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How Foolish of Us…

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

[ Luke 22:24-27 (KJV)]

Chris says:

How foolish of us! We always want to make a name of ourselves, and this whole time Jesus asks us, “how long shall I be with you?” We want to be great but we don’t want to be a servant. We want to be exalted by our experiences, successes, strengths and so forth, but we hate to be like David and be behind the curtain.
I speak for myself because there are times when I want to share my thoughts, my experiences, and what God has done with me, and I can’t. I tell you I hate to be silent while others carry away for hours and speak. I also found myself wanting to be great when God is using someone else and not me. Is God really not using you or me because we don’t have this opportunity or spot light? If you are just a water boy/girl, He is using you. If you are quiet and just listening as another yaps away, He is still using you; and greater is your reward. Even If you’re only wiping the sweat off a man or woman of God, the Lord is using you!

In Luke 22:27 Jesus tells us, “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” Jesus did not have to serve, he could’ve said: God I know you are not going to make me nothing when I’m somebody, I’m Jesus. Yet He did not say this, and this is why God said “this is My Son who I am well pleased with”.

You see we are quick to say, “nobody acknowledges me”, “nobody calls me to preach or sing”, “nobody lets me talk”, “nobody listens to me”, “they don’t believe in me” etc., but have you stop to realize that it’s only selfish wants/gains to desire to make a NAME for yourself. Learn to serve others and be a servant to God!

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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.

Story posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 and is filed under Praise, Your Stories, Missions. | No Comments »

Matt Maher: Using My Gifts [3:15]

Tell the heavens and the earth to start singing! Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest to join in the song! The LORD has rescued his people; now they will worship him.

[Isaiah 44:23 CEV]

Christian music artist Matt Maher shares how God has used his gifts to form a ministry out of it all.

Story posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 and is filed under God's Love, Hope, Matt Maher, Bible, Video Stories, Grace, God's Sovereignty, Missions, Life Verse. | No Comments »

The Glorious Unseen: Building The Church [1:38]

Jesus answered: Yes, all of you have become my followers. And so in the future world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, I promise that you will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

[Matthew 19:28 CEV]

Christian music band The Glorious Unseen shares how their band started from their local church and how God has allowed them to grow in their ministry.

Story posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 and is filed under Video Stories, Bible, The Glorious Unseen, Praise, Evangelization, Mentoring, Missions, Life Verse. | No Comments »

Bernie Herms: Human Trafficking [1:30]

Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid.

[Matthew 10:8 CEV]

Christian music writer Bernie Herms shares how his wife opened his eyes to the issue of human trafficking and how its become a passion to bring awareness and help those in need as a ministry.

Story posted on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 and is filed under Bible, Video Stories, God's Love, Hope, Bernie Herms, Prayer, Evangelization, Grace, God's Sovereignty, Christian Families, Missions, Life Verse. | No Comments »

Still Standing: His Word Is Real [1:11]

After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

[Acts 13:22 CEV]

Dave Will of the Christian music group Still Standing (formerly known as the Classic Imperials) shares how the story of David is one he reads often as a life example.

Story posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 and is filed under Bible, God's Love, Still Standing, Video Stories, Praise, Christian Families, Missions, Evangelization, Life Verse. | No Comments »

Angel Higgs: Answering God’s Call [2:38]

When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me.

[Matthew 25:35 CEV]

SYSN Contest Winner Angel Higgs shared with us a moment in her life where God asked her to pray over a homeless woman and how she reacted to His call.

Story posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 and is filed under Bible, God's Love, Angel Higgs, Video Stories, Praise, Grace, Missions, Evangelization, Life Verse. | 3 Comments »

Johnny Diaz: A Generation With A Legacy [1:33]

You remain faithful in every generation, and the earth you created will keep standing firm.

[Psalm 119:90 CEV]

Christian music singer Johnny Diaz shares his passion for youth and how he believes that this generation will be the one to leave a legacy.

