Pray for those involved in the Oregon shooting

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I want to apologize to my readers for not posting anything in a couple months.  I will explain this in a future post.  I’m writing this now, because there is something that needs to seriously be addressed – the Oregon shooting.

We are seeing this all too often – people committing heinous crimes against one another.  Why is it that we treat each other this way?  The most recent one was the Oregon shooting.  It is a shame to see Lucifer creep inside these individuals.  We need to remind people to turn to the Lord.  The Lord loves all of us, and we should remain with Him.

The next time you feel abandon remember that the Lord cares for you.  You have family and friends that care about you.  No one ever wants to experience a tragedy like this.  I know for some people it seems like it’s just a story, because you don’t witness it first-hand, but there is evil out there.  It fills the cracks of hopelessness, depression, apathy, and anger.  Feeling these emotions make individuals much more susceptible to the will of the devil.  Don’t get me wrong, everyone feels depressed or angry every once in a while.  Some people have these feelings more than others, but don’t forget all the good things in life – friends, family, and above all else, the Lord.

Life has never been easy for anyone, and that’s why we turn to Jesus’s teachings.  Through Him we find wisdom.  Remember the Golden Rule – treat those as you wish to be treated.  I doubt that these misled individuals would want what they did to others, done to them.

I ask that you not only pray for the victims and their families, but that poor lost soul as well.  Some of those people might feel hatred and anger towards him, but that just allows Lucifer to creep into those people as well.  Ever since that tragic day those people have been in my prayers, and I hope they are in yours as well.  God bless you all.

If anyone would like to make a donation to any of those affected by this tragedy, I’m providing links below along with a short description of who and how this fund operates.

The Roseburg-based Umpqua Bank and Greater Douglas United Way partnered to set up the UCC Relief Fund. All of the money will help those affected by the shooting according to those who established the fun. People can contribute to it by texting GIVE to 541-214-2822 or by stopping in any Umpqua Bank branch. Umpqua bank donated $25,000 to the fund. U.S. Bank was also kind enough to donate funds as well.

Cascade Community Credit Union also set up a fund to assist people affected by the tragedy. To donate, people can stop into any of the credit union’s three locations.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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We need to pray for the people of Charleston

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The hatred needs to stop.  The killing needs to stop.  Is this what we want our kids to see?  We are not getting anywhere as a civilization.  We have to face the facts, and realize that we are all children of God.  We are all the same.  Whether someone is black, white, Latino, or any other race or nationality, we are all viewed the same way in the eyes of the Lord.  I think it’s time that we see each other the same way He sees us.




It is terrible to see a person stray so far from God as Dylann Roof did.  Maybe if he would have discovered Jesus and His loving ways a long time ago it would have never come to this.  The fact that he went into a church and did this… I’m at a loss for words.  I’m getting ill just thinking about it.  Not only is this person murdering people, but he’s doing it in the house of the Lord.  Could anyone commit a more evil action?

I wish I could help these people.  I pray for these individuals who have lost their way.  Even if my prayers only help one individual then I can sleep better at night.  We all need to come together as one, and walk with the Lord.  I understand that times can be tough, but there is no reason to turn your back on Him.  One should not take out their angers and frustrations about their own life on other people.




We all need to pray for these victims and the families they left behind.  I hope that all of them find comfort in our prayers.

A prayer for the victims of Charleston

Lord, please watch over your children and comfort them after this terrible tragedy in South Carolina.  No person should have to endure that kind of loss in their life, and I pray that you help those families and their friends stay strong.  I pray that all others who have strayed from your path like Dylann Roof find their way back to You.  Amen.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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Do not forget about the poor!

