After the loss of a loved one, the first holiday season can bring on a great deal of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and sadness. Community Grief Support is offering 3 free âHope for the Holidaysâ workshops to help those who are facing their first holidays as a loss survivor. The workshops are offered in two different locations and virtually. Learn more here.
Encouraging Word
Ephesians 4:1 says, “âŠwalk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Throughout Scripture, reference is made to God’s call. The word call means a summons or to attract someone’s attention; an attempt to reach someone.
The Biblical meaning refers to God’s initiative to bring people to Christ and to participate in His redemptive work in the world. It is also inviting us to take a certain action or make a specific decision. There are three parts to a call: the one making the call; the call or message sent; and the one receiving the call. To receive the call, one must âhearâ the call and then “respond” to the call. I believe God’s call comes in four stages:
1. Call to Repentance
2. Call to Salvation
3. Call to Sanctification
4. Call to Service
Call to Repentance. Repentance is Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is sincere regret or remorse, turning from sinful ways and towards God. Repentance comes when we yield to the Holy Spirit’s conviction (John 16:7-8). In Mark 1:15, Jesus says to repent and believe in the Gospel. You have to acknowledge you’re a sinner before you recognize the need for a Savior!
Call to Salvation. Salvation is deliverance from sin and its consequences brought about by saving faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 sums it up very well. God’s desire is that mankind be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance. And Romans 10:13 says, “for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Call to Sanctification. Sanctification is making or declaring something holy. It is the action or process of being freed from sin. It refers to being “called out” and “set apart” for Godly service. God needs to do a work “in us” before He can do a work “through us.” 2 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely⊔ And 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification⊔
Call to Service. Service is to perform duties or service for another and to address the needs of others. We are called to serve, not to be served. Ephesians 4:12 says, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
Answer God’s call – He is waiting!
-Tony Cooper
Encouraging Word
Romans 8:29 says that it is God’s will for us to be like Jesus. “âŠHe also predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son⊔ Let’s focus on three areas that will help us to achieve this. We need to have a: clean heart; a clear mind; and a close walk.
1. Clean Heart. Here the heart is defined as our command center, the seat of life or strength, and the entire emotional nature and understanding. Proverbs 4:23 says “âŠguard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” So, what is it that we need to guard against? Sin. Sin is rebellion against God to disobey and break God’s laws. James 4:17 says to know to do good and not do it, then that is sin. Sin is damaging, destructive, and deadly. Psalm 32:1-5 and Psalm 51:9-12 talk about the danger of sin and the importance of having a clean heart. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2. Clean Mind. Mind refers to where thought takes place, perceptions are developed, interpretations are made, and where we make decisions and choices. Proverbs 23:7 says that whatever a person thinks within themselves, so they are. Romans 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. II Corinthians 10:5 says to take every thought captive. Colossians 3:2 says to set your mind on things above. Philippians 4:8 gives guidance on what to think about. You can only focus on one thought at a time, so choose your thoughts carefully. Like the children’s song says, “Be careful little mind what you think, for the Father up above is looking down with love⊔
3. Close Walk. Walk refers to behavior, lifestyle, spiritual journey, interacting with God through the course of the day, feeling His presence and power, and receiving His strength and guidance. Enoch was a man who walked with God. Genesis 5:24 says, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Micah 6:8 says that we should walk humbly with God. Colossians 1:10 says to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and to please Him in all respects. Galatians 5:25 instructs us to live by the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. Maintaining a close walk with God requires that we submit to His will, be sensitive to His leading, and be serious about serving Him.Â
To be more like Jesus will require that we have a clean heart, clear mind, and close walk. Let me encourage you to stay the course.Â
-Tony Cooper
Former Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission
Encouraging Word
Recently, we have been hearing about spiritual revival. Revival is an awakening or strengthening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose; restoring something to a former condition; resuming an activity after an interruption or refreshing with new energy or strength. Here are some aides to revival: a clean heart, a clear mind, and a close walk with God. Matthew 16:24 provides direction on how to “stay close.” Jesus says, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” To stay close, one must seek, be selfless, submit, and be serious.
