reason, and foolish, and had little to do with the good ethical life of Jesus. But Paul counters that: it is essential. Without resurrection there is no forgiveness of sin and no hope for this life or the next – no good reason to live or care about others. He went on to address another question: what will our resurrected bodies be like? I talked about the nature of our future resurrected bodies. The key descriptive word, among others, is “imperishable” or “indestructible”. This is a phenomenal expectation. In this world we have bodies that decline and decay, but in the next world, we who exercise trust in God through Christ will have full bodies not subject to destruction or disease or dementia or destitution. As CS Lewis said in this writing of The Great Divorce in his description of Heaven: Heaven and our eternal bodies will be more real, more substantial, more solid, more whole, than what we experience now.
Do you go to a church that preaches the gospel?
You should.
You should.
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Again several generations of Americans are exposed to a horrible WAR!
Ukraine has had 30 years of religious freedom.
- During those years thousands of people have come to know Christ as their Saviour.
- Hundreds of churches have been planted all over the country.
- Scores of Bible schools and Christian training institutions have been founded.
- Para-church organizations have been established,
- Ukraine sends missionaries - with support from Ukrainian churches - to other countries, many to the Russian-speaking world.
- During those years thousands of people have come to know Christ as their Saviour.
- Hundreds of churches have been planted all over the country.
- Scores of Bible schools and Christian training institutions have been founded.
- Para-church organizations have been established,
- Ukraine sends missionaries - with support from Ukrainian churches - to other countries, many to the Russian-speaking world.
But now we see fathers saying goodby to their children and wives. Notice the wedding ring on the right hand of both the father and mother. We wore matching Ukrainian wedding rings while living in Ukraine and replaced them now to remind us through each day to pray for our friends and ministry partners during these dramatic days.
A typical day outing in the UKRAINE capital city of Kyiv.
Sharon enjoyed loving on the children ~ and they love back.
Our ministry team at the studio of Christian Media Associates.
Kyiv was a beautiful city with amazing historic landmarks.
Poland is a great neighbor to UKRAINE
On February 24th we received a notice from the CCM Media ministry in Southern Poland. I served on their International Board of Directors for several years. They are helping ~ helping Ukrainians each and every day now that they are refugees away from home. We traveled by train through Western Ukraine to Poland during our time there in the 1990's.
Dear David,
Russia has invaded our geographical neighbour, Ukraine; the upheaval is going to be far-reaching. There are 1.5 million Ukrainians already residing in Poland on short term contracts, working in various industries, where they are valued as diligent, hard workers. Many of them are now returning home to fight for their country.
Meanwhile, in excess of a million women with their children are expected in Poland. The State has waived many bureaucratic barriers. Hundreds of thousands of Poles are spontaneously helping by giving food, transport from the border, free accommodation, etc. It is beautiful to see such solidarity, but a lot of this effort is not rational, as there are piles of food at the border crossing and no room for storage.
Railways in our part of Europe have offered free transportation. Just last Saturday our staff plus some local friends ferried 51 women and children 380 km / 238 miles from the Polish border to Wisla. There is also much humanitarian aid in which the churches are playing a major part. We invited many people to a concert our church in Wisla given by my son, Filip, and his friends, during it we will invite people to return to the church for a Sunday service. During the concert there will be simultaneous translation into Ukrainian. We ask friends at CityBibles in the Netherlands to sell us 1000 Ukrainian Bibles. They sent them to us free of charge! We are also printing a Ukrainian version of Word for you today, personal daily passages for individual quiet times.
Churches are greatly involved as well, mainly giving humanitarian help.
As we have many connections, through our e-coaches with thousands of people, also our Outback outreach, that we started some 7 years ago in Ukraine – there are links to believers but also non-believers in need. In our organization – we appointed a lady, our e-coach that resides in Poland but is Ukrainian to coordinate this effort. Here is a tremendous opportunity for Sunday School children; (nobody was planning for that!)
