abandoned to Christ.

I used to write poems all the time. It's something the Lord gave me to do while He endured me through some of the darkest and most violent times in my life. While there were many external forces working against me, God's word and the hope in Christ sustained me through the tempest. The Lord graciously drew me to seek His face, worship Him in love and truth, and brought me His incomprehensible peace. The love of God, always quieted my heart (Zeph 3:17) and lifted my soul to remember what is greater than all that is in this world...the Lord Jesus Christ and the richness of the gift of God in Jesus. Today, during my praise and quiet time, I read Ephesians 1:3-19 with vv. 17-19 inspiring me to write this poem that is my prayer for me, and all the saints who are in Christ. May we who have been chosen by the Most High God as His dearly and beloved children, resolve to live abandoned to Christ (Gal 2:20); for His glory, His praise and exaltation alone—for He alon...

By the awesome grace and indelible mercies of our great and sovereign God, our country has stood strong and vibrant for nearly 237 years. In those years, never has there been a leader of this country in which the public has been more enamored with; enough to attribute to him the holy nature and names that Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, alone, is worthy to behold. Even as nefarious as this sounds it's not the most abominable behavior. No, the most abominable behavior is that the President allows people to wickedly refer to him as "our "lord and savior" (Jamie Foxx, 2012 Soul Train Music Awards, video below). Joining Jamie Foxx's blasphemous statement, Newsweek's January 18, 2013 cover, dubbed the President's second inauguration as the "second coming". If these atrocities aren't enough to cause you to fall on your knees and pray for the souls of the lost (which includes our President and his family), then you mu...

Do you know what will happen to you when you die? Do you know where you're going? Are you 100% sure of your eternity? Many will say on that day.. . "I had many good works, diligently showed kindness to others, faithfully attended and volunteered at church, gave money to the needy and besides all this, I'm secure of my eternity because I prayed a prayer one day." But God says it's wise for every person to test yourself by His word (rather than yours or others) and see if you truly possess the faith that saves . Jesus warns that on the Day of Judgement there will be many who will be totally surprised and devastated when they hear Him say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matt 7:23) God, who alone owns Heaven, assures us the only way to Him, is through faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ. "He [Peter] was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud ...

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...