A Freak Like Me
By Melvin Wong, Germany Do you care about how others view you? I do. Sometimes I see Christians proclaiming on the street about God’s greatness, but nobody pays attention. And even if they do, the attention given is more negative than positive. They are mocking the person, thinking that he is a Jesus freak. [...]
Can’t do without
By Fayemiwo, Oluwaseun Oluwatobi, 24, Nigeria I was half a kilometer down the street from my house when I did a quick search into my jean pockets. I realized I had forgotten something important. My mobile phone! Without any hesitation, I walked back to my hostel to pick it up. I have often wondered what [...]
(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)
Loading ...I Call It Church
By Betty Wambui, Kenya I was born into a Christian family and, to say the least, church has always been a central part of my life. Having grown up in Sunday school, I have some fond childhood memories of participating in memory verse quizzes and performing in the Christmas cantata. On top of that, my [...]
(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: Fear Factor
July 19, 2011
READ: Genesis 20:1-13
Abraham said, “. . . surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.” —Genesis 20:11
If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, you know that his heroes always have a serious character flaw. It makes for a good story and teaches some important lessons. The same is true of our Bible hero Abraham. His flaw? Fear.
Twice Abraham succumbed to his fear that a ruler would kill him and steal his wife (Gen. 12:11-20; 20:2-13). Fearing for his life, he deceived both Pharaoh and King Abimelech by saying, “She is my sister”—in essence welcoming the king to take Sarah into his harem (20:2). With fear dictating his actions, he put at risk God’s plan that through him and Sarah a great nation would arise (12:1-3).
But before we judge Abraham, we should ask ourselves a few questions. For fear of losing our job, would we compromise our integrity? For fear of appearing old-fashioned, would we set aside our values? For fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood, would we neglect sharing the gospel and put someone’s eternity at risk? Only one thing will conquer our fears: tenacious faith in God’s presence, protection, power, and promises.
If your fear is putting God’s wonderful plans for you at risk, remember that He will never ask you to do anything He can’t bring to completion, even if it requires miraculous intervention on His part.
— Joe Stowell
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Worried much? Share your stories with us!
Worried much? Tell us YOUR stories – what caused you to worry and how you managed to overcome it!
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB: No Hope But God
June 29, 2011
READ: Romans 5:1-5
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. —Romans 8:25
In his book Through the Valley of the Kwai, Scottish officer Ernest Gordon wrote of his years as a prisoner of war during World War II. The 6' 2" man suffered from malaria, diphtheria, typhoid, beriberi, dysentery, and jungle ulcers, and the hard labor and scarcity of food quickly plunged his weight to less than 100 pounds.
The squalor of the prison hospital prompted a desperate Ernest to request to be moved to a cleaner place—the morgue. Lying in the dirt of the death house, he waited to die. But every day, a fellow prisoner came to wash his wounds and to encourage him to eat part of his own rations. As the quiet and unassuming Dusty Miller nursed Ernest back to health, he talked with the agnostic Scotsman of his own strong faith in God and showed him that—even in the midst of suffering—there is hope.
The hope we read about in Scripture is not a vague, wishy-washy optimism. Instead, biblical hope is a strong and confident expectation that what God has promised in His Word He will accomplish. Tribulation is often the catalyst that produces perseverance, character, and finally, hope (Rom. 5:3-4).
Seventy years ago, in a brutal POW camp, Ernest Gordon learned this truth himself and said, “Faith thrives when there is no hope but God” (see Rom. 8:24-25).
— Cindy Hess Kasper
Christ, the Rock, is our sure hope.
Source: Our Daily Bread
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Senior Year and Beyond..
Which Bible verse lets you know that God is in control of your life?
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Walk on Water
By Eugene Seah, 23, Singapore In life, we go through different phases—childhood, youth, and adulthood. Each phase has its sub-phases. For example, entering a new level of education, making new friends and leaving the old, stepping into the working world, breaking off a relationship, changing jobs, or entering into marriage. Which phase are you in [...]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ODB:God Is God
June 7, 2011
READ: Daniel 3:8-30
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. —Hebrews 11:35
When Polycarp (AD 69-155), who was bishop of the church at Smyrna, was asked by Roman authorities to curse Christ if he wanted to be released, he said, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” The Roman officer threatened, “If you do not change your mind, I will have you consumed with fire.” Polycarp remained undaunted. Because he would not curse Christ, he was burned at the stake.
Centuries earlier, when three young men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego faced a similar threat, they answered, “O Nebuchadnezzar, . . . our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods” (Dan. 3:16-18). A similar experience but two different outcomes. Polycarp was burned alive, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego left the furnace unsinged.
Two different results but the same display of faith. These men showed us that faith in God is not simply faith in what God can do. But it’s the belief that God is God whether He delivers us or not. He has the final say. And it’s our decision to choose to follow Him through it all.
— Albert Lee
Source: Our Daily Bread
(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: The Penny Syndrome
April 11, 2011
READ: 1 Samuel 17:32-37
The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion . . . , He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. —1 Samuel 17:37
The penny has been called the most despised unit of US currency. Many people will not bother to pick up a one-cent coin if they see it lying on the ground. But some charities are finding that pennies add up to significant sums, and that children are generous givers. As one participant said, “Small contributions can make a huge difference.”
The Bible account of David and Goliath describes a seemingly insignificant person whose confidence in God was greater than any of the powerful people around him. When David volunteered to face the giant Goliath, King Saul said, “You are not able to go against this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:33). But David had faith in the Lord who had delivered him in the past (v.37).
David did not suffer from “the penny syndrome”—a sense of inferiority and helplessness in the face of an overwhelming problem. If he had listened to the pessimism of Saul or the threats of Goliath, he would have done nothing. Instead, he acted with courage because he trusted God.
It’s easy to feel like a penny in a trillion-dollar deficit. But when we obey the Lord in every circumstance, it all adds up. Collectively, our acts of faith, large or small, make a big difference. And every penny counts.
— David C. McCasland
Courage will follow when faith takes the lead.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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