Dream In Soul

“If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” – Nick Vujicic

Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic faced an overwhelming battle as a youth to come to terms with the way he was made and to realize that God had a purpose for him. Through his ministry Life Without Limbs Nick has become a worldwide speaker, author and preacher of the Gospel. Now in his late twenties, Nick continues to reach out to people of all ages and backgrounds to let them know that they too can overcome the barriers and hardships in life through the grace of God. Nick is truly an amazing man of faith and a reflection of a life of victory, even without limbs.

In the message below Nick talks to a group of youth about the power of Christ that transformed his life:

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Recently I was asked to share part of my testimony of overcoming obstacles and hardships as a teen with a website for teen girls called Girls 4 God. The editor of the site, Annika, has an inspiring ministry and features the stories of various women to encourage girls to grow in Christ. If you are a girl, woman or even man who would like to share a word of encouragement with teen girls you can email Annika at statement@girls4god.de. I was glad to be able to contribute part of my experience:

He Touched Me & Made Me Whole

Despite of the pain God has renewed me and I want to share my journey with other girls so that they know there is hope beyond the hurt…

It is amazing how God has taken me from being moss under a rock to being planted as a blooming flower in His fertile ground. Our teen years can be really difficult at times when we’re going through changes, pressures and frustrations, and mine were no different. Despite of the pain God has renewed me and I want to share my journey with other girls so that they know there is hope beyond the hurt…

Arise…

He lives - arising in light and glory He lives.
So we throw off the shroud of darkness, despair and death left on the cross He bore.
Because He lives we do- more alive than before.

He lives – in shining pureness and holiness He lives.
His hands, pierced, took the gain, in victory over depression, dejection, defeat,
And shame, so we could be unfettered - free.

He lives, robed in rays of majesty - He lives.
He overcame the world with stripes and streams of crimson imprinting our impurities on His flesh
He rose again for our justification, in exchange for our debts.

He lives - He has risen indeed. So we should live - declaring the resurrection; ‘He rising for us, and His power in me’.

On this Resurrection Day we focus our attention on His glory, His sacrifice and remember that He died for our sake and rose again. He didn’t pour out that sacrifice for us to live entrenched and buried in darkness of past guilt and sin, not to be condemned but to accept His gift of grace:

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

He came alive after the pressing of the world and so must we. Let’s arise, come awake – and live.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1

Come Awake

Above is a creative video piece called “Come Awake” that may inspire you. (Video from Igniter Media Group a faith-based company that has created dozens of other visual media projects to communicate Truth to the world. The music is “Christ is Risen” by Matt Maher.)

Check out some of the latest posts from SOAR:

How He Loves…Always

He loves me?

Sometimes experiencing what we call romance in this world leaves us wondering what love truly is. You feel that happy pounding and patter in your chest when he reveals a bouquet of roses and candy. Getting hurt though can peel away the layers of our hearts, like someone plucking the petals from a flower…

Video Pick: How He Loves Us – Kim Walker & Jesus Culture

How He Loves Us – Kim Walker / Jesus Culture

This video and song are a great declaration of God’s love for us. Featuring Kim Walker and the Jesus Culture Band, the song is from their “We Cry Out” CD/DVD, available on jesusculture.com.

“He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy…”

Word: John 5:9-17 – “No Greater Love…”

John 5:9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

The changing year symbolizes a fresh start and changes in one’s life for many: setting aside, or into perspective, errors, failures and disappointments for a new outlook and course of action. Here are some devotions that may inspire you to renew your mind as we round onto an untrodden path in the New Year:

“Saddle Up” by Milan Ford

*StreamingFaith.com listed this powerful piece as the daily devotion for December 31st. In it the author challenges us to take the reins of responsibility and obedience for what we know God has commanded us to do. He says:

“Ladies and gentlemen, whether you and I are ready or not, 2010 is here. For many of us, this will be a year that many of the things we have prayed for throughout this year will come to pass.

“However, for those of us who are still holding on to things (and people) God has told us to get rid of, and for those of us who have allowed 2009 to be a year where our apathy and discontentment for where our lives are right now get the best of us, then what in the world are we going to do when the ‘horses’ arrive?”

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with the horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5-6

Click here to read the full devotional on Milan Ford’s website.

“Yesterday” - from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

This devotion encourages us to, “leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him…”:

“You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12

“…As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us…”

Click here to read the full devotional.

As you’re inspired by these devotionals remember the unchangeable truth - with God all things are possible, and with Him at the lead, and as we follow, our journey will be on course. With Him we can have unbridled hope, for we know the path He’s illuminating, though a little at a time, is directing us toward the future He has planned for us (as we’re reminded in Jeremiah 29:11). Seek Him - He is the way.

Happy New Year! May God’s blessings and love shower down on you!

*Note: If you’re celebrating the New Year festivities at home, you can watch night services from several churches on StreamingFaith.com.