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God’s Grace

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Christian Artist Hope Darst Reveals 30 Years Of Emotional Struggle

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

Christian artist Hope Darst talks about how anger and fear became so crippling that these emotions almost landed her in the hospital.

Hope Darst

Hope Darst, a worship leader, desires to see people encounter the love of Jesus, restored and set free in His presence. Additionally, Hope has written and recorded many songs. Including Peace Be Still, Promise Keeper, Come Alive, and the Top Charting Radio single and title track of her latest project, “If the Lord Builds the House”.

Her latest single “Never Walk Alone” reminds us all of the faithfulness of God throughout our lives and that we are never alone. This is from her official website: https://www.hopedarst.com/

In her interview with 99.1 JOY FM, Hope revealed that she had an emotional struggle for 30 years that kept her bound.

Saved But Not Free

“I just remember feeling like the Lord just whispered into my heart, ‘Hope you’re saved. You love me. You are completely committed to me, but you are not free. And I didn’t come just to save you. I came to set you free,’” she recalled.

She remained faithful despite her parents’ brutally painful divorce. She had just had her second baby at that time too, but she was still serving in the ministry.

READ: JEREMY CAMP LEARNS TO TRUST GOD AFTER EXPERIENCING ANXIETY & PANIC ATTACKS

Hope was faithful in the ministry. She followed all the rules.

“And yet, internally, I was just riddled with so much anger. Insecurity, and fear, and hopelessness, and feeling unworthy, and feeling like I was never going to actually be better. I just so desperately wanted to be better at anything and everything. And it’s funny, you don’t plan your breakdown. You don’t prepare for it. You don’t mark it on the calendar,” she recalled.

Hope Darst: “Being on the floor at Jesus’ feet was the hardest and the scariest place to be”

One disappointment triggered Hope to break down, and she was on her bed for three days straight. Her husband, worried about her, told her that she might need to go to the hospital.

“Wanting to just rewind, just go to three days before and start over. And figure out how to not get to that place. But the thing is I didn’t get there in three days. I had gotten there over 30 plus years of just stuffing and ignoring. Not believing that God actually could be my healer and bring freedom,” she recalled.

Desperate for change, Hope prayed and lay down on the carpet, waiting for God.

“And I found that being on the floor at Jesus’ feet was the hardest and the scariest place to be. But it’s the only place I found freedom. It’s the only place I found healing. It’s the only place that I found redemption,” she said.

Watch the full video here:

Why do I struggle with fear and anger as a Christian? with Hope Darst

Reference: 99.1 JOY FM

Header image: Hope Darst [99.1 JOY FM]. YouTube, 10 January 2022, https://youtu.be/-udb92MFfNM

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ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

The BibleProject Explains God’s Consistent Response In Spite of Your Failures

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

The BibleProject, a creative initiative, shared an explanation about God’s grace in spite of your failures.

The BibleProject Explains The Word “Khen”

If you were to describe God in one word, what would it be? A good Father? Generous? Strong? Marvelous? Great?

The BibleProject created a video about God as “gracious.”

The BibleProject unpacks this word, which comes from the Hebrew word “khanun,” which is related to the Hebrew noun “khen.”

In the original text and translation, “khen” was used many times. It is translated as “grace” or “favor.” Another meaning is “delightful” or “favorable.” Thus, “khen” can be translated as God’s grace and is motivated by delight.

God gives His sons and daughters favors because He delights in them.

God’s Consistent Response In Spite of Your Failures

This can be best shown when Israel, God’s chosen people, continually fails to follow Him. But when they failed, God’s consistent response was to give them “khen.”

READ: AT THE BRINK OF DEATH, A MAN REALIZED HIS NEED FOR JESUS

“And the most extreme kind of khen is showing favor to someone who should get what they deserve, not a generous gift,” the BibleProject narrated.

They added, “Like Jacob, who cheated his brother Esau, ran away, and then after 20 years wants to come back and make things right. So he comes to Esau asking, “May I find khen in your eyes?” Jacob isn’t asking for what is fair, but for favor, and surprisingly, that’s what Esau gives him. He chooses to delight in his brother Jacob and show him grace that he doesn’t deserve.”

The BibleProject Explains God’s Grace

How many times have you felt like you’re undeserving of God’s “khen”? The Israelites felt that, too.

But God is a generous God.

