Zero In On Love

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Which celebrity would you love to meet, and what would you talk about?
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Zero in on love. Love is the essential ingredient to a good life. Success is nothing without love.

God is love. (1 John 4:8) To truly love is to set aside self-focus and to align your thoughts, heart, and life with God’s will. (2 Corinthians 10:5) Saying you love God while not loving all the people He created is hypocritical. (1 John 4:20)

Here’s my paraphrase of how the Bible’s “Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) defines love: Love is patient and kind.

Love is humble. It doesn’t brag. It doesn’t envy or dishonor people.

Love isn’t self-focused. It’s not easily offended. Love doesn’t blame and accuse people. It doesn’t list the things someone has done wrong.

Love fact-checks so it can rejoice in truth and not be deceived into delighting in lies and evil. Love protects people. It doesn’t wish anyone harm.

Love trusts God. It never gives up hope. Because love doesn’t rely on human power and might (Zechariah 4:6), but always trusts in and relies on God, it never fails.

Love speaks truth with compassion. It’s not blind, but it is kind. Love grieves when people embrace guilt producing and self-destructive behaviors. It speaks the truth with kindness and mercy in order to help people walk closer with God. (Ephesians 4:15)

Love is contagious. Search for people who love the way the Bible teaches. Spend time observing them and opening your heart to them. Soon you’ll notice God’s love stirring in your soul.

Without love, we are nothing. Love training is powerful! Get on board. Always zero in on God’s love.

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Self-righteousness Is Divisive

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What does it mean to be a good person?
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Christian unity can be more than a myth. Here’s how.

Jesus prayed that all His followers be united as one so the world will know that God sent Him. (John 17:20-21) If we want people in the world to experience, know, and follow Jesus, all of us who follow Jesus need to unite together.

As long as Christians are governed from within by our thoughts, opinions, feelings, and desires, we will disagree. Just look how divided we are. Look how we ignore what Jesus prayed about unity.

We, who call ourselves Christians, can’t become one solely through logic, reasoning, organization, negotiation, church attendance, sermon-hearing, studying theology, or even through politics and Christian nationalism. All those things without full and obedient surrender to the living Jesus only produce more divisiveness. Estimates say there are more than 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide.

So what can bring us together as one? Jesus gave the secret to Christian unity when He said to His disciples: “Seek first the kingdom (inner government) of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

When Christians gather to be governed from within by the risen Jesus, we find true togetherness. When we learn to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23) and to be humbly led by Christ living inside us (Colossians 1:27) rather than by our ego and pride, we discover heart-to-heart unity with one another.

The Bible says, “God resists the proud.” (James 4:6) As long as we hold on to our pride, even subconsciously, we will stay divided.

Will you set aside all self-justification and self-righteousness? Will you humbly and consistently seek and submit to God’s inner government and His righteousness instead of your own? If not, you’ll never know the marvelous unity of the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:3)

God so loved the people in the world that He gave His only Son. Let’s also love all people!

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The Kingdom of God Is My Delight

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s a country that’s at the top of your bucket list?
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The kingdom of God (the inner government of God ruling me from within) is my delight. It overflows me with the joy of the Lord. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Staying aware of, attentive to, and focused on the presence of Jesus fills me with delight. I feel the first fruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23) flowing from within me. He keeps me smiling from deep within me.

Suppose Christians allowed God, the Holy Spirit, to inwardly empower us to do what we’re supposed to do. Then the world would be a much better place.

Christians aren’t supposed to blame people. We’re supposed to show them God’s love. We’re not supposed to accuse people. We’re supposed to radiate His joy and peace.

Christians aren’t supposed to insult people. We’re supposed to treat them with patience and kindness. We’re not supposed to be motivated by fear of people who disagree with us. We’re supposed to be motivated by God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Christians aren’t supposed to stir up anger. We’re supposed to live with gentleness and self-control.

