God Is In Our Midst

I hope when this article is read in 10 years time there will be plenty of good free translations to recommend. For now, I recommend just one: The Berean Standard Bible (BSB). It is the first modern English translation to be translated straight from the original languages, overseen by scholars, and dedicated to the public domain. Which means you can use it however you need to, without breaking any rules. You are probably not familiar with it because it was only freed from copyright this year (2023).=> https://ministrywatch.com/amp/bible-publishers-stewards-or-gatekeepers/

but that was a COPY of the article … the original article is the same but better illustrated and with footnotes!!!

=> https://sellingjesus.org/articles/bible-publishers

The Voice Bible has a set of 40 readings that they refer to as 40 Days With Jesus. Some of the readings may surprise you because every day’s reading is not necessarily a reading with Jesus speaking. Actually, less than half of them are!

You can take a look at them right here on this website since I made a page just for them:
=> 40 Days With Jesus readings

I started with only the verse references and added the Scripture text each day as I went through the 40 Days. You can do the same thing (just one each day) but I have the full verses listed for you already :)

Here is what the top of the page looks like:

I wrote an article about a new Bible that currently being published that is beautiful both inside and out! It would be an ideal Bible for a gift, but you also might one one for yourself as well!

=> Beautiful Bible inside and out

Here is a series of short videos about The Voice translation … plus two at the top that talk about the handcrafted leather covers made in Argentina. Total viewing time is just 1 hour 14 minutes to watch all 25 videos!

=> The Voice Playlist

Dr. Becky (an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford) is amazing in how clearly she explains stars, galaxies, black holes and the universe out there. But in this video, she is stumped and can’t explain how they are (were) formed! Dr. Becky has respect for those who are religious while she, herself is not (see below). However, while we might not have a PhD in Astrophysics, we could suggest the answer is… God did it! (see transcript of her comments below the video):

This is her video about Spiral Galaxies and how they are so absolutely beautiful:

Here is how she starts this intriguing video:

Wherever we look in the universe we see spiral galaxies. 70% of all the galaxies that we see today have this spiral shape that shows up in their stars and their gas that’s used to make more stars. And in my opinion they are the most beautiful objects in the entire universe. You can just get completely lost following the spirals around. But can we explain how those spiral shapes form in galaxies? Nope! There is still no consensus among us astrophysicists for how these spiral shapes form in galaxies. And that’s thanks in part due to the huge variation in spiral structures that you see across the Universe.

From two spirals, to three spirals, to four spirals or ones that are so fluffy you can’t even count the number of spirals. There’s ones with bars running through the middle. Some where the spirals come off the ends of the bars and some with bars where the spirals don’t attach to the bars. There’s loose spirals, tight spirals, big stretched out tidal spirals… there’s blue spirals and red spirals… spirals in pairs and spirals by themselves and even galaxies that look like they should have spirals but don’t.

Explaining all of that variation is no small feat. And so while we do have a couple of different ideas for how spirals are triggered and form in a galaxy and why some have them and some don’t, we still don’t yet fully understand them.

MY THOUGHTS: It’s almost like there was some massive intelligence behind this! God loves beauty. God loves variation. God loves differences. God loves uniqueness. God is a generous God who created all this beauty, variation, difference and uniqueness just for us because God loves us so much!

Faith and Science easily coexist

Dr. Becky is not religious, but does respect those of us who are (thank you Dr. Becky). Here is one time she talked about this (queued to the right spot) followed by a transcript of what she is saying:

Here is what Dr. Becky has to say in this video about FAITH and SCIENCE (how they can coexist easily):

I hate how this film seems to be like pitting science against religion, like such a massively overused trope. Like, yes, some scientists are atheists but there are some that are very religious and have faith as well. Like the two things aren’t mutually exclusive, right? And if there’s anyone out there who wants to be a scientist, but thinks they can’t because they’re religious, that’s ridiculous! Please continue becoming a scientist. And don’t think that faith would ever be belittled by the scientific community either. Like, you know, I’m an atheist myself, but I have so much respect for those who have faith and for their religious beliefs. It brings people so much hope and happiness. Why would you want to take that away from people? I just don’t need it for myself, that’s all.

FOR THE RECORD… Who is Dr. Becky?

