Sharing God's love, His Word, and my faith as I grow and learn. Whether you are already walking with God or just curious about what it is that we Christians believe, I hope that you will find what you're looking for. Please feel free to ask questions or leave any comments you may have. Below my most recent posts are links to Christian news. All videos are from YouTube and may not work on a device that is mobile.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.-Matthew 10:42
Remember when it became popular to do random acts of kindness? It's a wonderful idea. In fact, my pastor exhorts us to do at least one thing each day for someone as the Spirit prompts us. Last week, when I had someone in the hospital that I was really worried for, a woman came out of the chapel and stood next to me by the elevator. I could tell that she'd been crying. I struggled with myself, because I didn't want to intrude, but I turned to her and asked softly if she was okay. When she turned her face toward me, I could see a bit of relief; she did want to talk. She told me that her aunt was dying, and she'd be gone in a few hours at most. I listened to her story all the way up to her floor, and prayed for her and her aunt to have peace and comfort. In the end I felt blessed to be able to be there, if only briefly.
My pastor has a lot of ideas of things we can do for people. One that has really caught on is to pay an extra ten or twenty dollars if you can afford it towards the person behind you in a fast food drive through. This makes it totally anonymous, because you're gone by the time they find out about it. So many people were doing this there was an article in our local paper!
The Spirit will prompt you. I challenge you to step out in faith and do those acts of kindness, and don't be afraid to share your faith. The world is starving for it.
As he went along, he
saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who
sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither
this man nor his parent sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened
so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
Jesus made some mud
from his saliva and sent the man to wash in the pool of Siloam.
After he washed, his sight was restored.-John 9:3
So many times I've
had unbelievers ask me why God would create people who suffer with
diseases and serious disabilities. I think this text is one of the
best answers; so that the work of God might be displayed in their
lives as well as our own. Sometimes God uses people like this man in
the story to show His healing power, but when we care for the sick,
the blind, and the helpless, the power of God also changes us.
When I worked as a nurse, I saw
that we learned patience, kindness, and perseverance when we cared
for others. In doing these things we develop the heart of a servant,
and God is able to work through us, displaying His power in both
others and ourselves.
Prayer:
Father, bring people into my path that I might help, whether they
are sick in body or in spirit. Use me to show your love, and create
in me a servant's heart. In Jesus' name, amen.
She wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way, but was very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking.
After becoming very frustrated with the "no haggle" attitude of one of the shopkeepers, the blonde shouted, "Maybe I'll just go out and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!"
The shopkeeper said, "By all means, be my guest. Maybe you'll luck out and catch yourself a big one!"
Determined, the blonde turned and headed for the swamps, set on catching herself an alligator.
Later in the day, the shopkeeper was driving home, when he spotted the young woman standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand.
Just then, he saw a huge 9-foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She took aim, killed the creature, and with a great deal of effort hauled it on to the swamp bank.
Lying nearby were several more of the dead creatures. The shopkeeper watched in amazement.
Just then the blonde flipped the alligator on its back. Frustrated, she shouts out, "Darn it, this one isn't wearing any shoes either!""
This video is about two years old, and I think this trend is gaining momentum. It is insidious; one by one our beliefs are being mocked.
We are being labeled as narrow minded bigots for believing in the teachings of the Bible.
Crosses are being removed from public places. The ten commandments taken down from courtroom walls.
Evolution is being taught to our children as fact, not theory. We have "holiday trees" and Nativity
scenes are banned in public places. Most recently, in New York, churches are not allowed to meet in schools when they are not in session. Preaching about our beliefs is becoming known as "hate speech."
Anyone who commits a terrorist act is not a Christian, no matter what they refer to themselves as.
In fact, we are called in Romans 12: 14-17 to "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
We are told by Jesus himself that we will be persecuted for our faith. We have only to read the book of Acts to see the trials the early believers lived through and were often killed for, and we know when the last days begin to approach that the persecution will rise to that level again, as it has in many countries even now.
To convert from Islam is punishable by death. The persecution of believers in the Middle East and other countries has already risen to that level again. But believers, take heart; "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians $:8,9
And we have the advantage in knowing the final outcome of this world. Revelation 21: 3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be heir God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." So stand firm in Him, for He will never leave nor forsake us.
(christiansunite.com) - A young Sudanese Christian teenager who was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and physically attacked over the course of one year is praying that her former captors, a gang of Muslims who tried to force her to convert to Islam, find mercy.
After escaping last July, she says she is praying that Jesus reveals himself to her assailants, and "forgives them for what they did to me." Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo says she escaped from them with the help of God who did not want her to suffer any more (for more information, go to www.persecution.net/su-2011-08-11.htm). "I want to thank God who saved me from the hands of the abductors," said Hiba just two months after she escaped. "I also thank God for all believers all over the world for their prayers for me and my family. It was because of your prayers that my situation changed."
Hiba, who missed one year of school due to the abduction, is in school again, but her widowed mother lost her job after taking time to search for her daughter, so the financial burdens are a strain.
Please pray that Hiba's physical and emotional wounds will be healed and that she will succeed in her studies and grow in her faith. Please pray that her captors' knees will bend before Jesus, and that they will turn to the one true God in repentance. Pray that God will strengthen and embolden the Church in Sudan.
To post a prayer of solidarity with Hiba, please visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall at www.persecution.net/prayerwall. To learn more about how Sudanese believers suffer for Christ's sake, go to www.persecution.net/sudan.htm.
