The Abiding Life

Gwen Sellers





Gwen Sellers is an Associate Editor for Got Questions Ministries, currently working with CompellingTruth.org. She has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in counseling. Her passion is to fully embrace the abundant life she has been given in Christ and help other believers do the same. Her blogs are glimpses into God's lessons in her personal life. Gwen's prayer is that as you read these blogs, God will reveal His truth, His love, and His abundant grace for you.





Praising God in an Imperfect World  |  May 17, 2017
This world is imperfect, and we feel the call of something better. But even in the midst of a stressful time, we can still praise God.

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Waiting on a Faithful God  |  Mar 20, 2017
In a world of text-messaging and microwave ovens, waiting feels useless. But the waiting times are when God does much of His work in our lives.

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"Whatever is true..."  |  Oct 26, 2016
It is good to expose false-teaching. But there are better ways to spend our time than condemning every specific error like some theological whack-a-mole. Focus on what is true.

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Believing God  |  Sep 9, 2016
Believing God means living in His absolute love, goodness, and faithfulness, even when surrounded by darkness and trials.

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Flying Trapeze  |  Aug 2, 2016
To leave the safety of the platform, to swing through the air, and then let go of the trapeze and fly, is to know that God is on the other side, ready to catch you.

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Is this real?  |  Jul 18, 2016
Lately we've been faced with a national crisis of shootings involving police officers. The situation is heart-breaking. But God is here, and He can heal us — if we let Him.

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Identity, Truth, and Love  |  May 2, 2016
We are sinners, saved by grace. But we are also God's creation, made by Him, in need of sanctification, but with an identity He chose. What if submission means finding who we really are?

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Jesus and Emotions  |  Mar 29, 2016
Jesus knew the outcome of the crucifixion — that He would rise again in victory. But He still mourned, deeply, the night before. He gave Himself permission to grieve.

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Politics and Salvation  |  Mar 7, 2016
Politics can't save America because the battle is not political. The battle is spiritual, and the only way to win is salvation.

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Adjusting to Freedom  |  Feb 29, 2016
Freedom is a gift of God, through Jesus. Freedom from sin, fear, expectations...But it often takes time to learn how to live in that new freedom.

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Jonathan and Saul  |  Feb 16, 2016
Saul tried to earn God's favor through discipline; Jonathan praised Him for the gift of honey. How can we learn to live like Jonathan — in God's abundance?

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Knowledge and Faith  |  Jan 14, 2016
The world tells us to rely on knowledge. The Bible tells us to have faith. Which is right?

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Singing in the New Year  |  Jan 4, 2016
Life isn't all about what we can produce or how we can survive. Beauty is an integral part of the human condition. Sing in the new year.

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Obedience and Human Nature: Of Chopsticks and Forks  |  Dec 8, 2015
Why do we chafe against the idea of obedience to God? When compared to our sinful human nature, obedience is like using a fork in the land of chopsticks.

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Temptation and Transformation  |  Oct 6, 2015
It is difficult to distinguish between temptation and desire without the transforming work of Christ in our lives.

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Change: An Invitation to Trust  |  Sep 28, 2015
Change is stressful. Remaining is comfortable. Fortunately, God loves us too much to leave us where we are.

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Being Known  |  Jun 22, 2015
How do we get to know each other? Time, talking, and meeting people where they are.

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The Desire to Know and be Known  |  Jun 22, 2015
We are designed to be known. To have friends who see us deeply. We are also made to know others. How do we do that?

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Of Perspective and Expectations  |  May 18, 2015
"It's all about perspective." We've all heard this, but what does it really mean? How do our expectations define our perspective — for better or worse?

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"Whatcha know good?"  |  May 3, 2015
"Whatcha know good?" the old man would say. But it's what he knew about purpose and joy that can speak to our lives.

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When Acknowledging the Fear Trumps Avoiding it  |  Apr 22, 2015
Avoiding the things that scare us is effective - if we don't acknowledge them, they're not there. But there comes a time when you have to face your fear to live in freedom.

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Think Before You Speak  |  Apr 6, 2015
Stereotypes are powerful. They pass on a message that can be completely false. For truth, though, think before you speak.

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Shame and Lies  |  Mar 18, 2015
There is a shame that leads to repentance. But there is also a shame based on lies. When we recognize the lies, we can be free of the shame.

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From Shame to Grace  |  Mar 12, 2015
Shame tells us we're broken — that we don't deserve to be fixed. That if others knew, we'd be abandoned. But here's the thing: shame is a sham.

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Speaking into the Silence  |  Feb 27, 2015
We avoid speaking about difficult topics, thinking the attention would hurt hearts and relationships. But it is silence that most harms those who struggle.

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The Love of Friendship  |  Feb 12, 2015
We don't need a special Valentine if we have the love of friends. And some chocolate.

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Gleanings from Genesis: The Faithfulness of God in the Life of Abraham  |  Feb 4, 2015
We often read Genesis as a history book. Looking deeper, we see it's a history of God's faithfulness to Abraham and his family.

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Thoughts on Salvation: Happy or Holy  |  Jan 19, 2015
It's said Christ came to make us holy, not happy. But we forget — He also came to bring us joy.

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Salvation and the Christian Life  |  Jan 15, 2015
Eternal life to come, but restoration and joy now. The double-whammy blessings of salvation make sin less and less appealing.

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The Gift of Punctuated Time  |  Jan 6, 2015
Time is a gift. But so is time punctuated by opportunities to look back and see God's blessings.

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Showing Up, Slowing Down, and Inviting Jesus In  |  Dec 22, 2014
What would it look like if we didn't worry about schedule or expectations, but just showed up, invited Jesus into our day, and loved others?

