abandoned to Christ.

The love that we’re all looking for, can only be found in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 15:13). Regardless of your religious affiliations or spiritual inclinations, the Creator God, made every human being in His image, and put the desire to love and be loved into every heart. That’s why we all seek it so desperately and some are left utterly despondent when they can’t find it. Everyone needs and wants the forever, unconditional, faithful, and exclusive love that only seeks the benefit of the object of its love, with no thought to how it will effect the giver. This is agape love; the love of God. This exclusive love that everyone desires is known solely by Christians, because we know God —who is love (1 John 4:8). It’s only logical to conclude that if God Himself is the very definition of love, then without Him, love is left undefined, therefore unattainable. While we may have some warm feelings, affections, passions and attachments to one another, none of these wil...

My wonderful and wise husband posted this on our family's Facebook ministry page yesterday and I was so encouraged by it, I wanted to share what it with all of you. Read. Listen. Be blessed. "Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him, and he will act" ~Psalm 37:5 This verse stands in stark contrast to a popular phrase in the church today, "Let go and let God". We usually hear this phrase related to a difficult trial we may be going through, even our struggle to die to ourselves, our sinful desires. Just stop worrying about it and let God take care of everything...so the thinking goes. In his book, The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges writes, "There's no question that we are responsible to pursue holiness with all the intensity the word pursue implies. Every moral imperative in the Bible addresses itself to our responsibility to discipline ourselves unto godliness. We aren't just to 'turn it all over to the Lord' ...

Yesterday we got to closely examine the first two verses of Romans 12:9-13. This amazing passage is filled with so much of God's goodness, trying to discuss it in one article is like trying to drink out of a fire hydrant—though you're thirst will be quenched, much of the rich nourishment will be wasted. Since a meal is best enjoyed when it can be savored, not when it's being shoved down your throat, we'll continue to take our time and cover only verse 11 today. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." ~Romans 12:9-13 (ESV) Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit [or Spirit], serve the Lord.  I love how God uses two totally opposi...

What is "genuine Christian love"? Let's see how God defines it. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." ~Romans 12:9-13 (ESV) Jesus said that it is by our love for one another that the world will know that we are His disciples (Jn 13:34-35). The Lord did not say, it is by our theology, doctrine, knowledge, memorization of Scripture, our "service" or ideas of what holy living is, that will be the evidence to the world that we are, in fact, His disciples , He said, it is by our love for one another...just as He has loved us. Let's break down each verse and examine our own hearts in the light of God's holy word so that we...

71 years ago today, the Japanese executed their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. As many reflect of the events of that day, let us also reflect on some of the personal lives that were affected by World War II. From Pearl Harbor to Calvary  is about the incredible, transforming life of Jesus Christ, manifested in Captain Mitsuo Fuchida who eagerly served in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Prior to his salvation Fuchida led three successful air attacks: Pear Harbor on December 7, 1941; Darwin, Australia on February 19, 1942 and against the Royal Navy in British Ceylon (presently Sri Lanka) on April 5, 1942. After the war, Fuchida entered civilian life as a very dissatisfied farmer after being a decorated and highly honored soldier. He began to wonder why he survived so many calamities while thousands around him died. Slowly his thoughts came to something he’d never considered: A Creator God. During this time of deep contemplation about life, Fuchida...

Hello friends, Guess what? Ray Comfort and the Living Waters staff have created another inspiring movie that will cause you to examine your hearts (2 Cor 13:5), and exhort you to be holy as the Lord our God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). "Genius" gives insight into the life of John Lennon, and according to Ken Mansfield (the ex-U.S. Apple manager for the Beatles) "[It] will open your eyes." Reviewers of the pre-release are giving it two thumbs up. Best-selling author, Randy Alcorn, said it is "Fast-paced, thought-provoking and compelling." World Net Daily's Joseph Farah responded with, "You have outdone yourself!" while Ted Baehr of Movieguide called it "An entertaining and challenging insight…watch and wonder." Ray Comfort said he was amazed to discover that the Beatles aren't simply a rock group from a by-gone era, but that they are appealing to a new generation. "They have sold more than 2,303,500,000 r...

Original digital art created by Dale Jackson, www.StratoArt.com It’s ironic that during this time of year, Thanksgiving and Christmas—a time that should generate hearts filled with gratitude and joy, often bring the opposite; hearts filled with envy, covetousness, bitterness, clamor, slander, gossip and hostility. And all this, by way of our in-laws (or outlaws) that many of us only see during this time of year. In the beginning of every marriage, everyone is usually on their best behavior, but as time goes by, “familiarity breeds contempt”. This is not only true within relationships, but it happens with special occasions that were meant to stir a person’s heart toward humility and gratitude; two things that are much needed, yet extremely lacking in our world today. We all have in-laws and some of us have outlaws for relatives. And, if we’re honest, some of us are the outlaws. You know, the ones who breed quarrels, who incite jealousy and gossip among our family ...

Photo credit: Dale Jackson, www.StratoArt.com Should Christians vote? Yes! "And He [Jesus] said to them,  'Whose likeness and inscription is this?'  They said to Him,  'Caesar's.'  Jesus said to them,  'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at Him.' " ~Mark 12: 17 ( ESV ) As Christians, we ought to marvel at Jesus’ desire for the separation of Church and State. And we must desire the same. We rightly separate Church and State by giving to God what is His (Luke 10:27), and giving the world, what belongs to it; our freedoms in Christ to obey His precepts and bless the world by supporting those who uphold God’s laws for the protection and provision of His saints (see Gen 41:37-41, 45:7-8; Jeremiah 25:8-9; Is 44:28, 45:1). Throughout biblical history, when God’s people have waned from wholeheartedly following His Word, He lifted up pagan leaders (e.g., Pharaoh...