Today's Christian Living September 2022

An Angel In Disguise

Encourage • Equip • Engage

Prayer Changes Things

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Faith, Family & Forgiveness

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SARAH & TIM MOLITOR

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TODAY’S On the Cover: Tim and Sarah Molitor, modernfarmhousefamily.com Photo taken by Sarah Molitor @modernfarmhousefamily

LIVING SEPTEMBER 2022

VOL. 60 NUMBER 5

Features 8 Faith, Forgiveness, and an Unexpected Mission

by Stephanie Rische When Sarah surrendered to God’s plan, He transformed her inner discontentment into overflowing joy.

14 Prayer First

An interview with Brooke McGlothlin Raising boys to be godly men is a formidable job. Learn how Brooke helps moms worldwide parent better to God’s glory.

20 The Schoolteacher Who Changed My Life

by Ron Archer The hope one person, obedient to Christ’s calling, brought to a child living in utter despair.

24 Undercover Angel

by Marcia McGreevy Lewis When they needed help, did God send an angel to their rescue? He wasn’t dressed in white raiment but find out why Marcia believes he was heaven-sent.

30 Christian Living Resource Guide Living a God-honoring life can be challenging. Here are some resources to encourage you on the journey.

35 Picking Berries

The berries are ripe. Now’s the time to gear up and go harvest them.

37 Let Your Light Shine

By Heidi Baker No one had ever told the Londo villagers about Jesus. Learn how they finally heard the New Testament in their own language.

24 Columns

Departments

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Living in Wisdom The Cost of Contentment

12 Ask Dr. Walt Are Protein Drinks Safe?

18 Dave Says Teaching Teens to Manage Money

The Fine Print

23 Daily Bible Connection 28 Quips & Quotes 34 Laugh Lines 42 Quick Takes 44 Kids of the Kingdom

26 Turning Point Love Bears All Things 40 Persecution Report Christians in Egypt Face Many Hardships

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46 Grace Notes Best Laid Plans

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38 Lessons from the Leaf Pile

by Michelle Adserias What God teaches us about Himself as we work, play and pursue Him; with both our natural and spiritual families.

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THE FINE PRINT

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od has been bringing to my remembrance recently some of the amazing things He did when I was a young Christian – reminding me of what it means to have a childlike faith. To believe, without any obstacles, that God is able to do exceedingly beyond what we could imagine or think.

As a young Christian, I remember the days when I literally thought that if I prayed for God to move a mountain, I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that He would actually move it.

Now that I’ve been a believer for almost 30 years, I’m beginning to see that I need to go back to that childlike faith – a faith that trusts God in all things, believes that He loves me (and us) enough and wants to give us the good gifts the Bible promises.

Not because of what we have done, but because He loves and cares for us beyond explanation.

This issue reminds us of the hope that God gives in any and every situation we face. Sarah Molitor’s story on page 8 and Million Praying Moms on page 14 shed light on the power of God to transform lives through prayer, even in the little things that to us may seem insignificant.

Please give a warm welcome to Michelle who joins us as the new editor of Today’s Christian Living. Michelle has been a Christian for over 40 years, has raised 2 stepsons and 2 daughters, and is living out her dream of writing and editing for Jesus.

Vol. 60

No. 5

President/Publisher Diana Jones dianaj@jpmediallc.com Editor Michelle Adserias michellea@jpmediallc.com Contributing Editors Walt Larimore, M.D. Dave Ramsey Jerry Rose Shirley Rose Jeff Sellers Sales Account Executive Jill Maggio jillm@jpmediallc.com 800-397-8161 ext. 5 Graphic Designers Bill Kuffel Beth Krogwold Editorial Director Rocky Landsverk Bulk Circulation Nancy Plaski 800-397-8161 ext. 2

Diana Jones Owner and Publisher

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ometimes God surprises us. He sends us blessings we weren’t looking for, and perhaps, didn’t even know we needed.

I wasn’t looking for a job but was thrilled when Diana asked me if I’d like to be the new Today’s Christian Living editor. After years of being a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher, I thought my career days were behind me. God had other thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

As I step into this new role, I’m constantly praying for God’s guidance. Together, I hope we will continue being encouraged by one another’s stories of God’s goodness, both through life’s victories and life’s sorrows. In these pages, I pray you’ll find a community of fellow believers devoted to growing in our understanding of who God is, who we are in Him, and how we can best enjoy and serve our Savior.

“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

(Westminster Shorter Catechism) Blessings, Michelle Adserias, Editor

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LIVING IN WISDOM

By Jerry and Shirley Rose

The Cost of Contentment Jerry Rose is an internationally known Christian broadcaster and is former president/ CEO of the Total Living Network. He currently serves as TLN’s chairman of the board and hosts the Emmy awardwinning program Significant Living. Jerry is an ordained minister and the author of five books, including Deep Faith for Dark Valleys and Significant Living, co-authored with his wife Shirley. He is the past president of the National Religious Broadcasters and currently serves on its board of directors. Jerry is an avid golfer, equestrian, photographer, and grandfather of 20.

Shirley Rose has been in ministry with her husband, Jerry, for more than 30 years.

Her career in Christian television focused on hosting several programs, including the Emmy Award-winning women’s program Aspiring Women. She has authored five books, including The Eve Factor, A Wise Woman Once Said…, and Significant Living, and has contributed to numerous anthologies and periodicals. She is actively pursuing her calling to help other women through writing, speaking, and hosting women’s groups in her home. Her favorite pastimes are country line dancing, travel, and spending time with her 20 grandchildren.

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During my master’s degree studies, one of the topics I found especially interesting was a theory called “Relative Deprivation.” It actually has less to do with deprivation than the feeling of being deprived relative to the circumstances around us. An example from the professor’s personal experience describes it well.

He and his wife wanted very much to live in a particular affluent suburb of Chicago. It took a while, including some career promotions, living frugally, and diligent saving, but they finally were able to fulfill their dream. They purchased a small but lovely home in the picturesque town on Lake Michigan. It was a wonderful community offering an upscale lifestyle with beautiful parks, outstanding schools, and other amenities. However, during her frequent visits to the park with their two children, his wife got well acquainted with other mothers in the neighborhood. Often the conversation would turn to their regular travels to Europe and other exotic places around the world—places the professor and his wife could never afford. As you might guess, it wasn’t long before their contentment succumbed to the heavy weight of relative deprivation. The home in the idyllic location was no longer enough.

We have all experienced those feelings at one time or another. Shirley and I are blessed with a pleasant home that we enjoy. We love our surroundings, our neighbors, and our lifestyle, and are perfectly content—mostly. However, there have been times after a visit with friends at their stunningly beautiful homes with incredible landscaping and elegant furnishings that our contentment falters. Those insidious feelings of relative deprivation begin to creep in, and we must remind ourselves of how blessed we are.

Having goals and working hard for a promotion or a nice home or a good education for our children are not bad things. However, our ambition becomes destructive when we believe they are the source of our contentment. It is then that instead of bringing joy and contentment, they can become a source of frustration, anger, jealousy, envy and sin.

A Question of Calling

My early calling was to Christian television, but my first job was with a secular TV channel. I was sure that after a couple of years of learning, the doors of Christian television would fly open, and I

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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would be living my dream. However, ten years later I was still in commercial television as the operations/ programming manager for a Texas CBS affiliate and an adjunct professor teaching television production at the University of Texas. In addition, Shirley and I were serving as volunteer youth leaders for our church. For most it would have seemed a tremendous opportunity, but I had become so obsessed with “my calling” to Christian media that I became frustrated and impatient. I didn’t realize just how valuable those 10 years would be to my future.

One day, while I was in prayer, God spoke a startling question into my spirit. What if I want you to spend the rest of your career in secular television?

Will you do it? I realized my frustration came from a focus on my will rather than God’s. As I said, “yes,” and yielded my future to Him, my frustration was replaced by contentment. It was about a year later that the door to Christian television finally did fly open and I’ve been privileged to spend the rest of my career in media ministry. By constantly looking to something “better” in the future, I was missing the blessing and opportunity of the present.

Where Do We Find Contentment

Genuine contentment is not found in material things or fame or fortune. Think of all the divorces, emotional struggles and even suicides among well-known celebrities who appear to have it all.

In truth, they are living miserable lives. What they thought would bring satisfaction and happiness has delivered just the opposite. It brings to mind Proverbs 15:16: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

The Apostle Paul tells us. “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” (1 Tim 6:6) and “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

(Phil. 4:11) Recently as I was faced with a potential serious health issue I prayed this prayer, “God I pray for my healing, but whatever journey you have for me at this stage of my life, I trust you with it.” True contentment comes from settling the issue of eternity and having a close enough relationship with Christ that we can trust Him wherever our journey takes us.

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3) 

The Good News

A man accused of murder was brought before a judge. The man admitted to the crime, the guilty verdict was read, and the death penalty pronounced. Even though the guilty man was his own son, the judge could not dismiss the verdict or he would be a corrupt, unjust judge. So great was the judge’s love for his son that he decided to pay the debt for him. The judge stepped down from the bench, removed his robe, traded places with him, and was executed in his place.

This is what Jesus has done for us. Jesus was sinless, but paid the penalty for our sin, dying on the cross in our place. This is called substitutionary atonement, but the atonement only takes effect if we are willing to accept this incredible gift; God won’t force His love on us. To receive this forgiveness, we must admit our guilt and sins and repent of them. If you have never done this, you can do it now. Tell God that you are sorry for your sins and want to turn away from them. If you truly repent, He will wash your sins away and give you a new life. He will send the Holy Spirit to live inside you and to change you from the inside out.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

(2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

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, h it a , ss F e n e v i g or F and an Unexpec ted Mission

Life in a Modern Farmhouse

By Stephanie Rische photos by Sarah Molitor

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ot much about Sarah Molitor’s life has turned out the way she expected. While she and her husband, Tim, were open to the idea of a large family, she never pictured herself as mom to six children in a span of nine years— and all boys, at that! When she stopped working as a nurse to be a stay-at-home mom, she didn’t have aspirations to create a vibrant online community. But to her surprise, that’s exactly what has unfolded.

“I’m not a goals girl,” she says. “I’m not really business minded.” But God continues to open doors, and Sarah keeps walking through them. She now has a family lifestyle blog and an Instagram account with over 200,000 followers, although Sarah wouldn’t put it that way. “I don’t like to use the term followers. I really see this as a community of friends. I never want to put myself on a pedestal. My hope is that this space would be a place of hospitality.”

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Wrestling With Discontentment

“This life is everything I needed and nothing I could have expected. The Lord knew that for me specifically, a lot of little boys would level me out. If we’d had a girl first, our family would have a different dynamic. Of course, I would love it if God blessed us with a girl, but l think I needed little boys in my life for what God wanted to do in me. I’m forever grateful for that.”

