Trip to Europe

I want to share the wonderful blessing of the Lord that I’ve received this August and may the Lord encourage you through this and speak to your heart.

Preparation
Every August for the last 4 years, I was attending conference in Millstatt, Austria and every time the Lord would have something special for me, it usually is a highlight of the year. However, this year I was not going, because I had a very difficult time getting my visa for my last trip. Well, when I received an invitation this spring to attend the conference, I knew in my heart that I should go. I prayed about it for some months and I made all the necessary preparations: got my ticket early (ticket is necessary to get the visa), my insurance and application and went to sign up for the interview. To make the long story short: when I got to the embassy the guard told me that I am already late, if I wanted to make my trip I had to come earlier, all the slots for interview were taken up to the mid August and it is when I needed my visa. I told the guard that I already have everything and my official invitation is coming in a few days, he responded that for my type of visa, it is too late, but I still can try an agency though it will be more expensive. I said that I cannot pay any extra money, his answer was short “Well, then you are not going…” but after thinking for a moment he added “come on Monday” Later I read on the embassy’s site that going through an agency may result in refusal to grant the visa. Go figure.
As I was leaving, I told the Lord that I give up and I do not care if I lose my ticket, because I have no desire to fight for this little sticker in my passport called visa. Then there was a still small voice telling me gently: “Do not worry about this and do not give up, I will take care of everything.” And the most wonderful peace entered my heart.
I can tell you it was the easiest getting of my visa and I did not do anything for it. The Lord helped me through Dean, who got hold of ambassador and also took my invitation to the embassy. What a blessing to have a pastor like that:-)! This was only a prelude.

On my way to the conference.
When I came to Austria, first 2, 5 days I stayed in Vienna and it was a very nice but also interesting time, because I did not get hold of any of my friends and had to spend this time by myself, which was fine since I like to walk around beautiful places taking pictures. However, one thing really bothered me: three weeks before my trip I cut a cold, I recovered really quickly, but a sore throat would not go away, even though I was taking stuff to cure it. Now it got so bad that I could hardly talk. I asked the Lord to heal me, but He did not answer. Finally I decided to get a stronger medication, which I rarely do, but after taking it, I felt even worse, the food had no taste and I even could not enjoy coffee:-\.
Well, I believe it was in the morning of my departure to Millstatt, I was talking to the Lord saying that it is ok with me if I will not be able to talk to anyone, I’ll just sit and listen, and I will not sing, but if I cannot sing how will I praise You!!!? It was my question to the Lord and He instantly gave me an answer…the sore throat was gone right that moment. Hallelujah!!! …This is just a beginning.

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
On my train ride I’ve noticed a small group of Americans and I guessed that all of us are going to the same station. Later, already at the Castle, I was able to get better acquaintance with Steve and his wife Anita; they came from Costa Mesa and traveled through Europe with an evangelical outreach.
After an evening session, I got to talk to Anita and we prayed together. I had a personal request and I really desired to hear from the Lord about this matter at the conference, because it was an important matter for me that I’ve been praying for the last 4 years and it was not clear to me whether I should continue to pray and to wait or just to let go. Anita gave me verses from 2^nd Chronicles 20 and I read them, trying to understand if there was something that would speak to my heart, but nothing really clicked at the moment, besides that she pointed out how king Jehoshaphat put Levites to the front lines of the army that they would praise the Lord. Well this I could do! The Lord gave me my voice back and now I could worship Him aloud and it was the most beautiful time of worship I’ve experienced in a long time.
During the conference we had women’s sessions and this time they were on prayer. First, we had a teaching and then we would break in to groups for a discussion and a prayer time, we’ve also received a little study outline which we were to read before each session and to do some home work.
One of the studies was called “Keep it real!” and the passage we were to read that day was in 2^nd Chronicles 20!!! Well this time the passage really got my attention, because when the Lord speak twice it means …pay attention!!! I was literally taking every word in, this chapter started to make perfect sense to me, and now I could understand what the Lord is saying to me. When King Jehoshaphat faced a challenge, he was afraid and he set himself on seeking the Lord. And as he prayed he reminded to himself and to God too of His power and His wonderful deeds, of His promises and His will. The answer to this honest and humble prayer came right away and the Lord said not to be afraid, but to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Jehoshaphat in response bowed and worshiped the Lord. The next day the Lord gave His people and the king His victory as they were worshiping Him they saw how the Lord is fighting for them. I think it is so important that Jehoshaphat not only received the answer from the Lord, but he also believed it and acted upon it and gave Him praise. It is such a beautiful picture of the way our relationship with the Lord should be. Because sometimes I can ask for something and God gives me an answer and I might receive it, but then my mind begins to think…and I refuse to believe it, to “walk by faith and not by sight”. Or maybe I received and believed what the Lord said but then do not act upon it, because I am still afraid of … whatever; either I had a bad experience before, or because it might hurt or it costs me something … and I do not praise Him as a result.
Later during the worship time Dave Sylvester, who was leading it, prayed, “Lord, as you told King Jehoshaphat to stand still and to see the salvation of the Lord….”
I think the Lord REALY wanted me to pay attention to what He told King Jehoshaphat:-) wouldn’t you agree?
Besides this absolutely wonderful blessing of hearing the Lord’s voice and an answer to my prayer, He also blessed me with beautiful time of fellowship with my friends that I’ve known for a while and with those I just met.

