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Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Hearts of Fire (Book Review)

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9


“The blood of Jesus is all powerful”. As Adel was forced from her home and abused by jihad soldiers, she repeatedly shouted these words. Her captors seemed surprised that she did not perish from their repeated attacks on her.


After many weeks of torture, labor and a forced marriage to her captor, she crumpled in despair and was ready to kill her unborn child. Her young daughter who was held captive with her, saw the knife pressed to her womb and forced her to stop.


Adel realized that her hatred of her captors had blocked the healing power of God's love. She confessed her hatred to God and begged forgiveness. Healing began to work in her soul.

Read to find out how she was rescued from her captors.

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Purnima as a thirteen year old girl is strong in her faith through many trials. As a fifteen year old, banished from home and country, she stood firm in her faith. Prayer and singing with her Christian friends in captivity kept her strong for many days of torturous interrogations.


“Losing herself in the presence of Christ helped her immensely as she prayed for God to forgive her tormentors and give her strength for whatever came next.”


Long imprisonment nearly brought her to despair. But the Lord was faithful in showing her what was important and she became His witness in the prison.


“Although she didn't know what the future would hold, Purnima resolved to face it bravely. She recognized her weaknesses but refused to let them imprison her. She would rise to the challenge and leave the rest to God, just as Moses (her biblical hero) had done.”

What does God have in store for Purnima?


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Sabina remains faithful to God and her husband through long years of abuse, imprisonment and separation from family. For years she heard nothing from her husband who was also imprisoned.


She was tempted by church and state to marry someone else but God helped her to stand firm. She was overjoyed when her husband was released.

Read about how they continue to face persecution and how God gives them deliverance.


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Gladys, a missionary to India, chooses forgiveness toward those who brutally murder her husband and young sons. She becomes a voice of forgiveness in the world, though public speaking had at one time terrified her.

Read the entire story.


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These are a few stories from this book that I received as a complimentary copy. It is written by The Voice of the Martyrs. You can find it on Amazon. Or if you've received an offer for a free copy, take it.

Read eight stories of faithful women who stand firm through suffering. In China, Indonesia, Bhutan, Russia, Romania, Pakistan, India and Vietnam their hearts are ablaze for Jesus.

Though these women face fear, anger, pain and great hardship, their commitment to Jesus is strong. He helps them through every situation. When we are weak, He is strong.

He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 1:5) He said to expect to suffer for His sake and promised to give words when they're needed. (Luke 21:12-15)

Reading about suffering is difficult for me. The confirmation that God's grace is sufficient through the suffering is what encourages me.


Sunday, January 22, 2017

Joy...and Faith

A huge topic.

Here are some thoughts I'm gleaning.

Joy is a choice.

Forgive, forgive and forgive.

We choose to be hurt.

Talk and think about good things.

Brothers and sisters, think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8 paraphrased)

Does God instruct us to think about ANYTHING negative?

Smile! 😀 It makes you happy.

Celebrate victories. Your own and others. Don't think big. Tell yourself what you did right. Tell your partner what you like about him/her. Tell your child what they did right.

Think of the person you do not like. Is there one good thing about this person? Think about this thing only.

We likely grew up in a family or church or school where you were only told what you did wrong. You have the mentality that you are not enough.

Do you say things like-

"I didn't get enough sleep last night."

"Money doesn't grow on trees!"

"There's way too much to do."

"I can never do it right!"

"Maybe I'm good for something after all."

"I don't have time for that."

There's not enough space."

What do all these statements say?

"Not enough." 

"There's a scarcity."

Truly? Is the ocean only a few drops of water? Is the air you breathe nearly gone? Is the sky about to fall on you?

No! A thousand times NO!

Live with an abundance mentality.

We have an abundant God.

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10

He wants to give us the kingdom.

Fear not, little flock: for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

He says ask and I'll give it to you.

For everyone that asketh receiveth... Luke 11:10

He promises rest. (Yes, on earth!)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:2

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11

He says he'll give us feet like deer, wings like eagles, strength like youth.

Habakkuk 3:19; Isaiah 40:31

He wants us to be a joyful people.

In thy presence is fulness of joy...Psalm 16:11

And it all boils down to a choice.

Really?!

I get to choose these things?

Absolutely!

We see... hear.... get -

What we look for. What we want. What we believe in.

Do you believe God when He says He is for you? 

If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Do you believe everything is against you?

You get what you believe.


Where is your faith today?

What are you expecting?

Are you choosing joy?

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Psalm 67:3 & 5