Hope & Faith

God is a "very present help in time of trouble." That means He is ready and relevant in your time of need. Echo these two personalized Bible passages and your faith will be amplified to believe.

Although we may not see what God is doing. Trust that He hears your prayers and He is working things out. #BeEncouraged Beencouragedwithdesmarie.com

Join Joshua Swanson as he sits down with Grammy-nominated and multiple Dove Award-winning songwriter and producer Michael Farren. Representing Simple Hymns, Michael shares the heartfelt mission behind this initiative, discusses the creation of the beautiful hymn "Come to the River (River of Life)," and reflects on the timeless value of hymns in modern worship. With insights into his songwriting process, including his humorous and touching journey through Fanny Crosby's lyrics, and the enduring appeal of hymns among younger generations, this conversation is a must-watch for worship leaders, songwriters, and anyone passionate about worship music. Michael also delves into the influence of faith across different music genres, his prophetic approach to songwriting, and his thoughts on AI's role in the future of music. Don't miss this inspiring and engaging dialogue that highlights the richness and relevance of hymns in today's church. Visit www.worshipleader.com for further insights on worship.

Prayer for the backslider

Recorded by my dad, Howard Adler, on the CD 'Then Sings My Soul' in the summer of 2017 at the age of 81. Piano by Renee Fletcher. Original song from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical 'Carousel'. My dad went home to be with Jesus on February 19th, 2022.

A man in his 70s performed quite the dance after completing his final cancer treatment.

Unfortunately, we will all encounter many frightening and painful experiences. These situations will induce grief and sorrow and raise a lot of unanswered questions. To make those circumstances even worse, they usually occur when we least expect them and are things we have no control over.

As bad and as dark as some valleys can be, nothing compares to hearing the word “cancer” from a medical professional. It doesn’t matter if it’s about a loved one’s diagnosis or your own; both will completely rock your world. Everything after that diagnosis will change forever.

Cancer is an evil and horrible disease. It does nothing but hurt and destroy. That’s why when someone successfully gets through their cancer treatment, it’s a moment of relief and celebration. Because of everything that the patient and their family go through during that fight, that is a time that should be commemorated in some form or fashion.

A clip posted on YouTube shows the unique and hilarious way a 76-year-old man celebrated the special occasion. The short video begins with the elderly man walking up to a bell and enthusiastically ringing it multiple times.

He is composed, taking the significance of the bell ringing entirely in stride, internalizing it and not showing any emotion. After ringing the bell, the man takes a step or two and softly throws his jacket on the floor. Once his coat is out of his possession and on the floor, he does something unexpected.

The 76-year-old breaks out into a hilarious dance number, showing off his impressive moves. He does this for several seconds, and then, as quickly as he starts, he stops.

What a hilarious but incredibly moving moment.

Isaiah 41:10 “Have no fear, for I am with you; do not be looking about in trouble, for I am your God; I will give you strength, yes, I will be your helper; yes, my true right hand will be your support.”

When our world feels out of control and uncertain, we need to know there is One who remains unchanging, faithful, and always in control. When we recognize who God is and what that means for our lives, we recognize that we're never alone, never abandoned, and never over-powered, no matter how frightening our circumstances. Join host Jennifer Slattery as she talks with author and speaker Grace Fox on Living Unafraid.

We might feel afraid, but we weren't created to live in fear. God has empowered us to move beyond timidity, He's anchored us in His love, and He's granted us self-control to focus our thoughts on truth.

To expand the seed of God that is planted in you, it is important to add the spiritual nutrients God has provided. #BeEncouraged BeEncouragedwithDesmarie.com

How do you view God in a crisis? Know that God is exceedingly abundantly able to do all things. He is bigger than your crises. Trust Him. #BeEncouraged BeEncouragedwithDesmarie.com

Encouragement with Desmarie #BeEncouraged

Words of Encouragement

Hi, I hope that you will start making time to learn about your freedom in Christ Jesus. He Redeemed us from the curse of the law and blessed us with the Blessing of Abraham, and all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly places (Galatians 3:13-14; Ephesians 1:3)! All of our books are on Amazon if you would like more teaching. Our website is: dwaynenormanministries.org

by Abe Kosh

Author, speaker, former NFL player and Christian Tim Tebow mentioned how concentrating on God’s plan for our lives will keep us focused and help us avoid comparing ourselves to others.

God blessed human beings with five senses. The ability to taste, touch, smell, hear and see all work together to make life a richer and more fulfilling experience. Losing one or two of those senses can be devastating, throwing an individual’s life into immediate upheaval. Adjusting to a new normal without one of those senses requires time and patience.

However, while those senses are necessary, they can lead to problems when misused. For instance, social media is a constant presence in nearly everyone’s life. Facebook and Instagram are likely always within our grasp at any given moment.

Social media platforms can and do often lead to people comparing themselves to others. Individuals see what others are doing in their posts, the number of likes and shares on those posts and their number of friends and followers on those sites. This leads to people needlessly judging themselves against someone else.

