Millions are celebrating Easter this Sunday in Eastern Europe and Russia. Despite the increasing hardships, Jesus is remembered and exalted for His impeccable life, merciless death, and glorious resurrection. What an incredible King we have that would evoke the praises of His poverty-stricken, broken, imprisoned, persecuted, and handicapped subjects. A mere human king would be cursed for allowing his people to be stricken and apparently doing little or nothing to save them from their suffering.
But we, subjects of His Upside Down Kingdom, are crushed like a rose.......giving off a sweet perfume in praise of Him who doeth all things well. We have a hope deep within out souls that encourages us to wait for the appearing of the Great God who will some day bring justice to the earth and make all things right.
In the meantime, we are left here on earth to find Him in hidden ways......ways we wouldn't have expected. In places that will surprise us on Judgment Day.......like in the "least of these."
I have been sad because of being away from our children during these days of celebration. But I know that we will be resurrected and spend eternity together. They are all grown, but still, they are my children and no one can take their place. Matthew 29:29 "And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive a hundred fold and shall inherit eternal life." God keeps his promises.
Today, God sent me an Easter blessing in the person of a homeless street kid. Marian, commonly called "the Blonde" has been on the streets for years. We first met him about 7 or 8 years ago when we took soup and bread to those on the streets. He was hardened by street life which is a dog--eat-dog existence. He was the "king of the canals" and into every kind of vice imaginable. He was sent to prison three years for theft. He had a beautiful little boy and left him in our care for awhile. After he got out, he came to us to try to con us into giving him money He accused us of selling his child - even though he knew he was with the child's mother. He tried to break us. He lied, stole, argued, and terrorized us We told him he had to earn any money we gave him, so he started washing our cars and cleaning the yard. He proved to be a very hard worker, so when we painted the girl's home, we hired him and Mishi, another young man from the streets to help. If anyone was not going to change, it would have been Blonde (in my opinion). But with God......all things are possible.
He had never expressed any appreciation or emotion.....except for his child. He apparently had no conscience and was living the totally selfish life. But God........I love those two words. But God uses even the outcasts of society to praise his name. Blonde started crying. I never knew he could cry. He said he remembered when Ron and I went to the North Train Station for years and how much he enjoyed our coming and how much he appreciated the food and clothing and medicine and time spent with them. He said, "I am on your side, Sue, God help me to help you. I never dreamed you would lose your leg and be in this wheelchair. The street kids owe you so much. You are a mother to me.....God used you and Ron to help us. I don't want to be a vagabond any longer. I want to be a good person and live for Christ. He is risen!"
That same love that resurrected Christ from the dead is changing the life of this young man - broken in heart, health and hope. The Blonde, together with us, awaits the Great Day of our Resurrection.
I can never express the joy and happiness he brought me this Easter day. Could Jesus have been crying for me through the Blonde? His changed life is proof that God is alive.
It is a custom in Romania to greet everyone with the words, "Christ is risen." and the response is, "Indeed, He is risen."
Can we all - all over the world - in unison today and every day proclaim that INDEED, CHRST IS RISEN.
Blessings and peace and love from Ron and Sue Bates in Romania....serving God with "the least of these."
C.P. 53--55, Bucharest 4, Romania, Tel: 4021031305465 inasmuch@fx.ro www.inasmuch.ro
But we, subjects of His Upside Down Kingdom, are crushed like a rose.......giving off a sweet perfume in praise of Him who doeth all things well. We have a hope deep within out souls that encourages us to wait for the appearing of the Great God who will some day bring justice to the earth and make all things right.
In the meantime, we are left here on earth to find Him in hidden ways......ways we wouldn't have expected. In places that will surprise us on Judgment Day.......like in the "least of these."
I have been sad because of being away from our children during these days of celebration. But I know that we will be resurrected and spend eternity together. They are all grown, but still, they are my children and no one can take their place. Matthew 29:29 "And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive a hundred fold and shall inherit eternal life." God keeps his promises.
Today, God sent me an Easter blessing in the person of a homeless street kid. Marian, commonly called "the Blonde" has been on the streets for years. We first met him about 7 or 8 years ago when we took soup and bread to those on the streets. He was hardened by street life which is a dog--eat-dog existence. He was the "king of the canals" and into every kind of vice imaginable. He was sent to prison three years for theft. He had a beautiful little boy and left him in our care for awhile. After he got out, he came to us to try to con us into giving him money He accused us of selling his child - even though he knew he was with the child's mother. He tried to break us. He lied, stole, argued, and terrorized us We told him he had to earn any money we gave him, so he started washing our cars and cleaning the yard. He proved to be a very hard worker, so when we painted the girl's home, we hired him and Mishi, another young man from the streets to help. If anyone was not going to change, it would have been Blonde (in my opinion). But with God......all things are possible.
He had never expressed any appreciation or emotion.....except for his child. He apparently had no conscience and was living the totally selfish life. But God........I love those two words. But God uses even the outcasts of society to praise his name. Blonde started crying. I never knew he could cry. He said he remembered when Ron and I went to the North Train Station for years and how much he enjoyed our coming and how much he appreciated the food and clothing and medicine and time spent with them. He said, "I am on your side, Sue, God help me to help you. I never dreamed you would lose your leg and be in this wheelchair. The street kids owe you so much. You are a mother to me.....God used you and Ron to help us. I don't want to be a vagabond any longer. I want to be a good person and live for Christ. He is risen!"
That same love that resurrected Christ from the dead is changing the life of this young man - broken in heart, health and hope. The Blonde, together with us, awaits the Great Day of our Resurrection.
I can never express the joy and happiness he brought me this Easter day. Could Jesus have been crying for me through the Blonde? His changed life is proof that God is alive.
It is a custom in Romania to greet everyone with the words, "Christ is risen." and the response is, "Indeed, He is risen."
Can we all - all over the world - in unison today and every day proclaim that INDEED, CHRST IS RISEN.
Blessings and peace and love from Ron and Sue Bates in Romania....serving God with "the least of these."
C.P. 53--55, Bucharest 4, Romania, Tel: 4021031305465 inasmuch@fx.ro www.inasmuch.ro
