Powerlines

Offering a "New Beginning" to All Who Believe!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:52:00 +0000

What did Jesus look like? From a human standpoint—wouldn’t we love to know? Maybe...maybe not. Movies over the years have shown us usually a tall man, sometimes light brown hair—long, of course. More probable, though, his hair would have been much darker given his middle eastern culture. Many times, we’ve seen him on the screen looking perhaps a little too Caucasian, and usually with a beard. Did men in the 1st century even have access to the implements to shave?

On the garden grounds of the Crystal Cathedral, there’s a bronze sculpture of Jesus that raises none of these issues or questions. The sculpture shows Jesus as a baby, a smiling infant, in Mary’s loving arms. Mary is seated on a donkey, and Joseph is leading his family back home to Israel after fleeing from Herod to Egypt immediately following His miraculous Christmas birth, which brought a “new beginning” to all who believe! What a great reminder as we begin this New Year...2012!

This beautiful face of the baby Jesus is the “Christ Portrait” (the second in a series—you’ll want to collect them all) that Hour of Power wants to send to you today. Your beautiful, full-color “Christ Portrait” measures 5” x 7” and is suitable for framing. American master sculptor, J. Seward Johnson depicted the face of the baby Jesus in glistening stainless steel so that anyone standing before this statue would see their own skin tone reflected back at them in the mirror-like surface—Jesus belongs to all people of all colors of all cultures in all places.

You’re encouraged to write to the Hour of Power TODAY to receive your very own copy of this unique image of the blessed Christ Child. This “Christ Portrait,” and the statue it depicts, is exclusive to Hour of Power viewers and friends...there is none other like it anywhere in the world.

Click here to request your Christ Portrait #2 or call TOLL FREE 1-866-GET-HOPE (438-4673)

An Indescribable Gift by Sheila Schuller Coleman

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Is your mailbox like mine these past few months — full of catalogues? And do you find yourself perusing them, reading each description to determine which might describe the perfect gift for one on your list?

As a writer, I admire the skill it takes to write these descriptions. However, I suspect that the writers’ task would be exponentially more difficult if there wasn’t a photo to accompany the description. Even so, as difficult as it might be, it is always possible to find the words to describe the gift.

In the Bible, the gifts that the kings brought to the Christ child are described: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The kings brought gifts to THE KING! The King of all time. The King of all kings! They brought their gifts on bended knee.

St. Paul says that it is not possible to describe this gift!
They brought their gifts to THE GIFT! Jesus is the greatest gift of all time. God sent. His Son to be born with the purpose of letting us know who God is. God, the Great I AM, revealed Himself through His Sone who walked, preached, healed and touched here on earth. God incarnate. He was THE GIFT!

In the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:15 says this about Jesus: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

St. Paul says that it is not possible to describe this gift! There are no adequate, descriptive words.

This Christmas, I hope and pray that you will join me and your Crystal Cathedral family in thanking God, the Father, for sending His Son, Jesus, who was born to die so you and I can live. This is truly an indescribable gift. Join me this Christmas in accepting (or reaccepting) the Gift of Jesus—unwrapping it, letting Him be the core of your life—and giving this same gift to others you know and love.

Join me in thanking the King for His gift—His indescribable gift —Jesus!

You are Part of God's Hope-Filled Future for this Ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:49:00 +0000

JEREMIAH 29:11 MIRACLE OFFERING

Crystal Cathedral Ministries’ International Board of Directors has voted to declare that the ministry and campus of the Crystal Cathedral are not for sale. The chapter 11 process has attracted multiple purchase offers, but in the end, the board believes that Crystal Cathedral Ministries’ greatest days are still ahead.

“The board feels its great responsibility to pay the vendors 100% of what is owed as soon as possible,” says Sheila Schuller Coleman, Senior Pastor, “but also a responsibility to the local members and Hour of Power viewers, internationally, to retain the ministry’s headquarters intact. Taking this kind of stand assures members and viewers of our commitment to them and to

their spiritual well-being, now and into the future. We’re asking our people to believe God’s promise as found in Jeremiah 29:11-14a (right), and to join us in prayer to seek God’s blessing of a 50 million dollar miracle!”