Rebecca Smethurst, also known as Dr. Becky, is a British astrophysicist, author, and YouTuber who is a Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellow^[6] at the University of Oxford. She was the recipient of the 2020 Caroline Herschel Prize Lectureship, awarded by the Royal Astronomical Society, as well as the 2020 Mary Somerville Medal and Prize, awarded by the Institute of Physics. In 2022, she won the Royal Astronomical Society’s Winton Award “for research by a post-doctoral fellow in Astronomy whose career has shown the most promising development”. (from Wikipedia)

This was an interesting question posed by a friend. They weren’t aware of any Scriptures that say that the Holy Spirit (aka Holy Ghost) was a person. Next was the concept that the Holy Spirit is US… that WE are the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a journey into these two (sort of related) questions…

Is the Holy Spirit a person?

Several friends joined me on this journey (it is wonderful to have godly friends). While I was deeply involved in looking into the Scripture references to the Holy Spirit … a friend suggested that I also should look into what “a person” is!

What is a PERSON?

Cambridge University Press had looked at this question and came up with this criteria:

1. A person is a being with a certain moral status, or a bearer of rights.
2. A person is a being who has a sense of self, has a notion of the future and the past, can hold values, make choices.
3. A person must be a being with his own point of view on things.
4. The sense of self must be attributable to him.
5. A person is a being who can be addressed, and who can reply.

We can keep these points in mind as we look through Scriptures … so let’s take a look!

Continue reading “Is the Holy Spirit a person? Are WE the Holy Spirit?” →

It is not OK to post on social media things that mock other believers and refer to them as idiots or morons … consider the other side of the coin. If you then make others angry and cause THEM to sin, Scriptures has things to say to you!

First … this was in my reading from The Word On Fire Bible today and it talks about anger in a whole new light that I don’t recall from my previous readings of Matthew’s gospel:

Jesus says this: “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22 NRSV)

What I noticed in my reading today is that Jesus is regarding ANGER as worse than MURDER. Those who consider abortion as murder (which I think it is) *AND* get ANGRY about it and begin to antagonize others, it is like a double whammy, a double trap… you could be liable to hell fire yourself, plus if you cause others to get this angry, then Scriptures has something to say about that as well:

Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! ² It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. ³ Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:1-3 NRSV)

Don’t let politics place your soul in danger. Vote the way you wish. Period.

My reading in The Word On Fire Bible was just perfect this period of time here in our country. We need to remember that fellow Christ centered Christians likely will have views different than our own when it comes to things like politics. And God isn’t choosing sides but wants us to be kind to everyone! Mocking Christians who have different views gets the devil cheering you on! So don’t go there! But here … look at what my reading included:

continues on the next page:

These two sides within the Church have always been (and likely always will be) at odds with each other. But if we don’t understand this and treat those with the “other” viewpoint as “enemies” and mock them… then we play right into the hands of the devil.

I don’t know about you, but I am sad watching Christians mock other Christians as the election nears!  Please remember to be kind to everyone since Jesus asks us to love our neighbors. Rather than considering those with a different view as “enemies”, remember that Jesus himself said to love your enemies. Jesus warns us to not be divisive.

And if this is hard to do … consider wearing a BE KIND shirt every day to help you remember!

Support this family! They started this “Be Kind” company so that their daughter (with autism) could have a job (working at their company packing the shirts).

=> Be Kind To Everyone

The 17th annual One Foot In Heaven celebration will be at Len & Maria’s house mid-afternoon on Saturday, October 26 (2-4 pm). The background and history of this event is in my book (yes, a few months ago God asked me to write a book of my stories). Links for this are at the end of this article.

And here are the Scriptures that God gave me for this:

I took both photos myself. The top photo is from last year. The other is from TWENTY YEARS earlier. Both were photos taken at the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Join us! Come to listen to stories that others have. Come to tell a story or two of your own. Stories of how God has intersected with our lives. You can just pop in if you’d like, but please try to let me know if you plan on coming so I can plan on the snacks (likely cake or pie too). Feel free to bring your own snacks or drinks as well.

Contact Len by email, txt or phone … or if I’m not in your address book:
=> Contact Len

The background history for this event is in my 270 page book that currently is at Grimm Book Bindery! I have a couple preliminary spiral bound copies you can look at while you are at the event, or you can read it online as an eBook!

