On today’s podcast I (Jane VanOsdol ) welcome Todd Daniels, the regional manager for the Middle East for International Christian Concern. With the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) coming up on November 3, 2013, we wanted to draw attention to this issue. Be sure to see the link below for your IDOP kit. The kit includes several resources to use for yourself, with a small group, or your church. You will even find a lesson for children in it.

In this podcast’s session, we discuss several issues concerning the persecuted church, including the following topics:

• The scope of the problem of persecution
• Steps to take to make a difference to suffering Christians around the world
• How to pray for persecuted Christians
• Relevant scriptures
• Parts of the world where persecution exists

Resources

www.persecution.org

IDOP kit: http://info.persecution.org/IDOP2013

Save Our Sisters: http://www.persecution.org/assistance/save-our-sisters/

Suffering Wives and Children: http://www.persecution.org/assistance/suffering-wives-and-children/

https://www.facebook.com/persecuted

Tweets by persecutionnews

The following organization is working with resettled Christians. It is a need, but a really challenging task:

http://www.iraqichristianrelief.org/our-projects/

Welcome to our first video podcast at Only By Prayer. Please bear with Mary and me as we learn how to do this! In today’s video podcast, we are discussing book reviews of two books we are currently reading: Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxes and The Hour That Changes the World by Dick Eastman. We both love to read and wanted to share our thoughts on these two titles with you. Feel free to add your input to the comment section below.

We’re also interested in hearing about what you’re reading and what books you’d like us to discuss. Watch for future additions to the Book Nook.

Join Mary Kane and me this Holy Week as we discuss the poem True Lenten Discipline on our podcast. We’ll look at each of the seven stanzas to see what we can learn from them to apply to our lives as we prepare for Easter.

Be sure to check out the accompanying blog series, where each stanza is discussed in greater depth. We’ll add a link to each post as they are added to the blog throughout the week. Feel free to leave your comments on the blog. Just click on the sideways triangle above to listen to the podcast.

Links to the True Lenten Discipline Blog Series

Monday: Judging to Christ Dwelling

Tuesday: Bitterness to Forgiveness

Wednesday: Darkness to Light

Thursday: Illness to Healing

Friday: Polluting Words to Purifying Words

Saturday: Discontent to Gratitude

Sunday: Anger to Patience

Happy Easter!

Life can be confusing.

The world says one thing, but God’s word says another. Who should we believe? What if our facts don’t seem to agree with what God says we should do? What if our feelings tempt us to go in a way that’s contrary to God’s truth? Who has the final say–our feelings or God’s Truth?

Join Mary Kane and Jane VanOsdol as they discuss the facts versus God’s truth dilemma.

To download a free Bible study on this topic, just click the link below. To listen to the podcast, scroll below and click on “Listen to Podcast of Article” or choose “download” to download the podcast to your computer or mp3 player.

My Facts or God’s Truth Bible study

Do you or someone you know parent a chronically ill child? If so, you’ll want to listen to this encouraging Only By Prayer podcast with Kimberly Ehlers and Jane VanOsdol. Kimberly’s 13-year old son was diagnosed with a serious illness shortly after birth. Listen as Kimberly offers hope and suggestions to parents of chronically ill children. This is also a must-have for anyone who is a friend of family member of a person with a chronically ill child, as Kimberly shares way you can support the parents and family.

Kimberly has been happily married to her best friend, Randy, for over 15 years. Together, they homeschool their son, Seth. Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree in Mental Disabilities: Moderate, Severe and Profound from the University of Northern Iowa, and taught special education for four years before becoming a stay-at-home mom – her absolute favorite “job” ever! Kimberly is also a Christian writer and speaker whose heart is to encourage moms like her with children who have serious illnesses.
Nurturing Hope.  Growing Faith.  Trusting God With Your Child’s Health.

Just click on the sideways triangle below to listen, or find us on iTunes.

Join Jane VanOsdol and Mary Kane as they discuss how to live a life of purpose in 2012. Be sure you also check out the blog series on this same topic. We share several ideas with resources on how to live a life of purpose, but we’d also love to hear your ideas too. Please share them in the comment section below or on the blogs’ comment sections.

To listen, scroll to below the share button and look for the little mp3 icon. Click on the sideways triangle, mp3 icon, download link or “Play in Popup” link. You can also listen to it on iTunes.

Resources:

The Cost of Discipleship By Dietrich Bonhoeffer / Touchstone

Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ By John MacArthur / Thomas Nelson

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, Third Edition By Dave Ramsey / Thomas Nelson

The Power of a Praying Parent By Stormie Omartian