Back in Vienna.
Djudji whom I met at this conference for the first time has truly blessed me by inviting me to stay with her family in Vienna on my way back. I had only 2,5 days, but it seemed like a whole week or even longer, I felt like I had another vacation. We got to do a lot and I do not remember sightseeing so much, it is because Djudji is a very good tour guide:-) I got to meet her family and each member has an incredible testimony. Djudji’s father came to Austria from former Yugoslavia about 30 years ago and found God in this new land, then his wife came to the Lord, later their son and after all Djudji. She shared her testimony with me and I would have never guessed that she went through many trials, because the Lord made a big change in her. She went to the Bible College in different countries – Japan, Brazil, US and Israel. She has a desire to go back to Israel and serve there.
On Sunday, we visited Calvary Vienna. Before the service there was a reading of Psalm 34, it is one of my favorites and I love the verse 8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
It was a nice service and it was good to see friends, to have mission’s conference reunion and also to meet some new people. One girl came up to greet me and asked where I was from, as soon as she found out she begun to speak Russian. The girl’s name was Nurzy and she came from Kyrgyzstan to work and to study in Vienna.
On Monday, Djudji invited Nurzy and some other girls for a prayer meeting, but only Nurzy made it and we ended up having time of sharing, fellowship, encouragement and prayer. First Djudji wanted to share a verse with us and it was from Psalm 34 verse 8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”, it is so interesting, but hearing it again made me to realize that it ties together with “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” from 2^nd Chronicles 20. It was another blessing for me – to see the Lord opening His Word to me and speaking to my heart.
Nurzy shared her testimony with us. I had no idea that she is just a baby Christian; she received Jesus a little over two months ago. She told us that back in Kyrgyzstan she worked with missionaries translating for them and this was going on over the period of last 5-6 years. People sometimes would ask her if she believes what she translates and being from a Muslim family this question would leave her bewildered often times. Earlier this year she came to visit her Christian friends in Switzerland and one time when the family was praying together, Nurzy had a strong desire to join with them as if she heard a voice inside telling her “I want you to pray too”. So, she prayed and it seemed very natural and beautiful experience for her. Then Nurzy begun to ask God to reveal her the way He wants her to go, she wanted Him to show if it is going to be Islam or Christianity. What a prayer!!! On the way back to Austria, at the airport, she saw a group of Christians praying (talking about Christian witness!!!!) and she took this as the Lord’s answer. She begun to attend CC Vienna regularly, and decided that she needs to be baptized. Please pray for Nurzy if you would. She is a baby believer and she has to face the challenge of a Christian in a Muslim family. At the time when we met, she had not yet told her family that she received Jesus, but maybe she already done this by now.

Serbian church.
I had no idea that Austria has a fairly large Serbian population. So after attending American-Austrian-Multicultural Calvary, Djudji asked me if I want to visit Serbian church. I hesitated at first, but then decided to go. Serbian language has much in common with Russian, so most of the time I could understand what the Pastor was saying; besides it is always easier to understand when the Bible is taught. This church is very young, it started in March as a home group, but now they rent a meeting place at one of many Evangelical churches in Vienna. It is a small baby church, but it has a wonderful family like atmosphere. Pastor Dragan shared his testimony and it is so amazing how the Lord can take people from their comfort zone to bring them to Himself. As I can recall when Dragan was in his early 20s, he left his country to go to Western Europe to look for different life and to find a job, after trying for sometime he ended up in Austria. One day as he was walking on a street, he heard people singing Serbian worship, I believe, it got his attention and soon he begun to attend church and grow in the Lord. Then the Lord put on his heart to reach out for Serbian community in Vienna and now he became a pastor.
So, this trip for me was unlike any other trip and I am very thankful to the Lord for everything He did during this time and for His many blessings. I am yet to see His answer to be unfolded before my eyes, but that will be another story:-)

I hope you got to the end of this entry. I know it was long, but as I said in the very beginning, my hope is that the Lord will speak to your heart and bless you with an encouragement. God bless you! Natasha

Off I go:-)

Alrighty then! It is about the time and I am really ready for it!!! I am excited, because it finally came - my vacation!!! I am flying away!!! I am going to Sochi in some hours.
But I still will be praying for you and it means I will not be very far. Maybe see you soon!
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace!!!