=> One Foot In Heaven (Mark This Day) PDF of pages from the book
=> Full eBook (Accepted Not Rejected)

Some good articles to give a good foundation to how a good Christian should “behave” on social media:

1. A Matter of Integrity (January 3, 2017 Christianity Today)
   • If you are unable to find out if it is true, do not post (or re-post) it
2. Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for Christians (March 9, 2022 Aligned Life)
   • Don’t put anything on Facebook that you wouldn’t want your pastor, future boss, or mother to see.
3. Are You a Christian on Social Media? If So, Then Read This… (May 27, 2022 Pre-denominational Christianity)
   • Are our posts and comments typically nothing more than us grumbling or complaining about the government, gas prices, and the like?
4. Be Careful, Christian, What You Post (November 16, 2020 The Reb)
   • If I post a helpful thought but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (paraphrase: 1Corinthians 13:1)
5. Is Sharing Fake News a Sin? (September 17, 2019 Crosswalk)
   • Remember the phrase “bearing false witness”!
6. 3 Social Media Sins Christians Should Work To Avoid (Centerpoint Church)
   • What we say matters. Period. Make sure your social media comments and interactions are kind — especially as a Christian.
7. A Christian Approach to Media Literacy: Sorting Fact From Fiction (September 2023 in the European Evangelical Alliance)
   • Diversify your news sources. Avoid an echo chamber, which Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries defines as “an environment in which somebody encounters only opinions and beliefs similar to their own, and does not have to consider alternatives.”
8. Read THIS Before You Post THAT on Social Media (January 8, 2021 Imperfect Normal Families Only)
   • I have become increasingly concerned that people of faith are losing sight of what is most important regarding Jesus’ call on our lives.
9. What does the Bible say about fake news? (January 4, 2022 Got Questions: Your Questions: Biblical Answers)
   • All people, but perhaps especially Christians, should learn to evaluate the news with discernment. They would do well to get their news from a variety of sources with varying viewpoints.
10. How to Fact Check Before Sharing on Your Social Media (some time after July 27, 2020 MultiBrain)

*** still working on this article ***
I hope to put together a summary from the many exemplary articles I have found.

[Update to the January 6, 2022 article]

It was perfect timing when I got the email from Rhonda at The River Food Pantry. I used to volunteer there since it opened 15 years ago, but lately my back issues prevent me from helping those who need our help in person. That is why Rhonda’s email was perfect timing because it reminded me (and you in turn) that we CAN help those in need by helping The River help them! Donations to the River are certainly needed as they are serving more people than ever before.  If you can’t help in person (by volunteering), please consider joining me to help them using their new monthly donation program. But this needn’t be an “Either Or” choice … it can be “Both And” because you can both volunteer AND donate (which is what I did for a decade). And I know that The River is truly grateful in all cases!

Let’s start the new year being grateful and generous ourselves. Let’s start with a little less for us and a little more for someone else. Let’s start the new year acknowledging what Jesus told his followers, when they wondered why he said that they had helped him when he was hungry (after all, they may never have even met him!). Here is what they said … and how Jesus replied:

Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food?…
I tell you this: whenever you saw a brother or sister hungry or cold, whatever you did to the least of these, so you did to Me.
(Gospel of Matthew 25:37-40)

So … let’s help our neighbors who need our help. And just in case you are wondering just how much help that really amounts to … take a look back at the summary for last year:

Continue reading “Start the New Year with Less (and More)” →

June 19, 2024 … this song, this tune, this video just lit up! It stayed in my mind … the song, the tune, the video through the night and still there the next morning! It reminded me of how (over five decades ago) I used to have music running in my head all day long… I used to walk to the beat of the music during the day!

What struck me is how well done the Flash Mob was. It was not simply dance moves. It was more like a performance (and even the video itself got into the act showing the world upside down at one point). Then it struck me (again) that the video came from a former USSR state (now the country of Georgia). Wonderful to see it coming from there.

Then I looked to see if others had also done Flash Mobs for the tune … and YES! There were more… from places that I might not have expected (and none that I found from the USA).

Here is the first one that I found (actually, IT found ME):

The same video is viewable from two other sources: Wolarmenia and Journey of the Heart

=> Jump To See The Lyrics and Choreography Notes

Next is the first Christian flash mob in Kuwait:

Continue reading “Flash Mob: Jesus Loves You (from around the world)” →

Over a year ago (February 2023) I wrote a book of 40 blessings for the coffee shop we were going to… Twisted Grounds. I called the book… Twisted Blessings! Here it is as an EBook (aka PDF):

=> Twisted Blessings (eBook PDF)

See the story behind this book (and a short YouTube flipping through the pages) on my personal Accepted Not Rejected website here:

=> Twisted Blessings Book

The good flash Mobs PRACTICE a lot … and then PRACTICE some more! They PREPARE. They have PATIENCE waiting for the right moment! (ie, don’t let too many people know what they are planning).

