Diamonds

“Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

—1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV)

Russell Conwell, famous for his great lecture “Acres of Diamonds,” which he gave more than six thousand times, built his message around a simple yet profound truth. Dr. Conwell stressed that the riches of life are all around us wherever we are, but so often our eyes fail to see them. Why? Because we magnify the difficulties, overlook the advantages, and fail to recognize the good in what we already have.

The Lord has given us a tremendous advantage in living faith with Him, as He replenishes the Holy Spirit’s anointing through our days. When we connect to our advantages—our blessings in Christ—we become more generous, more thankful, and more effective encouragers of Christian faith in others. People naturally want to be around those who see the riches of life in Christ, who enjoy, celebrate, and laugh with genuine joy.

When we begin to live this way—seeing Christ’s blessings instead of life’s burdens—we become a light in dim places. The world may still present us with trials, but our hearts are anchored in the joy of Christ’s presence. This joy becomes our testimony. It draws others not just to us, but through us, to Jesus. And as we celebrate the “acres of diamonds” God has already placed in our lives, we discover that we are standing on holy ground—ground made sacred by gratitude, faith, and the ever-present guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the blessings already around you. Be steadfast in your faith, and let your joy in Christ be contagious. Your life, your labor, and your love are not in vain.

With you in Christ Jesus,

Rev. Patricia E. Walker

Alpha Church, www.AlphaChurch.org

PO Box 33097, Tulsa, OK 74153

Alpha Church Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Church organization

Contact us through the AlphaChurch.org homepage

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Jesus is the Alpha—the beginning of our faith and the source of our lives!

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Prayer Requests:

Cody and Megan, and baby boy, Jesus' healing from injuries in car accident in Temple, Georgia.

Young Hazel, healing for her adrenal gland tumor growth found during chemo, increased prayers.

Young John who is struggling to get healed from cancer.

Young Wyatt, who was hit by a car

Baby Ashley, under doctors' care

Young Cooper, facing complications related to leukemia

Young Ryder, with a serious form of cancer

A nearly teenage girl, recovering from a heart transplant

Kevin B., facing cancer concerns due to brain tumors

Young Lawson and family, battling blood clots and recovery challenges

Lennon, a toddler whose cancer has relapsed— prayers for healing and renewed hope

Waylon B., who has a brain tumor

Jake C, born 12 weeks early, prayers that he thrive

Colton, a teenager in a terrible car accident, multiple surgeries already, healing from Jesus.

Branson, healing for t-cell acute lymphoma leukemia. Prayers for healing for this young boy.

Prayers that Israel be spared any more distress in the Nuclear Protection program that is initiated with Iran.

Healing prayers for family and friends of the airliner which crashed after takeoff in India.