abandoned to Christ.
  • Home
  • Know Christ
  • Meet Sunny
    • Life In Christ
    • What I Believe
    • Why I Write
  • Biblical Submission
  • Recs & Warnings
  • Let's Talk
Faithful and beloved saints of Christ Jesus, I need your prayer support again.

Earlier today, I was contacted by a precious sister in the Lord, Amy Spreeman who co-hosts "Stand Up For the Truth", (with Mike LeMay), on Q90 FM,  in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Amy requested an interview with me that will air live, tomorrow (March 27, 2013) from 9:00-10:00 a.m. My segment will go from 9:00-9:20 a.m.

You can either listen live by clicking this link: Stand Up For the Truth, or listen later by clicking this link: archived podcasts.

Okay, it's confession time. Most of you may not know this, but I'm an ardent introvert. I like love being alone and I love the quiet. Being with a group of more than one other person makes me nervous...sometimes even one other person makes me nervous, depending on who they are.

Most of my life, I've loved silence and precious times of meditating on God's word. And none of this is because I'm such a wonderfully strong Christian. No, it's because I'm selfish and prideful and I don't like to think of others or really put myself in situations where other people can see or hear me; it's my way of avoiding any kind of criticism, constructive or not.

I like to be safe. And being alone with God is always the safest place to be, but it's not always the place He calls us to.

"And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.'"
~Mark 9:2-5
The verses after the above passage tell us that Jesus then took the three (Peter, James and John) down the mountain to heal a demon-possessed boy. And this is what He calls us to do as well. Our Lord calls his disciples up the mountain to spend refreshing and glorious time with Him, then He commands us to go back down to a sin-filled land where there are a multitude that need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Remaining in a holy huddle is not an option. But it is utter disobedience.

Throughout the gospels, we read that Jesus spent much of His time serving and teaching others. Then He would slip away to desolate places so He could pray (Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16).

Two things my Lord has taught me through this is:
  1. It's vital I often withdraw from ministry to be still and spend time with my Father to keep my spiritual stamina;
  2. It's vital I balance my quiet times with God with care, love and service to those within the body of Christ.
I never set out to be a writer. I never set out to do anything that would draw attention to myself. I don't like that. It makes me queasy. If I had to describe myself with other biblical figures, I'd have to say that I'm a strange mix of Moses and Jonah. I can't speak with eloquence and I'm often stiff-necked and slow to obey.

But, I'm getting old and tired of being a schizophrenic version of Moses and Jonah. Tomorrow, I'll be 44 and it'll mark my 40th year of walking with the Lord. That's my favorite part of this birthday! I love that God saved me when He did and I love looking back and recounting all His goodness to me and those around me (Ps 9:1-2). God has given me a beautiful life and I wouldn't trade it in for the world.

In the Bible, God uses the number 40 as a time for preparation (e.g., Moses' 40 years in Midian before being called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, 40 days and 40 nights on the mountain receiving the 10 commandments, Jesus' 40 days and 40 nights of fasting) and even in how God creates human beings—a baby develops in his/her mother's womb for 40 weeks. So I've been wondering if God has been preparing me for something different than what I've been doing in the safety of my home, behind my computer.

I've prayed and asked and haven't received a clear answer yet, but like I said, I want to be more like Abraham and not like that crazy mix of Moses and Jonah, so I'm content to wait on the Lord for what is ahead, if, that is, He chooses to reveal it all to me. And even if He only chooses to reveal one step at a time rather than allow me to see the entire path, I am satisfied (Ps 119:105).

Since I trust in the One who is leading me through this journey I have resolved to follow...immediately, without hesitation, no matter how dreadful the situation might make me feel. I will follow, because I know my Father in Heaven is sovereign, He is good and He loves me; that makes all my steps secure (Ps 40:1-3).

May the Lord God be glorified through this interview and may the name of Jesus Christ be high and lifted up. Let us all, make much of Jesus rather than ourselves.
I will be interviewed tonight (March 25, 2013) on KKLA, 99.5 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. PST by Frank Sontag, a guest-host for the former Frank Pastore show "The Intersection of Faith and Reason" in Los Angeles, California.

The interview will begin with my review on the heretical "The Bible" mini-series, but will mainly focus on God's goodness, His sovereignty and grace to all creation, and especially to the elect.

I'd be so grateful for your  fervent prayers for tonight's interview.

Please pray for me and our brother Frank:
  • that God would protect our interview;
  • give us both hearts and ears that are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading;
  • and that God will prepare the hearts of all the listeners so they may hear His truth, have their faith strengthened and exhorted to live abandoned to Christ with every breath they have.
You can listen to the interview live by clicking this link: The Intersection of Faith and Reason or you can go to the radio station's homepage: KKLA 99.5.

If you can't listen live, please check out the archives link and listen by clicking this link: Archives.

For those of you who are wondering how all this came about, below is a little background on why I was contacted by Frank Sontag and how he came to be a guest-host of Frank Pastore's former show.

