The Russian Connection

THE BLAST AT ORU!

 

As we enter in to the season of winter, I couldn't help but think of how the autumn of 2011 has been even more fun than recess in elementary school. To say the least... it's been a complete blast with everything from the city of Tulsa to half way across the world in Russia.

 

The Friday before Thanksgiving I had the privilege & pleasure of speaking for chapel at Oral Roberts University, at the invitation of Dr. Mark Rutland; who is seeing a supernatural transformation happening in this God honoring university.

 

"ORU's burgeoning partnership with Mikel French  Ministries is a blessing to the e
ntire campus.

As a part of our missions giving last year we took great satisfaction in paying for the rental on a hall for one of Mikel's Russian crusades. In another offering this year we investe d  i  n  a church plant in Moscow.

It is a privilege to invest in a man and a ministry with such a global impact. Mikel French himself preached in chapel at ORU and rang the bell. Not only were students inspired for Christ and His cause but for missions as well.

It is not easy to hold today's easily distracted college audience, but Mikel's good humored and creative style had them in the palm of his hand." 

-Mark Rutland, Ph.D
President of Oral Roberts University 

 

 

PICTURES FROM THE STUDENT CHAPEL

STRESS-STRIKEOUT

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." -Lily Tomlin

If you've been struggling a lot with stress lately, then don't worry you're not alone. Stress is a highly Googled topic and seems to be something people are dealing with more and more.

But the good news is that there is help. Jesus has promised to carry your burdens if you'll just give them to Him and allow Him to detoxify your life!

::Here are 5 things to help get a grip on stress::

1. Have alone time with God. Not out of some old religious duty, but because you know it's the best thing you can do for your life and your families life. It just helps put life in perspective.

2. A commitment to priorities. Order, will change your life.

3. Commit to seeking the Kingdom Of God first and other things 2nd!

4. Examine your goals, and if you don't have any, set some!

5. Don't let other people's opinions or other stuff bother you. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. This will save you a world of trouble and anxiety. We usually tend to judge what people are thinking about us way wrong anyhow, so shake it off!

 TODAY:

Take this to heart!

MATTHEW 11:28-30
“Then Jesus said, come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I gave you is light.”

RUSSIA FOR CHRISTMAS

I've never had anything against Mondays, but when they are the Monday's after big holidays and family has to return home again, they can definitely feel like somewhat of a drag!

But to say the least, we had a wonderful weekend and I hope you did too.

It's hard to believe we only have 1 more month left of the year now. In just a short time New Years eve fire works will be going off and we'll be bringing in the next season of our lives.

I will be in Russia and the Ukraine for much of December and January, especially since they celebrate their Christmas in January and that's when many meetings are held.

Please continue to stand with us in prayer and faith for these next upcoming couple months. They are usually some of the largest outreaches that we do in Russia, and they bring in such a harvest of people for the Kingdom of God.

   AND SO IT BEGINS.........
THE COUNT DOWN TO
CHRISTMAS!

Happy BLACK FRIDAY.

Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year? 

It's the day where for many, it allllll begins. 

 The rush to get the best deals and find the cheapest prices on the newest gadgets & the coolest gifts. By 8 am, many people have already been up all night, standing in line for hours, ready to do whatever it takes in order to be first to get that special thing they want.

If you're out shopping today, good luck!

Check This Out:

 

HAPPY 

THANKSGIVING

DAY!

Spending today at the house with my wonderful family. Excited to have everyone here including my beautiful grandchildren. The day will be a definite hustle and bustle in the midst of cooking, games, football, baking, toys, errands and everything else going on.

But in the middle of our busy day, we remember all the reasons for thankfulness!

Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude this Thanksgiving holiday.
 
 *Thank you, for all that you have meant to this ministry. This year we have seen thousands come to Christ; the greatest type of harvest anyone could ever experience.
 
We pray God's richest blessing over you this season.

The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Love,

-Mikel& Marsha

THANKSGIVING 101

BEST WAY TO COOK A TURKEY!

*Preheat the oven to 475°F

*Melt some butter. It doesn't take much. You just want enough to put a light coating on the breast.

*Some people think this is gross, but it's essential! Gently separate the skin from the breast but don't remove it. You just want to be able to get your hand between the skin and the breast meat. Your goal is to rub that melted butter on the turkey breast between the breast skin and the meat. I up end the turkey slightly and pour the melted butter in and then rub it around. You might want to use a rubber glove. Don't butter the outside of the skin.

*Put some Rosemary and Thyme again between the breast skin and the meat.