For DANCE flash Mobs, those participating in them need to learn the dance steps and often someone has to be the choreographer of the whole thing. Take a look at a playlist I made:

=> Waka Waka Flash Mobs

Today (June 13, 2024) it seemed to me that we could have an online Flash Mob (flash posts) on May 4 with the theme of the posts “May The Fourth Be With You) … yes, this is using the phrase spelled right and is not the altered phrase for Star Wars.  I have collected some images that people can use to create their own posts to prepare for May 4 (but NOT to post them before May 3). See the resources here=> May The Fourth

And now … on to Waka Waka which is a good example of getting a message across via MANY people all doing the “same” thing so that it catches the eye of others. The OFFICIAL video is presented after the Flash Mob videos and then I present some tutorials to the dance moves!

If you want to join in … practice! Here is the practice video (with nearly 20 Million views)

Tutorial
For and early flash mob
Two months after the 2010 World Cup

My Favorite Flash Mob (Netherlands)

Continue reading “Waka Waka (for Africa) Flash Mobs” →

1. Book: =>Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe (Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee)
2. Book: =>Alone in the Universe: Why Our Planet Is Unique (John Gribbin)
3. Book: =>The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery (Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards)
   • Same Book (preorder Aug 2024): =>20th Anniversary Edition
   • Matching DVD: =>Privileged Planet
4. DVD box set: =>The Intelligent Design Collection – Excellent! Includes the three DVDs listed here (each DVD linked to buy separately):
   • =>Darwin’s Dilemma
   • =>The Privileged Planet
   • =>Unlocking the Mystery of Life
5. Book: =>The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God (Hugh Ross)
   • Chapter 15 looks at dozens of criteria necessary for a planet to be habitable
   • Tim Boyle’s Summary of Chapter 15 online =>Does Life Exist On Any Other Planet In The Universe? Another Look At SETI
     • Tim Boyle also wrote this article =>The Age of the Earth in Light of the Bible
6. Book: =>Thousands not Billions: Challenging the Icon of Evolution, Questioning the Age of the Earth (Donald DeYoung)
   • Includes Chapter 10: Extremely detailed analysis of the Hebrew language and how to tell if word usage is primarily historical (narrative) or allegorical (poetic) [13 pages] – Here are three charts from this chapter that are interesting and informative:

Where to find resources on the various perspectives? (I am leaning towards #1 and #4… there are valid reasons for each view and there are issues with each view as well)

1. Young Earth Creationism
   1. Answers in Genesis
   2. Got Questions
   3. Book: Thousands not Billions: Challenging the Icon of Evolution, Questioning the Age of the Earth (Donald DeYoung)
   4. Creation Science / Creation Museum in Kentucky
2. Theistic Evolution (God got everything started and let it just happen)
   1. C.S. Lewis
   2. Catholic Church (the church has no official position other than people are created with souls)
   3. Intervarsity Press’s book (Language of God)
3. Day/Age Theory (God sized days aka “ages”, but not “evolution”)
4. Gap Theory (Genesis 1:1 is an actual event that happened, not just an introduction)
5. Still Working On This (need more time:)

Here are just a few of the books that I have (not saying they are the best, just that I chose to buy them):

You may remember my mentioning The Voice Bible before. I liked it then (and now) because it focused on the Bible as something meant to have an IMPACT. They had artists, musicians and poets on their translation team.

=> The Voice Bible

Now I found out about The Word On Fire Bible. It seems like it will be a great companion to The Voice! It focuses on ART and BEAUTY. Here is how they put it:

You can find out more about it directly from their website here:

=> The Word On Fire Bible (official website)

The Word On Fire Bible includes portions of various commentaries to help explain the text … but it also not only includes ART and PHOTOS but a commentary on them as well. Here is how they put it:

Each piece of artwork is accompanied by an essay to connect the work to the Scriptures. As you reflect, you are invited to draw nearer to Christ through the way of beauty.

Also, it differs from the St. John’s Bible which was handwritten in calligraphy plus included artwork commissioned just for it! The Word On Fire Bible includes prints of existing art, both centuries old as well as modern. It also includes photos of artwork such as these stained glass windows:

But even better is the essay that explains the ART! For example, here is the page that talks about those stained glass windows:

NOTE: The Word On Fire Bible is printed and bound in Italy!