What an example of faith and forgiveness!
In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells us: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." He goes on to say that even the pagans and tax collectors love those who love them.
There's nothing extraordinary about loving back those who love us. But it take strength and courage to set aside our justifiable anger towards people who have hurt us, like this young girl did, and love and pray for them. Where we must draw the line though, is in not putting ourselves in further danger from those who have shown themselves to be dangerous to us.
Father, please bring comfort to this young girl and help her to heal. I would pray that her captors will be brought to justice and find redemption. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5
Last night was rough. But the sun has risen, my faith remains strong, and I thank God that He is helping me right now to grow through these trials. He makes an excellent point; if things were always smooth and easy, then how would we mature? Not to say that I am, but living faith day by day is not for the faint at heart.
Sometimes I think that the world has this imagine of us as weak people, clinging to a false hope.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes courage to keep on believing, to rejoice in trials, and to continue to share our faith with others. We have an advantage in this though; it is He who lives within us that gives us this strength, if we only call on Him. He is a roaring lion, a burning holy fire, all powerful.
Father, today I pray for courage and comfort, for myself and everyone else out there who needs Your strength.
Help us to be warriors for You! Please guide us, give us the words to say to those who need to hear our message of hope and lead us in the direction you'd have us go.
As usual, I have a song to share: Courageous It's a great fighting song!
Good news! In my post on 1-31, I shared with you about Sue, who was critically ill. She is now firmly on the road to recovery and will be out of the hospital in a week or two. To lose her would have been to lose one whom I love and exemplifies God's love. Thinking of her this morning brought this scripture to mind.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
At first glance, this seems like a simple command, but to love others as Jesus loves us is a tall order.
In fact, I don't think we can on our own; I believe it's the Holy Spirit that lives within us that enables this type of love. In Galatians 5:22 where the fruits of the Spirit are listed, love is first, then joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In fact, we can use these fruits as a gauge of our spiritual walk. Being human, we will always have our shortcomings, but His grace covers us when we realize our wrongs and repent of them.
When Jesus walked the earth He showed His love in so many ways. All who came to Him and asked for healing were healed; He fed those who were hungry both spiritually and physically, and devoted His life to His lost sheep. He humbled himself as a servant and washed the feet of His disciples. He calls us to redemption and forgives our sins, just as God the Father forgave the sins of His nation Israel over and over in the Old Testament.
standing in the icy sea
suffocating waves washing over me
I can't breathe, too much pain
drenching, pounding, pouring rain
and as I stand here screaming "why"
does anyone even hear my cry?
so alone I seem to be
my head goes under
and I can't see
the urge to fight has somehow gone
there seems to be no way to carry on
give up, give up, I think but instead
I feel someone lifting up my head
and swimming me toward the shore
though I don't want to be there any more
on dry land He lays me down
and with tenderness He says:
"I won't let you drown;
don't you know I'm always here?
I'm the One who will rescue you
My grace covers all you do.
When there is no one else at all
I'm the one who'll break your fall."
shame washes over me for my despair
my doubt, my fear, thinking no one there
human I am, and human I fall
thank you God for the grace that covers all
Father, thank you for getting me through another difficult day. I would ask you to reach down and
comfort and give courage to those who are going through painful times of their own....including me.
Psalm 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
Psalm 25:20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
It's been a long time, but it's time to get back at it! I'd thought about giving this up, but you can only share so much on Twitter (which I have also sorely neglected) and I have so much more I'd like to share.
I'm passionate about several things: my faith, my country, and my family. Here is where I share my faith, and the challenges we face here and around the world. Today I'm going to keep it close to home.
I've been tweeting here and there about a critically ill family member. Her name is Sue, and she is the mother of my ex-boyfriend of nine years. When I became ill and no longer able to work 8-12 hours shifts as a Registered Nurse, she gave me the opportunity to work in the family business (her husband and son fix commercial cooking equipment) doing the accounts receivables, while she does payables. It's a great position for me because I am able to be gone when my illness flares, as it often does. I usually spend my afternoons there.
What's all this got to do with faith?
She's an amazing Christian, my best friend other than my own mother, and we may lose her. As of last night, she is deteriorating again. I heard a quote yesterday that really hit home.
When it is the darkest, it is then that our light shines the brightest. (unknown)
I'd love to just curl up in bed and cry; and I have a few times, but it is the strength of our God that keeps me going, jumping in and doing all the things that must be done to keep things running smoothly. I don't think that I could do it without His help. Now, to get over there is thirty minutes each way. Several years ago, I turned my radio to a Christian station and wow! I have one hour built into my day for prayer and worship. This time alone with Him each day makes a tremendous difference.
There's a couple of verses that are sustaining me right now.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Not some things, not just the easy things, but all things. Not through my own strength, but through His.
No matter the circumstance, He is there. He is with us when we call on Him. And the comfort He provides is a tangible comfort that I can feel in my heart. Another good verse from Philippians is:
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
Some might find it difficult to rejoice in the face of such tragedy. To lose this woman of God will be a tremendous personal loss not just for me, but for their whole family. How do we rejoice? In this situation, I can rejoice knowing and trusting that the God who created the universe has a perfect plan. He will take each of us home in due time. I can rejoice that if she goes home, she will be forever in His presence. And I know from past experience that there is no wound that He can't or won't heal.
This beautiful song by Casting Crowns has given me so much encouragement. I hope that it will touch you, too, with whatever you may be going through: Praise You in the Storm
