December 2022 Frontlines Digital

Sharing the Love of Christ

FRONTLINES

SAFE AND SOUND

Damaris endured an abusive marriage until she fled with her five children. Finding a stable job was difficult. “My children suffered many nights without food, and they weren’t going to school,” this mother in Kenya said sadly. “I couldn’t afford school fees.” Sometimes, strangers cared for her kids—and she would find her little ones wandering the streets searching for food. The unrelenting trauma was tearing her apart.

But generous partners like you stepped in! Today, this family lives together at a children’s home supported by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise, with Damaris hired as a caretaker. The children are in school, with all educational fees paid. Smiling, Damaris said, “Seeing them come home from school brings tears to my eyes. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help us!”

CBN partners help a family with nowhere to turn

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Keep this ornament as a remembrance that you and yours are in our hearts this holy season. Place it on your tree as a reminder that we are praying for you.

Write your prayer request on the back of one ornament and return it in the envelope included. We will display your ornament on a Tree of Hope in our studio or on the CBN campus as we pray for your specific needs. Place the second ornament on your own tree as a reminder that we are praying for your Christmas miracle! You can also send us your prayer request online.

Back on the Road Again

CBN partners help a military family in need Watch

After a nine-month deployment, E-4 Specialist Cooper was eager to return home to his wife, Alexis. Blissful days followed the birth of their daughter—until Alexis’ car broke down. The couple couldn’t afford the $2,000 in repairs, so they only had Cooper’s unreliable old truck for transportation.

“We only have $300 in savings,” Cooper shared. “There’s no way we

A local military support group in Alabama soon reached out to CBN’s Helping the Home Front for assistance. Generous friends like you helped provide the funds needed to fix Alexis’ car and replace Cooper’s truck with a dependable vehicle.

“You guys can’t even imagine how this is helping our family and our future,” Alexis expressed gratefully.

HEALING A BOY’S VISION

CBN partners provide eye surgery for Allen

Twelve-year-old Allen was playing with his friends when he ran into a low-hanging branch. The accident affected the boy’s sight in his right eye.

Allen’s father earns about $8 a day as a laborer in the Philippines. It took a month just to save enough money to get his son’s eye checked.

The doctor said Allen urgently needed surgery. The operation would cost $1,700!

“I felt weak when he said that,” recalled his mother, Susan.

Surgery to restore Allen’s vision seemed impossible until CBN’s Operation Blessing stepped in to help. Thanks to friends like you, Allen received the operation he needed—free of charge. “When I opened my eyes after the surgery, I could see clearly,” Allen said. “I am so happy!”

“We are so grateful to you,” expressed Susan. “Our lives that were once dark are now bright.”

See more medical care stories from Operation Blessing.

You helped restore Allen’s sight!

Thanks to CBN partners, thousands of men, women and children have a reason to celebrate this holiday season. They are orphans who now have a brighter future, senior citizens who no longer feel alone, survivors in Florida receiving disaster relief, families who now have access to nutritious food, and others. Many now understand just how much God loves them—and all of them have new hope because you care.

CBN partners bring joy to the desperate and downtrodden

Keenan

Twenty-two-year-old Amel blamed herself when her son, Keenan, was born with a cleft lip. She thought some medicine she had taken for a broken arm had caused his deformity.

After Keenan was born, Amel asked her mom to help her take care of him. Both realized how difficult life would be for the boy as he grew up.

“At first I thought that he would never have a normal life like other kids,” said Keenan’s grandmother. “I was sad and lost hope when I saw other kids laughing.”

Keenan needed an operation, but that seemed impossible since his father earned $10 or less a day as a taxi driver. Then, Keenan’s family discovered CBN’s Operation Blessing in Indonesia. Thanks to CBN partners, Keenan received the surgery he needed.

“As a mom, I can’t express how thankful I am to Operation Blessing and the donors who made the surgery possible for our son,” said Keenan’s mother. “I am beyond grateful.”

Linda

Linda will never forget the day Hurricane Ian ravaged her community. “This hurricane is different from other hurricanes,” she said. Linda hid in the tiny bathroom of her home.

After the storm passed, Linda assessed the damage to her home. Water had drenched her carpets, damaging her walls and ceiling fans. And the majority of her roof was gone. There was also damage to trees and the fence in her yard. Thanks to faithful partners, help from CBN’s Operation Blessing was on the way.

“Operation Blessing showed up today,” said Linda. They cleaned my yard, they tarped my roof, and they took saturated, rotten furniture out for me. They moved stuff for me so that it’s in a more protective area.”

Linda is extremely grateful to Operation Blessing and to friends like you for sending resources and volunteers to her home in her time of need.

Jesús

At the tender age of 8, Jesús is far too familiar with the struggle for clean drinking water. He and his three brothers live with their grandmother in the remote community of La Cuchilla, Honduras. Sometimes they have access to small, dirty community wells, but when the pools dry up, the nearby river is their only other option.

