Inspirational Christian Blogs

Join us for inspiring words from today's best Christian authors

Open My Eyes 2 See


Leave a comment

Open Your Eyes To The Wonders & Miracles Of God

Open My Eyes 2 See

You are the God who performs miracles;
  You display Your power among the peoples.”                        Psalm 77:14 (NIV)

 When we walk through times of adversity, we often have our eyes focused on the problem we face rather than the God who allowed the circumstance. Believers facing trials need to remember that God is always in control.  He has a divine purpose and plan, loves us beyond measure, and nothing is impossible for God.

When Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, the Father provided a miracle of escape by parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:22).  The sun stood still at Joshua’s command (Joshua 10:12-14) and three Hebrew children sent to a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar remained unharmed (Daniel 3:23).  Wonders of God are written in the old and new testaments of the Bible.  They serve to remind us of the power and might of our God.

Struggles can hinder our walks with God by distracting and discouraging us.  Disbelief can wander into our thoughts causing us to question the love of God.  This is when we must ask God to open our eyes and show us the many wonders in our everyday lives, be they ever so small.  The wonders may include a thriving child who was born premature and near death.  A miracle may be the cancer that mysteriously disappeared after a group of prayer warriors lifted up the cause with petitions and thanksgiving.  Could the restoration of a marriage be a wonder, as well as the return of a prodigal son who found the grace of God?  Consider all the flowers that raise their heads in the spring. 

May God grant you spiritual eyes to see the many wonders all around you.  Per the request of Elisha, the Lord opened his servant’s eyes so that he could see the mighty spiritual battle in their midst.  God’s army far outnumbered the physical army Gehazi so feared.  You may be facing tribulations that have you shaking in your boots, but God’s army is beyond your imagination in its power and size.  Trust in the Lord and He will deliver you from every snare set before you.

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”    2 Kings 6:17 (ESV)

Fear Comes In Waves


3 Comments

Fear, Faith, And A Storm

Fear Comes In Waves

“Meet Your Fears With Faith”  – Max Lucado

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me
to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.   Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.”                Psalm 27:1-3 (NKJV)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”                        Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

 Imagine “Fear” as a dark creature with long fingers wearing a tattered hat.  This hat covers much of his disfigured face, but his dark eyes are visible.  His cold and intimidating glare is quite unnerving and if caught off guard, his appearance can stun, startle, and terrorize an unsuspecting believer.

Fear giggles with glee when he catches the children of God unprepared and napping, for he has accomplished the quest his master has sent him on with flying colors.  Satan wants believers to be ineffective and powerless.  He will try everything in his power to daze and stupefy us into a state of inaction and idleness.  To dumbfound a Christian into paralysis is to create a roadblock and delay in the plans of God. 

Now imagine “Faith” as a Sailor in his uniform whites.  What a courageous and confident fellow he is indeed!  No rough waters or storms can knock him off his feet.  He is steady and well balanced.  His eyes reflect a quiet confidence that oozes strength and vigor.  One look upon his appearance and Fear crumbles to the ground, a dark mass of broken bits.

Hebrews 10:38 says that the “just will live by faith.”  A “Just” person is someone who is fair, virtuous, and honest.  “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)  So a JUST person, living by faith, is virtuous and certain of things not seen.  He knows that God is beside him, even when he can’t see Him.  When Fear approaches a JUST man, his faith in God is what foils the devil’s attack. 

Faith does not make things easy.  Faith makes things possible. Luke 1:37 reminds us, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Sailor boy Faith knows this truth.  It is what gives him the confidence to stare hurricane force winds and deadly storms in the face without a blink of his eye.  He knows that God is steering his ship and that all he needs to do is hold on, trusting God to see him through his adventure. 

If you are facing storms that bring you face to face with FEAR, call out to God.  Ask Him to mature your Faith.  You will most likely have to weather out the storm you are experiencing right now, but your Father will use your willingness to trust in His provisions to mature you.  He will command you to toss Fear overboard during storms.  God is the Captain of your ship and Fear has no place on deck. 

