When your family grows up, it also grows apart. Everyone has busy and varied schedules. This was a rare and special family trip to the dunes planned, with all our motor toys, where most of my family would be present. My husband, kids, parents, in-laws and some friends were all looking forward to a great time together. A couple days before the trip, God whispered in my ear that I should stay home.

How could I expect a dog sitter to deal with special needs and possible complications? Would anyone care as much or be as attentive as I to her pain and basic necessities? Huh uh. So I reluctantly announced my decision to stay home. My husband felt terrible but the vacation wouldn’t happen if he stayed home because he was in charge of bringing the base RV and biggest toy. I encouraged him to go ahead with the trip as planned. I know the Lord loves animals because they are one of his most precious creations and a gift to his children. John 1:3 says,

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

The first night was rough because she was having a lot of pain and could only stand up with my help. I didn’t get much sleep and prayed fervently for her sudden improvement. But God’s response was one of mercy, not healing. The next day she went into a rapid decline and by evening was unable to get up, stand or even walk without help. Lifting a 100 pound dog from the floor, then partially carrying her outside is as difficult as it sounds. I had to call on kind friends about every two hours all through the night to come help me take her outside for potty breaks. She was hurting and exhausted. I knew it was her last night and that her misery would soon be over.

In the morning I lay on the floor, nose-to-nose, looking into her eyes as the vet administered the concoction that would end her suffering. I stroked her face and spoke of all her favorite things, “You’ll have treats, go for walks, go for rides and go swimming.” She gazed back into my face and responded with familiar expressions (albeit subdued) until the light was gone, and so was she.

It was brutally painful and I hated it…but I wouldn’t have traded it for a month of family vacation. I comforted her, loved her and stood by her until her last moment. God had me there for “such a time as this.” The rest of the family, especially my husband, was protected from having to see her suffer and I was blessed to be there to make a crucial decision and stay with her until her life was finished.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you,” Psalm 32:8.

I’m grateful for God’s whispered guidance and so glad I listened and obeyed, for it would have all been much different if I had left Ziggy in someone else’s charge. Has He been whispering to you lately? What might you miss if you don’t listen? | by Diane Markins for CBN

It’s a day you wouldn’t dare miss. Be ready as SUPERBOOK once again takes you for another great and unforgettable quest.

After the successful Superbook Reimagined and the Superbook Reunion, now comes the much awaited SUPERLAUNCH. And here’s greater news: YOU are invited!

Bring the entire family and re-live the adventure at the Superbook SUPERLAUNCH on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Robinsons Galleria Activity Center at 2:00 p.m.

So what’s in store for you and your family? Loads and loads of FUN, LEARNING and GIVEAWAYS! Experience and enjoy interactive games, presentations, photo booths and activities that the whole family will surely love, plus a chance to meet Gizmo and our celebrity friends!

Experience the greatest adventure ever written and told. The new Superbook, reimagined for the new generation airs June 2013 on GMA.

For more information, visit www.batangsuperbook.com or LIKE us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BatangSuperbook. •

]]> http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/05/superbook-super-launch-slated-on-may-25/feed/ 0 http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/05/turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:02 +0000 lawrence http://cbnasia.org/home/?p=3058 CBN.com - Researchers say a baby’s sight is the last sense to develop. However, even before they can focus, newborns look toward faces. Studies show that infants also begin to read faces when they are very young. They feel positive vibes from a smile and smile back. If a mother frequently smiles and interacts with her newborn, the infant smiles in anticipation as soon as she enters the room.

Likewise, babies recognize when a face shows displeasure or disgust. If Mom is pre-occupied or angry and doesn’t return the smile, the baby’s smile will fade, the eyes look perplexed, and the face becomes blank. A baby learns to take cues from others in the room, especially its mother.

If infants don’t receive positive interaction during early development, they are stunted in personal interactions. As older children, they show little emotion in response to others. In some countries, orphans sit alone in cribs and get little positive contact with adults. As a result, they are severely underdeveloped emotionally. Even physical growth is stunted. Face-to-face interaction is necessary for healthy development.

As adults, we continue to watch faces. We subconsciously observe how people respond. We can tell if our audience is pleased, amused, delighted, or displeased. We see it in their faces—and we adjust. We quickly embellish our story for greater response, add more detail to support our view, or we end the conversation quickly. We take our cues from faces around us.

