Hello friends! I hope you’re doing well. These stories really blessed me this week and I hope they will help you too. Some stories will challenge you and make you think a lot too. Do what Mary, the mother of Jesus did when she heard things beyond her comprehension – keep these in your heart and ponder about their words. If it’s truly from God then you will understand it fully over time.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=AMP
I used to stay away from the ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional books because the late pastor John MacArthur would criticize it. I used to learn a lot from him at one point when I was considering being a cessationist (basically someone who believes that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer active for the church since we have the Holy Bible). I think I was just confused and tired of praying for miracles when I don’t see them happening.
A few weeks ago I got the ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional book when I was returning another book that I got as a holiday gift. (It was a popular horror-thriller fictional story and I just didn’t have peace about reading this book.) I don’t know why I got the ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional book but I believe it was the Holy Spirit. As I was reading their daily devotional it was hard to accept that these are the words of Jesus Christ for the readers. I mean they are not off scripturally but it’s just weird that the author personalized the writing as if Jesus was speaking.
My thoughts changed when I did more research and heard testimonies from mature, faithful Christians who were going through incredible sufferings such as losing their children to death, drugs and suicide; and they were immensely blessed by this devotional book. My closed-mindedness about this devotional book was demolished by their testimonies.
In our prayer meetings, we pray A LOT for our children and grandchildren. I would say all our prayers get answered as we ask for. There are also many more that we are patiently waiting for. Our prayers are mostly answered in slow motion and require great persistence and perseverance. However, these parents did that and even more – yet they received a heartbreaking disappointment. I cannot imagine the amount of pain that a parent would experience when their prayers are not answered as they have asked for. ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional book gave them the help that they needed to comfort them and help them move forward without anger and bitterness. Here are some of their stories.
Kay Warren is Rick Warren’s wife. They are the founders of the megachurch Saddleback in California. Here’s her story on how the ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional book helped her when her son, Matthew committed suicide.
Here are two more stories:
– Dr Lee Warren is a neurosurgeon who lost his 19 year old son to, most likely, murder. Case is unsolved and closed.
– Lily Taylor’s son got involved with a wrong crowd in high school and later caught dealing drugs. Instead of a light sentence as a first time offender and as they were praying earnestly for; her son got the harshest punishment – ten years of jail and five years of probation.
How do I judge if the fruit of a ministry is good? By seeing if the Christians who received their ministry are still in the body of Christ, and serving Jesus Christ and the people without bitterness and anger. If anyone is hurting and suffering, please get a ‘Jesus Calling’ devotional book. I pray that it blesses you as much as it helped these suffering Christian parents during their darkest days.
Speaking about the neurosurgeon, Dr Lee Warren; he wrote a new book that looks very interesting. Please hear this interview about “self brain surgery”.
“How much of what you think… is actually true? In this powerful episode of No Longer Nomads, neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren joins the show to explore the surprising science behind our thoughts, emotions, and fears—and how they shape our brains, our faith, and our ability to flourish.
After serving as a neurosurgeon in the Iraq War, Dr. Warren returned home with PTSD. Years later, he and his family faced unimaginable grief with the loss of their 19-year-old son. What followed was a life-altering journey that led Dr. Warren to uncover how neuroscience and Scripture converge in a practice he calls “self brain surgery.”
Dr. Warren breaks down complex neuroscience in a grounded, hopeful way—showing how intentional thinking can reshape your brain, strengthen your faith, and help you live the abundant life Jesus talked about.
Whether you’re navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, or simply feeling stuck in repetitive thought patterns, this episode offers practical tools, deep hope, and a renewed sense of agency over your inner life.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-longer-nomads/id1738986336?i=1000747850423
In our prayer meetings, there are many requests for physical and emotional healing. There is just so much trauma. I’ve noticed that healing happens very gradually and slowly as we abide and pray. However, sometimes I hear stories when the healing is instant. Here is a testimony of a lady who experienced great physical violence and sexual abuse growing up, and once she became a Christian she went through lots of therapy but she was not helped much. One day she cried out to Jesus and she claimed that he came to her and supernaturally fixed her brain! I don’t really know what to think about her testimony but it is worthwhile to hear her incredible life stories. Wow.