I have the first volume (The Gospels) and am getting the other two available volumes. They have split the Bible into 7 parts, just like we did with our Handwritten Bible! And if you are interested in ART inspired by the Bible, you might wish to take a look at all the art from the Handwritten Bible … you can get it as a hardcover book as well as a free eBook … read about it here:

=> Handmade Art (gives you goosebumps)

Note: the price to get your own copy of the book is a very very special price courtesy of Grimm Book Bindery (one of my favorite places in Madison). However, note that the price is from almost 2 years ago, so I’d expect it to have gone up (like so many other things!)

If you are a visual person, The Word On Fire Bible may be just for you (as is The Voice Bible). And, as a visual person you may prefer WATCHING videos about it rather than reading about it! So here are some videos for you to watch:

A thirty second look at the making of the Bible (Vol 1 The Gospels):

Continue reading “Word On Fire Bible (focus on art and beauty)” →

God asked me to write a poem on Saturday [Feb 12, 2022] … this is what I ended up with (subject to change, but in pretty good shape):

I spent a bit of time going through the first nine chapters of 1Chronicles and typing the name of every person mentioned into a list.  Sometimes there were two (or more) different people with the same name … and so I typed that name two (or more) times! Then I sorted the list alphabetically and formatted it into 6 narrow columns so that it wouldn’t take up as much paper (feel free to print this). In the end I counted 1,216 different people all mentioned in those first nine chapters! Here is the PDF of the alphabetical list of names:

=> 1Chronicles 1,216 names in one list chapters 1-9

Here is a screenshot of the first page – names beginning with A through E:

And if you’d like to read all those names in context, here is a link to the passage in Scripture:

=> 1Chronicles 1-9

So, what do you think? Does this help understand how God can know YOUR name too? And that he is a very personable God who considers you as IMPORTANT!?

I previously posted this list on one of my other small website and 154 people downloaded it! So, I think that quite a few of you may be interested in this list of names … over a thousand names!

While my prayers for my good friend are private, the beginning of each prayer can be shared because it speaks to the things that I am thankful for! Actually it was at her request that I compiled this list because she wanted to see all the things I am thankful for. And as I told her:

 “Thank you for the challenge to put together a full list of all the thankfulness that I begin my prayers with. I have never done this before (since it is not simple). But you asked (and maybe it was God prompting you to ask)… and then God asked ME to accept your challenge.”

It is really something to see these, one after another after another after another. I think that as you read them you will realize how much God loves you (whoever is reading this with me now). I made it to #31 before tears were in my eyes (yeah, they are happy tears). So, get ready, then start reading:

1. Thank you for the many godly people you have placed in my path over the past few decades. Thank you for allowing me to know this friend who once told me that she got baptized three times JUST TO BE SURE! As for me, I am sure that I couldn’t ask for a better friend than her. 
2. Thank you for this wonderful, this beautiful, this magnificent world that you created just for us. And each morning you pull us up next to you so that we can begin the day ANEW. Anew with You.
3. Thank you for all your provisions and all your protection. You know my needs and are so faithful. You watch over me day and night. And I come now and say “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
4. Thank you for the small things like the small birds at our bird feeder. Thank you for the large things, like the majestic sunrise and sunset. Thank you for the beauty you have placed around us if we take time to look for it.
5. Thank you for flowers. Thank you for plants. Thank you for bushes. Thank you for trees. Thank you that all of these are right here in my yard… a beautiful piece of your creation right here in my yard!
6. Thank you for coffee. Thank you for hot coffee. Thank you for the many varieties of coffee. Thank you for how a cup of coffee can wake up a sleepy soul and warm a chilled body. Thank you Lord. And thank you for letting this friend’s journey in life intersect with mine so many years ago. Thank you for rekindling that friendship again now

Continue reading “100 Thank You’s from 100 Prayers I wrote” →

I was just talking with a friend who wasn’t familiar with YWAM. That reminded me how YWAM was almost part of me for the past two decades, but others may not know about it at all. Saying that it is “Youth With A Mission” is OK, but merely a definition. Showing the YWAM logo (on the left) might help you notice YWAM in action if you see that logo on shirts, jackets or vests. Saying that it is a group of people with bases worldwide out to help and support people in their neighboring towns and villages (and cities) is a bit better.  Saying that those in YWAM are out to bring the love of Jesus to those around them is even better. But I will use some video clips (very short) to maybe provide a peek at how YWAM is out there where they are needed… in these examples… in Ukraine. Sharyn is from Idaho but has been in Ukraine since 1996. She and her Ternopil Ukraine YWAM team have been providing food, medical supplies and other resources (including prayers) to those in Ukraine. Here are about 30 minutes of short videos from her and YWAM Ukraine:

