Maranatha Stories

William was a good father who loved his son, Gerald. Gerald’s mother had passed away recently, and William was struggling to raise his son on his own. He often went out to bars on weekends, hoping to find Gerald a new mother.

One day, William received a call from Gerald’s teacher. The teacher said that Gerald had been misbehaving by name-calling other students. William was shocked and disappointed. He took Gerald home and spanked him, but he also talked to him about the importance of being kind to others.

One evening, William was about to go to the bar with his friends. Gerald didn’t like it when his dad left him at home, but he wanted a new mom. William was about to leave when he had a wave of painful fear come over him. He didn’t know what to do. He cancelled going out with his friends.

On monday, he went to the doctor who referred him to a psychiatrist. The doctor told him he had severe depression. William didn’t know why this was happening to him. After a bad episode, he prayed, “Why God? Why have you allowed this to happen to me?”

After his affliction, William knew that he needed to do better as a father. He started going to therapy to deal with his grief and depression. He also started spending more time with Gerald and helping him with his schoolwork.

One month later, William was having coffee with a woman he had met at church. They hit it off, and they started dating. William was finally starting to feel like he was getting his life back on track.

He knew that there would be challenges ahead, but he was determined to be the best father he could be. He was grateful for Gerald’s love and support, and he knew that they would get through this together.

“I will discipline you in love, as a father who loves his children.

Proverbs 3:11-12

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

Job 5:17-18

“My displeasure lasts a moment, but My favor is yours for life.”

Psalm 30:5

Michael and Sierra were at the airport, on their way to climb Mount Everest. The plane ride was long and stressful. When they got to their hotel, they settled down and relaxed for three days.

On the fourth day, they began their journey to the base of Mount Everest. They hiked for hours, slowly but surely making their way up the mountain. The scenery was breathtaking, and they were both excited to reach the summit.

After two weeks, they finally reached the highest camp. They spent the night there, resting and preparing for their final push to the top.

The next morning, they woke up early and began their climb to the summit. It was a long and difficult journey, but they persevered. Finally, after four days of climbing, they reached the top of Mount Everest. They stood on the highest peak in the world, and they felt a sense of accomplishment and awe.

As they stood there, Sierra turned to Michael and said, “You know that all this will vanish someday. But God’s unending love will never leave you.”

Michael was surprised to hear Sierra say this. He had never known her to be very religious. But he was touched by her words.

“I didn’t know you were religious,” he said.

“When you see the majesty of these mountains, how can you not believe?” she replied.

They spent the rest of the day on the summit, taking in the views and enjoying each other’s company. On the way back down, they talked about their faith and how it had helped them to get through difficult times. They also talked about their future plans. Michael told Sierra that he wanted to get baptized and join her church. Sierra was thrilled.

When they got back to the United States, Michael followed through on his promise and got baptized. He also joined Sierra’s church. Michael and Sierra continued to date, and eventually they got married. They now have two children and live a happy and fulfilling life.

They never forgot their journey to the top of Mount Everest. It was a life-changing experience that brought them closer together and strengthened their faith.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Isaiah 54:10

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

2 Samuel 22:33-34

Stanley was a chatty person. He loved to talk. One day, he was having lunch with his coworkers. As they sat and began ordering, Stanley started talking about their boss, Ed. He went on and on about how he thought Ed was unqualified and that he thought Ed was gay. Everyone at the table was very quiet.

The next day, Stanley was very nervous. He knew he had crossed the line and wasn’t sure what would happen. Sure enough, Ed called him into his office.

“Stanley, you can’t say things like that about your boss,” Ed said.

Stanley was ashamed. “I know I crossed the line. I’m really very sorry. Please forgive me,” he said.

“I forgive you,” Ed said. “But please don’t talk about anyone behind their back. I know you love to talk, but you need to learn to control your tongue.”

“Yes, sir,” Stanley said.

Stanley returned to work and took Ed’s words to heart. He was genuinely contrite and had shame about what he had done. He asked one of his friends at work who was a Christian, “What do I do about contrition and shame?”

His friend looked it up and told him Psalm 51:17:

“I will not reject the sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart.”

“So what do I have to do?” Stanley asked.

“It says to make a sacrifice to God made of your broken spirit and a contrite heart. I would take this to God in prayer and tell Him that you’re making a sacrifice to Him.”

So Stanley went home and tried to pray. It was difficult for him as he hadn’t prayed much in his life.

Eventually he was able to get a prayer out: “Lord, I know I messed up. Please forgive me of my sins. Take my broken spirit and my contrite heart as a sacrifice to You.”

Soon, his shame faded and his contrition became peace. He practiced not gossiping every day and eventually it became second nature. Stanley was promoted to his boss’ position when he left. And he always made sure that gossip was not allowed. And most importantly, he learned how to pray.

