Good Samaritans

Many customers who frequent a Publix location are more than happy to wait in this specific line. The reason they do not mind waiting will bring a tear or two to your eye. Watch this short but powerful clip to hear what makes one checkout line at a Publix in Georgia so special.

Grocery shopping is one of the worst things humans must do with regularity. Shopping is already a horrible activity, but when it involves entering, looking for and purchasing items at a grocery store, it gets considerably worse. There is no such thing as a quick trip to the grocery store.

People, when they walk through those doors, seem to magically forget that others exist. And you know exactly what I am talking about. It never fails that someone will be standing right in front of whatever you need, carefully and thoroughly examining bottles of ketchup as if they’ve never seen the popular condiment before.

However, at a Publix in Acworth, Georgia, there doesn’t seem to be any of that typical stress and anxiety. Instead, customers will willingly wait 30-40 minutes in a specific checkout line. And why do the customers do this? It’s so they can interact with Michael Masterangelo.
Michael, who has an intellectual disability, loves and cheers on all of the customers who come through his line.

“I’m just so happy to be here every day to work,” Michael said.

And his unbridled happiness and joy are infectious, rubbing off on customers and co-workers alike. Michael’s mother says her son is a people person who is always happy and upbeat.

One customer said that whenever she comes into the store, she immediately looks to see if 
Michael is working. She added that if he is, “it just changes everything.”

Michael doesn’t just brighten the lives of customers and his co-workers; his efforts and tremendous attitude are having a far-reaching impact.

Michael raised more than $31,000 in donations at his register for the Special Olympics.
“He raised more alone than certain districts in our region,” one Publix employee said.

What a wonderful young man. It’s clear that he was working at your local grocery store, grocery shopping would be a lot less terrible.

Hebrews 13:16 “But go on doing good and giving to others, because God is well-pleased with such offerings.”

For a long time, when I gave- to my church or charities, or even to loved ones- I did so guardedly...

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today! How do you declare "God is on the throne" when the evidence around you screams the opposite? Can you find spiritual victory when your logic and emotions are railing against this truth? In this devotional on Psalm 53, we walk through a "revision" of Psalm 14— a Maskil that shifts our focus from the covenant name of Yahweh to Elohim, the Creator and Judge of all humanity. We confront the paralyzing reality of "great fear where no fear had been" and explore how the enemy uses the brokenness of this world to mask the spiritual victory God has already won. We move past the surface-level tragedies to the deeper truth: that God has already scattered the bones of those who encamp against you. Join host Jaime Hampton on the Praying Christian Women podcast for a session of spiritual recalibration. If you are exhausted by the heavy news cycle, or if your mind is railing against the promise of God’s sovereignty, this episode offers a battle plan for your thoughts. Come ready to "disconnect the logic," destroy speculations, and stand firm on the invisible, unshakeable reality of God’s Kingdom. Discover More: Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Connect with Us: Stay updated and engage with our community: On Substack @PrayingChristianWomen On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen

JESUS ESTA VOLTANDO E SUA PALAVRA É FORTE

A little girl has made a big difference in the lives of these senior citizens. How she did it will surprise you and also probably bring a tear or two to your eyes. Watch this short but heartwarming clip to see what this young woman did that brought these elderly people a lot of joy and comfort.

The world is often a dark, unforgiving and unkind place. Most people are only concerned about themselves, fulfilling their needs and wants, and completely disregard everyone else. This selfish, self-centered, dog-eat-dog mentality is prevalent and can easily be seen nearly everywhere we look and go.

Sadly, as a result of this selfish, self-centered mentality that is so pervasive and ever-increasing, often the most vulnerable members of society are forgotten and tossed aside. Most elderly individuals are yearning for someone, anyone, to pay a little bit of attention to them. Simply sitting down and spending a few moments with them would more than likely do wonders, brightening their entire day, maybe even their week or whole month.

In a clip posted on YouTube, a young woman, 11-year-old Ruby, approached several residents in a nursing home, sat down with them, pen and notepad in hand, and asked a rather odd question.

“If you could have any three things, what would they be?” the young woman asked.

As the residents replied, she recorded their answers. What she found shocked her. She admits that she thought they would “say like money, houses, Lamborghini.” But instead of a healthy bank account, a nice house and an expensive car, they wanted simple, practical things like an electric razor, shirts, Dr. Pepper and even Vienna sausage.

So, what was Ruby’s next step? She set out to fulfill those wishes, to make them come true. And when she did, the result was heartwarming, bound to bring a tear or two to your eye.

It just goes to show you that a little bit of kindness and empathy can go a long way.

Philippians 2:4 “Not looking everyone to his private good but keeping in mind the things of others.”

