MY GOD IS GREAT

I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing hymns to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 104:33) 

As a young student, I underwent surgery to remove my thyroid and 12 cancerous nodules. Despite four courses of radioactive iodine treatment over a period of nine years, one nodule remained on a nerve that controls the vocal cords.

Further surgery was necessary, but it posed a risk to my voice if the surgeon had to sever the nerve. If that were to happen, I would still be able to speak thanks to a nerve graft, but I might not be able to sing. That prospect was hard to face, but we entrusted it to the Lord.

On the Sunday before the operation, during a Christian gathering, this verse was read: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).

It does not promise to grant all our requests, but it does promise us His peace.

During the operation early that morning, my husband was reading a passage from the Bible, and it just so happened to be the verse of the day (Psalm 104:33). He felt that the Lord had already answered his prayer. Once he was taken to the recovery room, he told me what he had just experienced. Immediately afterwards, the surgeon came in and reported that he hadn’t needed to cut the nerve to remove the lump. What a relief!

Our God is great. He answers our prayers as He sees fit; let us trust in Him! But above all, He fills us with His peace, just as He promised.

Source: La bonne semence 2026

FREE FROM FEAR

VILMA 

I was born in 1961 in Cuba. From childhood, I suffered from health problems that made me feel self-conscious. I grew up unhappy, without feeling loved, and in fear of my father.

Later on, my love life was marked by many setbacks, and then my health began to suffer.

I got involved in politics, but nothing satisfied me; nothing was going right in my life (Matthew 7:24–28).

At the age of 27, I was disappointed with everything; I wanted to die...

Throughout all my struggles, ever since I was a child, I cried out to GOD. But I also dabbled in spiritualism, and then turned to ‘Santeria’, a mixture of Christian beliefs and an African idolatrous cult.

It was a complete failure: I felt increasingly unbalanced. Until I discovered and accepted for myself the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST!

On 3 December 1994, I accepted JESUS as my Saviour and Lord, and my partner followed suit. We then formalised our relationship and began to serve the Lord. We were baptised in 1995 (Mark 16:15–16).

Two years later, my mother also turned to Jesus Christ. What joy there was in the family, after so many years of failure and suffering!

Today, I continue to serve my Lord by visiting the elderly and the sick, and I welcome others into my home to hear the word of GOD.

I want to bear witness that GOD has saved me, healed me and set me free from the fear of spirits, darkness, witchcraft and death (Galatians 5:1).

I pray to GOD that many of my contemporaries may discover his love and his help. (John 3:16).

Vilma (Source: La bonne semence 2025)

ADDICTION OVERCOME

‘I used to pick up cigarette ends off the street’ 

I started smoking – in secret – a few menthol cigarettes that I’d steal from my stepmother’s packet when I was about 10 years old.

As a teenager, I even used to smoke in the toilets at my school.

Later, when I was about 15, if I didn’t have any money to buy cigarettes, I’d pick up cigarette ends off the street to salvage the remaining tobacco and roll my own cigarettes. I smoked all sorts of tobacco: blond, menthol, dark, cigars, rolling tobacco… until I became addicted to dark tobacco.

When I was about 25, I got to know some friends, former drug addicts, who occasionally took heroin but regularly smoked hashish. That’s how I was introduced to it. Thank God, I didn’t get into hard drugs and stuck to hashish. However, I wasn’t as addicted to it as I was to tobacco. It was cigarettes that really had the strongest hold over me.

When I was around 30, I tried several times — unsuccessfully — to give up smoking: nicotine patches, acupuncture, self-hypnosis… Whenever I managed to cut down, I’d get into such a foul mood that my colleagues eventually asked me to start smoking again.

The price of cigarettes was constantly rising, and this was putting a heavy strain on my budget. But I had become completely addicted. Whenever I found myself without cigarettes on a Sunday evening, at the weekend or on a public holiday, I would travel several kilometres to find a tobacconist’s that was open.

It was at the age of 39 that I was set free from this addiction — and from cannabis — by Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18; Galatians 5:1).