“I will not reject the sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart.”

Psalm 51:17

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

Isaiah 61:7

Annabel was a young swimmer who was always coming up short in races. She was often the last one to finish, and people started booing her and telling her to go back to swim school. Annabel was filled with shame and felt like she should give up her dream of swimming.

But something inside her told her not to give up. She prayed to God, “I know I’m not the best swimmer, but I love swimming and I want to keep trying. Please help me get better.”

Annabel started training harder than ever before. She swam every day, and she even started working with a personal trainer. She also started eating a healthier diet and getting enough sleep.

After a year of hard work, Annabel started to see results. She was swimming faster and faster, and she was no longer coming in last place. In fact, she was starting to move up the rankings.

The next year, Annabel competed in a major race. She started out in the middle of the pack, but she kept gaining ground. She eventually took the lead and won the race!

Annabel was so happy and proud of herself. She knew that she couldn’t have done it without God’s help. She told the reporters, “I prayed to God for help, and He worked on my behalf.”

Annabel’s story inspired many people. They realized that if they put their faith in God, He would help them achieve their goals, too.

“For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!”

Isaiah 64:4

Once upon a time, there was a programmer named John who decided to create a website with stories that glorified Jesus. He was passionate about sharing his faith with others, and he thought this would be a great way to do it.

John worked hard on the website, and he was really proud of the finished product. He launched it with hope, but he was disappointed when very few people visited at first. He kept at it, though, and he continued to add new stories and features to the website.

After a few months, John’s hard work started to pay off. Visitors to the website started to increase, and soon he was getting hundreds of unique visitors every day. John was so happy that his website was finally being seen by so many people.

John never tired of doing good, and he continued to add new content to the website. He also started to reach out to other people who were interested in sharing their faith online. John’s website became a thriving community, and it helped to spread the word about Jesus to many people.

John’s story is a reminder that if we are persistent and do good, we will eventually reap a harvest. We may not see results immediately, but if we keep at it, we will eventually see our efforts pay off.

“Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

Joseph was a typical college student. He went to his classes during the week and partied on the weekends. He spent a lot of time on his math work as he was a math major.

One day, he saw a group of students from a church sharing the gospel with people on campus. He had never really thought of himself as a religious person, but he was curious about what they had to say.

He approached the group and asked one of the students, “So tell me, what’s so different about Christianity? Why should I become a Christian?”

The student smiled and said, “Most religions involve doing something in order to appease an angry God. You have to do something in order to gain riches or spiritual status. But Jesus isn’t like that. You see, Jesus looks for you, not the other way around.”

Joseph was intrigued. “So Jesus is chasing after me, not the other way around?” he asked.

“Yes,” the student said. “Why do you think you are here talking to me? All you have to do is open the door. That means accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.”

Joseph thought about this for a moment. He had always been a logical person, and he didn’t like the idea of believing in something without evidence. But he also couldn’t deny that there was something about the student’s words that resonated with him.

“I need some time to think about it,” he said.

“That’s fine,” the student said. “We’ll be here tomorrow if you want to talk more.”

Joseph went back to his dorm room and thought about what he had just heard. He had never really thought about God before, but now he was starting to wonder if there might be something to it.

He decided to do some research on Christianity. He read books, articles, and even watched some documentaries. The more he learned, the more he started to believe.

The next day, he went back to the group of students and told them that he wanted to give his life to Christ. They were overjoyed and prayed with him.

Joseph felt a sense of peace and joy that he had never felt before. He knew that he had made the right decision.

He started going to church regularly and reading the Bible. He also started serving others and sharing his faith with others.

Joseph’s life was transformed by his newfound faith. He was happier, healthier, and more fulfilled than he had ever been before.

He was grateful for the group of students who had shared the gospel with him. He knew that he would never have found Christ without them.

Joseph was excited to start his new life with Jesus at the helm. He knew that he was on an amazing journey, and he couldn’t wait to see what the future held.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Psalm 23:6

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

Revelation 3:20

There was once a girl named Jess. She had been a Christian for 5 years, having been saved at the age of 12.

One day, she was at a restaurant with some of her friends. They were talking about typical high school things when one of the guys started badmouthing Christians. Everyone started laughing except for Jess. Something inside her told her to speak out, but she remained quiet.

After leaving the restaurant, Jess felt ashamed. She realized that she had had the opportunity to witness to her friends, but she had been too afraid. She started to cry.

When she got home, she told her mom what had happened. Her mom hugged her and said, “Don’t worry, Jess. God will always be faithful to you, even when your faith is weak.”