The best part of seeing your way through a storm, even if you think you have been blown off course, is that God will always man the wheel of your vessel and deliver you through every storm in your life.  You will never really be blown off course, maybe redirected, but always in the place God has intended for you.

There is a calm after a storm.  Enjoy the fresh air and the gentle breezes.  Allow them to minister to your weary soul.  Let the faith of God rule in your heart.  May it bring you through every gale and hurricane, bluster and thunderstorm in life.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”   Hebrews 11:1 (NAS)

That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:5 (NKJV)

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”   Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJ)

Cheryl Zelenka writes a Christian Encouragement Blog called http://facingtrials.com


4 Comments

Tenderly

English: Jesus healing the sick by Gustave Dor...

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with the ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:4 NIV)

 

I just completed the first draft of this post when the phone rang. It was the nurse from the elementary school calling to tell me my son was sick. He stayed in the clinic for a half hour but still wasn’t feeling better. So, she thought she should call and have me pick him up. I did but with reluctance. I have to admit, I like my quiet days when all of the kids are gone. I went to get him giving up my plans for the day.

 

I read this scripture a couple of days ago and I can’t get it out of my head. These words talk about a God who loves. It talks about a God who cares. It talks about a God who is tender.

 

I read these words and it reminded me of the many times I have taken care of my children when they were sick. My boys especially like to be taken care of when they are feeling under the weather. They like to curl up on the couch with their blankets and pillows. They turn the television on for hours of uninterrupted Sponge Bob and I take care of them. If they need a drink, I get it for them. If they are willing to eat, I make them whatever they ask for. I enjoy taking care of them for a day or two. After that, I’m ready for them to fend for themselves again. But for that short time, as they heal, I do whatever I can to make them feel better. It’s part of being a parent.

 

I thought about this with this verse today. The words that jumped out at me were “bent down to feed them”. God is talking about Himself here. He is the Almighty One, The Creator of all things. He is God and yet, He bends down to feed those He loves. He meets them where they are. He doesn’t require them to rise in order to be fed, He comes to them. I love this picture. He sees our pathetic state. We are slaves to our sin. We are without any hope of curing ourselves. We have even chosen to stay yoked together with the things that hold us captive. But He comes to us anyway. He lifts the very thing that is making us sick. He removes it. He takes it out of our lives. And He doesn’t leave it at that. He remains while we heal. As we gain our strength, He gives us what we need. He is tender in His care for us.

 

I don’t know, this just really spoke to me today. In our journey with Him, there will be times we choose to wander away from Him. We may even find ourselves in some grievous sin. But God always comes to us. He always leads us with “cords of human kindness, with the ties of love”. He removes our sin and remains with us, affectionately loving us while we regain our strength. He doesn’t walk away in disgust. He stays with us gently caressing our heads reminding us that we will feel better soon.

 

Thank You Lord for this beautiful picture of your love.

 


2 Comments

Words Fail

1733900124_930a56ac00_z

Photo credit: Creative Commons

I am rarely speechless. When I am, it isn’t usually a good thing. I am finding words hard to come by today.

When tragedy strikes, when things don’t make sense, when the violence or the awesome power of nature or the meanness of the human heart slam into our world with so much force we lose our breath, we become mute with shock. It takes away our ability to communicate intelligently. We sputter and ramble and make little sense to those around us and we sometimes say things that we haven’t thought through, hurting the very ones we want to encourage.

Human nature dictates that our ego must be satisfied. We want to know why, to find a reason that it all went wrong, to devise a plan to be better prepared next time – to control our own destiny. But how do you prepare for such random acts of violence, or control horrific storms or explain the loss of so many children? How do you look around you and blame this or that on upslope and draw and happenstance? How do you make sense of any of it?

You don’t.

Yes, I know that tornados and their formation can be nominally explained. I understand that there are storm chasers and researchers and all manner of highly educated folk that have dedicated their lives to better protecting us from these super-storms. I am thankful for them. But really, there is no preparation for the devastation that has rocked Oklahoma today. Look at any of the stunned, wide eyed faces and you begin to understand the shock is just now lifting for those who survived. Their eyes are beginning to focus again and they are seeing the destruction with a clarity that sucks their breath from their lungs as violently as the storm took their children from them. There are no words to encompass the pain, the fear and the tragic circumstances of this loss.

There is no why, there is no comfort in shelter, there is not one ounce of security when you look up and watch as nature steals the very air from your lungs. As the clouds lift and move on, as the rain starts and washes away so many years of work and accomplishment, as the survivors climb from the rubble and wrap arms around loved ones, there is a realization: There are no words to be said. There is nothing that can be uttered to soothe the hurt, the terror or the loss.

When I cannot find words to encompass the tragic, fallen world we inhabit, I bow my head and open my heart. The Holy Spirit wraps my soul in His arms and speaks quiet, inaudible encouragement and strength into my ears. He picks me up, dusts me off and shows me where to move. He clears my head to survey the land and begin to work. There is comfort in “doing” when there are no answers.

We don’t get to know the purpose of God’s plan. He is guarded with His tapestry design. I have to believe that though I see tragedy and destruction and senseless lives lost that God is not gone from this place. He is still here. But it hurts. The pain is blinding and confusing and explanation meaningless to those who are only beginning to understand what they have lost: Homes, businesses, livestock, children.

I cannot offer words today. I cannot explain or find comfort in knowing more of what happened. I can only say how very sorry I am and offer my hands in prayer, in comfort and in rebuilding. I cannot take away the pain, nor would I dare try. There simply is nothing to say.


Leave a comment

Love Like Jesus–A Storm and a Wedding: Mark 4:37-39

Love Like Jesus Calm the Storm

A Storm Hits a Wedding Ceremony

I went to this wedding once where the person who took charge of planning the wedding had a beautiful vision for it. It was going to happen outside and it was going to be done in a very particular way so as to make the setting spectacular. The only thing was, everything was geared for outdoors. The venue was an outdoor venue, so the wedding and reception depended on dry calm weather. And whenever the person who was planning this thing was asked what she would do if it rained, she simply said: It won’t rain.

Well guess what?

A storm came through, and it rained.

And the weather outside wasn’t the only storm happening that day. With no indoor venue or arrangements made whatsoever, the wedding planner just shut down. Panic and pandemonium ensued as the bride, the bride’s mother, and many others frantically attempted to put something together.

This is a great article written by Kurt from God Running.

We have the power to help those around us, we can help them to calm down, to think, to rationalize, to simply pull themselves together and rest from the chaos within. How do we do this? Calm the storm…what can you do to help that person in need? Listen, talk with that person? Often the fact that you show you care is a help in itself.

To finish reading this article, please go to http://godrunning.com/2013/05/18/love-like-jesus-calm-the-storm-mark-437-39/
Check out the many other great articles on Kurt’s site while you are there, and let him know you liked something he wrote.

Related articles:

Forgive and Forget  (The Art of Pursuit)
Closing the deal with my mom… (Lori Lara)

 

 

4682_4682_5


3 Comments

The Sacrifice Found In Thank Offerings

4682_4682_5

“Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor Me, and to the blameless I will show My salvation.”   Psalm 50:23 (NIV)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”   John 15:1-2 (NIV)

When we choose to thank and praise God, especially while enduring a difficult trial, we are offering up a true sacrifice of love to our Creator.  This conscious effort of worship comes only through faith.  Our thank offerings honor Him. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are encouraged to, “Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for (us/you) in Christ Jesus.”

