Hope & Faith

This video features Christina (Tina) Valtierra’s story - from the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation - along with the Native American flute and guitar recording 'I Lift My Eyes Unto the Hills' written by Dan Adler and performed by Dan and Sandy Adler, (c) 2024 Heart of the City Music. This song and story are featured on the Heart of the City band CD 'A New Kind of Warrior', (c) 2025 Heart of the City Music. All are available for purchase or download at www.danandsandyadler.com

When you feel unworthy, remember God sees you through the eyes of love and grace. The Bible declares you are valuable, redeemed, His child, and destined to spend eternity with Him. Do you ever struggle with feeling unworthy? How do you remind yourself of God’s love? Drop a note in the comments. Remember to like, share, and subscribe if you haven't already. May the Lord bless and keep you on your journey. #unworthy #love #shorts #bradwiley #holybiblejourney

Denzel Washington seeks God's ultimate reward and is unconcerned about any awards or accolades he may receive. The longtime Hollywood actor made it clear that awards and praise are not what he's after; he is focused on God's ultimate reward: making it to heaven. Watch the short but powerful clip to hear Denzel talk about how he concerns himself with the eternal, and not earthly, temporary things.

No one will live on this Earth forever. This place is nothing more than a pit stop on the way to eternity. Our lives are temporary, and all will pass away and experience death at some point. In the Bible, the book of James describes our lives as a mist or a vapor that is "seen for a little time and then is gone."

Chasing after worldly pleasures such as fame, money or praise are futile and meaningless because of how short life is and how we aren't promised tomorrow. The eternal should occupy much more of our concern and energy, but sadly, many people have their focus twisted and entirely backward. However, Denzel Washington understands what is important and what actually does matter, and it's not Oscars, money or praise from the critics.

In a clip posted on YouTube, Denzel was promoting his latest film when the interviewer remarked about his winning multiple Oscars. The "Training Day" star then states that the Oscars or any other award mean nothing to him.

"I don't do it for Oscars, I really don't care about that kind of stuff, you know?" Denzel said. "I've been at this a long time, and there's time when I won, shouldn't have won, and shouldn't have won and won, didn't win, and should have won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward. I'm not that interested in Oscars."

Later in the interview, he mentioned how empty and meaningless his acting accolades are to him.

"On my last day, it ain't going to do me a bit of good," he said.

"As long as He says, 'Now, boy, get on up here,' I'm all right," he added.

John 12:43 "For the praise of men was dearer to them than the approval of God."

Corrie Ten Boom shares about how her sister, Betsie, died in the concentration camp during ww2, but she was able to see her new body as a gift from God.

A young business owner gave $1,000 to his church and thanked God for his success. This hardworking and entrepreneurial young man is thoroughly impressive, yet he remains humble and understands who is responsible for his success. Watch the short but powerful clip to learn about this young business owner and the tear-jerking thing he did to help out his church.

Everyone wants instant success, and with that highly desired, sought-after success, they hope a fair amount of money follows. Of course, that's not typically what happens. Most individuals don't simply wake up and are handed tons of cash. People who live in the real world understand that before success, a lot of hard work and dedication come first. That doesn't sound like much fun, right?

Children who learn and understand that hard work and dedication are necessary to achieve anything worthwhile will be much better off than their peers who have difficulty grasping this lesson. Parents who don't teach and show their youngsters this are only doing them a disservice. They will learn it one way or the other, eventually.

In a clip posted on YouTube, one young man, 12-year-old Quentin Hines Jr., knows all about hard work. He has his own business, which allows him to do something he absolutely loves: mowing lawns.

"I really, really love it," Quentin said. "I really love it."

The young man said his ultimate dream is to get a job mowing the lawn at one unexpected location.

"Ever since I was younger, I always wanted to get a contract with the Charlotte airport," he said. "And, like, sometimes when I go out there, they will have the mowers out there. So, I would like stand there for a while."

As the clip mentions, the young man's business is growing rapidly, and he's acquiring new customers at an impressive rate. But he's not keeping all his profits for himself. He gave $1,000 to his church to help it pay off its mortgage.

"When you put things into the world, it always finds a way to come back to you," he said.

Even with all of his success, the 12-year-old business owner understands who is ultimately responsible for it.

"It mostly feels like God really just opened a lot of opportunities for me," he said. "And He really just showed me that this is what He wants me to do on this Earth. I love it, and I will never stop, never."