Sarah describes their home as “the most fun house you’ve ever been to. It’s a blast, a joy.” But she hasn’t always seen it this way. “Tim and I grew up in Christian homes. We were pretty baggage free, which was a big gift going into marriage.”

But not long after they got married, they moved to Tim’s hometown in Washington State, and the transition was difficult for Sarah to navigate.

“I was very established in my own hometown. Even though I knew this move made sense for Tim’s career and for our family, I didn’t want to do it. As life carried on, I became more disgruntled, more resentful. I was envious of what Tim had — we were surrounded by his family, his community, his hometown.

All I could think was, None of it’s mine.”

After Sarah and Tim’s second child was born, they had a blow-out argument, and all the negative feelings that had been building up in Sarah for years came bursting out. “In my discontentment, I started to speak unkindly to Tim. In those early years, I’d gotten into a habit of saying demeaning words I regret to this day — words I now wish I could take back.” In the midst of their argument, Tim said, “Sarah, you are hurting me. Something has to change.”

Still simmering with anger, Sarah called her parents, expecting them to back her up. Instead, they said, “You’re in the wrong, honey.” As difficult as that conversation was, Sarah is now grateful for their willingness to speak the truth. That moment marked a turning point in Sarah’s marriage . . . and her entire outlook on life.

That wakeup call initiated a journey of forgiveness, and Tim and Sarah began rebuilding the foundation of their relationship.

“I’d been allowing my feelings to guide the way I saw everything.

But I’ve learned that feelings are fickle. I don’t want to rely on them; I want to rely on God’s Word, which never changes.”

Embracing an Unexpected Calling

One day, after Sarah and Tim had been through a process of forgiveness and healing, Tim said to her, “I love you so much, but you really need a hobby. I mean that nicely.” This casual but intentional comment took Sarah by surprise at the time,

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Sarah sees it as her calling to encourage women to embrace true joy. “I feel I’m meant to share the gospel, but perhaps in a different way than a traditional missionary.

I want to show up as a mom living out my life and faith in an authentic way. I want to be honest about my life, saying, “Hey, we had a struggling toddler today, but there’s perspective in the middle of it.” Sarah wants women to know that what they’re going through may be tough, but God’s joy can be found there too.

“People will come to you when you’re vulnerable,” Sarah says. “I always tell women that failure doesn’t define you as a wife or a mom. You weren’t a failure today; it was just a ‘less than’ day. We can allow God to work in that, and then let tomorrow be a better day.”

An Online Mission Field

but she can laugh about it now. “We were on a single income and we lived frugally, so I tried to think of an inexpensive hobby. I looked around and saw a camera, and I decided to teach myself photography.”

“After I’d been taking pictures for a while, my sister suggested that I try Instagram. She told me there were places you could post photos of your children wearing certain brands and get free clothes.”

Sarah enjoyed that, but she knew she had more depth to offer. “I wanted to share my family’s story to encourage other women, and I soon found that people related to what I’d gone through.”

Before long, her Instagram account wasn’t just cute pictures; it was a community. “I hear from so many women who want to do better but are tearing their husbands down. The Lord took this hobby to a place I never expected, and He continues to do that to this day.” After Sarah’s family moved into what they affectionately call their “modern farmhouse,” she named her Instagram account @ModernFarmhouseFamily to reflect the life they share. “Social media isn’t a job for me. I happily show up every day because every bit of it is a joy.”

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Sarah grew up in a Christian home, with parents who love the Lord. Even so, there were several pivotal points when she learned to own her faith. The summer before her senior year of high school, she received a hate letter from someone she thought was a friend. “It was a really difficult time, and I was confronted with the reality that I was different, that the aim of my life wasn’t the same as it is for unbelievers. As difficult as that season was, it cemented to me that I wanted to go in a different direction.”

After high school, Sarah attended college in Michigan on a softball scholarship. “I was an odd duck there — I was far from my home in Oregon, and it felt like culture shock.” On one of her first nights at school, she was invited to a party with the softball team. “I’d never partied before; I’d never had alcohol. I realized in that moment I had a choice to make about the

trajectory of my life.” Before the party even started, she stood up and asked her friend, “Can you bring me back to my dorm?” On the drive back, her friend told her she’d get used to it, but she said to herself, I don’t think I want to. The next two years of college were hard and lonely, but Sarah felt the Lord steadying her and grounding her. She sensed that He was saying, “You’re not meant for this — I’ve called you to separate yourself.”

This sense of being set apart continues to mark Sarah’s life. She isn’t shy about sharing her faith on social media, and to her surprise, people have resonated with her message. “In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic and so much unrest in our world, I sat down on a Sunday night and said, ‘Let’s pray together on social media.’ I feel like God has gifted me in the area of prayer — not that I do anything fancy; I just talk to God.” Prayer requests and support flooded in, so Sarah decided to continue this practice every week, choosing a different topic to pray about each Sunday.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Sarah says. “One woman from Australia wrote, ‘I don’t believe in God, but every time I hear your prayers on Sunday, I feel warm.’ God is creating points of connection I never could have created on my own.” Another woman sent her this message: “My husband and I both grew up as atheists, and we were raising our three children that way. But I’ve been listening to your Sunday prayers for the past six months, and those prayers sparked me to google a church in my area. Now my whole family is saved, and we can’t stop telling people about Jesus.”

Sometimes God calls us to a faraway land to share the gospel.

But sometimes the mission field is as close as the device in our hands. Sarah puts it this way: “Social media often gets a bad rap, but God is using it mightily for His purposes.”  Stephanie Rische edits and writes in the Chicago area, where she lives with her husband and two sons. When she isn’t chasing down commas or little boys, she blogs at stephanierische.com.

Her memoir, I Was Blind (Dating), but Now I See, recounts how God surprised her with his grace and love.

Molitor Family Values

When Sarah talks about raising her children, she has a clear vision about their family’s values. “Right off the bat, it’s about Jesus. Tim and I want to instill in them Jesus’ love.” Sarah and Tim are also intentional about encouraging their kids to live authentically.

“We tell our kids that it’s okay to feel our emotions, but they don’t define us or control us. We might feel frustrated, but it doesn’t determine our behavior.”

The Molitors are committed to generosity as well, whether in person or on social media. “Tim and I live and die on the hill of hospitality. We want to be intentional about showing love to others.” They put a high priority on generosity, financially and otherwise. “We believe God calls us to have generous hearts, and we want to live open-handedly.” One of Sarah’s favorite verses is Proverbs 11:25: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

Sarah and Tim want to embrace the season they’re in while also being open to how God is leading. “I think of it this way. Tim is always fiddling with the sprinklers around our house — he’s good at fixing them. In our home, we talk about how we’re meant to be connecting pieces, not endcaps.

We believe the Molitor family is called to be a conduit for His Kingdom.”

You can find out more about Sarah online at modernfarmhousefamily.com or on Instagram @modernfarmhousefamily. Or check out her children’s picture book, I Grew with You. TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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ASK DR. WALT

GMO Worry

Dear Dr. Walt, Is genetically modified food (GMO) safe? Friends tell me that they are not safe at all.

—Concern about GMO in Ohio Walt Larimore, MD, has been called one of America’s best-known family physicians and has been named in “The Best Doctors in America” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare.” He’s also an award-winning medical journalist and the bestselling author of 30 books. You can find Dr. Walt’s health blog and free daily devotional at www.DrWalt.com.

You can also watch him on Liftable TV at Liftable TV.com/ DoctorWalt. Have questions for Dr. Walt?

Email them to editor@ todayschristianliving.org.

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Dear Gene Watcher, You can find opinions that GMO foods are as safe as non-GMO foods as well as opinions that GMO foods are a health catastrophe waiting to happen. There’s an excellent article (tinyurl.com/ n8yy2m26) in Medical World News (MWN) that lays out the pros and cons of GMO foods. They point out, “In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all foods from genetically engineered plants,” adding, “The likelihood that any food derived from corn, cottonseed, soybean, canola, or sugar beet will be GMO food in the U.S. is 90 percent or higher.” However, “GMO foods undergo strict testing before they can be commercialized. This could make them safer than other foods, which do not undergo testing.” MWN concludes, “So far, scientists have found no evidence that commercially available GMO foods are dangerous for health,” and, more specifically, “There is no evidence that GMO foods cause cancer, allergies, or any other health conditions.” Nevertheless, research is ongoing.

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By Walt Larimore, MD

Styrofoam and Plastic Containers

Dear Dr. Walt, Is it safe to drink from Styrofoam cups and plastic bottles? Is it dangerous to heat food in Styrofoam or plastic containers?

—Worried in Oregon Dear Vessel Evaluator, The term StyrofoamTM refers to an extruded polystyrene material developed by Dow. However, the term is often misused for a type of expanded polystyrene foam that is commonly used to make disposable take-out containers, dinnerware, and packaging materials. The main concern with microwaving polystyrene or plastic is that it may cause harmful additives to leach into foods and beverages. For unheated food or drink, the FDA views polystyrene (StyrofoamTM), expanded polystyrene foam, and plastic containers as safe for foodservice packaging and drinking beverages. When it comes to heating food or drinks in these or plastic containers, the FDA says, “Generally speaking, any food that you buy in [these containers] with directions to put it in the microwave have been tested and approved for safe use.” If the container is not labeled for microwave use or if you’re not sure, then don’t use it.

Low-Carb Diets and Heart Harm

Dear Dr. Walt, Is a keto diet safe? I’ve heard it can cause heart arrhythmia? Is that true?

—Heart A’ Flutter in North Carolina Dear Troubled Heart, With more people becoming aware of the negative health impact of being overweight or obese, it’s not surprising that many people are trying low-carb diet plans such as Atkins and the ketogenic (keto) diet. However, some research has shown that these diets are associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a common and potentially dangerous heart rhythm disorder. Other studies have demonstrated that diets both high and low in carbohydrates are linked to increased mortality. My recommendation to most of my patients seeking dietary changes is to have a consultation with a Registered Nutritional Dietitian (RND) to obtain a Mediterranean-type diet plan designed for you and your family. It’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats while being equally flavorful, delicious, and nutritious. Even better, it’s been shown to support and improve brain function, heart health, blood sugar levels, and more. You should know that there are no concrete rules for how to follow a Mediterranean-type diet. Italians eat differently from the Spanish who eat differently than the French or Greeks. Nevertheless, there are many general guidelines your RND can recommend for you to incorporate into your and your family’s daily routine.

Protein Drinks

Dear Dr. Walt, Are protein drinks safe?

bel Project, evaluated 134 best-selling protein powders and found 75 percent had high lead levels and 55 percent were positive for the toxin. They also detected levels of mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.