The BibleProject explained it this way: “Khen requires a generous spirit, which people sometimes have, but in the Bible, the one who shows more khen than anyone else is God. God rescued the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and they quickly betrayed him by giving their allegiance to a golden idol as their god. But then Moses steps in and asks God to consider giving a gift that they don’t deserve. And God says yes by showing the ultimate act of khen—forgiveness and a promise to be with these people.”

Watch the full video:

God's Consistent Posture Toward All Humanity

Reference: BibleProject

Header image: You get what you deserve? [BibleProject]. YouTube, 23 September 2023, https://youtu.be/ABPVVw_aw44

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ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Creflo Dollar Testifies About God’s Grace Amidst Cancer

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

When Creflo Dollar was battling an aggressive form of cancer, he testified that the grace of God made him strong.

Creflo Dollar’s ‘Job’ Experience

“I came out of three years of Job experience,” was Creflo Dollar’s statement after overcoming health issues.

“Three years ago I had COVID, where I had blood clots around my lungs. And I trusted God and got delivered from that. Then after that, immediately after that, I had shingles that hit my body and that damaged the nerves in my body,” Creflo said.

But even after dealing with one disease after another, he didn’t lose his faith.

“Even after the shingles disappeared, the nerve damage and the pain were still there. And then after that, I had cancer and discovered that there were three tumors in my body that were eating all of the nutrition that I would eat,” he said.

Battling Cancer

Creflo knew that what he was dealing with was no joke. His health was deteriorating, and he could feel his body becoming weaker day by day. But he made a decision to trust God even more.

READ ALSO: THE JEWISH BIBLE LED THIS MAN TO ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR

“When I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, I had to make a decision to either respond to a bad report or to respond to the finished work of Jesus Christ. So, by faith, I’m healed,” he said.

“And I go from being healed by faith to the manifestation of that healing! When you begin to recognize what Jesus has done for you, and then you lay hold to it by faith, you’ll declare I’m not moved by what I hear, and I’m not moved by what I see,” he added.

Creflo Dollar Relied on God’s Grace

After receiving healing, Creflo Dollar knew that it was all because of God’s grace. He said that most of his life’s decisions relied on God’s grace.

“I got to tell you today, I am cancer free, shingles free, and blood clot free. And the only thing I remembered was this: His grace is sufficient for me. Rather than responding to what fear had made available—sickness, disease, and death—I made a decision to respond to what Jesus had made available. That is victory, healing, and success.

“The grace-life is a life that is totally dependent upon a God whose love is so deep, so high, and so wide,” he concluded.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Creflo Dollar (@iamcreflodollar)

Header image: Creflo Dollar [iamcreflodollar]. Instagram, (Right) 23 May 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cslxu7pIVYL/, (Left) 16 June 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cthc5o4uJsm/

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The poison of bitterness
ArticlesFaith

The Poison Of Bitterness

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

There is a scary part to giving bitterness a place in our lives. Bitterness is anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. It is the poison of bitterness that taints our soul and it is contagious.

BEWARE THE POISON

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it MANY become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15) Defiled means contaminated/polluted. You could compare it to a deadly and contagious disease – one that destroys us from the inside out. Bitterness starts with holding offenses to others – “You don’t know what they did to me.” And from there it just grows like weeds.

I find it interesting to note that verse is in the very NEXT chapter following Hebrews 11 (which is the chapter about faith and the blessings we can pass on / finishing our stories). So, directly after that generational/story telling/ faith building chapter, we are warned NOT to grow bitter from those messy/unjust parts OF our story. Whew – that is a lot to process.

Bitterness from injustice is suffocating and destructive, and we need to face this cold, hard fact. A big part of us changing is in choosing TO change; to reset our thoughts, our perceptions, our injustices, and all the negative things that work so hard to keep us in the heavy chains of bitterness. Bitterness can stop us from ending our story the actual way we want to, and are striving for.

WE NEED GRACE AS THE ANTIDOTE

I almost skipped over the part where it says “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God…” We will 100% need grace from God to destroy bitterness before it destroys us. Like, stomping on a deadly snake’s head before it kills you with its deadly venom. I think the starting line for bitterness is self pity, and if we wallow in that mud hole it WILL take us all the way under. That is NOT something I want to pass on or leave as part of my legacy.

What if we feel it is too late. I think if you find yourself alive and breathing, well – there’s your sign – it is NOT too late. It WILL however be a lot of work, but – you get to have the distinct honor of changing up how your story ends. And it is indeed an honor bestowed upon you by the same God who will help you TO change.