God’s true children are led by His Spirit. (Romans 8:14) Their lives overflow with the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” (Psalm 37:4 & 23-24)

Distractions
From actions
Prompted by
God’s Spirit
Keeps Christians
From knowing
Spirit-led
Joy and peace.

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Freedom to Speak Truth

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Steve Simms

When truth is
Set aside
And denied
People hide
Behind lies
And their pride
Keeps them trapped
In falsehood.

False perception
Is deception.
See how Christ sees.

Christianity isn’t about political agreement. It’s about heart-to-heart connection, compassion, and the commitment to be Christ-like. When we want to believe our thoughts, feelings, and opinions more than we want to know the truth, we dive into deep deception.

USA beware. A government (right or left) that insults, threatens, and tries to intimidate people who disagree will eventually lock them up. There’s no freedom without the freedom from the fear of disagreeing.

Jesus still has many followers in the USA who haven’t bowed their knees to political idolatry. Be courageous. Be one of them.

The new religion of “Trumpianity” is dangerous. It’s a mixture of Trump and Christianity. Stick with biblical Christianity.

Go beyond Churchianity, Liberalanity, and Trumpianity. Deny yourself, daily embrace the crucifixion of your own will, and humbly seek to be continually governed from within by the love, mercy, and righteousness of God’s kingdom.

Holy Spirit, help me reside and abide in Your rivers flowing from deep within me. Enable me to continually hear You bearing witness with my spirit that I am one of God the Father’s children, so that my heart will always tenderly say, “Abba Father.” Help me lay down all resistance to Your will and wholeheartedly obey You as You lead, guide, and direct me according to Your love, plans, and desires. Keep me ever focused on and surrendered to Christ, living in and through me as my hope of glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Ignored Christian Values

Posted on October 11, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s one thing you know now that would have saved your younger self a lot of pain?
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Are You Ignoring These Christian Values?

The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
* Love,
* Joy,
* Peace,
* Patience,
* Kindness,
* Goodness,
* Faithfulness,
* Gentleness,
* Sefl-control.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
* Poverty in spirit,
* Mourning,
* Meekness,
* Hunger and thirst for righteousness,
* Mercy,
* A pure heart,
* Peace-making,
* Being persecuted.
Focusing on These Things (Philippians 4:8)
* Truth,
* Honesty,
* Justice,
* Purity,
* Loveliness,
* Good news,
* Virtue,
* Praiseworthiness.
Discipleship (Luke 9:23)
* Self-denial,
* Cross-bearing,
* Obedience to Jesus.
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-48)
* Refusing to hate,
* Refusing to call people names,
* Healing broken relationships,
* Forgiving everyone,
* Sexual purity,
* Refusing to divorce,
* Refusing to swear,
* Turning the other cheek,
* Going the second mile,
* Freely giving,
* Enemy love,
* Blessing those who curse you,
* Doing good to people who hate you,
* Praying for people who persecute you.
Humility (James 4:6)
Godliness (1 Timothy 6:8)
Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6)
Repentance (Matthew 4:17)
Being Spirit-led (Romans 8:14)

My list of ignored Christian values is not complete. Can you find more mentioned in the Bible? Please list any you find in the comments. Thank you.

Man holding sign reading “ARE YOU IGNORING TRUE CHRISTIAN VALUES?” on busy city street
A man holds a provocative sign about Christian values amid a busy urban marketplace.
Posted in Beatitudes, biblical Christianity, Christian values, fruit of the Spirit, love your enemies, Sermon on the Mount | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make Your Life A Movie About Kindness

Posted on October 10, 2026 by Steve Simms

Let’s rewind from name-calling. It’s time to be kind to each other.

You have the right to disapprove of my lifestyle and my beliefs about morality and religion. I respect your right to disagree with my attitude and my actions. I will nonetheless be kind to you and honor you as a fellow human being made in the image of God.