Maybe we’re created that way so we will properly relate to God.

Speaking to God, David said,

“As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.” “When Thou didst say, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to Thee, ‘Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek.’” (Ps. 17:15, Ps. 27:8 emphasis added)

David was satisfied with God’s face, and is the only person in the Bible that repeatedly talked about God’s face. Likewise, David is the only one we’re told was a man after God’s heart. Do you think that David could have gained a heart after God’s heart because he was practiced in looking into the face of God? Could it be that David got his cues from God rather than from those around him?

In Psalm 11:4, David said,

“[God’s] eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

The Lord is watching and waiting for us to look into His face. As a loving mother looks at her baby, the Lord’s eyes are on us, waiting for us to look at Him and return His smile. The Psalm closes with,

“For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.” (11:7, emphasis added)

It is natural for the righteous to look into the face of the One that loves him (or her) the most. “The upright will behold His face.”

If, like a baby, we look into God’s face for cues, He will lead us with His eyes. As we allow His eyes to guide us, our lives will reflect His righteousness. As a baby responds to loving parents, we will delight in His pleasure.

The problem is that sometimes we’re too busy to gaze into His eyes. We’re also distracted by gauging what our friends think of us. Survey results indicate that the church today doesn’t look much different from society. It makes me wonder where we are looking to get our cues. It doesn’t seem we’re looking to God enough.

If we don’t seek the face of God, we’ll we be like babies, trapped in a crib, stunted in our spiritual growth. We won’t reflect our God to the world. I don’t want to be stunted. I want to reflect the righteousness of God to those around me.

Lord, help me turn my eyes to Jesus and to gaze into His eyes. I join David in His cry,

“Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; Save me in Thy lovingkindness “Do not hide Thy face from Thy servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly. Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it.” (Ps. 69:17-18a; 31:16) | by Kay Camenisch for CBN

Obed-Edom is first mentioned in the Bible, just after the death of Uzzah for touching the Ark of God. This happened during King David’s first attempt to move the Ark to Jerusalem. The Ark of God was placed in the home of Obed-Edom. He must have been a man of faith to allow something in his home; just after God had killed someone for touching it (this broke one of the commands of the Lord concerning the Ark). The ark of God remained with Obed-Edom for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he owned.

When it came time to move the Ark to Jerusalem, (this time correctly) Obed-Edom had a choice. He could have stayed where he was and lived off of his past relationship with God or move with the Ark of God, staying in God’s presence and in relationship with God.

Obed-Edom had a desire for the Lord and moved with God. His desire for the Lord caused him to do whatever it took to be close to the Lord. He became a gatekeeper, a musician, and a doorkeeper for the Ark. Due to Obed-Edom’s desire and love for the Lord and his faithfulness, God begins again to bless him and promote him.

Obed-Edom becomes a worship leader and is mentioned along with Aspah the Chief Musician. Obed-Edom and his 68 associates minister regularly before the Lord in worship. Yet, he still continues to keep the gates.

Obed-Edom is not only blessed in ministry and relationship with the Lord, his family is also blessed. God gives him eight sons, his poor wife raising a football team. His sons and grandsons also worshiped the Lord and were blessed by the Lord. They were all leaders, capable men, with strength to do the work. There were 62 men in all. Obed-Edom along with his other duties was put in charge of the Southgate and his sons were keepers of the storehouse.

Obed-Edom by his faith, attitude, and actions created a legacy of faith, and relationship with the Lord. The Lord was faithful back to Obed-Edom establishing a legacy of generational blessings.

Obed-Edom had to pack up and physically move to stay in the presence of God. His desire for a relationship with God established a relationship not only for himself but also for his children and grandchildren. This relationship also established generational blessings from God for his family.

Today, we don’t have to travel to a specific place to know the presence of the Lord or to have a relationship with the Lord. We, as believers all have the Holy Spirit within us. But, it is up to each of us to stir up the desire to seek out our own relationship with God, Our Father. The Father desires for us to have a relationship with him. He waits patiently for His sons and daughters to seek him out and have an individual relationship with Him.

We can have this relationship with the Father by first, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we will be filled. Mt. 5:6 We must work to keep our hearts pure and we will see God. We must seek first the Kingdom of God and Its righteousness. Mt. 6:37

Our Father is crying out by His Spirit within us, for each of us to stir up our desire for Him. He wants us to be passionate for Him, to get hungry and thirsty for Him. When you are hungry and thirsty for something, you do what it takes to be satisfied.

