I’ve often been asked how we have been able to get 19 million praise books distributed. They say, “What organizations

have been assisting you?” People are surprised when I tell them, “None.” But I’m not concerned. Why? Because God has chosen to work through individuals to fulfill His purposes for the Foundation of Praise. Many people have told us how God inspired them to help us tell others about the Good News. Some felt led to buy books and give them to those they believed would be encouraged. Others have supported us, making it possi-ble to send books to prisons, hospitals, and the military. It’s heartwarming, as well as amusing, how some-times copies of Prison to Praise are found in the most unusual places: trashcans, lying in the street, in gardens, out in the woods under a bush and on and on. I some-times feel as if the books are falling from the sky! Who are the greatest Christians? In Mark 9 the disci-ples were arguing over who among them was the great-est. Jesus told them, If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all (verse 35). We would not mind being a servant (occasionally) to some-one we love, but a servant “of all”? What about those who don’t deserve a servant? Serving others is not glamorous, but Jesus tried to inspire us to understand that God places great value on our service to others. In Mark 10 Jesus goes even farther: Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all (verse 44). Servants earn

money, but slaves may earn only the benefit of not being punished. Jesus came to earth as a servant and was both punished and put to death, yet He encouraged us to do what He knew would give us great eternal blessings. What eternal benefits might we receive for giving people the Good News about Jesus? Sometimes God uses large groups of people to accomplish His purposes, but He also uses any person who wants to serve Him. I believe the Lord gives us opportunities to be His servants if we truly want to be used by Him. God values individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to encourage and help others. You and I have many opportunities to be pleasing to God. But, each of us can also be so involved in our own lives that we miss special God-given openings to give of ourselves to others. Jesus spent His life on earth giving of Himself to others. When He knew that His disciples were arguing over who was the “greatest”, He said that by being a servant of others we can become great. He encourages us to serve others and promises eternal rewards for anyone who takes the time and effort to do so. Your schedule may already be full, but please find the time to help hurting people to know Jesus as their Savior. They may be in your home, your neighbor-hood, where you work, or out of your sight in a hospital or a prison. (Reprint from August 2006)

Who are the Greatest Christians?Foundation of Praise • P.O. Box 2518 • Escondido, CA 92033-2518 • 760.741.2755 • www.foundationofpraise.org

By Merlin Carothers

NMarion County Jail, Salem, ORMetro Jail, Salt Lake City, UTPinellas County Jail, Clearwater, FLCorrectional Facility, St. Cloud, MNCorrectional Complex, Monroe, WACorrectional Facility, Lebanon, PALee State Prison, Leesburg, GADuPage County Jail, Wheaton, ILThe Voice of Triumph, Delano, TNLee Adjustment Center, Beattyville, KYMecklenberg County Jail, Charlotte, NCWorcester Corrections, West Boylston, MABledsoe County Corrections, Pikeville, TNWastenaw County Jail, Ann Arbor, MIAlcorn County Corrections, Corinth, MSWade County Detention Center, Minot, NDCentral Women’s Facility, Chowchilla, CAPort Isabel Detention Center, Las Fresnos, TXRacine Correctional Institute, Sturtevant, WIDavid Wade Correctional Center, Homer, LACorrectional Institute for Women, Mitchellville, IABexar County Detention Center, San Antonio, TXPrince William Detention Center, Manassas, VACuyahoga Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland, OHJim E. Hamilton Correctional Center, Hodgen, OKCalcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department, Lake Charles, LA

February 2020

Power in Praise I was given Power in Praise and it has helped me to have a deeper relationship with Christ.

Thank you for putting Power in Praise on sale. It changed my life and I love to share the book with others.

Words cannot express how Power in Praise has touched my life.

We hope you will take advantage of this Power in Praise reduced price.Order your copies today and ask God to guide you to those

who need to hear the message there is in the power of praise!

These are “Not for Resale” copies and this special does not apply to the Giant Print or Spanish versions of Power in Praise. This offer is available through the month of March - while supplies last! For credit card orders call 1-800-PRAISE1 (1-800-772-4731). Shipping applies to one U.S. address.

Please call (760)741-2755 for foreign rates or for additional shipping information.

PLEASE SELECT OPTION, CLIP, AND RETURN IN ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

Please send me _______ copies of Power in Praise for the Total Cost of $________________ I will distribute these books. Send them to me at the address below:

Name _____________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________

City___________________________________ State_____________ Zip_____________

Do not send the books to me. Use my donation of $__________ to have the Foundation of Praise distribute for me.

THIS OFFER EXPIRES ON March 31, 2020. LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE.

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Luke 8 tells us about Jesus and His disci-ples crossing

the lake in their boat.

