A Match Made In Heaven

Wedding December 4th
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I wanted to share this with you personally because you have waited, no....you have ENDURED with me for so long that I thought you deserved the honour of hearing it one on one. Still I hope you can still experience the same joy electronically...Here goes...
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It was a challenging summer in Russia, I was eaten alive by parma flies, hot, with swollen feet, oozing sores, dirty, no shower for days, tired and irritable...and still I experienced the blessing of seeing God reach down to touch orphans with His precious good news of love and gentleness. Now it's September and our faithful God has done the same for me. He has reached down and showered me with so much love, and so much blessings...17 years later, in september.

He shook me awake after an ordinary evening's dinner and an after-dinner nap. "Come Kimmi," he said, and I was disoriented because he was dressed in a beautiful black suit. Were we supposed to go somewhere? Did I forget something? Was he leaving--going somewhere? He led me to the garden and there was a pathway of candelight, beginning with a simple heart lamp hanging in a tree. Then down the path through a haven of trees, I saw a table covered in white, with white orchids, rose sparkling cider, plates of chocolate, and two branches. He led me to a white fur covered chair and seated me. I sat in a daze waking up slowly, but clearly-- this was no dream--my eyes taking in the small tealights all around the bushes. The sound of the champagne stopper was loud against the still quietness of the night air. I sat up; my senses alert, yet staring widely as he got on one knee, extended a small gold box toward me and asked in finnish: "Kim, will you be my wife?" The gentle sincerity in his voice and the quiet joy lighting his eyes left me speechless. I covered my face with my hands and cried, and he waited silently. Then I looked at him and answered, "J, I would be honoured to be your wife." He presented me with the small gold box and when I opened it, he put the ring on my finger and I put the ring on his. Then he covered my hands in his and prayed for God's blessing on us and for our future. The strength, confidence and authority in his tone left me whispering over and over the only words that I could add to his prayer--"Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord, thank you."

He helped me to stand up and we hugged. "Look Kimmi at the stars!" he pointed. There were so many, and the leaves all around in the light seemed magical, heavenly. As I looked up I immediately remembered God's faithful promise to Abraham...a promise still being answered today--"so shall your descendants be." We danced to the background music--a shared favourite...'I belong to you'....and we kissed.
So now we are officially engaged. And me, i'm so calm.

Still the girl in me asks: "Do you see me married Jesus? short sleeves or long? I love you."

Dear sisters, I would like to thank you for patiently encouraging me through the years. And thank you for standing with me in your prayers.
God is truly so faithful!

Love and many hugs,
kim 'not for long' o'****

Should Women Teach In Church?

Point of View:

In my early years in Zelenogorsk, there was a couple--Sasha and Dusha. One Sunday in the meeting, Dusha got up and informed the church that women shouldn't preach in the church. God's answer to me was to be quiet and pray. Then a few weeks later the pastor got up and said that Jesus showed him that the samaritan woman came to the well and told her whole village the message and many got saved. The church is the village or the people. So women can share the good news or preach. Well, I'm still standing on that revelation--it's all about the attitude of heart when these things come up! Now may the the prince of peace Himself reign and rule in yours. He will continue to reveal His will for your church body. --Kim-- Europe

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We believe the same...but we live in a world that has SOOOOOO MANY different OPINIONS...the main one that my heart clings to is that the GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT are not given based on SEX...

The Ministry of the Spirit is not Male/Female driven...
If the leadership gives a woman permission to speak from the platform...that woman is NOT Usurping Authority...she is under their authority...

As Ann Graham Lotz says...
"When a woman has seen the Risen Savior she has only ONE RESPONSE...
I SAW JESUS and I am going to tell the world...wherever...whenever He leads me!!!!!!!"
I have spent so much time in the local church where I am not allowed to speak on the platform...and that is okay...because I speak alllllllllllll over the U.S. on platforms in front of men and women...especially professional athletes...and that is fine with me...

When I was in Prague in September...I visited the OLDEST SNYAGOGUE in Central Europe and the hallway is where the women would have to stand and they could lean up to some PEEK HOLES that were cut in concrete...hoping to hear some of the TORAH READ...the women weren't even allowed in the room where the TORAH WAS READ...Talk about keeping women out and silent...but that Snyagogue was built during the DARK AGES...
Keeping women silent is a Dark Ages mentality...it was never how Jesus treated women...