1. Seek. To seek (“If anyone wants to come after Me”) means: to attempt to find something, desire to obtain, search out, or pursue. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness⊔
2. Selfless. One must be selfless (“Deny self”). Being selfless means: being concerned more about the needs of others than your own, being a servant, denying selfish desires, or stopping self-worship! Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.”
3. Submit. To stay close, one must submit (“take up your cross”). To submit looks like accepting or yielding to the authority of another or surrendering and ceasing to resist. In that day the cross meant sacrifice, suffering, and death. It also meant dying to self-will and submitting to God’s will. Galatians 2:20 should be our testimony, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me⊔ And we should pray Jesus’ prayer from Luke 22:42, where He said, “âŠnot My will but Thine will be done.”
4. Be serious. To stay close means, we need to be serious about serving God (âfollow Meâ). Being serious includes demanding careful consideration, acting sincerely, and being thoughtful and intentional. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
So, let’s be sold out, committed, and dedicated. Let’s stay close by continuing to seek God, denying self, submitting to God’s will, and being serious in our living for Jesus!
-Tony Cooper
Former Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission
Encouraging Word
In John 14:6, Jesus states that He is the only way to God. Not one of many, but the one and only way! What qualifies Him to make such a bold statement? What makes Him so special? How is He unique? Why are Christians so dogmatic in professing this? Well, I’m glad you asked.Â
1. Jesus came to reveal God. Reveal means to make known; allow something to be seen.Â
Jesus came to show us God!
2. Jesus came to provide forgiveness for our sins. We all need forgiveness, for we all have sinned. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. For all have sinned (Romans 3:23). For the wages (result) of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus can forgive our sins.
Forgiveness for sin can only be found in Jesus!
3. Jesus came to show us how to live. We are to “follow Christ.”
Remember the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) emphasis? If we follow Christ, He will show us how to live! Why Jesus? Because Jesus is the Messiah! His is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. I pray that you have made Him your Lord and Savior!
-Tony Cooper
Former Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission
Special Feature
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, youâre invited to join the American Village for their Annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast with special guest Phyllis Hoffman DePiano.Â
Founder and chairman of the board of Birmingham based Hoffman Media, DePiano is well known in the publishing industry. She describes herself as an entrepreneur at heart. When she was a busy mom of one-year-old twin boys, she decided to start her business. âWeâve seen so many wonderful ways God has worked in blessing our business,â DePiano says. Today Hoffman Media publishes several magazines including Southern Lady, Tea Time, Cooking with Paula Deen, Taste of the South, Southern Home, Bake From Scratch, Cottage Journal, and more. âItâs been our spirit from the beginning that we want God to be glorified through all that we do,â she adds.Â
You can hear DePiano share her story of faith and prayer at the American Villageâs National Day of Prayer Breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. DePiano plans to share with attendees how prayer has been a foundational pillar throughout each season of her life. âPrayer has always been such a huge part of my life and my faith,â DePiano says. With a rare form of anemia, she has had to have many transfusions and treatments over the years. âPrayer and faith are what you have to get you through things like that,â she shares. Raised in the church from a young age, faith, prayer, and worship have always been foundational in her life. Today, she and her husband attend Dawson Memorial Baptist Church.Â
DePiano has admired the work of the American Village since its founding in 1999. In fact, DePiano and American Village founder Tom Walker grew up together. âI knew that in some way, when he was young, that he would be in the government in some capacity,â she shares, adding, âWhen he started the American Village, I thought it was perfect because heâs big on education.â Today, the American Village continues to welcome and teach guests about Americaâs founding and history in an exceptionally creative way.Â
Tickets for the National Day of Prayer Breakfast are $30 per person. In addition to a delicious hot breakfast, guests will enjoy a tea tasting from Star-Spangled Tea- a Georgia-based, Veteran-owned company offering regional speciality tea made from naturally-sourced ingredients native to the United States. Pre-reservations are required. To make reservations, email [email protected] or call 205-665-3535 x 1045. Learn more at www.americanvillage.org.