“We fully understand as a board that, by taking this stand of faith, the creditors will move on their own in the courts to initiate a sale process,” board member Jim Penner says, “but the final word on this campus and this ministry will be up to God Almighty. I’ll put my faith in Jesus who said in Matthew 21:22, ‘Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’”

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity.
–JEREMIAH 29:11-14A, NKJV

Make a Miracle Faith Offering

In God We Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:50:00 +0000

“In God we trust”...this has been the message of the positive televised Hour of Power for 42 consecutive years on weekly TV—a faith-filled message of HOPE, HELP, and ENCOURAGEMENT:

IN GOD, WE TRUST.

When all else fails...when people and circumstances disappoint us and/or let us down...this truth remains:

IN GOD, WE TRUST.

With its 42-year history of creating unique and inspiring gift items to motivate and inspire persons everywhere, the Hour of Power television ministry offers to you today a one-of-a-kind jewelry item, four words, one timeless sentence forming a cross.

Yes, you can receive this unique cross TODAY. Your IN GOD WE TRUST cross is plated in silver, and looks like the very popular white gold. However, most importantly, the MESSAGE of this cross... IN GOD WE TRUST...will inspire attention from anyone who sees it and reads it whenever it is worn. There is no other cross like it...ANYWHERE.

And, when you write (or call, or go online) to request your IN GOD WE TRUST cross...you’ll also receive a free IN GOD WE TRUST “mini poster” (5” x 7”)—just the right size to be seen and read, but not too big for your desk, countertop, or bookshelf.

Click here to receive these two IN GOD WE TRUST items at this important time.

Help Rebuild God’s House– Crystal Cathedral Ministry!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Sat, 14 May 2011 06:46:00 +0000

Over the last 42 years, we have heard millions of persons say, “Dr. Schuller, your ministry saved my life!” Now, we call upon YOU to help save the life of this ministry! As you may know, on October 18, 2010, Crystal Cathedral Ministries filed for the protection of chapter 11. As the economy trended down rapidly over the last two years, the services and goods that our vendors provided could not be cancelled fast enough. Even though we finished 2010 with a revenue surplus and the court is pleased with our progress, it was not enough to pay back any of our vendor debt. We can honor God and our debt to our vendors and, in the process, rebuild this magnificent, life-saving ministry. And we need YOU to help! To keep Hour of Power on the air in your home and the homes of millions of others, any gift that you’re able to give toward our ministry’s vendor debt, must be an EXTRA gift—above and beyond any current generous level of giving that you are already providing.

Join the “Rebuilding the Faith” campaign today! Our goal in one year’s time is to raise the $7.5 million owed. We will do it together—and here’s how:

When your donation is received, your name will be in the Rebuilders of the Faith book, housed forever in the Crystal Cathedral—honoring YOU in this historic time when you saved this television ministry’s life. Dedicated people time and time again have helped to rebuild God’s wonderful, redemptive plan for us,” says Sheila. “Throughout the Old Testament, God raised up builders of the faith to rebuild His house. King Hezekiah, King Josiah, Nehemiah, and Haggai—all were helped by teams of God’s people—like you—who were builders and rebuilders of the faith.”

Through your generous spirit at this key season in the life of this ministry, you’ll join these biblical heroes as a builder of the faith, helping to rebuild God’s house—Crystal Cathedral Ministries!

Surely Goodness and Mercy

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:58:00 +0000

WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WE ALWAYS HAD dinner together around the family table. Dad would conclude the dinner with a short devotional and then we were encouraged to sing a song as a family, and Dad always encouraged us to sing it with gusto! So we sang, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and I shall feast at the table spread for me...surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life!"

It was many years later that it dawned on me that these were the words of Psalm 23. And what a promise was burned into my memory from a young age-that goodness and mercy would follow me-all the days of my life.

I have seen that goodness exists hand in hand with mercy. God's mercy, God's forgiveness, God's unconditional love-IS goodness. Too often, we become disenchanted with God and think He has not heard our prayers, or hasn't been paying attention because nothing is going right. In other words, nothing is going according to our plans. And so we are discouraged, floundering, even facing a faith crisis. Where is God when we need Him?

Goodness is not what happens to us. Goodness is responding positively to whatever happens to us-no matter how difficult it may be. Goodness is viewing every problem as an opportunity to see God's mercy at work.

Would you like to be able to say that goodness and mercy have followed you every day of your life? The Lord is your Shepherd and, as you follow Him, goodness and mercy will follow you. If you stumble and fall, He will pick you up and you will experience goodness and mercy. If you take your eyes off Him and stray from His path, He will search for you and find you and you will see goodness and mercy displayed. If you are attacked and hurt, He will rescue you, deliver you, and heal your wounds. May goodness and mercy follow you-every day of your life-until you dwell in the house of the Lord forever! What a promise!

Claim it!

Beyond the Hour of Power: Helping the Lost Find New Horizons

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:46:00 +0000

By James Richards, Crystal Cathedral Commissioned Pastor

When I was at the lowest point in my life, I turned the television set on, and I heard a chap named Dr. Robert H. Schuller saying, “Tough times never last, but tough people do!” I thought, wow, I need to hear that message. And I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. The first thing my wife, Yvonne, and I did was to join the church in 1994, and were immediately encouraged to get involved in leadership, and I was eventually ordained as a pastor.

Someone in the church came to us and asked us if we could help some people in Pakistan who needed Bibles. We found that, not only did these people need Bibles, they needed help to form a church. In this process, we discovered that millions of people in Pakistan are trapped in degrading poverty, and that the number one reason is illiteracy. So, besides starting our first church, we started our first school. And all of it happened through our Crystal Cathedral New Horizons fellowship (www.newhorizonsmissions.com), which has helped to provide in rural Pakistan the following and more:

Seven churches with more than 3,000 Crystal Cathedral members on fire for Jesus Christ. Plus, hundreds of Bibles distributed and a Bible course for non-Christians created.

Five schools with 600 students and nearly 400 students sponsored ($59 per student) to attend state-run schools, with the first 80 graduated.

Emergency medical treatment for many and 400 children immunized. Many widows and orphans are fed each month, clean tap water is now brought to villages, and electricity is connected.

Goat & Sewing Ministries launched through micro-loans, and a Computer Training Center is planned.

So, we continue the message of the Hour of Power that "God loves you and so do I." We're seeing the difference and it's growing…and growing…and growing!

Lost? God Always Seeks! And Always Finds!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:24:00 +0000

By Sheila Schuller Coleman

It was opening day for Little League. Jim had taken two of our sons, and I was supposed to meet him with the other two at the ballpark. As team mother, I was expected to head the snack shack that Saturday morning. So, after rounding up the myriad uniform pieces for three of our four sons, I dashed out of the house-late as usual.

It took some time for me to get the snack shack up and running, but eventually I had time to break away and see how my sons' opening games were going. I crossed the large expanse of park that housed six baseball fields, looking for my husband. Spotting him, I ran up to him and immediately noticed he didn't have
Nick, our four-year-old, with him.

"Where's Nicky?"

"Nicky? I don't have Nicky. You have Nicky."

"Me? No, I don't! You have him, don't you...?"

Suddenly, we looked at each other in horror as the realization of what we had done hit us. "He's home alone!"

Jim ran to the car. It would take him another fifteen minutes to get home. I
couldn't believe that we had made such a terrible mistake! When he drove into the garage, he saw Nick wandering around the backyard, his hands cupped to the windows. Locked out, he looked longingly into his house, muttering to himself, "I can't believe they left me home alone."

Jim swept him up into his arms. "I'm home, Nick! Are you all right?""Yes. I knew you'd come back for me."

When lost, do you KNOW that Jesus will come back and find you? Think how panicked we were as parents to realize we had left our 4-year-old son home alone for so long. How much more God cares about us when we have lost our way, lost our joy, lost our desire, lost our enthusiasm, lost our passion for our dreams, even lost our faith in Him-if even for a brief time.

Lost? KNOW God loves you as surely as Nicky knew we would come back for him! God always seeks! And He always finds! Lost? God Always Seeks! And Always Finds!

The Lost Has Been Found!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 21:48:00 +0000

By Robert H. Schuller

Legend tells us that the beautiful Helen of Troy, over whom many battles were fought, was lost after one of the battles. When the army returned to Greece, Helen was not on any of the ships. Menelaus, at great personal peril, searched for her and finally found her in one of the seaport villages.

She had been suffering from amnesia. Forgetting who she was, she had stooped to the lowest possible level and was living as a prostitute. Menelaus found her in rags, dirt, shame, and dishonor. He looked at her and called, "Helen!" Her head turned, and he said, "You are Helen of Troy!" With those words, her head lifted and her back straightened into a posture of one who knows her worth. She had been redeemed!

You may be deflated and dishonored in your own eyes because you don't realize who you are. You are a member of the royal family. When you accept Jesus Christ into your life, you are a member of the family of God. You are no longer a lost soul. You have been forgiven and have recovered your honor!

