Evident Church

31 Spiritual Warfare Scriptures: Help for Facing Life's Battles Debbie McDaniel Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fres ... More We're in a battle in this world. We may not see it, we might forget it's there. But the enemy would love nothing more than to start our year off with discouragement and defeat, bringing fear and stress. Don't let him win. If you're a believer who is living like salt and light in a dark world, you won't go for long without encountering spiritual warfare - obstacles and attacks he'll hurl your direction. God reminds us in His word to stay aware of Satan’s schemes, to live alert in this world, and to stay close to Him. He arms us with the sword, the Word of God, to stand against the enemy’s lies. He equips us with strength, wisdom, and discernment through His own Spirit to stay strong in the spiritual warfare battle. He inv...

How do you help people take their first steps into recovery? Many people will fight it. They’ll put up a facade. They’ll pretend they have no problems. But you and I know everyone needs recovery from something. All of us have been hurt. No one has it completely together. In Luke 5, God gives us a great picture of what it looks like to help people get on a path to healing. (In fact, it’s such an important story that the writers of the Gospels include it in two other places, Matthew 9 and Mark 2.)

When to Try Door Number Three 25 Jul, 2019   in  Pastor to Pastor  by  Megan leBlanc THERE’S A THIRD DOOR Weariness had set in and I was ready to throw in the towel.  The organization I started wasn’t growing and disappointment and stress had taken their toll.  So, I sought the counsel of a well-known minister. I asked one simple question:  “Is it time for me to quit or should I persist?” He savored my question for a few seconds, then replied, “Persist a little longer, because God may show you a better way.” Rather than urging me to go through Door Number One,  retreat,  or Door Number Two,  fight till the end , he proposed  Door Number Three — p ivoting  in a new direction.  His advice ultimately led to the founding of Convoy of Hope, an international relief organization that has provided tangible help and the message of Jesus to more than 115 million people. WHICH DOOR SHOULD YOU CHOOSE? Whether i...

9 Christian Alternatives to Disney and PBS Cartoons for Your Kids Michael Foust My children have watched their share of animated movies from Disney and the other big Hollywood studios. They’ve also seen plenty of PBS Kids cartoons. Occasionally, though, these supposedly kid-friendly movies and shows have introduced adult-oriented themes and concepts I would rather have introduced myself, in my own time with my kids. But there are alternatives to the mega-popular movies and children’s series from Disney, PBS and others. Of course, these alternatives aren’t perfect. Yet they’re far more likely to support your family’s faith rather than conflict with it. Here are nine Christians alternatives to Disney and PBS cartoons: Photo courtesy: Pexels 1. PureFlix.com Its parent company is the studio behind such films as the  God’s Not Dead  series and  Do You Believe?  PureFlix.com is set up similar to Netflix and offers a wide ran...

What Does the Bible Say About the Homeless? David Sanford Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer 2019 1 Aug COMMENTS 1 We can’t help it. We feel discomfort every time we see someone who’s dirty, dingy, desperate, and destitute. We wonder if we’re throwing money away supporting who-knows-what addictions they may have. Then again, what does God have to say about these brothers and sisters of ours—and us? 1. Jesus knew what it was like to be homeless. Jesus spent the better part of three years depending on the charity of others ( Matthew 8:20 ,  Luke 8:1-2 , and  Luke 9:58 ). In turn, He and His disciples preached the Gospel to the poor ( Matthew 5:3 ,  Matthew 11:5 ,  Luke 4:18 ,  Luke 6:20 ,  Luke 7:22 , and  John 12:5 ) and gave generously to the destitute and needy ( Matthew 26:9 ,  Mark 14:5 , and  John 13:29 ). What’s more, Jesus didn’t just ‘say’ the words of the Gospel: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Ch...