Wisdom vs. Intelligence

I could not get this thought out of my mind since I read the verse in Proverbs. So, I am going to share it, because I think by now I can formulate it well enough. I am not like you, sometimes for me it can be a problem to say something right to the point, usually I have many words, but not much sense:-\.
Anyway, this verse was in my One Year Bible(NLT), proverb 18:15, it says: "Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them". Right away the word "intelligent" drew my attention and to be honest, it did not sound right to me, I am not even talking about the rest of the verse. So, I read this verse in NKJV and it says: "The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." I also checked in my Russian Bible and in Hebrew Ketuvim and the meaning was the same as in NKJ. Not that NKJ is an ultimate translation, but I just happened to have it.
I also decided to read what Wiki says about "intelligent" and "wise". After all I came to this conclusion... Prepare yourself!!! I might say something utterly stupid, but I hope you will be gracious and forgive me for that.
I don't know about you, but when I think of an intelligent person usually it is somebody who has a lot of knowledge about certain subject or many different subjects.
When person speaks with authority and can state his position well, usually people call him an intelligent person. For example: when a scientist is telling you everything about his research, gives you all the evidence on the subject and almost makes you convinced that some big monkey is your ancestor ... the same about a teacher in History class, who tells you that Communism is the only way to go and then adds: "There is no God"... this is what fool says in his heart, according to the Bible.
Besides if an intelligent person having all the knowledge in the world and being able to use it, also possess such qualities as arrogance, greed, envy, hate and so on. According to the Bible this person also called wicked and a fool.
Now wisdom: when I think of one word that was said right to the point, in the right place and time. When this word as a precious gem makes everything that was said before a beautiful setting for it. Or maybe it is like sharp error hitting the target. That I consider a word of wisdom and sometimes the wise person who said it can be a small child, who is not even realizing that God's wisdom just came out of his mouth:-).
I think intelligence is based on human knowledge and wisdom is based on the knowledge of God.
You know what? I think I am becoming wise in my own eyes:-\ I have to check what the Bible says about it.
As much as I tried it did not come out as short as I wanted:->. O, I know how I am going to end this: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived (aka Ecclesiastes, 12:13-14)

Blessed evening

Every Friday Julia and I come to Dale's house and we go through a book of the Bible, but tonight there were two other people - Dale guests. One of them I know from his previous visits, but the other person I just met today. It was such a blessing to me to see this young man, who is committed to the Lord with his whole heart, desiring to serve Him. He played couple worship songs and again it was a blessing because he was worshiping and not just singing. Right now I am doing worship on Sundays by myself, it's been a little hard because of the circumstances. But here in such a simple setting it was so wonderful to worship the Lord together. It was easy to sing too, because our voices sounded in unison. So I truly enjoyed it. It is a little strange but the songs reminded me of you, I guess because I heard you sing them before. So I thought that it would be so wonderful to hear you sing again, actually to worship together, I think our voices would sound in unison too, because they were before:-).
The rest of the evening we were sharing what the Lord was doing or what He showed us.
What a refreshing time it was!!! I am so thankful:-)
I pray that the Lord would bless you too with the moments like this, that are refreshing, encouraging and simple, that make your heart rejoice in Him and in the work He is doing in your life.

