I am back in Prague - and glad to be - but will my heart always be in Kyiv? Right now it is. You may or may not have heard of the recent political upheaval going on in Ukraine. You can get some good information and insight through the BBC news site - (click here for just one story, but they - of course - have many on Ukraine -http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6694533.stm )and through this blog my friend tipped me to - www.markmckinnon.blogspot.com
I just remember standing on the streets of Kyiv during the Orange Revolution and being so full of hope. We were out there day and night, snow, cold...whatever. We were helping to hand out food, Bibles, Christian books...people were kind to one another, talking to one another...the streets were filled with protests and the "tent-city" but it was because the people were filled with hope! They truly believed things could change and that THEY could really make a difference.
This video by Maria Burmaka makes me cry when I see it now and think of how we felt then and how things seem now. But then I am reminded "from where comes our hope" - "from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth".
This summer will be a Franklin Graham Crusade in Kyiv, people will be coming from throughout Ukraine to hear the message of hope proclaimed once more. Please pray for Ukraine! Pray that people would come to know the saving grace of God, but also that Christians would stand up and once again protest! Not politically, but spiritually! That they would stand up against apathy, complacency and compromise and be on their knees before God and ask Him to once again fill Ukraine's people with hope! But not hope in a leader, or a political solution, but hope in God and His mercy. That Christians, filled by the power of the Holy Spirit would walk in righteous in their everyday lives so that it would be a wave that grows and grows and grows and eventually envelopes the country in righteous and the blessings that follow. Not through lobbying, etc. but through love, grace, mercy and the power of God's spirit.
I pray that there would come a time that NEVER again would I hear from or about Ukrainians, in response to questions as to"little sins" that "oh our people are just that way"...."its just our mentality"..."our pastors haven't taken a stand from the pulpit on this so people just don't know better"....I am not condemning Ukriane...I love Ukraine...and I still believe she and her people are better than such compromising answers! But these are the things I have heard from believers in response to questions about "little sins"...those "little foxes that ruin the vineyard".
And this isn't just Ukraine...this is all of us....myself first in line. Do we really think that little compromises won't eventually affect everything around us? Why is the Church in America so often weak and appearing no different than the world we supposedly claim to have the answer for? Could it be that we, the people of God, have lost our sense of holiness? I don't mean "don't do this, don't do that.." but rather a sense that what we do affects the whole picture. That we ARE a Body, interconnected spiritually and physically and that weakness, sickness, etc. sooner or later spreads to the whole body and affects us all.
Ok...Danny Foote may not give this rant an A+, but what is happening in Ukraine just touched a nerve in me that made me think of the bigger picture...
Ukrainians, my dear beloved friends, watch the video and remember and cry out to God to once again fill your country with hope...hope in God and His redemption! I am with you in my heart and soul...
7 comments:
Carochka,
Thanks for the great post! Maria B. is one of my faves...maybe she IS my favorite Ukrainian artist....yes....SHE IS now that I think about it....anyway....the crisis is over and early Sunday morning Yushenko, Yanakovich and Moroz stood holding hands and agreed not to solve problems with violence but to all go and sit together at a soccer game! Lovely!
P.S. We got disconnected Sat when I tried to close my curtains and the phone wires came loose and it took me 30 minutes to rewire the phone....sorry....call anytime....
Couldn't resist commenting.
Cara, once again you hit the proverbial nail on the head. Thank you for writing that. I'm really glad that you still love and care about Ukraine.
I'm sorry though, no A+ for that rant. It had a point, it was going somewhere, it was not born out of sheer frustration and emotion, and it an organized flow. Good stuff, but not a class A rant.
Yeah, i agree, that's really sweet you still keep Ukraine dear to your heart, Cara. I'm not well aware of what is going on here in our country now, cuz i'm sick & tired of this mess. And though i believe God has His special plan for Ukraine, i don't believe something good will come out of all that's going on very soon. We really just need to pray.
And one more thing. Some people already know i'm a spelling freak. So i cant but mention few corrections. It's Maria Burmaka. But that's not that important. But the names of political leaders, no matter how good or bad they are, should be spelled correctly. It's Yushchenko & Yanukovych (transliterated from Ukrainian).
Marina,
Those are all very important things, too! Shame on me for not checking for the correct spellings. It is REALLY late so I will do it tomorrow...thanks! I am sort of a freak that way, too...more for correct words than for spelling, so your help is welcome anytime! :)
Ok....corrected, Marina! :) At least my part in the posting...Michelle will have to do her own correcting of her comment about the "Y Boys" :)..but I agree it is important...hence why I spell Kyiv KYIV and not Kiev. :)
I still have that very same hope for Ukraine in my heart, just like that cold autumn when we stood up for our rights and worthy future. I'm pretty sure there are no exceptions among the disappointed Ukrainians and those aching for our country. But it's not reasonable to be expecting on sudden changes for perfect life. It will take time, Ukraine is only a baby. Our main victories are ahead of us. Thank you for remaining a 'Ukrainised American'. Love you!
Was that MY Dasha? Thanks for the post...I remember standing on Maidan with you for HOURS on end. What a time that was. Yes, prayer is the answer...crying out to God, as you said. I pray that discouragement and disappointment won't land everyone in the depths of despair (to quote Anne Shirley)...let's ALL remember where our hope truly rests.
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