Дорогие Миссионеры Петр и Сарра Ким!

Поздравляем Вас с Рождеством Христовым! Благодарим Бога за то, что Он послал Иисуса Младенцем в яслях, чтобы каждый грешник мог прийти к Нему и обрести прошение грехов и мир с Богом.

Пусть Бог пребывает с вами и всей церковью в Киеве. Пусть Господь продолжает совершать Свою искупительную работу через вас в Украине, а также в Турции, Италии, Америке, на Кипре, и во всех мусульманских странах. Благодарим вас и Бога за вашу любовь и самопожертвование в служении Украинским студентам. Пусть Иисус Еммануил неизменно пребудет с вами и вашей семьей, даст вам крепкое здоровье, Свое слово и Духа для служения Ему. Мы вас очень любим и всегда благодарим Бога за вас.

Мы благодарим Бога за наше Рождественское служение, за полученную благодать через Его слово от Матфея 1:23. Благодарим Бога за то, что Он привел на Богослужение нашего отца Семена, а также Ревекку, первокурсницу из Northeastern University. Она верно участвовала в изучениях Библии в нашем Библейском клубе с первого дня осеннего семестра. Также с ноября мы начали изучать 1Царств 1:1. Она любит слово Бога и приглашает своих друзей и однокурсников на наши изучения. Она очень похожа на Ревекку из Библии: у нее чистое сердце и крепкая вера, она даже носит маленькую сережку в носу. Пожалуйста, молитесь за нее и наши изучения Библии, чтобы она еще больше росла в вере и стала матерью тысячи тысяч.

С любовью, п.Илья и Руфь

Christmas worship service report

IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US

Matthew 1:23, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means "God with us."'"

Merry Christmas! I thank and praise God for the amazing Christmas worship service and Dr. James Rabchuk who was filled with the Holy Spirit and delivered very heart moving message. God helped me to learn more about God's faithfulness, power of sin and Immanuel Jesus.

First of all I have learned about God who is faithful to his promises. As God once promised his friend Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring, and as he promised king David to establish his kingdom forever, he fulfilled these promises completely in Jesus, even though Abraham's descendants and David's line had fell short of God's standard and glory. As Dr. James said, "God's people never could live up to God's love." But even though we are faithless, he will remain faithful. This reminded me of God's promises I accepted concerning myself from Gen 12:2 and Acts 1:8. I gladly accepted them believing that one day I would be changed into a blessing for others and be a brave witness of Risen Christ. Yet when I honestly look at these promises, and myself I cannot but admit that they are too good to become true in my life. I am not changed into a better person; instead, today I am even worse sinner than I was yesterday. So what shall I do? Instead of being self-absorbed, I have to look at God who is faithful and does not lay down conditions. Self-pity and even self-abasement are not pleasing to God even though they may look like elements of humbleness. God wants me to have faith in him, not in myself. King David after committing sins of adultery and murder repented before God and stuck to God's promises even more firmly then before, acknowledging that he was fully undeserved to carry God's blessings and promises. I too, have to turn my eyes upon Jesus and put my trust in him and his power to fulfill all his promises in my life.

Second, I have learned that sin is always with us. This part of a message was so powerful and scary to me. As the messenger said, "Sometimes, God's people imagine they have no sin. They know they commit sin. They just imagine that having committed sin, they can forget about it and move on, or make up for it by doing something good." I saw myself in those people. Lately I had been numb to God's word and could not repent of my sins. I felt guilty for my anger toward my child and husband, and for myself being spiritually paralyzed to pray and remain in the word of God. Yet, instead of sincere repentance, I justified my actions with many excuses. God does not like makeup. He does not take sin lightly. He hates sin in me. And he does not see differences between my anger and David's murder. And the tragedy is that sin is always with us. Even Ap. Paul suffered from the power of sin. He said in Rom 7:21, "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me." Jesus is the only hope for sinners like me because he alone has the power to rescue us from our sins.

Third, Jesus is Emmanuel. Jesus was born in a humblest way as a Baby in a manger to be with us to overcome sin with us. I have learned here that in order to overcome elements of sin and death, I have to welcome Jesus in every aspect of my life so that his light may drive away all darkness from my heart and life. Jesus came to be with us and to help us to fight sin. He came to save us from sin, not to judge us. He really cares and understands when we suffer or feel lonely or frightened. We have to trust in him, his love and power.

These days I am praying for my husband who has many worries and anxiety in his heart. Every day I blame him for working too much, and in this way just add stress to him instead of reducing stress through prayer and word of God. I found that we both have to welcome Jesus in our hearts fully so that Jesus, the Prince of Peace may rule in Ilya's heart, and this Wonderful Counselor may give me wisdom to live as a godly mother and wise wife for my child and husband.

I thank God that my father-in-law and Rebekah for NEIU attended Christmas Celebration and received my joy. May Jesus rule in our heart every day this coming new year.

O.W. Jesus Immanuel, God with us to overcome sin with us