---------------- 
OUR DAILY BREAD             Thurs., Aug. 31, 1995    
---------------- 
 
READ: Revelation 21:1-5 
 
                
 
                   A CITY OF SMILES 
 
       "God will wipe away every tear from their 
      eyes; there shall be no more...sorrow."    
 
                      -- Revelation 21:4 
 
When Mindy Bryant went to Karaganda for a short- 
term missions trip, she discovered that it lives  
up to its nickname, "The City Where No One Smiles." 
She saw hopelessness and hardness on the faces of 
those who passed by her in this major city in 
Kazakhstan, which had been part of the former 
Soviet Union. 
 
Of all the casualties of the communist system,  
perhaps Karaganda has suffered most.  Graft and 
corruption touched all aspects of society.  Today, 
jobs are few, money is scarce, little food and  
medicine are available, and stores are empty. No  
one, including governmental leaders, knows what to 
do next.  It's a city without hope.  No wonder it 
seems that no one smiles! 
 
But Mindy discovered that there are some people 
living in Karaganda who do smile.  Their faces  
reflect the joy that is in their hearts because 
they have trusted in Jesus Christ.  Knowing that 
they will dwell forever with the Lord in the  
place He is preparing, they have hope. 
 
What about your city?  Even though its people 
have jobs, food, and goods in abundance, many 
probably are not smiling because they do not have 
hope in Christ.  Perhaps the joy in your life and 
in your words can bring some of them to salvation  
and give them something to smile about. 
 
                                -- David C. Egner 
 
          Is your life a channel of blessing? 
        Is the love of God flowing through you? 
        Are you telling the lost of the Savior? 
           Are you ready His service to do? 
 
                                -- Smyth 
 
------------------------------------- 
           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY  
------------------------------------- 
            Hope in the heart 
        puts a smile on the face. 
---------------------------------------------- 
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Jeremiah 43-46

=============================================================
Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio 
Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are 
being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible 
Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we 
look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet 
in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be
obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of 
Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded 
by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily 
from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or 
call 1-800-598-7221.

Thanks to Ken Foster for establishing the email list from 
which this copy of Our Daily Bread originated. A subscription 
is also available from the "ODB List".

RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communica-
tions Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/.

- ICLnet
=============================================================


-------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950831.txt

.