So do we really need to thank Him for an illness or loss? No, not exactly.  However, I do suggest that we thank God for the lessons and wisdom that will inevitably come out of a tragic event or painful hardship.  The focus of thanks should not be on the painful trial, but on the honor of being pruned and instructed by our God who permits the trial.  During the pruning process, Fruits of the Spirit will mature, as we trust in God’s faithfulness and love.  With the maturing of our spiritual fruit, we can then better serve the Body of Christ by administering more goodness, kindness, gentleness, peace, love, joy, patience, faithfulness, and self-control.

Trials are sent our way, or permitted, by a loving and compassionate Father.  It is wisdom and spiritual maturity that enables a Christian to perceive a new trial as a gift.  This does not mean the believer is thrilled with the idea of new heartache and sorrow.  Rather, the servant of God understands that God prunes His vines so that they can bear more fruit.  They understand it is an honor to suffer in His name and for His glory.

If Christians could learn to view struggles as opportunities that deepen their dependence on Christ, and mature their relationship with Him, they might have an easier time accepting tribulations.  These circumstances, designed by God, are not meant to break us. Instead, they are meant to mold and mature us all. 

God never said we would live a pain free life.  He did however promise to be our strength and provide for every one of our needs.  Let us be grateful for God’s promise to see us through every trial.  Can we all thank Him for not letting us stagnate and remain as children requiring milk?  

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”    Colossians 3:16-17 (NIV)

 


6 Comments

Missing the Mark

Archery

Archery (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“…Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” (1Cor. 5:6)

Today during breakfast, my son asked an interesting question. He asked if he had to confess his sins to his parents, or could he just confess them to God. We explained that he only had to tell God, but our curiosity was peaked so we asked what he did. He proceeded to say that he wasn’t sure if it was a sin but that he ate a piece of food that landed on the floor. He explained that it was on the floor for less than five seconds, so he wasn’t sure if that counted as being too dirty to eat. Well, we laughed and explained that it wasn’t a sin to eat off the floor. It was just gross. Then my husband said…”oh I feel a blog coming on!” So, here I am writing a blog about it. His question actually sparked a great discussion about sin and that it’s not so much the act, but that it keeps us from hitting the mark God has set for us. If we sway to the right or to the left even just a little, we can go off the course God has put us on. It turned out to be a great life lesson.

So, I’ve been thinking about his question. Is it okay to eat off of the floor if the food has only been there for 5 seconds or less? Is it okay to sin if it’s only for a short time? Is there such a thing as a little sin? You know, maybe it is okay for him to eat off the floor just this once. But what if it happens again? I think he will be more likely to eat off the floor more easily the next time. The first time it’s a little gross. But the second time isn’t so gross. The idea of it being gross fades and so he does it again. What if this time the food is there for longer than 5 seconds? Does it taste any different? Is there a new level of grossness that has been reached? I would say probably not. If it’s acceptable to eat under the 5 seconds, then a few more seconds won’t matter. If he continues in this pattern, he will be eating food off the floor that has been allowed to sit longer and longer. He will keep pushing the envelope and before you know it he will want to eat his meals off the floor. That’s how sin is. It starts off small and grows.

Yesterday, while sitting in Starbucks, a friend and I witnessed someone backing up and hitting a car parked on the side of the road. Then the driver drove off. He didn’t leave his phone number with an apology. He just got out of there quickly. I couldn’t believe it. My friend called it. She knew he would just drive away. In attempt to impose justice, I took down his tag number and we left it on the car that was hit. My point is this, just because he didn’t take responsibility doesn’t mean he didn’t hit the car. In the same way, just because no one saw us sin doesn’t mean it isn’t sin. Just because no one can read our thoughts, doesn’t mean that we our thoughts aren’t sinful. We really need to come before the Lord and ask for a sensitive spirit. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to convict us. If we don’t, what seems menial will grow to something out of control. Something that started as a sinful thought will take over our lives if we are not careful. Then we will be sitting on the floor eating dirty food wondering how we ended up there.

