Overwhelmed. I felt that every day. Not even six months into my nursing career, with Covid cases spiking, tears were a part of every shift. It was during this time that God brought a patient into my life who taught me what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the “least of these.” Initially admitted because of Covid, she was destitute, discouraged, and homeless. A lifetime of rough living had left her jaded and demanding. She was with us for almost three weeks before we discharged her. Several weeks later, I fought dismay as I saw her name as one of my patients again. Losing her will to live due to her deteriorating health and lack of family support, she had quit eating or even leaving the couch. Extremely malnourished with grotesque bed sores, we all knew she was dying. So did she, and her tears and emptiness were touching. One day as I was getting her a drink, I felt an overwhelming urge to verbally pray for her. Every reason this was a bad idea immediately flooded my brain and tormented me on the way back to her room. As I entered and saw her tears again, my heart melted. “May I pray with you?” Her only response was a nod. Awkwardly I prayed for peace, comfort and salvation in her life. I do not remember my exact words, but they were short and not eloquent. But from that point on, our relationship changed. While it still was not easy, God gave me the ability to see her as He saw… Read More
How Everyday People Live Out Their Christian Faith
Illustrating how men and women display their love for Jesus in their day-to-day lives.
Little things that may have an eternal impact. Might these stories motivate you to use your talents?
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Frustration filled my heart. I was already in my second year at the University and still didn’t know what I wanted to study. I had tried accounting, but knew that working with numbers would never fulfill me. I wanted to do something to help children in need. Specifically, kids like me. My younger siblings and I had grown up in Costa Rica. Because of abuse and neglect, we’d be put under the protection of child services. Then, when our birth mother had showed a bit of improvement, we'd be sent back to live with her. This cycle happened several times before she eventually stopped making any effort for us. In the children’s home where we were placed, our path crossed with a missionary who became the mom we’d never had. She fought for us, eventually starting her own orphanage, so that sibling groups like ours wouldn’t be separated when they aged out at 12 years old. After opening the doors of this new children’s home, our dream came true! She started the process of OUR adoption: we were going to be a forever family! Sadly, it never came to be. In 2018, as we were finalizing the adoption, she was diagnosed with cancer and later passed away. Looking back, I can see God’s hand on us even then, but my heart still aches when I remember the questions, doubt, anger and fear I felt during that time. Two years ago, I was invited by a visiting mission team to share my story. Still battling with uncertainty about my dreams and future, I began to talk.… Read More
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My biological dad suffered from severe alcoholism. He was decapitated by an Amtrak train when I was 11 years old. I grew up with a verbally, physically and mentally abusive stepdad. My family struggled with poverty, food insecurity and shelter. I was sexually molested and raped by multiple perpetrators for several years beginning when I was only 4. At 19, I was raped and left in a field. By age 21, I was married and pregnant. I suffered from anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. At 24, I learned the baby boy I was carrying had died. I carried my dead son in my womb for nine days. I spent time in mental hospitals. I went to therapy. I was prescribed the anxiety medication Xanax, then later Klonopin. I abused alcohol, nicotine, pills and marijuana throughout my life. I was divorced multiple times. A back injury spiraled me into a narcotics addiction that led to a methamphetamine addiction. I was a junkie. I prostituted for drugs. At age 44, I was being evicted from my apartment. I had no phone, no car, and no friends. My family had stopped speaking to me. I was lost and broken. I fell through the floor of rock bottom and knocked on the gates of hell. I had nothing to live for. I decided to commit suicide, but God intervened. I went from belief in Jesus to surrender to Christ, born again, and dying unto myself. Jesus miraculously and instantly healed me from depression, addiction, and suicidal ideation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all… Read More
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I learned at an early age I needed to listen to God and not ignore His nudges. So when my dear friend, Joanna, desperately needed a live liver donor in order to save her life, I felt God’s nudge. And I knew I had been called to donate part of my liver to her. Joanna and I became friends about 15 years ago. We worked together in the preschool department at our church in Birmingham, and saw that we had very similar passions. We started to do a lot of life together and became very close friends. When I first met Joanna, I heard she had a liver disease. And the closer we got, I learned that her disease would eventually progress to the point where she would likely need a liver transplant. That point came at the beginning of 2023. Joanna’s condition worsened and doctors determined that she would need a liver transplant in order to live. And here is where God first showed His providence. It's no coincidence that about a decade earlier, God put a certain couple in our small group. Chris, the husband, was in Medical School at UAB. He would eventually do his residency at the Mayo Clinic, and then become one of the country’s leading doctors specializing in liver transplants for cancer patients at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins is also one of the few hospitals in the world that did a live donor liver transplant, where a healthy person can donate a portion of their liver to someone in desperate need. I learned that the liver was one… Read More
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During my season of greatest brokenness following a devastating divorce, I put up so many walls as my own personal protective mechanism. I experienced rejection and abuse coupled with the exposure of my ex’s unfaithfulness. So much trust had been broken that I didn’t ever think I could let anyone get close to me again. I remember countless nights of crying myself to sleep, wishing the pain would dissipate. I remember feeling numb inside, forgetting what it’s like to simply feel anything at all. I remember wanting to learn to live again, but being unsure how to get from where I was to where I desired to be. I desired to be healed and whole again. I would sit with the Lord for hours in worship and saturate myself in His Word. During a time when I was unable to let anyone else in, He broke through the iron-clad walls erected around my heart and loved me in a way that I had never known before. Isaiah 61 tells us that one of the many reasons Jesus came was to ‘heal the brokenhearted’. As I have journeyed through life after divorce, He has proven His love to me and healed me in such a way that when I share my story, I sometimes feel like I’m talking about someone else. Not only did the Lord heal my broken heart, He restored my hope and led me to begin praying for my future husband long before I met him. During my eight years of singleness, I would pray faithfully. I would write him letters via email… Read More
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At a very young age, my brother was very physically abusive to me to show off in front of his friends. My entire household was full of pride and ego. Nobody could ever admit they were wrong; there were always issues. There was never a family dinner without fighting, screaming and somebody walking out of the house! I had at least 23 suicide attempts starting at the age of 11. The abuse was so great at my house that I was ordered to move out to avoid my brother being taken into juvenile detention. I truly cried out to God! I said, “If You’re real, I need You to come and save my life or I’m going to kill myself,” and I attempted to shoot up a gram of methamphetamines (which would kill you). The following day, I ended up being arrested. In jail, I was moved from every block for fighting and for my attitude. I ended up in solitary confinement, which is where I truly found God. I remember crying to God and saying, “Please Lord, don’t leave me behind. I’ll do anything You ask me to do. Anything! Just don’t leave me behind.” I heard His voice telling me to get down low. I went straight to the floor, crying, finally ready to submit everything and give up my own understanding. He said to draw a line. I opened my eyes and there was a piece of pencil lead right in front of my eyes. I drew a line across the floor. I heard Him say to get up and step over it, so I… Read More