May 22, 2024 What Would You Do?ANITHA ABRAHAM Lee en español "During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." Acts 1:3 (NLT) You've probably heard the question, "If you had one day left on earth, what would you do?" Let's change it up a bit: If you had 40 days left on earth, what would you do? After Jesus' resurrection, He remained on the earth for 40 more days. What did He do during that time? "During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). While we don't know all the details, we do know these 40 days of Jesus' life on earth looked similar to His days before: He taught, served and spent time with His disciples. If I knew I had only 40 days left, I'm pretty sure my life would look different than it does now. What about you? Here are some questions we can ask ourselves to make sure we are on track: Who is in your inner circle? These are the people who show up with food when you're sick, who call just to say “hi” and check on you, who have seen you at your worst and love you anyway. In the past 40 days, how much time have you spent with them? Our schedules reflect whether our relationships are a priority. What was your last conversation like? If your last conversation with your inner circle were truly your last conversation, would you have changed anything? In Jesus' final earthly conversations recorded in Scripture, He reassured a doubting disciple (John 20:24-29) and reinstated one who needed forgiveness (John 21). These men had spent years with Jesus, and their last conversations with Him were game-changers. If the people in your inner circle had to describe how they know you love them, what would they say? In a day when we use the word "love" to express how we feel about tacos and coffee (guilty!), what sets apart our Christlike love for people? There are countless ways we can show our love through service, encouragement and more. Your next thought might be, Well, if I knew I was dying soon, I would make sure I covered those bases. But the fact is that we may have 40 years, 40 days or 40 minutes ... We don't know how much time we have left. Jesus came to earth on a mission. He finished His work on the cross and also lived every day after that with continued intentionality. From the beginning, He knew His earthly lifetime would be limited, though He lives eternally in heaven and will someday gather all believers to be with Him forever. Until then, what do we want our final days on earth to look like? Let's start living that way now. Dear Father, I ask that You help me live each day according to Your will. May everything I say and do bring glory to Your name and bless the people around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS You help us make an impact! When you give today, you are partnering with us to provide specific scriptures and prayers that will comfort the woman who is in a season she did not choose. Donate here. To help you engage in God's Word every day, pick up a copy of Quest for More: A One Year Devotional Through the Bible, co-written by today's devotion writer, Anitha Abraham. ENGAGE Connect more with Anitha on Facebook and Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 39:4, "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life is" (NLT). What's one thing you can do today to show your love to someone important in your life? If you knew your time was limited, what changes would you make? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Anitha Abraham. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post What Would You Do? –  Encouragement for Today – May 22, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

