Stories - Page 22 of 81 - The Christian Heart

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?

Hospital Overcoming Obstacles
MY BLESSED CHARIOT TO HEAVEN

When the neurologist told me with tears in his eyes that I had ALS and there is no known cure, the room grew silent. But my mind focused on a beautiful image: this disease will be my Blessed Chariot that will carry me home to be with Jesus forever. Typically, there is a three to five-year life expectancy for a person with ALS, but my symptoms started in my mouth, so research says my life may be even shorter. I really don’t know how much time I have but I know that God is in charge. And I plan to live each day to the fullest. I have always trusted God completely ever since I was saved at age 15. When I gave my life to Christ, I asked Him to use me in any way He saw fit, to use my life for His glory. While I didn’t know how God was going to use me with ALS, I knew, even with this diagnosis, that I just needed to be faithful and trust Him. I truly feel this will be my great opportunity to shine for Jesus and to live for Him in difficult circumstances, to prove that He’s all He says He is. This will be my last triumph, an opportunity to show that every single promise that God has written in His Word will be true. And I intend to hang on those promises. In 2020, I suddenly started to develop what I’d describe as a slight lisp. Thinking I may have had a small stroke, I went to the neurologist… Read More

July 6, 2022
Other
BRINGING HOPE AND HEALING TO WOMEN

Feeling trapped and scared with an unplanned pregnancy, I entered the abortion clinic resolute in my decision that it was not the right time for me to have a baby. Just weeks away from graduating with a nursing degree, I was eager to start my career and decided to “fix” my problem secretly without disappointing my Catholic parents. I left the clinic feeling relief. Now I could get on with my life. But that abortion wrecked me. Scarred emotionally and spiritually, I was wounded internally by a sin that changed my whole identity. Efforts to continue suppressing my shame and guilt failed when my husband and I welcomed our first child five years later. I hit rock bottom with post-partum depression that I perceived to be God’s punishment. The truth that my Heavenly Father loved me and longed to forgive me was revealed through my sister. She shared the gospel, including Psalm 103 that declares God removes our sin and remembers it no more. I accepted Christ as my savior and was once again changed, this time enjoying the peace and freedom that comes from living in redemption. An invitation to tell my story in church was a difficult first step on my journey to help others confront the lies surrounding abortion. I have since shared my story nationally through Focus on the Family and whenever I have opportunity. I started volunteering at a Pregnancy Resource Center, using my nursing skills to do ultrasounds before becoming the director of post-abortion support at our organization of 13 centers in two Midwestern states. I am also the director… Read More

June 29, 2022
Adoption/Foster Care Special Needs
ADOPTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

I was a single mother of two when I answered God’s clear call to adopt and foster children with Down syndrome and other life-threatening medical conditions. It has been quite a wild and demanding ride but it has brought me so much closer to the Lord, and, in looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. How I got to this point requires some explanation: I got divorced when I was pregnant with my second child. It was right around the holidays, and I was devastated. I cried out to God that this was not how I ever imagined my life when God spoke to my heart and told me to trust Him, that He made me to be a mom and that had not changed. I also knew in that moment that someday I would adopt a child. About six years later, I was volunteering with a nonprofit that advocated for the adoption of kids with various special and medical needs when the Lord spoke to my heart that is was time to pursue adoption. He had opened my eyes to the fact that many children, both here in the United States and worldwide, are abandoned due to the fact that they are simply not considered a “healthy child”. That was when God made it clear that He wanted me to foster, and maybe adopt, a child with Down syndrome. So I faithfully started to follow the Lord in this prompting to pursue a child with Down syndrome. I originally thought this would happen through international adoption and that I would seek an… Read More