I use the word ‘delivered’ quite rightly: I made no effort whatsoever to be set free once and for all, and it had no effect on my mood. One day, when I longed with all my heart to be baptised, I knew that continuing to smoke was incompatible with the commitment I wanted to make to God. After praying, I simply threw my lighter, my cigarettes, my joint and everything else into the bin (Ephesians 2:8–9). From that day onwards, I never felt the need to smoke again.

Today, at nearly 64, I have no lasting effects. What Jesus did for me, He can do for you too… and much more besides.

Mireille

RAHAB the prostitute, ancestor of JESUS CHRIST

From the walls of Jericho to the genealogy of Jesus 

Joshua chapter 2

1Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”

3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”

4Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6(But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.

8Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me true token, 13and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

14So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

17So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”

21Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

Joshua chapter 6

22But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

Matthew chapter 1

1The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her ho had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot  Asa. 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot  Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

YOUR JESUS MUST BE TRUE

‘I sought GOD with all my heart’ 

As a young Muslim girl, I sought GOD with all my heart. But the more I tried to please Him, the more I felt a void inside me. I suffered from the absence of GOD.

One day, after school, I heard some young Christians sharing their faith: "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the FATHER except through him" (John 14:6). This message moved me deeply. Suddenly, I realised how important it was to believe in JESUS CHRIST in order to draw closer to GOD.

Later, I went to a church. The preacher spoke about the same Bible verse I had heard a few weeks earlier on the street. That day, I believed in JESUS CHRIST.

But how could I tell my parents? I was apprehensive about their reaction.

One day, I broke my silence and told them about my faith in JESUS CHRIST. My father immediately asked me to leave home. Overnight, I found myself alone on the streets of Abidjan (Ivory Coast). I wondered how I would survive. But a Christian couple took me in as if I were their own daughter.

A few years later, a friend encouraged me to reconnect with my family.

It seemed impossible! But I decided to write to my father; as soon as he received my letter, he agreed to see me again.

When I arrived, he spoke in front of the whole family and said, ‘I ask your forgiveness for all the harm I have caused you. Despite all these trials, you have continued to believe in your JESUS. Your JESUS must be real.’

Since then, several members of my family have come to believe in the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

Fati (Source: La bonne semence 2025)

LIUBA-STORY

The power of GOD's word  

Liuba was a young Russian woman serving a life sentence for murder. Suffering from HIV, she felt that her life had lost all meaning. At the height of her despair, she was preparing to commit suicide when it occurred to her to make one last appeal to heaven. She had been given a Bible and said to GOD: ‘If you still love me after all I've done, answer me!’

Liuba opened the Bible: ‘I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’ (Matthew 9:13) said the first text, striking Liuba like lightning. ‘Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’ (Isaiah 1:18), confirmed the second. The third text spoke of the criminal crucified next to Jesus: ‘We are here justly, for we are receiving what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:41-43).

Overwhelmed by the word of GOD, moved by His Love, Liuba converted that day. She became a witness to CHRIST within her prison walls. Under her influence, this grim place gradually transformed: the wild shouting ceased, and there were no more fights between criminals. Sometimes the prisoners even sang hymns.

The power of forgiveness: ‘If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you’ (Matthew 6:14-15); But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44-45).

When she became too ill to remain in prison, Liuba was taken to hospital. I was able to visit her and share a beautiful moment of Christian fellowship with her. We read a passage from the Gospel together. She was very weak.

‒ This is probably the end of my life,’ she said to me.

‒ If that were the case, what would you want to say to GOD?’

‒ I would like to forgive my mother who abandoned me, my father whom I never knew, my sister who stole everything from me and rejected me, the man I killed because he wanted to murder me after raping me, all the men who cheated on me, those who took my child away from me...

And the long litany of pain and forgiveness continued, like the confession of a world of misery and horror... It became clear to me that it was not so much the “criminal” who needed forgiveness – GOD had forgiven her – but many others... and it was she who found the strength to forgive, in a beautiful act of love towards all those who had hurt her.