Story posted on Friday, August 14th, 2009 and is filed under God's Love, Hope, Johnny Diaz, Bible, Video Stories, Christian Families, Missions, Prayer, Life Verse. | No Comments »

Brandon Bee: Learning To Trust God [3:26]

We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose.

[Romans 8:28 CEV]

Christian music artist and producer, Brandon Bee shares how God revealed him purpose to him during a personal sabbatical.

Story posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 and is filed under God's Love, Hope, Brandon Bee, Bible, Video Stories, Christian Families, Missions, Praise, Life Verse. | No Comments »

God Is Good All The Time!

“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]

William writes:

In 1994 while working as a police officer in a suburban Detroit police department I was told to report to the Deputy Chiefs office. The first thing that went through my mind was “what did I do now?” I did my best to avoid this individual although I did pray for him and other authorities on the department often. This Deputy Chief was not a self proclaimed atheist, but he did know I was a non compromising Christian. This Deputy Chief had even chastised me in front of other officers stating “I Hate The Lord!”
I never reacted too much to his comments, because I am not the Lord, the Deputy Chief’s battle was with the Lord, I was only a representative and I knew the Lord would fight this battle anyway. I have to be honest though, there were a couple times I had hoped the deputy chief would be struck by lightning on the spot or experience some other significant emotional event. That never happened and that’s why I am not the Lord, the Lord knows a whole lot more about grace and mercy than I do and I like it that way, because He has sure given me an abundance of undeserved favor over the years.
Let me also remind you that my Chief had ordered me not to mention God or Jesus while in uniform, was instrumental in deleting God out of the departmental code of ethics and further advised me that there is no connection between God and the Police. Not the best chain of command, but that’s where God wanted me at that time in my life and let me tell you God used both the Chief and Deputy Chief to raise me up in faith rather quickly.
Well now I stepped into the Deputy Chiefs office and he was unreasonably polite asking me to sit down. I sat down and he explained to me that there was an opening in the youth bureau. He further said that I was the best people person on the department and I was his choice, under one condition. I asked what the condition was and he said, “that you not share your faith.” I told him that my people skills were a result of my faith in Jesus Christ and I can’t agree to that, but I am interested in the position.
He excused me from his office, I applied for the position and did not get it. I did get more persecution and eventually resigned my position with the department on April 15, 1995 (Easter Sunday) choosing to obey God and not man.
Now God did not act as quickly as I thought he would, but he did act in His perfect time. In 1996 I accepted a position with the Department of Corrections as a Correction Officer and in 1997 I took a transfer to the west side of the state 100 miles away. Then in 2001 I returned to police work accepting a part-time position for a small city on the west side of the county I lived in and in 2002 God showed me what he showed the Deputy Chief in 1994. I was recruited by the local Sheriff and Superintendent of schools and hired as a part-time deputy sheriff and assigned to local schools as the school liaison officer, responsible for K-12 in my community.
God Is Good All The Time!

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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.

Story posted on Monday, December 29th, 2008 and is filed under Your Stories, Praise, Hope, Evangelization, Missions, God's Sovereignty, Loving your enemies, Struggles, Life Verse. | 1 Comment »

I Feel the Lord's Call

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,”

[Isaiah 61:1-2 CSB]

Chris writes:

These verses have come back to me at 3 separate times in my life and I’m beginning to believe that God is speaking to me in a profound way. I’m to be more like Jesus and share the Good News so that He can set the captives free.

One of my favorite old hymns says it this way; “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus will save, He will save.” I feel as though God is beginning to commission me to go although I’m not entirely sure where or when or to what?!?

This is exciting, but scary as well. I’m 37 years old and I just wish I would have listened previously when I felt His calling but I’m currently unemployed and more attentive to God than ever due to having a wife and a child!

Please pray for me…

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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.

Story posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 and is filed under Your Stories, Bible, Prayer, Evangelization, Mentoring, Missions, Life Verse. | 1 Comment »