Hope & Faith

George Janko | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23 #bibleverse #biblicaltruth

'Amazing Grace' is one of the most well-known and dearly-loved hymns ever written but everyone who has experienced or witnessed God's grace in action in their lives or in the lives of others would agree that such grace is surely much more than just 'amazing'. We congratulate musicians for an amazing performance, footballers for an amazing goal or friends for an amazing new hairstyle but find grace to be far beyond such an over-used adjective. For some people, grace seems so unfair, especially when shown to the worst of us that we can be outraged by what appears to be injustice. But God's grace is truly outrageous because our sin in so awful yet God's love is so great! Read the stories told in the Bible about forgiveness that show us grace which is beyond our comprehension - outrageous grace!

Life is short! The Bible tells us that we are like the flowers that we see in the fields; we're not around for long. But we also read of how God has made a home where we can be with Him forever. It can be ours because Jesus gives new life to anyone who trusts in Him as their Saviour. When we know who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we have a new future. While we are 'passing through' on our way to be with Jesus forever, He has also promised to be our Good Shepherd on that journey. That's the theme of this song based on Hebrews 11.13 to 16.

Actor Ryan Reynolds had what is likely the sweetest conversation with a child during a visit to the hospital.

Life is often an unkind and unfair experience. Some people are given pretty bad cards and can do nothing but play the hand they were dealt. Some people are given more than their fair share of issues and problems. They are forced to endure terrible situations. 

Those sad, horrible and unavoidable circumstances may involve cancer or some other disease or condition. It’s always awful to watch a loved one go through something like that, knowing that there is little to nothing you can do to ease their pain. But it’s made much worse when the person inflicted with a debilitating or life-threatening medical condition is a child.

While we may not be able to alleviate their pain, we can still offer them love and kindness. That’s precisely what actor Ryan Reynolds did when he visited a hospital and visited with a young lady who had just undergone a bowel transplant.

In a clip posted on social media, the “Deadpool” actor kneeled and leaned onto Bella’s hospital bed, and the two had a cute and lengthy conversation. Topics included in their discussion included video games, hospital food and Bella’s surgery.

“Bella, did you have the transplant yet?” Ryan asks her.

“Yep,” she responds.

“And how’d it go?” he follows up. 

“I can walk,” Bella says.

Later in their conversation, Bella adds that she can now eat, and her favorite food is a roast beef sandwich served by the hospital. 

Ryan also asked the young lady how she handles a situation like that when she is about to undergo a massive surgery. Surprisingly, the little girl states in a way that shows it doesn’t affect her much at all. She does it. 

What a strong little girl who has obviously been through so much but has not let it phase her. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

Don't let your circumstances dictate how you feel.

God is building your testimony.

Ryan Kennedy, a blind 11-year-old, is shattering stereotypes with his skateboarding skills. This is a truly inspiring story!

The video begins by showing a confident young boy skateboarding with an instructor at an indoor skatepark. Ryan Kennedy shares that he likes to go fast, and he gets a big smile when he lands a trick. Ryan perseveres, even if he falls off of his board. He has been skating for two years in Fairfield, New Jersey, at Shred Co. 

Evan is Ryan’s instructor. He shares about what Ryan has been like as a student. Ryan’s mother, Carly, says that he is a twin and was born prematurely, leading to his sight impairment. 

Carly was initially scared of allowing Ryan to try skateboarding, but she took the step bravely. He has thrived at the sport. Ryan’s instructor shares that he has not previously seen tricks done, so he is learning from scratch. 

Ryan has advanced to using a cane instead of assistance from the instructor. Ryan says, “I feel really proud when I land a trick with my cane.” 

You can see the pure happiness on Ryan’s face as he does what he loves.

This video is inspiring. It provides hope and encouragement to us that we can be brave and try new things, too. It also shows us not to eliminate people due to disabilities. Sometimes, you just need a little creativity.

Jesus made ways for people who had challenges in life. He gave them the necessary hope that He was the Savior and also that He was with them. God has made everyone unique, and I love how this young boy has taken his hardship and turned it into a testimony of hard work and inspiration for others.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

In a world where sisterhood is often celebrated for its bonds of friendship and camaraderie, a group of five heroic college students rescue mom and two children from a sinking car!