A few days later, some Christian women went to visit Liuba, but the Lord Jesus had taken her to heaven. They met with the head doctor, who told them, ‘I have never seen a patient like Liuba: she radiated kindness.’

Pierre D (Source: La Bonne Semence, 2014)

MARRIAGE

BLESSING OR CURSE, it's your choice!  

Whatever position one takes, marriage leaves no one indifferent.Some see it as an escape, a means of forming alliances, getting rid of another mouth to feed, obtaining social status or financial security, or even fulfilling a dream, etc. Others, on the contrary, perceive it as a prison and flee from it.

In short, there are many bad reasons for entering into or not entering into such a serious alliance, even though it was instituted by GOD for the well-being of human beings. Indeed, the Bible states: ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ (Genesis 2:24).

God's plan is that those who marry do so with the aim of building a united home, where parents and children can flourish and live happily, respecting each other's authority and role.

For my part, although on the surface I married for the right reasons, deep down I was trying to fill a void so deep that I thought I couldn't live without it.

The consequences were divorce—yet another heartbreak—and a child exposed to his parents' division, torn between them and suffering...

The goal could not be achieved because the marriage was built on a bad foundation. (Matthew 7:24-27).

Subsequently, I remarried. Although I was aware of my problem, I still couldn't see the root cause and therefore didn't have a solution. In the meantime, I had consulted a psychologist and tried occult practices to help me overcome it, which cost me a lot of money, to the point of getting into debt, with no results: I divorced a second time and was still searching for my soul mate.

Later, I realised that my heart was empty.

Today, I am filled with the love of JESUS CHRIST (Romans 5:5) and no longer feel the need to get married. I am happy this way, at peace.

Marriage, when established under the right conditions, is a great source of blessings, both for the family and for society. On the other hand, those who take it lightly, flout it or prefer to abstain from it in order to have multiple partners bring negative consequences upon themselves and their descendants.

GOD is there to guide us to what is best, if we turn to Him. And He is never wrong.

Mireille

THE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN BENT OVER FOR 18 YEARS

Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath  

(Luke 13 : 10-17)

10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TREATMENT

*Testimony of Barbara Cummiskey   

Diagnosed in 1970 with a severe form of multiple sclerosis, Barbara Cummiskey spent 75% of her life in hospital. Her condition was desperate: she was tube-fed, needed a respirator and had not been able to walk for seven years. She had become practically blind. The doctors, including Dr Harold Adolph, finally decided to switch to palliative care in 1981, believing that she would not survive long.

On Sunday 7 June 1981 (Pentecost Sunday), as she lay in bed, a voice commanded her: "My child, get up and walk"(John 5:8)  With the help of her friends, she obeyed and got up, gradually regaining her abilities. In a few hours, she was completely healed. 

Pastor Bailie was leading the service that evening. As he asked the congregation if anyone wished to share anything, he was stunned to see Barbara coming down the aisle. Once he had regained his composure, he invited her to share her miracle with the congregation, and her testimony at Wheaton Wesleyan Church, near Chicago, Illinois, evoked intense emotions.

Dr Thomas Marshall, MD, one of the doctors who followed her closely, said in a book entitled "Physician's Untold Stories" in chapter 22: "I thought I saw an apparition! My patient, who we didn't think would live another week, was completely cured."

Today, Barbara is married to a servant of God and lives a normal life, committed to helping others, bearing witness to the power of faith and healing.

Barbara's recovery has been attested to by several doctors and her story is a matter of public record.

* You can watch this testimonial in our online videos.

WITH GOD WE'LL DO GREAT THINGS

 My story with a frightening illness!  

I had a feeling that 2019 would be a turning point in my life, but I didn't imagine it would be an illness.

It all started in January: I had spent a week at my son's house. I began to feel diffuse pain in my pelvis and back, fatigue and other symptoms. I didn't think it was anything serious, so I wasn't worried. Then, as the pain continued to increase, I made an appointment with my doctor at the end of the first trimester. Routine tests were carried out, but the results were negative. The doctor then sent me for a CT scan. After reading the results, the radiologist immediately booked me in for an ultrasound scan a few days later and, without telling me why, asked me to see a gynaecological surgeon as soon as possible.

