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Through the Jungle

“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

[1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV]

Felix writes:

Walking through the jungle all alone. Surrounded by animals on all sides. Walking faster to escape your fate. No escaping what you cant see. No escaping what you cant touch. You see things that are not there. You want to run but where will you run to? There is a way out of the jungle. You see two paths ahead of you. One path leads deeper into the jungle. Thick trees surround the path on both sides. There is little light as far as you can see. The little light that does break through lets you see a relatively clear path. There are thick tree trunks that have fallen from the jungle. Once you clear these obstacles it gets much easier to walk. You also sense an unseen presence. This path seems to have had little use though. The other path is clear but it winds to and fro. There are many thick tree roots waiting to trip you up further down the road. The terrain is choppy and the earth is twisted. It looks like many others have been down this path before. This path seems very lonely to you anyways. The sun is allowed to shine here. It is an illusion. Look further down and you will see the thickness of the trees choking off the light. Once you get there it will be too late. The path will leave you blind and disoriented. There is no turning back once you choose this path. The first path will lead you to a city of unheard riches. There is only one doorway to this city. The walls and the streets will be built with the finest materials ever imagined. Walls surrounding you paved with gold and precious jewels. With every step you feel the mix of platinum, gold, and the finest silver melted into the most gloriously soft substance ever imagined. The people who made it to the city seem constantly filled with joy. The joy can be seen on their faces as they sing and dance. They do not seem self conscious at all. Everyone here looks fulfilled in every sense of the word. There is no sickness, no pain, no disappointments, just love. Love made this city and love made these people. Love took away the sickness and pain. Love does not disappoint. Love lifts you up. Love gives you what you desire most. Inside the walls Love reigns. Outside these walls are a different kind of life. This is where the second path will lead. Outside the wall there is no rest for the weary. There is no counseling the heart or the mind. There is only the hurt of separation. The people here look very tired. They walk around as if they are dead. They feel every hurt and every pain of being away from Love. There is no love here. There is only deception and separation. The people cry out for help. You can hear their hearts asking for reprieve from a desperately and lonely situation. When these people hear the songs of the people inside the city their hearts become harder. They begin to hate more and more. Inside they are torn apart. They have no hope for themselves. Hate and despair make themselves ready for a long stay here. There are no paved roads or walls here. There is only a dark, bleak, landscape with no life besides the people there. Hard dirt like concrete underneath your feet. You are staring at the two paths. The presence you felt earlier appears before you. It comes like a bright light. Feet like bronze, wearing a robe white like snow. Eyes seem like fire yet seemingly kind and gentle. He reaches out to you and he speaks….

This is how I felt before God saved me. This verse describes how I feel towards God as He drew me to him.

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Story posted on Sunday, December 21st, 2008 and is filed under Conversions, God's Love, Hope, Loneliness, Overcoming sin, Praise, Struggles, Your Stories. | No Comments »

God Freed Me From Shame

“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.””

[Romans 10:11 NKJV]

Phil writes:

I used to be buried in shame. I had been born out of wedlock to a mother who loved me and a man who wanted me to be aborted. Because of this I grew up without a father. Later, in preschool I was molested by my preschool teachers. A short time after that my mom married my first step-father, who turned out to be an alcoholic. The next seven years were filled with emotional torture, and eventually included physical abuse.

We were poor most of that time, even living on welfare at one point. Because of a number of factors related to that poverty and my upbringing, I was constantly bullied and made fun of at school from elementary school through middle school.
By the time my mom and step-father divorced I was depressed and suicidal. Though I went through counseling and became convinced that God must have a purpose and plan for my life, I turned towards sin and entered into a crippling addiction to pornography.

To deal with the shame I felt at my past difficulties and present sin, I did all I could to cover it up with a happy and fun exterior. By the time I came to college I jumped into the partying lifestyle as a part of that fake exterior. Finally I woke up one morning in a pool of my own vomit because of how much beer, mixed drinks and liquor I drank the night before.

At that point, overwhelmed by shame, I knew something had to change but didn’t know where to go for help. Two days later I went to a church where I heard the pastor say that we can begin to see God when we have been humbled. Since I felt humiliated, I figured I must qualify as someone who was close to beginning to know God.

