Christian Living
This area allows you to see all the articles in one place.
Work, Work, Work
| January 1, 2020Most Christians agree that the love of money is not a good thing. Yet for some reason, most of our conversation centers around work, and our worries and anxieties are often about work. But Scripture is clear—God already cares for us, provides for us, and even clothes us.
Does God Exist?
| January 1, 2020Do the Holy Scriptures prove the existence of God? The answer, of course, is no. The Bible does not prove that God exists. However, we can read in the Bible: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
From Perfectionism, Performance, and Pride to Peace
| January 1, 2020As I sobbed to my friend on the phone, I shared with her that I just wanted a good life. I wanted everything to be okay. I wanted to be successful - but it felt like everyone was fighting me.
The Root Cause of Anxiety
| January 1, 2020The root cause of anxiety is that we feel out of control. When everything is going the way we think it should go, there is no anxiety or stress.
Sanctified in Truth
| January 1, 2020In His high-priestly prayer (John 17), Jesus was mindful of His followers—knowing that after His departure they would be exposed and vulnerable without His leadership. He foresaw the tests and trials that would encounter them.
Homosexuality: The Christian Perspective
| November 1, 2019Homosexuality is the manifestation of sexual desire toward a member of one’s own sex or the erotic activity with a member of the same sex. (The Greek word homos means “the same.”) A lesbian is a female homosexual. More recently, the term “gay” has come into popular use to refer to both sexes who are homosexuals.
Should we Vote?
| November 1, 2019The Bible doesn’t directly command us to vote—because people who lived in Bible times couldn’t vote. They lived under kings and emperors who weren’t elected by popular vote.
Christmas Preparations
| November 1, 2019What if we had planned for a party and no one came? (That happened to me!) Well, the Lord is preparing a great feast for those who are ready to meet Him. Will we be ready?
Behold Israel
| September 1, 2019It is true that many people today consider God’s promises to the Jews to be obsolete and invalid. This seemingly is a deeply established thought among us Anabaptists of today—one that I personally believed in for many years. As the Lord began opening my eyes to the thought that He indeed had not yet forsaken Israel, His “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), it caused a severe paradigm shift within my heart. I also discovered that there is a certain shame attached when one accepts the Jews as yet being God’s people.
Life Matters
| September 1, 2019Following the recent decision of the lawmakers of New York to allow more abortions, God has laid a burden on my heart for us to consider. I am writing this as a challenge to think about what is happening in America.
Compassion or Bitterness
| September 1, 2019Why do we care when someone else is hurting, either physically or emotionally? Because there is this thing called Compassion, which simply means Passion for someone else. So what is passion? Passion is “a powerful emotion, usually as in love or hate.”
Give Thanks
| September 1, 2019Another month has come. Have we thanked God for the little things in our life—things like bread to eat, a place to sleep, friends, and family? Have we thought of thanking Him for giving us life and breath? What about salvation? Do we think of the agony He went through, or do we groan within ourselves?
Fear of the Unknown
| July 1, 2019Fear is not fun to live with. It steals our sleep, our peace, our joy, and our courage from us. Fear is the opposite of faith and trust. It is a tormentor! People fear losing their jobs, dying early, the dark, illness, disease, not being able to pay their bills, and on and on. Sometimes fear is short lived; other times fear goes on for days, sometimes years.
Reading and Understanding the Bible
| July 1, 2019I’m certain you’ll agree with me that there is no other book anywhere near as important as the Bible. For thousands of years this book instructed, comforted, and helped mankind. People in countries were Christians are persecuted risk their lives to get a copy of this Book, or even just a fragment of it; and most Christian households in America have at least one copy and read it more than any other book.
The Believer's Benefits
| May 1, 2019Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Ps. 103:1–5)
What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 3)
| May 1, 2019This is part three of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
What is Love?
| May 1, 2019Love. What is love? When most of us think of love, we think of treating someone else kindly and not hurting them. This indeed is love, but is that all? Many confuse love with lust, as well, and think it means having sexual relations with someone. Let's look a little deeper into what all love includes. I will divide it in two, because there are two very different kinds of love.
The Inner Battle
| May 1, 2019This morning I was feeling challenged in the area of forgiving people who talked nicely to my face but threw me in the frying pan the minute I turned my back. The thoughts and feelings crept in slowly and unannounced. It was not until I was awake for an hour that I suddenly realized—this whole thing is mentally devouring me.
Why I Value Modesty
| March 1, 2019There was a day, nearly eight years ago, that I came to a startling realization: I no longer cared about being modest.
What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 2)
| March 1, 2019This is part two of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? (Part 1)
| January 1, 2019This is part one of a three-part article on the beliefs of the religious group that refers to itself as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Legalism - Worse than Adultery
| January 1, 2019The word “Legalism” is defined as, “Excessive adherence to a law or formula.”
My Safe Place
| January 1, 2019All I ever wanted . . . just four little words, but those words are packed to the gills with meaning. When they dare to be uttered, their source is daring to bare their heart and soul to give you insight into their deepest desires. And usually following those words comes a story—a story of crushed hopes and dreams.
Desperation Births the Beautiful
| November 1, 2018I read a well-known story to my children last night. It is my youngest son’s favorite Bible story: the story of baby Moses. I read a well-known story to my children last night. It is my youngest son’s favorite Bible story: the story of baby Moses. This little guy didn’t pick the best time to make an appearance into the world. He was conceived at a time when Hebrew parents didn’t exactly want to be having babies.
Original Mandate
| November 1, 2018Here is the original mandate for the human race: Genesis 1:27–28 says, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them:
God is Perfect, but He's not a Perfectionist
| November 1, 2018James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Christmas: Joy or Pain
| November 1, 2018It’s Christmas Eve. Millions of people are doing the last-minute preparations for the big day—Christmas. The stores are closing early tonight. Thousands are traveling to be with family and friends.
The Sower and the Seed
| November 1, 2018One day when a lot of people were gathered around Jesus, He preached a sermon about the sower and the seed. He said a man went out to sow seeds. Some seeds fell by the wayside, some fell on rocks, some among thorns, and some on good ground. Then Jesus interpreted His parable. The seed is the Word of God. The wayside is people who hear the Word of God, but before it can take root in this type of person, the devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts so they don't get saved (his motive is clear).
Love for the Lord Jesus
| September 8, 2018I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so.
True Forgiveness
| September 8, 2018We hear a lot about forgiveness. There are many books, articles, and quotes about what forgiveness is or isn’t. I’m about to add my understanding of it to the big pile. Some of the ideas out there about it are completely false, and I’d like to address some of those.
