How Are You?
Charla was dying, and she knew it. While she was lying on her hospital room bed, her surgeon and a group of young interns poured into the room. For the next several minutes, the doctor ignored Charla as he described her terminal condition to the interns. Finally, he turned to her and asked, “And how are you?” Charla weakly smiled and warmly told the group about her hope and peace in Jesus.
Some two thousand years ago, Jesus’ battered, naked body hung in humiliation on a cross before a crowd of onlookers. Would He lash out at His tormentors? No. “Jesus…
Family Devotion Sign up Print
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Planted in God
“The wind is tossing the lilacs.” With that opening line of her springtime poem “May,” poet Sara Teasdale captured a vision of lilac bushes waving in gusty breezes. But Teasdale was lamenting a lost love, and her poem soon turned sorrowful.
Our backyard lilacs also encountered a challenge. After having their most lush and beautiful season, they faced the axe of a hard-working lawn man who “trimmed” every bush, chopping them to stubs. I cried. Then, three years later—after barren branches, a bout of powdery mildew, and my faithless plan to dig them up—our long-suffering lilacs rebounded. They just needed time,…
New DNA in Jesus
Chris had his blood retested four years after his lifesaving bone marrow transplant. The donor’s marrow had provided what was needed to cure him but had left a surprise: the DNA in Chris’ blood was that of his donor, not his own. It makes sense, really: the goal of the procedure was to replace the weakened blood with a donor’s healthy blood. Yet even swabs of Chris’ cheeks, lips, and tongue showed the donor’s DNA. In some ways, he’d become someone else—though he retained his own memories, outward appearance, and some of his original DNA.
Chris’ experience bears a striking resemblance…
IN-GENEROSITY
I n today’s highly individualistic world, generosity is a word that we seldom think about, much less live out. Even as believers, it is easy to be swept up by the emphasis on self that we neglect the needs of others. We may as a result fail to remember and recognize that generosity is an essential part of our response to…
Investing in Others
When a corporation offered one thousand frequent flier miles for every ten purchases of one of their foods, one man realized their cheapest product was individual cups of chocolate pudding. He bought more than twelve thousand. For $3,000 (US), he received gold status and a lifetime supply of air miles for himself and his family. He also donated the pudding to charity, which netted him an $800 tax write-off. Genius!
Jesus told a controversial parable about a cunning manager who, as he was being fired, reduced what debtors owed his master. The man knew he could rely on their help later…
Praying for God to support Daddy always
O God, giver of life, nothing will be impossible with You. You know well the weaknesses in my dad's life. Please direct his footsteps according to Your Word, and let no sin rule over him. May he always know the truth and may the truth set him free!
[PAUSE: Pray for your dad’s weaknesses and pray for God’s grace.]
Pray that You…
Praying for God to bless Daddy’s work
Dear Lord, thank You for giving Daddy a job and the opportunity to use all the talents You have given him.
Grant my dad grace that above all else, he may guard his heart and in faith, seek with determination to please You in his work.
Lord, please give him wisdom and help him to do his work efficiently. Whenever he is…
Praying for Daddy to have good friends
Our God who hears our prayers, we know that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Please give such wisdom to Daddy!
Lord, please give him the joy that is of the Holy Spirit, and help him to pursue with all diligence the things that are…
Booklets - Simplified Chinese
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Praying for Daddy to enjoy the blessings of his children
O Lord, who searches the hearts of men, many are the times I have caused my dad to worry and to be sad. To this day, I still owe him in many ways. Please forgive my sins and help me to fulfill my duty as his child.
Lord, whenever I am feeling impatient with my dad, give me love and patience…
Praying for Daddy and Mummy’s marriage
O Holy God, it was You who established the covenant of marriage. When Daddy and Mummy have any conflicts in their marriage, God, please help them to remember and honour their marriage vows; and choose to support each other in love.
When they cannot control their anger or their words, and thus hurt each other, Lord, have mercy on them. Help…
Praying for Daddy to have peace of mind
O Lord of our salvation, You know the difficulties and challenges my dad is facing (including: __________________) You fully understand how he’s feeling. May You grant him grace and help him!
You know how much Daddy cares about me and my family, and he is always worried about our lives and our needs. May You comfort and assure him!
As the Bible…