Here we are at the end of April: the obstacle course has begun!

I meet with the surgeon who, after examining me, informs me that he will need to perform a biopsy. This takes place on May 7th followed by an MRI scan on May 20th. Up until this point, I still don't understand what is happening, except that it is serious. The only thing that concerns me is relieving the pain, which is getting worse and worse.

On May 25th, I will meet again with the surgeon, who has received the biopsy results and MRI findings.

"You have advanced cervical cancer. The lymph nodes are affected, as well as two other organs. We cannot operate; it would be too risky. I don't want to give you false hope," he told me.

The verdict is in!... I leave his office crying... I'm 57.

After leaving the clinic, I phoned my mum to tell her the news. Then I do the shopping I'd planned to do in this area, while holding back my tears. As I walked, my thoughts raced: how would I tell the people around me? (I was afraid of being confronted with self-pity, which could be fatal to my faith). Is there a sin that I haven't confessed to the Lord Jesus? Why is God allowing this? Am I going to die?

Then I think of Jesus who said to Peter: "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and went wherever you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you and take you wherever you do not want to go". (John 21:18) I don't know where I'm going, but I have to keep moving. The situation is completely out of my control. One thing's for sure: I have to choose how I'm going to move forward! I want to see the Lord Jesus in all his beauty, even in this trial. I also think of Daniel's friends who replied to the king: "Behold, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the fiery furnace, and will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. (Daniel 3:17-18) Clearly I must not allow despair to take hold and overcome my faith.

When I got home, after hugging my mum tightly and crying with her, I went up to my room and started talking to the Lord Jesus. Then I sent a message to the pastor to tell him. As soon as he received it, he called me back. He was shocked, but he told me that it's in adversity that you can see the glory of God! That's so true. I explained to him that I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me and that, at first, not many people should know about it. He prayed for me.

On 18 June, I was admitted to hospital for a lumbo-aortic lymphadenectomy (lymph node removal) and the fitting of an implantable chamber that would be used to inject chemotherapy. I was off work for a month, but this was extended to a year and a half.

I then met the oncologist who set up my treatment: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then brachytherapy at the Gustave Roussy Institute.

In the meantime, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to manage the pain, which has been going on for months, day and night. It will only disappear after a few sessions of radiotherapy. A sister of mine, a pharmacist, gave me some good advice on combining painkillers and avoiding overdosing.

From then on, my career was punctuated by numerous MRIs, PET scans, CT scans, medical visits, analyses, etc.

I began chemotherapy with cisplatin (a product that is highly toxic to the kidneys) and, at the same time, radiotherapy in July. Cortisone injections were also added to limit the side effects. This will last until August.

In mid-September, after a 15-day break, I was sent to the Gustave Roussy Institute in Villejuif for brachytherapy. This took place over 5 days and 4 nights, during which I was absolutely unable to get out of bed: everything had been planned to adapt my diet. Apart from the medical, paramedical and maintenance staff - who visit every half hour, day and night, when the machine is not beaming - there are no visits. Given the distance and the time available, I preferred to ask my family not to be disturbed.

At the end of September 2019, the treatment was completed. Regular check-ups lasted until 2025, when I saw the surgeon again to have the implantable chamber removed.

I have chosen to talk briefly about the illness and its treatment, because behind these lines lies a more important path of life in victory: it bears witness to GOD's Love for me and for the world.

As I said above, I had to take a stand and decide how I was going to live through this period, whatever the outcome. The first step was to check whether anything was interfering with my relationship with God.

The first few days were difficult: I wanted to stay in life, but the pain, which I found increasingly difficult to relieve, reminded me that there was a problem. It made me think negative thoughts. I had to fight: this battle was spiritual.

Did I trust God?

If it was God's choice to take me back at that moment, was I ready?

Did I accept?

I told God that I would accept death as long as I was with Him. From that day on, I was able to experience this period differently.