-Melissa Armstrong
Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
âSee, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.â Isaiah 43:19
In life you have the opportunity to do whatever you want. But with every action comes consequences that may not always affect you personally but can affect the ones youâre surrounded by.
When I was 10 years old, my mother got sick and had to move into a nursing home, leaving my dad to raise my sister and I by himself. By the time I turned 11, my fatherâs anger and depression had taken him over. I was mentally and physically abused every day. I was told that I was nothing but a loser and that I would never be anything in life. As time went on, I grew angry and started to act out in ways children should not behave. I started smoking cigarettes, roaming the streets, and stealing from grocery stores just to eat. By age 12, I had to start working. I cut grass and raked leaves to earn money to pay our power bill so that my sister and I would have heat to make it through the winter. At age 13, I found myself in an extremely dark place, contemplating suicide and believing that I was a loser and couldnât do anything!
My life changed forever when I was 14. I was given a chance to live the life I hadnât had, a life all children should have the opportunity to live. In that moment, I met the greatest people in the world â the staff at Big Oak Ranch! During my time at Big Oak Ranch, I learned so much! I learned how it was to feel like most other children my age felt, to feel a part of something real. I was given the best set of parents a child could ask for to help me along my journey, step by step. They helped me realize that I could turn my canâts into cans, and how that would push me to go the extra mile and be able to do anything I put my mind to. That not only was I not the loser I had been told so many times up to this point in life that I was â but losing was nowhere in my future! Big Oak Ranch molded me into becoming the man I am today! To being the best husband to my wife, by letting God be the center of our marriage. To being the best father to our twin boys and our daughter, by showing me unconditional love and having so many positive influences in my life!Â
-Brady Earl
Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
âBut as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.â Genesis 50:20Â
Certain things stand out to me when I think about my childhood. I remember drugs being in my parentsâ home. I remember missing a lot of school. My family seemed to be in court a lot. I didnât really see my dad much. I remember a phone call my mom had one day. At the time, I wasnât sure who she was talking to or who she was talking about, but I remember her saying, âI canât deal with them anymore.â It wasnât long before my brother and I were taken to an extended family member, and we never lived with our parents again. This path eventually brought me to Big Oak Ranch.Â
During my first week at the Ranch, I met with Mr. John and Mrs. Mary. At first, I thought Mr. John was scary, but I soon realized he was just really tall and had a deep voice. He told me the Four Promises [We love you. We will never lie to you. We will stick with you. There are boundaries.], and I still remember them to this day. I also remember thinking, âThat is what everybody says.â But the longer I was there, I realized these people really stick with and keep those Four Promises. I saw something different in my houseparents. They didnât fight like the other adults in my life. Mom would get us all together in a circle and pray with us. We had fun family outings. But I had a bad attitude. At the time, at that younger age, I couldnât see the good. This affected my time at the Ranch and looking back I regret that so much. When I lived at the Ranch, I thought they were just there to do whatever children needed for that particular day and time. After I left, I didnât think anyone at Big Oak still cared about me.Â
In 2019, I married my best friend, Casey. We have two wonderful boys â Cooper and Bryce. Five years ago, I was able to reconnect with my houseparents, and their actions showed that they did still love and care about me. Now my husband and I love to visit our family at the Ranch. Everybody who serves at Big Oak is making a difference and helping change childrenâs lives, even when they are hard to deal with like I was. I see younger girls, living with my houseparents, and it makes me happy. They are my house sisters, and I know they are safe, they are getting what they need, and they are loved – just like me!Â
-Hallie McCrory
If you have a Miracle that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected]. Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.
Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
âSo is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.â Isaiah 55:11
Raising children from difficult circumstances and equipping them for generational change is not an endeavor that often provides instant gratification. Perseverance is key. Faith is vital.
