Inspirational Stories

Inspiring Characters from Bible: 12 – Jephthah

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Have you ever heard of Jephthah? His story is one of the most surprising and complex tales in the Bible. Jephthah wasn’t born into a perfect situation—in fact, his life started with a lot of challenges. But despite his rough beginning, God used him in a powerful way, showing us that no matter where we come from, we can still be part of God’s plan.

Jephthah was the son of a man named Gilead and a woman who wasn’t his wife, which made him an outcast in his own family. His half-brothers rejected him, driving him away from their home because they didn’t want him to share in their inheritance. So Jephthah went off on his own, living in a tough place with a rough crowd. He could have easily given up or turned bitter, but Jephthah didn’t let his difficult circumstances define him.

When trouble came to Israel in the form of the Ammonites, the leaders of Gilead realized they needed a strong leader to help them fight. Despite everything, they turned to Jephthah—the very man they had cast out. They asked him to come back and lead their army, promising that he would be their leader if he helped them win. It must have been a strange moment for Jephthah, but instead of holding a grudge, he accepted the challenge.

Jephthah’s story is one of redemption, showing that God doesn’t just use people with perfect lives. He uses those who are willing, even if they’ve been rejected or hurt by others. Jephthah led Israel into battle, and with God’s help, he won a great victory over the Ammonites. His leadership saved the people who had once pushed him away.

However, Jephthah’s story is also a reminder that our decisions have consequences. Before going into battle, Jephthah made a vow to God, promising that if he won, he would sacrifice whatever came out of his house first to greet him. This vow, made in the heat of the moment, led to heartbreaking consequences when his own daughter was the first to come out and greet him.

Jephthah’s vow teaches us the importance of thinking carefully about the promises we make, especially to God. But even in this tragic moment, we see a man who tried to honor his word, showing his deep commitment to God, even when it was incredibly difficult.

Jephthah’s story is a mix of triumph and tragedy, but it’s also a story of God’s grace. Despite his background and the mistakes he made, God still used him to deliver Israel. His life shows us that God can take even the most unlikely person and do something extraordinary through them. It also reminds us to be careful with our words and promises, understanding that they carry weight.

In the end, Jephthah’s life is a testament to the fact that no matter how tough our beginnings or how complicated our journey, God can use us if we’re willing to follow Him. His story encourages us to trust that God can bring good out of even the most challenging situations and that our past doesn’t have to dictate our future. Like Jephthah, we can rise above our circumstances and be part of God’s incredible plan, even if the road is difficult.

Inspiring Characters from Bible: 11 – Huldah

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Have you ever heard of Huldah? She’s not one of the most well-known figures in the Bible, but her story is a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, even in unexpected ways, to accomplish His purposes. Huldah was a prophetess during a time when the people of Israel had strayed far from God. Her role might seem small, but the impact of her faithfulness was huge.

Huldah lived during the reign of King Josiah, a young king who wanted to lead his people back to God. One day, workers in the temple discovered a long-lost scroll of the Law, the very words of God given to Moses. When King Josiah heard the words of the Law, he was deeply troubled, realizing how far the nation had drifted from God’s commands. He needed guidance, and that’s where Huldah comes in.

King Josiah sent his officials to seek God’s will, and they went to Huldah, the prophetess. It’s significant that in a time when prophets like Jeremiah and Zephaniah were active, the king’s men sought out Huldah. She wasn’t the most famous prophet, but she was known for her faithfulness and wisdom.

Huldah didn’t hold back. She delivered God’s message with courage and clarity. She confirmed that the nation had indeed strayed and that judgment was coming, but she also brought a word of hope for King Josiah. Because of his humility and desire to follow God, Josiah was promised that the disaster wouldn’t happen during his lifetime. Huldah’s words helped spark a revival, leading Josiah to renew the covenant with God and initiate reforms that brought the people back to worshipping Him.

What makes Huldah’s story so powerful is that she was willing to be used by God, even if her role seemed small compared to others. She wasn’t seeking fame or recognition; she was simply faithful in the role God had given her. And because of that faithfulness, she played a crucial part in one of the greatest spiritual revivals in Israel’s history.

Huldah’s story reminds us that in God’s kingdom, there are no insignificant roles. Whether we’re in the spotlight or working quietly behind the scenes, God can use our faithfulness to accomplish great things. Huldah didn’t need to be a household name to make a difference—she just needed to be obedient to God’s call.

In a world that often values fame and recognition, Huldah’s example challenges us to focus on being faithful where we are. We might not see the full impact of our actions, but we can trust that God is at work, using our obedience to bring about His purposes. Just like Huldah, we can make a difference by being willing to listen to God’s voice and speak His truth, no matter how small or unnoticed our role might seem.

Huldah’s story is a powerful reminder that God sees and values every act of faithfulness. Whether we’re delivering a message, offering a word of encouragement, or simply living out our faith day by day, we can trust that God is using us in ways we might never fully understand.

Dwight L. Moody’s Faithful Prayer : 100% Success Rate

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In the heart of the bustling 19th-century cities and expanding American frontiers, Dwight L. Moody stood as a beacon of hope and faith. Known for his dynamic preaching and compassionate heart, Moody’s life was a testament to the transformative power of the gospel. But one of the most poignant and powerful stories from his life centers around a simple piece of paper—a list of 100 names.

Early in his ministry, Moody felt a deep burden for the souls of those around him. He knew the power of prayer and believed fervently in God’s ability to change hearts. With this conviction, he created a list of 100 friends, family members, and acquaintances who did not know Christ. This list was not just a casual commitment; it was a solemn covenant between Moody and God. Each name represented a soul he desperately longed to see transformed by the love of Jesus.