Love Waits Patiently!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:36:00 +0000

By Sheila Schuller Coleman

Love can wait as long as it needs to. It can persevere as long as necessary. Some things cannot be rushed. They need to be allowed to unfold naturally. Take for example a rose. It cannot be forced open. The petals will fall off and the flower will be destroyed, whereas a warm, nurturing environment draws the flower open.

A cocoon cannot be forced. If it is pried open too soon, the wings of the butterfly will be damaged and unable to develop. The result is the beautiful butterfly will never live and never flutter around the garden.

Time is a precious gift to give to those we love. Time to be with them. Time to listen to them. But also time to allow them to work through losses, transitions, goals. Some people we love need time to complete an educational program. Some people we love need time to transition to a new job, a new location, a new relationship. Some need time to work through a rehabilitation program. Some just need time to be alone.

And then love waits-patiently. It waits as long as necessary. The word for "patience" in the Bible is often used interchangeably with the word "longsuffering." Sometimes waiting patiently for a relationship we value to
be restored with someone we love can be very painful. But love will suffer long, long, long because it hopes that, in the end, the wait will pay off, it will all be worth it.

Jesus models the supreme love for us. He waits and waits and waits patiently for you and me every day to turn to Him, to acknowledge Him, to thank Him, to praise Him, to worship Him. He waits lovingly, and the minute we turn to Him, His heart responds with love and joy. What a gift we have been given! What a gift we can give! To love and be loved. To wait-not tapping our feet impatiently, but waiting, praying and loving and hoping that our loved ones will break forth from their cocoons and spread their wings and fly. Waiting, praying, loving, creating a warm environment where their hearts and spirits can blossom beautifully.

Now that's true love!

Love Letters from the Bible...

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:59:00 +0000

As we celebrate "LOVE" this month, it's always wonderful to refresh our souls with God's word on the subject. Here are just a few of the nearly 400 scriptures (these from the New Living Translation) that give us just a glimpse at God's wisdom and truth on the subject of LOVE…

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices
whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

-1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7

"Jesus replied, 'The most important commandment is this: …The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.'"

-MARK 12:29-31

"So now I (Jesus) am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should LOVE each other."

-JOHN 13:34

"We LOVE Him, because He first loved us."

-1 JOHN 4:19

"Dear children, let's not merely say that we LOVE each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

-1 JOHN 3:18

"There is no greater LOVE than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

-JOHN 15:13

"Your LOVE for one another will prove to the world that you are my (Jesus') disciples."

-JOHN 13:35

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and LOVE-and the greatest of these is LOVE."

-1 CORINTHIANS 13:13

LOVE - The Gift That Keeps on Giving

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:43:00 +0000

By Robert H. Schuller

What is the secret of real joy? Christians know the answer—it's the love that bubbles up from deep within your heart and soul when you tear yourself loose from selfishness and bear the burdens of someone else, caring enough to share yourself with that person. Then love activates and gives you the results of joy.

So, LOVE is, indeed, the secret to real joy.

Each of us distinguishes ourselves as individuals. Some have special talents. Others attract friends easily. Still others accomplish amazing achievements. But Christians should all be distinguished by the love they give away. It should burst forth with such enthusiasm that it could never be hidden. It should be patient, kind, trustworthy, persevering.

You won't even have to tell people that you love Jesus Christ. You won't be able to keep it secret, because love will give you away!

The Patience of the Eagle

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:34:00 +0000

"LOVE IS PATIENT..." These are the first three words of the Apostle Paul's universally known "Love Chapter" in the Bible…included in his first letter to believers of Jesus Christ living in Corinth. "Love is patient."

Throughout our lives, patience seems to be demanded of us almost constantly: Patience with our children…patience with our aging parents…patience with family members…patience with automated phone systems... patience with a boss or employee(s). This list is long-maybe even endless.

The noble eagle, God's wondrous creation, displays for us a perfect example of patience. The eagle patiently soars above the earth…relaxed, no wing movement, just riding on air currents. It patiently focuses on its search for food. No rush—this glorious creature knows its meal is there - God's plan always provides.

Then, suddenly, he spots it…in an instant, without hesitation, he responds and dives rapidly to claim the prize provided. Knowing when to take action is as important as the patience required in waiting for the moment to do so.