Dear David,
Russia has invaded our geographical neighbour, Ukraine; the upheaval is going to be far-reaching. There are 1.5 million Ukrainians already residing in Poland on short term contracts, working in various industries, where they are valued as diligent, hard workers. Many of them are now returning home to fight for their country.
Meanwhile, in excess of a million women with their children are expected in Poland. The State has waived many bureaucratic barriers. Hundreds of thousands of Poles are spontaneously helping by giving food, transport from the border, free accommodation, etc. It is beautiful to see such solidarity, but a lot of this effort is not rational, as there are piles of food at the border crossing and no room for storage.
Railways in our part of Europe have offered free transportation. Just last Saturday our staff plus some local friends ferried 51 women and children 380 km / 238 miles from the Polish border to Wisla. There is also much humanitarian aid in which the churches are playing a major part. We invited many people to a concert our church in Wisla given by my son, Filip, and his friends, during it we will invite people to return to the church for a Sunday service. During the concert there will be simultaneous translation into Ukrainian. We ask friends at CityBibles in the Netherlands to sell us 1000 Ukrainian Bibles. They sent them to us free of charge! We are also printing a Ukrainian version of Word for you today, personal daily passages for individual quiet times.
Churches are greatly involved as well, mainly giving humanitarian help.
As we have many connections, through our e-coaches with thousands of people, also our Outback outreach, that we started some 7 years ago in Ukraine – there are links to believers but also non-believers in need. In our organization – we appointed a lady, our e-coach that resides in Poland but is Ukrainian to coordinate this effort. Here is a tremendous opportunity for Sunday School children; (nobody was planning for that!)
Some of the help given by CCM Media to Ukrainians. We have found the destruction of infrastructure in Ukraine keeps us from funding efforts directly into Ukraine so are helping CCM Media financially as they have a huge new ministry outreach with their Ukrainian neighbors.
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Thank you for your faithful support to RPFFG. Sometimes we don’t say THANK YOU enough to people like you, our faithful friends and family.
We spent Friday filing the annual RPFFG’s Federal 990 and the California 190 tax forms and reviewing all the Blessings we received in 2021. We also save $750 for filing these ourselves.
It is a such a Blessing to have friends and family like you who share in our desire to serve the Lord through RPFFG. We are not able to share publicly for security reasons the many emails and zoom calls we receive from our partners. We have outstanding photos also, but unable to share them online.
Like the work in Nepal, where the government does not want Christian Centers built, but our partner, Paulas and team are building the Bethany House Bible Training Center. You know Nepal has a special place in our hearts as David works with Paulas on the development of the Bible Training Center Campus. So far we have funded the water system and perimeter fencing and entry gate and engineering for the mountainous site.
Sharon & David
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These are some of the comments shared with me by friends or family during the year.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ David Marshall Kealy ~ October 2021 ~ NEPAL STAFF
16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
v. 16 Rejoice always,
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
[David Kealy note: This is the very first verse of scripture that I memorized because I wanted to, not because I had to.]
Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”
v. 17 pray continually,
Thanksgiving – Christians know that God is the source of all of life’s blessings. So, we use prayer to say, “Thanks!” for what we receive. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17)
Confession – We all mess up. Deep down, we know it. Confession is the act of admitting our guilt, regrets, and confusion to the One who wants to help us make it right or move on. We join the rest of the human race in saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) And He will.
Requests – “God, help me!” is a very basic version of the third category of prayer. We need help beyond our capacity, so we ask. It could be provision, intervention, protection, or any of a million other requests, we believe God can do or provide something we can’t.
FIVE ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS: Yes ~ No ~ Wait ~ Change your prayer ~ Change your character. God is not just granting wishes, but a Father who takes seriously the sincere requests of His children.
Worship – Prayer is also one of the ways we worship God. To “worship” means to “ascribe worth.” In other words, we give credit where credit is due. If the history of humanity tells us anything it is that we are hard-wired to worship someone or something – it could be an idol made of stone or a celebrity “idol” like a sports star or __________ you fill in the blank.
