Stories - Page 27 of 82 - 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?

Loving Your Neighbor Unique Ministries
LOVING THROUGH LITTLE THINGS

To some Christians, how we are to go about loving like Jesus is a mystery. It seems like a massive task that we will never perfect. Some are worried they don’t do it right and others are concerned they won’t do it enough. As for me, a thirty-year Christian, I agree on both counts. We will never get it completely right and we will never do it enough this side of Heaven. As Matthew 5:16 reminds us, we are to let our good deeds shine so that those around us see it and glorify God as a result. While I am not perfect, I can say I accomplish showing love for Jesus through living out The Word. Not just talking about it and memorizing it, but doing it in such a way that others give recognition to the fact that my heart belongs to the Triune-God of the Bible. I text people randomly saying things like, “Hey, how can I pray for you today?” and “I want you to know I think you are a great addition to the youth leadership team.” Nothing fancy, no fanfare, just a quick note to offer prayer, uplift and encourage. In a world burdened with tension, economic uncertainty and pressures from all sides, those unexpected notes, letting us know someone is thinking about us, are very needed. It’s no wonder the Bible is filled with passages about being encouraged and encouraging each other, like Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 31:24 and Psalm 121:1-2. One of my favorite memories involves helping a lady friend whose vehicle needed some TLC. She didn’t have… Read More

January 26, 2022
Overcoming Obstacles Prayer Unique Ministries
MY NEW LIFE AFTER GOING BLIND

“What happens now? What am I going to do?” I found myself constantly asking these questions. It had been a year of painful recovery and harsh reality. After an extensive series of unsuccessful eye surgeries, I was blind. A wife, mother of three, a classroom teacher. In a matter of weeks, my life had drastically changed forever. I chose to spend the endless days sitting and praying for my family and friends, my former students, those at church, missionaries. This became my ministry when it seemed to me, at the time, I could do nothing else. It was extremely difficult to find myself physically disabled and not able to live doing what I loved: taking care of my family and teaching. But I firmly believe in the power of prayer and continued to lift other’s burdens before the Lord. After that first year, I decided a new ‘normal’ had entered my life. My vision was no longer available to me. What was I going to do? I got up every morning and painstakingly taught myself how to relive life by touch. I cooked and cleaned, washed clothes, pretty much everything I had always done, at a much slower pace. But I decided I was going to do whatever I wanted to do. And I have. I taught myself how to crochet for those not-so-often-anymore endless days of just sitting. I make blankets and give them to those dear to my heart that I continue to pray for every day. Since I began five years ago, I have made and given away over 300 blankets and… Read More

January 19, 2022
Labor Unique Ministries Verbalizing the Gospel
THROWING THE JAVELIN FOR HIM

God gave me an unusual platform and I intend to use it for Him as much as I can. I throw the javelin, a gift I didn’t even know I had until college. And I’ve been blessed to compete in three different Olympic Games. I’ve worked incredibly hard on refining my skills and I practice every day to the best of my ability. Yet my identity is not attached to a number on a scoreboard; rather, it is found in Christ. I just do the best that I can and glorify God in that. When people see me, I want them to see Jesus shining through me. I’m just a vessel who has been given this unique gift. I can see how God was molding me into His vessel throughout my life. When I was in kindergarten, I broke my femur and chipped a growth plate, leaving doctors wondering if my leg would ever grow again. But my parents found a doctor who helped me overcome these setbacks. Growing up in a small town, I played every available sport in school: volleyball, basketball and different track events. Javelin wasn’t even an event in Nebraska high school track. When I went to college, I competed in the heptathlon and one coach noticed how much I excelled at one of the events, the javelin, even though I had no formal training. He convinced me to concentrate on that event. And in just 3 1/2 years, God game me the skills to become the NCAA National Champion, Collegiate Record Holder and make it to the 2016 Rio… Read More

January 12, 2022
Loving Your Neighbor
REALLY SEEING AND HEARING PEOPLE

Recently, someone asked me, “How do you show the love of Jesus on a daily basis?” I said I take the time to really see and hear people. They are not obstacles to overcome or items to check off. I stop to really see people. Like last night, at my place of employment, a woman came to me angry and frustrated. I stopped and heard her. I couldn't change the outcome of the situation, but I could hear and validate her frustration. It ended in me hugging and holding her. Nothing changed in her circumstance, but everything changed in her because she was seen and experienced someone truly paying attention to her. At the end of that shift, one of my coworkers belittled me for how I handled the situation. I explained that seeing and hearing the person was my gift. I have a softer, mild, compassionate approach. But my coworkers’ gift may be different because God purposefully made them different. They may be very straightforward, their words hitting you between the eyes. Both tactics have their place, but we must each flow within our own gift. She agreed and, thankfully, my managers also backed me up. I have learned one of the challenges of truly loving others is staying filled up. Galatians 6:9 tells us “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good…”. This can be hard because people are like emotional rollercoasters. They move from harsh, struggling and in pain; to gentle, vulnerable and open for healing. Thankfully, my degree in Occupational Therapy and my experience working for several organizations which help… Read More

January 5, 2022
Hospital Overcoming Obstacles Unique Ministries
SAY I WON’T

Life is not easy as a quadruple amputee. But I have never doubted God and if I can be an inspiration to just one person and lead them to a relationship with Jesus, then this has all been worth it. On New Year’s Eve of 2019, I came down with the flu. Over the next few days, my health worsened and I was rushed to the hospital. I developed a blood infection; then went into cardiac arrest and septic shock which started to cause organ failure. I actually flatlined for over seven minutes. By the grace of God, a cardiac surgeon was nearby and began working to save me. Doctors performed a five-hour surgery to get my lungs and heart working again. I went into a coma for 10 days and the surgeon said it was a longshot that I’d survive. But I did. I left the hospital after 107 days, but I did so without my limbs. The blood infection caused them to start deteriorating when I was in the coma. Doctors had to amputate my arms just below the elbows and my legs just under the knee joints. When I was fighting for my life in the hospital, I clung to two verses, both from the Book of Job. The first was Job 1:21. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” I reflected on how much God had given me throughout my life. Now He was taking away. So I felt led to praise Him even in this difficult time. As a result,… Read More

December 28, 2021
Children Mentoring Overcoming Obstacles
ON RIVER TIME

I was sexually abused multiple times as a six-year-old child. As a young boy, I was confused, shameful and guilt ridden. I didn't say anything to anyone. Even as an 11 year old kid, I recalled standing at the doorway of my mom and dad's room, determined to say something, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was overcome by shame, guilt, and a fear that often comes with abuse. I bottled it up. For decades. But as an adult, I kept having the same recurring nightmare and finally got myself into counseling. For the first time, I broke down and those painful memories were finally verbalized. What people might not understand about abuse victims is that believing it wasn't your fault does not come easily or quickly; it's a process of forgiveness and self-reflection that usually happens in silence. For me, that happened on a river as I was fly fishing at age 38. I loved the serenity of fly fishing and found it to be the perfect place to talk to God. And it was on that river where He and I finally worked out all my demons. So many people go through painful experiences and don't do anything with those experiences. But God showed me that He wanted me to do something impactful with this pain. I didn’t know what that might be, so I prayed and gave it all to God. He led me to do two things. The first was to write a book about my experience called Picking Butter Beans. It allowed me to… Read More

December 21, 2021

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Adoption/Foster Care 38

Church Activities 60

Financial Help 18

Loss Of Loved One 38

Loving Your Neighbor 66

Mission Work 52

Overcoming Obstacles 115

Prison Ministry 11

Senior Citizens 22

Special Needs 47

Unique Ministries 165

Verbalizing the Gospel 74

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