"Love is patient," but it also knows when it's time to take action! Currently, Dr. Schuller and Pastor Sheila are seeking members for the 2011 Eagles Club - persons who pledge to give $50 a month for 12 months... or, a one-time gift of $600. If you love Hour of Power, then please respond - take action - today. Trust God for the resources to do so... but make the commitment to join the 2011 Eagles Club, now.

A Big Thank You!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:23:00 +0000

BECAUSE OF YOU... the 40-year televised Hour of Power survived 2010.

Along with millions of Americans, persons all around the world and businesses everywhere, the Hour of Power weathered the 12 financially turbulent months of 2010... and, SURVIVED, to begin another year of positive, powerful, life-changing ministry. It would not have happened without YOU!

Leading up to and through 2010, Crystal Cathedral Ministries leadership made deep cuts including over 100 staff positions and most of the local broadcast stations. By year's end, nearly all staff members were doing the jobs of two or three people and volunteers stepped in to help, as well, while revenues continued to be reduced by over 30% compared with the previous year.

But, YOU WERE THERE! YOU saved the day, so the Hour of Power could begin its 41st Anniversary Year! What a life-saving gift you have given to millions of people everywhere. Thank you!

A Legacy Story: Stan Petersen

Stan Petersen, a beautiful Christian man with the twinkle of Jesus Christ in his eyes, passed away March 8, 2010. He left a legacy of love and support by including Crystal Cathedral Ministries in his estate plans.

Stan looked forward to watching the Hour of Power every Sunday with his dearest friend, Darlene LaJune.

"Stan was so uplifted by the music and sermons," said Darlene. "Even when faced with the possibility of a terminal illness, Stan held strong in his faith. When reassured that everything would turn out okay no matter what because God loves him, Stan confidently replied, 'I know it. God is good.'"

Create a Big Affect Through Generous Giving...

To encourage future generations in a BIG way, you can leave a legacy through a final will and estate gift to the Crystal Cathedral/Hour of Power. For more information, go to Legacy Gifts at the Crystal Cathedral website.

From the Heart: B.I.G. Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:16:00 +0000

It is no secret that I love to bake. One of my family's favorite desserts is a mile-high apple pie that has 14 Granny Smith apples in it. I have one recipe that is Dad's favorite-it has triple the cinnamon. It is one BIG pie! Why bake a wimpy pie when you can bake a mountain-sized pie? Sure, it takes more work, but the effort is worth it. I love to hear the oohs and aahs-and see the children's eyes open wide when the giant, golden pie is cut and topped with scoops of rich, vanilla ice cream.

There is a sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done, but most of all, there's the satisfaction that I've been able to bring joy and happy memories to my family.

But some may say, "Why make it so big?" "Why buy so many apples-for just one pie-when less than half that amount would do?" "Why make such a BIG mess in the kitchen?" "Why make one BIG pie when you could make three average-sized pies for the same amount of time and expense?

Well, why not? Why not dream BIG? Why not practice BIG thinking? Why not exercise BIG faith? Yes-there is a risk of failure. Yes-there is a risk of embarrassment. And the bigger the dream, the bigger the risk-the bigger the faith that is needed.

These days, gigantic faith is needed. We need Believe-In-a-big-God Faith. So, I ask you, how BIG is your God? Is He BIG enough to part rivers? Is He BIG enough to still the storm? Is He BIG enough to birth new stars every day? Is He BIG enough to carve grand canyons? Is He BIG enough to do something BIG in you?

Yes! Yes! Yes! God can and God will do BIG things through you!

SHEILA SCHULLER COLEMAN

Think Bigger!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:25:00 +0000

By Robert H. Schuller

"God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, seek, or think." -Ephesians 3:20

A man was fishing off a pier one day. Each time he'd catch a fish, he'd measure it with a little ruler he pulled from his tackle box. If it was ten inches or less, he threw it in a bucket to take home. If it was more than ten inches long, he threw it back into the sea.

Another man sitting nearby thought this guy was crazy for throwing back the bigger fish. He finally asked, "Excuse me, but why do you throw back the big ones and keep only the little fish?

The fisherman said, "Well, it's simple-my frying pan's only ten inches across!"

Now, you may laugh at that response, but the news I have for you is this-you and I are that fisherman! We're that fisherman whenever we throw away dreams that seem too big to accomplish. When God sends dreams our way, if they're small enough, we grab hold, but if they're too big and we're sure they're impossible, we don't follow them in fear of failure. In the process, we turn our backs on some of the greatest opportunities that life-and God-will ever give us.