Antibacterial Soap —Noodling in Michigan

Dear Supplementer, The answer is a very complicated, “It depends!” and will be different depending upon why you want to supplement, what your goals are, your medical history, and your taste and dietary preferences. For example, whey protein isolates are typically lower in fat, lactose, and cholesterol than whey concentrate. Vegans prefer plant-based proteins. Then, there’s cost. The convenience of ready-to-drink protein drinks can cost two to three times as much as powdered products for the same amount of protein. I’d recommend you read a great article on the “Eating Well” website by Gabrielle McPherson, RND (tinyurl.com/ydyru5rt). After going through all the options, the pros, and the cons of protein supplements, she says that they are safe, “…if it is a good quality third-party tested product with minimal sugar and void of harmful additives. Remember, it is a dietary supplement. This means it enhances your diet. Be sure to be eating whole food proteins as a part of a healthy diet first.” The reason you want to find a protein supplement approved by an independent and trustworthy test lab like ConsumerLab.com, NaturalMedicinesTM, or LabDoor.com, is the potential for contaminated product. Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests protein supplements for quality prior to sale. A non-profit organization, The Clean La-

Dear Dr. Walt,

Should I use antibacterial soap? Or will that lower my immunity?

—Clean in Connecticut

Dear Washer, According to the FDA, antibacterial soaps are not any better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Furthermore, using antibacterial soap over a long period of time may have a potential negative effect on your health. For example, lab studies have raised the possibility that chemicals added to soap to make them antibacterial may make bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Just use plain soap and water. It’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school, at work, and elsewhere. It’s simple, and it works.  This column provides evidence-based healthcare tips and advice that you can trust about a wide variety of general health information. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment from your family physician or personal pharmacist. You can subscribe to Dr. Walt’s daily blog at www.DrWalt.com. Also, you can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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Prayer

Photo Credit: Mary Stafford of Merry Studios

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First B

rooke McGlothlin realized early in motherhood that she would need God’s help raising her two boys, now teenagers, to be godly men. She knew prayer was the key to tapping into God’s wisdom and strength, so she began praying His very words over them. She had no idea what great things God was going to do.

Today’s Christian Living: What motivated you to start Million Praying Moms?

Brooke McGlothlin: I had a significant experience with prayer early in my own parenting.

Not really a single event, but a gradual deepening of my understanding of prayer and its significance in God’s plan to partner with His people. It became the foundation of the way I parent.

I started my motherhood very confident, sure that I had what it took to raise godly men.

I had asked God specifically for boys before I was even married, so that I could raise men who were different, men who followed God’s heart.

For whatever reason, God answered that prayer.

I had no idea it would be my undoing!

My boys were born just 23 months apart, and they kicked my feet out from under me in all the best ways. They get the credit for helping me see I did not have what it took, wasn’t enough, and desperately needed Jesus every moment of every day. My early prayers sounded like, “Help me, Jesus!” screamed at the top of my lungs.

In that season of early motherhood, I was desperate for something to change and, looking back, I’m so grateful I knew where to go for help. That’s half the battle -- reminding women God has promised to be their help (Psalm 46:1).

They know it, but they don’t always know how to ask God to move in their lives. This is my mission—helping women see prayer not as a last resort, but as one of the most important parts of Christian parenting and Christian living.

The first scripture I remember praying is Ezekiel 36:26. God used it to change my entire life.

This verse makes it clear God changes hearts

A Mom’s Best Defense in Spiritual Battle

of stone to hearts of flesh. I realized it was my job, as their mom, to give my children Jesus, but God is the only One who can change their hearts. I understood concretely for the first time that parenting is a partnership between me, my husband, and God. Without forethought or intention, I began praying, “Lord, change their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.”

As I prayed that one verse back to God, I began to wonder if there were others I could pray. Before long, I was completely engrossed in searching God’s Word for things to pray for my sons. I allowed the verses and passages to inspire me. I wove them together into prayers.

Then, I framed them, and hung them outside of our boys’ rooms. The last thing I did each night was pray God’s Word for their specific needs.

I started praying because I wanted God to change my children. But over time, God changed me. That’s my sneaky, back door reason for encouraging moms to pray God’s Word.

Hebrews 4:12 says God’s Word is living and active. It can change us from the inside out. Isaiah 55:11 tells us God’s Word won’t return void. It will accomplish its purposes in those we pray for, and in us. After almost 17 years of praying verses back to God, He has transformed me into a better mom. I know it’s going to change other moms, too. That’s why Million Praying Moms exists.

The truth is, we might not always know what to do, but we can always know what to pray.

Today’s Christian Living: What goals has Million Praying Moms accomplished and what does the future look like?

Brooke: Million Praying Moms started just before Mother’s Day in 2019. My then business/ ministry partner and I had been doing online ministry together for several years already. We started ministering just to mothers of boys in about 2009 (because we have five boys between us). Prayer had always been central to the way we encouraged our community to parent their TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

15

I started praying because I wanted God to change my children.

But over time, God changed me.

children, but it got more and more important as we approached the ten-year mark. Over the years, prayer got more important to us. We realized it was the main thing we wanted to share with moms because it was the main way God was working in our own parenting. In 2018, the Lord redirected us. He wanted us to serve moms of both boys and girls, helping them make prayer the first and best response to the challenges of parenting. So, we switched gears, rebranded, and became Million Praying Moms.

Our mission is to help moms make prayer their first response to parenting challenges. Secondly, we hope to disciple moms. If they know Christ better, they can pass the gospel on to their children and grandchildren. Finally, our goal is to see fewer children leave the church when they turn 18. I believe as moms (and dads) pray, we’ll see the numbers go down.

Million Praying Moms is the intersection of prayer and motherhood. What makes Million Praying Moms unique is encouraging moms to dive into God’s Word 16

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I receive emails and messages from moms who tell me that learning to pray God’s Word changed the trajectory of their family’s story. I’ve heard from moms in Australia, the UK, Indonesia, and other parts of the world who have been impacted by this work, and that’s amazing. But knowing God has used the gifts He gave me to help one person is enough.

Just the other day, a woman named Veronica contacted me.

“Learning from Million Praying Moms to pray scripture has been a game-changer in my parenting life. Thank you for teaching me! It’s never too late to start!

for the hearts of our children. To make this possible, we offer a series of resources to help moms know how to and what to pray. Our prayer journals and prayer guides offer moms a ready-made set of prayers related to topics of concern for them Today’s Christian Living: In what ways are you connecting and supporting moms?

Brooke: The main way we connect with moms is via social media and our podcast. I create resources and episodes designed to help each woman take the next step in her journey as a praying mom.

Million Praying Moms offers great communities for moms. Our Podcast Community on Facebook is a free, private place for moms to ask for prayer and offer prayer to other moms. It’s a supportive place for like-minded women, and I love it. At the end of every episode we ask: “How can we pray through this issue?”

We’ve seen explosive growth on Instagram, possibly because it’s my favorite social media outlet. The moms we want to reach are on social media, so we spend a considerable amount of time strategically seeking them out. And our podcast audience is growing as well. It’s a very simple, free way for moms to fill their hearts with truth and encouragement while they’re doing daily tasks.

We also have a growing community on Patreon. This monthly membership program encourages moms to pray the whole Word of God through our Pray the Word challenge. We’ve prayer through several books already and will start in Psalms next. We hope to pray through the whole Bible as a community. Moms can jump in any time.

Today’s Christian Living: How has God worked through prayer in your own life?

Brooke: My favorite prayer story happened when my son had just started high school. He encountered a bully who fixated on him, for some reason. It went on for months. Then, toward the end of the school year, it took a turn for the worse.

I began to feel like we were dropping him in the lion’s den each day. Many times I would come home, go into his room, lay on his bed, and cry out to God, begging Him to protect my son.

Then, inspired by the story in Daniel 6, I started praying God would shut the mouth of the lion — cause the bully to stop attacking my son.

To our great surprise, this bully was “found out.” He admitted to school officials he was intentionally trying to hurt my son. The bully was isolated and his phone was confiscated by his parents for a long time. When my son told me, I shook my head in disbelief. God had quite literally shut the lion’s mouth. The bully had been silenced. We were floored by God’s answer to this prayer. It’s a story of God’s goodness my boys will never forget.

Today’s Christian Living: What advice would you like to share with our moms?

Brooke: The best piece of advice I have for moms is to find a way to get to God every day. I know it isn’t always easy, but it can be done. Invite Him into the moments of your day.

Talk to Him. Get to know Him in His Word. If you have ever thought you aren’t the kind of mom you’d like to be, let God change you from the inside out.  Brooke and her family reside in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Learn more about her ministry at www.millionprayingmoms.com.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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DAVE SAYS

By Dave Ramsey

Teens and Checkbooks

Dave Ramsey is a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week.

He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more.

Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

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Dear Dave, My daughter is 15, and she’s had jobs around the house and been on commission and the envelope system for years. She’s very good about saving and not spending on silly things. We recently opened a checking account for her, and I was wondering what bills you think we should assign for her to pay on her own?

—Suzanne Dear Suzanne, This sounds a lot like what we did with our kids.

She’s obviously bright and motivated, so the first thing you do is explain to her the seriousness and responsibility associated with a checking account.

The next step is for her to balance the checkbook with you looking over her shoulder. Do this with her for several months, while you keep one eye on the account, too. After that, I want her to do it alone and show you her work. Her balance should match yours and the one at the bank.

As soon as she demonstrates competency, and you feel comfortable that she can handle things, I want you to start putting her clothing budget in the account. You know, the weirdest thing happened with our girls at this stage. They suddenly started shopping at less expensive stores. It’s amazing when they see that the dollars associated with these purchases can run out. My bet is you’ll see some changes in her value choices.

Just take it step-by-step, a little at a time. The more they exhibit competence, wisdom, and confidence, the more you can release them.

—Dave

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Does My Mom Need Long-Term Care Insurance?

Dear Dave, My dad passed away about a year ago, but he left my mom in really good shape financially. They never had any consumer debt, the house is paid for, and they had about $1 million in assets. Dad also left her a $500,000 trust. Mom is going to be 60 next year. She is in good health, but considering her age and financial situation, do you think she needs long-term care insurance?

—Darby Dear Darby, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. Losing a spouse, or a father, is tough at any age. The good news is your dad did a great job of planning to take care of your mom. He left her in fine shape moneywise, but yes, she needs long term care insurance and a good estate planner. You need to help your mom do everything possible to handle her situation wisely.

I usually suggest folks wait until age 60 to buy long-term care insurance, because the likelihood of filing a claim before then is very slim. In fact, about 95% of long-term care claims are filed for people over 70. That’s why, in most cases, it doesn’t make sense to get long-term care insurance earlier than age 60.

Insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing, though. If someone has a family history of illness or other health issues at a younger age, they may need to get long-term care insurance earlier.

But you shouldn’t buy long-term care coverage at a young age just because you’re paranoid of what might happen, or because you think you’ll save money. That’s just not true.

In the event your mom becomes unable to take care of herself at some point, long-term care insurance would be an absolute necessity. The cost of nursing home care these days is astronomical.

Again, your mom is in a great place financially, but a prolonged stay in a nursing home somewhere down the road could eat up her nest egg in a hurry.

Long-term care insurance is a wise part of any good asset management plan.

—Dave

Extended warranties, of any kind, are not a good deal and I don’t recommend them. You’re better off to self-insure against things breaking down and put what would have been profit for the extended warranty company in your own pocket!

—Dave

Midlife Adjustments?

Why the Smallest Debt First?

Dear Dave, I’m new to you and your plan. Why do you want people to pay off the debt with the smallest balance first, instead of the one with the highest interest rate?

—Courtney Dear Courtney, Simply put, because personal finance isn’t all about math. Personal finance is only about 20% math. The other 80% is behavior.

We list debts in the debt snowball in order of the smallest to the largest balance, putting as much as possible toward the smallest while paying the minimum payments on the others.

The reason, as I mentioned earlier, is behavior modification. It helps you see yourself making a dent in your debts.

It’s easier to change bad habits when you see quick results from your efforts to eliminate negative behaviors. Paying off the smallest debts first, instead of the debts with the highest interest rates, will give you quick wins that will help keep you motivated. It provides proof that you can succeed and become debt-free!

—Dave

Dear Dave, My husband and I are in our 50s, and we have just $12,000 to pay off before we’re debt-free. We’ve paid off almost $70,000 in debt in the last two years. We would like to buy a house soon, but we know we also need an emergency fund. It would take us almost a year to build up an emergency fund, so should we make adjustments to the Baby Steps since we’re getting older?

—Dawn Dear Dawn, No! It shouldn’t take you two years to build up an emergency fund considering the rate at which you’ve been paying off debt.

You need a fully funded emergency fund or three to six months of expenses set aside before you start saving for a down payment on a home.

You’ve been making great progress, and you obviously have a good income to be able to pay off debt that quickly. Maybe in your case you could lean a little more toward the three-month side with your emergency fund before you start saving for a house. Then, after you’re all moved in, you could revisit the emergency fund and beef it up to six months.

Just stay on course and stick with the plan, Dawn. Fifty isn’t old. You two have plenty of time to get your finances in order, find a great home, and look forward to many great years ahead!

—Dave

No, They’re Not a Good Deal Dear Dave, I have an emergency fund equal to six months of expenses. Considering this, would you consider an extended home warranty to be a waste of money?

—Ami Dear Ami, My advice is to have an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses sitting in a good money market account, with check writing privileges, to cover the unexpected things that life will throw at you. The cash, combined with the easy access that kind of account allows, will make it quick and easy to take care of things in the event of a financial emergency.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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© [Sengchoy Int] / Adobe Stock

The

Schoolteacher

Who Changed

My Life

by Ron Archer

I

was one messed-up kid growing up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1970s.

I stuttered like Porky Pig and was teased in the school yard as “Renaldo the Retardo.” I was sexually assaulted repeatedly by a sadistic day-care provider named Mrs. Brown.

But that was nothing like the beatings I endured from my stepfather every time I wet the bed, which was often.

At school, I was sent to a “special education” class that met in a dark, dank, windowless basement with a boiler. I felt like a dummy who needed to be separated from the regular kids because I was so stupid.

Each morning, I sat at a low desk with several other “special” students and either finger-painted or glued pieces of uncooked macaroni onto a piece of paper in the shapes of people, cars, and towns.

Since life was a living hell, I decided to end it all.

I knew Mom kept a .32 snub-nose revolver in her nightstand—to protect herself after she ordered my stepfather to move out. He’d whipped her with his brass belt buckle, taking chunks of flesh out of her upraised arms.

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One Saturday afternoon, while my mom and my younger sister were shopping in downtown Cleveland, I found the shiny nickel-plated handgun and peered at the tips of the lead-tipped bullets in the six chambers. I breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn’t have to load the gun to end my life.

I contemplated what would happen when the gun fired.

Sure, the explosion would hurt, but only for a fleeting moment. After that, I would be free—free from kids at school who made fun of me, free from the bullies in the schoolyard, and free from my wretched existence.

I studied the snub-nose revolver one more time.

Did I really want to do this?

The answer was yes.

I held the gun in my right hand and raised it to my head.

Then I pressed the barrel against my temple.

Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. I didn’t know there was a safety on the gun or that I had to push a button to free the safety.

Deep, deep down, I wasn’t disappointed. I mean, I didn’t want to die. It’s just that I didn’t see a reason to keep living.

Unexpected Love

Less than a week after I tried to kill myself, my fifth-grade teacher was walking the aisles, looking over our shoulders as we worked on math problems. I’d been given another chance to “mainstream” with other students.

“Come see me at the end of school,” she whispered.

A feeling of fear washed over me. What had I done now?

Was she going to send me back to the boiler room to fingerpaint all day?

When the final bell rang at 2:40, my classmates sprinted for the door while I trudged to my teacher’s desk in the front of the classroom.

“Do you know Mrs. Spears?” she asked.

The name sounded familiar. “Isn’t ssshe a tee . . . teecher?” I stammered.

“You’re right. Mrs. Spears teaches sixth grade. She would like to see you.”

I gathered my belongings and found Mrs. Spears sitting behind her desk, grading papers. She was a white woman with graying hair.

“Hello, Ronaldo. I’m glad you came today. Have a seat, young man.”

There was a twang to her voice. She was obviously from the South and had an accent that I didn’t hear very often in Cleveland.

I slid into the first desk in the row nearest Mrs. Spears’ desk. She folded her hands and looked right into my eyes.

“Would you like to speak better? Would you like to speak well?”

I shrugged in a way that signaled yes.

“Good, because I’m willing to help you. We’ll start reeeal slow.”

I remained mute and wondered what would happen next.

“Let’s begin with you making these sounds with me: Leelee, la-la, lo-lo. Can you say that? Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

The moment of truth. I actually had to say something.

“Lee . . . lee . . . la . . . la.”

Not a bad start. But I had forgotten the last one.

“Lo-lo,” Mrs. Spears filled in the blank.

“Lo . . . lo,” I repeated.

“Let’s try it again: Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

The second time I said this a little faster: “Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

“Again.”

“Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

“You’re getting it. Again.”

“Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

“It’s okay to hold the L until you feel comfortable.”

“Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.”

She must have asked me to say that phrase twenty times or more. I didn’t understand that what Mrs. Spears was doing was getting me to relax my tongue and my mouth. Saying these short syllables allowed me to gain confidence while the tongue learned to form them in my mouth.

Ron Archer’s childhood home.

Lee-lee, la-la, lo-lo.

I was starting to get into a cadence, each time a bit faster and a bit clearer. Even though I wasn’t stuttering, I still felt like I had a long way to go.

After forty-five minutes of practice, she said, “You’re doing just fine. Can you come back tomorrow?”

I nodded. But I wasn’t going to press my luck by saying “S-s-s-ure.”

The following afternoon, Mrs. Spears was at her desk when I arrived shortly after the final bell. She had big eyes and a beautiful smile. “Anything worth doing in life is worth doing poorly at first until you get better,” she said.

That made sense to me.

“Remember when you couldn’t tie your shoe? You couldn’t do that well at first. But what happened? You kept trying.

Before you knew it, you could tie your shoes with your eyes TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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closed. Learning how to speak better is the same thing. So let’s get started today with paying attention to the way you enunciate the vowel sounds—lee . . . then la . . . then lo.”

Her lee sounded like leeeee. Her la sounded like lahhhh.

Her lo sound was elongated too: loooooh.

After working on that a few times, she introduced a new phrase to work on: “At dawn the don went down.”

She had me overemphasize the vowel sounds so I could learn to breathe as I spoke dawn, don, and down.

At dawn the don went down.

At dawn the don went down.

At dawn the don went down.

“See? You are feeling the words,” she said.

With each success, speaking out loud became smoother.

After a month or two of similar exercises, I was a changed person. And then Mrs. Spears said something that would change my life.

Unyielding Hope

“Did you know you’re special to God? I can show you.”

Mrs. Spears patiently reached for a thick, leather-bound volume on her desk.

“I’m going to turn to the Book of Jeremiah, the first chapter, starting in verse four. Can you read it to me?”

I hoped there weren’t going to be any big words. The Bible was mysterious to me because we weren’t a church-going family.

Mrs. Spears pointed to a place on the left page. “Start here,” she said.

I found the spot and started reading: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”

—Jeremiah 1:4 (NIV) “See?” Mrs. Spears said. “God Himself planned your birth. You’re no accident or mistake.”

What an earth-shattering thing to hear at that exact moment in time. In the next few moments, I had an out-ofbody experience because it felt as though God was telling me, “You are not a mistake. You are truly special.”

Tears formed, which I wiped away with the back of my hand. For the first time, I felt good about myself.

The next time we met, we read the story of Moses from her Gideon Bible. He was a stutterer, just like me. Yet God chose him to lead the Israelites out of slavery into freedom.

If Moses could do great things, could I do great things, too?

“Ronaldo, people are going to listen to you. Just wait and see.” It was as if Mrs. Spears had read my innermost thoughts.

I finally realized I wasn’t a mistake or an unwanted child, thanks to a public school teacher named Mrs. Spears, who saw the classroom as her mission field.  Today, Ron Archer is a gifted communicator, a spellbinding speaker, and a force to be reckoned with when he stands behind a podium. His website is ronarcher.org.

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Ron Archer

LIFE-CHANGING, WORD BRINGING A Gideon Bible was instrumental in changing Ron Archer’s Life. Gideon Bibles have been instrumental in changing countless other lives, too.

The Gideons International was founded in 1899 by two traveling salesmen, John Nicholson and Samuel Hill, committed to telling others about Christ. In 1908, they made it their mission to place a Bible in every hotel room in the United States. Though this is where many of their Bibles can be found, they are also placed in schools, prisons, hospitals, care facilities, military installments and firehouses. Since their inception, the Gideons have distributed nearly 2 billion Bibles and New Testaments.

Generally speaking, Gideons are active or retired professional men or businessmen who are in good standing with a local evangelical church. Their wives can also serve in the auxiliary, which prays for and helps with practical aspects of the ministry.

If you’d like to get involved with this life-changing ministry, you can email The Gideons International at tgi@gideons.org or call them at (615) 564-5000.

DAILY BIBLE CONNECTION

Developed by R. M. M’Cheyne and D. A. Carson

If you follow this reading calendar, you will read through the Old Testament in two years and the Psalms and New Testament in a year.

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

September 4

1 Samuel 28; 1 Corinthians 9

11

2 Samuel 6; 1 Corinthians 16

18

2 Samuel 14; 2 Corinthians 7

25

5

6

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

1

7

FRIDAY

2

1 Samuel 26; 1 Corinthians 7

1 Samuel 27; 1 Corinthians 8

8

9

10

1 Samuel 29-30; 1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 1; 2 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 3; 2 Samuel 4-5; 1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 15

12

2 Samuel 7; 2 Corinthians 1

19

2 Samuel 15; 2 Corinthians 8

26

13

2 Samuel 8-9; 2 Corinthians 2

20

2 Samuel 16; 2 Corinthians 9

27

14

15

16

2 Samuel 11; 2 Corinthians 4

2 Samuel 12; 2 Corinthians 5

2 Samuel 13; 2 Corinthians 6

21

22

23

24

2 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 18; 2 Samuel 19; 2 Samuel 20; 2 Corinthians 10 2 Corinthians 11 2 Corinthians 12 2 Corinthians 13

28

29

30

2 Samuel 23; Galatians 3

2 Samuel 24; Galatians 4

1 Kings 1; Galatians 5

1 Kings 2; Galatians 6

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

October 9

3

1 Kings 6; Ephesians 3

10

17

2 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 3

2 Samuel 22; Galatians 2

2

3

1 Samuel 25; 1 Corinthians 6

2 Samuel 21; Galatians 1

1 Kings 4-5; Ephesians 2

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

1

1 Kings 3; Ephesians 1

4

1 Kings 7; Ephesians 4

11

5

1 Kings 8; Ephesians 5

12

6

1 Kings 9; Ephesians 6

13

7

1 Kings 10; Philippians 1

14

8

1 Kings 11; Philippians 2

15

1 Kings 12; Philippians 3

1 Kings 13; Philippians 4

1 Kings 14; Colossians 1

1 Kings 15; Colossians 2

1 Kings 16; Colossians 3

1 Kings 17; Colossians 4

1 Kings 18; 1 Thessalonians 1

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

1 Kings 19; 1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 2; 2 Kings 3; 1 Thessalonians 2 1 Thessalonians 3 1 Thessalonians 4 1 Thessalonians 5 2 Thessalonians 1 2 Thessalonians 2 2 Thessalonians 3

23

2 Kings 4; 1 Timothy 1

30

2 Kings 11-12; 2 Timothy 2

24

2 Kings 5; 1 Timothy 2

25

2 Kings 6; 1 Timothy 3

26

2 Kings 7; 1 Timothy 4

27

2 Kings 8; 1 Timothy 5

28

2 Kings 9; 1 Timothy 6

29

2 Kings 10; 2 Timothy 1

31

2 Kings 13; 2 Timothy 3

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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Undercover Angel

by Marcia McGreevy Lewis

I

t was wintertime in Seattle, so finding the sun was the key to salvation. My boyfriend and I planned a month in Arizona and California to visit friends and family. We had basked in Arizona’s warmth and were on our way to visit more friends and family and bask in even more sun in California.

As marginally tech-savvy seniors, we drove from Tucson, AZ, to Joshua Tree, CA, relying solely on MapQuest. We put in the name of the town where we were going to stay – 29 Palms, one of the entry points to Joshua Tree National Park.

It was about a 400-mile drive and would take us much of the day. That was fine. Little did we know that 29 Palms is also the 24

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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name of a 151-mile highway and that MapQuest would direct us there instead of to the town.

We motored along, jostled by dips in the road, into the vast desert. Bleak, craggy foothills loomed in the distance, gray dirt powdered the tops of brown clumps of sand, unoccupied homes looked hauntingly deserted and harsh winds had decapitated the few palm trees. Sparse scrub growth struggled for life outside the car windows and dust walled us into the car.

The only sign that this desolate spot had witnessed human life was the interminable road people had built, stretching for miles before us like a black ribbon. We started to worry that we were

Climbing at Joshua Tree Nat’l Park.

too far from civilization and again consulted MapQuest which retorted with a question of its own. “Where do you want to go?”

“We already told you, MapQuest. The town of 29 Palms.”

“Please try again.”

We had been looking for a gas station for a long while and were now perilously low on gas, so we tried asking MapQuest, “The gas station nearest to me.”

Good try, but no dice. It dropped us. In the middle of the desert.

No service. We were out of range. It could find neither a gas station nor us.

The drinking water spigots weren’t working at the last two rest stops, so we couldn’t fill our water bottles, and I was thirsty. Then my stomach started sending shooting pains as it attempted to deal with the stress of my boyfriend’s repeated suggestions that we turn back. His stomach was no better. Also shooting pains. No communication, no water, no gas, and no sign of life. Death by desert was not our goal.

Which Way Should We Go?

We eventually reached a fork in the road. Unclear of which way to turn, we pulled up next to an antiquated, rusty blue car, blanketed in dust. It looked to be in more desperate shape than we were. Standing beside it was an even more wretched-looking man. He was bald, unshaven, large-bellied, and wore a faded black T-shirt with a biking emblem. However, when he declared, “I’m your angel,” we almost bowed down in reverence.

We didn’t care how unkempt he was. He had figured out how to stay alive in the desert.

We poured out our anguish to him and he told us where to find the next gas station, 40 miles away. It was good to hear there was gas ahead, but we weren’t sure we could reach it with our depleted gas supply. That’s when this dodgy-looking character said, “I’m your angel. I travel with extra gas cans and I am happy to share half of what I have.” My jaw dropped in awe.

Our angst turned to joy as we tried to express endless gratitude. The precious extra ration would get us there. As he poured the contents of his gas can into our tank, this angel told us his story. He was traveling to California to do the Lord’s work at a church there. He hadn’t anticipated finding work with us first

Marcia McGreevey Lewis at Joshua Tree Nat’l Park.

but welcomed the opportunity. We had to force payment for the gas upon him. His conversation revealed a golden heart in that bulky frame. He would have been happy to keep us all day to tell us about how the Lord put him there for our salvation and how much the Lord loves us. We had to pull ourselves away from his endless chatter and warm embrace, and when we did, he left us with, “I love you.” Though we had to step away to get him to stop talking, we loved him too.

Angel in Disguise?

We never learned his name, and he disappeared from our lives as quickly as he entered, but his presence was more than a remarkable coincidence. He was a gift from the Lord he so faithfully serves. The fact that he happened to be at that corner at that time points to a higher power at work. He had helped another stranded motorist before helping us, and his trunkful of supplies gave us hope for a better future as he goes about doing the Lord’s work. His car jack, extra gas cans, and tools will find their way to other grateful travelers.

I was never so thankful to see the large blue letters, Chevron, parading in front of the gas station’s white walls. We would not have made it without that infusion of generosity, but we did – on fumes. Filling the tank almost emptied our wallets, but we were happy campers as we fumbled our way out of the desert.

We had to double back. No problem. We seemed to have an angel on our shoulders.

On our next adventure, and there will be many more like this one, we will be more prepared with water, gas, and maps. When one lands in a desperate situation like we did, it’s unlikely there will be someone waiting to rescue those who have made poor judgments. It’s even more unlikely his appearance will be as offputting. Angels walk among us, and it isn’t what they wear that will help us recognize them.  Marcia McGreevy Lewis lives in Seattle and is a retired feature writer for a Washington newspaper and a past Director of Communications. Her writing has recently been printed in F3LL Magazine, Life in Lit, Freshwater, GO World, ROVA, Third Act, Blink Ink, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

25

TURNING POINT

By Amy Catlin Wozniak

Love Bears All Things Amy Catlin Wozniak lives in Northeast Ohio.

There she shares her life with her husband, four children, two grandsons, and a Great Pyrenees. She loses all track of time when she’s hiking, reading, or writing.

As a writer, her passion is sharing stories that reflect God’s hope.

If you have a turning point in your life you would like to share, email your story to editor@ todayschristianliving.org.

All submissions must be under 800 words. If we print your story, we will pay you $75. We reserve the right to edit for length and content.

All submissions become the property of Today’s Christian Living.

26

“I

miss you, Michael,” I whispered as I covered my husband with a blanket as he lay sleeping on the couch. Then I made my way back to our bedroom, alone. Unable to sleep, I stared at the picture of us in our wedding finery on the nightstand. My mind traveled back to the day we stood on the porch of that mansion, hiding from the rain. It wasn’t how we’d planned it… but you could see on our faces how happy we were — how sure.

I lived in Iowa and Michael in Ohio when we met online. We spent months getting to know each other on the phone. We wrote letters to each other every day for nearly a year, sharing what was in our hearts back and forth across the Mississippi.

When we finally met, it solidified everything I already knew — he was the other half to my heart.

Now, looking back at the memory frozen in time from our white lace and promises day, when we vowed not to let anything come between us, I wondered if that was still true.

That was long before the death of Michael’s son, Ryan, rocked our blended family. Now sorrow filled our broken hearts, squeezing out the room for any other emotion, while the tendrils of grief tripped us up, and tore at our hope for the future.

On July 9th of 2014, Michael’s twenty-five-yearold son, Ryan, didn’t return home. With no note and no idea where he was, we searched for two days. On the third day, we found him. He had been killed in a gas can explosion. The day we found his body, I stood sobbing on a small hill, listening to my husband’s agonizing screams and knowing nothing would ever be the same for us—and it hasn’t been.

Marriage is meant to be a shared journey, but when a child dies, you’re suddenly on two different paths, and often in a different stage of the grief cycle. You keep passing each other as you spin around, unable to catch the other or even stop yourself.

Subconsciously, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I worried something would happen to another one of our children. In addition to losing Ryan, I felt like I was losing my mind as I watched everything I thought was true being snatched away by the tidal wave of grief, while fear tightened its grip on me.

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

SEPTEMBER 2022

“Love goes all the way. It doesn’t end because things get hard, hurtful, or even hopeless.”

A Glimmer of Hope

One day, in my Bible study, we were to SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer) 1 Corinthians 13:7-8. My heart skittered as I read the words in the verse, “Love...endures all things.”

As I wrote the familiar words down on the page, something snapped open inside of me. In my journal, I wrote, “Love goes all the way. It doesn’t end because things get hard, hurtful, or even hopeless.”

Writing those words shone a light on my wrong thinking about our marriage. No matter how hard it seemed, I still loved Michael, and that meant it wasn’t hopeless.

But it was time to stop waiting for things to get worse -- or until we were too far gone to find our way back to each other. It was time to have a long talk with Jesus. I had to stand in the gap for Michael, and for our marriage. I had to decide (sometimes daily) that I was going to love my husband.

Even if, in his brokenness, I didn’t feel like he was capable of loving me.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. But here we are, seven years after Ryan’s death, still together, still married, and still in love.

This summer, on our 12th anniversary, we stood on the Frisco, North Carolina beach at sunrise. We took pictures to celebrate our years together, again capturing forever a moment in time. One of those pictures now sits on my nightstand where our wedding picture used to be. When I look at it, I still see two halves of one heart, in a once-in-a-lifetime love. Only now I know that love was built, day by day, on faith, to endure — even child loss, the worst thing two people can face.

I still keep that page in my journal bookmarked as a reminder of those times pain overshadowed us like a dark cloud. The dog-eared corner with “Love Endures” written in pink ink reminds me God was with us in our storm. He walked with us, separately and together, to help us find our way back to each other and to healing that allows us to honor Ryan’s memory. 

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11

QUIPS & QUOTES

In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity.

—Rupertus Meldenius I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.

—Charles Spurgeon

Only when we are captured by an overwhelming sense of awe and reverence in the presence of God, will we begin to worship God in spirit and in truth.

—Alistair Begg

Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.

—Soren Kierkegaard Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.

—J.I. Packer 28

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Christian Living Resource Guide O

ur faith is challenged daily. The struggles aren’t the same for everyone, but we all strive to run the good race and finish it well.

It’s not easy. We’re tempted by earthly things, wounded by others, haunted by a besetting sin or maybe fallen prey to spiritual apathy.

Some of us are parenting children in a world that constantly pushes an anti-God agenda.

We’re fighting for their souls and growing weary in the battle.

Don’t lose heart! It may not look like it when you read the headlines, but Christ won the war against evil when He died and rose again (Hebrews 2:14). By His power, we can stand against evil, too.

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

- 1 John 4:4 (NASB) One day we will be freed from our frail bodies, our broken spirits, and our burdened minds.

Christ will return and put Satan’s temporary earthly reign to an end.

Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.

– Job 19:25 (NASB) In the meantime, God has given us His Word, the Bible, and the words of others to guide us through those daily challenges. Here are some resources you may find helpful. 

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The Other Side of Hope

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Come out on the other side. Learn what the Bible says about hope and witness God’s redemptive power in the lives of people in the real world. Part guidebook and part storytelling, The Other Side of Hope is a flip-book with two entry points to the message of finding hope.

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TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

By Josh McDowell [Josh McDowell Ministry]

Learn to choose between right and wrong every day.

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33

LAUGH LINES

A

parts manager for a small tool repair shop had occasion to order part No. 669 from the factory. But when he received it, he noticed that someone had sent part No. 699 instead.

Furious at the factory’s incompetence, he promptly sent the part back along with a letter giving them a piece of his mind.

Less than a week later, he received the same part back with a letter containing just four words: “Turn the part over.”

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com)

A

young private sought permission from his commanding officer to leave camp the following weekend. “You see,” he explained, “my wife’s expecting.”

“Oh...” said the officer, “I understand. Go ahead and tell your wife that I wish her luck.”

The following week the same soldier was back again with the same explanation: “My wife’s expecting.”

The officer looked surprised. “Still expecting?” he said, “Well, well, my boy, you must be pretty bothered. Of course you can have the weekend off.

“When the same soldier appeared again the third week, however, the officer lost his temper. “Don’t tell me your wife is still expecting!” he bellowed.

“Yes sir!” said the soldier resolutely, “She’s still expecting.”

“What on earth is she expecting?” cried the officer.

“Me,” said the soldier simply.

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com) 34

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

SEPTEMBER 2022

Berry Picking

B

by Michelle Adserias

erry-picking has been one of my favorite summer pastimes since I was young. In late June, I picked strawberries with my mom. I’d spend hours picking tiny wild blueberries around the Fourth of July, keeping a watchful eye out for the nasty biting ants living in the same sandy soil. Mid-July was raspberry season, and summer rounded out with my favorite -- blackberries! It was a hot, painful hunt for the biggest, juiciest berries surrounded by king-sized thorns.

Every berry season raised the question, “Is it worth it?” Every harvest returned a resounding, “Yes.” Jesus told His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” (John 4:35, NASB) Actually bringing in a spiritual harvest is time-consuming

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The Christianbook Group™

and, at times, painful. It takes ongoing effort to build solid relationships with people. It involves a certain level of risk to openly tell them about your relationship with God. Sometimes we endure mocking, rejection, or the sorrow of others choosing to reject Christ. It’s a small price to pay, compared to the losses some of our brothers and sisters in Christ face. When they tell others about Christ, or choose to follow Him, they risk losing their homes, their families, their freedom, even their lives.

Is it worth it? Yes. We’re rescuing souls from eternal judgement. We’re bringing light to a dark world. We’re storing up incorruptible treasures in heaven. And the angels rejoice every time a new name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17, NASB) 

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35

CITIES OF THE BIBLE

Puzzle by Mary Welsh

1 2

3

4

5

6

7 8

9

10 11

12 13

14 15 16 18

17 19

20

21

22

23

24

ACROSS 2 10 11 12 13 15 21 22 23 24

The walls fell after Joshua’s army blew trumpets Paul was under house arrest in this city Birthplace of Jesus A people of noble character lived here A disciple named Tabitha lived here The name of this city occurs 806 times in the Bible Paul was taken there by soldiers at nighttime Jesus healed a blind man here Samson slew thirty men in this Philistine city Paul wrote to the church in this place while on his third missionary journey

Answers Across: 2. Jericho 10. Rome 11. Bethlehem 12. Berea 13. Joppa 15. Jerusalem 21. Antipatris 22. Bethsaida 23. Ashkelon 24. Corinth Down: 1. Bersheba 3. Caesarea 4.A zotus 5. Baalhazor 6. Bethany 7. Capernaum 8. Emmaus 9. Babylon 11. Babel 14. Laodicea 16. Megiddo 17. Antioch 18. Gaza 19. Cana 20. Nain 36

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

SEPTEMBER 2022

DOWN 1

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 14 16 17 18 19 20

Where Abraham and Abimelech settled their differences over a well of water Paul spent more than two years in a jail in this city Visited by Philip Where Absalom held the feast of sheep-shearing Home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus After leaving Nazareth, Jesus went to this place Two disciples met Jesus on the road to this place Modern day Iraq The Lord confused the language here The church here was lukewarm A battle during the end times will happen here Paul started his missionary journeys from this city Where Samson was imprisoned Jesus’ first public miracle took place here, with water ... and wine Jesus raised the widow’s son here

Let Your Light Shine

By Heidi Baker

I

longed to reach the unreached people of Londo, a village across the bay, but we needed a boat. A generous donor purchased one for us, but my team said it was impossible to get it to Pemba. I saw other boats around, so I knew it had to be possible. Every time someone told me that it could not be done, I persevered because I felt the Lord’s heart for the people of Londo and other nearby islands who had never heard the name of Jesus.

Still, reaching that village would prove anything but easy.

A year after our boat had been purchased, we finally got to Pemba using a giant truck and trailer. We still needed a dingy to carry us to shores that lacked docks and a captain who spoke the local languages. I believed God anyway. After several months, our dingy arrived, and we found a captain. On our first journey, we hit giant waves that made our whole team miserably seasick. Everyone was throwing up violently, and we had to turn back. We felt completely, utterly defeated. As soon as we crawled to shore, many members of our team said they would never board a boat again. When I prayed, the word Dramamine came to mind. You might laugh, but seasickness pills, which had been brought in from outside the country, were vital to getting us back on the boat.

Our next voyage made it to Londo. Many children welcomed us, curious to meet the rare visitors who had come to their village. We met with a village leader and other important men. We told them how difficult it had been to reach them, and we shared about Jesus and how He gave His life because He loved them.

We also brought a solar audio Bible recorded in their native language, and their faces lit up with extraordinary joy. They had never heard the gospel before. Many came to faith. Sadly, on the way home, one of our engines blew up. It took months to receive replacement parts from Canada. But when we finally made it

back to Londo, the villagers lined up along the shore, quoting the New Testament in Makua and singing songs from the audio Bible. It was one of the most joyful days of my life.

Some people will tell you that your dream is impossible, but if your dream comes from God, He will help you find a way. It took many people to reach Londo with the gospel. It required boat builders, engine repairmen, Bible translators who spent twenty years translating the New Testament into Makua, teams bringing parts, a captain, and logistic teams. God used many parts of His body and all their gifts together. His greatest blessings are expressed in community. Whether bringing boat parts through the airport or driving the boat to Pemba, each person played an important role and shared their talents. God longs for the lost, and He puts great hope inside our hearts.

That hope gives us courage to travel difficult roads or seas.  Excerpt taken from: God’s Got This: 40 Devotions of Courageous Faith. Copyright © 2021 by Heidi Baker. Published by Broadstreet Publishing, Savage, MN. www.BroadStreetPublishing.com.

Used by Permission.

Heidi Baker founded Iris Global in 1980 with her husband, Rolland. In 1995, God sent them to Mozambique.

Heidi is “Mama Heidi” to thousands of children and oversees a ministry that includes Bible schools, medical clinics, church-based orphan care and more.

She holds BA, MA and PhD degrees, is the author of four books, and travels the world as a conference speaker. You can learn more at her website: irisglobal.org.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

37

Lessons from

by Michelle Adserias

A

rustle – a leap – a resounding c-r-u-n-c-h. The leaf pile explodes with laughter! I watched as my kids tumbled around in a mountain of crisp color. The sounds and smells of fall carried me back to my own days of playing in the leaf pile.

I learned early on to cherish those lingering autumn days. I knew, along with everyone else from a cold-weather climate, the chill in the air was a long winter nipping at fall’s heels. I wanted to take in the colors and textures of the short season. It would be over much too quickly.

Fortunately, the leaves began to fall before we were ready to rake. That suited me just fine. I’d scope out the back yard, choosing an ideal place to build my dream home. The floor plan was delineated with slightly crooked rows of leaves; kitchen, living room, dining room, baths and bedrooms. A break in the leaf “wall” became the doorway, though I could step right over the walls to get from room to room.

When my house was complete, I dutifully did makebelieve chores in my pretend house. My imagination kept me busy baking cookies in the grass-floored kitchen while putting children down in pine-bough beds. I played outdoors for hours on end, completely content.

It would only be a matter of days before my dad would announce, “We need to rake.”

Raking was a fun-filled family affair, at least for me. You might get a different story from my folks or my siblings.

We’d each grab a rake and help Dad make high piles of tree debris here and there on our one-acre lot.

I say “tree debris” because it was more than leaves. My childhood home was surrounded by towering white pines, stately round-lobed oaks, and gray-barked maples. Red and yellow leaves co-mingled with the soft, golden pine

38

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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needles those giants deemed unnecessary to keep them warm through the winter. When I looked at all that natural litter, I saw the makings of a marvelous leaf pile. It was the perfect balance of cushion, color and crunch.