The first step is to keep a pure heart… Unconfessed sin is a relationship and a blessing stopper with God. Keep short accounts with the Lord by following 1 John 1:9 and by keeping short accounts with others. No choice here. If you have done wrong, go to the person, confess it, ask for forgiveness and make it right. If you know some one has something against you, go to them, and don’t wait for them to come to you. Make it right. Be careful what you watch on TV, listen to on the radio, and what comes in over the Internet, enough said.

Second, study the Word of God, and mediate on it daily. Mediation is not mystical or hard. If you can worry, you can mediate. We all do a great job worrying. We take an issue and keep thinking the worst that can happen over and over again. Mediation is thinking about a particular scripture or the goodness of God, over and over again. This is simple but it works, and the more you do it the easier it gets. Putting on worship music helps with mediation and will bring the Presence of God.

A third step is just relax and rest in the Presence of God. We think that we must be doing something all the time for God. Relaxing and resting in God’s Presence is extremely important. It is in these times that we can clearly hear from the Lord. A Web site that can help with this www.soaking.net.

Finally, get up and get moving. Get involved in your church and/or your community. Obed-Edom did not wait for the Lord to tell him to do something, he just did it. He waited on the Lord by doing. You will find as you are doing the work of the ministry, God will give you direction in what to do.

So be an Obed-Edom, have a desire for God. Keep your heart pure. Study and mediate on the Lord, and relax and rest in God’s presence. Get up and get involved. By doing these things, you will have a relationship with God, and He will bless you and your family and create blessings for you and generational blessings for your family.

Scripture References for Obed-Edom: 1 Chronicles Chapters 13:12-14, 15:18, 21, 24, 16:38,26:4-6, 12-15.

Richard Spangler has been in active ministry for 30 years. He has been working for CBN since October 2003 and is the founder of Lion’s Voice Ministries. For more articles by Richard Spangler go towww.lionsvoiceministries@blogspot.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Did you like this article? If you did, please prayerfully consider partnering with CBN Asia so that more people will have the opportunity to be encouraged and blessed by our Family of Ministries. Click HERE to partner.

What they learned is that “street people” are at best invisible and at worst reviled. They attended church every Sunday and were not very warmly received in most because of how they looked and smelled. They were even thrown off the property of one church lawn in our own city.

Of Phoenix the author says, “We experienced big programs, big churches, and big talk, without much love in action, at least for two unappealing transients like us.”

I don’t think any of us sees ourselves as unloving or unwelcoming but I’m not sure how excited any of us would be if two dirty, foul-smelling men wanted to occupy the seat next to ours in church or at Sunday brunch. I’ll admit I’ve been the first one to beat a retreat on occasion.

We may judge them as being lazy or drug addicts and almost always try to escape before they ask us for something. Yankoski points out that the people he met on his “experiment” didn’t suddenly become homeless panhandlers. It happened slowly over time and was typically precipitated by events that damaged their lives horrifically.

The point I’m heading toward is that we need to remember the sacrifices Christ made and the attitudes he demonstrated. I’m not just talking about the Big One (His own terrible, painful death), but the time Jesus spent with the smelly, unappealing people He encountered every day. He talked with them, ate with them, touched them and genuinely cared for them and expects as much from us.

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45

Do we really want the reputation of Big programs but Little compassion? Whether it is someone who is malodorous or just has a stinky disposition, we need to walk toward them, take a moment to listen, encourage them and see how we can help meet an immediate need. A granola bar, a smile, a kind word or a listening ear may feel like the love of God to someone who isn’t used to being bestowed those gifts.

Will people we meet know we are Christians by our love? Do you need to make some changes so your alignment with Christ is more apparent? It will come back to you in a big way.

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

Diane Markins writes and speaks in a “high def, life-transforming style” about issues that impact daily living.She is the host of Women in High Def radio show, but is also a speaker and writer. She enjoys travel and has been from Mexico to Zimbabwe but always loves coming home to roost in Arizona near her family. See more of her writing at DianeMarkins.com.

