Persecuted, the Church, and Love for the Missions

What do those three have in common?

Persecuted:

(Where I came from)

My parents grew up under the rule the Russian Communism (USSR) in Ukraine. My mom's dad was a baptist pastor there. He and his family were persecuted for their faith in Christ and because they stood up for it, which was opposing to the country's approved religion. 

Through my childhood years, my mom and dad, instead of bedtime stories, would share stories of how the KGB would threaten them by raiding their house looking for those few Bibles and literature they possessed. My parents were laughed at by their teachers and classmates. When my mom was five, my grandpa spent 5 years in prison because he was a Christian.

Faith Missions:

(Why I give to missionaries and churches around the world)

My parents told me what kept them going through it all...... It was their faith in God, the answered prayers of relief or strength, and the churches in America. You see, faith missions helped my parents. 

Where do you think the literature and Bibles came from? Churches who love missionaries and who want the world to know about Jesus. Why did my grandpa go home from prison? The prayers and petitions of the churches. Why were my parents and extended family kept from being killed? Churches that fasted and pleading for them. 

Church:

(Why I love the dwelling place of the Lord)

I have wanted to be married to a godly man and be a stay-at-home mom since I was probably eleven. I wanted to raise my own kids. I wanted to mold them for Christ, like my mom did. I wanted to share the heritage of our faith and raise them to know Christ more closely then I do. God has blessed me with a godly man whose desire is to please God and serve Him to the best of his abilities. Beyond that, he has also been a fantastic husband and father to our girls! :D I can't even begin to share with you all that he does for us. I'm blessed.

I never expected to be mother to three beautiful daughters in three years! It was a huge surprise, but wow, God has been so good, He has entrusted me to raise children to know Him! I love my girls and am so thankful for them! But I've already given them back to God, they are His. I'm just a steward (a care-taker) of them. I'm thankful though that He has not left me to raise them alone. God has helped me daily be able to keep a clean and happy home for our family. He has enable to have time to read my Bible daily. He watches over them while they sleep and provides for their needs. I'm blessed.

Yet, why did I title this "Church"?

I love my family SO MUCH, but I love God more. God is my number one. He is my strength daily, He is my hope for the future, and He sacrificed His life and saved me. In the Bible, it says that He died for the church and give Himself for it. (Psalm 27:4, 65:4) Because I love the Lord, I desire to dwell in His house. I want my children to love God and have Him be their number one. I want my girls to serve in our church and find relief from the world and its sins. Church is a sanctuary and a comfort to saved sinners like me. It is a place where I feel close to my Saviour. God has done so much for me. He has blessed me beyond measure. I want to be where He is... I want to serve Him and thank Him for all He does for me! 

I give unto God, because He has given so much to me! :D It's worth it!