After Frank Sontag's best friend sent him a link to my review on the History Channel's not-"The Bible" mini-series, and after much prayer, Frank was led to contact me and request an interview.

Due to the gravity of the deception of this docudrama that is filled with heresy and blasphemy, many saints have been deceived by it's lure, as a valid source to share the Gospel with the lost world.

Unfortunately, this is the false gospel where there's no confession of sin, no repentance and therefore no evidence or need for God's grace and mercy and especially no need for forgiveness; which means there is no salvation that is only found in Christ Jesus the Lord.

After my review, I received many comments and emails from readers all over the world who were both grateful and hateful towards my publishing this review. Nonetheless, I continue to stand by God's word, regardless of praise of ridicule, I am resolved to my Father's call to remain steadfast and immovable—contending for the faith.

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He [Christ] has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him [God the Father], if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven"
~Colossians 1:21-23

It's been a painful and joyous past few weeks as the Lord has kindly endured me through friendly fire and kept me grateful for those who have ears to hear the true message of Christ and have removed their endorsements and promotions of this wicked film that was created and produced by unbelievers.

God has brought me much comfort through the prayers and support of many faithful saints who love God's word and take Him just as seriously as He commands us. I am immensely grateful to the Lord for allowing me to travel this road with other soldiers of the Cross.

One of these soldiers is my brother Frank Sontag.

Many of you may be familiar with Frank Pastore as he was Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds (1979-1985) , Minnesota Twins (1986) and Texas Rangers (1987). Soon after this, Frank came to know Christ as his Lord and Savior, authored a book and started a radio program to exhort saints in Christ to live every day for the Lord who gave His life for us, so that we live fully in Him.

In November of 2012, Pastore was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that sent him Home to be with our Lord Jesus in December of 2012. After this accident, KKLA contacted Frank Sontag to ask him to be one of the guest-host for Pastore's show.

Frank Sontag has been in the radio and motivational speaking industry for 21 years. Sontag was raised in a Roman Catholic environment, but after he had a serious motorcycle accident in 1984, he began to wonder why he survived and what purpose did his life serve. He turned away from his Roman Catholic upbringing and was inclined to the New Age spirituality teachings until God saved Him through repentance and faith in Christ in 2009.

Our brother Frank now lives to honor and glorify God in all he does. He has a passion to preach the true Gospel of Christ (as he lived most of his life in deception with the false gospel) and lives to exhort fellow saints of the Lord Jesus to do the same.

Please share this with anyone who you know will pray and may be blessed by this interview. I hope many of you can tune in to tonight's program and will leaven encouraging comments on the station's website.

God bless you all, and thank you in advance for your prayers and support of God's work.
"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel"
~Eph 6:18-19
To God alone be the glory. Amen.
Following the Master of my soul is sometimes a lonely road; sadly, even within the Christian community.

It seems these days, that Christians have become as worldly as the world we live in. We live, laugh and love with those who live, laugh and love with us, while we shun those who make us feel uncomfortable.

We hypocritically and foolishly judge one another based on our personal affinities and ideologies of how we think life ought to be lived, whilst all the time, we dismiss our Savior's command to love as He has loved us; in accordance with His perfect and righteous judgment (John 7:24), rather than with our imperfect and Pharisaical views (Psalm 55:12-14, Matt 7:5).

If we encourage and excuse those who indulge in the same sins we do, while we condemn and reject those who love us enough to reprove us with the Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17), how will we ever mature in our faith (Prov 27:6)?

Sometimes I wonder if I've lived my life in vain. If the love I've shared, the injury spared and sacrifices made were all for naught. I wonder if others have truly forgiven me for offenses and injuries I've caused them, or desire my forgiveness for pains they've caused me. I wonder, as Christians, do we really strive for peace with one another—do we purposefully seek to love one another as Christ our God has loved us? Or do we sit around hoping things will magically work themselves out so we don't have to face some ugly truths about ourselves?
"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift...And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
~Matt 5:23-24, Mk 11:25
Strife or any hint of discord within the body of Christ has always and I believe, always will, grieve me more than anything. Why? Because it grieves our Lord. It's His body, so ultimately, it's the Lord Jesus we're hurting when we act in pride, behave foolishly, love only those who love us and make us feel good; when we gossip and harbor bitterness towards one another. All these things deeply grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30-32), therefore it ought to grieve all those who are in Christ.

During these times of grief, I look to the Heavens and call out to God my Father, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. When I see His glorious and marvelous ways, and understand what I can of His magnificent wisdom, I perceive how lovingly, patiently and compassionately He deals with all mankind. Then my heart is filled with peace, and moved with enduring love for those who have hurt and rejected me—whether believers or unbelievers. I understand, for I grieve my Lord the same way whenever I disobey (Luke 6:46) and prefer my opinions of right and wrong over God's perfect judgement of what's right and wrong.

