Abandoned to Christ

Humbled or hardened?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:04:00 PDT

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...

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Easter: The truth about life, death and The Resurrection

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:00:00 PDT

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...

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Starbucks, gay marriage and the Christian

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:45:00 PDT

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...

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What's so 'good' about Friday?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:31:00 PDT

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...

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Q90 FM - second radio interview tomorrow 03/27

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:39:00 PDT

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...

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Please pray and listen for tonight's interview on KKLA

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:03:00 PDT

I will be interviewed tonight (March 25, 2013) on KKLA, 99.5 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. PST by Frank Sontag, a guest-host for the former Frank Pastore show "The Intersection of Faith and Reason" in Los Angeles, California. The interview will begin with my review on the heretical "The Bible" mini-series, but will mainly focus on God's goodness, His sovereignty and grace to all creation, and especially to the elect. I'd be so grateful for your fervent prayers for tonight's...

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Though none go with me, I still will follow

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 12:24:00 PDT

Following the Master of my soul is sometimes a lonely road; sadly, even within the Christian community. It seems these days, that Christians have become as worldly as the world we live in. We live, laugh and love with those who live, laugh and love with us, while we shun those who make us feel uncomfortable. We hypocritically and foolishly judge one another based on our personal affinities and ideologies of how we think life ought to be lived, whilst all the time, we dismiss our...

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Christian parenting goals 101

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:53:00 PST

The primary goal for me and my husband as parents, has never been to be our children's buddy, or to win their love. We've never intended to be their best friend or someone they admired. We greatly desire for our children to spend their lives making much of Jesus, rather than making much of us...or themselves. We've always wanted to give our sons what neither of us ever had—parents who love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, souls, minds and strengths, and love others as themselves...

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Passover: Christ, the last and perfect Lamb

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:46:00 PST

Although Passover is usually understood as a Jewish holy day, it’s also a holy day for Christians. Why? Because anyone who confesses with their mouths and believes in their hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9-10), testifies that they too have been “passed over” from death to life by the shed blood of the last and perfect Lamb; Jesus the Christ. On this day, many Jews will gather together to commemorate the day God Almighty released their people from the bondage of slavery through...

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History Channel's 'The Bible' exalts man over God

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:54:00 PST

About a week ago, I was contacted by the History Channel’s media group asking me to help promote “The Bible”, a new mini-series that was created and produced by Roma Downey, (Touched By An Angel) with her husband Mark Burnett (producer: The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, Celebrity Apprentice). After prayerfully reviewing the materials and consulting with my wise husband, I stated that I was unable to participate in promoting this endeavor due to its highly unbiblical...

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Sequestration: A Christian's perspective

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:58:00 PST

Sequestration (n): Law—the act of removing (property) temporarily from the possession of the owner; seize and hold, as the property and income of a debtor, until legal claims are satisfied. There's been a lot of talk about the sequestration that will automatically go into effect on March 1, 2013 if Congress is unable to come to an agreement regarding our national debt crisis of $16 trillion. Businesses in the private sector will not be sequestered, only government agencies and its...

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Graduating throughout life

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:34:00 PST

In approximately two more months, our youngest son will be graduating from high school, receiving a diploma, then moving onto college, where he'll graduate and receive a degree...and so on. Throughout our lives, we're all graduating from one "hood" to another. Person-hood (conception-death): is achieved as soon as we are conceived and we're completely dependent on our mother's love, care and protection in accordance with God's word (Ps 127:3; Prov 6:16-19); Infant-hood (birth-2...

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Creating a pop-up music player for your site

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:24:00 PST

As many of you have noticed, I've totally revamped the site and renamed it to: Abandoned to Christ (which has been my signature for years, so it just made sense). I enjoy sharing content that the Lord leads for me, whether they be articles, Scripture pictures, photographs or anything else God gives me so I can create an atmosphere that rightly reveals the kindness, mercy, grace and peace of God that all His children should exhibit, whether in person or online. I revamped my...

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180 movie review: to abort or not to abort

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:43:00 PST

To abort or not to abort...that is the question. But what is the answer? I mean, the right answer? It’s amazing how many people establish an opinion on important issues without having all the facts. If we're honest, we'll all admit, everything we hear or read in the media isn't “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. The media (depending on the source), will either skew facts or completely dismiss some, so the public will have no choice but to agree with the media representative's...

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Because God is love, love never fails

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:31:00 PST

Valentine's Day. Ahhh...here we are again. Many look forward to this day. Many don't. Women seem to look forward to it more than men and those who don't have a "sweetheart" to celebrate with, are unhappy altogether. So what's a Christian to do with this made-up holiday that's really not a holy day? Well, it's certainly not a sin to celebrate it and it's not a sin to dismiss it either. This is one of those "live by your own conscience" decisions that all Christians have been given...

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Sexual immorality induces abortion, purity promotes life

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:10:00 PST

No longer be deceived by Planned Parenthood's lies. January 22, 2013 marked the 40 year anniversary of Roe v. Wade; since that day, nearly 60 million innocent, unborn babies have been slaughtered within, what ought to be the safest place on earth—their mother's womb. There are three basic positions on the topic of abortion: Pro-Life, Pro-Choice and what I call, "Pro-Inbetweeners". Pro-Life: life begins at conception; babies are gracious gifts from God Almighty to the mother and...

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Jesus Christ: Sympathizer or Savior?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:43:00 PST

From the time God the Father spoke of Christ through the Old Testament prophets, to Jesus' first coming, death, resurrection and ascension; human beings have muddled the true character, nature and purpose of the magnificent Son of God. This false image of Christ has been created in writing, art, online media, and sadly, even from some pulpits. Multitudes continue to depict Christ in a way that equates Him to mortal man, rather than receive Him as He is—the immortal, almighty,...

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It would've been the worst Christmas if...

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:48:00 PST

...the Lord our God had not revealed His good, perfect and loving plan. For the past 20+ years we've had an extremely strained relationship with my mother-in-law. Without going into the unsavory details, let's suffice it to say that my mother-in-law professes to be a believer, but sadly has no obvious fruit to prove her attachment to the one and only True Vine (John 15:5-6). In addition to the uncertainty of her eternal salvation, my mother-in-law is a very ill person and has required...

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Drawing Near: A poem of worship, prayer and praise

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:16:00 PST

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...

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The President's speech: The beginning of the end?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:46:00 PST

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...

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Heaven or Hell?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:15:00 PST

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 and received Jesus as my Savior. But God says it's wise for every person to test yourself by His word (rather than yours or others) and see if...

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Where's the love?

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:53:00 PST

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...

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Popular saying, 'Let go and let God' is not biblical

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:13:00 PST

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,...

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Is your love...genuine? (Part 2)

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 13:41:00 PST

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....

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Is your love...genuine? (Part 1)

sunnysblog@jimshellfamily.com — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:42:00 PST

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...

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