• Cute YWAM 12 sec Video (0:12) Facebook (bringing food to the elderly) March 11
• YWAM Ukraine Video (4:49) Facebook (why Yulia stayed in Ukraine when the bombing began) March 3
• YWAM Kyiv Video (2:25) Facebook (food, friendship, medical supplies, dignity) March 28
• YWAM Ternopil Video (1:44) Facebook from our YWAM Lady (Sharyn) Feb 26
• YWAM Ternopil Video (2:21) from our YWAM Lady (Sharyn) March 16
• YWAM Ternopil Video (2:49) from our YWAM Lady (Sharyn) March 9
• YWAM Ternopil Video (4:08) Facebook from our YWAM Lady (Sharyn) March 7
• YWAM Ternopil Video (3:49) Facebook form our YWAM Lady (Sharyn) March 25
• YWAM Update from Sharyn (6min) April 10
• YWAM Update (2min 40secs – From Sharyn) April 28
• YWAM Update (2min 19secs – From Sharyn) April 29
• Food Arrived to YWAM from Romania and Netherlands (32secs) April 28
• YWAM Warehouse for food distribution (1min 52sec) April 23 (edited with music and subtitles) Hello, My name is Anya. I am from Donbas, From Torez City, Very Cool City! I serve at the YWAM Base. I am very happy that I can be useful. To be honest, I’m really happy that God gives opportunities to serve even with small things like this.
  Hello Everyone, Hello from Ternopil. Behind my back you can see tons of different supplies. Truck with it came yesterday. Truck was from Romania. So today we packed 650 food bags. Our goal is to reach 700 bags. All these bags will be given to families in need in our city, Ternopil. Next week we’re planning to do it again for refugees. I’m so grateful for the team that we have. A lot of volunteers are working here, and they work very fast. It took 2 hours to pack 650 bags. This is so cool.

=> Basketball Hoop (1min) April 9 – supporting their community is more than just food and medical supplies … it is a basketball hoop for the kids!

=> Metro Grocery Market (2:30) April 15 – while most stores are closed, Metro Market is open and donating food to YWAM to distribute —  of Facebook Video:
This is Sergey, director of Kyiv Metro (grocery market place)
What is your message for the people all around the world as a Ukrainian?
Sergey: I want to say that Ukraine has big and strong guts. It is our motherland and we will do everything to get victory. We believe that with your help we are strong. Thank you for your support. Thank you very much. Ukraine is a beautiful country with a great future and we will do everything for this.
Japhin (YWAM Kyiv): And thank you so much for supporting YWAM Kyiv and everything we do. Thank you so much.
Subtitles from the video: We have been buying a lot of groceries from the Metro. Even when most stores were closed they remained open to serve the city. They have always been keen to come alongside and help us (YWAM). Few days back Sergey (Metro) informed us that Metro is willing to help us serve Ukraine. We are happy about it as it will drastically increase the reach of people we help. Today itself with their support, we blessed 100 Soldiers, 30 families. It is a blessing to see businesses value serving people.
Japhin: Sergey of Metro, kept his promise and is donating quite a lot of stuff. Today we came to pick up 1 ton of potatoes, and he offered three tons. We didn’t have space. We are taking 1 ton of potatoes and all these things that he gave to us. Marie, are you happy?
Marie (YWAM Kyiv): I am so happy. And I am happy with all these shampoos. It will help us feel like humans again when we can wash ourselves properly. You know when you smell nice, you feel like a human again after all this tragedy.
Japhin: And you are excited for eating 1 ton of potatoes?
Marie: One ton of potatoes … I am not ready to eat all of them. But I know Ukrainians are ready to eat all of them, so yeah.
Japhin: We are excited. Thank you for supporting us.

