Category: Biographies

Testimony of Former Iranian Prisoners Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh

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Watch this inspiring interview with Maryam and Marziyeh at HTB Church, London. In 2009 in Iran, Maryam and Marziyeh were imprisoned and sentenced to death because of their Christian faith. Maryam and Marziyeh were born into Muslim families but converted to Christianity and began to share the Gospel with those around them. They were arrested in March 2009 after being accused of evangelism and apostasy. After 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison they were released.

** Maryam and Marziyeh’s book called, ‘Captive In Iran‘ is available on Amazon Here

Timely Help – A Lesson of Faith

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The hiding place where many Jews were sheltered in the home of the Ten Boom family during world war 2.

Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and sister, courageously hid Jews in their home during the Second World War. Her family was betrayed and handed over to the Germans, and they were sent to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp. During her time there, Corrie lost both her father and sister. In spite of her loss, however, she did not lose her grip on God. When she finally was released from the camp due to a clerical error, she would reflect on the fact that God had given her the strength to endure and supplied His sufficient grace as she needed it.

In fact, Corrie had learned to trust God in the midst of death early on in life. When she was a young girl, she witnessed the death of a baby and was confronted with the fragile nature of life. Spooked by this experience, she burst into tears and sobbed to her father, “I need you. You can’t die! You can’t!” Seeking to comfort and counsel his frightened daughter, Corrie’s father sat down beside her and gently said, “Corrie, when you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you the ticket?” She sniffled a little, and replied, “Why, just before we get on the train.” “Exactly,” her father responded, “and our wise Father in heaven knows when we are going to need things too. Don’t run ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need, just in time.”

Corrie Ten Boom learned something that day that would hold true throughout her life. God doesn’t give us grace for the future. Grace cannot be stored. It must be used for the moment we are in and nothing more. Grace is like the manna that God supplied the Israelites in the wilderness. It has an expiration date on it. Its shelf life is one day (Exodus 16:21). Grace is for right now (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In Hebrews 4:16, we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of our gracious God to receive mercy and find grace to help us in a time of need. A more literal rendering of that last phrase would be, “grace for a well-timed help.” There is grace for what we need, when we need it. Now that is beautiful! Grace, not sooner, not later! Grace, no more, no less! Grace perfectly timed, and perfectly tailored.

Like Corrie Ten Boom, it is easy to let our minds run ahead of us, causing a stampede of fear. It is natural for us to wonder about tomorrow, but God has promised strength for each day (Deuteronomy 33:25). There is no grace for tomorrow until tomorrow. One of the secrets to successful living is living each day in the moment of God’s sufficient and surprising grace.

Timing is everything, even when it comes to God’s grace.

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** Picture of Corrie Ten Boom / By ktt.org

Practising The Presence of God ~ Free eBook

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One of the most adored books on living in God’s presence comes from an unlikely source— a man who was maimed as a young soldier and later became a footman “who was clumsy and broke everything.”

That is the early life of Nicholas Herman before he became Brother Lawrence.

Herman was born around 1610 in Herimenil, Lorraine, a Duchy of France. His birth records were destroyed in a fire at his parish church during the Thirty Years War, a war in which he fought as a young soldier. It was also the war in which he sustained a near-fatal injury that left him quite crippled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Brother Lawrence Learned to Be in God’s Presence While Doing Chores

At mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook for the community which grew to over one hundred members. After fifteen years, his duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop but, even then, he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out.

While repairing sandals or working in the kitchen, Brother Lawrence discovered and then followed a pure and uncomplicated way to walk continually in God’s presence. For some forty years, he lived and walked with God at his side. 

It was not until after his death that a few of his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, representative, and counsel to the local archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. The following year, in a second publication which he titled, “The Practice of the Presence of God,’ de Beaufort included, as introductory material, the content of four conversations he had with Brother Lawrence.

In this small book, through letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to continually walk with God, not from the head but from the heart. 

Brother Lawrence also left the gift of a direct approach to living in God’s presence that is as practical today as it was four hundred years ago.

