abandoned to Christ.

....at my sweet sister-friend LauraLee's Faith-filled Friday! I'm her guest vlogger (video blogger) today, sharing a story of how God tested and strengthened my faith when our youngest son (now 16) was hit by a car (at age 6) and nearly died. It's a short 6 minute video and I pray that God will use it to bless you, strengthen you and exhort you to press on toward the goal in which He has called all His children heavenward in Christ Jesus our Lord! Click the link below and come visit with me! LauraLee's Faith-filled Fridays | Guest: Sunny Shell "In Him [Christ] we have obtained and inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our i...

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." ~ John 15:13 During our breakfast devotional this morning, we were discussing Good Friday (tomorrow) and Resurrection Sunday (Easter). As we discussed this, I asked our sons, "Why did the Apostle Paul say to the Corinthians, 'For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' "? (1 Corinthians 2:2) Why did the Apostle Paul say this? Why did He say that he decided to know NOTHING, except Christ crucified? My youngest son answered first and said, "So that we would remember that Sunday is coming." Then my oldest son answered, "It was so we would remember that we had to be ransomed . A price had to be paid for our salvation." Bingo! What wise sons I have! God always makes things so simple and clear. Jesus was, and is still, the best communicator. He took God's word, and all it's mysteries, and made it clea...

original photo by: Robert Aichinger edited by: Sunny Shell Most Christians, as well as those who've been around Christians are familiar with the phrase: "We do all things for God's glory alone." I've often been asked: "Why does God want all the glory, isn't that kind of out of character for Him; to be so self-centered, so self-promoting?" For many, this just doesn't make sense. So why is it so important that only God receives all the glory and why does He command it to be done? Is God a megalomaniac? By all means, "No!" But most people are. True? Most of us walk around thinking we deserve so much good, so much praise, so much...well, everything and anything that's favorable to us. The world's riddled with catch phrases like "You deserve a break today" (McDonald's), "Because you're worth it." (L'Oréal). And we all buy into it. We actually buy into it before we're even ol...

Are Christians sinless? Of course not! But we do sin less. Sin less than who? Sin less than the unbelieving world? Most certainly, but we ought not compare ourselves to those who are blind and live in darkness. So who then shall we compare ourselves? Let’s look to Scripture to find the answer: “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” ~Galatians 6:3-5, ESV The Lord God spoke through the Apostle Paul and said that when any of us thinks more of ourselves than we ought, we are only deceiving ourselves. This is true. We’re not really fooling anyone else, just ourselves. Seems kind of silly doesn’t it? I mean, who wants to keep lying to... himself ? The Lord goes on to reveal to us that people shouldn’t compare themselves to other people (even other Christians [2 Cor 10:12...