My body was breaking down inside, my strength was diminishing with the chemotherapy injections, I had side effects from the treatments... but I had peace. I continued to attend church meetings almost to the end and, despite the immense fatigue caused by the chemotherapy, I put all my heart and all my strength into praising God. My life as a child of God had not stopped. The Lord always gave me the ability.

When I didn't feel like praying or had the strength to do so, God was there, in my heart, with his word that encouraged and strengthened me: it always came at just the right moment. I felt supported. My mum and the loved ones in my congregation prayed for me, asked about me, gave me practical help, came to sing praises at home; the young people visited me.

The medical staff I met were always very kind and the taxi ambulance, which took me to Gustave Roussy twice, was also a great help.

When I came across other sick people being cared for, I felt deeply privileged to be able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear of any harm, because Jesus Christ was with me (Psalm 23:4), unlike those who had no hope.

It is painful to see that the solution exists, but that the world rejects it and prefers to remain in suffering.

Many put their trust solely in treatments. But these offered no guarantees: if the blood test was poor, the patient had to go home and wait to see if the next session could take place. And sometimes the disease recurred or spread. So these people lived with a veritable sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.

I had the opportunity to bear witness to Jesus Christ to many people throughout this period: surgeons, oncologists, patients, doctors ...

Some might say:

"Where is God's Love in all this?"

"If your God loves you, why did he allow this illness?"

"If He is all-powerful, He could have healed you!"

I saw His Love everywhere - and I can't describe it all, because that would take too long.

My God allowed me to walk on high, to enter into a dimension of faith, into His dimension. I have experienced that when we abandon ourselves into His hands, we can go through anything, because He takes over within us. He made me experience His presence at every moment (2 Corinthians 4:8), He gave me joy and peace in spite of everything. I was able to live through this illness without suffering from it. If He had healed me without treatment - because, in the end, it's always God who heals (Psalm 103:3) - that would have been wonderful. But I wouldn't have experienced this victory over myself, or met all the people to whom I was able to testify about the real solution to evil: Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17).

This ordeal has brought me closer to God.

You could still argue by saying:

"The treatments destroyed parts of you." 

Imagine if God had allowed me to experience what most men fear most - and to do it without being destroyed. My God is sovereign and infinitely wise (1 Corinthians 1:25). I have certainly suffered losses in my flesh, proof that man, within his limits, cannot produce anything perfect. Only the Creator embodies perfection. But in exchange, I have gained precious spiritual treasures. Our bodies, doomed to corruption, fade with time... but our spirits are destined for eternity (Matthew 6:19-20).

God loves us and He has opened His arms of love for you too, who are reading these lines, through Jesus Christ. Don't miss out on such a great salvation.

Mireille

GOD HAS CALLED ME TO MAKE A CHOICE

Art had become the centre of my life, my passion. And yet I was going round in circles ...   

The sudden death of a friend got me thinking.   

When I reread the Gospels, I discovered that Christ was the man I was really looking for. Kind and respectful, gentle yet firm, Jesus Christ knew how to respond to everyone, or keep silent. He refused to be influenced by anyone, including his friends and disciples. I found myself admiring and loving him. I wished I'd known him when he was on earth, walked with him, talked to him, listened to him...

One day, in prayer, I spoke to him and felt the tangible presence of GOD in my flat.

Little by little, I opened up to him. I was honest with GOD: I told him about my frustrations and everything that was preventing me from believing in him. He opened his arms to me. He called me to make a choice, Deuteronomy 30:19, to belong to him, to become his disciple John 21:22. I said yes.

Starting my new life was difficult: there was a lot of damage to repair. One by one, the Lord pinpointed all my bad choices. I confessed my past faults and put an end to my love affairs.

I'm now married, and when I was 43 the Lord gave us a beautiful boy.

What was the point of a lifetime of selfish, unsatisfying artistic creation? 

I finally realised that I had missed the source of true happiness. 

Painting is still my favourite activity, but it has taken second place to my relationship with GOD.