God is going to stretch your arms today. God is going to stretch your dreams right now. God is going to allow you to think bigger even though it's risky because God's ideas are always impossible when we first get them. It's His way of ensuring that He's a part of it, knowing that we can't pull it off without Him.

So I ask you to pray this prayer today:

Dear God help me to catch the dream even if it's bigger and more uncertain than any dream I've dreamt before. Help me to think bigger. Walk with me and let's make it happen. Let's be in the miracle-making business, God, You and me, together. Amen.

THINK BIG about being debt-free

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:42:00 +0000

By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman

As newlyweds, with big hearts but a not-so-big checking account, Jim and I used a credit card to buy gifts our first Christmas. Then, after the last gift was unwrapped, credit card bills arrived with exorbitant interest rates attached.

"Never again!" we vowed. Jim immediately opened a
Christmas savings account, and it was a tough year—paying off while paying into. The following November, with our debt paid off, we used the Christmas money we'd
saved, and only that, to buy gifts.

Debt. It seems like the right thing to do at the time, but holds us back from thinking BIG and doing the BIG things that God has in store for our lives. God cares so much about our finances that He included a formula in the Bible (II Kings 19:29/ESV) for getting out of debt! He initially gave it to King Hezekiah, a very good king of the Jews who was attacked by the King of Assyria for unpaid debt.

1. "...this year, eat what grows of itself..." Live on only what God gives you. Don't borrow another penny. Pay off your debt as much as you can.

2. "...and in the second year, what springs from the same..." Continue to live off what God gives you while increasing your debt payments. It won't be as tight, but don't borrow anything more.

3. "...Then in the third year, sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit." Continue the advice from years one and two. By now, you should have some extra. Invest that in something conservative and let your money begin to work for you.

This three-year plan saved a kingdom threatened because of debt, and allowed King Hezekiah to accomplish his BIG, God-given plan of a positive faith renewal and increased literacy rates among his people.

I'm so grateful to my husband for providing this same example for our family. And I'm so thankful to God for giving the ministry this wisdom, especially during tough economic times, enabling us to continue to spread His love and hope around the world.

If you need some debt relief, try using this proven financial formula. Then watch how God frees you to accomplish His BIG plan for your life!

I allowed God to THINK BIG through me

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:14:00 +0000

By Greg Anderson, Founder & CEO, Cancer Recovery Group of Charities

Everything I know about thinking BIG I learned from Dr. Robert Schuller.

It was the mid-1970s and following my discharge from the Army, I became a cynic—an impossibility thinker. But the bright spot in my life was meeting this cute girl named Linda. On one date, she brought me a gift, the book Move Ahead with Possibility Thinking. Its message ignited my mind and touched my spirit: “Catch the vision of the person God meant you to be.” “Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.” “Inch by inch, anything’s a cinch.”

I began to change, to believe I could make a difference in this world. Life was good and getting better. Then in 1984, my budding possibility thinking was put to the test. I was diagnosed with lung cancer. My surgeon gave me just thirty days to live. I wanted so much to live. But my mind was crippled by fear and doubt. Could possibility thinking be part of health and healing? The possibilities did not look promising.

My weight dropped to 112-pounds, my skin was ashengrey, and I was on morphine to control the pain. I prayed, Lord, use this—use me—show me what is possible to help the next patient, the next family, dealing with cancer. I held a vision of myself as vital and alive. I determined I would live the next hour, the next day.

God planted a seed in my mind: Cancer patients need to help and encourage each other. I made calls and invited people to meet. What started as a single Cancer Conquerors support group, today extends to every continent providing help, hope, and healing to millions of people every year.

I don’t always think BIG. But I do my best to allow God to think BIG through me. Then, I take one small step after another in an attempt to do something great for God. It has changed my health and my life.

By the way, that cute girl who gave me the book turned into a beautiful woman. We just celebrated our thirty-first wedding anniversary.

More information at www.cancerrecovery.org.

Green Box: Refresh. Renew. Rejoice. 100% Online.

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:22:00 +0000

The green box is a new place for you to go to go to REFRESH your soul. To RENEW your faith. To REJOICE with others. New on www.hourofpower.org, the green box is your 100% online resource for
refreshment, renewal, and joy!

In the green box, among many other positive resources, you'll find:

The Prayer Community, where Pastor Sheila, ministry staff, and loving Hour of Power friends lift prayers to God every day! Become a part of this
vibrant community that believes in prayer to revitalize your life and the lives of
those you love.

