Posts

A New Story

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Recently our team got a letter from a young girl – Ill call her Anne. Anne wrote that her parents had divorced because her mom had been cheating on her dad. Not only did her mom want nothing to do with Anne, but her sister was in the hospital, and her boyfriend had just dumped her.

“My only friends are alcohol and marijuana,” Anne said. “So theres my story.” It was so sad to read that letter! Can you imagine what shes been through?

It breaks my heart when I hear about children who come from broken homes. When these kids are neglected and unloved, they can sometimes act out in pretty crazy ways. But deep down what theyre really wondering is, “Does anyone care about me?”

When you see a young person who seems hardened, and perhaps into drugs and drinking, remember that you dont know their story. Pray for those teenagers who seem the hardest to love. Find ways to connect with them. God says in Isaiah 49, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Thats a powerful message of Gods love to share with young people.

Through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can offer children like Anne a different ending to their stories. Is there a youth in your life who needs you to reach out to them? Do it today, and point them to Jesus.

Forget About It

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Why is it that we cant remember where we put our car keys or our pencil but we can recall all the details about the moment someone disappointed us? We forget our kids birthdays, but dont forget when someone says something hurtful. Unless we learn how to forgive and forget, we will always live in the past. Bitterness or guilt will eat away at us.

In the Bible, Saul persecuted the Church. He committed terrible sins. Yet, after he became a believer in Jesus Christ, he was renamed Paul and said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul deliberately chose to forget his past failures through the power of the indwelling Christ in his life.

My friend, if you have confessed your sin to God, dont revisit it. God has forgotten your offense! It has vanished from His memory as though it never happened. You can choose right now to confess your sin, accept Gods forgiveness, and forget about it. Move forward in peace and let God use you to reach your world for Him! When you are free from guilt, you will be a powerfu

The Least of These

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Theres a woman in our home church who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of hurting and abandoned children. Thats why she decided to open up her home to foster kids. Now this is quite a task for her because shes not married. But this young lady, with the help of her parents, has had many foster children in her home.

Whats most exciting to me is that shes led many of these children – and their parents – to the Lord! She uses foster care as an avenue to share her faith with each child who comes into her home. Isnt that fabulous?!?!

Its certainly a huge step of faith to become foster parents, or adopt a child. Its definitely something thats out of many peoples comfort zones. But God calls His followers to unprecedented action. Not just social action, which is important – but spiritual action!

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenges His disciples to take care of the needy, the poor, the strangers – the helpless. Because, He says, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”

I cant think of a better example of “the least of these” than hurt and neglected children. So, pray about it, wont you? And remember, by opening up your heart and home, you can make an eternal difference in a childs life.

Godly Multiplication

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I have a friend named Stephen Baldwin. Hes an actor in Hollywood. Stephen told me he used to be a pretty wild guy. Hed go to parties and nightclubs and was into a lot of drugs and drinking. Then one day, a Brazilian nanny came to live with him and his wife to help take care of their two girls. This woman, Augusta, was a cheerful Christian. She constantly sang songs about Jesus. Because of her witness, when the horrific events of 9/11 occurred in New York, Stephen and his family turned to Jesus!

Of course, Stephens lifestyle changed instantly. He didnt go to nightclubs and drink all the time. Suddenly he changed. It was very visible that something had happened to him. You should see Stephen now! He shares the Good News wherever he goes, especially with skateboarders and BMX bikers.

Stephen has a new life because Augusta invested in his soul. She was a fabulous example of 2nd Timothy 1:8: “Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” Because Augusta shared her faith, Stephen Baldwin was changed forever. And now hes leading many young kids to Jesus. Thats what I call Godly multiplication! Let God use you to lead someone to His side – they may end up telling hundreds of others about the Lord.

Bob Hunter’s Prayer

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If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are also a priest. Peter 2:5 says, “you also … are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.” And one of the jobs of being a priest is prayer and intercession.

A friend of mine, Doug Coe, told me that he challenged a new Christian named Bob to pray for Africa for 45 days. So Bob started praying every day, “God, help Africa.” After about three weeks of prayer, Bob meets an African American lady and learns that she runs an orphanage in Uganda. She pleads with him to come see the orphans and maybe as a businessman he could do something. So he flies to Uganda, looks at the kids, and of course his heart breaks. He comes back home and begins to do all sorts of things for the orphanage.

Then one day, the president of Uganda calls and asks him to return to Uganda because of the work hes done for the orphans. So Bob goes back to Africa and befriends the President. Through their friendship, the president ends up releasing numerous all his political prisoners who had unjustly been imprisoned.

What an amazing story! Yet this could happen to you, too! When you take your priesthood seriously, theres no telling what God could do with your life, and whom you may touch with His Spirit.