WINTER 2013-2014
ACCESS
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE BRANON
Making the Life-Changing Wisdom of the Bible Understandable and Accessible to All
Jamaica: Little did Dave Branon, one of Our Daily Bread’s authors, know that on a ministry trip in Montego Bay he would meet Natalie Reid. Her amazing story of God’s persistent grace and purpose for her life is an encouragement to us all.
“Our Daily Bread Saved My Life!” In this Edition. . . “Our Daily Bread Saved My Life!”
Cover Story
A Message from Rick DeHaan
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Personal Story: A Reminder from God
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Get Our Daily Bread on the Go!
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We Want to Hear Your Story!
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Letters from Our Daily Bread Readers
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t was a beautiful April morning in Montego Bay as 25 American teens piled into two vans to travel to their next mini-concert. The students—all members of a high school chorale from Grand Rapids, Michigan—were on a ministry trip to Jamaica, and I was privileged to be one of the leaders for the group. On this Saturday, as the weather warmed up to its usual 85-degree mark, we headed into a residential section of the city to visit the Chance Rehabilitation Home. The plan was for the students to sing a few encouraging songs, and I had come prepared to give a short devotional using an Our Daily Bread article. As soon as I mentioned Our Daily Bread and held up a copy, I noticed that one person in the back of the room perked right up. A big smile lit up her face as I talked. I finished what I wanted to say, and then we all split up and mingled Continued on page 2
2 A message from
Rick DeHaan Dear Friend: I hope you’ll be encouraged by the stories included in this edition of ACCESS. We are always amazed to hear how God is using Our Daily Bread to make a difference in the lives of so many people at the very times they need Him most. So often we are asked, “How did you know what I needed to hear on that particular day?” And our answer to that question is, we never know. It’s the Lord who always knows what all of us need at any given time. He is the One who inspires the authors to write His words. As you read the personal stories shared by Natalie and Mandy, I hope that you will think about your own story and how it could be used to help reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. If you’d like to share your story, we’d love to hear it! Please continue to pray with us daily. There are millions around the world who are longing to experience the love of God and to discover hope for the future. And it’s a joy to serve with you in providing the truth of the Bible to every corner of the world.
COVER STORY
Continued
with the people. I was standing out on the front porch enjoying the tropical breeze when one of the students came rushing up to me. “Mr. Branon,” Moriah said excitedly, “I met someone who wants to talk to you. She has an Our Daily Bread story.” Because I’m always looking for a good illustration to include in my next article, I was glad to hear that. However, what happened was even better than that. Moriah led me to the young woman who had smiled when I mentioned Our Daily Bread. She greeted me with a friendly, “Hi, I’m Natalie. I’m the director here, and Our Daily Bread saved my life.” That got my attention! And when I asked Natalie to explain what that meant, here’s what she told me: “Although I am Jamaican by heritage, I never visited this country when I was growing up. I was raised in
Sincerely,
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE REID
Rick DeHaan RBC Ministries
■ Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all. ■ Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family.
