Shine Global Network

Jesus, You Are My Refuge Dear Jesus, Thank You for providing security in an insecure world. You warned that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains” (Mark 13:8). All of this and more will signal Your coming. But You also said, “Do not be alarmed” (Mark 13:7). Jesus, when things seem to be spiraling out of control, I trust that You are in control. In this ever-changing world, You never change. Every promise You have made, I know You will keep. Whatever happens, no matter how disturbing, Your love will see me…

Editor’s note: Yet another unspeakable tragedy has shaken us. How can it be? Our hearts are broken over more mass shootings, and for the communities and every person and family whose life is forever affected by the shocking violence and indescribable loss. We need Jesus. He is the only One who can bring peace, hope, and restoration to our broken, hurting world. * For the Tough Times: Do It Again, Lord Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. — Matthew 6:9-10 Dear Lord, We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye…

A Prayer of Protection  We may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” —Hebrews 13:6 Almighty God, You are powerful. You possess all authority over Heaven and earth. This world can be a scary place. Even our schools don’t seem safe from those who do evil. God, protect my school. Put Your shield over it, and in frightening moments, blanket everyone within its walls with peace. Replace fear with the power of Your love. Protect my students from those who would hurt them. Protect my friends and coworkers, and prompt them to look to You for peace in times of…

Okay. So this may sound like the dumbest thing you’ve ever read, but here goes: You can choose to be “unoffendable.” I actually heard a guy say this at a business meeting. That is striking to me for a few reasons: (1) I’d never, ever thought about that before; (2) I remember something from a business meeting; and (3) I was actually invited to a business meeting. I remember the guy saying it’s a choice we can make, to just choose not to be offended. Sure. Right, man. Choose to be unoffendable. Just — you know — choose, as if it’s really just up to us. I found this offensive. By the…

  Introduction Tisha is a cute baby girl. Curly jet-black hair, dimples, and a smile that lights up a room. She also has a grip like a bear trap, and when she gets hold of a toy, she won’t let go. Her young vocabulary is limited, but one word she has mastered is “Mine!” Daddy and Mommy are trying to teach her to share, but she finds it much more natural to cling on to everything for herself. This skill was not taught; it seems to come naturally. Gerrit is nine and loves soccer. His coach has explained to the whole team (and the parents) that this level of soccer…

Prayer is not getting man’s will done in Heaven, but getting God’s will done on earth. It is not overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold of God’s willingness. — Richard C. Trench Next to Star Wars, my favorite trilogy is the Lord of the Rings. Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, the all-seeing eye of Sauron trying… The post The LORD of the Rings appeared first on FaithGateway.

A Texas woman who celebrated her 110th birthday Saturday isn’t crediting diet or genes for her long life, instead, she is giving all of the credit to God. “Blessing of the Lord. He’s the one keeping me. That’s why I’m living,”, Elizabeth Francis told ABC 13 in Houston. Francis was born in Louisiana in 1909. That year, William Howard Taft was president. Wilbur and Orville Wright had flown their famous plane just six years earlier. World War I had not yet started. Civil War veterans were still alive. In 1909, the life expectancy of a woman in America was only 54 years old. Francis defied those odds for yet another year, as…