Tuesday May 21, 2013
Silent Stories is my monthly blog post giving voice to the persecuted Christians in our world today.
Kidnapped Clerics and Christians Fleeing, Syria
Two archbishops were kidnapped by gunmen on April 22, 2013, in the midst of civil war in Syria. Greek Orthodox Church leader Bishop Boulos Yazigi and Assyrian Orthodox Church leader Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim were ministering in the Aleppo countryside when they were taken at gunpoint.
More than 70,000 people have died in the conflict, churches are being destroyed, and Christians are being killed and tortured. The mass exodus of persecuted Christians is threatening the future of the Syrian Church. I urge you to join believers around the world in prayer for the end of violence in Syria and the release of the two kidnapped bishops.
Read More of This Silent Story:
Monday May 20, 2013
Kelsey's parents divorced when she was a small child. Then her mother moved in with a man who sexually abused Kelsey until he was sent to jail. After coming to know Jesus, Kelsey shared her testimony and saw how it helped others who had survived the same kind of abuse. Through this, Kelsey learned that God always has a reason for his children to hang on.
Read: Kelsey's Reason to Hang On
Submit a Testimony:
Friday May 17, 2013
Tongues like fire came down on the apostles on the Day of Pentecost.
One of the most extraordinary events recorded in the New Testament took place on the
Day of Pentecost. We read the remarkable details in the
book of Acts, chapter 2.
In Acts 1, the resurrected Savior met with his disciples just before he was taken up into heaven. Jesus told them they would soon receive power from the Holy Spirit to go into the world and be his witnesses. Luke 24:49 records the Lord's instructions: "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
A few days later, the disciples were all together in Jerusalem when the strange events began. A violent wind brought tongues of fire to rest on their heads. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues. Then Peter preached a powerful message to the crowds gathered for the Feast of Pentecost, and the Bible says the people "were cut to the heart." An astounding 3,000 Jews and converts to Judaism received the message of salvation in Jesus, and were baptized and added to the church that day.
Today, 2,000 years later, believers in Jesus Christ continue to be supernaturally filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In this Bible story summary, learn more about the miraculous outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost:
Photo: Lawrence Lawry / Getty Images
Thursday May 16, 2013
This week's post is a member-submitted Christian poem called I Am His. It is a declaration of complete and total surrender to God and his will.
Photo: Christine Balderas / Getty Images
By faith I call on Jesus Christ,
There is no better friend.
My Strength, my Rock, my "soul" support—
My Savior to the end.
If these words that come from Him
Could only in some small way
Reach out and touch just one lost soul
And bring them home today!
Read more of ... I Am His by Gwen B.
Do you have an original Christian prayer that would encourage or benefit a fellow believer? Perhaps you've written a unique poem you'd like to share with others. We are looking for Christian prayers and poems to encourage our readers in their communication with God. To submit your original prayer or poem, please fill out this Submission Form.