One month later an evangelist came to my university and preached the Good News of Jesus Christ saying that God would become my Daddy if I would repent and trust in Him. He also said that God knew I would become the father I never had.
The shackles of shame dropped off of me that day nearly 8 years ago when I tearfully put my trust in God. Every day since then I’ve been learning how to keep living without shame as I put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am so thankful to God that he has made me new and clean, and that as I trust in Him I will never come under the power of sin and shame again. Even more wonderful is that He wants to do the same for you too!

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Story posted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 and is filed under Conversions, Drugs & Alcohol, God's Love, God's Sovereignty, Hope, Life Verse, Overcoming sin, Praise, Sadness, Struggles, Your Stories. | 1 Comment »

God Changed Me

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

[John 1:4-5 NKJV]

April writes:

I was gay, I mean really, really gay. I share my story of how I became a Christian all the time, but there’s a big part to “my story” that I have never told but really feel led to tell it now. Here goes, I was the youngest of three girls, often criticized for my skinny and premature behaviors. I would always get harassed by my sisters and friends about why I hadn’t started puberty or why I am not developing like all the other girls. This gave me an insecurity that had me thinking “why am I so different? Am I an accident? Am I pretty? Am I gay?” I went on in my teens and began even more to feel out casted, especially by my own family. At the age of 13, I turned to drugs and alcohol but that is just one of many addictions I had to overcome. I started to grow more and more curious about my sexuality and began watching porn. I was 18 when I decided I was gay, and no one could convince me otherwise. I fell in love with a girl named Elizabeth and felt this was it. I wanted to marry her. I became an advocate for gay & lesbians because of all the persecution I got from ‘coming out’. I even marched in the annual gay pride parade in San Diego. The more people told me I was wrong for being a lesbian the more I fought for the freedom to be one. All the while I never dealt with my insecurities and they certainly didn’t go away because of my new lifestyle. I was still empty inside. I felt a deep rooted question in my heart “if being gay feels so right how it could be wrong? Is it wrong and who says?” but I would never share my wonders with others because I was in it too deep. Elizabeth and I broke off our relationship after 5 years, which was the hardest and only real break up I ever had. I moved far from her but not far from my lifestyle. I continued this lifestyle and had no boundaries to my choices in relationships. I was still empty, even more than before. I worked for a well known gym in LA and the manager of the store was a Christian. He would preach to me all night every night. I would hate it; I debated him every night for 4 months. Until one day to get him off my back I took him up on his offer and went to a bible study with him. It seemed the people at this bible study had something I was longing for my entire life, true joy and love in their hearts. They were full of love and didn’t judge me. They truly had my eternal interest at heart. They helped me understand the most difficult questions I had in my mind about God and what Gods plan for me is through scripture. I came to Christ that very night and did not look back. The funny thing is I didn’t have to stop using drugs first or even be sober or not be gay to believe. All I did was cling to Jesus and His word; believe in my heart what He had done for all mankind. Sure repenting took a little while and I still am learning what Gods eyes see as sin. Quickly I became convinced that being gay was a way for me to place my insecurities away without dealing with them. My insecurities were in charge of my decision to be gay. But once my insecurities were dealt with, and I mean really dealt with deeply, I became more and freer from them and that lead me to choose to no longer live as a gay person anymore. Then after examining my intensions and looking at Gods word I knew that all this time it was an obedience battle. Yes I said it. I was making my sexuality the core focus of my life and when you turn your focus on Jesus and what He did for mankind that changes everything. After time, He changed me. I am so happily married now to a great man and for the first time in my life I feel truly beautiful and valuable the way I was intended to feel. People may call me a hypocrite and I do have to deal with persecution sometimes but at least it’s for Jesus. Nobody could do what He did and certainly nobody else freed me but Him. Thanks for letting me share.

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 and is filed under Conversions, Drugs & Alcohol, God's Love, Grace, Hope, Loneliness, Overcoming sin, Praise, Struggles, Your Stories. | 5 Comments »

I Found Peace In The Lord

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

[John 14:27 NKJV]

Fran writes:

I was twenty-seven before I heard the way of salvation was other than being good. I was living the normal merry-go-round life of a wife and mother of two. Except it wasn’t so merry sometimes.

I put myself under such pressure, even a simple phone ringing sent me for the bottle of tranquilizers. Then the unexpected death of my parents shook my already unsteady world. Besides my deep grief, I now had big questions. What happens when you die? What is life all about? I tried going back to my childhood church whose hypocrisy had years ago turned me off of religion. They had no answers for me. Seeking peace and answers, I increased the speed of my merry-go-round. God being so merciful, pursued me until I found Him. He sent Donna into my life. Through her love and prayers, she led me to the doorway of salvation.

