River's Short Stories: River's Surprise Birthday Party

 It's River's birthday today!

Breana's mom bought
Breana had a tiger puppet stuffed animal
from Cranker Barrel 21 years ago when Breana was five.
Since then, Breana has written dozens of River stories and published four storybooks on Amazon.
Wish River a happy birthday by subscribing to River and Me Ministries. 

And you can also wish him a happy birthday by buying a book on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and search Breana Pope. Then find a River and Me book you would like to have. Thank you so much for supporting River and Me Ministries! God bless. Or as River would say:
"Keep smiling and keep shining God's Love!"

Here's a little story I put together in honor of River's Birthday.

River's Surprise Birthday Party

It was a warm, sunny day in the jungle, and River the Tiger was enjoying a peaceful stroll along the familiar paths he loved so much. Today felt like any other day—except, there was something different in the air. He couldn't quite put his paw on it, but he shrugged it off, figuring it was just the breeze rustling the leaves.

Meanwhile, Gail was busy at her house, putting the final touches on a special surprise for River. She had spent days planning a birthday party and had invited all of River’s friends—Alisha the tiger, Monkey, and Wolfy. And Gail's friends- Little Robin and Little Lori. The house was decorated from top to bottom with bright banners, colorful balloons, and a huge sign that read, "Happy Birthday, River!"

Everyone had arrived early, hiding behind furniture, under tables, and behind curtains, eager to surprise their favorite tiger friend. Monkey, of course, had a hard time staying still, giggling and bouncing around in excitement. The snacks were laid out, the cake was in place, and everyone was ready for the big moment.

As River padded closer to Gail’s house, he noticed that all the windows were shut, which was unusual for such a lovely day. “That’s odd,” he thought, but being the curious tiger he was, River decided to investigate.

He stepped up to the door, and as soon as he pushed it open— **“SURPRISE!”** —The entire room was filled with cheers.

“Happy Birthday, River!” everyone shouted, jumping out from their hiding spots.

River froze, wide-eyed and stunned. For a moment, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The room was filled with all of his friends, smiling and cheering just for him. Gail, Alisha, Monkey, and Wolfy were all there, beaming with excitement. The walls were covered in decorations, and right in the middle of the room was a huge cake shaped like a jungle.

River’s heart filled with joy. “You all did this... for me?”

“Of course we did!” Gail said, walking up to him with a huge smile. “We wanted to make sure your birthday was unforgettable.”

Monkey somersaulted across the room, unable to contain his excitement. “Yeah! We’ve been waiting all day to surprise you!”

Wolfy wagged his tail, howling happily, “Now it’s time to party!”

River was so overwhelmed with happiness that his tail started moving back and forth. “This is amazing! I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Gail said, placing a birthday hat on River’s head. “Just enjoy yourself!”

And that’s exactly what River did. They played games, like pin the tail on the tiger, and they danced to River's favorite music. They laughed, ate cake, and even sang a special birthday song that Gail had made up just for River. Every moment was filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of friendship.

As the sun set and the party came to a close, River looked around at all his friends. He realized that this surprise wasn’t just about the balloons or the cake—it was about how much his friends cared for him.

“This has been the best birthday ever,” River said, smiling contentedly. “I’m so blessed to have all of you in my life.”

Gail and the others gathered around for a big group hug, and together they all shouted, “Happy Birthday, River!”

And as River stood there, surrounded by his friends, he knew that this day would be one he’d remember forever.

That night, when River said his bedtime prayers, he thanked God for each one of his special friends. He truly felt blessed.

River fell asleep with a heart full of joy, knowing he would never forget this perfect day.

The Cross and The Switchblade by David Wilkerson

 The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson is a true story about faith, obedience to God, and how the message of Jesus can transform even the hardest lives.

1. The Beginning of the Call

David Wilkerson was a small-town Pentecostal preacher in Pennsylvania in the late 1950s. One day, he saw a Life magazine article about seven teenage gang members on trial for murder in New York City. When he saw their faces, he felt that God was calling him to go help them. 

Even though he had never worked with gangs before, he believed God wanted him to go to New York and preach the Gospel to them.

2. First Attempts in New York

Wilkerson traveled to New York and tried to speak to the boys in court, but the judge removed him, and the media mocked him.

Instead of quitting, he kept returning to New York and began meeting teenagers involved in gangs, drugs, and violence. He realized that many of them were angry, lonely, and hopeless. 

3. Working With Street Gangs

Wilkerson started preaching in the streets and visiting gang members personally.

He met Nicky Cruz, the violent leader of the Mau Maus gang. Nicky hated Wilkerson and even threatened to kill him.

Wilkerson responded with love and told him something famous:

“You could cut me into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece would still love you.”

This shocked Nicky because he had never experienced real love before.

4. Conversions and Changed Lives

Through prayer, preaching, and revival meetings, many gang members began to change.