I also have a 4 page PDF that you can view => YWAM Ukraine Stories

This is from that PDF (but the PDF looks much nicer and includes pictures):

YWAM Kyiv Marie – Our phone does not stop ringing. Today, we were called to an apartment building to deliver 15 food boxes. It felt completely abandoned. People would not open their doors. We could hear the noise of a television inside. But they would open only if we called on the phone. They are afraid to open the door. Too many reports about Russians infiltrating, looting, and violating residential areas. They are afraid to go out. Too much noise in the sky. So they just sit inside and wait for some kind of salvation. ALL of them pray. You can tell most of them are not religious people. But now, everybody prays. They say, “We have no hope besides God”.
Please pray for safety for the people in the apartments. Pray for God to continue to shield our team in Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine in every way, in their health, in their hearts, and from the enemy. The battle continues.
—:
YWAM Kyiv Marie – Today, we got a call from an elderly home outside of Kyiv that was running out of food, medicine, and sanitary items. We got there just one hour before curfew was about to start. We were tired and exhausted after another long day of shop hopping. On the way, we had to pass several military checkpoints. They urged us to go back home and warned us that unauthorized driving during curfew is very dangerous. So we kept our eyes on the time and did not pay much attention where Google maps led us. Until we stood in front of a house that we suddenly recognized. It turned out that the elderly home was in the house that two missionary
families used to live in until last year!
What are the odds that in a city of 3 million, we would be called to an elderly home in the exact house where missionaries used to live?
We were just in awe and praising God as we walked through the door and looked into the shining eyes of lovely Ukrainian grandmas. All tiredness was gone in an instant. Though our eyes were on the clock, we had the most precious time with these old ladies. They told us they only got food once a day since the war started. All of their helpers but two left to the West. It was sad to see the most vulnerable left behind. They had tears in their eyes when they saw the amount of food we brought with us. We asked the staff how long they had been in this location. They shared an unbelievable testimony: they rented a space in the city center, but in January the rent was raised, so they moved to the village. In that same building where they used to live, a Russian plane crashed 5 days ago. In Ukraine, we say ‘Slava Bogu’ when we hear something like this – Praise be to God.
My hair is smelling from smoke after delivering meals. My legs and arms are sore from carrying heavy groceries. My eyes are tired from following live updates about fighting. Yet my heart is joyful. If this testimony from today evening taught me one thing; then it is this: Jesus is the One at work. Oh how little do we have to do with it. His work always continues. If we are in a place and put our fate in His hand; great, He will use us. Jesus says, if His people would be silent, the very stones would cry out. I believe this is true and today this word was filled with life in front of my eyes.
—:

YWAM Kyiv Marie – Yesterday, a couple of people shared their need for some groceries. So we went to deliver. But to our surprise, when we arrived, they said they don’t need anything anymore. I was like, what shall we do with the stuff? We gave nothing away the whole afternoon. We even forgot about it.
Later in the evening, A grandma came up to us and asked if we had some tomato paste; I thought it was a random thing to ask a stranger. But Marie did not let the lady finish the sentence. She said, yes, we have it. Let me get it from the car. On our way to the car, I told her no, we don’t have tomato paste; Marie was like, let’s check. So when we opened the car, for sure, there was. We gave her all she wanted.
A few minutes later, a guy asked us if we had some bread for him. So we opened the car, and there was bread. In the next one hour, God led us to four other people. All women, who were in their 70’s. That 90 minutes with all these people brought us so much joy.
None of the encounters was planned. Random strangers came up and shared their needs. And this car was like the Magician’s hat. Things just kept coming out of it, to the point, that they could choose what they wanted. It was a happy day; God gave us the privilege to be a blessing to those six random people.
A new law is breaking through in Ukraine. It is the law of kindness. We see a need, but we also see kindness, meeting the need. We see evil, but we also see goodness overflowing in the streets from within.
When I came to Ukraine, if there was one thing I struggled with, it was that people never smiled at strangers or, for that matter, did not make eye contact. But now, I feel people share a collective bond—a feeling of oneness. There are no strangers; everyone is a friend. People smile more. People look into the eyes more. We have made more friends this month than all the months put together.
Everybody has time to open up about their life and share their story. You become friends with cooks and soldiers, and cashiers. Everybody goes all in because there is no plan B. If plan A doesn’t work, nothing matters anyway. So we throw in our best resources, our best skills, our own lives. Kyle Schlegel…Thanks for allowing us to use your car. It has blessed hundreds of people.
—:
YWAM Kyiv Japhin & Marie – Today, we went to a government facility; suddenly,
the air alert started ringing in our ears, reminding us to find shelter. We looked
into each other’s eyes. We were standing 10 meters apart.
She yelled, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
I said; I don’t know.
I am someone who likes to have an answer. But at that moment, I had nothing. Two times every year, we have a fire safety drill. But we never got a war drill. So who can be prepared for a bomb?
A couple of seconds later, there was a loud blast close-by. We expected a loud explosion, and we were mentally ready for it. But our bodies were not; our minds were not prepared for it. We just stood there. Still looking into each other’s eyes, each holding groceries we were about to deliver.
These are the times when reason goes numb. You give up and are ready to accept the consequences of war.
When we arrived back home, I looked into Marie’s eyes. I knew she was a little shaken. We sat in the car for 10 minutes. What should I say? Can I say it was nothing? Can I say it was okay? It was not okay, and it was not nothing. It has been one month; we are not ready. Nobody can be ready. After the 10 minute talk in the car (more like 10 minutes staring at each other), we were ready to go, serve, and do what we were supposed to do. That blast did not stop us. So, we live another day to love and to serve.
God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