The Bible tells us that our struggles are not against flesh and blood (other people), but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12-17)

God has given us the truth about where our struggle lies, and it’s not with other people. So, who’s ultimately to blame? Evil – there are unseen forces of evil fueling sin in our world and they prey upon everyone. We have specific guidelines on how to combat this evil.Through Christ, we can be awesome warriors against the evil that tries to sneak its way into our lives.

The Belt of Truth
Picture yourself with oversized garments that would fall down and trip you if you had no belt. The belt is important; it keeps everything in place, and nothing falls down around our ankles to trip us. Truth takes many forms. Christ laid down his life for our sins, and rose again to a resurrected life and He lives today. Thattruth is the basis of our faith. We may need to see thetruth about a particular situation in our life. We may need to be more aware of telling the truth to ourselves and others. Whatever the circumstance, the Christian who is not walking in truth will be tripped up, so it’s imperative that we stick to the truth.

The Breastplate of Righteousness
We are instructed to guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness, making heartfelt decisions in our lives based on the character of our Lord. This is the 21st century bullet-proof vest.  Without it, we are easy targets for the bullets of envy, strife, unforgiveness, revenge, and jealousy which seek to destroy our hearts. God fills our hearts with his love, leaving no room for the enemy’s evil suggestions.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
As servants of the living God, when we walk with proper footwear, we carry the message of where we are headed, and why we are going there, the gospel message. If our feet are not ready, we may be delayed by the enemy who doesn’t want us on the path. On the path toward God, we are not barefooted where rocks and rough terrain (life’s circumstances) damage our walk; we can make it to our destination.

The Shield of Faith
The Bible tells us to hold up the shield of faith with which we can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one. Using faith as our shield, we believe without doubt, believe in God’s victory over all the sin in our life (evil), and believe that He is all powerful and loves us unconditionally. Against that kind of faith, the one who seeks to destroy us has no power.

The Sword of the Spirit
Get proactive with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. God wants us to know His Holy Word and use it! In every struggle we face, we are not fighting flesh and blood. God’s Word is able to pierce all the evil thrown at us. Jesus used scripture when tempted by Satan. There is power in God’s Word!

The Helmet of Salvation
This helmet protects our thought life. Since the original sin when Satan convinced Eve that God didn’t want her to know too much, he has used that same trick over and over. He takes aim at our thought life. Satan reasoned with Eve, and brought doubt into her mind by using worldly logic.

Salvation says I am bought by the blood of the Lamb, and my mind is fixed on serving the One who died for me.  It does not fit worldly logic that the God of the universe would take the lowly form of a human being, and allow Himself to be crucified to pay the penalty for our sin.

Worldly logic is not God’s way. He is above that. So, when the intellectuals and the critics of our faith are energized by Satan’s thought processes, we must protect our minds by the helmet God provides.

We must stay focused and remember we are not fighting flesh and blood. We must pray for those who are being used as pawns to carry out the enemy’s plans and we need to love them through it. We must also pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ regularly. This is God’s plan.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Did you like this article? If you did, please prayerfully consider partnering with CBN Asia so that more people will have the opportunity to be encouraged and blessed by our Family of Ministries. Click HERE to partner.

Growing up, I heard contradictions of law and grace and God’s anger and love. I believed that on some days, God was happy with my performance, and on others, He was disgusted by my sins. It wasn’t until I set my heart into believing that Papa (Yes, I call God “Papa”) was not sitting there condemning me, He was actually holding me in my times of self-condemnation and guilt.

I lost my virginity in a hotel. I was with a friend and two prostitutes when it happened, and I cannot remember much of what took place because of the gluttony and debauchery of the night. I slipped into the mindset that my next sexcapade would be my last. Thus, I continually set a standard to try to overcome my lust. Pretty soon I’d be on my 10^th girl, and then my 20^th, and then on my 50^th, until it got to the point where orgies became a monthly thing; single partners being a daily/nightly occurrence. Having done this for about 6 years, I inevitably got one girl pregnant. Without me knowing what had happened, the girl decided to take matters into her own hands and abort the baby after a month of being pregnant.

Girls at the mall, girls at the park… I loved them all. I lusted after them, pursued them, and on the same day, got rid of them. In between all these was a reckless heart desperate for a way out. I was enjoying the flesh.  Sins? Why, I broke them all.  I dared to try anything once– and not even just once, but twice –especially with drugs: cocaine in South America, weedcake in Jamaica. Whatever the pleasure, bring on the hedonism! I lived a life of the flesh and was still a “Christian.” I erroneously thought that the King of kings who created all things approved of me because He created me. And I was this way.