But in a clip, Tim explains that if we keep our eyes on God and His plan and will for our lives, we won’t engage in this useless and potentially harmful comparison activity.

“When we just live in a state of comparison with other people, ‘Oh, he’s so much better than I am,’ right?” Tim said. “We’ll, we get so discouraged from that, but when we live in the mindset of with what I have been given, with what I have, I have a chance every day to wake up and be my best.”

He added that God has blessed everyone with gifts, talents and a purpose, which should always be our focus and to not get distracted by looking at others.

“Yes, what did God give you?” Tim said. “How has He equipped you? Why has He put you here? And when you understand that I don’t have to live in a form of comparison.”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no fickleness, neither shadow of turning.”

Finding Peace in the Midst of Anxiety | Prayer for Comfort and Assurance In this heartfelt video, we offer a powerful prayer to Jesus, seeking His peace and comfort in times of anxiety and worry. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the fears and uncertainties of life, join us in this prayer to cast your cares upon the Lord and find rest in His promises. 🙏 Prayer: "Dear Lord Jesus, I come before You with a heart full of anxiety and worry. The fears and uncertainties of life weigh heavily on my mind. Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, and I ask for Your peace to calm my anxious heart. Help me to cast my cares upon You and to trust in Your loving care. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and let Your presence bring me comfort and assurance. Guide my thoughts and actions, and help me to find rest in Your promises. Surround me with Your grace and help me to feel Your calming presence. Lord, I surrender my fears to You, trusting that You will carry me through. In Jesus' holy and precious name I pray, Amen." Keywords: Christian prayer, anxiety, comfort, peace, Jesus, Prince of Peace, Holy Spirit, grace, trust in God, spiritual guidance, Christian encouragement, overcoming worry, finding rest, calming presence, prayer for peace Why Watch This Video: Find comfort and assurance in God's promises. Learn how to cast your anxieties upon Jesus. Experience the calming presence of the Holy Spirit. Discover the power of prayer in overcoming fear and uncertainty. Connect with a community of believers who share your struggles. Join Us: Subscribe to our channel for more Christian prayers, uplifting messages, and spiritual guidance. Let us be a source of hope and peace in your life. Don't forget to like, share, and comment to spread God's love and encouragement to others. #ChristianPrayer #AnxietyRelief #FindingPeace #TrustInGod #HolySpirit #Jesus #ComfortAndAssurance #SpiritualGuidance #ChristianEncouragement

Imagine sitting in a job interview and your prospective boss tells you two things. First, he says the position he wants to hire you for will be challenging and filled with constant opposition. But, second, you will find the assignment incredibly fulfilling–and through it, you'll experience an intimacy with Christ you hadn't prior. Would you take it? As you consider this role, which part of the man's conversation will you reflect on most? As Christ-followers, we're faced with this question daily. Which will we give greatest emphasis–the opposition we'll inevitably face, or the God who stands with us, refines and strengthens us, and makes Himself known to us through it all? In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery speaks with Bible study writer Kathy Howard on the beauty that can come through opposition. 

Our world provides numerous reasons for us to feel uncertain and afraid. But Scripture tells us we have an even greater reason to live courageously. We have an all-powerful, loving, faithful God who watches over us, wants the best for us, and has the power to bring that best to pass. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery talks with Bible teacher Mary DeMuth about a unique approach to Scripture that has greatly helped her experience decreased fear and increased peace. 

Get ready for the tissues. A brother shows support for his sister fighting cancer in the sweetest way.

A beautiful teen girl is given a horrible diagnosis of cancer. Her long and gorgeous brown locks are being cut and shaved off in preparation for chemotherapy. To show support as her tears fall from her eyes and she grabs a tissue, she turns to her kind-hearted brother standing right next to her and gives him a smile as his head is shaved for support. 

The brave young woman shared that she went to the ER in March, and they discovered a cancerous mass. She tells how her lymphoma is very hostile and quick, so it needs treatment fast. The girl's name is Tita Hall, and she tells how her family has been by her side during every step of the process. She shares with a smile as Tita tells how her brother Levi was with her when she was getting her head shaved, and she thought he was kidding around about getting his head shaved. To her surprise, he sat down and shaved his head, too. She was so proud and encouraged by his actions. 

The brother Levi says that he wanted to be there for her and he jokes that he was also in bad need of a haircut. Tita has finished 3/6 rounds of chemo now. She tells boldly, “I didn’t take this as why is God punishing me. I took it as what can I do to help others in this situation.” She chose to share her story virtually to encourage others. 

Her mother then tells about how she has always been positive since she was born. She reveals that when they found out about the cancer, her brave daughter turned to her and told her mother that she was going to be ok. She said, “That’s her character.” This girl has modeled such faith and security that God loves her and has a plan in the midst of her pain. It is truly inspiring. Please pray for her.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Praise for Jesus and his mother