After days of illness and then spiking a high temperature it was clear my husband needed emergency care The hospital admitted him immediately One day folded into the next He improved but not enough to be released I faced the difficult choice to stay with my husband or fulfill an important work trip where many people and projects were involved My husband assured me he rsquo d be fine But my heart was torn between him and my work God rsquo s people needed His help at the crossroads of life rsquo s decisions Far too often they hadn rsquo [... more]

Years ago I cared for my mom as she was in hospice I thanked God for the four months He allowed me to serve as her caregiver and asked Him to help me through the grieving process I often struggled to praise God as I wrestled with my mixed emotions But as my mom breathed her last breath and I wept uncontrollably I whispered ldquo Hallelujah rdquo I felt guilty for praising God in that devastating moment until years later I took a closer look at Psalm In David rsquo s song ldquo for the dedication of the temple rdquo [... more]

During a writing conference where I served as a faculty member Tamy handed me a postcard with a handwritten prayer on the back She explained that she read the faculty biographies wrote specific prayers on each card and prayed as she delivered them to us In awe over the details in her personal message to me I thanked God for encouraging me through Tamy rsquo s gesture Then I prayed for her in return When I struggled with pain and fatigue during the conference I pulled out the postcard The Lord refreshed my spirit as I reread Tamy rsquo s [... more]

The Bible tells us to give thanks in everything Does this mean we must be thankful for illness or loss In this message we learn why the Bible's command to be thankful makes sense even when we don't understand our circumstances We can be content with what we have every day of the year This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount Get yours at rtwoffer com or call us at - - - [... more]

Click the icon below to listen [... more]

Marie a single working mom rarely missed church or Bible study Each week she rode the bus to and from church with her five children and helped with set up and clean up One Sunday the pastor told Marie that some church members had donated gifts for the family One couple provided the family a house with reduced rent Another couple offered her a job with benefits at their coffee shop A young man gave her an old car he rsquo d rebuilt and promised to serve as her personal mechanic Marie thanked God for the joy of living in [... more]

When Ms Glenda walked into the church commons area her infectious joy filled the room She had just recovered from a difficult medical procedure As she approached me for our usual after-church greeting I thanked God for all the times over the years that she had wept with me gently corrected me and offered encouragement She rsquo d even asked for forgiveness when she thought she rsquo d hurt my feelings Whatever the situation we always ended up praising the Lord Mama Glenda as she lets me call her wrapped me in a gentle hug ldquo Hi Baby rdquo she [... more]

When trials anxieties and tough decisions loom large sometimes it's best to hear from a voice of experience In this Sunday podcast Pastor Greg Laurie directs a special word of encouragement to young people God has a plan for your life Notes Whatever you're going through it's going to be OK What you go through isn't meant to destroy you but to develop you We comfort with the same comfort we are comforted with Corinthians You are loved and wanted by more people than you could ever imagine God's plan and purpose for you is good Put God first in [... more]

Is it difficult nbsp to nbsp be content with what you have this Thanksgiving or any other day of the year nbsp The Bible tells us nbsp to give thanks in everything nbsp Does this mean nbsp you must be nbsp thankful for illness or loss Or nbsp you must be nbsp grateful for nbsp not having a nbsp job In this message we learn why the Bible rsquo s command to be thankful makes sense even when we don rsquo t understand our circumstances nbsp nbsp nbsp Click here to listen Duration [... more]

When trials anxieties and tough decisions loom large sometimes it's best to hear from a voice of experience In this Sunday podcast Pastor Greg Laurie directs a special word of encouragement to young people God has a plan for your life Notes Whatever you're going through it's going to be OK What you go through isn't meant to destroy you but to develop you We comfort with the same comfort we are comforted with Corinthians You are loved and wanted by more people than you could ever imagine God's plan and purpose for you is good Put God first in [... more]

As I drove home after lunch with my best friend I thanked God out loud for her She knows me and loves me in spite of things I don rsquo t love about myself She rsquo s one of a small circle of people who accept me as I am mdash my quirks habits and screw-ups Still there are parts of my story I resist sharing even with her and others that I love mdash times where I rsquo ve clearly not been the hero times I rsquo ve been judgmental or unkind or unloving But God does know my [... more]

Paul's main desire in life was to reach Gentiles for Christ He endured hardships stonings shipwrecks and other setbacks just to preach the gospel on Rome What's holding you back from reaching your neighbors and friends [... more]

While I was clearing out the garden in preparation for spring planting I pulled up a large clump of winter weeds and leapt into the air A venomous copperhead snake lay hidden in the undergrowth just below my hand mdash an inch lower and I would have grabbed it by mistake I saw its colorful markings as soon as I lifted the clump the rest of it was coiled in the weeds between my feet When my feet hit the ground a few feet away I thanked God I hadn rsquo t been bitten And I wondered how many other [... more]