*Lightly Salt and Pepper all the skin on the outside.
This will help make the skin crisp!

*Don't place stuffing in the turkey! Stuffing plays havoc with cooking times and is a recognized health hazard. Cook your stuffing separately in a casserole dish and be safe.

*Place the turkey in a covered roasting pan place in the oven preheated to 475°F for 20 minutes. Be sure you get that thermometer into the thickest part of the breast when you test it you don't have to add any water. Our goal here is to "seal the bird" to help keep it juicy.

*Reduce the heat to 250°F. This again is not a typo! Don't let anybody tell you that the temperature has to be higher for it to get done. The reason that turkey is so often very dry is that it's overcooked. We want to slow cook the turkey. You do not have to remove the turkey from the oven. Just reduce the heat.

*Cook the turkey at 250°F for 20 additional minutes for each pound. No basting is necessary. You start counting the 20 minutes per pound immediately when you turn the oven down to 250°. You don't wait until the oven has cooled down.

*Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest uncovered for at least 20 minutes before carving it. This allows the juices to redistribute themselves inside the turkey making the turkey even more juicy, delicious, and easier to carve.

Now garnish & add whatever your family does to make it special!

TRAVELING

FOR

 THANKSGIVING? 

Some Tips!

* DON’T leave in the last minute or even worse….late.
It can ruin the whole mood of the trip! And of coarse add on unneeded stress.

* If you’re flying, check in early
Check in electronically 24 hours prior & print your boarding pass at home. You’ll avoid long lines & get to your gate faster.

* Avoid heavy travel days
If possible, travel on Monday or Tuesday and return on Friday. The airports and highways are far less crowded then on Thanksgiving or even the day before.   

* Be prepared
Pack at least one night in advance. It’ll help you be more prepared and reduces stress. You’ll have time to remember things you might have forgotten and won’t be running around like a crazy person at the last minute. *Also be sure to pack all medications, charge your cell phone and bring the charger with you.

* If you’re driving, get your car serviced
Having a mechanic give your car a check up before you leave not only helps ensure that you won’t break down on the way, but that your vehicle is as safe as it can be.

* Take little mini breaks every so often.
Get out of the car, stretch and get some fresh air!

* Keep the kids occupied
Pack plenty of snacks and drinks for the kids. If you’re flying, make sure you double check on the amount of bottled liquid you’re allowed to bring on your flight. You should have plenty of activities to keep the kids occupied—books, games and fun activities can make the time fly.

THE
G
WORD.

 

In honor of it being Thanksgiving week,
I want to talk a little bit about 'gratefulness' today!

 "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today
and creates a vision for tomorrow."

-Melody Beattie

The grateful heart is a magnet that attracts more blessings.

How is this possible?

Well, the blessings were always there; we just didn't see them.

Gratitude clears the haze that hinders us from seeing the gifts surrounding us. To be enlightened is to live a life of gratitude.

Johannes A. Gaertner once wrote, "To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."

REMEMBER:

GRATITUDE IS ALL ABOUT HEART ATTITUDE!

  Have you ever heard a worship leader say,

“God inhabits the praises of His people?”

Psalms 22:3 tells us that, and shows us that praise brings us directly into contact with our Heavenly Father.

We see the Psalmists continually exhorting us to praise the Lord and give thanks to God.

Why does God’s Word exhort us to praise & thank Him for His benefits?

Because God knows that praise releases our faith to God.

• If you want to bring the Presence and the power of God into your midst to change any circumstance or any situation you’re facing in life, begin to praise God continually from your heart.

• If you praise God in the midst of a test or trial, it opens up the channel for us to hear from Him and to receive Him.

Praise can easily be neglected when we do not understand why we do it or the heart of it.

You don’t have to wait to get into a church to worship God.

TODAY:

We have His spirit on the inside of us, so we can connect with Him no matter where we are!

         Talk About A
                      MISSED Opportunity!

Have you ever felt like you didn’t get the memo on something?

Well the Word of God is a whole book talking about who God is, who you are, what you have, what you can do and what God has already done for you.

Many people live their whole lives, without knowing their rights.
Or I should say, content without doing any research and finding out what they are.

• You can even be a born again Christian, but if you don’t get in to the Bible and start reading your life’s manual, there is so much you’ll miss out on.

• Not reading your Bible is not a sin, it’s just such a disadvantage to yourself.

It’s like being an invention, carefully crafted, and specifically designed, but then never consulting the inventor to see what you were made to do.

Your life then becomes aimless when there is no vision or purpose.

 TODAY: 

Don't miss your opportunity to
live life the way God ment for you to!