Sweet Reminders
When the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922, it was filled with things ancient Egyptians thought were needed in the afterlife. Among items such as golden shrines, jewelry, clothing, furniture, and weapons was a pot filled with honey—still edible after 3,200 years!
Today we think of honey primarily as a sweetener, but in the ancient world it had many other uses. Honey is one of the only foods known to have all the nutrients needed to sustain life, so it was eaten for nutrition. In addition, honey has medicinal value. It is one of the oldest known wound…
My husband and I are currently in the ministry. We both grew up in hard situations. Our family is a blended family because our spouses decided to leave. We have seven children and seven grandchildren. God has been with us through a number of storms. Some of those storms were of our own making. We encourage people to start young. Love God first, put Him first, and make Him Lord before doing anything else. As is true with us, not everyone does that. Praise God for forgiveness. We should never intentionally disobey. On the bright side, we are human and God understands our weaknesses. He waits with open arms to forgive and receive the prodigal back into His loving protection. The key to this is true, whole hearted and humble repentance. God is willing and ABLE to walk with us and fight for us as long as we put Him first. Praise Him for second, third, and innumerable chances as freedom from sin.
Everyone struggles with confidence or self-image problems, I have for many years. But I have a testimony that I've carried around with me for 30 years and every time I tell someone it makes me cry. I feel the Love of Jesus afresh in my heart every single time I share my testimony.
When I was sixteen, I was a strong warrior for Christ, I went to every prayer meeting, bible study, conference, anything that my mother and I could receive or give back our love of Christ. It was a normal event to see people at our house reading the bible or praising and praying. I was a teen and still wanted to be doing other things.; listening to Phil Collins blaring through my headphones, doodling, pretty much a little free time to myself.
It was at a prayer meeting at our house, sitting at my kitchen table and I received a vision, I saw Jesus at our back door, knocking and waiting, wanting to come in.
At the time we had an old milk churn outside of the door, I still remember Him sitting on the milk churn while He waited. In this vision I saw other people knocking and I let them in right away and left Jesus sitting there repeatedly. He knocked and waited patiently but I never saw a look of impatience or agitation on His face. Just love, a hopeful look of love that said, am I next?
Finally, I let Him in, and as one who struggles with overwhelming guilt, I felt guilty for leaving Him out there, He simply came over, touched my shoulder and said, lovingly and quietly, My child, I love you, don't you know you're my precious flower.
Those words healed me to my very soul. I was a chubby kid and bullied at school so I struggled with confidence and self-image problems, when the Lord God told me, this little chubby girl that had been letting everyone else into my heart but made Him wait, that I was HIS precious flower, it amazed me. Till this day I don't recall the rest of what happened next but those words have never left me and every time I share that story it touches the hardest of hearts and makes even staunch atheists cry.
Even now, at the age of 45, I repeat His words to myself any time I forget my worth. For HE loves me and I am his PRECIOUS FLOWER.
The Lord God is a loving, patient and caring God. He maketh His light to shine on me in my self-imposed times of darkness of dispair. Don't make Him wait outside your door like I did, He only has words of caring and love to share with you. Let him into your heart and reap the rewards and blessings that He wants to shower upon you. Your heart will be healed and you shall be strengthened.
Take Heart!
I like to watch birds at play, so years ago I built a small sanctuary in our backyard to attract them. For several months I enjoyed the sight of my feathered friends feeding and flitting about—until a Cooper’s Hawk made my bird refuge his private hunting reserve.
Such is life: Just about the time we settle down to take our ease, something or someone comes along to unsettle our nests. Why, we ask, must so much of life be a vale of tears?
I’ve heard many answers to that old question, but lately I’m satisfied with just one: “All the discipline of…
Never Give Up
We will always be battered in this life. Physical limitations. Cruel people. Spiritual battles. But God is with us. He promises never to abandon us. And He renews our spirits even during the struggles. We can keep going in this life and look with anticipation to the next.
“The blessed alliance”
What does it mean in the second chapter of Genesis, when God said, “It’s not good for man to be alone”? Today on “Discover the Word,” the group, and author Carolyn Custis James introduce an important concept Carolyn calls “the blessed alliance.” Be part of the group for this key conversation today on “Discover the Word”!
In Transition
People post obituary notices on billboards and concrete block walls in Ghana regularly. Headlines such as Gone Too Soon, Celebration of Life, and What a Shock! announce the passing away of loved ones and the approaching funerals. One I read—In Transition—points to life beyond the grave.
When a close relative or friend dies, we sorrow as Mary and Martha did for their brother Lazarus (John 11:17-27). We miss the departed so much that our hearts break and we weep, as Jesus wept at the passing of His friend (v. 35).
Yet, it was at this sorrowful moment Jesus made a delightful statement on life…
How To Get Over a Breakup
My boyfriend broke up with me in the last week of the last term of journalism school and it was ugly. I received his text message on a Sunday evening, and I spent a better part of the night crying over the phone to my best friend.
I fell down some stairs head first in December of ,2002. By January of 2003 I was having blackouts. I was unconscious walking around doing Lord knows what. Finally in 2004 I was diagnosed with petty maul seizures. I lost my lisence to drive, my job eventually but never my hope that the Lord would deliver me. After many trials and years I was finally delivered. The Lord never left me, always protected me and others. I've been seizure free for several years. Thanks to our Lord.
God’s purpose for his sons and daughters
We often hear that “It’s a man’s world.” And it’s easy to see why both men and women feel that way. But really, it’s God’s world isn’t it? And so today on “Discover the Word,” the group and guest Carolyn Custis James explore how the creation story helps us understand God’s purpose for His sons and daughters. Discover why “it’s a man’s world” is a distorted way of looking at God’s world, today on “Discover the Word”!
5 Ways to Fight Procrastination
I’m a procrastinator. It’s been a battle since birth. In fact, I even delayed my birth: I refused to get into the proper position for delivery
Is God into quick fixes?
Have you ever wondered why God intervenes in some situations quickly while in other situations, He doesn’t seem to do anything? Why are some people healed instantly, while others take a much longer time—and some are not healed at all?
His Plans or Ours?
When my husband was 18 years old, he started a car-cleaning business. He rented a garage, hired helpers, and created advertising brochures. The business prospered. His intention was to sell it and use the proceeds to pay for college, so he was thrilled when a buyer expressed interest. After some negotiations, it seemed that the transaction would happen. But at the last minute, the deal collapsed. It wouldn’t be until several months later that his plan to sell the business would succeed.
It’s normal to be disappointed when God’s timing and design for our lives do not match our expectations. When…
The Creator’s view of both men and women
The Bible’s patriarchal culture may seem to be “heaven-stamped and God approved,” but is it? Today on “Discover the Word,” author Carolyn Custis James and the group talk about how from Genesis on, the Creator’s view of both men and women is often very different from what plays out in the culture, both then and now. Join the discussion today on “Discover the Word”!
3 Life Hacks from Moses’ Life
Have you ever been asked to do something you didn’t want to do? Was it because you were afraid and felt it was beyond your capabilities, or because there were too many restrictions?
