Subj: THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART.
Date: 7/3/03
The desires of our heart.
It was like a Saturday Matinee at the movies with a Tom and Jerry cartoon showing. But this day marked a special, amazing event in the lives of some children that was beyond any desire they could have had in their little hearts. The day began with some newly learned skills like: brushing their teeth, fixing their hair, washing their face and hands, and putting on nice clothes. Then they ventured out of their institutional world and joined 30 other village children for a free day at the movies. They had been learning how to behave in such a situation, and were rewarded with the beginnings of some friendships and memories I'm sure they will relive in their minds for days, weeks to come! Praise God that he cares about the desires of such small tender hearts.
But what about those in their 80'ss? There is a lady who lives in the village of Demkave, Ukraine; her name is Nadia, which means hope. She has seen many things in her lifetime having lived through wars, starvation, and the rise and fall of governments and leaders. Her family owned quite a lot of land for farming and self-sustenance, but at one time the government took some of this land "for the good of the people." Through all these times, including the burning of her home and losing all she owned, Nadia has held a strong faith in God that has proved itself over and over. One of her dreams was to have a church near her home that she could walk to, so for many years she opened her one room cottage for church services. In the summer they met outside on her lawn. No, I mean to say out on her well-trodden yard among the chickens, next to the pigpen. In the wintertime they met inside the small, crowded, damp and cold cottage room where I found it physically difficult to breathe. But still her radiant warmth and love for God and her neighbors prevailed above her living conditions.
One Sunday last month there was a celebration in Nadia's village. The dedication of a bran new church building located on the property the government had taken from Nadia's family years ago. This was the fulfillment of Nadia's heart desire. A church she could walk to, and more importantly a beautiful comfortable place to invite her friends and a beacon of God's love to her community.
This day also marked the fulfillment of another hearts desire. Some years ago, a young girl nearing the end of her studies in the University, was pondering what she would do with her life. She had a dream she was hanging curtains in a new house of God. Not knowing how that would ever be possible, the opportunity or financially, she felt God was showing her a path, His path for her life. I still remember the day she called me, years ago with the excitement of this "desire of her heart" to be of service to God and others. And now, an excited email this past week of the prayers of thanksgiving that went up in the little village of Demkave, that included praise for the new curtains she was able to purchase and hang. My friend has learned to never stop dreaming, to open her heart to the desire of God working in others lives, and His using her in this process.
I remember the day Vicka went to Kiev with us and she told how she always dreamed of visiting the city. She tried once, with some other street kids. They rode the train but upon arriving they were picked up by the police, their heads shaved, and sent back to Vinnitsa. But God has entered Vicka's heart and changed her desires. Wanting the chance for a good education she chose to leave the street life to live in an orphanage. Her grades are good, she is disciplined, and in two years she will be able to enter the university. God has rewarded her changed heart with a hope for the future, and a summer vacation at the Black Sea!
It is so wonderful to see how God gives the desires of our hearts as He fulfills the dreams of the elderly and brings hope to destitute families, medical aid to the afflicted, visitors to the imprisoned, and care to lonely children. Yes, God gives the desires of our heart, as He changes our heart. Please pray for those in Ukraine whose lives are being touched by God. Pray they will be open to the changes He wants to make, and they will acknowledge His work in their country, their lives, their hearts.
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And he will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37: 3&4
P.S. I would just like to thank so many of you for your prayers and encouragement as we continue to work in Ukraine, while living in the states. If you would like to receive a postal news letter that includes pictures of the things God is doing in Ukraine, please reply with your mailing address.
Lynnise