Friendship

I guess I do not have as much time as I thought:-). I wanted to share many things with you that were on my mind, but right now I will talk about just one. Recently I translated for a team of American missionaries. So I was a part of conversation when girl from the States asked Russian guy (as they were talking about another person), "Is he your friend?" The guy responded, "No, he is my good acquaintance." It reminded me of my personal observations. Maybe it sounds strange to you that just two phrases caused me to write about friendship, but I will explain...It is very interesting to me that different cultures have different definitions and different understanding of seemingly simple things. And I am not going to go to the ancient Greek of the New Testament that has several definitions for just one word, I mean...you know all that:-). But this one thing I've noticed while living in the States: often times people would say "this is my friend" where in reality it was an acquaintance or even just a friendly person. I made a conclusion that this is a cultural thing, because for me and I know for most of the Russians, friend is a person, who is not just friendly or whom you know well. I am not truing to compare, it is just an observation. Correct me if I am wrong.
I was truing to figure out how friendship is defined in another culture, but I did not have enough time for that, so I am not quite sure. Besides the values can differ because of age, background, and things like that. One thing, I hope, I can state for sure: there is no way to make friendship happen. If one person desires friendship, but another does not, it will never work. And sometimes even when two people want to build a friendship it might not happen. I had this experience before, one person told me, "I want us to be friends", but it never really worked.
Friendship grows over time. It is not necessary to tell somebody, "I want to be your friend", just be a friend.
For me it is important to trust my friend, because it really hurts when you share with a person something very precious and then a while later, find out that others know about it too. I love honesty in my friend, kind and patient honesty and I really hate flattery. I love to listen, but sometimes I need to be listened to.
I am trying to be a good friend myself, but sometimes I discover that what I think is good, other people do not appreciate.
We have a saying in Russian, "Tell me who your friend is and I'll tell you who you are" , I wonder is this universal? I was thinking that this is how many Jewish religious leaders judged Jesus, He could not be the Messiah for them, because of His friends - tax collectors, fishermen, prostitutes, lame, blind, leprous - that is the social outcast of those days. But if to turn it the other way then all these people had one true Friend. When He called them His friends for some "righteous" it sounded horrible, but when they would say "Jesus is our Friend" ...I am just truing to imagine how their faces would light up with a smile as they were saying it. Even now I am thinking about that Jesus is my Friend too. Who am I? Well, just a person living in Moscow and not too many people know about me and some who know, maybe do not really want to know:->, but Jesus is my Friend and He is your Friend too. How does it feel? Isn't it beautiful, wonderful, amazing...pick more words still it will be indescribable.
I am glad that I have Jesus as my Friend, I can tell Him anything and He will listen, but never tell anyone else. I can be myself with Him and He receives me the way I am, but always corrects me gently when I am being nutty. I can trust Him always, I can be sure that He is there to help when difficulty comes. O, yes, He never misunderstands me:-) I love this about my Friend. I can say so much more but it is getting late.
Blessings to you my friend from my Dear Friend Jesus!

Inspiration

Interestingly enough, as I was staring at an empty page, thinking what I could write about, I realized that most of the time when I am writing something, first I get an inspiration for it. "Wow!" you'd probably say, "what a discovery!" The truth is: I might have a lot of different thoughts in my mind, but in order to say or to write something valuable or at least good, there has to be a solid foundation for it, a reason and a need. I am talking about myself of course (not that I am some kind of a big writer), but I know it is true for many people and I believe for you as well.
Often times people use words unwisely, or just make them empty and I think it is because they do not realize or forget that an ability to put words together is a gift from the Lord. He is an Author of communication and His words are not very hard to understand, even though He is the Creator of the most complicated things in the Universe like life itself for example.
So the inspiration. Your words had often times been an inspiration to me in the way you cannot imagine. Your thoughts would cause me to think and even if I was not in agreement with you, still my opinion was born from what you were sharing and every time I was very excited to share what the Lord gave me through you. But now, when you are silent I miss your words very much, I fill like I lost something very precious, and I do not know if I'll ever have another opportunity to talk to you. I am glad that the Lord knows:-) and I thank Him for you.
So, what I just said here does not really have any wholeness, it is just a few different thoughts and a bunch of words to express them. But look at the next line and appreciate its simplicity and depth. It is today's verse from DBV. No need to add anything, just pause and think about these words of the Lord: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 Oh, how wonderful You are!

Quiet time

I never though that I will ever have my own blog (though I do keep a regular journal), but it is rather quiet time in my life right now. So I have some time to think, to consider and to ponder, to share my heart with you. And maybe, just maybe it will be a blessing to you, my friend.
It seems like I went through many things during these last years, and the Lord has been molding and shaping me and changing my heart, but at the same time I know that there is still a lot for me to learn and to understand, so much that it will take a lifetime.
Even though it is quiet and slow right now, but time goes by very fast and I am realizing that, but I cannot change the way things are. I cannot change the situation I am in and I cannot make things happen and this helplessness brings me to the point of silent tears. I cannot so anything, but I can pray. When I talk to my Lord, He touches my crying heart and gives me joy and a smile, He gives me hope, because He is my Hope.
I prayed for you yesterday and I know He answers my prayers for you. He answered so many times already and I thank Him for His faithfulness. He is Good!
Hopefully, while I am talking here, I'll get some answers :-).
Well, I want to finish for now and maybe I will talk to you soon again.
God bless you, my friend. Remember that Jesus loves you very much and His love is for you today.