May 22, 2024 What Would You Do?ANITHA ABRAHAM Lee en español "During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." Acts 1:3 (NLT) You've probably heard the question, "If you had one day left on earth, what would you do?" Let's change it up a bit: If you had 40 days left on earth, what would you do? After Jesus' resurrection, He remained on the earth for 40 more days. What did He do during that time? "During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). While we don't know all the details, we do know these 40 days of Jesus' life on earth looked similar to His days before: He taught, served and spent time with His disciples. If I knew I had only 40 days left, I'm pretty sure my life would look different than it does now. What about you? Here are some questions we can ask ourselves to make sure we are on track: Who is in your inner circle? These are the people who show up with food when you're sick, who call just to say “hi” and check on you, who have seen you at your worst and love you anyway. In the past 40 days, how much time have you spent with them? Our schedules reflect whether our relationships are a priority. What was your last conversation like? If your last conversation with your inner circle were truly your last conversation, would you have changed anything? In Jesus' final earthly conversations recorded in Scripture, He reassured a doubting disciple (John 20:24-29) and reinstated one who needed forgiveness (John 21). These men had spent years with Jesus, and their last conversations with Him were game-changers. If the people in your inner circle had to describe how they know you love them, what would they say? In a day when we use the word "love" to express how we feel about tacos and coffee (guilty!), what sets apart our Christlike love for people? There are countless ways we can show our love through service, encouragement and more. Your next thought might be, Well, if I knew I was dying soon, I would make sure I covered those bases. But the fact is that we may have 40 years, 40 days or 40 minutes ... We don't know how much time we have left. Jesus came to earth on a mission. He finished His work on the cross and also lived every day after that with continued intentionality. From the beginning, He knew His earthly lifetime would be limited, though He lives eternally in heaven and will someday gather all believers to be with Him forever. Until then, what do we want our final days on earth to look like? Let's start living that way now. Dear Father, I ask that You help me live each day according to Your will. May everything I say and do bring glory to Your name and bless the people around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS You help us make an impact! When you give today, you are partnering with us to provide specific scriptures and prayers that will comfort the woman who is in a season she did not choose. Donate here. To help you engage in God's Word every day, pick up a copy of Quest for More: A One Year Devotional Through the Bible, co-written by today's devotion writer, Anitha Abraham. ENGAGE Connect more with Anitha on Facebook and Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 39:4, "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life is" (NLT). What's one thing you can do today to show your love to someone important in your life? If you knew your time was limited, what changes would you make? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Anitha Abraham. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post What Would You Do? –  Encouragement for Today – May 22, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1803 - 1st US public library opens in Connecticut 1903 - Launch of the White Star Liner SS Ionic. 1915 - Lassen Peak erupts with a powerful force, only mountain other than Mount St. Helens, to erupt in the continental US during the 20th century 1915 - Local train collides with troop train killing 226 in Gretna, Scotland 1950 - Celal Bayar elected President of Turkey 1956 - "Bob Hope Show" last airs on NBC-TV 1967 - Egyptian President Nasser closes the Straits of Tiran to Israel 1970 - Arab terrorists kill 9 children and 3 adults on a school bus 1996 - Emmy 23rd Daytime Award presentation - Susan Lucci loses for 16th time 2022 - Report released on sexual abuse in US Southern Baptist Convention, the country's largest Protestant denomination, details 20 years of suppressing many allegations More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1931 - 1931 George End introduces “Genuine Diamondback Rattlesnake with Supreme Sauce” in a can, by his Florida Products Corporation; the popular item ceases production in 1944 after when the owner dies, a victim of one snake's revenge 1967 - Egyptian President Nasser closes the Straits of Tiran to Israel 1974 - "Julie and Jackie: How Sweet It Is" music and comedy variety special starring Julie Andrews and Jackie Gleason airs on ABC-TV 1977 - Final European scheduled run of the Orient Express (after 94 years) 1983 - Toronto Blue Jay Cliff Johnson hits record 18th pinch hit HR 2015 - Pakistan begin the first test-playing nation cricket tour of Zimbabwe since 2009 More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1908 - Rattana Pestonji, Thai filmmaker and cinematographer (Tang), born in Bangkok, Thailand (d. 1970) 1925 - Jean Tinguely, Swiss sculptor artist (movement objects), born in Fribourg, Switzerland (d. 1991) 1928 - T. Boone Pickens, American businessperson and oil tycoon (Shamrock, Mesa Petroleum Co) known as the 'Oracle of Oil', born in Holdenville, Oklahoma (d. 2019) 1946 - Howard Kendall, English footballer and football manager (Everton), born in Ryton, County Durham (d. 2015) 1955 - Philip Dybvig, American economist (2022 Nobel Prize - for research on banks and financial crises) 1961 - Dana Williams, American singer (Diamond Rio - Meet in the Middle), born in Dayton, Ohio More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1457 - Saint Rita of Cascia, Italian saint (b. 1381) 1961 - Joan Davis, American actress (I Married Joan), dies of a heart attack at 53 1994 - Mitacq [Michel Tacq], Belgium comic strip artist (Beaver Patrol), dies 2004 - Mikhail Voronin, Russian gymnast who won Olympic gold USSR vault, horizontal bar 1968; World C'ship gold all-round, rings 1966, dies at 59 2019 - Judith Kerr, British children's writer and illustrator (The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Mog books), dies at 95 2020 - Mory Kanté, Guinean singer and kora harp player (Yé ké yé ké), dies at 70 More Famous Deaths »

Joe Elliott might decry the phrase "heavy metal" in 2024, but 46 years ago he was ready to embrace it

These quadruplets proved that babies have a language all their own when they gathered for the most precious secret meeting we have ever seen. Evelyn, Adeline, David, and Daniel—also known as the Carmack quads—became internet stars before they were even born. The siblings, who are technically two sets of identical twins, were born in March without the use of fertility treatments. According to Today, the odds of that spontaneously happening is about one in 70 million.  The now-15 months have earned a massive following on their TikTok page, which highlights their mom’s pregnancy, their time in the NICU, and their daily lives. But a video from earlier this week has brought them millions of new fans. The post shows the quadruplets entertaining themselves in their living room. Evelyn is leading the conversation and clearly telling a story with big gestures and plenty of belly laughs. Her siblings gather ’round and laugh along, completely absorbed in whatever Evelyn has to say. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hannah Carmack (@carmack.quads) “Evelyn loves to be the center of attention,” mom Hannah Carmack told Today. Hannah noted that the babies live in their own special world, just as the video suggests. And each set of twins has a unique bond as well. “The girls used to hold hands when they took a bottle,” she continued. “But now they both rub their heads.” Raising quadruplets hasn’t been easy for the parents, who also have a 9-year-old daughter. The family spends $900 a month on diapers alone, and two of the babies are still battling difficulties caused by being born prematurely. Adeline has a chronic lung disease, and doctors are evaluating Daniel for cerebral palsy. But despite the challenges, Hannah and her husband Michael know they are beyond lucky to have four happy babies who perfectly “completed” their family. “They’re super easy babies,” Hannah shared, “and taking care of them is a joy. We are blessed.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Quadruplets Gather For Secret Meeting Filled With Laughter & Baby Babbles  appeared first on InspireMore.

My prayer today is that we will not hinder children from knowing the Lord. Instead, let us pray that their boldness will arise. But let us also remember we cannot pray for our children to be bold in their faith if we aren’t bold enough to teach them!