However, if you disapprove of the choices and lifestyles promoted by the “radical left,” there’s a good chance they will call you a “hater.” If you disagree with the arrogant attitude and actions of the “self-righteous right,” they are likely to call you a “socialist” or a “communist.” If you do both, both sides will insult you.

The results of insults are even more insults that produce more and more divisiveness, disdain, and anger. Ever-increasing insults will eventually lead to violence.

Love and kindness are the answer. That’s why Jesus commanded us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

That’s why the Bible says: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:20-21)

Search the Bible and begin to experience Christianity as described in its pages. Avoid churchianity, trumpianity, and liberalanity.

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Beyond Routine

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your morning routine.
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Live can easily drift away from joy into systematic routine. Here’s an example of how spontaneity in life is often pushed aside and replaced with routine. “Most churches have developed well-meaning formational programming that is long on information and study and short on transformation.” –JD Walt

To move beyond mere religious routine and information into daily experiencing God’s presence and transformation, let the risen Christ be your curriculum. Let your life, mind, and heart be your classroom. Allow the risen Jesus to teach you through what He says and does, both in you and around you.

Read the Bible over and over. As you read, notice what Christ says directly to you. Let the words burn in your heart and draw you into deeper and deeper surrender to Him. The more you ponder the Bible with an open heart, the more you will recognize His voice speaking within you.

Listen to the still, small voice of your conscience and learn to recognize when Jesus is speaking directly to you. Observe your surroundings and notice that the things you call coincidences are often Jesus working right in front of your eyes.

Train yourself to continually rely and depend on Jesus living in you. Set aside your own opinions, feelings, and desires so you can listen to, trust, and obey what He says to you. If you’re unwilling to let Jesus correct and redirect you, you’ll rarely notice His voice.

Humbly and openly testify about the things you are seeing and hearing Jesus say and do. Gather regularly with other spiritually hungry Christians and openly share with one another how God is speaking and working in and through each other.

For a guidebook to help you understand and do all of this, google: “Beyond Church–An Invitation to Experience the Lost Word of the Bible–Ekklesia.”

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Beyond “Churchianity” to the Love of Jesus

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Steve Simms
Daily writing prompt
What’s the best way to meet new people while traveling?
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If you’re a genuine Christian, Jesus is closer to you than you can imagine. He lives inside you, even when you don’t perceive His presence. (1 John 4:4) Your body is His temple. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Train yourself to be continually aware of, awake to, and attentive to “Christ in you.” (Colossians 1:27)

Don’t just ask Jesus for things. Seek to know Him better and better. Open your eyes and ears and begin to notice and respond to what He is doing and saying within and around you.

Allow Christ’s rivers of living water to flow from your innermost being. (John 67:38-39) Let Him lead you throughout each day by the inner promptings of His Spirit. (Romans 8:14)

Christians are supposed to so powerfully demonstrate Christ’s presence and love that people want to become Christians. (Matthew 5:16) Letting people see Christ living and producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in and through you is how to show people the Savior!

Disagreeing with someone about morals isn’t judgment. It’s freedom of conscience. Demonstrating Christ’s love isn’t about approval. It’s about kindness, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. Let Jesus train you to humbly speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Stick with biblical Christianity. Beware of churchianity and Trumpianity.

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Have You Experienced These 3 Loves?

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Steve Simms
A Bouquet of 3 Loves
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A Bouquet of 3 Loves

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Steve Simms

Jesus told His followers to have a strange bouquet of three loves. As Jesus described them, those three loves are individually rare and seldom seen together as a bouquet. How many of the three do you have?

1) All-out love for God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 12:30)

2) Neighbor love: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 12:31) Focus on your neighbor’s needs and well being as much as you focus on your own.

3) Enemy love: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

Love never justifies, excuses, or applauds wrongdoing, self-destruction, impurity, or whatever else the Bible calls sin. It compassionately speaks against those things with mercy, forgiveness, and an invitation to the healing of repentance.

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