abandoned to Christ.

Common emotions that occupy our hearts when one year is ending and a new one is beginning are: longing for the things of old, or hoping for better things in the future. Most often, these ideas are based on what we want and only the things we can conjure up from our own, finite minds. Wouldn’t you prefer to remember the old and look on to the new with the mind of infinite God, rather than be entrapped by the limitations of your own thoughts, dreams and aspirations? Especially for the most important relationship God has established on this earth—your marriage? Marriage is the only relationship that God uses to express the holy union and beautiful love of Christ for His Body, the Church (every Christian). Don’t tarnish this glorious gift from God with your personal desires and thoughts. Rather, use your freedom in Christ to love, do good and bless your spouse without any regard for self-fulfillment. “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to thei...

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear...And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts , to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." ~Eph 4:29; Heb 10:24; Col 3:14-17 I am grieved by the communication motives of professing Christians; including me. What motivates us to communicate? Is it be bring glory, honor and praise to God, or to bring all these things to ourselves...

“And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’...‘Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed’...Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” ~Mark 2:27; Exodus 23:12; Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV) Today is a special day. Not only is it Sunday, a day that Christians gather for corporate worship of our Savior (Hebrews 10:24-25), but today is also Christmas; the day that over 2,000 years ago, the Son of God made Himself nothing by coming to earth, born in the image of His own creation — man (Philippians 2:6-7). There are some who believe that those who spent today anywhere else except the church building, has sinned. But as you can rightly assert f...

“No, not me, Lord! Homeless people are lazy, smelly and violent people who deserve to be on the streets,” exclaimed Susie Jennings, just months after being widowed in 1993. Now Susie is the Founder and President of Operation Care International (OCI), formerly Operation Care - Dallas. I met Susie in the winter of 2004 when she was rallying help for what would become our nation’s largest Christmas party for the homeless. On December 18 of that year, the first of many OCI’s “Christmas Gift” was held at the Dallas Convention Center with 1,500 volunteers serving food, washing feet, cutting hair, distributing clothes, blankets and gifts, along with 10 hospital facilities providing medical care and more, for approximately 8,500 homeless men, women and children. Motivated by her devotion to her first and greatest love, Jesus Christ the Lord, Susie is a true servant-leader who works tirelessly to love the homeless with the same comfort and compassion she receives from God (2 Cor 1:3-4). Su...

inspired artwork by Dale Jackson www.StratoArt.com I'M THANKFUL: God is God; that He is holy, righteous, just, good, patient, awesome, sovereign, gracious, merciful and compassionate; for Jesus; that I am saved; that the Holy Spirit is my Counselor; for my darling husband who loves Christ with every breath; two sons who are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus every day; for faithful brothers and sisters in Christ I have the blessing to fellowship with and work alongside in our Father's Business; for online media so we can reach the multitudes with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and exhort believers to persevere and mature in the faith; for old friends and new ones. I'm thankful to God for so much more, but I believe if I were to pen them all, there would not be enough room in all the world to hold the volumes I would write. "Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You ...

inspired artwork by Dale Jackson www.StratoArt.com So often, we have read, and many (including me) have said: “I’m so blessed because I’m married to a godly man.” , or “I’m so blessed because my children love the Lord.” , or “I’m so blessed because God has provided me a wonderful job I love...” and so on. While being a wife to a wonderfully godly man, a mother of two sons in Christ, having the joy of walking my short sojourn here with many faithful saints of Christ all over the world are sure and wonderful blessings, none of them are the reasons  why I am blessed...that is, not according to God. Why bother bringing up this point that seems like I’m making a big deal about semantics? Why is it so important to make a distinction between our blessings vs. the reasons  why  we  are blessed? Because remembering the reasons ,  helps to keep our pride and judgmental attitudes in check. My heart hurts: for those who are not married to godly husbands, rathe...

I love technology, don't you? I love how God gave wisdom to people, so we can discover what ails us...most of the time. One of the most common food allergies is gluten. There are those who have severe Celiac Disease to those who have a mild intolerance for gluten. Regardless of which spectrum you're on, if you treat your body as it is, the holy temple of God, then you can still live a "normal" and healthy life by staying away from foods with gluten in it. The trouble is, most foods (even sauces) have gluten in them. It's a common ingredient, even in shampoos, soaps, cosmetics and skin care. I have a precious sister in Christ who has a son that is gluten intolerant. He breaks out in rashes and gets quite sick if he's exposed. So she's had to find interesting ways to allow him to still be a kid and enjoy some fun foods, like cookies, but without gluten. I want to share with you a wonderful recipe she has for Coconut Macaroons . It's simple and glut...

Before our gracious and wise God allowed me to be physically limited by a rare metabolic myopathy, I used to run...a lot. I especially loved running outside; basking in the beauty of God's creation and worshiping Him as I ran. I would often weep as I was overcome by awe and utter joy of how awesome God is. Since I loved running, I would run in 5K's for different causes. I enjoyed the challenge and the idea that by simply running, God enabled me to help and encourage others. There was this one race I'll never forget. A race where I got smoked by an elderly woman. Initially, I was committed to keeping this precious woman company. She could see that I could run faster, and wanted to. So she kindly smiled at me and said, "Why don't you go on sweetie. I'll either catch up, or see you at the finish line."  I didn't want to leave her alone, but I also wanted to win. So I thanked her and went on. Well, in my pride, I ran fast and hard, just like many w...