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do it readily, as to the Lord and not to men;"

Jamie MacDonald’s moving testimony will touch your heart. The Christian music artist shared her rough and painful upbringing and how God’s love transformed her and completely changed the direction of her life. Watch the short but powerful clip to hear Jamie’s testimony.

This world is a lost, broken and fallen place full of hurting, struggling people calling for help. 
They are desperately searching near, far and everywhere for anything that might provide even the slightest bit of relief. People are looking for anything to give them hope in a hopeless, lost world.  

Sadly, this search for hope and pain relief can and does send people to some pretty dark and hopeless places. However, no matter where we might go or what we may do, we are never too far from Him and His love. He can make the broken whole again and bring about beauty from ashes. In a clip posted on YouTube, Jamie shares how the Lord changed her life, gave her a purpose and direction, and provided her with comfort and healing.

Jamie admits that as a result of her rough and painful upbringing, she was broken and “never really felt loved as a kid.” This hurt, and her search for acceptance and love eventually led her to drop out of high school and join a gang, and she got into drugs and alcohol. She says that she “found a family in that atmosphere.”

But praise God that is not where Jamie’s story ends!

Jamie said the turning point happened when she saw some of her friends overdose and even die. One night, she prayed, “God, if You can get me out of here, I would love a new start. I would love to sing for You and live my life for You.”

The Lord answered her desperate plea, giving her a way out of that lifestyle. She eventually found and joined a church, became part of a missions ministry and even went to Africa for a month.

During that mission trip to Africa, Jamie found her love for music again. Not only did she find music again, but this also led her to find and reconcile with her biological father during the last few years of his life.

What a powerful testimony that demonstrates God’s unbelievable love, grace and mercy.

Hebrews 4:16 “Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need.”

LET'S JOURNEY TOGETHER IN SCRIPTURE TO SEE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT HAVING NO FEAR....

LET'S JOURNEY TOGETHER IN SCRIPTURE TO SEE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT HAVING NO FEAR....

This is what little Emma Knew and we have forgotten-

On this episode of the Tiny Pulpit, hear Dorian talk about our identity in Christ, community, and Christian maturity. #christ #spirituality #servingchrist

A woman finished cancer treatments and was met with the sweetest surprise. She was understandably ecstatic about completing all of her treatments for cancer, and then something unexpected happened. Watch the short but sweet clip to see the beautiful and tear-jerking surprise she received.

There are many truly terrible things in this fallen, broken and lost world. Sadly, pain and heartache are all around us and in overwhelming abundance. However, there’s likely nothing that has caused more suffering and agony to families than cancer. There isn’t much scarier in life than receiving a cancer diagnosis or learning that a friend or a family member is battling the deadly, life-threatening disease.

Fighting cancer is both mentally and physically taxing on the family, but especially the patient. From the moment you or a loved one receives that horrible diagnosis, it’s a roller coaster of good days and bad days. That’s why a surprise one woman received meant so much and made for such a beautiful moment.

In the clip, which was posted on YouTube, the woman shouts that she has just finished all of her cancer treatments. She is overjoyed, and this is certainly something to celebrate. She and her husband are then captured on video walking out the door, leaving the medical facility. However, little does she know what awaits her outside those doors.

The woman’s husband had planned a massive, heartwarming surprise for her. He had brought together her family and friends, who were waiting with signs and cheers to greet her after her enormous, beautiful, celebration-worthy accomplishment.

Immediately after seeing all the people she loves who had come out to show her support, she understandably becomes emotional and breaks down in tears.

What an incredible sight and an excellent way for her husband and everyone else she knows to show her how much they love and care for her.

1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all you do be done in love.”

This is a sample clip.

This woman’s experience as a church newcomer is a must-hear reminder for believers. She shared valuable words and an important lesson for everyone who attends church regularly. Watch the short but powerful clip as this woman shares her experience visiting a church for the first time.

Humans are not meant to live life alone but are designed and created for relationships. It’s through and because of those relationships that people are able to uplift and encourage others when they’ve been knocked down. We can care for one another when we’re sick, and celebrate with each other during life’s happy, joyous moments.

The same goes for a community of believers and church family, which is why belonging to one is so important. We strengthen each other and can uplift and encourage one another when necessary. While church members often have the best intentions, sometimes taking things slow and letting people become comfortable and settle in is a good idea, especially when it comes to people attending a church for the first time.

In a clip posted on YouTube, a woman documented her first time attending church. She shared that she never really attended church while growing up, but decided to go to the church near her home one Sunday morning. She added that going to church often makes her nervous because she feels like she does not belong.

After walking into the church, which was empty at first, she was quickly bombarded by people approaching her.