The river lies some distance away, and young Jesús takes it upon himself to make the long trek there to save his grandmother the

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burden. “Carrying water has been very difficult. I told my brothers, ‘Let’s help Grandma and get water from the river.’” But river water doesn’t solve their problems. In fact, it often makes them worse. The contaminated water can make people sick from drinking it. Thanks to friends like you and local partners, Operation Blessing constructed a new water system for their community, revitalizing an existing well. This method now brings clean drinking water to 145 homes, two schools, and three

churches! An excited Jesús said, “Now that we have water, we are not thirsty.”

His grandmother also expressed her thanks to those who made this project possible. “Now we have water near us. My grandchildren can bathe. I can wash their clothes. I thank the Lord that we no longer are suffering.”

This Christmas and throughout the year, many here in America and around the world have a reason to rejoice because of you!

Operation Blessing staff pray with Linda.

TIPS FOR Holiday Eating

Guess what? You really don’t have to gain weight during the holidays. Dr. Adrienne Youdim, author of Hungry for More , says you can avoid the extra pounds as you celebrate.

She suggests simply eating more protein. But be sure to focus on healthy protein—and remember that red meat can be bad for you if consumed regularly. Fish, though, is associated with good metabolic health and heart health, while poultry is somewhere in between. Also, vegetable proteins, such as legumes, can healthfully satisfy hunger.

A second tip is to fill half of your plate with nutrient-dense foods like fresh vegetables. They fill you up and don’t have a lot of calories. “I personally love arugula,” says Youdim. “I eat it practically every day.

And one cup of arugula is two to five calories but has 30 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So, imagine all that nutrition you’re getting in each bite.”

Another tip is to drink a hot beverage, like tea, after a meal to let your brain know you’re done. “It takes time for our stomach … to receive food and to give off those signals to the brain notifying that the food has been received and, therefore, those hunger hormones or signals should be shut off,” she explains. “Having hot tea slows us down and allows our body … to notify us that we are actually full.”

Finally, don’t skip meals before your holiday gatherings. If you do, chances are you’ll be tempted to eat more, including the not-so-healthy food, later.

JOIN THE CBN ANIMATION CLUB

When you sign up today, you’ll receive a Limited-Time Special Bonus Pack containing:

• A DVD copy of Superbook GizmoGO! Quantum Christmas and two copies to share with family and friends

• “The Promise of a Child” DVD

• New: Chris and Joy’s Goodnight Prayers book

As a CBN Animation Club member, you’ll also get:

• The all-new Superbook Express—an at-home Sunday school lesson presented by Gizmo

• Instant internet streaming of Seasons 1–5 with over 65 full-length episodes available online

• And much more!

PLUS each new membership provides a Superbook gift box to kids in an active-duty military family.

Discover the fun right now at CBN.com/Animation

45 BROKEN BONES

Matti never saw it coming. A car crossed two medians and hit her head on. It was an accident that could have left her paralyzed—or worse. See how Matti’s recovery defied the odds.

LEARNING TO STAND

For Orlando Magic forward Jonathan, choosing to stand instead of kneeling with other NBA players during the national anthem took courage. But such boldness didn’t come easily.

Hear about his inspiring journey from paralyzing fear to purpose-filled faith.

YOUR QUESTIONS, HONEST ANSWERS

WITH PAT ROBERTSON

Is it okay to pray to the Holy Spirit? Can you please explain how we’re to approach Him and if we can actually ask Him to pray through us in our spiritual language if we don’t know how to pray?

QAThat’s a great question. You pray to the Father in the name of the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s the idea. We can say, “Holy Spirit, You’re welcome in this place.” I think we can speak to the Holy Spirit and ask for His help. The Bible says the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26 nkjv). And I do believe that there’s nothing wrong with asking for the Holy Spirit.

ACTIVATING GOD’S WORD IN US

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. –John 1:14

By Gordon Robertson President and CEO

God’s Word is incredibly powerful! In Psalm 107:20 we read, He sent out his word and healed them. I love Psalm 119:49, which says His word causes us to hope. And God tells us in Jeremiah 1:12, “I am watching over my word to perform it.” When we understand the power of His Word, miracles happen!

Who is the Word? John 1:1 gives the answer: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus is the very Word of God—and at Christmas we celebrate how God sent Him to us!

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus opens the scroll of Isaiah and declares, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18). All of these things are embodied in Him. Jesus is the living Word who came to save us, heal us, and forgive us.

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” And our response should be the same as Peter’s: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Later Jesus commands His followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. … And behold, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:18-20). All power has been given to Him—and He is with us as we announce His Word and preach the Good News!

This Christmas, may you appreciate how Jesus has come to you. May God fill you afresh with the power of His Word. And may it accomplish the purpose for which God sent Jesus—that His kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. God bless you!

From a teaching on The 700 Club. Scripture is quoted from the ESV.

Spend Your Christmas with the CBN family

Join Gordon and Terry in the kitchen for their new favorite dessert. Plus, find Christmas radio stations, kids shows, exclusive content from Israel, and more.

Watch at CBNfamily.com

Scan the QR code to start watching or download the CBN family app to your Roku, tablet, smartphone, or streaming device.

Frontlines is published monthly by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463, 757-226-7000. Copyright © 2022 by The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. Frontlines may also be viewed online at www.CBN.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Due to Revenue Canada regulations, not all premiums are available in Canada. Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.