I've had some traumatic experiences in my life. But I know God allowed me to go through these to help me grow and use them for His Glory. As an educator, I now use these trials to encourage my students. God blessed me with a sister and we were each other's source of strength as young children. Our life was not conventional; some may even say it was hard; however, I believe some of those life lessons taught me how to be a survivor. As a young adult, my sister was killed in a car wreck. It was a devastating loss. Then in 2010, my friend and I were out for a run at 5:00 am. We had been training for a half marathon for 10 months. A car came over the hill and struck us both. Tragically, my friend was killed. I was flipped in the air and came crashing down on the windshield. I sustained 25 breaks and underwent 8 surgeries. Doctors said I'd never walk and they talked about amputating both my legs, but I objected. I knew immediately that God had chosen me to glorify Him through this horrendous experience. I didn't know how, but I was determined to show everyone that He was real and He was still doing miracles. I was in the hospital for two months and in intense rehab for another ten months. Through this time, I never complained. I wanted my kids and friends to see that what I'd been telling them about Jesus was true. I needed to practice what I'd been preaching. Through the Lord's grace,… 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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I was a picture of good health until May 2001. We were vacationing at the beach when I got a call from my doctor, telling me I had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The news brought me to my knees. I was scared and shaken, wondering how this could be. Me? I took a walk alone on the beach, crying out to God. And on that long walk, I met God like I never had before. In my fear and through my cries, I got a message that this was not the end. He told me I would be alright, but He wanted me to use this to glorify Him in a very specific way, one that was clearly spelled out to me. He wanted me to start a ministry called Operation Jesus. Being in the police force, I had no ministry experience or any idea on how to get this off the ground. But His message had been so strong that I was only supposed to be His vessel. I started by inviting my fellow officers and some city employees to a mid-week gathering where we would have a guest speaker share his or her testimony. We'd also sing some praise songs and have some time for prayer. They started inviting their friends and the ministry grew. We started in an extra room in a church but God's message clearly told me I was to move it to a bar. Yes, a bar. That sure took some of my fellow officers by surprise. But we found a tavern where the owner was open to the idea. We'd move chairs and tables around, and… Read More
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Jesus instructed us to use our talents for His glory, and that is what I try to do with my music. I play a variety of musical instruments including the violin, fiddle and guitar, and even some unique instruments such as the Irish bouzouki and bodhran. Music is an integral part of my life and has been since I was a little girl. I wanted to spread the word about God's love in a way that tapped into my passion and talent. So I started a music ministry at the local hospital every Sunday morning. I begin by playing some traditional Christian hymns on the violin. This is soothing and seems to draw people in. Then, I head up to the Alzheimer's unit. I play some more hymns, read from a passage of scripture and then end by playing some religious songs that so many of us know from memory. Songs like "This Little Light of Mine" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." It is amazing to see the joy on the faces of these Alzheimer's patients when I play these songs and hymns. A few of them may not remember their own names but they are singing along to these songs and know every lyric. It makes them smile and has a very calming effect. Many see their physical body deteriorating, but this may remind them that there is an eternal hope. It's a blessing to bring that special hour to them each week.
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Our local Children's Hospital uses these shiny Radio Flyer wagons throughout their facility. They are a wonderful distraction for the kids---parents wheel their child around the building to give them a much-needed break from lying in a hospital bed. They're also used in place of luggage racks so people utilize the wagons to move their suitcases in and out of the hospital. Whenever I'd visit Children's Hospital, I would wonder who did the upkeep on these wagons. It turns out one of the men in my church was doing it, and he recruited several church members to join him. I was floored to find out there are over 500 Radio Flyer wagons in our hospital, so there are always a number of them breaking down. We gather every Wednesday afternoon and tackle the repairs. We'll fix the flat tires, replace the loose parts, and even straighten the ones that have been hit in the parking lot, left there when someone took a child to the car to go home. It will take us anywhere from two to four hours every week, depending on the number of wagons. We are "behind the scenes" guys. Only a handful of people know we do this. In fact, all our work is done in a basement room that we call "The Shop." But we enjoy each other and even find time to eat dinner together after we're done. It's a great way to give back. The Bible tells us to help each other, especially people that aren't as fortunate as us or that are going… Read More
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I’ve had a physical disability my whole life. I was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), which means a lack of muscle mass. My arms and legs are affected. But I don’t “see” disability. I don’t dwell on what I can’t do. From early on, I learned to accept my limits, to know challenges will always exist, but they don’t have to be obstacles. I can chase dreams, love life, and embrace the story I am living. Does it look different? Do I need help to achieve those goals? Yes. That’s part of my normal and I don’t mind welcoming others into my world. We all need community and life is better together. Nowadays, I blog about living with a disability. I share my story because this is something I can do---to spread awareness, build understanding, encourage others, and show I am normal. Yes, I have limits, but I love the way God made me. I wouldn’t erase my disability. This is the life God has given me and the story I have to tell. And every day, I have so many reasons to be thankful.
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I never thought I'd quit my job as a fire fighter and go into full time ministry, teaching unemployed young men the art of wordworking. But I felt the Lord's calling and you don't say no when you hear that voice. I planned on being a fire fighter my entire career but my life changed once I got saved by a friend at the station. I started reading my Bible every day. I got to Matthew 4:19, and I felt like the Lord was speaking to me directly. He was calling me to share the Gospel with people. But what could I possibly do to fulfill this? I prayed and what became abundantly clear was that I was passionate about several things: Jesus, working, people and building things. I had built a few pieces of furniture and sold them to fund a mission trip, so I wondered if woodworking may be the vehicle to help me reach out to people. On my off days, I started working with a couple guys who were having a very rough time in life, teaching them the art of wordworking. We built a couple pieces of furniture together and they sold right away at a consignment store. Maybe we were on to something! A few friends saw the positive effect this was having on these young men, and wanted to help me reach other guys who may be unemployed or struggling. So we started Manufacture Good And it grew over time, so much that I had to recently leave my… Read More