A group of five sorority sisters from the University of Georgia prove that sisterhood can also mean selflessness, courage, and heroism. Dubbed ‘The Fearless Five,’ Molly McCollum, Jane McArdle, Eleanor Cart, Clarke Jones, and Kaitlyn Iannace became beacons of hope and inspiration after their extraordinary act of bravery rescued mother Cori Craft and her two young sons from a sinking vehicle in a creek.

It was a fateful day as the sisters embarked on a journey to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and decided to take a detour to satisfy their craving for cheesy biscuits. Little did they know that their detour through a rural area would lead them to a moment that would define their lives forever. 

As they drove, they witnessed a terrifying light and a cloud of dust, prompting them to investigate. What they discovered was a car sinking rapidly into the water, with Cori and her children trapped inside.

In a moment of instinct and compassion, the sisters sprang into action. Without hesitation, they called for help and plunged into the cold water to rescue the family. Despite the danger and uncertainty, they remained steadfast in their mission to save lives. As they quickly brought Cori’s older son to safety, the youngest remained trapped underwater, buckled in his car seat, his life hanging in the balance.

"Time is ticking. It had been like 4 to 5 minutes … it was just, like, every second mattered," Molly recalled of the scary moment. 

With every second crucial, the sisters refused to give up. Drawing upon their collective strength and training, they worked tirelessly to free the young boy from his car seat. Clarke then began performing CPR on the little boy. And when all seemed lost, their prayers were answered as the boy started breathing again, a moment of sheer relief and joy for all involved.

Through the seemingly ordinary cravings of these extraordinary young women, God intervened to turn them into instruments of His grace and mercy. Their swift and selfless actions saved a family from tragedy and also served as a powerful testament to the strength of sisterhood and the guiding hand of God. 

In a world often fraught with uncertainty, their story stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in our most unexpected moments, God can use us to bring light and salvation to those in need. As we reflect on their heroic deeds, let us be inspired to embrace the call to compassion and kindness. We know that with God by our side, we, too, can become vessels of His love and instruments of His peace.

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Let me introduces myself ~ My Name is Bronwyn Clinton, I have been a follower of Jesus since as long as I can remember ... I was raised in a strong Christian home on a dairy farm in NSW Australia. I am married with 4 adult children, 6 almost 7 grandchildren and a foster mum as well. I have been daily tips on my Facebook wall since the craziness of the evil one sent the world into lock downs ... I strongly believe, that was not of God and most defiantly part of the anitchrist's plan. Like I mentioned, each day on my Facebook wall I add a daily tip live video. Due to my love of the 3 in one, God, Our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Sunday's I bring a short reflection, of something God has laid on my heart that day or that week ~ although I didn't start the first one with a reading from the Psalms, I did however, decide to do a walk through the Psalms this year ... only break from the Psalms thus far, was Palm Sunday and Easter ... these are my refections from an Australian country girls prospective .... I do not claim to be a Bible scholar ... I am a Certified Wholistic Health Coach and in being so, we concentrate on the 8 areas of the Wholistic Wheel .... Spirituality being one area of Wholistic Health. Today I talked about the Tracks of Life and Proverbs ~ in everything I do, it is always for the Glory of God You can also follow me on my YouTube channel, which is @BronwynClinton5366 , I would love your support on both YouTube and Facebook God bless you all, much love in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour ~ your sister Bronwyn Clinton

In the heart of Grand Rapids lies a tale woven with threads of love for Jennifer Flewellen. This woman wakes from a 5-year coma thanks to a miracle and her mother’s love. Filled with resilience and an unwavering belief in miracles this story transcends the ordinary, a narrative of a mother's devotion and a daughter's tenacity, illuminated by the beacon of hope and perseverance.

The heart of a trying ordeal lies the unwavering resolve of a mother, Peggy Means. This woman refused to surrender her faith, even when faced with the darkest of shadows. Jennifer Flewellen's life took a sharp turn at 35, her world upended by a devastating car accident that left her in a medically induced coma after a collision with a pole, moments after dropping her three boys off at school.

Placed on life support, doctors painted a grim picture, advising Peggy to consider the unimaginable. But Peggy, fueled by a mother's love that knows no bounds, stood resolute, defying the whispers of doubt that permeated the hospital halls. "We have no room for negativity," she declared, a beacon of hope in a sea of uncertainty despite the fact that less than 3 percent of people ever wake up from comas like Jennifer’s. 

As days stretched into weeks and weeks into years, Peggy's devotion remained unwavering. Juggling the demands of her own life, she tirelessly advocated for Jennifer's care, battling insurance woes, navigating bureaucratic red tape, and pouring every ounce of her being into her daughter's well-being.