Eventually:

• Nicky Cruz accepted Christ
• Several gang members left violence and drugs
• Many found new purpose and hope through faith

Nicky later became a Christian preacher himself. 

5. Teen Challenge Ministry

To help addicted and troubled youth long-term, Wilkerson started Teen Challenge, a Christian rehabilitation program.

The program focused on:

• Faith in Jesus
• Prayer and Bible teaching
• Community support
• Freedom from drugs and crime

Teen Challenge later spread around the world. 

Main message of the book:

The power of the Gospel and God’s love can transform anyone—even people deeply involved in crime, gangs, or addiction.

Key themes

• Obeying God’s calling even when it seems impossible
• The power of love and forgiveness
• Redemption through Jesus Christ
• Hope for people trapped in violence and addiction

I listened to this book on Hoopla: Hoopla is a digital service that lets you borrow movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, eBooks, and comics, all with your library card. You can stream or download right from your phone, tablet, or computer.

I love this app.

Seeking the Lord With All Your Heart

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

What This Verse Teaches

God promises that those who truly seek Him will find Him. This is not a casual search, but a sincere and wholehearted desire to know God.

The Lord wants people to come to Him with their whole heart not half-heartedly, not only in times of trouble, but with genuine faith and devotion.

Seek the Lord

To seek the Lord means to pursue Him, to desire His presence, and to turn to Him for truth, forgiveness, and guidance.

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

God invites everyone to come to Him.

Search With All Your Heart

God does not want only outward religion. He looks at the heart.

Searching with all your heart means:

• Humbly coming to God
• Truly wanting to know Him
• Turning away from sin
• Trusting in Jesus Christ

Psalm 119:2 (KJV)

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”

The Promise: You Will Find Him

God promises that those who truly seek Him will find Him. He is not hiding from those who come sincerely.

Jesus also said:

Matthew 7:7 (KJV)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”

When a person seeks God with a sincere heart, God reveals Himself and brings them into a relationship with Him.

A Personal Invitation

God is calling you today to seek Him with your whole heart.

You can begin right now by praying:

“Lord, help me to seek You with all my heart. Teach me Your ways and draw me closer to You.”

Remember

God promises:

• If you seek Him
• If you search with all your heart

You will find Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Why Are You Not Serving God?

Lately, I’ve had this thought on my mind— to ask people I know who aren’t saved a simple but deep question: "Why are you not serving God?"

Many of these people grew up in Christian homes. They heard the same Bible stories I did, went to Sunday school, maybe even memorized Scripture. They know about God. Yet for some reason, they’ve decided they don’t want Him in their lives.

Why?
What turned them off?

I’ve often wondered if it’s because of what they saw rather than what they heard. 

I think many people have witnessed compromise in their homes—homes that called themselves Christian, but didn’t truly reflect Christ.

The Power of Example

Children watch more than they listen. They notice when their parents act one way around other believers and another way behind closed doors. That kind of inconsistency plants confusion deep in their hearts. It sends the message that Christianity is just a performance, something you put on for others instead of a way of life shaped by love for Jesus.

In many "Christian homes", children are taught all the rules—all the do’s and don’ts—but not the relationship. They’re told to obey but not taught how to fall in love with Jesus first.

But true obedience doesn’t come from fear or pressure; it flows from a heart that knows and loves Jesus. When we truly love Him, we want to obey Him—out of devotion.

Rules can’t change hearts, but love can.

Teaching Relationship Over Rules

Maybe if more homes focused on helping their children build a personal relationship with God—encouraging them to seek answers in the Bible for themselves and to talk to God openly—fewer hearts would turn away later in life.

Parents can’t live their children’s faith for them, but they can model a life of love, humility, and repentance. Children need to see that faith is real even when life is messy—that loving Jesus isn’t about being perfect, but about depending on Him daily.

When all we teach is “be good” or “obey the rules,” we raise moral children but not necessarily spiritual ones. What we need are young people whose hearts burn for the Lord—who know Him deeply and personally.

Because to truly know God is to love God. And once you know Him, you’ll want to obey Him.

Don’t Let Others’ Failures Keep You From God

Now, maybe you did see compromise in your family. Maybe your parents said one thing and lived another. Maybe you were hurt by the hypocrisy you saw in the name of faith. But that doesn’t mean you should throw everything they taught you away.

It doesn’t mean you stop believing in God, or that everything they showed you was false. Sometimes people fail—but God never does.

Don’t let the failures of others cause you to turn away from the One who has never failed you. People can misrepresent God, but He is still holy, still merciful, still loving, still faithful. The actions of others don’t change who He is.

Instead of walking away, let that disappointment drive you to seek God for yourself.

Seek Jesus for Yourself

Open His Word. Ask Him to reveal who He truly is. Because when you see Him clearly—not through the lens of someone else’s mistakes, but through His truth—your faith becomes real, strong, and personal.

He wants to know you. He wants to heal the wounds that religion or hypocrisy may have caused. He wants to show you His heart, His goodness, and His grace.

