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Shalom In Messiah Jesus:
Russian Jews love to take excursions
to various attractions within a day or two of New York City. Typically, they gather early in the morning at a corner on Brighton
Beach Avenue, board a nice bus with a Russian-speaking tour guide, and zoom off to see as much as possible in the short time
available to immigrants. Recently, some of us spent a few days at Niagara Falls, New York. We didn’t take a bus, but we did
speak some Russian. Of course, we met several Russian Jews there.
Over Niagara Falls eventually flows all of the water
of the Great Lakes, meaning 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. The rock cliffs just stand there, and seemingly endless
volumes of water pour over. The concept and the view are incredible, and praise for the Creator fills the heart. I was also
struck by a display of photos from the 1960s, when engineers managed to dry up the falls for several months, to check the
safety and soundness of the rocks. Without the water, the cliffs looked unremarkable, like so many other nameless precipices.
Much
of the Christian life consists of just standing where God wants us, as His living water pours in, around and through us and
His great power is magnified through the mereness of His instruments. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Only as we love,
grow and serve as He chooses, can He really use us for His Kingdom. It’s hard to be a rock for Him, but harder not to be.
God's living water is flowing in Brooklyn as we reach out each month to hundreds, even thousands, of Russian-speaking
Jews, Muslims, Russians and others through our English/Bible classes, computer, citizenship and Hebrew classes, concerts,
Shabbat and holy day dinners, prayer ministry, media and street evangelism ministry, sewing ministry and other Gospel-saturated
works. Thank you for standing with us through vibrant prayer and financial support.
During all of the trials and blessings
of ministry, the Lord has been teaching and confirming many things to me. Vitally important is the lesson from Hebrews 13:15-16,
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” The sacrifice of praise
corresponds to the levitical thank offering, often given along with the fellowship (peace) offering to the Lord. Thank offerings
also expressed covenant declarations, promises and vows. So, in continually offering a sacrifice of praise, we constantly
rejoice in Jesus that “I am His, He is mine” – and act accordingly.
Are the blessings flowing? Offer the sacrifice
of praise. Did the difficult just become more difficult? Offer the sacrifice of praise. Did God wonderfully answer prayer?
Offer the sacrifice of praise. Did expectations not materialize? Offer the sacrifice of praise. Is there a miracle of healing?
Offer the sacrifice of praise. Are there deep wounds? Offer the sacrifice of praise. Is He fulfilling His promises? Offer
the sacrifice of praise. Is there nothing left? Offer the sacrifice of praise.
For His Kingdom,
Leslie McMillan
Executive
Director
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