Life in Exile

The condemnation of our hearts can limit our ability to serve God. Thankfully, John provides the answer to such condemnation: Love in Action.

Seeing the world from God's perspective helps us better handle the trials we face by his grace.

When something messes up my plans and I don't respond as I should, have I blown my chance to glorify God? 

Are you a walker or a talker when it comes to putting God's love into practice? John's got something to say about that today.

After a deep study into the book of Matthew, the word BEHOLD has much to reveal. 

Struggles at airports and with flight schedules are hard but also a way of life for most in cross-cultural service. What we have that many others don't is the peace of the One who watches over our coming and going.

What John tells us about love is nothing new. The question is: Do I reflect that love?

Will you work till Jesus comes? What does that mean to you? How we view and use our time is a strong indicator of the depth of our relationship with God.

What is the one effort in service to the Kingdom that keeps on giving? Discipleship.

In Christ, we gain an obvious distinction from those still living in the world. It's sealed by His Spirit and manifested in our right living and love for others.

In Christ, we find what it takes to be centered and focused in a distracted and confused world. His love compels us.

Relationships built on a common goal in life will be those which last through the years. Don't neglect building and strengthening those you have with people in mission service.

Knowing we are God's children should motivate us toward a life of purity. We can only live that way when we remain in him.

When we remember who is Master of the Universe, we are less likely to see recognition for service. Serving in secret or without recognition is a challenge, but is the surest way to bring God glory.

God can teach us spiritual lessons through daily tasks--even cleaning. How are you doing at keeping spiritually clean?

God's righteousness made ours in Christ allows for us to be called his children. That's an overwhelming reality that rooted in his deep love for us. Dwell on that today.

When we belong to God, our time does as well. Does that impact your day? It should. 

Inflation affects missionaries too. How can we manage on less when our salaries are already low? Carol Ghattas has some ideas on living more with less.

John writes so that Christ-followers will not be led astray by counterfeits of the faith. To know a counterfeit, one must first know the genuine article. Know Jesus more, and we'll be better able to spot those who are working against his purposes.

Not all work is easy, but even the dirtiest of jobs can be used by God to grow us into the likeness of Christ and draw others to him. How? By doing them willingly and to his glory.

Living overseas brings a new perspective to the celebration of Independence Day for most Americans. Living in Christ brings an even starker contrast to what freedom truly means. Happy Freedom Day.

To be able to discern between truth and lies, the Truth must be living in you. If you know the truth of Christ, remain in that truth.

What can I share from all that God's given me to open the door for another person to know him? 

There is so much we can learn from children about ourselves and more importantly about God. Conversations around children also lead us to conversations about God.

It's not just important to realize that the antichrist is coming, but that lesser antichrists have already come and continue to infiltrate our world today, even gaining access to the church. However, God gives us what we need to spot them--his Spirit and Word.