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today! In Part 2 of the special "lost episodes" recovered from the 2018 archives, Jaime and Alana take us back to the very beginning—Episode 2 of the show—to tackle the single most neglected component of a healthy prayer life: Confession If the word "confession" stirs up feelings of fear, shame, or hesitation, this conversation flips the script, redefining the act not as a punishment, but as the essential pathway to profound spiritual healing. The hosts deconstruct the stigma around admitting our faults, illustrating how keeping "short accounts" with God is actually the key to maintaining a clear and open line of communication. Drawing from the wisdom of James 5:16, they explore how unconfessed sin acts as a "prayer block" and why the Bible links confession directly to restoration. They candidly discuss the discomfort of vulnerability, the "crumpled paper" analogy of how sin builds invisible barriers, and the often-overlooked power of corporate repentance to bring unity to the body of Christ.

Join us as Aaron Jones shares his incredible **testimony** of healing, including overcoming asthma and a broken foot. This video highlights the power of **healing prayer** and reinforces **faith** in divine intervention. Discover how **jesus christ** continues to bring about **miracle healing** in people's lives.

A couple made a selfless decision to sacrifice in order to help an injured pup, and it was beautiful. They put their plans on hold to attend to a canine who badly needed medical attention. Watch this short but heartwarming clip to hear what this lovely couple did to help a dog in poor condition. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby because you’ll probably need them.

People tend to look out for themselves, to meet their needs and wants before helping others. It’s horrible to admit, but it’s true and is human nature. If we’re all being honest, we are all selfish at times and can probably name specific instances when we were more concerned about ourselves than others.

How better could this world be if people weren’t so selfish? What would happen if people weren’t motivated solely by what they can get out of this or that?  For starters, the crime rate probably wouldn’t be so high, and places like Washington, D.C., and other places of power wouldn’t be so despised.

A clip posted on YouTube gives us a glimpse of how much better our world could be if me, myself and I weren’t the primary concern for most people. That’s because a couple used the money they had saved to fund their upcoming wedding to pay for an injured dog’s badly needed medical procedure.

A post on social media prompted the couple to help Maple, who had been hit by a car. Maple had suffered two broken legs. The young couple did what they could for the animal, taking it to the vet. But that’s when they learned that the procedure to fix Maple’s legs was going to cost thousands.

“We kind of looked at each other, and we’re like, ‘Hey, we have money saved for our wedding. Let’s just use that. We can always figure something out later, but this girl needs our help, and she needs it now,” the woman in the clip said.

What a completely selfless act of love to put the animal’s needs ahead of their own wants.

Philippians 2:3 “Doing nothing through envy or through pride, but with low thoughts of self, let everyone take others to be better than himself;”

I was driving to drop my daughter off at her daycare. I was stopped behind another car at a street light when I noticed an older man fall on some ice. Before I knew it, the woman in the car that was in front of me pulled up to help the man right away. Then, another older gentleman in his truck pulled over quickly to do the same. Then a sanitation worker immediately got out of his truck even when the street light was green. Good people took their time to do a good deed. I would have helped, but my baby daughter was in the car. With all the tension and hate in this world right now, it was awesome to see this community; people will never stop looking to be there for others.

When one delivery driver accidently leaves behind $25, another comes along and moves it to a safe place. Credit: Erin Levzow

This is a video of the Queen Mermaid of the Philippines, Mermaid Anica, where she easily held her breath for so long while interacting with kids when she was in Cebu Ocean Park. She is the only MFI Instructor Trainer in the Philippines, and also AIDA 4 Master Freediver. She is the founder of Divescape Hub - One of the well-known Mermaiding and Freediving school in the Philippines. She is also the founder of Mermaids of the Philippines. She has been featured several times on National TV for making mermaiding popular in the Philippines. Credit: Mermaid Anica

I was on Coroa Vermelha beach in Bahia when I saw a boat moving without a driver. People got out of the water out of fear, until two young men on jet skis tried and managed to rescue it. Credit: Derlan Lopes

My 15-year-old daughter saw someone struggling to push her shopping cart through the ice and snow in the parking lot and started walking over to help. I started recording when I noticed her walking in that direction. Afterwards, she offered to help her load her items into her car, but she said no thank you and thanked my daughter for helping. Credit: Kerri Jolicoeur

Sophia shares key insights on **personal finance** that she wishes she knew earlier. She breaks down the importance of **budget** planning and **saving money**, offering practical tips on **how to manage money** effectively. Learn fundamental **financial education** and the basics of **how to budget** your income.

This 9-year-old’s teddy bear mission is bringing joy to hospitalized children. The young man saw a need and a mission field and took real, concrete steps in order to fulfill that need. Watch the short but tear-jerking clip to hear how one caring, tender-hearted and entrepreneurial little guy is helping to put smiles on the faces of children in hospitals.