So please, seek Jesus for yourself.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13

Start talking to Him. Read His Word. Spend time in His presence. Build your own relationship with the Lord.

You won’t regret it.

Because once you truly meet Him—once you know Him—you’ll never want to say no again. 

Disclaimer: I do want to add that some people grew up in truly godly homes—homes where Christ was honored and no compromise was seen—yet they still turned away from God. That’s something I find deeply puzzling.

No matter what reasons people give for not serving God, none of them really hold weight. I may not understand their choices, but my heart’s prayer is that they would come to truly know Him and remain faithful to Him for the rest of their lives.

Too long? Read the summary of this post below ⬇️ 

Many people who grew up in Christian homes know about God but choose not to serve Him. Often, the reason isn’t what they heard—but what they saw. They witnessed hypocrisy or compromise in homes that called themselves Christian, and it planted confusion and distrust.

True faith can’t be built on rules alone—it must come from a personal relationship with Jesus. Parents should model genuine love, humility, and repentance so children see faith lived out, not just preached.

Even if you’ve been hurt or disappointed by others’ failures, don’t let that keep you from God. People may misrepresent Him, but He never fails. Seek Him for yourself through His Word and prayer. 

My New Christmas Album: It Was Away in a Manger

🎄Hi friends! I’m so excited to tell you about my brand-new Christmas album called It Was Away in a Manger. It came out on October 31st, 2025, and I’ve been waiting to share it with you!

This album is really special to me because all the songs are original — my dad wrote them himself! They’re not the same old Christmas songs you’ve heard before. Each one has its own story, melody, and feeling that came straight from my heart.

Songs I Love Most

One of my favorite songs on the album is the title track, “It Was Away in a Manger.” It’s a soft and sweet song that reminds me of peaceful nights and the quiet magic of Christmas.

Another one I really love is “Joy to the World.” Even though it has the same name as the classic carol, this one’s totally new — it’s full of happiness and light, and it always makes me smile when I sing it.

Why I Made This Album

When we started writing these songs, we wanted to make music that felt warm and comforting — like sitting by the fire, watching snow fall, or being with the people you love. We hope these songs make you feel that way too.

You can listen to River and Me Ministries It Was Away in a Manger on all the music apps — and I really hope it becomes part of your Christmas season.

Thanks for listening and for sharing this special time with me. ❤️

Listen to the full album

A New Album, a new music video and what's new with River and Me Ministries

✨ Hi everyone!

I hope this finds you well and blessed. It’s been such a full and beautiful season, and I wanted to take a moment to share what’s been happening lately — and to thank you for all your love, prayers, and encouragement along the way. 💛

🎶 A Big Milestone: My New Album Release!

Last month was especially exciting because… I released my music album!

It’s part of River and Me Ministries Music. Each track carries a piece of my heart — stories and melodies that have come 

from moments of joy, waiting, and deep faith.

Every song is a reflection of God’s faithfulness, peace, and love through life’s ups and downs. From quiet prayers whispered in the dark to joyful praise for His goodness, my hope is that these songs remind you that God is always near and always working for our good.

You can listen to the album on our ministry platforms.

I’d love to hear which song speaks to you most. 💿✨

🎥 Music Video & Creative Projects

I also had the joy of creating a music video for one of the songs I wrote and sang! It’s been such a fun and faith-filled experience — from writing the lyrics and recording vocals, to seeing the visuals come alive. Watching it reach hearts and encourage others has been such a blessing.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s available on our My YouTube Channel

🌊 What’s New with River and Me Ministries

The YouTube channel has been growing and changing a lot lately! 

Along with music, we’re creating:

• 🎭 Silly puppet videos that share uplifting messages in fun ways

• 🎨 Animations that tell Bible stories and simple truths of faith

• 🎵 Original songs that glorify God and bring joy to families

It’s been wonderful to see how creativity can point hearts back to Him. If you haven’t yet, please consider subscribing — your support helps us reach more people with encouragement, light, and laughter.

💌 Thank You from My Heart

Thank you all for supporting me, praying for me, and walking beside me in this journey. Whether you’ve shared a kind word, watched a video, or simply prayed — it means more than I can ever express.

I’m so grateful for each one of you and for the way 

God connects us through His love.

With love and blessings,
Bre 💖

Studying the Bible through summaries

Lately, my mom and I have started reading summaries of each chapter in the Bible, and we’re currently in Genesis. It’s amazing how much more we’re getting out of God’s Word by doing it this way. The summaries help us see the bigger picture of what’s happening in each chapter and how everything fits together.

We’ve read through the Bible before and always enjoyed it, but this approach has been different—it’s helping us understand more deeply. Instead of just reading the text, we’re slowing down and letting it sink in. The summaries break each chapter down in a way that makes it easier to follow and remember what’s going on.

It’s been such a refreshing way to study and grow, and I’m so thankful for the new insights God keeps showing us through His Word.