Offering a Second Chance: Natalie, here with Daneisha Fletcher, reach out to people who need to experience God’s love and transforming power at the Chance Rehabilitation Home. Continued on lower page 3
3 An Our Daily Bread Story
A Reminder from God
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through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not use Our Daily Bread as part of my devotions every set you ablaze. —ISAIAH 43:1-2 NIV day. However, last May when my son Jacob was in a tragic motorcycle accident that claimed his life, Our I wondered what Scripture would be used to Daily Bread became a precious way to hear my God support the devotional, so I checked the next page and saw my son’s life verses! I knew right then that God speak to me. was reminding me that He was in control of my son’s I left my teaching position to rush to the hospital. When I arrived, I received the horrible news that my son’s brain had endured “YOU COULDN’T great damage in the accident and he was already undergoing surgery. When POSSIBLY IMAGINE the surgeon came out to talk to us, he informed us that he had done all he HOW I FELT could and that he would not operate on WHEN I READ our son again. My life was a blur at the time. ‘FEAR NOT,’ I wanted to gain some normalcy, so I AS THE TITLE FOR went back to read the devotional for May 22 (the day of the accident) to begin THAT DAY.” my night with the Lord. You couldn’t possibly imagine how I felt when I read “Fear Not,” as the title for that day. I thanked the Lord circumstances and I did not need to fear. On the day and told Him I could not be more fearful than I was at my son died, the devotional was about the glad, eternal the moment. reunion we will experience when we go to heaven—the I thought about the tattoo my son got while serving place where my son is now. in the Marines that references his life verses: Thank you, RBC Ministries, for being a blessing Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned to me. I found great encouragement through the pages of Our Daily Bread during a very hard time of you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through my life. I pray God continues to speak through you to the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk His people! ■ —MANDY Canada. My parents divorced when I was a teenager, so I moved on my own to the United States. I got into trouble there and was put in jail.” It was during her time in jail that Natalie first discovered Our Daily Bread. “I would read it on occasion, but I wasn’t ready at that time to become a Christian,” she said. After Natalie was released, she moved to England and again found herself in trouble with the law. And again, once in jail she was given Our Daily Bread, which she read faithfully. This time, however, she turned to Jesus Christ as her Savior. “I would look forward to reading Our Daily Bread as God’s message to me each day. I would read the article and then try to live by that principle for that day. I could
hardly wait for the next day to read what Our Daily Bread could teach me about God’s Word.” As her relationship with God grew, Natalie felt a definite call from the Lord. She was sure God was calling her to someday start a rehabilitation center in Jamaica— although she had never been to the country. After she got out of prison in England, she moved to the land of her heritage, got a job in Montego Bay, and took in her first client. Today, she runs the rehab center with the goal of helping people recognize that God loves them and can help them conquer their problems. “Our Daily Bread saved my life,” she told me. And now because her life has been transformed, Natalie is sharing the life-changing message of the gospel with many others in Jamaica. ■ —DAVE BRANON
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Our Daily Bread on the Go
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Since 1956, Our Daily Bread has been helping millions of readers spend time each day in God’s Word. Now it’s available in a mobile version so you can get instant access and spend quiet moments with God anytime and from anywhere. In a fast-paced world where life often feels unbalanced and chaotic, the words of hope offered in Our Daily Bread can help bring peace and perspective to the busyness of life. Our Daily Bread is available as an app for your mobile device, online at www.odb.org, through daily emails, eBooks, radio, podcast, and RSS. Visit www.odb.org/ subscriptions for more information. You can also connect with Our Daily Bread on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Instagram.
Do you have a story?
We Want to Hear It! Millions of people around the world are growing closer to God and spending time in His Word each day with the Our Daily Bread devotional. If the Lord has used Our Daily Bread to make a difference in your life, send us your story. It’s the stories we receive from people, like you, that continue to inspire us. And your story could be just what someone else needs to hear to help them experience God’s message of love, encouragement, and hope. You can submit your story online at www.odb.org/story or write to us at ACCESS Newsletter, PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2222.
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■ This Our Daily Bread is a life-saving tool. It has comforted me numerous times, and I share copies with my co-workers. Once I sent a copy to a friend in prison. She sent a heartfelt letter to me about how grateful she was. This is handy and portable and countless times has helped me through life’s many storms. Thank you and God bless. —UNITED STATES
■ Thanks for Our Daily Bread each
quarter. This book encourages me day by day to read and understand God’s Word clearer, continue to do God’s work, and encourage more people to know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. —JAMAICA ■ I work at a rehab center. I was at the library and saw
an Our Daily Bread booklet and was impacted by the beautiful picture on the front cover. I decided to check what it was all about, and as I started reading it I could not stop. I decided to give over my life to Jesus after reading it. —BRAZIL ■ With deep gratitude, I thank RBC Ministries for your kindness and generosity for sending me the Our Daily Bread, which is my lifeline. I am so dependent on it, and by reading the Our Daily Bread I have received tremendous courage, comfort, solace, peace, and calm in my turbulent and devastating life. —INDIA
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