I can honestly say that external appearances never reveal scars or the amount or lack of love in a person. The law, standards, rules, and commandments in the Bible expose people time and time again. But you know what? Where sin abounds, grace superabounds.  Those who are forgiven much love much.

Papa used my yesterday to prepare me for a love that consumes me today.

I was introduced to an “Am-boy” missionary who didn’t care about the litany of sins in my life. He simply told me about what Christ did and Papa’s love for me. He shifted the focus from me with all my sins and garbage, to the finished work of Christ. Just like Christ, this missionary loved me like a brother as unconditionally as any human could. Soon after, I found a change in my perspective for Christ’s love for me, the church, and relational Christianity.

Rather than being in sin, guilty, and self-conscious, I began to be consumed with a Christ-consciousness. I couldn’t be righteous in my own strength.  Righteousness was all about Jesus. I realized that there was love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, in the person of Jesus who was 100% human and 100% divine.  I grew tired of eating from the tree of good and evil; of trying to keep the standards of “good” I couldn’t keep. I began eating from the Tree of Life, in believing Jesus. His righteousness was enough. All of my sins, all my guilt, and all my fears were eclipsed by His Love.

I now live for Jesus. I enjoy a life free of guilt and condemnation. I also fellowship with other broken believers who want to hear and repeatedly be reminded of Papa’s love and Jesus’ finished work. I also have a grace-filled relationship with a beloved princess of Christ who knows  about my past, yet reminds me that my sins have been dealt with 2,000 years ago. As I live and meditate on Papa’s grace, I continually shed flesh in preparation for my divine journey home.

* The author’s name has been changed

– First published in the Grace Issue of One Voice, published with permission.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Did you like this article? If you did, please prayerfully consider partnering with CBN Asia so that more people will have the opportunity to be encouraged and blessed by our Family of Ministries. Click HERE to partner.

Every child has an inner bida—a hero-in-the-making waiting to be unleashed. The real change we’ve been waiting for could be locked inside young minds and hearts. All they need is the right reinforcement to bring out their potential even at a tender age.

CBN Asia and its flagship TV program The 700 Club Asia believe in investing in the country’s future by inspiring Filipino children and giving them a strong faith foundation.

This is why The 700 Club Asia is devoting a live TV special this May for Filipino children. Titled Bida ng Pagbabago, this special telecast will encourage viewers to support CBN Asia’s mission to instill good Filipino morals and Biblical values in a generation heavily saturated by unwholesome media and technology.

Bida ng Pagbabago will also introduce CBN Asia’s biggest TV project for 2013: the reimagined and digitally animated Superbook. The series is poised to deliver the powerful message of the Bible to children through cutting-edge, vivid and exciting animation and storytelling that Filipino kids will surely love and enjoy. CBN Asia hopes that every Superbook episode will be a positive catalyst in children’s hearts and will prepare them to be God-loving citizens of our country.

You can be part of our battle cry in Bida ng Pagbabago! Catch it from May 20 to 24, Monday to Friday, 11 p.m. live on GMA News TV and via webcast at www.cbnasia.org/specials •

At around 2 in the afternoon, Aileen and her daughter Cheiann, 3, were resting on their bed. Her husband was in the farm, harvesting turnips. The rain poured heavily outside, and the wind howled ferociously. Suddenly, she felt that their house was shaking. Startled, she started packing their things, thinking that she might be able to salvage them. Cheiann was sitting on the bed and was crying uncontrollably. She looked outside. All she saw was white mist enveloping them and above them were dark skies. She, then, turned to her daughter who was filled with fear and carried her towards the kitchen where they found it safest. She wanted to run oustside but she knew it was not safe, too. So, she just knelt down and tightly hugged her baby who was already pale.

The turmoil lasted for almost 15 minutes. Then, the wind began to settle, and there was silence. When she looked up, she saw the sky. Their roof was no more. She looked around and saw trees that were fallen. Their walls fell down. Her home was gone. Her family, along with two other families, transferred to the evacuation center of their barangay where they have been staying for several days now. With only clothing and kitchen utensils salvaged, she doesn’t know how to start over. Her husband only earns 100 pesos a day and this does not suffice for them to survive.
Fortunately, kind and compassionate souls still exist. Operation Blessing Philippines visited their barangay to distribute relief goods that contain clothing, packs of rice, and hygiene kits that contain soap and sachets of shampoo and conditioner. They didn’t just receive material gifts, they were given what they really needed – encouragement. Volunteers took time to listen to their experiences, to bless them and pray for them.

“I am really grateful to know that there are people like you who care. We are really saddened by what happened but we are grateful because, at least, we are alive. Thank you for the gifts you have given us. It will help us to start over,” Aileen gratefully said.

In the middle of summer, the rains poured heavily and the winds blew hard. What should have served as a place of refuge became the very place of danger. In the ironies of life, one thing remained constant—God is good. Despite the devastating wind that wrecked their home, Aileen and her family was given another chance at life. In the midst of a hopeless situation, hope stayed. They may have lost their properties and belongings but the tornado could not take away the most important thing they have…hope.Indeed, Aileen’s home was shattered but her hope, unyielding.

The family of Aileen needs your help to rebuild their house. They are calling for generous hearts to help them rebuild what has been taken away from them by nature.

YOUR SUPPORT WILL GO A LONG WAY

Whether big or small, your wholehearted donation will surely go a long way for our kababayans affected by the tornado. Click HERE to know how you can be a part of our disaster response efforts.

“. . . I couldn’t be more proud of you!”Romans 16:19

By Brooke Keith

When my daughter was smaller she used to draw these wonderfully simplistic self portraits. I remember how she would pluck the purple crayon from the Crayola box ever so carefully and grip it tight between her pudgy, pale hands. She did her very darnedest to keep them steady.

I used to love to sit and watch her doodle away on the living room rug, her tiny pink toenails kicking as if completely filled up with artistic energy that just had to get out.

I’ll never forget the first picture she ever drew. It still graces our refrigerator to this day. Her crayon etched head so wiggly and large with two giant skinny legs sticking straight down from her chin. While it certainly was no Monet, to me it was worth just as much. She’d worked so hard to create the little bit of something she had created and knowing it was her best made it the best piece of art I ever owned.

Of course, as the years passed by I taught her to hold her hands a little more steadily. I showed her how to use different shades of crayon to capture the essence of her golden brown hair and her rosy pink lips.

If you were to look on our refrigerator today you would see a freshly drawn “after” portrait. You might not see much difference in the two since her tiny little people still have giant heads and absolutely no neck to speak of – but because I am her mother the little changes would be so evident to me. I would point them out to you in vast numbers because I appreciate every little “work in progress” improvement her self portrait has made – from the slightly straighter legs dangling from her chin to the ever so slightly steadier circle, no matter how robust.

Sure, I know there is room for improvement but together we will work on that, little by little, until someday those little legs will have feet attached and those giant heads will be within normal scale. As mommies we look forward to the milestones still somehow being completely wrapped within the “head over heels” feeling for the here and now scribbles on our fridges.

Isn’t this a lot like our Heavenly Father? He watches proudly as we scribble with our purple crayon, teaching us little by little how to bring out all of our living colors. He points out how we can improve but never misses a chance to celebrate who we are in the moment along with the little changes that we make to become better, more rounded men and women. After all, He even promises that He has “drawn” us “with loving kindness” and “everlasting love.”Jeremiah 31:3

While the inner changes we make to our own self portrait may go unnoticed by the world, our Father will always be quick to proudly point them out. “Anne is a wonderful budding artist, Moses. Look, how well she stays in the lines!” “Hey, Noah, come here a minute. Check out how straight Anne is drawing her arms these days. Pretty amazing, huh?”

As you grow and change and you shuffle your pink toenails from the living room rug of life, know that God takes notice of each improved stroke. And if you ever doubt His celebration of who you are even in the unchanging moments just ask Him to show you His waste basket. You’ll find it completely empty. His refrigerator on the other hand you will find completely full.

Brooke Keith is the author of many books for children and a long time writer for many well-loved ministries around the world. She is a wife of one very amazing man and a mom to their five equally amazing kids. But most of all, Brooke is a girl head over heels for her Savior and finds His love far too wonderful to keep to herself. When Brooke is not busy searching for her toddlers missing shoe you can find her on her blog.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Did you like this article? If you did, please prayerfully consider partnering with CBN Asia so that more people will have the opportunity to be encouraged and blessed by our Family of Ministries. Click HERE to partner.