A Mother Refuses To Give Up

Despite Jennifer's unresponsive state, Peggy refused to let her slip away into oblivion. “I remember one respiratory nurse, she told me, ‘Well, you know, she’ll only get worse,’ and I told her, ‘Don’t you ever say that to me again, and never say it around my daughter,'” Peggy said. “I’d say, ‘It’s very easy to be negative, but we have no room for negativity.'”

With tender care and boundless love, she created moments of solace for her daughter—spa days, conversations recounting the progress of her sons, and the simple act of being present, day after day, unwavering in her resolve.

Then, a glimmer of hope pierced the darkness. Five years after the accident, amidst a sunny moment outside the hospital, Jennifer laughed. “I started to wheel her up to the building,” Peggy said, being scared at first, “and then I thought, she’s laughing, so I stopped and got my phone out.

It was a momentous breakthrough, confirming what Peggy had fervently believed all along—her daughter was still there, fighting to emerge from the depths of her coma.

With each passing day, Peggy's determination only grew stronger. Organizing therapies, advocating for surgeries, and pushing boundaries, she became the driving force behind Jennifer's remarkable recovery. 

Today, as Jennifer embraces a new chapter in her life, surrounded by the love of family and the unwavering support of her mother, their story serves as a testament to the power of faith, love, and resilience. Through the darkest of nights, Peggy's unwavering belief in miracles never faltered—a beacon of hope guiding her daughter back to the light. In that moment, hope blossomed anew, a testament to the indomitable power of a mother's love.

In Jennifer's laughter, in her every step toward healing, we find irrefutable proof of the potency of prayer and the resilience of the human soul. Hers is a story of triumph over adversity, a testament to the enduring bond between mother and child, and a reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, hope prevails. Praise God!

1 Corinthians 13:7 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Sharing a message of Vhope

Christian music singer Rebecca St. James revealed when she learned she was loved and enough because of God.

The world is a dying place filled with lost, hurting and struggling people. These individuals seek something to give them hope and someone to show them love and kindness. Sadly, many of these lost souls refuse to turn to God and seek His forgiveness and love. They believe, for whatever reason, themselves to be unworthy of God’s love. 

Unfortunately, many people feel this way. They believe they must first clean themselves up or change their ways before coming to Him. Others are also under the wrong impression that they must do something to earn God’s love and forgiveness. In their mind, they must do this, this or that before they are worthy or enough for God. 

In a clip posted on social media, Rebecca St. James discusses the moment she learned she was enough for God because of Him in a conversation with Candace Cameron Bure.

“I really had to sift through my identity and my value,” Rebecca said. “Like, I had a counselor tell me once, ‘Rebecca, you can sit in a room and say nothing to somebody else in the room, but just your presence and who God has made you to be is a gift.’”

Later in the clip, the popular singer admitted that she was in the habit of thinking that she must always be doing something to gain God’s love. 

Following Rebecca’s revelation, Candace became emotional. With tears in her eyes, she concurred with Rebecca’s feeling of not believing herself to be enough without performing or doing something. 

God’s love and forgiveness are gifts. There is nothing anyone could ever do to earn it. Even when we were still sinners, Christ went to the cross and died for each one of us. 

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord appeared of old to me, saying, ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.’”

Community Based Stories

A restaurant owner traveled hours to fulfill a dying woman’s last wish.

Showing others love, kindness and compassion doesn’t require talent, skill or a unique ability. Everyone is perfectly capable of treating other people in such a way. The only prerequisites and requirements needed to act lovingly and kindly towards others are a little effort, time and concern. 

Showing kindness and love is precisely what Kevin Cherry, the owner of Mama Kwan’s, a North Carolina restaurant, did for Heather Bowers. Heather had been fighting cancer for three years and was nearing the end of her battle. She wanted one last meal from her favorite restaurant. 

Heather’s best friend, Mary Simmons, knew it was a longshot request since Heather lived in West Virginia, hours from the restaurant. She reached out to the restaurant and later got a call back saying that the restaurant’s owner was already on his way.

According to the clip posted on YouTube, Kevin drove six hours and crossed state lines to deliver Heather a meal from her favorite restaurant. 

Knowing he was likely delivering a woman’s last meal was an emotional trip for Kevin. However, he understood he couldn’t go into the house in tears. 