“In this unforgettable episode of Heaven Meets Earth, Abigail Robertson sits down with author Isik Abla—a former Muslim whose life was radically transformed by a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ. Once consumed by extremist ideology and even dreaming of becoming a suicide bomber, Isik now boldly proclaims the Gospel, leading multitudes into the freedom and love of Jesus Christ. Isik shares breathtaking testimonies of angelic encounters, divine healing, and a life led daily by the Holy Spirit. With urgency and hope, she speaks about the nearness of a great awakening, the shortness of time, and the soon return of the King—reminding us that when heaven touches earth, nothing remains the same.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heaven-meets-earth/id1806665471?i=1000744756982
This is an excellent sermon about how to handle trouble and suffering by the late pastor Tim Keller. It was delivered in September 1993. Pastor Tim Keller passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2023. He was well prepared to die without getting healed from his cancer. Since many people do not get healed and delivered, it is really important to teach the theology of suffering and how to handle it. If anyone is suffering right now, I hope you find comfort and understanding by hearing this good classic sermon.
Here is a very good article written by a Christian physician and lecturer on ‘humble obedience unto death’. The late pastor Tim Keller lived and walked a long humble obedience of faith and unto death, even death without healing on this side of earth.
Here is Dr Charles Stanley’s study Bible on Life Principles. If you want to learn about living life according to the principles taught in the Bible, I highly recommend learning from Dr Charles Stanley. He passed away a few years ago after a lifelong service and dedication to Jesus Christ and His church. He died without any scandals and secrets. He lived and walked a long obedience of faith. It is safe to follow in his footsteps.
https://link.biblegateway.com/view/5ef562a275b76a7d67479d26q6r9c.ftg6/d6ab13a3
Here is a testimony of a Jewish man who became a Christian. The reason why his story caught my eye was because in my first corporate job in NYC, due to overcrowding I shared a cubicle with my immediate supervisor for about six months. He was into the New Age and mysticism to find love, success and happiness. He confused the heck out of me about Christianity and my faith experiences. As I was pondering about visiting my college church to get counsel and prayers, I heard that the church was splitting up due to arguments in the leadership about the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. I was shocked and so sad to hear this news. Just like a divorce, the children are always affected by a split. Anyway, please read his story on why he was attracted to the New Age and how he found nothing at the end of the road in that pursuit. I know from speaking with my working friends that this movement is still prevalent in the workplaces to find success and happiness. In case anyone is going on that route, you could save time and money by hearing stories like his.
https://jewsforjesus.org/our-stories/jeff-morgans-story
I have good friends who follow the teachings of Bethel church and other charismatic churches who have apostles and prophets in their organization. I just don’t know what to think of a ministry person who says that they are an apostle or prophet. After the exposure of the fake prophet, Shawn Bolz I heard this podcast interview by a Christian journalist group. They did a good job explaining the role of an apostle according to the Bible. Once you understand what an apostle does, I can’t imagine anyone wants to do this job without the supernatural transformation and ordination of the Holy Spirit. Being an apostle is living life like a slave to Jesus Christ and to His church. Like I said before, once I became a believer, I discovered that I joined a military family. The higher you go up in rank, the more sacrifices, trials, and responsibilities you have. God gave us free will and so, you could always decline if you don’t want the job. Although you will get very bored as you live life without being challenged to use your talents and gifts…just stay out of trouble which can happen when one is bored and idle.
“In the wake of current exposés of supposed “prophets” — Shawn Bolz, Chris Reed, Todd White and others — many are rethinking the movement they come from. And they’re questioning the teaching of churches, like Bethel, which platformed and covered for these “prophets,” rather than exposing them as frauds. Known as the New Apostolic Reformation — or NAR — this movement centers on the five-fold ministry outlined in Ephesians 4.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-roys-report/id1470242499?i=1000748453237
Here is the book from the guest of this podcast:
https://mailchi.mp/julieroys.com/jan-book-offer-to-heal-or-harm-4765173?e=d155f5b979
To end this message on a lighter note, if you are reading the Bible with Times Square church’s Bible reading plan, then you would be reading about Joseph right now.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2046&version=NIV
Yesterday I was wondering why the ancient Egyptians thought that shepherding was a disgusting job. This article by the institute of biblical archaeology was very interesting! They speculate on why shepherding was an abomination unto the ancient Egyptians.
https://armstronginstitute.org/821-every-shepherd-is-an-abomination-unto-the-egyptians
I fell in love with the story of Esther in the Bible when I did a deep study with Beth Moore’s Bible study course on Esther. I came across this children’s Bible study about Esther on my Pinterest scrolling. It is a very good study about the cautiousness of Esther. This bible study is about ‘cautiousness in scripture’. I hope you find it helpful and perhaps use it to teach your children and grandchildren.
https://issuu.com/iblp/docs/cautiousness_curriculum?ff
God bless you abundantly!
Journal of Faith 