Are you a Superbook fan? Would you like to see Gizmo live in action? Here’s your chance to meet and greet the super cool robot Gizmo.

Visit Superbook’s Super Photo Blast Corner in Robinsons Galleria Jumpstreet activity center from May 18 to 24 (mall hours) and experience a fun time with Gizmo and with other Superbook kids.

Pose and have your pictures taken with Gizmo and the rest of your favorite Superbook characters,  watch trailers of the all –new Superbook episodes coming this June and learn more about the re-imagined Superbook.

What a perfect way to spend time with your family while at the mall! Invite your friends, too. Don’t forget the dates: May 18- 24 at the Robinson’s Galleria Jumpstreet. See you!

Download higher res file here.

By Yay Padua-Olmedo

“I want to design apps,” my grandson Joaqui recently told his mother Lucci.

Joaqui  earlier declared he’d be designing cars. Quite smart—excelling in both Math and English (he devours books), he’s a ten year-old fifth-grader who’s determined to win.  He could fly to the moon if he wanted to. Of course, that’s me, Lola (grandmother) speaking! Believe sa apo!

But when Lucci shared Joaqui’s new dream, this Lola’s brain started pole dancing with dollar figures.

Well, because I recalled this recent UK news that 17-year old Nick D’Aloisio created an app which was reportedly bought by Yahoo for a cool £18m: “Nick’s app provides bite-sized summaries of content from news and other sites. He joins an elite group of teenagers who have become internet millionaires.”

If Nick can do it, so could my apo!

An “app,” for the uninitiated (grandmothers like me), is “application” abbreviated. In compu-speak, apps are software to make computing tasks easier—meant to make ordinary mortals’ lives like moi rosier.

If you ask me, the more apps I’ve needed to use, the more confused— hilo—I’ve become. And the more confused I’ve become, the more thankful I am that I’m old—no longer working full time, needing to keep up with nerdy stuff.

But my old soul grieves. Young people nowadays are so smart especially with techie things. Yet they’re reading less and less, or interacting superficially with others, and spending more intimate time with their unfeeling companions—social media and video games.

Oh yes, they’re fast and agile with their cellphones and computers, sharing more photos, videos and ha-ha stuff.  But why are so many young people disconnected? Why their seeming lack of vision and direction?

I’ve been teaching college students for many years. Every year, I seem to be facing bigger roadblocks trying to reach them. I get more blank stares and empty minds—not a sign of empty hearts I hope. But I’ve sensed that too.

As parents, we should give our kids a daily dose of the apps that matter.  Just like the vitamins you give them regularly for good health. I’m glad Joaqui and his sister Charlize get a lot of them.

The Word of God, the greatest app of all!

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deutoronomy 11:18-19

The app to success? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Proverbs 1:7. All other apps follow suit.

Joseph, in Genesis, rose from slavery to be Egypt’s second most powerful man—because He feared God, so He always went with him—even when trials seemed inevitable.

His Word alone, revealed in Christ, ensures greater victory over life’s many glitches. Did I say Joaqui loves this app better?

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My friend Carolyn shared her story with me:

A year after Dave and I married, Dave received his papers to report for active duty to the army in 1969.

We wanted children but I knew conception might be difficult because of endometriosis. We consulted an infertility doctor to no avail. Chances were high Dave would serve a tour of duty in Vietnam. We decided to begin adoption proceedings.

Orders came assigning Dave to Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. On our way there, we discovered I was pregnant. Had I heard the doctor right? How could this be?

We settled into our apartment to await the birth of our little one. Dave soon received orders for Vietnam. His departure date was June, one month before the baby was due. He would not return until February—if at all.

As I advanced through the pregnancy, complications set in. I feared losing the baby.

Doctors didn’t hesitate to use a new tool. Amniocentesis. I underwent numerous needle pricks to draw amniotic fluid from my uterus.

Because this pregnancy was high risk, Dave received a revision of orders. Now he wasn’t to leave until after the baby was due.

On my due date, I had an appointment with the Army doctor.

I said, “This baby has become so quiet. Is this normal?”

The doctor checked and found no heartbeat. “I’m ordering another amniocentesis.”

The report came back. “Dead baby.”