The "Positive Minute," a dynamic daily e-devotional filled with encouragement and inspiration written by Dr. Schuller, Pastor Sheila, and other ministry leaders.

The weekly Hour of Power messages you love, available by podcast, so when you're on the move, you can take a message with you to receive a spiritual lift that only the Hour of Power can provide.

Social media networks, where you can sign up, for example, to be a fan of Hour of Power or friend of Pastor Sheila on Facebook, and receive video updates and encouraging words to share with your friends.

So, visit the green box today to refresh your spirit and renew your soul as we rejoice together in all the positive good that God is doing in our lives. The new green box is your 100% online resource, twenty-four seven, at www.hourofpower.org.

You Are God's Dream!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:13:00 +0000

By Dr. Robert H. Schuller

I really believe that God is before me, behind me, and around me. One thing I know—I never asked to be born. I did not choose my father or mother. I did not choose my race, the color of my skin, or the language that I learned as a child. I did not choose the community in which I was born and raised. I did not choose the school I attended from the first grade through high school.

I have become increasingly aware throughout my life of one sentence that God has whispered to me time and time again: "You have not chosen me... I have chosen YOU!"

I believe powerfully in God's sense of destiny for our lives. You are God's glorious idea. You are God's wondrous dream! What miracle will He perform with and through you and me TODAY and TOMORROW?

The poet Louise Fletcher once wrote, "I wish that there were some wonderful place called the Land of Beginning Again, where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all of our grief could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door and never put on again." Well, there is such a place. It is called NOW. In His mercy, God has granted each of us a new beginning at the dawn of each new day. When God is present within us, all things become new! Hallelujah!

Wake-up Call!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:31:00 +0000

By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman

Who needs an alarm clock when you have a brand new baby? As a new mother, I was stunned at how the cry of a newborn baby could awaken my husband and I no matter how tired we were. There is no snooze button to hit when a baby cries. You get up and care for your infant and then, hopefully, get back to sleep. As new parents, you begin to long for the time when the baby will sleep through the night.

But, oh, the first time we heard the cry of each of our sons. The birth of our child-that first cry-he is born! Our child is born! A new life! After waiting and expecting and hoping and praying, finally the birth day arrived and the first breaths were heralded by the cry-a cry that made me and my husband cry-with joy.

The world was in desperate need of a Savior. The Messiah had been foretold and eagerly awaited. God's dream for His children was that they would be saved and redeemed from dead-end lives. And God did not keep His dream a secret. He gave us hints, hundreds of them through the prophets so we would recognize with certainty His only begotten Son.

So, for hundreds of years The Jewish nation eagerly anticipated, waiting, hoping, and expecting the arrival of the Messiah. I am sure they thought He would be born as the previous sons of kings had been born-with much heraldry and fanfare and in a palace, wrapped in silks.

Jesus-born to a teenage, unwed, virgin mother in a cave surrounded not by palace guards, but lowly beasts, cried out and awakened God's dream. This wake up call was accompanied by a heavenly host announcing that God's Son had been born. The Messiah had come. And as a result-we could have everlasting life.

May you celebrate God's wake-up call-the cry of a newborn baby-His Son. May His redemptive love awaken God's dream in your life today.

God Turns a Dream into a Miracle!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:51:00 +0000

By Dr. Robert H. Schuller

The fear of failure keeps most people from believing that God can and will make their dreams come true. They are afraid to try. I often think of Christy Wilson, that great missionary to Kabul, Afghanistan. The major industry in Kabul was raising sheep, and the major problem in raising sheep was a disease caused by a worm that gets in the intestines of the sheep when they eat snails.

Now ducks love to eat these snails, but Christy noticed there were no ducks in Afghanistan. He wrote to a friend in the states and asked for some fertilized duck eggs. Twenty-four fertilized duck eggs were sent. His friend said, "They will hatch, provided the eggs are not dropped, they get there on time, and the temperature stays warm. In other words, it will take a miracle."

By the time they arrived in Kabul, some were broken; they were cracked and smelly. Christy said, "We'll just have to pray that we get at least one male and one female."

You can guess what happened: only two eggs hatched, a male and a female. They multiplied and eventually wiped out the snails and the sheep industry boomed. God took Christy's dream and worked a miracle because he decided to try.