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It upsets me on how anyone can talk about the hungry, naked, the sick, and forgotten.  People will make a mention of helping the poor, but then they will go out and spend an absurd amount of money on clothing, a car, or a single meal.  Do not preach about something that winds up making you look like a hypocrite.  I understand how tough it can be when they advertise these certain products.  A 30,000 dollar car does the same thing a 15,000 dollar car; it gets you from point A to point B.  Sure it may have a few extra exciting things in it such as a sun/moon roof, Bluetooth, leather seats, etc. but please don’t tell me that you care about the downtrodden and defeated.

A few years ago I went to a church to listen to a pastor speak.  I will not say the denomination because I don’t want to create any hostilities.  The man spoke well.  He mentioned giving money to those in need.  He referred to a Bible verse such as the following:

And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

Luke 3:11




I thought, ‘Hey, this is someone who really preaches the Word of God.’  After the mass concluded I decided I would meet him outside and speak with him.  I got sidetracked, because I was speaking to a friend that invited me here.  After a brief conversation I looked around to see if I could find the man that gave the sermon.  I saw him at a moderate distance getting his keys out to drive home.  The man pulls out his keys, unlocks his brand new BMW, gets in, and drives away.  A BMW? Seriously?  It should be forbidden for people to speak who are so full of hypocrisy.

Do not forget about the poor.  They are no different than the rich or the middle class. All of them are human beings and should be treated as such.  Just because some have made bad decisions or has had a challenging life doesn’t mean that they are any less than the rest of us.  In fact, the poor should be treated better than us, because they need it more than us.

My prayer for the poor

Please, oh Lord, help the poor and needy.  May they find individuals who will comfort and provide for them.  Do not let the world forget them.  God, help them and help people understand what these people go through every day. Amen.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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The Golden Rule – Matthew 7:12

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So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

      It’s too bad that everyone couldn’t utilize such a simple yet powerful sentence.  The Golden Rule is one of the most important ideologies to follow regardless of whether one is a believer in God or not.  Just think about how much more wonderful life would be if everyone followed The Golden Rule.  Jesus Christ knew that this is how people should live, and that’s why he preached it.  This sums up just about every law, not only in the Bible, but of most religions texts.  Do not kill, because you don’t want to be killed.  Do not judge, because you don’t want to be judged.  Do not harm, because you don’t want to be harmed.  I could go on like this forever.  There are some who may say, ‘I don’t mind being judged.’  Really?  I find it very difficult to believe that there are those who are perfect.  I’m quite far from perfect.  I have no problem admitting that.  This is why I can’t and won’t judge other people.  There are way too many people casting judgement on others.




One of the examples I would like to use is Westboro Baptist Church.  They believe they are all so righteous and perfect?  I sincerely doubt it.  They have the nerve to say, ‘God hates homosexuals.’   I have an idea – Let God decide how he feels.  God will be the One who judges all of us, not them and their hate-breeding ideology.  I’m not going to say anything judging Westboro Baptist Church, but please think about what they are saying, and the message they are condoning.  When homosexuals or Muslims get attacked it’s because of people like Westboro Baptist Church.  They are encouraging violence and hatred which is something I think Jesus and God would disapprove of.  Please stop hating.  Please pray for these individuals.  Maybe, if enough people pray, these individuals will realize the importance of The Golden Rule.  How do you feel about this?  Let us know on twitter.




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A Miracle That Happens Every Day

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I want to spend a little time today talking about a wonderful miracle.  It’s a miracle that happens every day all over the world.  I think a few of you may know where I’m going with this.  It’s the miracle of childbirth.  There is nothing more wonderful than the idea that a man and a woman can create life.  It’s amazing.

This baby then begins a wonderful journey.  The baby begins by taking in all of God’s wonderful creations.  The baby’s parents, his environment, the senses, and many other incredible things he experiences within the first couple years.  When moving into childhood he begins to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil.  Prayer is always important and is needed to help guide this child in the right direction.  It is to make sure that he chooses good over evil.  Between great parenting and God’s guidance this child should find his way in the right direction.  As the child gets older and heads into adolescence it is in this time that he should be on the path to righteousness.  He should be praying, doing good deeds, and spreading the word of God.  Through good deeds more will come.  When a good deed is done it ripples like a stone hitting calm water.  With that action many more will follow by those who were affected by it.  Then again, bad deeds behave the same way.  When one bad deed is committed more will follow.  This is why it is of utter importance to maintain a good relationship with your child and God.




