Russia, God Are You Sure?

On deputation, I was given some good advice from a veteran missionary wife. She told me to never forget the calling on my life to Russia. To remember that this is exactly where God wants us, because there will be days that are hard and to not second guess God's calling on our lives.

That piece of advice stuck with me! And I always want to be mindful of the reason we are here. The Lord gave me many verses to confirm His calling on our lives and to burden my heart for the mission field.

You see when James came home from a men's conference, He knew the Lord was calling our family to go back to Russia and the time was now. But I wanted the calling to. And not just the calling but I wanted to be excited to go to Russia just as James was excited.

As some of you know, I wasn't exactly jumping up and down when James came home and unloaded this huge bomb on me. Yes, I knew it was his heart's desire to one day go back to Russia and be a missionary; but I thought it would happen years down the line or that maybe he would forget. :) After about a week of battling with the Lord on it, I surrendered to His calling on our lives. I knew in my heart just as I was saved, that Russia was where God wanted us. And even though I was scared of the unknown, I would simply live by faith and trust my heavenly Father. (Thus the name of this blog!)

And let me tell you, there is nothing greater than following the Lord. God has blessed our lives beyond our imagination. For starters, He blessed us with the cutest boy on earth, our son, Jacob! And He has always provided for us. It has amazed me to watch God go above and beyond our needs. God's dreams have become my dreams. And I wouldn't trade my life for anything this world has to offer. Sure there are sacrifices that have to be made but it's just a small price I gladly pay for the One who died for me!

These are some of the verses the Lord has given me to burden my heart for Russia.

I Timothy 1:12 

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." 

1. I'm still in awe that the Lord would use some one like me. I count it a great privilege that God would use me as a missionary. I feel inadequate and unworthy but I know all God wants from me is a willing heart and spirit. I truly am so blessed to have such a special calling on my life. 

Romans 10:13-15a  

"For whosoever shall call  upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?..."

2. The Bible is very clear that anyone can accept Christ as their Savior. It is our prayer and hope to spread the Gospel of Christ everywhere we go not just in Russia. God has specifically called us to Russia to reach those who have never heard the gospel. 

There are many towns and villages in the Far East (and all over Russia) who have never heard the Gospel of Christ. They have never held a Bible in their hands. How can they know for sure that heaven is their home, if we don't tell them? How can the know the God of peace, of joy, of comfort, of healing, of heaven- if we don't go? The answer is simple, they can't. They live in darkness waiting for someone to bring the Light.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

"But if the gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 

3. If the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. We heard a pastor once say that his church supports too many foreign missionaries. He would rather support local American church planters than take on another foreign missionary. It broke my heart that this man thought that world evangelism wasn't important. Do we need more churches in America, of course! But why should someone have the  opportunity to hear the gospel twice before a person gets the chance to hear it just once. We must spread the Light of Christ to every nation.

Matthew 9:35-38

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw he multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." 

4. There is a huge need all across this world for the Gospel of Christ. To fulfill the Great Commission is three fold- Going to all nations and Teaching them the gospel; Baptizing them; and Discipling them (Matthew 28:19,20). If we could just get a glimpse through they eyes of Christ of what he saw that day, to have an ounce of the compassion he had for those people- oh how I think it would change our lives forever. How sad it is that there are so many people who have rejected Christ and many who have never heard. 

John 4:35 

"Say ye not, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

5. The Bible says the fields are white already to harvest. When the fields are white unto harvest, they have passed the time that they should be harvested and the plants will soon die. This world is a mission field, that is white already to harvest. Our life is but a vapor that is here for a little time and then vanisheth away (James 4:14). We must not wait to tell others about the gospel or hope someone else will do it. Our time is short. The time is now. 

God has used these verses to give me a burden to reach Russia and this world. I pray that the Lord will help me to have that same compassion and love he had on the multitudes with the Russian people.  

I want to love them like Christ loves them. I want to see Russia through the eyes of Christ. 

I am so thankful for God calling us to Russia. There is such a need to spread the gospel here and around this world.

So yes, I am 100% sure that Russia is where God wants me! Yes, it is out of my comfort zone and away from my family, but there is no greater place to be than in the center of God's will.

How about you? Do you see people as Christ sees people? May we all be mindful to share the good news of Christ! Praise Him publicly so others may be drawn to the Light that shines within you.