we're collecting and sharing real stories about how the Bible is impacting lives
Maura W.
Maura is our program strategist. She's a fan of the beach, tennis, music, family and God's Word.
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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Hayley says:
When I was 4, my father starting to physically and emotionally abuse me. He would beat me, yell at me, shut me in rooms without food, and a whole plethora of other things. At times, I would feel alone and scared. But, tonight at church I heard this verse, and I’ve decided to make this my life verse.
What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.
Tiffanie L says:
James 1:27 has turned my family’s “comfortable” life upside down… we have served in youth ministry for over a decade and encountered many jaded teens with hardened hearts from the way they have seen in genuine faith lived out. After doing mission work in Haiti in 2005, we felt a unique calling and burden for the orphans there (it all starts and ends with James 1:27). Since our initial trip in 2005, we have adopted 3 beautiful Haitian orphans and are in the process of becoming full time missionaries to Haiti.
Have you adopted a child, or were you adopted? We’d love to hear verses that God has used to encourage you on the theme of adoption!
If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea.
Aly A. says:
While the entire Bible is truly a comfort to me, this one verse alone affects me the most.
I grew up physically and emotionally abused by my father. I was never good enough for him, and he said my bruises marked me for the failure I was. I often thought God had turned his back on me, but when I finally got free of my father, I visited a church for the first time in years, and they showed me this quote. They told me that I do not need to be angry with my father, God will punish him for his sins in the Afterlife. I am only 15, I cannot spend the rest of my life submerged in hate for my father and a wanting for vengeance. I have all my life ahead of me, thanks to God.
This verse reminds me that though God is not always in front of our eyes, he is always watching our backs. I am not worth much to my birth father, but to my Father, my Creator, the One who has been there through it all, I am and always will be worthy of protecting. I dedicate myself and my life to God’s mercy now, and I have never felt more loved.
And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Brian says:
This verse has encouraged me to go thorough each day with the love of Christ in my heart. As much as Jesus loves me, I should love everyone just as much. This has helped me to become more caring and loving towards other people. Jesus loved us so much that He died for us and was willing to forgive us of every one of our sins. We should love everyone just as much. Forgiving and loving others as Jesus forgives and loves us.
Ed.: Please share below how you have encouraged others with Christ’s love this week!
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Donna B. says:
I was raped by a psychiatrist at his home office, so I was nervous going to a counselor where the office was attached to his home.
That morning I read this verse in my Bible study. I wasn’t sure I could do this counseling in this office. When I walked into the waiting area there was the same verse on the wall. I had peace and knew I was going to be ok, and I was doing the right thing by being in counseling.
I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.
Dean D. says:
I come from a rather large family - 12 to be exact. My father worked hard all his life to provide for us since he wasn’t one that believed in welfare or anything like that. He pretty much made his own way in life being that his dad was killed when he was 16. It was up to him to care for my grandmother, which he did until our household became too big, so his youngest sister took her in until she passed.
My dad loved us very much, but his patience wore thin quickly and in his anger would lash out at us saying things like, “You’re no good at anything - I didn’t have my dad around, so I had to figure things out on my own. You will never amount to anything because you are so dumb.”
These things cut to the bone. He never physically abused us but his words were harsh and brutal. Eventually I ended up in prison and became a drug addict. But at the lowest point in my life, Jesus found me and pretty much told me through His word that I am precious and, that I am somebody, and that I can do anything! As long as I allow Him to be the Lord of my life.
Jesus led me out of the darkness of drug addiction and prison, has made me a productive member of society, and a future member of heaven. Praise you my Lord and Saviour, praise you! I’ve been clean for over 15yrs now.
But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received.
Laci G. writes:
This verse has proved so true in my life and has given me strength throughout my darkest hours.
At age 16 I hit rock bottom in my battle with Anorexia Nervosa. I stood terrified one late October morning in my doctor’s office as the scale only read 58 lbs! I cried along with my family as we were told I needed to be admitted to the hospital and given a feeding tube, or within a week I would die. For many months I’d fought hard to stay at home while being treated at an outpatient care unit, but my fight just wasn’t enough.
I stood in that office with every bone in my spine showing, my hair thin and brittle, my skin yellowing and worst of all my tailbone area bleeding when I would sit for very long. I knew it was a matter of life and death, and at that moment I also knew the time had come to give up and give it over to God! My flesh could no longer fight the demon and with the most heartfelt prayer I think I’ve ever said, I released everything to Him. I felt a complete warmth embracing my cold body and knew in an instant I was going to live. By Gods grace only I beat the odds and began the long road to recovery. Today, I can sit here as a 29 year old, happily married, healthy woman. Praise God I have personally seen the power of “by His stripes we are healed”.
I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Liz G. writes:
These verses really encourage me, because no matter what happens or how I mess up, God will never forsake me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. His love is so amazing; He is so amazing. No matter what happens in my life, He is always there and cares about all circumstances in my life. Others will fail me, but God never changes. My alcoholic husband will let me down, but God will uphold me with His righteous right hand. What an awesome God we serve!
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Christian music group Soul Sister Sally shares their personal stories of freedom in Christ.
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
Christian rock group Seventh Day Slumber shares how the band started and the mission and ministry of the group.