Brittany joined the Big Oak Ranch family in 2006 and day in, day out her houseparents emptied themselves so that she would know the fullness of Christ. Every opportunity given to her, ministered to her in ways she didnât even realize then. Every relationship formed would weave the tapestry of forever family. Brittanyâs time with us was shorter than most, and as heavy as our hearts were to see her leave Big Oak, we remained connected. What we plant together, God will bring forth in due time. Brittanyâs story testifies to that truth.
âAs a former resident of Big Oak Girlsâ Ranch my stay was not a very long one, but the values and direction that were given to me are lifelong. I carry on in my children the same Christ-centered teaching that I received at the Ranch. In our home, we have never skirted around the truth nor jumped around the tough questions. We have always allowed our children to speak freely in love and question often to help lead them to the truth. Recently, my oldest child, 7-year-old Zaiden, imaginatively described an asteroid falling from the sky and ending the world. Zaiden has the tendency to take me up on my openness to explore challenging questions. I responded to him with, âWell, at least I know where Iâm going, because Jesus is in my heart.â This led to a quick change of tone and deeper conversation when Zaiden asked me, âHow do I get Jesus in my heart?â Sound the trumpets and jump for joy! This was such a meaningful moment I had waited for.
I called my sister Melissa, who is also a former resident of the Girlsâ Ranch who remained there until she graduated college. Melissa came alongside me to lead Zaiden in the most important decision he will ever make â complete acceptance of the Gospel. That is breaking the cycle. That is a life changed. That is love. Thank you for planting seeds and pouring into children, trusting that God would bring forth fruit. You are making an eternal difference.â â Brittany
To learn more about Big Oak Ranch, visit www.bigoak.org.
-Big Oak Ranch
If you have a Miracle that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected]. Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.
Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, www.mollymaid.com/birmingham
“In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.â Proverbs 3:6
I grew up in a rural part of Etowah County. My family was extremely poor, often going for extended amounts of time without running water or electricity. I lived with my mother, stepfather and several siblings, and emotional and physical abuse were always present in the home. My biological father, who was rarely present, altogether stopped visiting me when I was in the third grade.Â
In March of 1993, I was thrown out of my house. I walked to a friendâs home where I was welcomed to stay during the snowstorm and then for the next several weeks. I attended church with them one Sunday which happened to be the same church where Joe and Sherry Fain attended, a couple preparing to be houseparents at Big Oak Ranch. The Fains saw the need I had for a home. They spoke with John Croyle and Big Oak Ranch social workers, and it wasnât long before I was on the winding country road that led me to the entrance of the Boysâ Ranch. I was met by people who listened to me with genuine concern. Their actions, character and words told me that I mattered. At 17 years old, I entered the Perkins Home and was the Fainsâ first child at Big Oak. The Ranch helped me get my first job at Jester Door and Trim. My boss, Wes Ingram, and his wife, Virginia, ended up becoming my Resource Family for the Ranch. Pop Fain and Wes prayed with and for me- they were the first men to ever show me what a relationship with Christ is supposed to look like. The first time I had ever felt the love of Christ in my life came from my houseparents and resource parents. They faithfully invested in my daily life, expecting nothing in return from me, yet waiting in full expectation for the Lord to work in my life in His timing.Â
In high school, I met a girl named Leslie who worked at a local grocery store and soon started dating. After going our separate ways in early adulthood, the Lord brought us back together. The Lord has been sovereign over my every step. The Ranch gave me a foundation, while my houseparents and resource family invested in me daily. When I reconnected with Leslie, it all came full circle as I finally realized my desperate need for a personal relationship with Christ and received Him as Savior. We get to share the Gospel all across the world – from Uganda to Peru to local missions. My prayer is that God would use me- my story- to help others who have faced the same hardships.Â
-Hank Wells
If you have a Miracle that you would be willing to share, please email [email protected]. Subject Line: Miracle Moments or call 205-408-7150.
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