Turn Your Eyes

"Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."—Hebrews 12:2 NASB Born in England, Helen Lemmel moved with her family to the United States where she became a vocal soloist and music teacher. She also composed hymns, many of which focused on her…

We Three Kings

We Three Kings is a nostalgic look at the sweet story behind a classic Christmas carol. Stars include Michael W. Smith & Rebecca St James. Remember the song “We Three Kings”? This is the story of how the enduring classic by John Henry Hopkins came about! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjJYnUMooKs Every year, Mama played the piano at church and put on the Christmas play. The year she…

Is This What Heaven Is Like?

During the last weeks of my mom’s life, I was privileged to talk to her about her faith and to read her the last few chapters of Revelation. I will always remember her saying “wow” repeatedly as I described Heaven. A few times I walked into her hospital room and saw her smiling and reaching her arms out as she was waking. What did she see in those moments between sleeping and waking? Did God…

How to Be a Faith-Filled Man in Today’s World (Part 1)

It’s okay to be discouraged. It’s not okay to quit. “It’s okay to be discouraged. It’s not okay to quit. But, to know you want to quit but to plant your feet and keep inching closer until you take the impenetrable fortress you’ve decided to lay siege to in your own life—that’s persistence.” – Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle is The Way. Are We in a Masculine Crisis? There was a time in recent…

Silencing Shame

Mental health issues carry a stigma in every nation, but in many third-world nations, shame is not just an outcome – it’s the treatment plan. The so-called care given to those coping with mental health challenges can include chaining, whipping, and food deprivation as well as a loss of privacy and basic rights. Born in Nigeria, Olufunmi had many personal struggles including a schizophrenia…

How Can I Find Peace?

How can peace be found in a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty? News reports share sadness and tragedies more often than happy stories and successes. Conversations between friends and strangers bring troublesome details to the forefront. Where can we find peace and hope? Troubles will come and go, yet peace can be found in going to the Father and seeking His comfort and peace. “Peace be…

The Power of Go

John Schlitt woke up one morning in 1980 on the couch after having passed out the previous night. Staring him in the face was his young son, John Kyle. As he was looking at his son, a voice in his head jarred him: “You know, you’re worth more dead than alive.” Whether or not it was true, Schlitt believed the voice. His wife, Dorla, whom he married on August 28, 1971, was tired of…

Dancing in the Storm

As Kevin and Linda experienced heartaches and trials, they found God preparing showers of blessings in their midst. A massive storm had descended on Kevin and Linda. Kevin’s health was deteriorating, and their bills were rapidly climbing far higher than Linda’s ministry income. “All we could do was cling to our hope in God. We prayed and begged for His direction,” recalls Linda. One…

Sustained by Faith

"These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of promises."—Hebrews 11:13 AMPC How do we react when things do not go our way? When God does not seem to hear us or answer our prayers in ways we expected? Our first reaction may be to give up, assuming that nothing will change. But the Bible tells us that faith means believing God…

Let God’s Goodness Break In

Excerpt taken from This Beautiful Truth: How God’s Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness by Sarah Clarkson   I didn’t expect to step into the garden of Eden when I walked out the door. I didn’t expect anything at all that day, curled up as I’d been in a cramped room with ceilings on which I bumped my head and thoughts that left my faith no room to stand up straight. It was my total lack of…