A business executive’s life is turned upside-down when his wife is diagnosed with Alzheimers.
Sometimes in prayer we really need to speak what’s on our minds and hearts. Other times, we really want to hear God speak. For a student who’s struggling to choose a school, sweethearts contemplating marriage, a parent who’s worried sick for a child, an entrepreneur considering a new risk, for nearly anyone who is hurting, or floundering, or fearing . . . hearing from God becomes important. Urgent. It so happens that an incident from the Bible may help you listen. It’s an account from the life of Samuel, recorded in 1 Samuel 3, and it offers 7
[More]
Three years ago, feeling gratitude seemed impossible to me. I’d just found the strength to leave a physically and emotionally abusive marriage while pregnant with my first child, and life as I knew it was falling apart. Then, I received the sweetest gift. While at work, a package came for me from one of my vendors—a green journal with the word “Gratitude” written across the front. “What could I possibly be grateful for right now?” I thought. Then, I turned to the big “G” in the sky for answers: Google. I scrolled through gratitude articles that told me why I should be more
[More]
Mama and Papa had started calling me “Black Velvet” when I was a baby, the tenth of their 18 children and the first to be born after they moved to Florida from their Bahamian homeland. When friends from the islands came to visit, they’d say, “Let us see the American one, the one with the velvet skin,” and Mama would proudly hold me up so everyone could admire my flawless nut-brown complexion. Then, when I was eight, a bouncy little girl with glossy black braids, the dreadful skin problem began. Rough scales and unsightly red patches all over my
[More]
All my 84 years, I’ve believed in angels. From the time I could be read to, my mother shared the Bible stories of when they appeared. And then there was another story, a special family story, that my mother told me many times. It wasn’t nearly as old as those Bible stories, but we knew it was every bit as true. Because it was a story about my own grandmother, back in 1898. Chicago, at the end of the nineteenth century, was not an easy place for a young couple without much money. My grandpa had a job at
[More]
One of my favorite episodes in Scripture has Jesus telling his followers that the more they give, the more they will receive. It cannot be otherwise, he explains, because God will never be outdone in generosity. The concept of tithing is explained in a different part of Scripture. It’s the idea that the first fruits—perhaps 10 percent of one’s earnings—should be given to God as an act of faith. (The actual money can be given to charity or to church.) It sounds simple, but putting it into practice is very difficult. We all have reasons for not giving
[More]
All six of my children had been born naturally, in the comfort of our home. I knew the natural ways to induce labor—walking, evening primrose oil, a bowl of pineapple chunks, a warm bath. I was a pro at breathing rhythms and the most comfortable delivery position. By child number seven, I knew what I was doing. But after 35 hours of labor, my home-birth doctor sent me on to the hospital. “You need advanced medical attention,” he said. “Your labor isn’t progressing.” I didn’t know if I was more disappointed or scared. My husband, Michael, helped me
[More]
Take your problems to the Lord. That had always been my policy. But as I pulled out of my driveway one morning, my biggest worry was…simply worrying. My concerns were nothing out of the ordinary: a big project at work, a to-do list of household repairs, trying to keep in touch with family. There was nothing I could do about any of it at the moment. I was on my way to work. And yet no matter how many times I told myself to stop, I couldn’t stop going over and over it all in my head.
[More]
“Sing, Dari! Loud as you can!” Normally my four-year-old daughter loved to sing. Now she just stared, uncomprehending, at the nurse. I squeezed her hand for comfort. The nurse wanted her to sing so she would take deep breaths of anesthesia. I understood that, but how could I explain it to Dari? The doctor had allowed me to be in the operating room until she was asleep, but I didn’t feel like I was being all that much help. There was so much for Dari to take in: the mask over her nose and mouth, the doctors and nurses
[More]
“Tanya” is a Christian worker in Central Asia, living and ministering in a country where she must always be cautious about what she says openly and who she says it around. Listen to hear how Christians in the former Soviet Union are carefully sharing the gospel, and are willing to endure persecution if that’s what it takes to see God’s love spread to their countrymen. As a mom and a pastor’s wife, Tanya shares how the threat of persecution impacts the way Christians raise their children to follow Christ. You’ll be inspired as Tanya shares how Christians living under persecution
[More]
Biography of George Mueller who founded a large orphanage work in Britain and is known for his great faith and prayer.
Listen this week for an update on the church in Nepal, especially how the church has been impacted by Nepal’s recent adoption of a new constitution which included anti-conversion provisions. Michael Huff has been the leader of Operation Mobilization in Nepal and is now based in the US helping to mobilize Christians to take the gospel all over the world. Listen as Michael shares how OM is working to raise up Christian workers and evangelists in Nepal, and some of the lessons Nepali Christians have taught him during his years of ministry there. He’ll share how two Christian
[More]
When God called Leanna to missions she was a young woman fresh out of college. Then God specifically called her to a part of South Asia known as “the graveyard of missionaries.” He led her down a different path from most foreigners at the time; Leanna lived in a village, drinking dirty water, sleeping on a grass mat and subsisting on lentils and rice. As she lived through the hardships of village life she was able to introduce people to a God greater and more powerful than the millions of Gods in their faith: Jesus Christ. Listen as Leanna
[More]
For Christians in Syria and other Middle East nations, human logic is clear: get out! Go someplace safe! In spite of such advice, Tom and JoAnn Doyle tell us many Christians are choosing to STAY and serve the Lord and witness for Christ. These bold brothers and sisters are standing in the fire of war and persecution, and they are finding—just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did—that God is standing with them. Listen to the story of Jamila, a 12-year-old girl healed from cancer after a Christian man prayed for her in Jesus’ name, leading to hundreds of Druze people
[More]
Look on Dr. Stanley’s desk and you’ll find a sticky note that says, “You’re young and useful at any age, if you’re still planning for tomorrow.” It’s a principle that’s guided him through decades of productive service. Learn several other key principles to living a life marked by vitality and fruitfulness. Regardless of your age, it’s never too late to start trusting God and growing young. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to intouch.org/tv.