“About halfway up, I had a, I turned the radio off and had to talk to myself, of saying, ‘You can’t walk in here like this. You’ve got to walk in with, like, a little bit of sunshine from the Outer Banks.”

The clip adds that Heather sadly passed away the night after Kevin’s delivery. 

What a beautiful display of love and kindness. How much better would our world be if we treated each other just a little better? What would happen if we took some of our focus off ourselves and were more concerned about others? 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

In this sweet story, a homeless man’s life is transformed by the unconditional love of a dog. 

In Paris, France, a husky's owner, Thibault, narrates how his dog changed someone’s life. 

The video begins with Sora, his dog, running towards a man named Bruno. Thibault states, “Sora can tell where Bruno is from hundreds of feet away.” We then see Sora waiting by Bruno’s tent. The two have a close relationship. 

How did these two meet? Bruno, a homeless man, has a tent on a street corner. Thibault and Sora were on a walk, and as they walked near Bruno, Sora sat down right in front of him. She then jumped into Bruno’s arms. 

After that day, Thibault would bring Bruno coffee and a croissant, chat with him, and ask him if he needed anything. “Sometimes he’d ask for a little bit of money, and I would happily give him some,” he said. 

Thibault started posting videos on TikTok and eventually started a donation page, which received over €5,000 euros. He then shares the good news with Bruno, who thanks him profusely. 

Two months later, Sora and Thibault are on a walk. They have not seen Bruno for a while but see him in a sleeping bag on the street. “Thibault, I never had access to the money because I don’t have a passport,” Bruno tells Thibault. 

In France, you can’t withdraw money without an active passport, even though you can open an account with a photocopy of an old one. So Bruno was never able to access his money. Thibault would help him get a passport. 

Thibault tells Bruno he can stay with him, but he declines. Thibault gives him a tent, but when he returns to tell him the passport is ready, he finds him cold and weak. This time, he took him home where it was warm.

We then see clips of Bruno at home with Thibault and Sora. Enjoying life. Playing with Sora with a smile on his face. 

In the next clip, we see them going to the bank and getting the money for Bruno. He will also go buy a phone. “I have all the cards to sort out my life,” Bruno says.

At the end of the video, we see Bruno going to a nice hotel room. “New start!” he says with a big smile on his face. 

Because Bruno smiled and was friendly to Sora, everything got better for him. 

Thibault comments, “My dog and a stranger taught me the biggest life lesson. If not for Sora, I might have walked by Bruno a dozen times without looking at him.” 

Sora’s love for a human being changed lives! 

A young cancer survivor achieved his dream and celebrated Major League Baseball’s opening day with a dream experience with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Cancer, in any and every form, is a horrible disease. It does nothing but hurt and destroy. Hearing that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer is a massive punch to the gut, immediately knocking out all the wind in your system. It’s a life-changing diagnosis for everyone involved.

However, for those who successfully come out on the other side, there is nothing like defeating cancer. A clip posted on TikTok shows one young man who had brain cancer and has the battle scars to prove it, diligently working toward a goal.

The short clip begins with the little guy approaching the man with the camera to ask if he wants to purchase a glass of lemonade for a dollar. The videographer soon learns about Sam’s recent cancer battle. 

Sam, the little boy in the video, hopes to earn enough money to buy opening-day tickets to see the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are Sam’s favorite baseball team. He recently had brain cancer, but he now says that he’s “good.” He says he has been able to remain so strong thanks in large part to his team of doctors.

Sam’s interaction with that customer ends in a way he never saw coming. He is given $1,000 cash and handed a letter from Major League Baseball. Sam reads the letter out loud and learns that his dream of going to see the Phillies on opening day is about to become a reality. 

But it gets even better than that. 

Major League Baseball invites the young to the game and says he will get the opportunity to meet some of the players and walk on the field before the game.

The tear-jerking clip ends with Sam on the field interacting with members of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

Hi there, welcome back to another episode of our podcast, The Heart of a Trailblazer! ! I'm super excited to have the opportunity to share with you WISDOM MOMENTS. I'm Elaine Benson, your guide on this journey of wisdom and encouragement.

Robert Irwin, who is the son of the late Steve Irwin, praised his mother’s strength and resilience following his father’s passing.

Steve Irwin was a beloved conservationist who earned legions of fans due to his infectious, upbeat personality and interactions with strange and odd-looking animals. His television program “The Crocodile Hunter” was a success specifically because of the show’s host.