“There was no one there when I showed up, and then the pastor and everyone started bringing me a Bible, and hugging me, and it was just completely overwhelming,” she said. “So, if you see a new person at church, don’t go up to them immediately. Let them settle in and let them get their bearings because I was so nervous, and the fact that everyone started coming up to me and calling me out was just too much.”

I’m sure the pastor and the congregation meant well, but I can understand how that experience would be overwhelming. Allow people to become comfortable before descending upon them, especially if they are attending your church for the first time.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am among them.”

A 6-year-old says he saw and heard God during a near-drowning experience. The youngster mentioned what he heard and saw when he almost lost his life. Watch the short but powerful clip to listen to what the young man saw and heard.

Unfortunately, tragedies occur daily; that’s the sad reality of living in a fallen and lost world. However, every parent’s worst nightmare is to lose a child and have to bury them. Such a horrible, awful situation would wreck and destroy every parent, tearing them down both mentally and physically.

That’s why, when one mother saw her 6-year-old son lying lifeless, she began calling out to the Lord, while she and her husband frantically performed lifesaving maneuvers on him. In those moments that must have felt like a lifetime, she wanted nothing more than for her son DJ to regain consciousness and resume breathing.

Thankfully, the little guy eventually spit up water and started breathing again. This youngster’s life was saved, and a family was spared a devastating tragedy. However, while in the hospital recovering, the young man started talking about what he experienced during those scary few moments in which his life hung in the balance.

DJ’s mother, Krista Parker, says her son told the nurse that he had visited heaven. During his time in the heavenly realm, the youngster claims he saw God and received a message from Him and His angels.

In a clip posted on YouTube, DJ says the Lord told him that his time on earth was not up just yet, telling him to “go back.” As far as what the angels said, the little guy made a noise that sounded like the angels were singing during DJ’s time in heaven.

Following his near-drowning and visit to heaven, DJ said he would like to be referred to as “Avir,” which in Hebrew means “air.” The young man explains his request by saying it’s because he “was with God in the air.”

John 10:27 “My sheep give ear to my voice, and I have knowledge of them, and they come after me:”

Driven by faith, this man has devoted his life to helping the homeless. He is focused on helping those without a place to lay their heads at night. Watch this short but powerful clip to learn about this man’s beautiful and loving mission to help the homeless people in his community.

Many people are hurting and struggling in this world. Simply making it through another day is a significant win and accomplishment for many people, especially those who are homeless and without food. How awful would it be to be in a position where you had no idea where or when your next meal was coming or where you would sleep that night?

Christians are called to care for and look after the less fortunate and the poor, which, of course, includes the homeless and the hungry. Numerous verses throughout the Bible mention how Christians are to treat the poor and tend to their needs. Jesus, in the book of Matthew, specifically talked about the poor, saying, “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.’”

The Bible, specifically Christ’s words about helping the poor, fuels Vincent Pannizzo and his mission. He said reading the Bible and discovering what Jesus said about the poor and less fortunate changed his life and perspective.

“I started reading the Bible to get some information,” he said. “And I started to read the words of Jesus, and I was really surprised at what I found in there, particularly about caring for people, which I never really did before.”

After coming across Christ’s words, Vincent found his life’s calling. The clip posted on YouTube states that in 2012, he started a nonprofit, Mission for the Homeless. Vincent delivers food, blankets and clothes to the homeless and the hungry.

But that is not all. Vincent is so committed to helping those less fortunate than himself that he lives in a tent outside his house, allowing those without a place to stay to reside in his home.

“God does love them and care for them, and I want to bring the light and love of Christ to them,” he said.

Proverbs 19:17 “He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.”

The Uplift is short blog/Podcast encouraging and illuminating our walk with God- our "faith journey." DavidBrauner.substack.com

Listen to Dr. Jose Lugo-Santiago, a retired Chief Master sergeant of the United States Air Force as he talks about followership and finding your purpose in Christ.

Willie and Korie Robertson open up about the heart behind Duck Dynasty: The Revival, saying faith and family remain at the center of everything they do. They also reflect on Phil’s legacy, the impact of prayer, and why now was the right time to return to television. Meanwhile, Willie gives an update on Mrs. Kay's health.

My testimony how God used suffering, the very thing that made me an Atheist, having worked both in The London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police being the midst of much suffering and evil. My Christian wife was bought back from the dead after a car accident, and terrible injuries were miraculously healed! Be warned there are some very graphic photos! Testimony recorded at Christ Church Braintree Essex

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