There are times you may get frustrated, because things may not be going well as you hoped sometimes, but remember, God has a plan for all of us.  He has a plan for you, your child, your neighbor, for every individual.  We all have a place in the world.  The Lord will always be by your side.  If you would like for us to pray for your little miracle, feel free to post below.  God bless.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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The Power Behind Faith

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In life, everyone is subjected to trials. Some are manageable and others literally bring us to our knees. But one thing remains constant in all of us: faith. We all know that we need to have faith in order for us to get through difficult situations. We all somehow know that the challenges we face in life are there to test how much faith we have in our lives; how much hope we have in a better tomorrow.

Last year, I had no job. I had already quit school, because I was convinced that entrepreneurship was the path I was meant to follow. I’ve had a couple of hungry days, because I needed to scrape whatever I could to pay the bills, and my relationships was getting strained due to the financial hardship. Never have I been through so much pain in my life. Throughout that period, there were only two things that kept me from falling apart: inspiring Bible verses and prayer. Whenever I fell to my knees in prayer, I’d get up strong enough to look for work the next day.




Romans 12:12 asks us to be patient in affliction and faithful in prayer- and I struggled everyday to keep my faith, but without it I had nothing. Eventually, I got a decent job that gave me the opportunity to at least have three square meals a day. It wasn’t much, but I was more than grateful. This year, I was able to land a job that gave me the opportunity to make money under my own terms, and the possibility of being promoted after meeting a certain criteria. This happened after a whole year of struggle, tears, hunger and sorrowful nights.

‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ Sometimes, life deals us a bad hand, in addition to the constant ups and downs it offers. It’s important to have hope that life will get better; that it’s all just a test you need to pass. But nothing feels more comforting than believing and knowing that a higher power has your back- and that all you need to do is ask.

-Fiona-

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Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer

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As a Christian, I have learned never to underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer is my connection with God. Prayer is talking to God and establishing a deep connection with Him. We often pray for many different things that take place in our lives. Life sometimes throws many challenges towards us, and it is only through prayer that we seek for God’s guidance. It matters less how you pray or where you pray from, but the most important thing in a prayer is the purpose and passion behind it. As Christians, we pray because we believe and know that God will listen to us and answer us. His answers might not be according to our will, but they are always the best.




There is so much that we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Many a times we ask ourselves, ‘How can we possibly accomplish all of them?’ The answer often lies in prayers. Our prayers have great power over the issues or the person we are praying for. We must be patient and trust God to work in His way and in His time. The Bible contains many of God’s promises to us, and we have to use these promises from God’s words as the basis for praying. We have to pray so that those promises can be a reality in our lives.

In order to witness the power of prayer, we need to pray earnestly pleading with God. Prayer is our communion with God and, therefore, we need to open our hearts and pour out our grief to Him. The Lord is our Father, and we are His children. As His children, we need to have an open expression of our woes just as a child speaks to his father or mother. Consider the story of Hannah in the Bible. After she prayed earnestly to the Lord and poured out all her distresses to the Lord, all her burden and worries disappeared. She was in divine peace with her heart and soul overflowing with joy even though the child was yet to be formed in her womb. Her persistent prayers and her patience to the Lord resulted in the birth of Samuel. This is a true testimony of how powerful prayer is.