June 22, 2022
Labor Overcoming Obstacles
INSPIRING BLOOMS

I was serving at an orphanage in El Salvador when my life started unraveling. Hearing the stories of trauma triggered my own childhood wounds and memories. I was able to hold it together until my term finished, but back in the United States, I had a complete breakdown. I became deeply depressed and developed out of control OCD. For several years I only tried to deal with my anxiety and depression spiritually—pray more, read the Word more. I didn’t start improving until I was finally willing to look at the physiological aspects. I started going to extensive therapy and taking medicine. It’s been a five-year journey, and I still have the occasional day where I struggle, but I’m thankful to be 90 percent better. As a child, I had a great interest in flowers and plants. I loved beauty. I followed my great aunt around her little greenhouse and was always picking bouquets for my mom. That interest got buried as I grew older. Then in El Salvador, I worked on some agricultural projects, and the interest revived. Back in the States, I returned to my old job, but in a new role that wasn’t a good fit. It didn’t feel fulfilling. I prayed, “God, give me something meaningful.” I started building a small greenhouse as a side hobby. Then my cousin gave me books about flower farming, which I devoured. For the first time, I realized that I could raise flowers for a living. I began dreaming and making plans. In 2021, I started Inspiring Blooms, planting a half-acre in flowers. This year,… Read More

June 15, 2022
Labor Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries
REPAIRING CARS, ALTERING LIVES

I take donated, broken-down cars, fix them up and then give them to low-income families in rural South Carolina that are in desperate need of transportation. It can totally transform that person's life. It is an absolute blessing to do this and I can see the Lord’s hand in how all this got started. I love to barbecue, especially ribs made from my great grandmother’s recipe that has been passed down in my family since 1898. My friends love them, and they convinced me to enter a rib cooking competition in September 2019. I’d never done anything like that but I entered. To my amazement, I won and got $1,000 in prize money! The cook off took place in Andrews, South Carolina, a fairly poor, rural area of the state. I could tell there were some real needs there and I felt led to do something for them. So I took half my prize money and used that as seed money for a Thanksgiving food drive for the people in that area. Folks heard what I was doing and helped by donating money and items. I put together 217 boxes for families consisting of a turkey or ham, candied yams, rice and mac and cheese. After we got done distributing the boxes, there were still all sorts of families in the back of the line that didn’t get any food. And I noticed they were walking home. There was no public transportation, no Uber, no way to get anywhere unless they walked. Many of them had walked five miles to get in… Read More

June 8, 2022
Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries
SANCTUARY IN TRAUMA

My world blew up nine years ago because a loved one’s secret sin, when exposed, led to his imprisonment. I was suddenly left to provide for and protect my four children. The challenge was enormous as a stay-at-home who had been in ministry for 20-plus years. I lacked emotional, physical, and spiritual strength as a broken person searching for dignity and solutions in the midst of devastation. While the Lord had been my rock and salvation since childhood, I was shaken to my core. Christian friends and family carried me through the darkest of days, as well as a complete stranger who reached out after having endured trauma. God placed believers in my life who challenged me to seek and know truth. I claimed Psalm 16:8, vowing I would not turn from my Heavenly Father. And yet, I wondered why my story had been radically rewritten. How could God destroy every aspect of my life that had given me purpose and joy? The answer became clear as I shared with others how my difficult journey would be worthwhile if God could use it for His glory. That longing evolved into a calling to be the hands and feet of Jesus for those enduring life-altering crises. I partnered with that “stranger” who became my close friend to begin SiT: Sanctuary in Trauma nearly two years ago. SiT retreats provide a quiet place to help women process their pain, to rest, be encouraged, gain tools to go forward, and most importantly realize that God is trustworthy despite our circumstances. SiT sessions and mentoring reinforce… Read More

June 1, 2022

Browse all categories

Adoption/Foster Care 38

Church Activities 59

Financial Help 18

Loss Of Loved One 38

Loving Your Neighbor 66

Mission Work 51

Overcoming Obstacles 111

Prison Ministry 11

Senior Citizens 22

Special Needs 47

Unique Ministries 160

Verbalizing the Gospel 73

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