Prayer is seriously powerful business. So often, though, we treat it as a perfunctory task to be checked off our daily to-do list. How can we shift our attitudes from boredom and obligation to joy and expectation? The Lord always inclines His ear to His children. Learn the foundational principles of effective prayer, and how to confidently approach God with our petitions and requests. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to intouch.org/tv.
Ever felt overwhelmed by an impossibly huge task? You’re in good company. Charged with leading God’s people into Canaan, Joshua was familiar with the fear that accompanies enormous responsibility. And yet somehow he was able to trust God and accomplish His will. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to intouch.org/tv.
The leader of an American pastors network is warning about a generational gap among pastors that needs to be bridged. The president of the American Pastors Network, Sam Rohrer, says there’s a divide that’s much larger than most people think. “What that divide is between is not just between older and younger,” he observes. “It’s between older, faithful pastors – those who do believe in the authority of scripture, have remained faithful in their ministry – and then the Millennial, the younger pastors – some of whom are not faithful to the Word but then others who are.” Read More:
[More]
Christians in America, by and large, are satisfied with the degree of religious freedom available to them – but not with much else related to life in America, says pollster George Barna. Two–thirds of American adults are satisfied with the degree of religious freedom available in the U.S., according to the founder of the American Faith & Culture Institute. An even greater segment (72 percent) of politically engaged evangelical adults feels the same way. Interestingly, though, that latter demographic – SAGE Cons*, Barna calls them – seems unconcerned that those religious freedoms are being eroded by a secular society
[More]
With his comforting words to Mary, the angel Gabriel explains the miracle not only of Jesus’s conception but also of his resurrection, which we celebrate tomorrow. We who know the Risen Lord know that at Easter we commemorate the supreme event in all of human history, and so any physical proof we find of Christ’s resurrection demands our attention and awe. Countless Christians worldwide maintain that such proof exists: It is the Shroud of Turin, revered as the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The earliest undisputed historical records place the Shroud in Lirey, France, between 1353 and 1357. Before
[More]
A recent study revealed that for the first time in three years, government restrictions on religion and hostilities against religious groups has surged globally. The Pew Research Center’s latest annual study on global restrictions on religion shows that there has been an uptick in the most recently recorded year (2015) in regard to religious persecution – a jump that comes after two years of decreases in the percentage of nations that registered high levels of religious limitations. “The share of countries with ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of government restrictions – i.e., laws, policies and actions that restrict religious beliefs
[More]
A recent British survey conducted for Palm Sunday revealed that one out of four self-described Christians in the United Kingdom do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians in the U.K. are not considerably more believing of the Scriptures when it comes to the resurrection than the average Briton – or even those who claim no religious affiliation at all. Read More: Quarter of UK Christians reject Jesus’ resurrection
The American Bible Society has released its annual State of the Bible survey that shows Americans are concerned about eroding morality. For about eight years now the ministry has given what they call America’s “report card” on the Bible, and ABS spokesman Geof Morin says the survey shows Americans believe the Bible is a source of hope and a force for good, even as they express growing concern for the country’s morals. Eighty-one percent of Americans say morals are declining according to the survey done with help from the Barna Group. “In fact,” says Morin, “it’s at a pretty speedy
[More]
The battle of Jericho is one of the bloodiest episodes of the Old Testament. It’s a fantastic tale of victory through faith but is there any truth behind story? Archaeologist, Dr Bryant Wood, believes the physical evidence indicates the biblical account is true. In the biblical version of events, Joshua and his men lay siege on the fortified city for seven days. On the seventh day, they blow their trumpets and its walls come crashing down. The Israelites raze the city, killing every man, woman and child. Today, the city of Jericho lays claim as one of the oldest cities
[More]
There are 2.8 billion unreached people on earth; they will live their entire lives without ever hearing the gospel message of Jesus’ love for them. Andrew Scott wants to motivate and mobilize Christians around the world to GO to those billions and reach them for Christ. Andrew is the President and CEO of Operation Mobilization – USA, and the author of a book called SCATTER: Go Therefore and Take Your Job With You. Andrew wants to see more American Christians understand that people from every vocational background—doctors, businessmen, engineers, artists—are called to share His glory with the nations. Listen to
[More]
What would you do if a group of angry young men came streaming into your Sunday School class this Sunday, faces masked and swinging clubs as they came? Aaron Miller helps lead VOM’s work in South Asia, including the nation of India, where he previously served full-time as a gospel worker. Listen this week as Aaron shares what happened when he found himself at a Christian gathering in India that was attacked by radical Hindus. It was a small taste of persecution that was a part of God’s preparation for Aaron to serve persecuted Christians in India and other South
[More]
“Enfu” is the Chinese word for “blessing.” When we went to China to secretly interview a Chinese house church pastor, he suggested Enfu as his pseudonym. Every time Pastor Enfu and his congregation meet together, it is illegal. Listen this week as he shares the challenges of being a pastor in a nation cracking down on the church. Some of the challenges will seem obvious. Others will be ones that Christians in free nations may have never thought of, like handling church finances when the church doesn’t legally exist. How does his church train new leaders? How do they
[More]