Testimony Tuesday - Overcoming Depression With Christ by Dinora Trujeque

A few days ago I watched a movie featuring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd. My daughter and I had been watching this movie 15 minutes each day before she went to school. This had been going on for three days in a row and then the movie’s theme started to change. 

Immorality showed its ugly face in some parts of the movie and I decided that I would watch it by myself before, to make sure there weren’t any more wrong messages that could affect my daughter. So I sat on my couch and watched it until the very end, (which by the way was very moving).

I have to tell you, I hate immoral scenes and profanity in movies because I think they are not necessary to make a good movie, and because they have been put there to make us believe that a life of sinfulness is fun and rewarding, when in fact IT IS NOT. 

You wouldn’t believe me this, but I had to fast forward that movie more than 15 times! I ended up watching half of it, just the things worth watching. I wouldn’t recommend this method or this movie. It is always better to choose well from the beginning.

I learned something from that movie though. Even if life plays dirty tricks on us, God wants us to know that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” In the same way that the story had a happy ending, God has planned a happy ending for the lives of His children too. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”

Have you ever had that feeling that the problems in your life would never end? I’ve been going through some family problems for some time and I feel worn out already. It has affected my health to the point where I have to deal with depression, because I know that except through prayer, there is nothing I can do to help my family. I know what I just said sounds as if I see prayer as doing nothing, but that is not what I mean. If you have ever been in such a situation when there is no way you can even alleviate the pain of your love ones, you know how I feel. That doesn’t mean that I have lost my faith, in a way I am reclaiming it every day. 

I also realized that even if I’d like to fast-forward my life like I did with the movie, to avoid the bad parts, life doesn’t work that way. We’ll have to go through some problems of different sizes and shapes but the Lord has promised us that “in all things we will be more than conquerors through Christ.”

He comforts us with the hope that just like the Apostle Paul; we’ll get to that point of maturity in which we’ll be able to say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I am learning to wait on the Lord more than ever, because only through trials and tribulations can my faith grow. I am holding fast to His word with all my strength because He is faithful, reliable, and powerful. 

He told us our lives would be like this; he wouldn’t lie to us, and he asked us to be of good cheer even when the pain is great, to be at peace because The Prince of Peace is with us, the One who has overcome the world is by our side. 

Inspirational Video Moment - "Purpose" - All is Vanity"

"Purpose" -  All is Vanity"

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opch9wMjocY&feature=related

Inspirational Video Moment: In Times of Trouble

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Visit us every Monday to view the 

new Video of the Week.

Video Credit: ARAND Video Services

Sermon Sunday - Dr. Marvin Sapp, Inspirational Sermon

Dr. Marvin Sapp, Survivor Sunday Sermon Highlight

Mt. Zion,  Bishop Joseph Walker III

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE4b6Nm-jPM

Jesus Set Me Free by Amber Leggette-Aldrich Testimony Tuesday

I Am B.A.D. (Blessed And Delivered) 

Our church youth group returned from Youth Camp this past weekend. I had been reading some of their posts on Facebook about their experiences, and I could feel the excitement and joy in their hearts. It has always been a tremendous blessing to me to see our young people so full of fire and enthusiasm for Jesus! And their willingness to openly share what God is doing in their lives is something that I deeply admire. These young people are not just talking about God, but they are walking the walk as well.

At the Wednesday night service several of the youths gave testimonies about what they had experienced at the camp. As each one shared, I found myself crying inexplicably. It wasn’t out of sadness, but more from a deep sense of thankfulness. Before long I began to realize that I was remembering what my life had been like before Jesus set me free. There was so much bondage in my life, mostly from my own doing. I can’t even begin to explain the deepness of the gratitude I feel for what Jesus did for me. But when I think about it, and how I have been changed by His love, there is a joy that just explodes inside of me, and I want to share it with the whole world! 

Each new day is another opportunity to let that joy shine into the world. I don’t have to wait for something to stir me up. I only have to think about what the Lord saved me from, and how much He loves me. I can find His goodness in the promises of His Word, and I know where I am going when my race is finished here. My God is more than enough for me! He is bigger than any storm I face! And I am no longer a slave to sin!