Even with all of us working together, raking the yard took several hours. Most years, no one minded it too much.

Keeping the house, tending the garden, and maintaining the yard were shared responsibilities. Every member of the family contributed.

There were, of course, days we resented doing chores.

We didn’t want to be elbow-deep in dishwater or kneedeep in the pickle patch when we knew our friends were swimming at the local pool. Still, working together toward a common goal brought us closer. We talked, and laughed, and took care of each other day to day.

On leaf-raking day, the camaraderie (and knowing the best was yet to come), kept us going. We’d usually finish up as dusk was settling on the horizon. We’d admire our work for a brief moment, then my brother, sister, and I would take flying leaps into the fall fluff and sink into its softness.

The crisp leaves would crunch like corn flakes on impact.

Some would fly through the air, undoing our hard work.

Dad didn’t mind. He’d watch from the distance, smiling and laughing with us – probably reliving his own leaf pile memories, just as I relived mine while I watched our kids play.

Part of God’s Family

Being in God’s family is a lot like being in the family I grew up in. There are good days and bad, workdays and play days, and unconditional love from our Father who wants us to live well, no matter our circumstances (John 10:10)

the Leaf Pile If we’ve turned our backs on our old, sinful ways and are now following Christ, we’re adopted children of God. We have a Heavenly Father who -Provides our needs And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) Blesses us with good gifts Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17) Invites us to work alongside him No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He may give to you. (John 15:15-16) Loves us enough to discipline us when necessary For the Lord disciplines the one He loves and chastises every son whom He receives. (Hebrews 12:6) Delights in us But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love (Psalm 147:11) As adopted children of God, we also have spiritual siblings.

Like natural siblings, we don’t always get along. God knew we wouldn’t be a perfectly peaceful family when He brought

us all together. But He’s given us an example in Jesus (John 13:15), He’s given us power through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and He’s given us an instruction book (Genesis 1-Revelation 22) to help us live and work together to His glory. Here are just a few things God said about keeping the family bonds strong: Love one another.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8)

Forgive one another.

Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another; forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13) Put others before yourself.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) Wholeheartedly do what God has called you to do.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3) Delight in the Lord Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy inexpressible and filled with glory. (1 Peter 1:8) My earthly father taught me the value of working hard, playing hard, and pursuing God hard. I believe our Heavenly Father would have each of us learn these same lessons; to work hard to God’s glory, to enjoy the fellowship of our spiritual family, and to love God wholeheartedly. 

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

39

PERSECUTION REPORT

By Jerry Dykstra and Open Doors contributors

By Jeff M. Sellers

Christians in Egypt Face Many Hardships

Jeff M. Sellers is founder and editor of Morning Star News morningstarnews.org, the only independent news service exclusively covering persecution of Christians. Previously he was an associate editor at Christianity Today magazine, where he wrote a regular column on persecuted Christians for five years. He worked seven years as an editor at Open Doors International and three years as a writer at World Vision.

With a journalism degree from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Marketplace Theology from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, he has also reported on persecution, economy, politics, and cultural issues for USA Today, The Globe and Mail, and other media as a journalist in Mexico City, Mexico, and Madrid, Spain.

A

rchbishop Arsanious Wadid, priest of the Virgin and St. Paul Church in Alexandria, was distributing Ramadan gifts to passersby with a group of youths from his church on April 7 when an assailant stabbed him at least three times in the neck with a knife.

The attack on the beachside promenade in the city killed him. Wadid was 56.

His convicted killer, Nehru Abdel Moneim Tawfiq, was sentenced to death on June 11 after a long session in which the 22nd District Alexandria Criminal Court headed by Waheed Sabry watched surveillance camera video of the murder, CoptsUnited reported. The sentence came after the court reportedly referred his case to the Mufti of the Republic for an Islamic legal opinion.

Though leaders of both the historical church in Egypt and Islam played down a religious motive in an attempt to prevent escalation, Tawfiq shouted the jihadist slogan “Allah Akbar [God is greater]” as he stabbed Wadid, an eyewitness testified at the trial. She said Tawfiq hovered around the area for 10 minutes before targeting Wadid because of his priestly garments.

Islamist assailants in Egypt frequently resort to “mental instability” as a legal defense for murder, and sure enough, Tawfiq asserted that his unstable mental state rendered him unable to control his actions. Initially Tawfiq made no effort to hide, witnesses testified, and police said he confessed to intentionally killing the priest, but after the legal consequences came into clearer focus, Tawfiq claimed that he was not aware of what he was doing and had obtained the knife only for self-defense.

Prayer Points: • That Muslim leaders in Egypt would condemn not only attacks on Christian leaders but attacks on converts from Islam to Christianity.

• That police and government authorities in Egypt would actively prosecute Muslims who commit religiously motivated violence against Christians.

• That officials in Egypt would stop legal action against defenders of religious rights.

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Coptic Christians injured in attack on St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Photo courtesy of Morning Star News.

Prosecutors asserted during the trial that evaluations showed he was psychologically sound at the time of the attack. They also noted that Tawfiq had been associated with an Islamic terrorist group, though reports conflicted on whether he was still a member. The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Alexandria declared Wadid a martyr.

Risks for Egyptian Christians

Such attacks are relatively rare in Egypt, but violence is one reason the country is ranked 20th on Open Doors 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

The opening of a new church or rumors of blaspheming Islam can lead to mob violence in poor, rural areas.

“In upper Egypt, the local authorities use socalled ‘reconciliation sessions’ to resolve a conflict, which, de facto, often means that Muslim attackers go free,” according to the WWL report. “This has resulted in a culture of impunity for violence against Christians in that area.”

Christians make up more than 10 percent of Egypt’s population in Muslim-majority country, and attacks on Christians are common. While general security has improved since President Abdul Fattah

Right: Rights activist, Mina Thabet (center) and others examine the remains of a church building set ablaze.

Photo courtesy of Mina Thabet.

al-Sisi was elected in 2014, Christians remain vulnerable to violence and discrimination. Sexual harassment of Coptic Christian women is widespread, and although Al-Sisi uses Archbishop Arsanious inclusive language and has begun Wadid allowing churches to legally open, in everyday life Christians face opposition.

Regarded as an authoritarian regime, Egypt headed by AlSisi has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood but also on religious rights defenders like Coptic activist Ramy Kamel.

Some fear that Al-Sisi’s repression of the Islamic extremist Muslim Brotherhood, essentially driving members underground, has compelled it to become more radicalized and militant and increased the number of those joining Islamic extremist groups.

“Such developments could lead to a further polarization of society in Egypt and could pose a serious risk to the nation’s stability and the security of Christian Egyptians in the long run,” the WWL report noted. “The current high level of support for President Al-Sisi’s regime by a large number of the churches and Christians might also be used against them. Followers of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups are likely to view church buildings and Christians as easy targets to show that the Egyptian government is not able to protect its supporters.”

Egypt, considered a worldwide Islamic leader, is strategically important due to its location in the region and size, along with its historical and diplomatic sway. Two historical tendencies in the country remain in tension: One faction led by the army and current government emphasizes nationalism over religion, while the other, led by the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists, seeks to maintain Islam as the core identity of the country.

“Both viewpoints have offered Egyptian Christians little by way of rights and security, and as the competition between these two camps unfolds, Egyptian Christians are often caught in the political crossfire and forced to make difficult choices,” the WWL report notes. “The high level of illiteracy, economic stagnation and demographic pressure also means that, regardless of the political dispensation in the country, Egyptian society continues to be susceptible to the influence of the most radical and intolerant versions of Islam that are particularly appealing to the youth and the poor. 

AUTHORITIES TURN A BLIND EYE TO PERSECUTION

The few weeks after the stabbing death of Archbishop Arsanious Wadid in Alexandria, suspected Islamic extremists killed another Coptic Christian in Egypt’s north-western coastal Marsa Matrouh area, in the town of al-Daba.

In a video after the attack, a man who identified himself as Faisal Abdul Nasser triumphantly revealed that he had killed Rani Ra’fat because he had heard that the Christian engineer was a polytheist involved with a Muslim woman.

Ra’fat was 28.

Nasser said he didn’t personally know Ra’fat, who in late April had come out of his workshop when a vehicle with three masked men pulled up and opened fire on him, filling him with 22 bullets.

“I had read the Koran, and my heart was inflamed with fire, so I killed him,” Nasser says in the May 13 video, according to a translation by Raymond Ibrahim, a U.S.-born, Coptic Christian-descended critic of Islam. “He is not permitted to touch someone [a woman] who believes in Muhammad the messenger of Allah… When I read the Koran, my heart was set afire.”

Nasser claims he had no issue with surrendering himself to police.

“I am the one who killed that Christian of al-Daba, and

by Allah, by Allah, by Allah, I am delighted that I killed him,” Nasser says. “I killed him on behalf of Muhammad’s umma [i.e., the Muslim world], because he is a polytheist who associates another [Christ] with Allah, and his own Bible confirms this … No Christian polytheist who doesn’t believe in our lord, Muhammad, can just come and profane our women! He is a polytheist, and my heart was inflamed…No one incited me to do this, only my heart, because I am loyal to Allah.”

In spite of the public confession, as of late May police had declined to arrest Nasser, Ibrahim said.

A Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, Ibrahim recently noted that Islam permits Muslim men to marry non-Muslim women, but the reverse is forbidden. He cited Coptic attorney Romani Michel as saying Nasser’s Islamist mentality prevails throughout Egypt, including in some governmental departments and security agencies.

“This was evident when the Muslim Brotherhood and terrorists governed [Egypt under former president Muhammad Morsi] – then, we saw even police grow their beards and call for the implementation of hudud [harsh Islamist] laws,” Michel says. “After President Al-Sisi came, some of them disappeared, while others shaved their beards. But the thinking remains as rotten as ever; and so we suffer and will continue to suffer.”

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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QUICK TAKES

Retiring Well: Strategies for Finding Balance, Setting Priorities, and Glorifying God

By John Dunlop, MD [Crossway]

Preparation for retirement requires more than financial planning. For most people, especially Christians, it comes with a host of other considerations — when to retire, where to live, and how to spend one’s time. Many find themselves asking, Is there a right way to retire?

Drawing from his work with geriatric patients and his own retirement experience, Dr. John Dunlop shares practical strategies for Christians approaching their retirement years. With Scripture as his guide, he promotes balance between rest and activity — encouraging intimacy with God, service to church and community, time with loved ones, and self-care. With the uncertainties major life changes bring, readers will be guided through decisions for their future while seeking to glorify God.