While Jesus slept, a storm swept down on them so violently that the boat was being swamped. Verse 23 tells us…they were in great danger. When they woke Jesus, pleading with Him to save them, they were not overreacting. Their fear was legiti-mate. They truly were in danger of drowning. Except for one important fact: Jesus was with them, and He was completely in control of the storm. What was Jesus’ reaction when He awoke and saw the storm? Did He jump ship, thinking only of the importance of His ministry? Of course not. Nor does He abandon us when we encounter storms in our lives. Just as He was in control of that storm long ago, He is equally in control of the storms that come our way today. He has promised to always be with us, to never forsake us. One thing we need to remember about storms: they generally don’t last forever; it just seems like they do! Paul tells us in II Corinthians 4:17 that our troubles are light and momentary when we compare them to the eternal glory that waits for us in Heaven. It will help us to have a truer perspec-tive of our storms if we can view them from that vantage point of eternity. Another truth about the storms in our lives: Satan uses them to try to wear us down, to wear us out.

We need to remember that Jesus, who is living in us is far greater than Satan, who is in the world (I John 4:4). Jesus has all power and authority in this world. And He’s on our side! When the disciples were in the middle of the storm, they couldn’t tell which way to go. They did not know whether they were still on the right course, or if they were turned around, heading back the wrong way. They had lost their sense of direction. Storms in our lives tend to do the same to us. It’s very easy to become confused and over-whelmed by our circumstances. Like the disciples we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). He has not only planted the seed of faith in each of us; He will also cause it to take root and grow as we stay focused on Him. Then the peace of God will rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). When Jesus was here, He had power to calm the storm. Today, He has ALL power and authority. He can change our circumstances (calm the storm) or He can do the even greater miracle of changing our attitude toward our circumstances. Let’s coop-erate with Jesus by trusting Him to take us through the storms in our lives. Let’s keep our attention on Christ, asking Him what He wants us to learn in each particular storm. Like King Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20 we need to tell the Lord, We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. When the Israelites began to praise the Lord, He confounded the enemy and they were destroyed. When we praise the Lord, He will surely confound the enemy of our souls, and carry us through the storms of our lives.

By Mary Carothers

Storms

R.F. “Bob” & Faith GaskillBy their daughterConnie Gaskill

of St. Petersburg, FL

Robert McDonoughBy his children

Rob, Joanie & Alanof Cleveland, OH

“Aunt WeeWee”By her niece

Justine Wisdomof La Mesa, CA

Arthur PeitzBy his sonGreg Peitz

of Chico, CA

Jim RichardsonBy his wife

Carol Richardsonof Bath, NC

Mary CarothersBy Brian & Karen

Longardnerof Elkhart, IN

The Foundation of Praise has received gifts IN LOVING MEMORY OF: IN HONOR OF:

Please agree in prayer for everyone who receives Praise News.We receive so many requests for prayer. Some of these requests are for:

Our Nation Financial difficulties Marital problems Loss of a loved oneHealth Issues Family hardships and conflicts Unemployment

Healing of loved ones Salvation Our military personnelFor where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt.18:20).

The Power of PraiseMy mother-in-law found Power in Praise in a bookstore in Australia and felt moved by the Lord to send it to me. I devoured it and felt it was life changing. Through praising the Lord for all things, I was delivered from a disabling mental illness. It was Merlin’s books that taught me to praise the Lord for everything. RENEE, VA

I recently re-read Prison to Praise and am now reading Power in Praise. I’ve gained a big joy. Thank you!

BARB, AR

The message in Merlin’s books, Prison to Praise and Power in Praise changed my life in the 70’s and is still changing many lives right now. Thank you for your contin-uance of this ministry. KAREN, WA

I read Power in Praise here in prison and will keep reading it over and over. It has helped me a lot and I am praising God for the changes in my life. MICHAEL, CA

Power in Praise has been around for years but it’s message still applies today. CONNIE

WOW! I have only read three pages of Power in Praise so far and my mind set about situations in my life have changed. Praise God! I am not exaggerating when I say everyone needs to read this book. KINDLE READER

Power in Praise has a clear teaching of the Biblical truth that in everything give thanks! JAMES

I read Power in Praise for the third time and started writ-ing down everything I am praising God for. I am seeing a big difference in my attitude. I can relax and trust Him.

SUSAN, NM

Power in Praise saved my life 42 years ago. JOHN, WA

I keep reading Power in Praise and learning from it every time. KATHLEEN, VA

Someone gave me Power in Praise and I did not read it, even though I kept it. While at a VA Hospital one of the Vets gave me a CD called Power in Praise and I realized then that this was the same name of the book I had been given some five years earlier. I read it and realized that God was working behind the scenes to get me to read that book. Thank you so much: it has changed my life forever.

GLENN, MO

Here in prison I read Power in Praise and it has helped me see the good that God is doing in my life. I have rededicat-ed my life to Christ. DANIEL, NE