CIAM Radio

This was a Fourth of July where there would be no fireworks. Just a lot of tears.

It was raining when the campers went to sleep that night. But no one knew that the Guadalupe River would turn into a raging flood while they slept.

The girls at Mystic Camp were awakened by that flood smashing into their cabins. Some were able to escape. Twenty-four could not.

A few days ago, the President recalled that awful night. In the middle of his State of the Union address. He told the story of one of the Mystic Camp girls. Her name, Milly Cate. Eleven years old.

In the midst of the surging flood, she prayed for God to save her.

And a man who seemed to come out of nowhere, did.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Hope When The Water Is Rising."

He was Scott Ruskan. Coast Guard rescue swimmer. You know those guys who come down from a chopper to rescue people from oceans and housetops.

Now Scott had gone to college to major in accounting. But Somewhere along the way, he decided his calling was to rescue. But this was his first mission.

And he was the answer to Milly Cate's prayer.

We know that because the President of the United States told us told the story. He said, "As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God she thought she was going to die. Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescuer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above."

You know Milly Cate was one of 164 people that he rescued that awful night. He was the only first responder around.

The President introduced him and then honored him on the spot with the prestigious Legion of Merit medal for "exceptionally meritorious conduct."

But his real "award," well that was the young girl next to him. Milly Cate.

Who, facing almost certain death, had one hope that night. A rescuer from above. Thank God, he came.

You know in a way, that's my story, too. And, no doubt, the story of many who are hearing this.

I want you to hear our word for the day from the Word of God. It tells the greatest rescue story of all.

Galatians 1:4: "Jesus gave His life for us... to rescue us."

Now with Good Friday approaching, that's what that middle cross at a place called Skull Hill was all about. The greatest act of love in the history of mankind. As the Bible explains, "He carried our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).

And that's because instead of living for the One who gave us our life, we have raised our fist and said, "You run the universe, God - I'll run me." And spiritual hijacking carries an unspeakable, eternal death penalty.

So there I was, I stood facing the onrushing flood of the judgment of Almighty God. Nothing I could do could pay that death penalty.

And here is the stunning rescue story that captured my heart forever. I did the sinning. God's Son did the dying! That's how much He loves me, and you.

The Rescuer from above didn't just risk His life to save us. He gave His life.

And like a camper facing death that tragic night, my only hope was a Rescuer from above. And I'm compelled to say this today. And get to you with this message, because I don't want you or anybody to miss Him. God says, "I have set before you life and death. Now choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

I pray you will do that this day. If you have never reached out to the Rescuer to be your rescuer from your sin take care of that now. Say, "Jesus I am yours from this day forward."

Check out our website would you, because there you will find what you need know to be sure you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com.

Because when Jesus comes to rescue you, you ought to grab His hand. Because Hope has come.

Read: Philippians 2:1-4

“Hey, Dad.” Kwan plopped down on the couch next to his father. “Today I tried to be kind like Jesus, but it didn’t work.”

“Really?” asked Dad. “What happened?”

“I tried to be friendly to Jayden—he’s new at school—but he’d hardly talk to me. I asked if he wanted to sit with me at lunch, and he said no. During recess I asked him if he wanted to play, and he just shrugged and said, ‘I don’t think so.’ He must not want friends.”

“Any idea why he acted that way?” asked Dad.

“Well, Jackson’s aunt knows Jayden’s mom, and he said Jayden had to change schools because his dad is in jail and his mom had to sell their house and move to an apartment.”

“It sounds like Jayden has a lot of things on his mind,” said Dad.

“I know, but doesn’t he need a friend?” asked Kwan.

Dad nodded. “Remember when you broke your leg and your friends came over with books and games to cheer you up? As I recall, you weren’t very interested in them that day. Your pain medicine made you sleepy, but if you didn’t take it, your leg hurt too much. You didn’t feel good enough to do anything.”

“Yeah,” Kwan said. “That was a bad day.”

“You were healing, so you needed space. Jayden may need time too. With all the difficult things that have happened in his life recently, he must be hurting. He might not have enough energy to make new friends right now. Maybe you can ask Jesus to show you another way you can be a friend to him.”