Marjorie (Source: La bonne semence 2014)

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

John 4:6-29,39-42 

[6] Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from the journey, was sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour. [7] A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink. [8] For his disciples had gone into the city to buy food. [9]  The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink? The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. [10] Jesus said to him, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him for a drink yourself, and he would have given you living water. you yourself would have asked him for a drink, and he would have given you living water. [11] But the woman said to him, "Lord, you have nothing to draw from, and the well is deep; where then are you to get this living water? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his flocks? [13] Jesus said to him, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; [14] but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst, and the water that I shall give him will become in him a well of water springing up into eternal life. [15] The woman said to him, "Lord, give me this water, so that I may no longer be thirsty and come here to draw water. [16] Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here. [17] The woman answered, "I have no husband. Jesus said to her, "You were right to say, 'I have no husband. [18]  For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. In this you have spoken the truth. [19] The woman said to him, "Lord, I see that you are a prophet. [20] Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem. [21] Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation comes from the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for these are the worshippers whom the Father requires. [24] God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. [25] The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will tell us all things. [26] Jesus said to her, "I am he who is talking to you. [27] Then his disciples came and were astonished that he was talking to a woman. But none of them said, "What are you asking? Or, What are you talking to her about? [28] Then the woman left her pitcher and went into the town, and said to the people, [29] Come and see a man who has told me all the things I have done; is it not the Christ? 

[39] Many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Jesus because of the woman's clear statement: "He has told me everything I have done. [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. [41] Many more believed because of his word; [42] And they said to the woman, We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that he is indeed the Saviour of the world.

A SOLID ROCK

"I've been cured of anorexia nervosa"

In our lives, our Creator provides various means to keep us safe; He Himself is the ultimate security.  But sometimes we stubbornly refuse it, believing we can get out of it on our own. We place our trust in material and unstable things that are blown away by the slightest gust of wind. 

One day, my heart cried out to GOD: "If you exist, now is the time to intervene". And He did. First, he "pulled me out of the water" and brought me to safety on the shore. He spoke to me, comforted me, encouraged me, loved me.

My heart, so vulnerable at that moment, let itself be filled with the unconditional love that comes from the Creator. Just as a father is supposed to take care of his children and keep them safe.  GOD does this for each and every one of us if we let him, if we trust him. (Psalm 62:6).

Then, day by day, He showed me what a stable and solid rock He was that I could always hold on to. I've been cured of anorexia nervosa for 5 years now. Every time I feel insecurity and fear knocking at my door, I don't let them in and I run to take refuge in the arms of GOD where I find security and comfort. There, I am no longer afraid, my heart is soothed. GOD speaks to me, reminds me of his promises, reminds me that he has saved me for eternity.  He will never abandon me. (2 Samuel 22:3).

Charlotte V.  (Source La bonne semence 2025)

DESTINATION: Heaven

Heaven  

A survivor of Ravensbrück concentration camp*, Corrie Ten Boom travelled the world to share her testimony of the love of Jesus Christ, which she felt during the worst moments of her imprisonment. She seized every opportunity to deliver her message, sometimes with humour

One day, while preparing to return to Holland after a tour of the Far East, she booked a flight with many stopovers: Hong Kong, Sydney, Auckland, Cape Town, Tel Aviv and Amsterdam.

What is your final destination? asks the employee.

- Heaven, replies Corrie (2 Cor 5:1)

The hostess is embarrassed:

- How do you spell that?

Corrie spells: H.E.A.V.E.N

After a moment's thought, she smiled and said to Corrie,

- Ah, I understand! But that's not what I asked you.

- But that's what I'm thinking about. However, there's no need to make a reservation, I already have my ticket (Luke 10:20).

- You have your ticket to heaven! How did you get it?

- About 2,000 years ago, Corrie replied, someone paid for it. All I had to do was accept it. My benefactor is called Jesus Christ, and He paid for the ticket by dying on the cross for my sins. Then she adds: Without a reservation, it's usually difficult to get a seat on your aeroplanes. But it's worse when it comes to going to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). I hope you'll reserve your seat.

Excerpt from testimonies by Corrie Ten Boom (Source: La bonne semence 2014)

GOD in Hell: The story of the Ten Boom family (Dutch) during the Second World War: Read about it or watch the video via our blog.