The conversations between Brother Lawrence and de Beaufort covered many topics but most dealt with man’s responsibility to continually commune with God:

Brother Lawrence related that we should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s Presence by continually conversing with Him. It was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries. We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

He said we ought to quicken and enliven our faith. It was lamentable we had so little. Instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions which changed daily. He said that faith was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection. We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will. Whether God led us by suffering or by consolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned.

Brother Lawrence said that the worst that could happen to him was to lose that sense of God which he had enjoyed so long. Yet the goodness of God assured him He would not forsake him utterly and that He would give him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him. Brother Lawrence, therefore, said he feared nothing. 

The book includes 15 short letters written by Brother Lawrence during the last ten years of his life to a variety of long time friends.  They are the heart and soul of his ability to live in the constant presence of God.

The account I can give you is: Having found in many books different methods of going to God and diverse practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve rather to puzzle me than facilitate what I sought after, which was nothing but how to become wholly God’s. This made me resolve to give the all for the All. After having given myself wholly to God, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world.

Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work, I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God.

Brother Lawrence never advanced beyond being the cook at the Paris monastery, but he developed the unique gift of being able to pray incessantly with God throughout the entire day and regardless of whatever else he was doing. This unique gift produced such a spiritual change in Brother Lawrence that many people sought him out to learn how to practice the presence of God themselves.

By Daniel So at Justice Ventures International / Picture by Janez Podnar at Pexels

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FREE eBook Download:

FREE eBook: The Practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Testimonies to Strengthen Faith: Trials and Tribulation

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

These video testimonies will strengthen your faith. In times of trials and tribulations, many lessons can be learned from these: hope, endurance, patience, forgiveness and much more, as well as how to be over-comers in these last days.

As Christian believers we’re to look unto Jesus and His finished work on the Cross, as He is the author and perfecter of our faith. We’re not to be afraid of those who want to kill the body; they cannot touch our soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. We don’t put our trust in man, but in God alone. Jesus will give us His peace that surpasses all understanding, and help us to rest in Him amidst the storms. Jesus, our Lord and saviour and soon coming King forewarned us that times of tribulation will come as we’re in the last days: And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22 NLT)

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Revelation 12:11)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones… See, I have warned you about this ahead of time… Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. (Matthew 24:21-22; 25; 29-31 NLT)

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39).

By Lori McPherson

My Testimony – From New Age to Christianity: My Path to Redemption

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Dear friend,

I want to tell you how I came to know Jesus and what the Lord has done in my life. When I look back now, I can see that what I thought was my search for truth was actually the beginning of God’s pursuit of me.

I grew up in a dysfunctional, secular household in a large town in England. From a young age, I knew there had to be more to life, and I began searching for truth and meaning in my own way. Eventually, I discovered the New Age movement and became deeply involved in it. I read self help books, followed astrology, used tarot cards, visited mediums, believed in reincarnation and explored past life regression. Through yoga and meditation, I became interested in higher states of consciousness andthe spiritual traditions behind them. I believed there were many paths to God and that each person could choose whichever path felt right.

At the same time, my life was becoming increasingly chaotic. I was partying, clubbing, drinking and shopping, consumed by appearance and the image I presented to others. I made reckless choices, mixed with the wrong crowds and wore a mask to hide how woundedI really was. Beneath it all, I was lacking self esteem and running away from life. I was looking everywhere for something that would fill the emptiness inside me.

Eventually, everything seemed to close in on me. I was depressed, overwhelmed and felt completely trapped. I reached a pointwhere I didn’t want to be here anymore.

It was there, at the end of myself, that I cried out to God. I began to recognise the things I had done wrong and found myself repenting. I didn’t understand Christian repentance at the time. I simply knew that I had lived selfishly and that I needed forgiveness. Itold God that I no longer wanted to fight Him. I wanted my life to belong to Him, and I asked Him to use it for something good.

And Jesus met me there.

That night, I experienced an overwhelming peace that I cannot explain apart from God. Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I wasn’t a Christian. I didn’t understand what was happening. But I knewI had cried out to God, and He had heard me.

The following morning, I looked at the world differently. Something had changed. I felt like a new person.

Only afterwards did I begin to see how Godhad been preparing me. I had been staying with my grandmother, who was a Christian. She had been praying for me, giving me prayers to read and watching Christian programmes. What seemed insignificant at the time was part of God’s providence.