And now, the rest of the story:

YWAM was founded in 1960 and now has over 20,000 “unpaid staff” with bases in nearly every single country in the world.

Did you ever notice that there just is some music that makes you happy? Or even joyful? And given the right music, that is quite biblical. If you feel like joy is being sucked out from within you, maybe listening to some joy filled music will help pump some joy back into you! And the songs need not have any lyrics to do this. It’s just the music itself that does it.

Six years ago, when the Handwritten Bible was put on display inside the Wisconsin State Capitol, the whole duration of that time music from Lindsey Stirling was playing in the background. Here is a VERY short clip from that time on display:

Shortly after that God asked me to write a prayer for her every day for a year. Each prayer revolved around a Scripture passage, and forty of them focused upon music and musicians. If you are interested in those Scriptures (or prayers which of course you can pray along with), I will include the list with links at the end of this article).

Lindsey Stirling spoke of God at her concerts as well as online. She referred to herself as a daughter of God (which, indeed she is). She composed much of her music herself. Likewise, she designed her music video costumes and did her own choreography. And if you have been impressed with her music videos, it may have something to do with her studies of film making in college, and with the people she partners with.

As an example, here is a song she composed, choreographed and performed herself. I saw her perform this live … and I re-prayed all 40 prayers listed below while I was there at her concert! First… here is her official video for Shadows:

And if you thought that was great … wait till you see her perform it live … I have one of her live concerts all queued up to just before she performs Shadows at the very bottom of this article (I included the last few seconds of her prior song plus her verbal intro to Shadows).

But before you scroll down, here is a more peppy song if you feel the need for some energy (from one of her concerts):

This is her prayer website ( ADaughterOfGod.com ) for the segment of music and musician related prayers:

Prayers based on scriptures about music, musicians and musical instruments:

• Play and Dance before the Lord with all Your Might!
• You are appointed as a Musician to play your Violin Joyfully
• Make Melodies in your Heart to the Lord
• Welcome God to come – sing and play your instruments (and maintain a childlike enthusiasm!)
• Psalms – to be accompanied by stringed instruments
• Use your violin to accompany songs from scripture
• Enter the city with the sound of stringed instruments then proceed to the house of the Lord
• Working Day and Night, Musicians were free from other responsibilities!
• May Your Heart Rejoice as You Walk to the Music!
• Sing from Your Heart as the Word of Christ Dwells in You Richly!
• The Minstrel Played and the Lord Came
• Their music and rejoicing shook the earth
• Play and Dance with Joyful Music for the King with other women!
• Are you merry, happy, celebrating? Sing psalms and praises to God!
• Why are you cast down? Why are you disquieted? God is Your Exceeding Joy!
• Play before God with All Your Might!
• Women joined in playing music to the Lord
• Praise God with Violin and with Dance
• All types of instruments can be used to praise the Lord
• Praise God with your violin among many nations
• Rejoice! Praise God with Dance! Sing Praise with harp and lyre
• Skilled, Trained Accomplished Musicians
• God’s statutes can be your song everywhere you journey!
• Musicians were Sought Out!
• Can you play songs of praise to those who mock you?
• Harp playing began with Adam’s great great great great great grandson Jubal
• Let your violin play music to our God!
• Let your violin sing praises to God – sing a new song to him!
• Music is significant! Musicians were appointed by King David
• Sing for joy to God
• Sing for joy with your violin and the sound of melody
• Play Praises to God as He Made You Glad
• Let your violin sing praises to God while you talk of his righteousness
• Who is in charge of the Songs of Thanksgiving?
• God’s statutes can be your songs along your journey
• Play pleasant music, play the melodious lyre, sing for joy!
• Play your violin and make others well again because the Lord is with you!
• Play skillfully on the strings!
• Awake Stringed Instrument – Awake Early

As promised … here is Lindsey Stirling performing Shadows live (with a short intro):