She gave me a Bible and patiently answered my myriad of questions. I learned I couldn’t work my sin away, I couldn’t do enough good works to get to heaven. It was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had already earned my way for me (Rom 5:8).

When I read in the book of John (14:27) that Jesus said He gives me peace and it wasn’t the peace as the world gives and that I was not to let my heart be troubleld or afraid. I knew this bible was for me.

Donna told me if I’d even if I’d been the only one, He loved me enough to die just for me!
No words can describe what happened in my life once I chose to go through the open door of salvation. God gave me true peace and joy, and a love for Him and His Word.

No matter what life has brought, no matter which doors I have chosen, I have weathered it—for He is the Source of my peace and joy. While I didn’t become instantly perfect , He began a gentle work which is still going on.
Each day is indeed an adventure with Him—and it keeps getting better.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 NIV).

Prayer: “Thank you Father, for your Son Jesus Christ who died, was buried, and rose again for my sins. I come by faith and ask You to forgive me. I surrender myself to you, and thank You for coming into my life. I believe Your promises are true, and I am now Your child by faith. Amen.”

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Story posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, Evangelization, God's Love, God's Sovereignty, Grace, Hope, Life Verse, Mentoring, Praise, Struggles, Your Stories. | 1 Comment »

Please Pray For Us

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,”

[Matthew 25:35 NIV]

Rev. Bhatia writes:

Dear in Jesus Christ I m Omprakash Bhatia a hindu convert in 1975 I was raised by parents who enjoyed a close walk with millions of hindu gods and godesses I was converted at the age of 23. A miracle took in my life I was delivered from the boundage of millions of gods and godesses by the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST and changed into likeness of his children as a worshipper of LIVING GOD. MY dad, whose LIFE DEVOTED TO hindu gods and godesses never tolerated me to be a christian and caste out from the home. I was working in govt. service, I was called by JESUS CHRIST to serve HIM, I left job and my family.

There was a time I too was tempted, by evils but stood alone with terrible criticism by my own people and by the enemies of the gospel but BY HIS GRACE and calling to me I am with HIM and serving Him. Even I have seen many nominal christians also became a obstucles to my life But I LOOKED at HIM and looking to Him to serve Him fearlessly.

For several years now I myself have been a modern preach on a regular basis in my circuit in all the hilly areas seen many came to JESUS and accepted Him as THE PERSONAL SAVIOUR in hills. In all my labours, the cry of my heart is for depth-for real depth and holiness in my walk with God, and with my organisation SATNAM SEWA SHRAM(TRUENAME SERVICE),WHICH IS FOUNDED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

SATNAM SEWA ASHRAM (SSA) is the caring and sharing arms of evangelicals in Himachal Pradesh in India engaged in Relief and Rehabilitation of people who are victims of disasters and calamity and in devlopment of the poor, downtrodden communities in the rural and urban slum areas. The service is provided irrespective of any castes creed, colour or sex discrimination. It is an Interdenominational, evangelical, christian outreach mission with recognised as a charitable trust. Jesus’ ministry was dependent only on the Holy Spirit. He did accept gifts of money from His followers for His work (Luke 8:2, 3). But He never asked anyone at any time for money and He never made His financial needs known to anyone but His Father. This is the way that any ministry that honours God will work even today… so pray to the FATHER TO HELP US.

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Story posted on Saturday, November 1st, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, Evangelization, God's Love, God's Sovereignty, Missions, Prayer, Your Stories. | 26 Comments »

God Answered My Knock

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

[Luke 11:10 NIV]

Darlene writes:

I was a baptist then mormon. I started visiting other churches. Then go back to mormon. Then later felt like i didnt belong. But i was gong to a Church of God church often. I was praying to God to lead me where he wanted me to go and prayers were answer.I accepted Jesus Christ in my heart and i was forgiven and saved. I have join,been baptized in the Blackshear church Of God. And i receive the Holy god awesome. Happier and pray often and read the bible daily and in church often. God is so awesome and i believe in Jesus christ and i know what he did for us is true.