- EXCERPTED FROM 365 Power Thoughts: Hope for Today and Tomorrow

I Am With You Always

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:56:00 +0000

"And surely I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS to the very end of the age"
-Matthew 28:20, The words of Jesus Christ

We've read or heard the words so many times..."I am with you always." But, do we EVER really stop to think about it, embrace it, or totally take in what Jesus is REALLY saying to us in this incredible five-word phrase? He IS with you "always." ALWAYS. Wow! The Creator of the Universe, with YOU, ALWAYS. Almost unbelievable- but, profoundly true.

Beginning Sunday, September 12, and continuing for three Sundays, Dr. Schuller and Sheila, on Hour of Power, will once again offer to you the beautiful porcelain cross box with these powerful words from Jesus in golden letters on its lid: "I am with you always." Inside the porcelain box (3-3/4" wide, 5" long, 1" deep) are five glistening "pocket crosses" (each one etched with these same five words) for you to give away to those you know or love.

Watch the Hour of Power beginning Sunday, September 12 for more details. A tax-deductable gift of only $25 is requested for each porcelain cross box you request.

Awaken the Dream!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:06:00 +0000

By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman

God has placed a dream in the heart of every one of His children-and that means YOU! You have the seed of a God-given dream in your soul. It may have been lying dormant for your entire life.

Today God is saying, "It's time! Wake up that dream! I need that dream to become reality! I need you to get to work on living that dream in your waking hours! This dream is going to save lives - and it's not too early, it's not too late - it's right on time. The alarm is sounding."

Wake up! Get going! You can do it!

Don't let the fear of failure keep your dream asleep.

Don't let the excuses of too old, not educated enough, not experienced enough, keep your dream from becoming reality.

Don't let past mistakes or failures be a sedative that keeps your dream dormant.

Let the fires in your life spark new life in your dream.

Let the breath of God fan the spark until it bursts into a passion that nothing can squelch-not setbacks, not naysayers, not even lack of resources.

Where there's a will there's a way! If God wants you to do something and you say "Yes" to His call, then nothing is impossible!

How do you know if it's God's dream? Easy. Is it positive? Will it help others? Has your heart been broken-then start looking there for God's dream for you. God doesn't allow our hearts to be broken unless it is really necessary and "In love's service only broken hearts will do."

Where has your heart been broken? Is that the seed of a dream that is lying dormant? Is this a dream that could help others whose lives are breaking in the same way? Is this something you cannot stop thinking about, cannot stop dreaming about?

Then-wake it up-today! What can you do today to wake up God's dream in you? If you ask yourself this question every day, if you do something every day toward waking up His dream for you-maybe it's checking into a college course (there are scholarships and tuition assistance programs!)-maybe it's talking about it-letting others know!

In fact, do it today-tell someone before the day is over, "I have this dream I think is of God. What do you think?"

Hasn't it been asleep too long? What are you waiting for? Don't you dare press that snooze button. It's time! Wake up!

Three new Hour of Power opportunities to reach ’round the world!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Cathedral Ministries) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:31:00 +0000

The reach of this positive televised church service is EXPANDING! In an ever-changing television market and even during an economic recession, recent miraculous developments are reversing a downward trend in ways only God could imagine and initiate.

The Hour of Power is now more widely available on Lifetime Network nationally, Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) around the world, and other international, self-supporting broadcast outlets. And now—there’s more!

In an increased effort to provide more programming in native languages, at no cost to our ministry, TBN is collaborating with us to televise:

Our Spanish-language church service with Pastor Dante Gebel on the new Enlace TBN network.
Our Arabic-language church service with Pastor Emeel Shenoda on a new network reaching the Middle East with the gospel of Jesus Christ. A third exciting development occurred when a friend of a Crystal Cathedral member approached the ministry with an amazing opportunity.
Rev. Joseph C. Nguyen, Chairman and CEO of Vietnamese Broadcasting Services—a TV network reaching millions of Vietnamese and Americans throughout the U.S., Canada, Saigon, and beyond—stepped forward with free television airtime for our English-language church service with Dr. Robert H. Schuller and Pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman every Sunday, 11 AM to noon.

Now reaching more of the world than ever before at a fraction of the cost, your gifts are essential in maintaining the English language Hour of Power base. Like loaves and fishes, your gifts multiply beyond measure as the Lord sustains, increases, and creates new possibilities bigger than our minds can even imagine! Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in the seeds you sow into this ministry. God bless you for your fruitfulness.