Life is not often fair. Things will crop up out of nowhere, even through no fault or decision of our own. Situations and circumstances can arise without a moment’s warning and completely alter the trajectory of our lives. This can happen for the best, and sadly, it can also occur for the worst.

Despite how horrible and gut-wrenching life can be at times, there is no situation worse than seeing a child suffer. Those St. Jude Hospital commercials, featuring children with cancer, can and do emotionally wreck people. No child should have to go through something like that, but unfortunately, it happens every day.  

But what if there was something that could be done to put even a momentary smile on the face of a child in the hospital?

A clip posted on YouTube tells the story of Jack’s Bravery Bears. It’s an organization, started by a 9-year-old, with a straightforward mission: “collecting and delivering hundreds of stuffed teddy bears to children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.”

So, where and how did Jack, the loving and caring young man, come up with his mission? It came to him while he was doing something else for the hospitalized children. The clip mentions that he was making blankets for the children when the inspiration for Jack’s Bravery Bears struck.

“I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if the kids at Nationwide had a teddy bear to go with their blanket?’ Jack said. “And then, I started collecting teddy bears.”

Jack understands that the youngsters in the hospital are going through “a lot” and mentioned that he “just wanted to give them a boost of confidence.”

What an incredibly sweet young man with a heart for those sick and hurting.

Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Spiritual Enlightenment

A story of love, devotion, perseverance, compassion, and the spirit of Christmas. A tale of love that transcends death to fulfill a promise made on Christmas Eve, long ago.

A powerful Christmas ad reminds us that those in need are all around. You likely find yourself wiping away tears from your eyes after seeing this advertisement. Watch this short yet moving clip, which is sure to tug at your heartstrings and prompt you to reconsider some things.

Christmas truly is a wonderful time of year – filled with family, friends and delicious, mouth-watering dishes and sweet treats. It’s also the time when people often go way overboard with loud, flashy and expensive gifts, rushing out to buy this or that for someone on their list. The truth is, most of us are incredibly blessed and have very little need for anything. The things we receive at Christmastime are usually just icing on the cake, and nothing we actually need.

However, every Christmas season, we are still inundated with ads trying to convince us that we must have this product or this item. If we only had this thing, then our Christmas would be complete, seems to be the message that most of those ads are pushing. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.

But there are people all around us who are hurting and in need, and who those people are may surprise you. A powerful clip posted on YouTube makes this point clear, and as the ad mentions, those in need are much closer than you might have initially thought.

The clip begins with a teacher asking her students about the true spirit and meaning of Christmas. The students momentarily break off into small groups to discuss this and eventually come back as a whole to give their teacher their answers. Some of the answers provided are way off the mark, while others are much closer.

Later in the clip, the students are reminded about bringing in items to help those in need. The students are then seen wrapping the items donated, which are then loaded into the back of a vehicle.

However, before the clip ends, viewers get to see the donated items being handed out to those in need, which includes one of the little girls from the classroom.

What a powerful ad that reminds us that need is literally all around us. Even people we know may be struggling and hurting.

Proverbs 19:17 “He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.”

A single mom could not hold back the tears after a heartwarming Secret Santa surprise. The life-changing, generous and unexpected gift completely took her aback. Watch the short but powerful clip to see what the mother of four received and how she responded.

Life is not always an easy, pleasant experience. In fact, there will be many painful, gut-wrenching instances, causing you to want to give up and throw in the towel. Sure, there will be reasons and times for celebration, but those will feel few and far between when in the midst of the hurt, heartache and struggle. Life can just be tough, knocking you around and leaving you with the bruises and scars as a reminder.

Sadly, to make those challenging situations even worse, they will often arise through no fault of our own. This or that will happen, coming entirely out of the blue, introducing chaos and hurt into your life. However, it’s during those times, while enduring those trials and hardships, that a little bit of love and kindness can make a world of difference.

In a clip posted on YouTube, a mother of four teenagers, who was doing her best while struggling to keep things together, was surprised by a Secret Santa with a life-changing, much-needed monetary gift.

It’s explained that her house badly needs some expensive repairs, but unfortunately, she doesn’t have the money at this time. Despite these issues, she continually has a good, upbeat attitude. So, that’s why Secret Santa stepped in to lend a hand!

As Sara opened each of the three boxes, tears continued to flow. She was overwhelmed with the love and kindness shown to her. She continually mentioned how grateful she was to receive those generous gifts, which will go a long way in helping her repair her house.

What a beautiful moment that is sure to bring a tear or two to your eyes!

Hebrews 10:35 “So do not give up your hope, which will be greatly rewarded.”

Inner Peace