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What defines you?

www.BibleScreen.com What's the very first word that comes to mind when asked, "What defines you?" Husband? Wife? Father? Mother? Son? Daughter? Brother? Sister? Friend? Student? Minister? Volunteer? Sports? Hobbies? Cancer? Or simply...Christ? If you asked what defined me 24 years ago, I would've said "work". If you asked me again a few years later, I would've said, "mother". If you waited another couple of years and asked me again, I'd say "Bible study teacher". And if for some reason you were still curious and asked me 10 years after that, I would've said "help-meet". If you asked me only five years ago, I'd tell you "diseased". But if you asked me now, I'd tell you simply..."Christ". "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before t...

Satan's work, and the Christian

A disturbing trend within Christendom is the focus and emphasis on Satan and his work in this world, instead of the supreme work of God and His powerful and glorious manifestation of Christ's life in His children (Gal 2:20, Col 1:27). There's no biblical foundation for this strange, yet prevalent fascination with satanical work and the powers of evil which have caused many Christians to include in prayer...yes, prayer communications with Satan, i.e., "Dear Lord, help _____ as they suffer. And Satan, we bind and forbid you to..." Our focused thoughts and meditations are supposed to be on the Almighty and what He has done for us through Christ—all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Accordingly, our minds are to be captivated by Christ and His magnificence, not Satan and his wickedness (John 16:33, 2 Cor 10:5). Two of the main reasons I believe Christians are enslaved and crippled by fear...

One titanium plate and eight screws later...

...here I am ...again ...another surgery ...number four ...all within a five year time frame. So let's recap. In the past nine years: I've had 4 surgeries; 6 ER visits; 5 colonoscopies and endoscopies; 4 hospital admits; multiple biopsies of my stomach and esophagus; one biopsy of skin and muscle (from my thigh); one biopsy of my liver; countless MRI's of my brain and spinal column; multiple CT Scans, sonograms, x-rays and other procedures; one MRA of my brain;  a cholecystectomy due to sepsis; partial hysterectomy due to enlarged uterus with polyps and menorrhagia; lumbar surgery with a double discectomy and spinal fusion; cervical spine surgery with triple discectomy and spinal fusion. Neck brace that keeps me safe. Over the course of these eight years I've been diagnosed with: NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease); hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high triglycerides); eosinophilia; RA (rheumatoid arthritis), but only for three years because t...

Humbled or hardened?

During the past 20 plus years I've discipled and counseled women and teen girls, I've often been asked,   "God's humbled and broken me enough! When will this trial end?" My response? "Apparently, neither has happened." Sadly, I've witnessed too many professing Christians say they are humbled, yet live with hardened and calloused hearts as they deceptively believe God Almighty owes them something. "Who has first given to Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine...Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?' 'Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?' For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen." ~Job 41:11, Rom 11:33-36 Many Christians (especially here in America)...

Easter: The truth about life, death and The Resurrection

Is there life after death? Are we reincarnated and come back as something else depending on the kind of life we previously lived? Can the dead rise back to life? Is there really a Heaven and Hell? The answers are: yes, there is life after death; no,  reincarnation isn't real; and yes, when a person dies, they will be resurrected either to eternal life in Heaven with God, or eternal damnation in Hell with Satan and his demons (John 5:28-29). Two days ago, we rejoiced in the reason why Good Friday is so good—because, once and for all, the penalty for sin was paid in full for those who by faith, repent and trust their lives to Jesus (Hebrews 10:10). Today, we rejoice that Jesus Christ is risen! The grave that could not hold our Savior, cannot hold us. The power of sin and Satan were defeated so that sinners whom Christ came to save would be guaranteed eternal life in Him. Many will celebrate today with chocolate, bunnies, Easter eggs, new dresses and hat...

Starbucks, gay marriage and the Christian

Marriage is created and defined by God, not man. The title of this article sounds like the beginning of a bad  joke doesn't it? Well, it's not. It's a very real and serious topic these days, especially since the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) , enacted on September 21, 1996, is on trial, and may possibly be voted into extinction by our government. While this topic has brewed to the brim from the overflow of deep passions in the hearts of believers and unbelievers, talks about boycotting Starbucks Coffee Company has traveled around the dizzying social media carousel. You've probably seen the marriage equality profile photos and the "Dump Starbucks" memes on Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, just as I have. You've also probably read all the Christian news articles encouraging other Christians to take a stand for marriage as God has defined it by boycotting Starbucks and encouraging others to do the same. To be "...

What's so 'good' about Friday?

Usually, the word “good” is associated with things that are beneficial and bring cheer and hope. Two thousand years ago on “Good Friday”, Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of God was betrayed, abandoned, brutally beaten, nailed to a cross, then died. Betrayal. Abandonment. Brutality. Crucifixion. Death. Nothing about that sounds “good” does it? But it is good. And here’s why—the Son of God: Suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sins (Heb 2:17, 1 John 4:10); Defeated the power of Satan, sin and the sting of death (1 Cor 15:51-57); Set free all, who by faith, repent and trust in Him (Mk 1:15, Luke 13:5, Eph 2:8-9); Made us ambassadors of Christ and ministers of the Gospel of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20); Provided a way for the Father to impute His righteousness to those who believe (2 Cor 5:21). Now that’s good news! “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though ...

Q90 FM - second radio interview tomorrow 03/27

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...