Communication is very important to any relationship, and prayer is also crucial in our relationship with God. All of us are God’s children, and we need to be consistent and persistent like children in our prayers. God always answers them even though his response may be cryptic at times. He is a loving and merciful God and will listen to your every prayer and answer them in a way that is best for you. Keep on praying and believing in the Almighty God, and you will see the power of prayer manifesting in your life.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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The Only Reality is God and God is Love

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A story of hope that was submitted by one of our Christian brothers:

My name is: shame, regret, pain, dirty, failure, angry, hated, and forgotten. My life was full of valleys and with no mountains in view. I did not see something good in a long time until I thought it did not exist. My account starts out like everybody else. For five years of my existence I was the typical child. At that moment, life got in the way and started changing.

When I was five I watched my grandfather take his last breath. Three short months later, at the same age, my dad passed away. He died from a complication from suicide. I was not a “normal” child after that. I sat by myself on the ground during P.E. watching the other children play pleading to God to just notify them I loved them.




That is way too much for a five-year old to handle all by himself. I started getting depressed and attempted suicide. My heart was totally broken and nobody would assist me. As time went on I managed to come out of my depression and saw hope again. Then on February 24, 2008 my world stopped. My great uncle passed away. I was completely lost and empty. Ten short months later disaster struck again. My mother died. I felt very angry in my heart and blamed God for the misfortune.

On June 13, 2011 my faith was put to the test. My mother lost her battle with cancer. I was angry, depressed, and confused. I totally believed that God did not exist and became an atheist. God who was supposed to love me unconditionally had ruined my life, or so I thought. I started going to brothels, drinking and smoking marijuana every day. Curling up to alcohol bottles was the only thing that got me through the day. I give myself away slowly and in pieces. I thought that I had nothing left to lose. I usually looked in mirrors and saw a total stranger who was tired and broken. I was only 16 but felt I had lived for over a thousand years.

After years of pain, I was dog-tired. On October 22, 2013, I was in a cell for two weeks with no one to get me out. My aunt and uncle inevitably came and got me out. I knew I could not continue down the path I was on. I changed but calamity still came. January 15, 2014, the one uncle who got me out, passed away. The ordeal was the hardest thing I ever went through. It did not make any sense; he was only 33. How could God let someone I loved dearly pass away? I could not take it and my heart was broken with no one to turn to. I was so psychologically worn out and wanted to run away.




My late uncle’s friend adopted me and saw great potential. I started going to church and asked Jesus to forgive me and he did. On February 18, 2014, I got born again. I can’t forget the sermon that transformed my life- Matthew 3:10, Christians will produce fruits. Jesus became my existence as I finally stopped fighting. I can smile and laugh and my brokenness is healed. Because of the teaching, I have a reason to smile in my heart. I have many expectations and see the best in the worst.

-Fredrick

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The God Who Will Forgive You

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We do terrible things.  We make mistakes.  We hurt the people we love.  We betray one another.  We’re human.  It’s in these times of turmoil that we especially need to look toward a higher power.  We turn to Him for forgiveness.  Everyone needs to be forgiven at one point or another.  See God is so wonderful that even after turning your back on Him you can admit your fault, turn back to God, and say, “I’m sorry” and all is forgiven.  A lot of people don’t understand what a blessing this is.  You may have really hurt someone to a point where they will never forgive you.  They should, but they don’t.  Perhaps you hurt that person because of your own self interest, or maybe it was entirely on accident.  They might not forgive you, but God will.  He understands that we are human and that we make mistakes.  I believe this verse really captivates God’s forgiveness:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Act of the Apostles 3:19

Now whether you have sinned against someone or against God, I think one of the most difficult parts, is forgiving someone else.  I know this can be very tough at times.  I’ve been really hurt.  I believe everyone has at one point or another, but you have to turn toward God for guidance.  You must forgive.  It would be unfair if they were to ask for your forgiveness, and you don’t give it.  I must turn to the Bible once again:

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15




If you’ve taken the time to read this, you know how important forgiveness is.  Do you really want to go through the rest of your life wondering how things would have been if you would have just forgiven that person?  You could wind up losing a great friend, significant other, husband or wife when in the grand scheme of things, whatever was done to you, isn’t nearly important as those people.  Thanks for reading and God bless.

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