This was a great lesson for my whole family this morning. My son, who makes me laugh daily because he is such a kid, reminded me that sin, even in the smallest form is still sin. He reminded me that I am never above the ability to sin. And even when no one is looking, my sin is still seen by the One who matters. He reminded me that sin left unchecked will turn into a more grievous sin, eventually. And that it is not being legalistic to be careful about sin. It is honoring to God to remember that the enemy is always trying to trip me up. It starts in the mind and moves into actions. It was a great reminder to me today that I need to have a healthy respect for God’s commands and keep them. Finally, I have learned that eating food off the floor, even if it has only been there for 5 seconds is still gross!!


Leave a comment

The Smile

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9 NASB)

Last week was a busy one. With middle school ending for my oldest son, there were extra things added to the schedule. Then he had graduation and a dinner dance. My daughter had soccer try-outs for next year. I started walking with a friend in the morning and my husband asked me to run some extra errands for him. I gladly do all of these things but by the end of the week I was burned out. I was tired. And frankly, I was just looking for a few minutes to myself. It seemed as though every time I made plans to do something last week, my plans were altered because someone needed something. It even seemed as though the kids were asking more questions than normal. It was a busy, chaotic week ending with church on Saturday night.

I was so thrilled to go to church because I wanted to just sit and chill for an hour. I was looking forward to being quiet and taking it all in. As we began to enter the sanctuary, someone stopped me and asked if I would be willing to serve communion. She needed someone to walk around and serve the people who couldn’t walk through the line. I agreed although in my mind I wanted to say “no”. I just wanted to sit. I just wanted to do nothing, be responsible for nothing and just take it all in. But, like the good “Christian” I am, I agreed to serve.

The time came to serve and I began my duties. I went to a little old lady sitting on the end of the row and offered her communion. She looked at me with such joy in her eyes. I don’t know if she just enjoyed being served or she was in a good mood but immediately I was blessed. I continued on with my duties looking for people with their hands raised and I offered them the symbolic body and blood of Christ. They all thanked me and when everyone was served I returned to my seat. I was surprised because I realized I was honestly blessed to serve. I did something I didn’t want to do but in the end was filled with joy. I was completely honored to serve and I guess it caught me by surprise.

I have thought about that little old lady ever since that night. Her smile remains in the forefront of my mind. It caused me to reflect on the events that took place over the last week. In all of the chaos and tasks that needed my attention God showed up. He gave a huge blessing of grace that brought me to tears. He answered a prayer for our son and provided financially for something we have been praying about. I can’t remember a day that passed where God didn’t make Himself obvious. It was an emotional week for so many reasons but at the end of that crazy busy week, God asked me to do one more thing so He could bless me. I believe I was asked to serve so God could show me one more time that He loves me and understands.

There are many times I forget to look for God. I forget He is involved in all things at all times. I complain about my circumstances. I refuse to obey. I think only of myself and my comfort. I am so thankful I agreed to serve Saturday night because God had a plan and a purpose. He wanted to show me the joy there is in serving. He wanted me to experience the exhilaration that occurs when I put my wants aside in order to make someone else feel special. The Lord works in mysterious ways and makes Himself known in the most unlikely places; even in the smile of a little old lady.


2 Comments

SURVIVING A CRISIS

By Neil Anderson

Luke 11:17 

A house divided against itself falls
 
Satan’s strategy is to use a problem situation to put you and your spouse at odds with each other. Jesus said, “A house divided against itself falls” (Luke 11:17). Many times I have said to parents, “Don’t let this pull you apart.” Inevitably they glance at each other, because that’s precisely what’s been going on.
 
“If you would have been more firm with our child, this wouldn’t have happened,” one blames.
 
“It’s because you didn’t set the standards by having family devotions every night,” the other retorts.
 
Or if they did have devotions, “You just read to the children, you never communicate with them!”
 
“If you were home more often, I’d have more time to communicate with them!”
 