I have to believe that ALL our ills can be healed by a God who understands us better than we understand ourselves; a God who knows our deepest heart’s cry. You have to believe HE holds the answers and the healing components for ALL the destructive things that we could face. Bitterness won’t take you triumphantly to the finish line, and isn’t that the goal we all long for? Simple but hard truth – let it go/crush the enemy. And feel the joy return and the peace envelope your broken soul. Nothing is worth missing out on the final chapter in all of its mystery, wonder and glory.

_______________

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Are You Giving Yourself Grace?
FaithToday's Encouragement

Are You Giving Yourself Grace?

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Are you giving yourself enough grace? Sometimes it can be so easy to see the things that we fail in, it can be so easy to see the shortcomings in our life. And I felt the Lord speak to me today to remind you to give yourself more grace. It’s a hard thing to do, and it’s an even harder thing to master, but I want to encourage you that if you’re struggling to give yourself grace, begin your day by asking the Lord, “What am I doing really well in my life right now?”

And then when He answers you, I want you to write it down, and I want you to remind yourself and then ask Him this question: “Where could I use more of you in my life?” God is so faithful. He loves to speak to His children and He is consistently with us at every moment of our day. He knows every good thing that we do, He knows every shortcoming that we have. He knows every moment where we feel emotions that we don’t know how to even handle. I want to just encourage you that God is with you today in your day. And even if you aren’t extending yourself grace, He’s extending grace to you.

Jesus, I just thank you that today is a good day to have a good day. That today is a great day to function out of the rest and the grace that you so vehemently fought for on the cross, so that we could live a whole life filled with your presence. Jesus, I thank you that you are going to be more tangible to us today than you ever have been. And we pray that today your Kingdom would come and your will would be done. Amen.

________

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The Way Of Grace
FaithFeatured

The Way Of Grace

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Hi there! I have a word for you today. So this word, I think this is the most, I think, eye opening for me personally, and the way God has brought this covering of grace, right?  He came and met me where I was, first day, time to get real, right? That moment of, hey, here’s God stepping into my life when I was at my bottom.

But the thing that He showed me, Jesus, yes, the way He revealed Himself. But He also said, the way is by grace. I don’t come into anyone’s life and just shake them up and go, come on, get me, like, know who I am, right? It is His loving way of showing up and saying, I’m here for you. I’m right now, today, going to make a change if you’re ready. So He’s not invasive. He’s not just grab you and overpower you. He’s definitely there as a loving and grace-filled God. He loves you. He wants to do great things in your life.

So go after that, hold on to those things and say, all right, let’s do this, God. Let Him show you who He is day by day. And that increase will not only increase the capacity of the love that He has for you. That love will grow within you and His grace even more, He will continue to increase that capacity for you to love on others and give grace to others. So be encouraged, and know God of the way is also the God of great grace. Be blessed.

________

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God's grace
Faith

The Active Grace Of God

by MJ
written by MJ

The active grace of God is readily available to us. God wants us to tap into that grace to do what He wants us to do, when He wants us to do.

Don’t Hang Up On God

Many times we feel led to do something good. But we somehow try to resist it. And prefer not to do it and end up forgetting it.

We tend to ignore that, probably because we think it was just a random thought.

But what if it is not? What if it is from God?

Active Grace for Good Works 

Every good and perfect gift is from Him. There are talents and gifts God has placed in us to build His kingdom. But we hardly notice the other portion of His gifts to us.

He has also set apart a good portion of good works as His gift to us.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10 

He has prepared these good works for us even before the foundations of the world. And He expects us to walk in them for His glory.

Exercise The Active Grace of God

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 

We have been saved not by our works, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. But we are saved to demonstrate His righteousness upon this earth. We do so by performing the good works He has appointed for us.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. – Philippians 2:12 – 13

We have to work out our own salvation with fear. In other words, we have to preserve the salvation the Lord has given us by performing our portion of good works.

It is not our good works that qualify us to go to heaven. But it is His grace, His work on the cross alone that qualifies us to make it to heaven.

However, we cannot ignore the good works He has appointed for us. That would be intentional disobedience. It is rebellion. 

Active Grace For The Thief 

Even the thief on the cross performed his portion of the good work that was appointed for him. He functioned in the active grace of God that was readily available to him and ended up evangelizing before he was about to die.

He proclaimed who Jesus is to the other thief who mocked. It was the good work that God had ordained for him, and he did well.