Sadly, though, Steve passed away in 2006 after being stung by a stingray. Millions mourned his untimely death. Steve left a wife, Terri, and two small children, Robert and Bindi, behind. 

Losing a loved one is always an awful and heartbreaking experience, especially when it is a father of two small children. In a recent podcast appearance, Robert praised his mother for her strength and resiliency following his father’s passing. He said that since he has gotten older, he has come to understand what his mother did for him and his sister while undergoing such pain and heartache.

“And through everything, she had this stoic, sharp-as-a-tack determination within the business to keep what Dad felt most passionate about alive,” he said. “And then at the same time, 100, I’m not talking 90%, I’m talking 100% of the time was there for Bindi and I. That was always the biggest priority.”

Robert went on to call his mother “the most influential human being” in his life.

In a comment on the clip posted on Instagram, Robert’s mother, Terri, responded to her son's kind and loving words.

“Thank you, Robert, for your thoughtful and moving words,” she wrote. “You and Bindi have always been the joy of my life. I love you more than words can express.”

It appears that God has blessed Robert and his sister Bindi with a kind, loving, strong and determined mother.

Exodus 201:12 “Give honor to your father and to your mother, so that your life may be long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Comedic Legend Carol Burnett, in an interview, reflects on her storied career, her life and some of the lessons she’s learned along the way.

The entertainment world is a difficult, cut-throat business. Everyone wants a career entertaining others. Look at shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent and The Voice; they never struggle to find contestants. Breaking into and sustaining a long and successful career in entertainment requires talent. 

Carol has talent in spades, as evidenced by her 70-year career in show business. However, while she has appeared in films, on Broadway and on television, she will always be most closely associated with The Carol Burnett Show. 

It’s an iconic program whose skits continue to provide laughter to thousands. Who could watch Harvey Korman and Tim Conway in a skit and not burst out laughing within minutes? 

However, in a clip posted on YouTube, it wasn’t all fun and games for Carol, especially growing up. The clip mentions that Carol’s parents were alcoholics, and she was eventually sent to live with her grandmother in her one-room apartment. 

Carol says that for 21 years, her grandmother slept on a Murphy bed while she made the couch her bed.  

However, while The Carol Burnett Show is iconic for its many classic skits and won dozens of Emmy Awards, not everyone thought it would be a hit. Carol says that one CBS executive said it would only make it 30 episodes. He was more than a little off with his prediction.

Even though she has experienced all kinds of success, Carol has not forgotten about others and encourages them. She says she often gets fan mail from little girls and has even called a few of them out of the blue. 

As she approaches her 91st birthday, Carol hopes her comedy career has helped provide laughter to people when they needed it most.

“There’s a quote, ‘People may forget what you said, forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel,’” she said. “So, I’m hoping that I made them feel good at times when they were down; they needed a laugh.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.”

One of the most talented and popular musicians in Christian music, Lauren Daigle, shared a powerful Gospel message with prison inmates.

The world is a broken place filled with lost, hurting and struggling people. Ever since sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, it has done nothing but cause death and destruction. Sin and its repercussions have ruined lives and torn apart families. 

Everyone is a sinner. The Bible states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However, even while we were still in our sin, God still loved us. He even sent his one and only Son to earth to die on the cross, taking our place and all our sins and shame on Himself. 

That’s how much God loves and still loves sinners and those who have willfully turned away from Him. While God cannot and will not bless and approve sin, He still loves sinners. He constantly reaches out and chases after them. It was that message of God’s enduring love that Lauren shared with a group of female inmates.

In a clip posted on social media, Lauren visited and played for a group of inmates. She also states in the short clip that, surprisingly, one of her favorite places to visit is prison. 

The video shows Lauren putting on a concert for the women. The beautifully written lyrics about God’s unfailing love, mercy and grace moved some women to tears.

But the most powerful moment of the clip happens when Lauren, holding a Bible, tells the women that God still loves them. Yes, God wants all to turn from their sinful ways, but God’s love never ends or fails.

“God yearns for you,” Lauren says. “He yearns for all of us. How amazing is that? ‘God, I see what I’ve done wrong. I definitely turned away from you. I didn’t want anything to do with you. And He says, ‘Don’t worry, that didn’t stop me from loving you.’

Lauren ends her message by telling the inmates that they can have hope and no longer live in sin because of God's grace and enduring love.

“There is hope for your future,” she said. “There is.”

Praise God!

Romans 5:8 “But God has made clear his love to us, in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.”