That’s when Kwan got an idea. He took a piece of paper and wrote, Jayden—I’m sorry if I bugged you today. I won’t do that anymore. How about I be your silent friend? If you want to play with me, just let me know, okay? Kwan.

The next morning, Jayden was standing alone on the school playground, so Kwan walked over and handed him the note. “What’s this?” asked Jayden.

Kwan decided to remain a silent friend, so he just smiled. As he left, he glanced back over his shoulder. Jayden was reading the note, and Kwan thought he saw a little smile appear on his face.

–Janice M. Jones

How about you? Are you sensitive to how other kids feel? Be friendly with others, but don’t be upset if someone wants to be left alone. They may be dealing with difficult things and not want to talk about them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still be a friend to them. Pray about the situation and ask Jesus to show you how you can help. Show His kindness to those who are hurting.

Today's Key Verse: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Be sensitive to the feelings of others

How can you know that you are eternally secure?

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I was stuck. I’d written half of a devotional article when my thoughts dried up. “God, what should I do?” I prayed. Remembering research that found that our creative output is boosted by an average of sixty percent when we walk, I headed out to the trail behind my house and continued my conversation with God. Thirty minutes later I was refreshed. I returned to my keyboard and finished the entry.

In the book of 2 Kings 4:20-35, we read that Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, responded to a Shunammite woman’s plea to help her dead son. At Elisha’s instruction, Gehazi laid his staff on the child (v. 31). They prayed. Then Elisha laid on top of the boy. At last, “Elisha walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and then stretched out on him once more . . . and the boy opened his eyes” (v. 35).

Scripture doesn’t tell us why Elisha “walked back and forth,” nor does it say what he was thinking. What we do know is that when Elisha’s prayers weren’t answered, he didn’t give up. It’s not difficult to picture him talking to God in this urgent situation.

What do you do when you’re stuck at a dead-end and don’t know what to do? Perhaps a “prayer walk” is in order. Whether we head out to a trail for a walk or pace back and forth in our home, connecting to God when we’re in need brings answers that address our circumstances.

Retirement is often treated like the ultimate reward—but what if we’ve misunderstood the true purpose of those years? For many people, retirement is the finish line after decades of hard work. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Dave Szafranski explore how our calling doesn’t expire when the paycheck stops. We’re live from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Ohio. That’s Faith & Finance Live—biblical wisdom for your financial decisions, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

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Segment 1

• A new TV series promises a “fresh take” on biblical women—what happens when imagination fills in what God didn’t reveal?

• Why dramatizing Sarah and Hagar’s “inner journeys” may subtly rewrite sin, surrogacy, and obedience.

• The hidden danger: once fiction enters your memory, can you separate it from Scripture?

Segment 2

• A coming documentary frames simple Christians as radicals.

• The cultural clash over liberty, persecution, and who really gets labeled “extreme.”

• Why the relationship between Christianity and government is harder to define than most admit.

Segment 3

• A high-profile conversion story highlights joy and transformation—but where was sin and repentance?

• How a vague gospel presentation may leave churches filled with doubting—or false converts.

• The costly confusion between the gospel itself and the benefits it produces.

Segment 4

• A sermon illustration goes painfully wrong—do we trust the Word, or do we need props?

• When (if ever) is distancing from toxic parents biblically justified?

• A chilling warning about an online exploitation network targeting children—what parents must know now.

___

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Jesus told his disciples it would happen — that they would be dragged before governors and kings for his sake. In Acts 25, Paul finds himself in an ornate hall surrounded by military tribunes, city officials, and a king, with no idea what's about to unfold. Dr. John traces the thread of legal trouble that runs through the entire book of Acts and lands on a surprising truth: the trials that feel like threats are often opportunities in disguise.

Jesus Goes Global: A Prisoner of Christ: When we read the book of Acts, we tend to give primary attention to the formation and growth of the Church in the early chapters. We then highlight the three mission trips of Paul. But some of the most profound lessons lie in the final chapters of Acts 25-28. Dr. John will show God extending His Kingdom through the personal struggle and imprisonment of Paul. The world’s worst cannot impede God’s best.

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Technology Lies." Enjoy!