You Don’t Have To Be Born With A Silver Spoon

When we consider good works, these are not works that only incredibly talented prodigies, like ‘born with the gift’ kind of people can do.

Many times what the Lord is asking us to do is based on our willingness. Willingness to make the right decisions. Like speaking words of hope into somebody’s life, being there for someone, or praying over somebody even if He wakes us up in the middle of the night. These are the works that require only our willingness to be obedient.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23 – 24

We shall receive the reward of the inheritance when we do everything as to the Lord and not to men. Heaven is our inheritance through the Lord Jesus. He has saved us so that we can work out our own salvation by walking in the good works he has prepared for us.

Delayed Obedience is Disobedience

Procrastination is a form of rebellion. And rebellion is equated to witchcraft. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. – 1 Samuel 15:23 

By delaying to obey, we are also placing the people that are connected to us at risk. As believers, let us be attentive and quick to respond to the Lord’s call, be it in season or out of season.

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Jesus Came For Those Who Are Sick
FaithFeatured

Jesus Came For Those Who Are Sick

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

I want to encourage you today that you can come to Jesus just as you are. That one of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16, that tells us that “God who so loved the world gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But it starts with “For God who so loved the world.” God was madly in love with the world, and that’s the reason why He sent Jesus. He didn’t send Jesus to come and see if the world was worthy of His love. He didn’t send Jesus to go and test the waters. He was already madly in love with the world, is why He sent Jesus.

And yes, we have fallen short of the glory. We need a Savior, but Jesus knows that, the Father knows that. That’s why He sent his Son. And now that Jesus has come, oftentimes we say yes to Jesus. We get that initial salvation. But the enemy tries to creep in and bring shame and separation. And because we’re all in process, we’ve all fallen short of the glory, we have imperfect moments and imperfect days. That voice tries to tell us, because I’m not perfect today, I can’t come to the Father, I can’t come to Jesus as I am. But Jesus wants to break that lie off of you right now. And He wants to tell you, He wants to invite you again, a fresh invitation, just like when you said yes to Him the first time. He’s saying, come to me as you are.

Jesus isn’t afraid of our weaknesses or shortcomings. He’s not afraid of our junk and He’s not afraid of our mess. He tells us He didn’t come for those who are well, He came for those who are sick. Those who know that they have need and that they need a Savior. And that’s who Jesus is to us. He wants us to come just as we are. This verse in Matthew, 19:24 says “Again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” It’s a funny verse, but historians tell us that there is a gate in Jerusalem called Eye Of The Needle, that at night, when the large gate was shut, there was a small gate that was still open for access. And it was so small that a camel had to get down on its knees to crawl through the gate. So what’s God saying? He’s not saying that a rich man can’t get into the kingdom. He’s saying that we need to come in a position of humility and we need to be able to let go of all the baggage and all the junk. But the beautiful thing is we don’t have to get rid of it before we come to Jesus. As we come in humility and say, “God, I need your help. I surrender. I’ve got this stuff, I’ve got this junk. I need your help. Here I am.” As we come like that, by His grace, He is so faithful to help us unload and unpack and to strip off all that isn’t supposed to be there in the first place.

He’s not afraid of our mess. He’s there to help us, take us by the hand, and lead us into His goodness as we come in humility. So I just bless you with the grace and the ability and the encouragement today to come to Jesus just as you are. He’s ready to receive you. I bless you with that in Jesus’ Name.

________

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reckless grace
Faith

Understanding The Reckless Grace Of God

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Followers of Christ understand the requirement of grace and forgiveness in their spiritual lives, but some may find it difficult to offer grace to others … especially those who have caused great harm or offense.

Reckless Grace

“Grace is not something you fall from … it is someone you fall into. It is not a license to sin but a union to God,” writes Pastor Bill Vanderbush with co-author Brit Eaton, in the book Reckless Grace – The Gift. The Mystery. The Embrace (BroadStreet Publishing).

For some grace offers an uncomfortable reality that God’s redemption can restore anyone despite their sinful past, but to others it offers hope through the guarantee of eternal salvation in Christ.

Reflecting on John 20:23 (If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained) when Jesus speaks to his disciples, instructing that if they have received God’s grace, then they have the power to forgive sins through the name of Jesus. What Jesus imparted may be hard to accept but He would never call us to a place we couldn’t follow. It was not in His nature to set us up for failure.

In Reckless Grace, Vanderbush and Eaton challenge readers to consider their understanding of their intentional dispensing of grace through the process of believe, receive, release, and repeat. Divided into three parts “The Grace Message,” “The Cost of Grace,” and “Grace and Glory,” the authors present a scriptural understanding of grace with biblical examples of Simon Peter, David, Moses, Hosea and Gomer and the Samaritan woman.

Learn About

Grace Redefined: You must receive grace as a gift before you can give it and you must give grace as an overflow to others. Extending grace is an opportunity to come into agreement with the redeeming love of a God; who keeps no record of wrongs and commands you to love your enemies.

Grace of God: You are not just a sinner saved by grace, but you are a saint in whom dwells the Spirit of God. It’s by the grace of God that you are given a new identity but that does not come with permission for you to remain in your sin. The grace of God liberates you from the power of sin and death, so you can live free in the abundant life God calls you to.

Grace in Action: When you extend grace in the moment, it makes you aware of the glory of God surrounding your grace interactions. You will reach a point where no offense is insurmountable by the grace of God flowing through you. Grace is contagious. When others witness this, they will want it for themselves.

Testimonies of Reckless Grace

Bill’s cousin, Ken, was on his deathbed with just days left to live. His family had already gotten rid of his furniture and started funeral preparations. He had heard Bill wrote a new book; so from his hospice bed, he asked his sister if she would read it to him. The powerful truth of forgiveness so stirred him to the core that he ended up forgiving someone who had deeply wounded him. It was then that he experienced a sudden, deep and miraculous healing. He was able to be discharged just a few days later and return to his now empty home.

“Larry” in Rochester NY reports, “I am part of a small men’s prayer group. So much pain, infidelity, addiction, sour marriages. One day, Bill Vanderbush spoke to our group for only 17 minutes on Reckless Grace. The floodgates opened! The men could not stop talking for over two hours as they explored with new eyes this powerful call to grace. Many lives were completely transformed.”

“Steve” confided that due to stress in his marriage and raising young children, he found a connection with a co-worker of the opposite sex. What began as a friendship morphed into him seeking time with her. Before long, he found himself caught in a pornography addiction while connecting with the woman. Steve received a copy of Reckless Grace and  the book which has helped lead him back to a healthy place. He’s now reconciling with his wife and committing to strengthening the marriage he was about to end.

About the authors of Reckless Grace – Bill Vanderbush | Brit Eaton

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ArticlesVideo

COVID-19 Patient Who Gave Birth While In Coma Testifies God’s Grace

by Christa
written by Christa

A pregnant woman from Vancouver, Washington was infected with coronavirus. She has since testified God’s grace as she gave birth while in coma.

Giving birth while in coma

Angela Primanchenko was hoping not to catch the virus while she was 33-weeks pregnant.

In an interview with NBC’s “Today”, the 27-year-old recalled that she started having fevers on March 24. As a respiratory therapist, she knew of the threat of the coronavirus. So she went to the hospital to get tested and it came back positive.

Mom Who Delivered Baby While In Coma From COVID-19 Shares Her Experience | TODAY

On March 29, Angela was put in medically induced coma as her condition worsened. By April 1, the doctors had to induce labor while she was still unconscious. When she woke up she was surprised to find that she had had her second baby while she was still unconscious.

Angela and her husband, David, named their baby girl “Ava” which means “breath of life” referring to the miracle birth of their baby. “She’s our new little breath of life,” Angela said.

COVID-19 Survivor Credits Hospital Worker’s Prayer For His Recovery

As she was discharged from the ICU, her colleagues cheered and clapped for her victory.

“Everyone did a standing ovation and just clapped me out of the ICU, which was so amazing and such a huge thing to be able to leave the ICU and go to the floors. It was just the grace of God,” she said.

Angela still hasn’t been able to hold her baby. She has to test negative for the coronavirus twice before she can.

God in the midst

“Even in the hardest days and the hardest times, there’s hope. And you can rely on God and people and community. The amount of community people that were praying for me is just unbelievable. I was blown away and I’m so incredibly thankful. And I feel like I’m a walking miracle,” she stated.

Angela’s twin sister, Oksana Luiten, shared on her Instagram how Angela’s experience strengthened her faith.

“I felt so powerless and so fearful and out of control. But that’s how faith grows, going through times of uncertainty and seeing God gently calm my spirit again and again… and now seeing the end.. I stand in awe of God. He is good.”

Reference: Faith Wire

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