by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I met a new friend the other day. Her name was Alicia. Her only possessions were a backpack, the clothes on her back, a pair of worn out shoes, her beloved dog Cadillac Jack, and a broken heart.
Alicia is homeless, but I was able to see a faint glimpse of hope in her tear-filled eyes.
From the little amount of time I spent with her, brokenness was unavoidably recognizable. But she was seeking a second chance.
I stood counting my blessings after my encounter with Alicia. Blessed that I have a warm place to sleep every night. Blessed that I do not go hungry. Blessed that friends and family love me. Blessed by how much God has provided my needs. Blessed for the shoes on my feet. Blessed for clothes I stare at in my closet while writing this. Blessed for the electricity that provides the power to write this blog post. Blessed with the laptop that allows me to write. Blessed by the pillow that will hold my head while I sleep tonight. Blessed that I know where I will be sleeping everyday. Blessed by the amount of books setting on my nightstand. Blessed by the pictures of friends and family. You get the picture. I’m pretty danged blessed!
Will you pray with me for Alicia? Pray that she realizes and believes Ephesians 3:16-20. Pray that she realizes how long and wide and deep and high Christ’s love for her is. Pray for new beginnings. Pray for her to accept and receive the love God wants to give her.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Thank you for standing in prayer with me for my friend Alicia.
Are you counting your blessings today?
by | Life Application
I wrote a post last week on the difference between listening vs. hearing. Sometimes we need the validation that someone hears us. Someone sees us. Someone knows us.
I ran across this video and wanted to share it. It’s more like a mini movie, but so worth the watch.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao&feature=player_embedded#at=911]
Do you validate?
by | Life Application
I recently came to the conclusion that there is a difference between these two words.
I have been so guilty of listening to the words of another, then returning no validation to what they just spoke from their heart. My mind has been on other things and I didn’t really hear what they were saying. It hurts.
I have been on the giving end, and more recently on the receiving end of being listened to, but not heard.
I have been back and forth to many doctors over the last two years. I have walked in with confidence and walked out later with shattered hope. They listened, but they didn’t hear.
Last week I met with another new doctor. I walked into her office routinely ready for her to listen, tell me her opinion, then send me on my way. This time it was different. I spoke. She listened. I waited. She heard. I cried. She heard my pain. She heard my plea. Oh what a difference it makes!
It has opened my eyes to wanting to be more aware to those around me and how I react when they pour their heart out to me. I don’t want to listen. I want to hear. I don’t just want to hear their words. I want to hear what’s in their heart.
I encourage you to ask yourself today whether you listen or whether you hear.
Has someone heard you lately?
by | Life Application, Living Truth Radio Show
On yesterday’s episode of Living Truth we had Christian Fiction Author Julie Cave with us. You’ll learn more about the show in tomorrow’s blog. Today I want to focus on your chance to WIN.
We have posted a discussion on our Facebook page we would love you to join. We asked the question:
Do you think what you believe about evolution and creation is important in your relationship with God?
It’s simple. Visit our Facebook page. If you haven’t already become a fan, we hope you will. Answer the question and there you have it! You’re entered for a chance to win a copy of Julie’s first book Deadly Disclosures.
Click here for my review of the book.
To visit the discussion and post your comments, click here.
Contest runs through Sunday, April 10, 2011.
by | Life Application
Haroon Das was a man with a brutal past. His hate for Christians was not hidden. He was a leader Orissa, India, where he and many others gathered to destroy Christians. Does this sound like someone else we know?
In 2008, after destroying a church that housed a Gospel For Asia missionary, Haroon became paralyzed. His health worsened
and he was at a loss, until someone told him about the power of prayer. He struggled to believe that was possible and struggled even more that the very people he persecuted would be willing to pray for him. But on a Tuesday night at a prayer meeting Haroon’s life was changed forever.
Was he forgiven? Was he healed? Read the rest of the story here….
by | Life Application
I viewed this video thank to Michael Hyatt’s blog on Saturday and I decided to steal it.
This is a video by Corning Glass.
This is the future:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38&feature=player_embedded]
Does this excite you or scare you?
I met a new friend the other day. Her name was Alicia. Her only possessions were a backpack, the clothes on her back, a pair of worn out shoes, her beloved dog Cadillac Jack, and a broken heart.