Worship keeps us sane because it reminds us of the fundamental reality of the universe: that there is only one God, and we are not Him.
v. 18 give thanks in all circumstances;
Bonus: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever considered what God’s will for you actually is?
I did years ago and He gave me this verse:
"I thank Christ Jesus our LORD who strengthened me because He considered me faithful, putting me into service." I Timothy 1:12
My BLOG is a monthly dialogue of my life. I do it because I am thankful that God drew in the net, captured me, and set me on the path to serve Him. I do it all the time. Am I perfect? NO. Does that hold me back? NO. Does He continue to strengthen me? YES. So it is "Onward and Upward" as my friend Norman Rohrer often says.
- PAIN reminds me that we are not home yet.
- I asked God, “how much?” and He gave me this amount.
- The seeds I have been given, I will plant.
- If the truth makes you feel uncomfortable; don’t blame the truth, blame the lie that makes you comfortable.
- The time in Afghanistan is dark.
- Thank you ~ 50 pastors received pastoral care during the initial global lockdown.
- 59 radio stations in Indonesia with 5 more being developed.
- Due to pandemic and back to lockdown there are thousands of Pastors suffering from lacking of food.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ David Marshall Kealy ~ October 2021 ~ NEPAL STAFF
16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
v. 16 Rejoice always,
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
[David Kealy note: This is the very first verse of scripture that I memorized because I wanted to, not because I had to.]
Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”
v. 17 pray continually,
Thanksgiving – Christians know that God is the source of all of life’s blessings. So, we use prayer to say, “Thanks!” for what we receive. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17)
Confession – We all mess up. Deep down, we know it. Confession is the act of admitting our guilt, regrets, and confusion to the One who wants to help us make it right or move on. We join the rest of the human race in saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) And He will.
Requests – “God, help me!” is a very basic version of the third category of prayer. We need help beyond our capacity, so we ask. It could be provision, intervention, protection, or any of a million other requests, we believe God can do or provide something we can’t.
FIVE ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS: Yes ~ No ~ Wait ~ Change your prayer ~ Change your character. God is not just granting wishes, but a Father who takes seriously the sincere requests of His children.
Worship – Prayer is also one of the ways we worship God. To “worship” means to “ascribe worth.” In other words, we give credit where credit is due. If the history of humanity tells us anything it is that we are hard-wired to worship someone or something – it could be an idol made of stone or a celebrity “idol” like a sports star or __________ you fill in the blank.
Worship keeps us sane because it reminds us of the fundamental reality of the universe: that there is only one God, and we are not Him.
v. 18 give thanks in all circumstances;
Bonus: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever considered what God’s will for you actually is?
I did years ago and He gave me this verse:
"I thank Christ Jesus our LORD who strengthened me because He considered me faithful, putting me into service." I Timothy 1:12
My BLOG is a monthly dialogue of my life. I do it because I am thankful that God drew in the net, captured me, and set me on the path to serve Him. I do it all the time. Am I perfect? NO. Does that hold me back? NO. Does He continue to strengthen me? YES. So it is "Onward and Upward" as my friend Norman Rohrer often says.
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1. Good news because we do not need to experience the hassle of replacing the passport that was delivered by registered mail the day after my flight to Nepal departed.
THROUGH IT ALL ~ GOD KNOWS BEST
2. You can pray with us as we seek to have the insurance company refund $1,700.00 for the flight that needed to be cancelled. They have denied our first request and appeal so far.
3. GOOD NEWS that the passport is back. And further the water source has been routed to the site and fresh water is now available year-round for the training center and planting on the site.
THROUGH IT ALL ~ GOD KNOWS BEST
2. You can pray with us as we seek to have the insurance company refund $1,700.00 for the flight that needed to be cancelled. They have denied our first request and appeal so far.
3. GOOD NEWS that the passport is back. And further the water source has been routed to the site and fresh water is now available year-round for the training center and planting on the site.
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