A Better Encouragement: Trading Self-Help for True Hope

By Lindsey Carlson [Crossway]

Women thrive on encouragement, connection, and support. And yet, this desire leads many to be culturally catechized by a multibilliondollar self-help industry. Because foolish motivational messages flow freely from the world like dripping faucets and are repeated by the person in the mirror, women remain discouraged, disconnected, and alone. If women believe happiness and success are their responsibility, they will assume discouragement must be too.

Women need better news. In this hope-filled book, Lindsey Carlson leads weak and weary women to the well to find better refreshment in the living water of Christ, who speaks a better word of encouragement than the world. As women are connected to God’s promises and God’s people, they will be better encouraged to endure with their hope fixed on Christ.

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Shackled: One Woman’s Dramatic Triumph Over Persecution, Gender Abuse, and a Death Sentence

By Mariam Ibraheem and Eugene Bach [Whitaker House]

Mariam Ibraheem was born in a refugee camp in Sudan.

Her Muslim father died when she was six, and her mother raised her in the Christian faith. After a traumatic childhood, Mariam became a successful businessperson, married the man she loved, and had a beautiful baby boy.

But in 2013, her world was shattered when Sudan authorities insisted she was Muslim because of her father’s background.

She had broken the law by marrying a Christian man. She must abandon her family and adopt Islam. Under intense pressure, Mariam repeatedly refused. Ultimately, a Sharia court sentenced her to 100 lashes—and death by hanging.

Shackled is the stunning true story of a courageous young mother who was willing to face death rather than deny her faith.

Women at Halftime: A Guide to Reigniting Dreams and Finding Joy and Purpose in Your Next Season

By Shayne Moore and Carolyn Castleberry Hux [Tyndale Momentum]

Have you made personal sacrifices to pursue something—a career, a relationship, or a quality family life—and now your circumstances have changed? If so, you may be looking for a new source of joy and purpose. Shayne Moore, a former client of the Halftime Institute, and Carolyn Castleberry Hux, a coach with Halftime (founded by the author of Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance), know from experience how difficult it can be to navigate this territory.

In Women at Halftime, Shayne and Carolyn offer you building blocks for getting unstuck and finding renewed energy for a new season.Know you are not alone. Transformative growth takes time, but the end result is worth it.

Walking in Tall Weeds

By Robin W. Pearson [Tyndale]

From award-winning author Robin W. Pearson comes a new Southern drama about one family who discovers their history is only skin-deep and that God’s love is the only tie that binds.

Paulette and Fred Baldwin are in a new life season in Hickory Grove, North Carolina. Their only son, McKinley, now works hundreds of miles away, and the distance between husband and wife feels even farther. When their son returns home, his visit dredges up even more conflict between Fred and Paulette.

McKinley makes it clear he has no intention of walking in his father’s footsteps. Fred can’t accept his son’s choices, but Paulette is determined McKinley will want for nothing, least of all a mother’s love — something her own skin color cost her as a child. The rift between them grows. Only a family secret that comes to light has the potential to bring them together. Will they discover their faith has power to overcome their conflicts?

What Does the Bible Say About the Future?

30 Questions on Bible Prophecy, Israel, and the End Times

By Charles H. Dyer [Moody Publishers]

End times theology elicits some wild opinions. Don’t get caught up in internet speculations and doomsday prognostications. The real place to find out about the future is in God’s Word.

In What Does the Bible Say About the Future?, prophecy expert Dr. Charlie Dyer offers an insightful look at the end times, grounded not in human fantasies but in God’s revelation. The Bible has a great deal to say about the future. So instead of taking your cues from self-appointed prophets, let Dr. Dyer take you to Scripture.

God didn’t give us Bible prophecy to tickle our imaginations.

He wants us to find confidence in His eternal purposes. With a biblical understanding of the future, you can live with faith and hope today!

When Mountains Crumble: Rebuilding Your Life After Losing Someone You Love

By Danita Jenae [Moody Publishers]

How do we make sense of what feels senseless?

Grief leaves us with empty arms and fistfuls of questions. If we don’t get help processing our loss, we can easily get stuck there. But take heart—there is hope to be found for the way ahead.

When Mountains Crumble offers you an interactive, healing journey through the big questions and emotions of grief. This book serves as your companion and guide, providing practical wisdom and thought-provoking questions that will help you wrestle with the pain you’re feeling.

Danita Jenae, a survivor of loss herself, helps lighten your load of sorrow with gripping honesty, reassuring gentleness, and a mild case of dark humor.

Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God

By Jamie Winship [Revell]

Jamie Winship spent nearly 30 years living and working in conflict zones. During that time he learned an important truth: human conflict originates from fear, and fear originates from a false view of God, ourselves, and others. Until we exchange what’s false for what’s real, we will never experience being fully alive, fully human, and fully free.

Unpacking the power of knowing our true identity in Christ, Winship takes us on a journey of replacing lies with truth and experiencing life transformation that leads to radical courage in the face of life’s ups and downs. With humor, clarity, and real-life practicality, Living Fearless is your invitation to listen closely to what God is trying to tell you about Himself, about the person He created you to be--and about all those He created and loves.

TODAYSCHRISTIANLIVING.ORG

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KIDS OF THE KINGDOM

A

man scolded his son for being so unruly and the child rebelled. He got some of his clothes, his teddy bear, and his piggy bank and proudly announced, “I’m running away from home!”

The father calmly decided to look at the matter logically.

“What if you get hungry?” he said.

“Then I’ll come home and eat!” bravely declared the child.

“And what if you run out of money?”

“I will come home and get some!” readily replied the child.

The man made a final attempt, “What if your clothes get dirty?”

“Then I’ll come home and let mommy wash them,” was the reply.

The man shook his head and exclaimed, “This kid isn’t running away from home; he’s going off to college.”

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com)

T

he 7-year-old told her mom that a little boy in her class asked her to play doctor.

“Oh, dear,” the mother nervously sighed. “What happened, honey?”

“Nothing. He made me wait 45 minutes and then double-billed the insurance company.”

—From Mikey’s Funnies (www.mikeysfunnies.com) If you have a joke or funny story you’d like to share, email editor@ todayschristianliving.org. If we print your joke, we’ll pay you $25.

INDEX & WEB LISTING ACTS Retirement-Life Communities...www.actsretirement.org.................................5 Baker Books........................................www.bakerpublishinggroup.com.................32 Focus Publishing.................................www.focuspublishing.com...........................32 HarperCollins Christian Publishing.....www.harpercollinschristian.com............30, 31 InterVarsity Press................................www.ivpkids.com..........................................32 Josh McDowell Ministry......................www.josh.org................................................32 Just Short of Wonderful......................etsy.com/shop/justshortofwonderful...........33 Moody Publishers...............................www.moodypublishers.com.........................33 Total Living Network — TLN.............www.tln.com.................................................47 Tristan Publishing...............................www.tristanpublishing.com.........................33 Tyndale House Publishers...................www.tyndale.com...............................2, 33, 48 Please note: The Advertisers’ Index is published as a convenience to our readers. While every effort is made to obtain accuracy and completeness, last minute changes may occasionally result in unavoidable omissions or errors.

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GRACE NOTES

by Shelley Carpenter

Best Laid Plans

Shelley Carpenter is a wife, mother and music teacher who loves reading and the written word. She has been published in Focus on the Family’s ‘Clubhouse Junior’ Magazine and You can find her daily, biblical encouragement at graceinthesmallplaces. substack.com

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W

e were finally free. After 4 years of study- I heard that still, small voice in my heart whisper. ing, late nights, long work and school “Trust who I am.” hours, my husband had finished nursing school at the top of his class. We had accumulated God’s Timely Provision debt and barely made it financially each month. His Throughout the past four years, the Lord had new ICU job offered a substantial pay raise and a provided for our family in a multitude of ways. new-found security for our family of four. We were Not only had He provided financially, He providthanking God daily for sustaining us throughout ed spiritually, mentally and physically. It may not his schooling. We had made it – or so I thought. It have looked like it to outsiders, but I knew it was was time to begin breathing again. true. The Lord had made a way for us before. Was Our greatest lesson in security began on the last this any harder for Him? I questioned why I was day of June 2019. My husband was set to start his doubting. Then the Holy Spirit brought the truth new job in six days and he wanted to soak up some to the surface. I’d trusted the Lord with a multitime with our children, so he looked at me and told tude of things, but not our financial provision. I’d me he was going outside to kick the soccer ball put my faith in Clint’s job, and not the One who around with them. I turned my attention back to had equipped him to do it. I’d not trusted Him the meal prep at hand. All was with everything. It was in that “When the torrent of moment I confessed my sin of right with the world.

My normally rambunctious tears subsided, I heard mistrust and asked forgiveness. and happy daughter came into He was faithful. I knew I could that still, small voice trust Him in every area. I didn’t the house and quietly said “Daddy’s hurt. You need to come in my heart whisper. know how or where the money quick.” Outside, I saw Clint on would come from, but I knew I ‘Trust who I am.’” the ground clutching his ankle could trust Him. that was now about the size of a baseball. He was a The next day, my parents showed up to check fitness enthusiast so when I saw him on the ground, on us. My mom pulled me outside and handed me I knew something was wrong. an envelope. She said they had been saving some Within a few minutes we were in the ER, holding money as a Christmas surprise to help us with a rehands and waiting for the pain meds to kick in. The modeling project we’d been saving for. She wanted doctor called me into the hallway. Clint had broken us to have the money at that moment because she his ankle in several places and shattered the carti- knew Clint would be out of work. I was stunned. lage in his ankle. It would require major surgery, The money was, to the penny, what my husband and the recovery time would be several weeks. would have made in his new job and covered us All at once the security we had felt shattered. His until he went back to work. paycheck was our primary income, and he wouldn’t After they showered the grandkids with love be able to start his job in 6 days. What were we going and special presents, I went back in the house and to do? My income would help with some of our bills cried again. I cried because before his ankle was but certainly couldn’t cover everything. I started ever broken, God knew and had provided for that making a financial plan that included just the basics. need. I cried because once again, He had shown his Even that plan left us in dark financial waters. unmerited favor and care for His children. I cried The house was eerily quiet when everyone went because He was good. to bed that night. After settling the kids and givNow, when I see the scar from Clint’s surgery, ing Clint his medicine, I found myself on the couch I’m reminded of God’s goodness to us in that quietly crying and having a very heated prayer time time. He is a God who sees. If He cares for even with the Lord. The questions poured out of me. the sparrows, how much more will He care for His Why? How could you? What are we going to do? I children? When I see that scar, I’m reminded He was exhausted. When the torrent of tears subsided, is trustworthy. 

TODAY’S CHRISTIAN LIVING

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WHAT IS GOD

CALLING YOU TO DO? Say “YES” to God and say “YES” to living the life you were made for.

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