There may be a grain of truth in every statement above. But it’s history, and tearing each other down will only make the problem worse. You must be united in order to survive the crisis. Character-bashing is from the pit.
 
Many parents are intimidated by a child’s threats or find it easier to give in to a temper tantrum than not to. But you cannot let a rebellious child rule the home. It takes an iron will and the grace of God to stand your ground and not let your child control you. Sad are the children whose parents let them rule the roost. Even sadder are the children whose parents rule without love. If you manage to control through loveless intimidation and force, your child will be emotionally crippled. Rules without a relationship lead to rebellion.
 
Any crisis in the home can make or break you. You can choose to grow through the crisis and become a better person than you were before. Romans 5:3, 4, encourages, “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.”
 
Prayer: Lord, I refuse Satan’s strategy to divide our home by quenching our love or overemphasizing rules. Help me do my part to keep our home united in You.


8 Comments

Hating on people is pointless…

Today’s guest post is by Yaw Ansong Jr You can learn more about him at the end of this article. In the coming days visit Yaw Ansong Jr’s new site launching soon!

Hating on people is pointless…

…because God is a merciful God. Hatred is one of the greatest distractions ever. That’s what I believe in, or at least that’s what the bible says. I remember my freshman years in high school. Those were turbulent moments in my life. A young and naive guy, I had very few friends. I remember those difficult moments when my teacher, backed by a few colleagues, would make fun of me. This would make me cry inside. As a Christian, the only thing I would do was to weep and call upon God. To tell you the truth, God heard me, and he did answer my prayer. I was never put to shame and I graduated with one of the best grades in my school. What’s more, I did better than all those who ever teased me, why, because I asked God to do so. From thence, I realized this fundamental Character of God: He is a prayer answering God and will answer the distressed and all those who call upon him. That’s why it’s pointless to hate on people. Hating on them will only cause them to call upon God to intervene, and he sure will. In fact, he will act more quickly than you think. There are several biblical examples.

Have you thought of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, who was provoked by her rival to conceive? Hannah would have never incited God to intervene on her behalf if her rival had not teased her. According to the bible, her rival provoked her to the point where she was bitter in the heart and wept sore (1 Samuel 1:10). This caused her to call upon Jehovah. Indeed, the bible says she poured out her soul onto Jehovah. As a just God, Jehovah heard her prayer and provided her with a son. I seriously doubt Hannah would have been motivated to call upon God if she was not mocked. There are several other examples in the bible I can’t help but list. Talk bout Hagar (who wept and called upon God on behalf of Ishmael, her son, after she was sacked from Abraham’s home), David (who called upon God to deliver him when he was betrayed by Ahithophel and Absalom), and Elisha (who called upon God to send bears to kill the children who were teasing him).

I could go on and on, however I want to keep this post short. Personally, I think the examples above are convincing enough to prevent anyone from hating; after all carnal humans don’t want their enemies to succeed. I however have a better reason why you should not hate on anyone. Never hate on anyone because Jesus says don’t do so.

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Mathew 5:44

When Jesus said this, he really meant it and I also mean it. Never pray for the downfall of others, whether friends or enemies. Never ever tease anyone also, because you never know when you’ll need him or her. The fact that Christ died for us summarizes the lifestyle every Christian should live: A life of love. Any Christian who therefore doesn’t know how to love has terribly failed.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (I John 4:8 NIV)

 “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” (I John 3:15)

The two verses above sum it all. If you have something against someone, the last thing to do is to hate on him or her, it will send you to hell! Hatred is a distraction from hell! This is a serious thing. Also, hating on others will only propel them more forward. With that said, hating others simply put is harming yourself. If people only knew this, they would never hate on anyone. The best thing to do when you’ve got a problem with someone is to present your case before God, and he will surely speak on your behalf. Hating on people is pointless. What do you think?

Yaw Ansong Jr is a Christian entrepreneur with the personal vision and mission of sharing the gospel via modern technology. He is the founder and CEO of LoveRealm Ministry