My doctor said, “We won’t induce labor. We’re going to let nature take its course. Your body will go into labor. You’ll deliver this child in due time.”

My vision blurred with tears. I slid off the exam table and drove home.

Dave and I hardly spoke of the doctor’s news. My ears had heard the words, but my heart refused to believe them. The baby never moved again. In faith, Dave continued his work building the baby’s furniture.

Because the doctors expected me to go into labor at any time, Dave received another deferment for Vietnam.

A week passed. Then two. Then three. Then four.

August 10, the doctor ordered another amniocentesis. They drew out a murky green fluid.

The doctor explained, “Your baby died because it had a bowel movement in the amniotic fluid, then aspirated the contamination. It shouldn’t be long before this is over.”

That night, I went into labor. We drove to the hospital in silence. Hope and grief raged within. Soon I would be bereft of this little child I had carried for over ten months.

After the delivery, the doctor greeted Dave with, “Lieutenant Unruh, You wife delivered a live son.’

“Dave said, ‘A live son? But you said . . .’

“‘Even though he weighs over eight pounds, he’s very sick. We rushed him to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a fecal infection. We’ll monitor him there until he dies.”

Even though the doctor’s words should have brought devastation, Dave was filled with a quiet assurance. Since God had given us a live birth, Dave felt He would also cause our son to thrive, despite the dire predictions.

I was allowed to see our son when he was three days old. When the nurse laid him in my arms, I wept for joy. Here was our son. Not dead, but alive.

To the doctor’s amazement, he continued to gain in strength. On the eighth day, we went home.

Dave’s deferment would be over. Soon I would wave my precious husband good-bye for the deadly rice paddies of Vietnam.

One night, unable to sleep, Dave picked up an Army Regulations Manuel and noticed an asterisk on the bottom of a page. “If a soldier is to be deployed shorter than 180 days, he is exempt from deployment.”

He counted the days before his scheduled released from the Army. He shouted to me from the living room, “Carolyn! Look at this! They can’t send me to Vietnam! I only have 178 days left in the service!”

Today, Darren is six-foot, four inches and in excellent health. He and his wife, Teri and their four children raise cattle, chickens, and Mastiff show dogs.

Matthew 19:26b “…with God all things are possible” (NASB).

Psalm 40:1b “…He…heard my cry (NASB).

Sally Jadlow is the author of a three book series entitled God’s Little Miracle Book, available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble in paperback and e-reader editions. Sally and her friend, Ardythe have a daily devotional book, Daily Walk with Jesus. She currently serves as a chaplain to corporations with Marketplace Chaplains, Inc. in the greater Kansas City area. Her website is SallyJadlow.com. Her blog is godslittlemiraclebook.wordpress.com.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Did you like this article? If you did, please prayerfully consider partnering with CBN Asia so that more people will have the opportunity to be encouraged and blessed by our Family of Ministries. Click HERE to partner.

by Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, CBN

Out of His heart will flow rivers of living water.  ~ John 7:38

John 4 tells the story of the Samaritan woman’s life-changing encounter with Jesus. While His disciples went into town to buy food, Jesus stopped to rest by a well. A woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. His request surprised her, because Jews usually did not talk to Samaritans, let alone ask a Samaritan woman for water.

Jesus then said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. … Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:10,14). The Greek word for drink here means more than just having a cupful; it means “to drink and keep on drinking.”

When the woman asked Jesus for this water, He told her to go get her husband. She answered that she had none, and Jesus replied that she was right: she had had five husbands, and the man she was currently with was not her husband. Jesus then revealed to her that He was the Messiah. Instead of announcing this in the temple, or to the chief priest, or to the Pharisees, Jesus chose a Samaritan woman to tell, “I am the Messiah” (John 4:26). The woman went back to her town and brought others to see Jesus; eventually, because of her, the whole town believed in Jesus.

The disciples went to that same town to buy food. They had spent time with Jesus, and they knew He was the Messiah. Did they share this with anyone in town? Did they ask anyone to come to see Jesus at the well? Or did they just think, “These are only Samaritans, and we’re only here to buy food”? Like the disciples, we can get so busy that we are no longer witnesses to the Samaritans all around us.

Jesus makes us a promise in John 7:37-38: If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. When we “drink and keep on drinking” the living water that Jesus offers through His Spirit and His Word, He will use us, like the woman at the well, to draw others to Himself.