I remind myself that I am nothing great in this world that anyone should look upon me and desire me for anything. I am but a lowly hand-maiden of the Lord, working His field, happily doing His bidding, just as He has commanded (Lk 17:10, 1 Cor 4:7). And in this, I am well satisfied, for I am well loved, well cared for, and well honored as a daughter of the Most High God.

So, while in this life, I am may never be the person everyone likes, or ever draw a crowd to my funeral, I shall be be fully satisfied on That Day, should my Lord say to me, "Daughter, your life was a beautiful offering to Me. You faithfully ran the race, and finished well." (Mk 14:6, Matt 25:23, 2 Tim 4:7)

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him...And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up...And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
~Psalm 126:5-6, Gal 6:9, James 3:18

Take courage fellow saints in Christ the Lord! Remember, our lives are not our own. We were bought with the most costly price—the perfect and precious blood of the Son of God. If we lose all that this world holds dear, be encouraged knowing your faithful service to our brothers and sisters, and taking the Gospel to the lost, will grant you eternal glories that outweigh every earthly pleasure (2 Cor 4:16-18)!

"Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
~Jesus the Christ (Matt 10:37-39)

The primary goal for me and my husband as parents, has never been to be our children's buddy, or to win their love. We've never intended to be their best friend or someone they admired.

We greatly desire for our children to spend their lives making much of Jesus, rather than making much of us...or themselves. We've always wanted to give our sons what neither of us ever had—parents who love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, souls, minds and strengths, and love others as themselves (Matt 22:37-40).

We can't think of any greater gift or legacy a parent can pass on to their children, except the love of God (Rom 13:8) and the Gospel of Jesus Christ which alone has the power to save and perfectly reveal the righteousness of God (Rom 1:16-17).

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:9-14
The sad reality of Christian parenting today is we've been ensnared by the same pitfalls of unbelieving parents. We foolishly believe that if we become our children's buddy and pal around with them; behave as immaturely as they do by laughing at what they laugh at, being entertained by what they're entertained by and making sure they think we're  fun, cool and always on their side. We think by conducting ourselves for the approval of our children, we will somehow win our children's love and respect. This is the work of futility and against God's command for parents (Prov 6:20-23, 13:24, 22:15, 1 Cor 13:11, 14:20).

Similar to our relationship with God, while we should pursue peaceful and "friendly" relations with our children, we need to be careful not to blur the boundaries of the authority God gave us over them; thereby demonstrating God's love, protection and grace. If you don't maintain God's order in your family, you will surely breed chaos.

Our children ought to have a healthy fear of us, as well as respectfully love us, not because we're so much fun, or so perfect, but because they witness God's Word manifested in our lives as they daily see us yielding our personal desires to bring glory to God and to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

Diligently teach your children the Word of God (Deut 6:6-9). Model it in the nature of Christ: with humility, gentleness, honesty, wisdom and grace. Admit your failures and sins, and apologize more often (Eph 6:4, Col 3:21).  Encourage your children in the things of God by rejoicing more when you see the Holy Spirit's work in them, than when you see them accomplish worldly goals (3 John 1:4).

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
~Philippians 2:17
As parents we're willing to sacrifice many things for our children. Yet the greatest thing we need to sacrifice is our pride and pretense of perfection; something very few of us do.
Newer Posts Older Posts Home

My Favorite Bible Reading Plan

My Favorite Bible Reading Plan
Professor Grant Horner's 'The Ten Lists Bible Reading System'

24-HR Reformation Radio

Listen to RefNet

ABOUT ME

What God takes from me is less than I owe him, but what he leaves me is more than he owes me.
~William Gurnall

Subscribe

Get new posts by email:

FOLLOW

POPULAR POSTS

  • Why I no longer follow John Piper or Desiring God ministry
  • Dangerous parenting advice from Abraham Piper
  • What defines you?
  • Professor Grant Horner's 'The Ten Lists Bible Reading System'
  • About Dr. Steven J. Lawson
  • When Christians Don't Love The Word
  • Advocating for Self

My Offerings

Jesus Christ 396 Exhortations 181 Daily Christian Living 123 Worship 59 Prayer 52 Christian love 51 Dealing with Adversity 51 Biblical Womanhood 42 Christian Worldview 41 Devotional 39 Positions 35 Child Training 34 Christian Health 32 Evangelism 32 Depression 17 Advent 15 Christian Movies 15 Abortion 14 Overcoming Fear 14 Warnings Against False Doctrine 13 Christian Celebrations 10 Christmas 10 Prodigal Children 10 Mother's Day 5 Bible Reading Plan 3 Modesty 3
Powered by Blogger.

Faithful & Trusted Studies

Faithful & Trusted Studies

Faithful & Trusted Magazine

Faithful & Trusted Magazine

Faithful & Trusted Podcasts

Faithful & Trusted Podcasts

Copyright © abandoned to Christ.