True love.....for real?

Love......when did this word really come into being? When the world was made?

2010 years ago, on a dark night in the city of Bethlehem a small child was born. A child that would save us from our sins, God made man. That night love was made *real*. God sent His only child, to a world of pain and sin, and why? Because he loved us.


The meaning of Love now in our culture is so different from what it was 2010.
The media has twisted that word and changed its meaning, "Give love to get love back."

Where has that *real* love gone to? The love God gave us that we did not deserve. Can we ever get it back?

Guess what? It never left, God's *real* love is here even more, and it is our place to bring it out. Send it to every tribe and nation, every tongue and dialect. God loved us expecting nothing back, we can also love others in that same manner.

Here is one way we can spread God's *real* love:

Loving your neighbor as yourself.
"For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." 1 John 3:11

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:37-40

1 JOHN 4:7-21~God's Love and Ours
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Love is not an option, it is an expression of our union with Christ.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians. 4:1-3


Speaking the Truth in Love to one another:


1. Honor one another (Rom 12:10)
2. Encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11, Heb. 10:25)
3. Confess to one another (James 5:16)
4. Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
1 John 3:13-15

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 3:23

To love God is to love others.

♥God is love.♥ If we do not love others, we do not love God.

Today, tomorrow, seek out someone in particular to show God's love to, and be reminded of just how much God loves you.

Tonight, when you have a quiet moment, grab a blanket and your favorite drink and sit down to read Luke 2, the greatest Love story of all.

Much Blessings,
Charity Anne for

P.S For more on loving your neighbors and loving God, read 1 John 3 and 1 John 4:7-20

Interview with Creator of "Young Christian Writers" Magazine

Interview with Alicia Zanoni, creator of Young Christian Writers Magazine 

1.So tell us a little bit about yourself.I've been homeschooled all my life, and I'm the oldest child of four (the youngest is my foster sister). I have always loved to write and started a magazine called "Young Christian Writers" when I was twelve years old.

2. When you first began "Young Christian Writers", what was the main goal that you were trying to achieve?
My main goal was to encourage others to write stories, poems, and other creative work that honored God and exemplified a Christian worldview.

3. Since starting "Young Christian Writers", how has your goal been achieved?
In many ways I have been able to see God glorified through YCW. Often I recieve letters from authors and subscribers telling how a particular peice of writing affected them. Other times I am personally encouraged or convicted by a submission I recieve. It is so exciting to be able to publish writing that can have a deep impact on lives for Christ.

4. How does your personal relationship with the Lord impact your life?
My relationship with God greatly affects how I view myself, my time, my situations, and others. It has taught me to seek to serve God in all of these areas. Some examples might be lifting God up rather than myself, seeking dilligence over laziness, pursuing wisdom instead of the good opinion of others, and serving those around me.

4. Most teen girls have at least two or three hobbies that they enjoy, what are some of yours and why? I love art, because it provides the opportunity to view God's creation from so many different perspectives.

5. If you could name one person, other than Christ, who has been one of the most influential people in your life; who would it be? Elizabeth Elliot. Her devotion and trust in the Lord, especially through extremely hard circumstances is inspiring.

6. What is the one thing you would tell every Christian teen? Cling to the Lord first and foremost, and seek the leadership of your parents. I have found one of the greatest gifts God gives us is our parents - not because of their perfection and perfect leadership, but because HIS perfect leadership is given to us through them.

7. Before we finish up, is there anything else you would like to share with the blog readers? When your fears cripple you, don't feel like you are the only one. Don't ignore them. Give them to the Lord, and seek courage and faithfulness from Him. He wants to do an amazing work through you.

Editor's Notes: 

    Alicia is a close friend of mine I met during an art camp this past summer. We began talking about interests we liked, and  our conversation soon turned to blogging. From there I related how I was really interested in starting a magazine. Alicia then surprised me with saying, "I have a magazine"! From there she gave me tips and pointers about hers, and the pros and cons. My view on starting a magazine has changed for the better, thanks to Alica!
    If any of you are interesting in writing or subscribing for her magazine, go to her website HERE for more details! 

Subscribing:
Magazine sale price is $3.75 per issue (USA).
Annual subscription rate is $15 per year for delivery in the USA (published four times a year: fall, winter, spring, summer).

Writing: 
They are interested in short stories, articles, poetry, and book reviews written by Christian students (ages 12-18).   
 Your work should be guided by Christian themes such as: truth, honesty, humility, love, kindness, faithfulness, purity, courage, service, obedience, honoring parents, Creation, sanctity of human life, and the sovereignty of God.  
If we accept your work for publication, we will send you a free copy of our magazine. In addition, we pay $10-20 for short stories, articles and book reviews; $10-15 for poetry. Payment amounts vary based on length and quality of work. 

    I would highly advise looking into writing for her. Her magazine is excellent, and by writing for her it gives you a chance to be creative. Please consider it! If you do decide to write, please let me know! I would like to see your work!

Here is a sample of one of her magazines:

God Bless,
Charity Anne for

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Time      Saturday, January 1 at 12:00am - February 1 at 11:30pm

Location               The USA

Created By          Alan Carrillo, Gracy Howard

More Info          

On 22 December 2010, President Barack Obama and The White House proclaimed January 2011 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

"Although the United States has made great strides in preventing the occurrence of modern slavery, prosecuting traffickers and dismantling their criminal networks, and protecting victims and survivors, our work is not done. We stand with those throughout the world who are working every day to end modern slavery, bring traffickers to justice, and empower survivors to reclaim their rightful freedom. This month, I urge all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking. Together, we can combat this crime within our borders and join with our partners around the world to end this injustice." 

 - President Barack Obama

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/22/presidential-proclamation-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevent)

Please take advantage of this opportunity to EDUCATE YOURSELF and EDUCATE OTHERS on the problem of human trafficking and modern slavery. The fight against injustice is a long and tedious fight. But victory is possible! In short, education leads to awareness, awareness fights demand, and reduced demand reduces supply.

READ the Department of State's "Trafficking in Persons Report 2010" which included the USA in its findings for the first time.

DO ONLINE SEARCHES FOR ORGANIZATIONS like The International Justice Mission, Free the Slaves, Abolish Slavery (w/ Aaron Cohen), The DNA Foundation, Love146, Amnesty International, Polaris Project, Not For Sale Campaign, Shared Hope International, Loose Change to Loosen Chains, The U.S. State Department, etc. and FIND OPPORTUNITIES to work, intern, and get involved.

READ BOOKS like "A Crime So Monstrous" by E. Benjamin Skinner, "Modern Slavery" by Kevin Bales, "Good News about Injustice" and "Just Courage" by Gary Haugen, "Slave Hunter" by Aaron Cohen, and others.

TELL OTHERS.

SPEAK UP. SEEK JUSTICE. Proverbs 31:8-9.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE TO SPREAD THE WORD! :)

BE THE CHANGE. 

Take a Stand,
Charity Anne for 

(Photo from: http://utweet.it/featured-articles/human-trafficking-combating-it-through-the-dna-foundation/)