Truth really can be stranger than fiction.

First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.

La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.

First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.

Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.

Manna Minutes en español:

Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.

Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:

Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.

Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?

The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!

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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried

Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.

Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6

Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.

Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6

Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!

The Christian Struggle For Faith in God

Some of today's Christians sometimes think they're alone in the struggle to have faith in God. Others have a mistaken notion that somehow it was much easier for believers in the Bible days to have faith in God. Perhaps reading of the great signs and wonders that God performed through Moses in Egypt to lead his people out of bondage causes such thoughts. There's also the many accounts of Jesus healing the physically and mentally sick, and so many more passages that speak of the visible manifestations of God's incomprehensible power. Nevertheless, there have always been followers of Christ who struggled with believing God for the "hard" things in life. The account of their struggles is just as prevalent in the biblical scriptures as the accounts of great victories obtained by faith. The eleventh chapter of the New Testament book of Hebrews is a record of the multiple victories gained by men and women of God who believed and trusted him even when they faced death.

The chapter reminds of the faith in God that Abraham had, the man who left his homeland and family in search of a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. Few stop to think of just how traumatic it can be to pack up and leave one's native country, people, family and friends to head towards an unknown place. The reader is reminded of other believers whose names are unknown to modern Christians as they're not revealed in any biblical passages, but they remain an example to those who live now. A daily reading of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is beneficial for anyone struggling in his walk with God.

As stated before, not only are the amazing victories of faith recorded, but also the examples of people of little faith who desired to grow strong in their walk and belief in Christ. How did they react? How did God help them? Can the record left of their lives serve to help modern Christians who face the same struggles that so many others have faced before them and overcome? Sadly, far too few Christians can even give the biblical definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1. Most who can cite the definition, cannot really explain it and therefore continue to struggle all of their lives. "The Biblical Definition Of Real Faith In God," a free Bible study offered by Heavenly Manna Ministries, expounds in very plain language on the true definition of faith and imparts to every believer practical advice that can be put into effect immediately.

With or without a full understanding of the definition of faith, Christians can help themselves by overcoming one of the most powerful obstacles to faith that often go undetected. What is that obstacle? The scripture of St. Luke 17:5 reads, "And the apostles said unto the Lord, 'Increase our faith'". This scripture of only a few words is a strong reminder that others from ancient times struggled to have faith in God. Did God answer their prayer by increasing their faith? No, he taught them what one of the main hindrances to the faith they already had was. In the very next verse, the scripture says, "And the Lord said, 'If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (KJV, St. Luke 17:6).

Many people fail to see the answer that Jesus gave. They don't see the barrier to faith that he pointed out. Understanding is needed to proceed in the right direction to growing in one's faith. Why didn't Jesus just tell them he'd give them more faith as they requested? The answer lies in the fact that there was no need to give them more faith when they already had enough to move a giant sycamine tree. Jesus told them that they could do just that with no more faith than the size of a grain of mustard seed which is very tiny. What he's saying is that large amounts of faith aren't what's needed to overcome. The true problem lies in doubting God's word when things in one's life don't and won't seem to line up with it.

The scripture of 1 Timothy 2:8 reads, "I will (want) therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting". Again, this truth is repeated when Jesus taught, "Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith."

It should be remembered that Jesus also taught on the various reasons that causes a believer to doubt his word or to fail to trust him. Therefore, every individual believer must seek for himself God's examination of his life and be willing to humble himself. This may mean giving up certain things in his life that are sins and hindrances to his spiritual growth. This may also mean accepting things with which he has not wanted to deal. The focus of this article is on the need to understand that there's no need to pray asking God for more faith when he has already given every believer a measure of faith with which to work (Romans 12:3). It should be encouraging to know that even if that measure is as small as a grain of mustard seed, it is more than enough to move sycamine trees and mountains if it's not choked off by doubt.

"...O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt" (Matthew 14:31)?

Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.

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