I was still reeling from the loss of my baby when Hurricane Katrina stormed New Orleans. As I watched the coverage, my mind immediately went to the mothers. How were these mothers going to take care of their babies when their homes were flooded and they were being bused to auditoriums? I felt moved to go to Sam’s and pick up some big boxes of diapers. Taking diapers seemed like a simple thing, but diapers were needed. And, helping these mothers ministered to my hurting momma heart. So, when my home town of Baton Rouge experienced catastrophic flooding in August 2016, my mind again went to the mothers. Entire parishes were underwater and had to be gutted. Believing that we are called to be His hands and feet, I wanted to do what I could. I created an Amazon wish list for baby items such as diapers, wipes and formula to be shipped to my home address. It took me less than twenty minutes to create the list and post it to social media. In the days that followed, we received box after box from Amazon from friends and strangers across the country who donated from the list. My kids also helped by sorting through the boxes. It was an easy way to show my kids they are called to be His hands and feet, too. When Hurricane Harvey led to massive flooding in Houston, I felt led to do the same thing. I contacted a friend who is a school principal in Houston and asked if we could set up an Amazon… 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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My life was forever changed when I was diagnosed with my first brain tumor. I was experiencing severe headaches, and I knew something was wrong. When the results of the MRI came back and the doctor told me, I wanted to scream. I was devastated and cried uncontrollably. "Why me, Lord?" I yelled. But after a few days, I heard the Holy Spirit say "Why not you?" He told me He'd always be with me and not to be discouraged. Since then, I've had a peace that is hard to explain. The Bible says that it passes all understanding, and in my case, it really does. I went through the surgery. I woke up temporarily blind, but my sight returned and the surgery was deemed a success. I had a second chance at life. However, it is now eight years later, and the tumor has returned. With a vengeance. The tumor has disabled me, both physically and mentally. I am unable to work. There have been countless time when I didn't know how I would survive with this pain. As I await the next surgery, I don't know my future prognosis. I will either be cured here on earth or be totally restored in heaven. I know He has promised to be with me no matter the result. God's grace and mercy have brought me through all my burdens and battles so far. While my life has been dramatically altered and not in the way that I would have scripted, it is now my goal to be a living testimony for Jesus. To share… Read More
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I am a Transitional Kindergarten teacher and I love working with my students each year! I have been teaching for about twenty years now, and sometimes the work I do is really challenging. Some of my students have learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Often times, the kids just don't understand what's going on, and their parents may be equally unaware. This can be so difficult. His grace each day gives me the help I need at just the right moment. More importantly, He has given me many opportunities to share the Gospel with both the students and their parents. One great joy I have experienced is seeing families come to faith in Christ, and getting to witness first hand the transformation of their hearts, lives, and even marriages. What I've learned throughout these years of teaching is that when God gives you a task, He is going to equip you with the strength to do it. No matter how difficult it may seem, and even when you're crying in the bathroom, He will give you the strength and wisdom to continue and to love well!
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I tried to take my life once. I had so many bad things happen: I had been molested, raped, physically abused and I've had a child die. I have been a Christian since I was seven years old. But I thought there must be something wrong with me and that I must be a bad Christian if all these horrible things were taking place in my life. I sat down one night and told God that I couldn't deal with the pain of this world any longer and I wanted to come live with Him. So I took a bunch of pills. When I woke up in the hospital, I knew I needed help. I went to counseling for some time, but what helped me more than anything was that I started seriously reading the Bible, every day. I found that these painful things were not happening to me because I was a bad Christian. I felt like God wanted me to use my ordeals to help others. I thought about how I could do that. I have always had an ability to relate to people that may be different, that others may feel awkward talking to. And I thought I could relate to just about any bad thing that someone may have experienced. So I started talking to ladies that worked in strip clubs. I go into the dressing room and just listen to them. I do not have an agenda, and I don't hand them any pamphlets or tracts. I just love them unconditionally. I meet them were they are. I don't preach… Read More
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This is our son who died in the county jail 11 years ago. He accepted Christ as a teen, but hung out with the wrong guys and got involved in drugs. Drugs became his escape. To some his story might seem heartbreaking but it is really a story of redemption. For fifteen months, my wife and I prayed that God would restore and heal our son. He did, but just not the way we had envisioned. Our son spent eight days in jail. God worked in his heart and, on the Sunday two days before he died, he rededicated his life to the Lord. Our pastor visited him on Monday and he shared this awesome decision. The next morning, he suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away. He's now with the Lord, his salvation complete. His story underscores that we don't know what the future holds. The Bible says we are not promised tomorrow. God numbers our days for His purpose. God has given my wife and me His story to tell about our son. Sharing this story has drawn many to Christ. I am a civilian working for the police, and God has allowed me to become the chaplain for our jail. Our jail ministry provides worship services where a number of us are able to bring hope to inmates. Our son's death also opened the door for my involvement in a prison ministry, trying to make a difference in the lives of men who are incarcerated, sharing the message of eternal hope. It is such a blessing to have that hope. Our son… Read More
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When my husband was deployed a few months ago, our son was very sad. He had never been away from his dad and he really missed him. Of all things, they had a special bond of doing yard work together. A couple days after the deployment, our son said he was going over to our neighbor's house to see if Dean could come out and work in the yard with him. Dean is not a child---he has a wife and three girls as well as a full-time job. But Dean set aside whatever he was doing and started raking the yard with our son. That night, our son came home with the biggest smile on his face. And the next day, our son knocked on Dean's door and out he came to help our son blow the leaves out of the yard. Nearly every day for the past couple months, Dean has been working outside with our son. Not just in our yard, but other neighbors' yards. Dean can sense our son's sorrow of his dad not being there, but Dean is helping take our son's mind off that for a short period every day. And doing something that my son and husband loved to do. Dean is also teaching him to serve and be responsible. Together, they chopped up a tree that had blown down across a road during a storm. My husband and I have three kids and I don't know how I could have handled this deployment if it wasn't for Dean's unselfishness. He's made this manageable. And the joy he… Read More