Every day, without fail, Moody lifted each of these names in prayer. He carried the list with him, worn and tattered from years of handling. It was a tangible reminder of his mission and the weight of his spiritual burden. Moody’s prayers were not mere words; they were cries from the depths of his heart, filled with earnest pleading and unwavering faith. He would often be found in his study, on his knees, pouring out his soul before God for the salvation of these individuals.

Moody’s prayers were rooted in a deep trust in God’s promises. He clung to scriptures like James 5:16, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (NLT). He believed that God heard his prayers and would honor his heartfelt petitions.

As the years passed, Moody began to see the fruits of his labor. One by one, the names on his list began to be marked off. Each conversion was a testament to the power of prayer and God’s grace. Moody’s joy was palpable as he witnessed friends and loved ones surrender their lives to Christ. He would often share these victories with his congregation, his eyes brimming with tears of gratitude and awe.

By the end of his life, Moody had seen 96 of the 100 people on his list come to faith. Each marked-off name was a story of redemption, a life transformed by the power of God’s love. But even as his health began to fail, his commitment to the remaining names did not waver. On his deathbed, Moody continued to pray for these souls, his faith unshaken.

Moody’s funeral was a powerful and emotional event. People from all walks of life gathered to honor the man who had touched so many lives. The story of his list of 100 names was shared, moving many to tears. The testimony of his relentless prayers and the transformation of so many lives inspired those present. It was a profound illustration of how God honors the prayers of the faithful.

Remarkably, the story did not end with Moody’s death. The remaining four individuals on his list, who had not yet accepted Christ, were deeply moved by the testimony of his life and the stories shared at his funeral. The power of Moody’s prayers and the impact of his unwavering faith continued to resonate. Within a short period after the funeral, these four individuals also surrendered their lives to Christ, completing the list that Moody had so faithfully prayed over.

This story of Dwight L. Moody’s list of 100 names is a powerful reminder of the impact of persistent, heartfelt prayer. It demonstrates the incredible power of one person’s dedication to intercede for others and the faithfulness of God to answer those prayers. Moody’s life and legacy are a testament to the fact that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love and that earnest prayer can bring about miraculous transformations.

Moody’s story encourages us to never underestimate the power of prayer and to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God hears and honors the cries of His people.

Large Rock

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A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years, he toiled from sun up to sun down with his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might.
Each night, the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved.” giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” he thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort, and that will be good enough.”
And that is what he planned to do. However, one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. “Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now, you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition, you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, My friend, will move the rock.”
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.

Elderly Grandma who believed

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There was an elderly grandma who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, “Praise the Lord!”

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the grandma. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, “There is no God!”

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the elderly grandma stepped onto her front porch and shouted, “Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am hungry. Please provide for me, oh Lord!”

The next morning she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. “Praise the Lord!” she cried out. “He has provided groceries for me!” The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, “There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!” The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, “Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!”

The Circle

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I was enjoying my evening in a Park bench. There were 2 kids. The Older one was Jim and the younger was Sam. They were playing something and suddenly. Jim came near Sam and made a circle around him and told him not to cross it. Sam without a second thought jumped and was outside the next second.

Jim came back and made an even bigger circle covering his brother. Sam smirked at his brother and leaped outside in an instance. Jim thought a while and drawn an even bigger circle and looked at his brother and told his brother sternly ‘If you cross the circle, forget the ice cream’. Sam had a moment of silence and made a leap and shown his tongue out at his brother.

Jim, now infuriated looked at his brother and told him ‘If you cross this I will not cover you from Scooby’ and drew a very big circle accommodating his brother. Scooby is the neighbor’s dog who is a nightmare for Sam. Sam stayed indoors for days in the fear of Scooby. After hearing this he was in a shock and was very scared. He thought for a moment and slowly took one step out of the larger circle.

This time Jim lost all his patience and drawn a very big circle covering almost all of the small park and came near Sam and stood next to him and held his hands tight. Sam tried to free himself but he couldn’t  get his hands freed from his elder sibling. Finally, Jim had a smile of victory and Sam was whining. 

Then their father came and saw all that was happening said to Sam not to be naughty and obey his brother. And said he will be watching. Sam started behaving and played inside the circle in his Father s watch.
While this was happening there was a bell. And it was indeed the bell of the Ice Cream uncle. Both the boys ran towards the Icecream uncle and got their favorite ice creams and walked towards their home while their father started following them.

After witnessing this, I was reminded of Jesus. God’s grace is like the circle. Which we try our best to get out of. Whenever we do that. God draws an even bigger circle to accommodate us. Such a wonderful God he is. His Grace abound us all

James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Danny's Pancake

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Little Danny decided to prepare pancake and surprise his parents. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Danny was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.

He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, and he didn’t know how the stove worked! Suddenly, he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically, he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

Just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Danny‘s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess.

Sometimes, we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.

But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying for God or for others. Sooner or later, we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried.

Father's Love Letter

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*taken from fathersloveletter.com*

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.   Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.   Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.   Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.   Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.   Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.   Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.    Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.   Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.  Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.   Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.   Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.   Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.   Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.   Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me.   John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.  1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.   1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.   1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.   Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.   Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.   James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.   Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.   Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.   Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.  Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.   Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.   Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.  Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.   Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.   Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.   Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.   Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.   Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.   2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.   Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.   Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.   Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.   Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.    John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.    John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.   Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.    Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.   1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.    Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.    1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.   Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.   Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.    Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child?     John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.    Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God

Water bearer

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A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers on your side of the path but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

A chef's view on life

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Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied.

“Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water.

However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “

Moral:In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you?