To those who are dealing with heartache, here are 19 ways you can begin healing.

The Regime Media went on the offensive tonight over former President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania interview responses on contraception, choosing to spin the responses as an intent to impose restrictions on contraception. Most notably, ABC, who strive to remain the most aggressively pro-Biden of the major networks. Watch as Chief White House Correspondent (and Biden apple polisher) Mary Bruce insists on manufacturing a desire to restrict contraception where the clear record indicates there is none: MARY BRUCE: Donald Trump today suggesting he's open to restricting birth control if re-elected, saying it's something he's looking at. JOHN DELANO: Do you support any restrictions on a person's right to contraception? DONALD TRUMP: Well, we're looking at that and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly. And I think it's something that you'll find interesting and it's another issue that's very interesting, but you will find it, I think, very smart. I think it's a smart decision. But we'll be releasing it very soon. BRUCE: Trump this morning suggesting in an interview with a local Pittsburgh station that he'd support states making their own rules. DELANO: You may want to support some restrictions? Like the morning after pill or something? TRUMP: We are- we are also- you know, things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policy than others. BRUCE: Hours later, Trump trying to take it back. Doing cleanup on social media, writing, "I have never, and will never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control, or other contraceptives." But he did not say that in the full interview, which was reviewed by ABC News. The Biden campaign tonight warning, if Trump wins a second term, it's clear he wants to go even further by restricting access to birth control and emergency contraceptives. It is interesting to watch Bruce parse through Trump statements, insisting on an “AHA!” long after Trump has issued a clarification. By now, the White House press corps should know that “looking at it” is Trumpian code for a hedging response. There is no literal intent to restrict contraception. In fact, this view is inconsistent with leaving abortion to the states. But the Regime Media insist on pushing the Biden line that Trump wants a ban. So “looking at it” becomes, by necessity, restrictions. Which is quite hypocritical when you consider the media’s unwillingness to cover President Joe Biden’s many…malapropisms and gaffes. Biden will mumble through a speech, say he was vice president during the pandemic, have the White House transcriptionists strike through “pandemic” and insert “recession, and the press will say nothing. Trump on the other hand, rigidly holds to what Team Biden says he said, long after clarifications are issued. Bruce even closed out her report by hammering the point about contraception and implying an intent to ban. BRUCE: Now, back to abortion, a pivotal issue in this race. The Trump campaign tonight tells us the former president was referring to mifepristone, the abortion pill, but that's not what he was asked about in that interview. In fact, abortion medication didn't come up at all. Trump clearly asked about contraception. The title Regime Media is well-earned. Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024: DAVID MUIR: Now to the race for the White House tonight. Donald Trump's new comments about birth control. What he said when asked by a Pittsburgh TV station, would he support restricting contraception. The Biden campaign outraged tonight. And their response. Here's our Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce. MARY BRUCE: Donald Trump today suggesting he's open to restricting birth control if re-elected, saying it's something he's looking at. JOHN DELANO: Do you support any restrictions on a person's right to contraception? DONALD TRUMP: Well, we're looking at that and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly. And I think it's something that you'll find interesting and it's another issue that's very interesting, but you will find it, I think, very smart. I think it's a smart decision. But we'll be releasing it very soon. BRUCE: Trump this morning suggesting in an interview with a local Pittsburgh station that he'd support states making their own rules. DELANO: You may want to support some restrictions? Like the morning after pill or something? TRUMP: We are- we are also- you know, things really do have a lot to do with the states. And some states are going to have different policy than others. BRUCE: Hours later, Trump trying to take it back. Doing cleanup on social media, writing, "I have never, and will never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control, or other contraceptives." But he did not say that in the full interview, which was reviewed by ABC News. The Biden campaign tonight warning, if Trump wins a second term, it's clear he wants to go even further by restricting access to birth control and emergency contraceptives. Trump, tonight, also under fire after this video was shared on his social media account. NARRATOR: What happens after Donald Trump wins? BRUCE: The phrase "Unified Reich" seen on screen, echoing Adolf Hitler's Third Reich and Nazi regime. The phrase appearing three times in hypothetical newspaper front pages celebrating a Trump victory, along with other antisemitic tropes. The Trump campaign adamant, "This was not a campaign video." That it was "reposted by a staffer who clearly did not see the word, while the president was in court." But that video that included three instances of the word "Reich" remained on Trump's page for more than 18 hours. The president sounding the alarm. JOE BIDEN: A unified Reich? That's Hitler's language, that’s not America's. BRUCE: His campaign noting it's not the first time Trump has used language that mirrors Hitler’s. KAMALA HARRIS: This kind of rhetoric is unsurprising, coming from the former president, and it is appalling. And we got to tell him who we are. BRUCE: Now, back to abortion, a pivotal issue in this race. The Trump campaign tonight tells us the former president was referring to mifepristone, the abortion pill, but that's not what he was asked about in that interview. In fact, abortion medication didn't come up at all. Trump clearly asked about contraception. David? MUIR: All right, Mary. The race for president is on and we’ll be covering it for the many months ahead. Thanks, Mary.