News from Good News Ministries:
- The Struggle of Faith
- From Our Video Archives: Praying with Power Series
- Plus great links to great content!
The Struggle of Faith
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon and watched the movie I Am Not Ashamed, a biopic about the life and faith of Rachael Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre. It was a powerful and heavy movie. If you plan to watch and share the film with others, I caution you to do so prudently, as it presents difficult themes, including teen drinking, drug use, bullying, violence, and the planning and carrying out of mass murder.
However, as difficult as it was to watch the film at times, it captured with near perfection the struggle of living a life of faith. Throughout the movie, Rachael battled to overcome sin and vice. Her journey of faith was not a straight line from vice to virtue.
She would cooperate powerfully with the Holy Spirit and invite a homeless teen to encounter Jesus at her youth group, then would go out to underage drinking parties. She would stand up to bullies who would pick on others in the hallway, but would be persuaded to socialize with them after school. She detailed her battle of faith in powerful journal entries that, along with eyewitness accounts, served as the basis for the 2016 film.
What struck me most was that she never stopped fighting to become a better version of herself. She desired to rid herself of sin, serve others, and be holy. When she fell back into vice, she knew that she couldn’t win the battle on her own and turned to God for help.
While what transpired in the moments that preceded her murder is unverifiable, in the movie, she was presented with a choice to deny her faith and live or be killed. When asked at gunpoint if she was a Christian, she replied, “You know I am.”
The themes in this film have stuck with me over the past few weeks and transformed my prayer. It served as a reminder that God is with me in the struggle, not to give up the battle for holiness, and the only way the evil one wins is if we quit.
If you find yourself struggling with sin and vice, or you know someone who is fighting a tough battle, I encourage you to pray or offer this Prayer for Peace Amidst A Multitude of Storms. Be confident that our Good News Ministries team is also praying and interceding for you this week.
May God continue to bless you and your families.
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
Explore our Catholic Video Library for Faith Growth
Check out this video series and learn how to add power to your prayer!
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Bill Snyder, Media Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
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How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare
Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints