I recently read through Kathryn Kuhlman’s book God Can Do It Again again, for the I-don’t-remember-how-many-times-I’ve-read-this-same-book-overth time.

One of the testimonies included comes from a couple whose two little boys had drowned. They were both Catholics, but the Catholic church offered no hope. The wife had been listening to Kathryn Kuhlman on the radio and had been seeking God and deciding to trust in His Word, so though she sorrowed, she experienced supernatural strength. The husband, however, totally broke down in sorrow, and everyone was afraid for him. But he decided he would do whatever it took to see his boys again. He believed that because they were so innocent, they must be in a better place, with God. So he went to every mass at the Catholic Church, and did everything he thought he had to do to get to where his boys were. But still, he was horribly depressed and sick. One day, his local mailman, who was aware of his difficulty, asked the man how he was doing. Obviously, the man wasn’t so well. So the mailman asked him, “Are you trusting in the Lord?” The man was slightly confused by the question. “Yes,” he responded, “I’m closely related with the church.” The mailman shook his head, “I didn’t say the church; I asked if you were trusting Jesus.” The man was stunned, talked to his wife, and resolved to find out more about Jesus. The couple had sought help from both Catholic and Protestant ministers, but none of them ever told them that they needed to seek Jesus Christ. At a Kathryn Kuhlman service, the couple came forward to receive the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They went on to have a tremendous influence on the community, reaching kids with the gospel.

I also recently heard the testimony of Mike Williams, a Christian comedian. When he was a boy, he was a street kid in the inner city of Chicago. There was one Christian person in his mom’s life– a mailman who would tell her something about God every day. One day, she told him that she wanted to give her last son a chance in life. She believed that the first step was to get him into a decent home. The mailman said he was too old, but his daughter and son-in-law had been praying 12 years for a child. So Mike went to live with them as their own child. He said, “It was really different in this home; these folks were Christians. They were Baptists, but they were Christians.” His dad was a Sunday school teacher, and he would “practice” on Mike in the car! One day, his dad said, “Mike, are you ready?” Mike said “Yes.” They pulled over, and Mike prayed to Jesus and asked him to come into his heart. Mike said, “That day, my life changed, and I have never gotten over it.”

How far are the reaches of the ordinary Christian! It seems I’ve heard a lot of stories about the influence of Christian mailmen, reaching people within the United States who have never been told about Jesus. For the mostpart, it’s a brief word from these Christian mailmen that reaches out to the lost and changes them and their world forever. And the lamp goes forth to change even more lives, to change eternity. What a beautiful thing, that God is glorified through humble folk such as the mailmen!

Something Beautiful: The Influence of a Christian Mailman is a post from: As In a Mirror

For more Inspiring Stories, visit In Defense of the Christian Faith!

UPDATE: Another Compassion story, courtesy the Compassion Blog.

We walked on a muddy path that wound through cornfields. The stalks reached above our heads on either side as the rain continued its lazy sprinkling.

There is nothing in the world like visiting a Compassion-assisted child’s home. Absolutely nothing. Nothing can prepare you for the sights, the sounds, the smells. Most of all, nothing can prepare you for the beating your heart is about to take. It’s like you got in a fight with the Holy Spirit. And every time, the Holy Spirit leaves you limping and bruised and, thankfully, a better person for the battle.

We arrived at Cesar’s house and ducked inside. Sheets of blue plastic formed a barrier against the rain, but nothing could stop the water and mud we tracked inside. Stools were brought in for us, and several of us sat on the three beds that took up most of the space.

Cesar’s mother welcomed us warmly. I loved hearing the word “Dios” so often as she spoke. But her story was heartbreaking. Her husband had left her. But before he abandoned her, he had beaten her. What must it have been like for Cesar, the youngest in his family, to watch his mother beaten by the man who was supposed to be his role model?

And then Cesar spoke to us. He told us about having to drop out of school this year because there wasn’t enough money. This quiet 15-year-old explained that he would have to begin working in a fabric plant soon.
And then I watched as every person in that room spoke words of encouragement to this brave, beautiful, inspiring young man.

God has a plan for you.

You will succeed.

You can do anything.

You are talented.

We are proud of you.

We love you.

And I watched as tears poured down his face.

He was ready to give up. You could feel it in every fiber of his being.

But somehow, now, I know that he won’t. Don’t ask me how. I just know.

I know because I watched a sponsor envelop Cesar in his arms. I watched that sponsor’s heart break. And in that brokenness, I saw determination.

Cesar and his family knelt while our group circled around him.

We prayed, our words thick with tears.

Their prayers were fervently whispered.

And the rain began to pour, thundering on the roof.

I have never heard a more beautiful sound.

After the last amen, Cesar’s mother rushed into the yard. I watched her grab a stick, and begin poking at the pear tree in their yard.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Pears fell to the ground. She picked them up and brought them to us.

“Muchas gracias,” she said to us.

“Gracias,” we repeated.

She wanted so badly to give us something back.

Little did she know how full our hearts already were.

Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/child-poverty-a-pear-and-prayer/#ixzz0vJqu5nch

Inspiring Story: Compassion International is a post from: As In a Mirror

For some of us, this news comes in the midst of great trial and pain. Not too long ago, we lost our Mom’s Dad, and though it caused a lot of grief this side of heaven, we have hope. The more I look death in the face, I see so clearly that death and pain are not what God planned for us, but He still works through it; our God is amazing; He is just not stopped at anything!

So while the agony and loss that comes from so many different things can still grip my heart from time to time, I rejoice greatly for the Hasenbalgs. I have been following Kerry’s journey even before I started my own blog, so I guess to a degree I feel like I have been traveling this road with her. And like her son said, “God has been so good to us!” Amen! God is ALWAYS so good! To read all about it and see pictures of the new arrival, go to Kerry’s blog.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)”

James 1 tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, because the testing of our faith produces patience. It goes on to say that God does not test anyone, but He is the giver of all good things. Kerry and her family have experienced great trial, but they endured and waited for God to bring triumph out of the calamity, and He did! He is always faithful to His word, and this family was faithful in waiting on Him! God bless them!

For more Inspiring Stories, visit In Defense of the Christian Faith.

Inspiring Story: The Oil of Gladness instead of Mourning is a post from: As In a Mirror

Nate Saint’s House being restored! is a post from: As In a Mirror

For more Inspiring Stories, visit In Defense of the Christian Faith.

Inspiring Story: Gracia Burnham is a post from: As In a Mirror