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I got this question in a direct message.I would like to think I would never give up on someone. I don’t think love ever gives up on someone; but I think love will give up on a relationship, as a last resort.If someone is living a selfish life and repeatedly hurting us; and we love them, then they are also wrecking their own life – probably, far more than they’re hurting us.Now, if they are physically hurting us, then we have to leave that relationship.Otherwise, if we love them, we are going to …

I believe that one of the most effective tricks Satan plays on Christians is to convince us that our sins aren't really forgiven.Psalm 103:12 says “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”One of Satan’s biggest tools is to constantly remind us of our past failures, and he uses those to make us think that God couldn't possibly forgive us. This can make it really hard for us to simply rest in the promises of God and trust His love.1 John 1:9: “If we c …

I am far from perfect and no one is, but two wrongs don't make a right.I am convinced that there are several forms of infidelity. I believe all terms of endearment should be sacred between couples, reserved only for each other.I’ve heard people joke, “Just because I’m on a diet doesn’t mean I can’t look at the menu!” That mentality refers to the idea that checking out someone is “harmless” as long as they look but don’t touch.The very act of looking and lusting objectifies others, creates insecu …

Living without grumbling or disputing (Phil 2:14) makes a person "blameless and innocent."Being blameless is a goal for believers, in general, and a goal, especially, for church leaders (1 Tim 3:2).Spiritually speaking, this is not a reference to sin or morality, but whether or not a person can be rightfully criticized by other people.The goal of not grumbling or disputing is not to boast, but rather to live in a way explicitly different from the depraved world we find ourselves in. All true bel …

Your broken heart can heal.You will be scarred, but the wound should heal.If you stay wounded for too long, it’s almost always for the same reason. Because somewhere in the healing process, in sorting everything out, you either became offended or you got stuck on one little thing and that thing became a broken record that plays over and over all day long every day in your head; and you won’t move past it.So, what happens? You end up every day living your life looking backwards. You end up conti …

The best way to know the difference is to pray.Normally, when I am struggling to know the difference between my will and God’s will, the moment I begin to pray, I immediately know the answer. It’s just not always what I want to hear.Another way to know the difference: God’s will is normally going to cost you something right then, but pay huge dividends later. It’s going to fill you from the inside out.My will normally leads me to the easy way out, and brings me immediate gratification, but will …

This is a question I often get in direct messages.You know, if we have a question that we can’t find a true answer to, sometimes it’s worth going back and making sure we’re not asking a broken question -- in other words, we are not asking a question that is not true. In this case, that’s what we are doing.God doesn’t let some live and let others die. We all die. It’s not God’s fault.I think God had a hard choice to make a long time ago. Would he allow love to exist, which would require that he …

The other day I posted a comment on a page and got attacked by some people in their responding comments.One lady trying to calm the situation commented, "Remember... we are all God’s children." One of my worst fears is that I will mislead someone so I pray that everyone does their due diligence before taking everything I say as fact. However, when I hear something that I believe will mislead others I feel compelled to correct it. Please understand that I am in no way a bible scholar but the Bibl …

I wanted to share this because, with all that’s going on around us right now, I am hearing that record numbers of people are struggling with depression.I’ve got to tell you, I thought never in a million years would I be struggling with this. I thought I would be the last one to be dealing with depression.But 19 years ago, when I realized how deep a depression I had fallen into, I struggled to get out of it for about 18 months, before God led me out.I had no idea how to get out and if I had had s …

Take a stand. Do not let go!“Depression – My Turning Point” is the follow-up to my first Instagram video and email to you on depression. Go back and watch the video or read my first email to you on depression, if you haven’t seen them. The videos are posted on 2 Instagram pages. Click here: @shieldsofstrength or @JohnKennedyVaughan I wanted to follow up because I had hundreds of comments on that first post on depression, and I just know there are so many people who didn’t comment, who are fi …