I wanted to know who Jesus really was. Ihad heard of Jesus the great teacher, the Jesus portrayed by Hollywood, the traditional Catholic image of Jesus and Isa the prophet in Islam. I had even thought of Jesus as another spiritual teacher like those I had encountered through yoga and meditation. But I had never known Him as the living Son of God.

So I began reading the Bible. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when youseek me with all your heart.” So I sought Him.

The more I read, the more I realised that Jesus wasn’t simply another path to God. He wasn’t another spiritual teacher offeringanother way to improve myself. He was calling me to repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation with God and surrender.

While working abroad, I met a Christian volunteer charity worker who was also apastor. I told him about my past and what had happened to me, and he began showing me Scripture. Colossians 2:8 and Deuteronomy 18 confronted me deeply. I realised that I couldn’t simply add Jesus to everything else I believed. I had to turn away from the things I had embraced, repent, renounce the New Age beliefs and practices that had deceived me, and surrender my life to Christ.

Jesus says that He did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). Romans 2:4 tells us that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.

When I finished that overseas assignment, I knew it would be my last. For years I had travelled and worked abroad partly to get away from life. Now I didn’t want tokeep running. When I returned home to England, I joined a church and was baptised.

That was not the end of my journey. Itwas the beginning of a new life.

I began to understand what Jesus meant by being born again. This wasn’t simply about becoming religious or adopting a newset of beliefs. God was giving me new life and changing me from the inside out. I had spent years trying to find myself, improve myself and create my own identity. Now I was discovering that real transformation came through surrendering myself to God.

The emptiness I had tried to fill with partying, relationships, possessions, travel and spirituality began to be filled with Jesus. My desires began to change. My priorities began to change. The things I once pursued no longer satisfied me inthe same way. I began to want what God wanted.

I began to build a relationship with Jesus through prayer, through His Word and throughlearning to trust and obey Him. His Word became alive to me. Hebrews describes it as living and active, sharper than a double edged sword. I found that it reaches into the places wewould rather leave untouched. It cuts, exposes, corrects and heals. It begins to weed the garden of the heart so that something new can grow.

I began to understand what it meant to be a child of God and to know that I was loved by my Heavenly Father. I discovered a strength and joy that I knew did not come from me. I began to understand the work of the Holy Spirit and that following Jesus was not simply about believing the right things, but aboutallowing Him to transform the way I live.

I still fail. I still need to repent. I am still being changed. But I no longer want to return tothe life I once lived. I want to know Jesus, walk with Him, obey Him and become morelike Him. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” That is the direction of my life now, not perfection, but surrender.

Jesus is more than a prophet or a spiritual teacher. He is alive. He loves us. He came tosave us from our sins and reconcile us to the Father. The person who once believed that every spiritual path led to the same destination discovered that Truth was not simply an idea or philosophy. Truth had a name. Jesus.

Looking back, I can see God’s mercy running through every part of my story. I thought I was searching for Him, but He was already drawing me. What I thought was the end of my life became the beginning of a new one.

As I continued to walk with the Lord, I trained and prepared for certain areas of ministry, but God, in His wisdom, closed those doors and lovingly redirected my steps. Through this, He taught me that calling is not about titles or platforms, but about obedience and trust. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9.

Today, my desire is simply to follow wherever He leads, sharing His love through the gospel, writing, outreach and service as the Holy Spirit directs. I don’t know everything God has planned for my life, but I know who holds it.

If you are searching as I once was, looking for truth, meaning, identity or somethingthat will finally fill the emptiness inside you, I want you to know that God can meet you exactly where you are. You don’t have to have everything worked out. You don’t have to make yourself worthy. Come to Him. Repent. Surrender. Let Him make you new.

I know because He met me there. When I thought I was searching for Him, He was searching for me. I was lost, and He found me. I was broken, and He met me there.

All glory belongs to Him.

~ Lori 💕

Read the related article: The Truth About New Age Spirituality: 40 Beliefs That Conflict With Scripture.

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*How to be saved: The Path To Salvation, please click: HERE / Photo by Eberhard Grossgasteiger