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Story posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, Grace, Overcoming sin, Praise, Struggles, Your Stories. | 1 Comment »

I Had to Make a Choice

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

[Romans 8:28 NIV]

Davis writes:

Eight years ago this week, my former wife appeared in the doorway to my den/office and said that she wanted me out by sunset. I asked her if it was like in the western movies, you gotta be outta here by sunset. She was not amused. This stemmed from my going to church, reading the Bible, interested in my salvation and her own salvation. What led up to this final dismissal was me offering her a copy of the New Testament. I got it back with a note that said “Thanks but no thanks”. I received a tape in the mail and wanted her to listen to it with me, a devotional tape, she said “that is the biggest turnoff”. I went to church by myself every Sunday; she refused to go with me. Gradually she began to dislike my faith and made it plain in more ways than I have already described. She essentially made me choose between her and God. I asked her if she had the power to save me. She had no answer. I was out of the house by sunset, as requested, trying to get back together via phone and letters, but to no avail.

Sometimes we must choose between God and other things in life, even our own spouse. The choice should not be a difficult one, faced with a choice such as that. All things work together for the good, for those who believe in God. No matter how traumatic, no matter whether we must cut ourselves off from this world, no matter who abandons us, God will never abandon us. Our focus is on Him. It has to stay focused on Him no matter what earthy traumatic events we have to endure. It is all right in the end!

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Circle of Prayer

Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.

Also check out our Bible Search and Scripture journeys tools.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 and is filed under Conversions, Divorce & Marital Conflict, God's Love, God's Sovereignty, Hope, Life Verse, Prayer, Struggles, Your Stories. | 1 Comment »

I Beat Anorexia

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

[Philippians 4:13 KJV]

Robbi writes:

This verse has done more for me in my life that I cannot explain it all. This verse helps me whenever I feel down or afraid. It gives me hope and Peace. God has helped me change my life and use my gifts to praise Him.

I had anorexia and got treatment and gave my life to Christ “FULLY” after I got better. I now am recovered and doing well. I owe it all to the Lord. I try and live my life how Christ would want me to and help whenever I can to others.

I thank God everyday for helping me and loving me and especially for being patient with me and by His grace I am saved.

I CAN do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens ME.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Story posted on Sunday, October 12th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, God's Sovereignty, Grace, Hope, Life Verse, Praise, Struggles, Your Stories. | 9 Comments »

God's Grace Is Sufficient

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

[2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV]

Claire writes:

I had prayed to receive Christ, but the truth of the Gospel went over my head. I tried to live the Christian life in my own power and fell flat on my face. Finally, when I heard that I needed to put all of my trust in the Living Resurrected Christ, I wanted to pray to receive Him again, but was afraid because I had failed so miserably before. God spoke to my spirit and said “My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” This gave me the confidence to once again ask The Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior and the Lord of my life. As soon as I asked, He came in and gave me a hunger for His Word, the Bible. I was led to buy an easy translation so I could understand. I got me a “Good News Bible” and read through it in about four months time. I went on to read other translations after that, but I still have my first Bible and I treasure it because of the change that has happened in my life because of the Word of God.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Story posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, Grace, Life Verse, Praise, Your Stories. | 2 Comments »

God Gave Me Words

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

[John 3:16 NIV]

Davis writes:

The other day I was talking with a very very entrenched skeptic or atheist and others had been talking to him about God and he always brushed them off and I said to him, and it seemed that the Holy Spirit was telling me what to say because I skipped all the fine points of theology and just said to him: Hey, which makes more sense? 1) The universe came into being on its own, 2) Some unknown theory that explains the universe being in existence right now,3) God created the universe? Now, One is absolutely nonsensical and cannot happen, and we both know this, so let’s go to number 2, which, if you have info on such a theory let me hear it now, otherwise, that is pretty much out the window, and that leaves us with number three. Which makes the most SENSE TO YOU AS YOU SIT HERE RIGHT NOW? He had no answer and remained completely silent, for a change. Having thus painted him into a corner I walked away and allowed the paint to dry so he could leave without arguing with me about it. The next day I heard that he told someone that the two sister sites I gave him by a former atheist are “great sites”. Hitherto he had not even looked up the word God on the internet or anywhere else. www.allaboutGod.com and www.gotquestions.org Two very biblical and mainstream sites.

The Holy Spirit must have been directing meas to what to say because it all came out organized and direct and forcefully with no opportunity for this gentlemen to give me any specious empty arguments in return. Evidently, God wanted him to hear The Word right then and there.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Story posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 and is filed under Bible, Conversions, Evangelization, Verses, Your Stories. | 1 Comment »