The next day, Jess was walking to class when she saw the boy who had badmouthed Christians. She took a deep breath and walked up to him. “Hey,” she said. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m a Christian, and I forgive you for what you said. If you’d like to talk about it further, I’d be happy to.”

The boy was surprised. He had expected Jess to be angry with him. But he was also curious about what she had to say. They talked for a long time, and Jess was able to share her faith with him. The boy was impressed by her kindness and her willingness to forgive him.

After a few more conversations, the boy decided to become a Christian. He was baptized and joined a church. He went on to become a pastor, and he is now using his platform to share the love of Christ with others.

Jess was so happy that she had been able to share her faith with the boy. She knew that she had made a difference in his life, and she was grateful for the opportunity to have been a witness.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”

2 Timothy 2:13

After 2 weeks of talking on the phone and internet, Mike and Suzanne met for the first time at a coffee shop.

“Hey, Suzanne!” Mike said. “Over here.”

“Hey Mike,” Suzanne said. “It’s great to finally meet you in person.”

They both bought a coffee and settled down to talk. They started with their jobs, then moved on to their families and hobbies. Finally, they got to talking about their faith. They discovered that they were both Christians.

“So you’re a Christian, too,” Mike said. “That’s awesome!”

“Yeah,” Suzanne said. “What denomination are you?”

“I’m a Baptist,” Mike said. “What about you?”

“I’m an Episcopalian,” Suzanne said.

“Cool. I definitely love God, but I think He’s angry at me because of my sins,” Mike said.

“That doesn’t sound like the God I know,” Suzanne said. “God is love. He loves us unconditionally. He will always build us up, not pull us down. He is faithful to forgive our sins if we ask. You should go to Him in prayer and ask Him to reveal His true self to you.”

“Okay,” Mike said. “That’s a good idea. Thanks for your insight.”

Mike and Suzanne finished chatting and went their separate ways, with plans to do it again soon.

When Mike got home, he started to pray and ask God to reveal His true self to him. As he prayed, Mike began to feel God’s love surrounding him. He realized that God was not angry at him, but that He loved him unconditionally. Mike felt a sense of peace and forgiveness that he had never felt before.

Mike met with Suzanne again and thanked her for helping him to see the truth. Eventually, Mike and Suzanne started dating and fell in love. After a year or so, they got married.

Mike and Suzanne lived a happy and fulfilling life together. They were always grateful for the day they met and for the role that each of them played in helping the other to grow in their faith.

“For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.“

Jeremiah 24:6

“I will give you power to know the vastness of my immeasurable love.”

Ephesians 3:17-19

One day, a man named Carl was on his way to work. He had to stop by the bank to get some cash, so he went inside. As he waited in line, he noticed a man who looked suspicious. The man was wearing a hoodie and sunglasses, and he was fidgeting nervously.

Carl’s suspicions were confirmed when the man moved up to the teller and pulled out a gun. He said, “Everyone, stay where you are or I’ll shoot you!”

Carl saw that he was close enough to the robber to take him down. He waited for the man to be distracted by the money, and then he jumped on him, knocking him to the ground. The gun went off, but no one was hurt.

Carl held the robber down until the police arrived. The police cuffed the robber and took him away. Everyone in the bank was grateful to Carl for saving the day.

“It was nothing,” Carl said. “I just did what anyone else would have done.”

Carl’s faith in God gave him the courage to do what was right. He was not afraid of the robber, because he knew that God was with him. Carl’s actions are a reminder that we can all make a difference in the world, no matter how small.

“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

Psalm 56:11

Jeff was a young boy who loved the Lord. He gave his life to Christ when he was 14 years old and went to church every week. He meant everything he said and was a good example for his friends.

However, one day, Jeff started smoking cigarettes and smoking weed. He liked it a lot and started lying so he could go out and smoke weed with his friends. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t stop himself.

When Jeff went off to college, everything changed. He stopped going to church and started drinking and partying. He did drugs and even stole money from his parents to support his habit. He was still a good student, but he was burning the candle at both ends.

After college, Jeff got a job as a programmer. He was still doing drugs and living for the weekends. He had two more jobs after that, and he was still living the same way.

One day, Jeff had a mental breakdown and ended up in the hospital. He was forced to quit drugs and felt awful. He went home to be with his parents.

Jeff was filled with shame and realized that he had gone astray. He knew that he needed to repent, so he started going to church again, reading the Bible, and praying every day.

At first, he was afraid that God couldn’t forgive him, but soon he found solace in God’s promises. With time, Jeff returned to the Lord and found God and himself.

Jeff’s story is a reminder that no matter how far we stray, God is always waiting for us to return. He is gracious and compassionate, and He will never turn His face from us if we come back to Him.

“For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”

2 Chronicles 30:9