I am not perfect, yet. But God is working in my heart, changing me day by day, moment by moment. And I will be made perfect when I enter His gates! Knowing that gives me an assurance and contentment, as well as excitement. I no longer live in condemnation, but in liberation. 

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:” (Galatians 4:3 KJV) Things like anger, unforgiveness, doubt, fear, drugs, rebellion, hate, hypocrisy, enviousness and more, were all chains of bondage to me. No matter how many times I tried to change, no matter how hard I tried, I could not do it. Maybe for a day or two in one or two areas, but it never lasted. 

But then I began to learn about Jesus. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV) Through learning the truth about His pure and unconditional love for me, I began to trust in Him. I called out to Him for help, to set me free. The chains that had held me hostage for so long were broken. I repented and was baptized in Jesus’ name. My sins were forgiven and washed away. As I opened up my heart to Him, He filled me with His Holy Spirit and great love, and my life began to change.

My journey since then has not always been easy. Many trials and temptations have come my way. But the freedom I have in Jesus replaces the fear I once had with peace and comfort. He is always with me, and He gives me strength and courage to continue on. I remember what my life was like before He saved me, and I won’t go back. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1 KJV) I may fall down and scrape my knees, but He helps me to get back up and keep fighting. He gives me the heart to love others, and to forgive as He has forgiven me. I put my life in His hands, and there’s no better place to be! He has shown me the wonders of His love, and profound miracles too. I AM SO B.A.D. (Blessed And Delivered) Jesus has set me free!

God is My Coach - Inspirational Video Monday

Mondays are Inspirational Video Moment days at 

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Source: www.GodisMyCoach.com

Prayer for America - 9/11 Tribute

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for all of your grace and mercy.  We thank You for keeping America safe.  We thank You for allowing us to see another Patriot Day.   Thank You for allowing us to start sending the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan to be with their families.  And, Lord, we pray for those soldiers who are still over there fighting so that America can remain free.  

Lord, we pray for peace.  We pray for unity among humanity.  And on this Patriot Day, let us remember the 3,000 men, women and children who lost their lives that fateful day – September 11, 2001.  Let us pray that their families are comforted knowing that they are not alone in their grief.  Let us pray that those who died that fateful day did not die in vain.  

And, God, please continue to bless America.  Lord, give our politicians the wisdom to know that differences of opinion and philosophy are not an excuse for insulting and denigrating anyone.  Let our country understand that despite all of the trials and tribulations we have endured, You are still in our midst.  Lord, let all Americans know that You are still in the healing business.

You are still comforting our restless souls.  

Lord, bless those in this country who are unemployed.  Continue to cover them.  Continue to provide their needs, Lord.  Lord, we pray that You grant those with needs of healing or employment or whatever else Your people may need, with Your favor.  

All of these things we ask in Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.

Loius Giglio"s How Great is our God - Inspirational Video Moment

Mondays are Inspirational Video Moment days at 

New Life Today Blog.  

Visit us every Monday to view the 

new Video of the Week.


Video Credit: Louis Giglio, "How Great is Our God", Youtube

(This week's video was recommended thanks to  Sister Charmaine Valentine of the Church of the Living Water in Round Rock, Texas.
If you have a video that you would like posted on NewLifeTodayBlog.com, please feel free to email the link to chelle@newlifetodayblog.com.)

One Minute Sermon - Sermon Sunday

Video Credit: One Minute Sermon, Youtube

ANGELS ALL AROUND ME by Joan Morrone - Testimony Tuesday

Do you like angel stories? Most people do. After I do some 

Source:  ifcj.org

heavy writing, I need to write something on the lighter side to lift my spirit and hopefully yours, too. I will tell you a few stories about “angels” in my life. I will not be talking about angels in shimmering white robes and wings. I’ve never seen any of those. My angels are those who have helped me along the way just as I was about to fall. They came just in time to pick me up and guide me. 

One meaning for angel in the Webster dictionary is “a guiding spirit or influence.” In Strong’s Concordance, one meaning is “to dispatch as a deputy.” Deputy is a person appointed to act as an assistant to another. One or more may have been angels dressed like real people. These last are the ones in Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” 

Also when I look back I see people standing on the sidelines. These are those who were there for me when the chips were down. I did not appreciate them like I should at the time. I can see now that I was never alone. I didn't even know jesus at some of those times. 