--Jackie K-- USA
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It is interesting the issues you brought up about women in ministry. It has been a long standing contentious issue in the body of Christ, unfortunately. The answers are not Just in one or tow sentences so I will recommend a very good book on this issue – it is “ I suffer not a woman to speak” by Richard and Catherine Clark Kroeger.

It will give you a very detailed explanation of women preaching but let me just say that:
1. If your present church believes in that theology, then women should not even preach to other women at all period! The text from 1 Tim 2: 11-14. The problems are people stop at V11-12 and do not go on to V14 so they lose out on the full context of the scriptures and they are applying it out of context.

2. When a woman stands to preach, she stands in the office of a “minister” i.e. called to “serve” she is serving not exerting authority over men. Gal 3: 28 ……“there is neither Greek nor Jew, male or female, in Christ” . When a woman stands up to preach, she is standing in Christ; not a female but as a servant of Jesus Christ and she can minister!

3. That one singular scripture in 1 Tim 2: 11-12 is not consistent with Paul’s other writings and should not be taken alone to form a doctrine.
Check: -
- Rom 16: 1 I commend to you Phoebe (woman) a servant of the church in Cenchreae
- Rome 16: 3 Greet Priscilla (the woman first) and Aquilla, my fellow worker in Jesus Christ (Acts 18: 24-26)
- Rom 16: 1 Greet Andronicus and Junia (a woman) my country men & fellow prisoners who are of note among the apostles.
4. Acts 1: 14 when the power came at Pentecost, it was also on the women. What was it for? Acts 1: 8 – witness in Judea, Jerusalem , and Samaria and to the ends of the earth!

5. Who was the first to preach the resurrection message and commanded by Jesus? Mary a woman and she as sent to men of course they did not believe her until Jesus appeared to them and upbraided them for their unbelief (Jan 20: 17, Luke 24: 1-10, Mk 16: 1-11, Matt 28: 9-10)

6. 2 Jn vs. 1-13 John’s letter to the lady elect and her children is all about church and ministry; not the home!

I can go on and on, but please read that book. In summary, the Jewish culture which patterned some of Paul’s writing at that time he wrote 1 Tim 2 11-12 should not be confused with the word and the spirit of life! The letter kills but the Spirit gives life. What about Deborah! She not only had authority over men but over the King because of the word of the Lord which was in her month!
Most of all, pray about it and let the Spirit of God, who is our teacher, teach you.
--Esther-- Africa

Siesta Summer Bible Study III

Siesta Summer Bible Study III

So excited about this! Can't wait to begin this journey with Ruth!

Anyone in the NYC area want to join in forming a group?

TESTIFY TO LOVE

TESTIFY TO LOVE
All the colors of the rainbow

All the voices of the wind

Every dream that reaches out

That reaches out to find where love begins

Every word of every story Every star in every sky

Every corner of creation lives to testify
For as long as I shall live

I will testify to love

I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough

With every breath I take

I will give thanks to God above For as long as I

shall live I will testify to love
From the mountains to the valleys

From the rivers to the sea

Every hand that reaches out

Every hand that reaches out to offer peace

Every simple act of mercy

Every stop to kingdom come

All the hope in every heart will speak what love has done!

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter two - 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
Red Velvet Cake: In a mixing bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
In bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.

Working quickly, divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan. Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and place the cake layers in the freezer for at least an hour. (This is done to make filling and frosting the cakes easier.)

Cream Cheese Frosting: In your food processor, or with a hand mixer, process the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and process until smooth. Transfer this mixture to a large mixing bowl.
Then, in the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. With a large spatula, gently but quickly fold a little of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten it. Then fold in the remaining whipped cream, in two stages. If the frosting is not thick enough to spread, cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour, or until it is firm enough to spread.
Assemble: With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. You will now have four cake layers. Place one of the cake layers, top of the cake facing down, onto your serving platter. Spread the cake layer with a layer of frosting. Place another layer of cake on top of the frosting and continue to frost and stack the cake layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake. Can garnish the cake with sweetened or unsweetened coconut.
Makes one - 9 inch (23 cm) four layer cake.

Red Velvet Cake:
2 1/2 cups (250 grams) sifted cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (15 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 1/2 (360 ml) cups heavy whipping cream
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) tub of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (115 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

~Pursuing Jesus as our Redeemer~

This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself. Isaiah 44:24This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Galatians 3:13-14

God’s love is
deep enough to satisfy every wanting thirst
high enough to eclipse mountains of shame
wide enough to embrace all who stray
long enough for the road unseen
strong enough, forever.
~Louie Giglio~