Source: gbcdecatur.org

My favorite was a little old bag lady. She was dirty, unkempt and foul smelling. She came into the place I worked as a waitress. She was put at my table. I waited on her, smiling as I did. I try to treat everyone the same. She invited me to sit down and eat with her. I said I was sorry but we weren’t allowed. I brought her food and then got busy. 

Later I looked and she was gone. As I began to clean the table up, I saw a bill folded neatly under the cup. It was a $100 bill! The really amazing thing is that was exactly what I needed to pay my rent. (I was a Christian by then.) There is a lot more to the story but I’ll leave it at that. I know, without a doubt that if I would have been nasty with her, I would never have gotten the money. God knows how to handle a situation!

Another angel in people’s clothing was a little old lady at my bus stop. I rode the bus home and realized I didn’t have my package. I told my husband I was going back to get it. He said it would never be there. It was a bad area and people have gotten mugged there. The bus came by just as I got out the door. This was no mere coincidence. When I got to the stop, there was this sweet old lady, holding my bag as nice as you please. 

Walking toward her, she smiled and said she knew I’d be back. How did she know it was mine? She stood up to leave before I could thank her but I was able to ask her name. She looked astonished and hesitated before she said: “Pearl”. She took off like a scared rabbit and disappeared! All I could think of was “Pearl of great price”; Pearl was a name she made up in a second.

Angel # 3 appeared in New York. My second husband and I were on our honeymoon. Circumstances forced us to go to Long Island to visit his aunt. Coming back to Penn. Station had us stumped. Which train should we take and what side of the track? We were not seasoned travelers. As we puzzled over it, a pleasant looking man, dressed in a well worn but neat suit, tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could help us. He got us to the right train and disappeared. We got off in the big city and were lost for the second time. Which door do we go out to get a taxi to take us to the airport? Out of 1000’s of people, the same man tapped me on the shoulder once more. “May I help you again?” I thank God often for His angels who come along when I need them!

Source:  foodnflix.blogspot.com

At the same restaurant where I saw the bag lady, I waited on a man at the counter where I worked. I was talking to a lady about an art course I was taking. The man began to talk to me. He was an artist. He came in the next day and gave me the basic paints and a couple good brushes. My co-worker said he had been coming in for about 15 years and he never spoke to any one. Why me? One day I got talking to him about the Bible. He said he didn’t understand it. I told him that I would write some scriptures and try to explain them to him. He told me to make them simple. 

One evening he was there when I wasn’t busy. I must have “preached” to him for about a half hour. He seemed to enjoy the stories. When he was leaving, he said: “Thanks for the Mini-Sermons.” That is when I began to write regularly and seriously. He was one of my guiding angels and strong influence. Then he slowly slipped out of my sight, only to appear when I would get discouraged. Haven’t seen him since!

This will be my last story. After my first husband divorced me to marry someone else, I was determined I was not going to let it get the best of me. I was going to go out and have a good time. I wasn’t saved yet. A girl I worked with asked me to go out with her after work. She wanted me to meet this “nice” guy. I wasn’t aware it could be dangerous. I agreed. On my way home at 11 P.M. to change clothes, I had this feeling I shouldn’t go. I called my friend and said I changed my mind. She put the guy on. He sweet talked me into saying I would go. He wanted to meet me. I was innocent of the ways of the world. I was pretty protected from it most of my life. 

I got changed and on my way to the meeting place. Half way there, it felt like some one grabbed my steering wheel and sent me back home! I asked the girl the next day how it went. She didn’t know because she didn’t go either. Then I got the shocker. The guy I was supposed to meet was arrested for assault and battery, carrying a concealed weapon, drug charges and his wife was suing him for divorce. 

God was looking out for me even then. He knew where I would be today. Who knows what would have happened to me if I did go. I could have been in jail as an accomplice, or raped and possibly murdered. My whole life could have been ruined completely. I didn’t deserve God’s care but I got it! God is awesome.

I have more “angel” stories but I’ll let it go at that. Hope this has encouraged you to believe God has angels all around us to look out for us when we can’t look out for ourselves. 

God bless you.