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Biblical Truth and Behavioral Science  |  Dec 17, 2014
Behavioral science tries to explain and determine how we humans think and act. Funny how the most accurate findings directly reflect biblical truth.

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Winsomely Authentic  |  Dec 10, 2014
There are characteristics that naturally turn us off to people. But then there are people who we are drawn to despite their quirks. It turns out that authenticity is a big part of being winsome.

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Winter Weather  |  Nov 13, 2014
Winter is a time of rest. We don't need to battle it; just remember God exists.

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Nephews, Play-Doh Fun Factories, and the Church Body  |  Oct 29, 2014
When God gives gifts to others in the church body, do we thank Him? We should be grateful to others and give honor where honor is due. But we must not forget the Source.

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On Being an Adult  |  Oct 15, 2014
Recently I've been alternating between bemoaning the realities of adulthood and embracing adulthood with joy. Perhaps I have racked up enough years on this earth to come to a new appreciation for the process of change.

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Vision: Being part of the bigger story  |  Aug 26, 2014
We're told to have vision, to be part of the bigger story. But our story will never be big enough if it's not God's.

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Mindful Pursuit  |  Aug 11, 2014
Intellectually, I am sometimes more eager to find an answer or come to resolution on an issue than I am to actually learn. But I've recently been struck with the fact that knowledge takes time.

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Getting to Know God  |  Aug 6, 2014
Just as I should not stop getting to know people I've known all my life, I should not stop getting to know God. Pursuing God is a lifelong endeavor.

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Is Christianity about freedom or slavery?  |  Aug 1, 2014
Is Christianity about freedom? Or about being a slave to Christ?

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Did God really say?  |  Jul 25, 2014
The only way I am going to do any worthwhile learning is to examine the facts. I need to see what God really has said.

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Lessons in Love  |  Jul 17, 2014
Trust, control, fear, pain...the things that make us run from love are the very things that make us need love.

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Battling the Wrong Enemy  |  Jul 11, 2014
The enemy does not allow us to live unopposed. He is shrewder than we think, using the very things we think we "should" be to draw us away from God and each other.

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Chef: Cooking up Passion  |  Jul 7, 2014
Jon Favreau's movie Chef is about cooking, creativity, and remembering to live out of your God-given passion.

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Spoken For  |  Jul 1, 2014
Being spoken for frees me to live the life my Good Shepherd came to bring. I am accepted, wanted, and known.

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Role Models  |  Jun 26, 2014
It's good to have role models. It's good to have people we can look up to for inspiration. But it's also good to remember we don't have to strive to emulate the person in total; we can admire a particular aspect of that person's character.

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Sharing Comfort: Celebrating the joy of God's blessings  |  Jun 18, 2014
Life is hard, and Christian life has its own challenges. But when God's blessings fill us with joy, it's time to share the comfort.

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Suit and Tie: Our Identity in Christ  |  May 19, 2014
When it comes to loving others well, submitting to cultural customs or expected norms can go a long way in forging relationship. Sometimes our identity in Christ is more important than our wardrobe.

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Finding Freedom in Frozen  |  May 13, 2014
The movie Frozen has monsters, true love, comedy, and everything else you'd want in a princess movie. But it also debunks several lies we tell ourselves.

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Compassion International's Leadership Development Program  |  May 12, 2014
Compassion International's Leadership Development Program goes beyond childhood to support college students, helping children become leaders in their own countries.

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Fostering Packs of Hope  |  May 8, 2014
The Bible tells us to care for orphans. There is no more direct way to do so than to provide a loving foster family for a child in crisis.

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Compassion International's Complementary Intervention Program  |  Apr 6, 2014
When sponsoring individual children isn't enough, Compassion International's Complementary Interventions Program reaches in to help entire communities.

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The Little Prince  |  Mar 24, 2014
What an old children's story can tell us about vision, mentorship, and the necessity of a childlike creativity.

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Sabbath Rest  |  Mar 12, 2014
The Old Testament law is not required for Christians in the church. We do not have to follow the Sabbath. But maybe we should, anyway...

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Blame Freud  |  Feb 11, 2014
Our parents have a great influence on who we are and how we interact with the world. Where does personal responsibility fit in? And what does Freud have to do with it?

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Are you ready for the call?  |  Feb 3, 2014
Do we receive our calling by personal message? Or by being so close to God we overhear His still, small voice?

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Counseling and the Church  |  Jan 28, 2014
Christian counseling is good and needed, but where is the church? Couldn't the church provide much of the support now left to professional counseling?

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Almost Human  |  Dec 13, 2013
The new TV show 'Almost Human' discusses what it takes to be human, and how close an android can reach that point. But what does the Bible say about being human?

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Hallmark Movies and Trusting God  |  Dec 13, 2013
The Bible tells us to trust God instead of being anxious. We forget that the little things cause anxiety, too. What Hallmark movies can remind us about peace in the Christmas season.

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The Shelter of His Wings  |  Nov 25, 2013
We know that God longs to shelter us under His wings, but have we ever really thought about what that means?

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Keeping the Faith  |  Oct 16, 2013
Salvation is through faith, not works. So why is it sometimes such hard work to keep the faith?

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And the answer is...  |  Oct 11, 2013
Having all the answers isn't all it's cracked up to be, or at least not all I have previously cracked it up to be. The truth of the matter is there just isn't always black-and-white. In my opinion, accepting that reality opens us up to enjoy life more fully.

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Neediness and Love  |  Oct 2, 2013
Neediness and love. We tend to think of these as a bad combination. But, sometimes neediness and love are a beautiful combination, an opportunity to practice deep, godly love.

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Missing God  |  Aug 26, 2013
Being knowledgeable about God is good. It is good to engage with God on an intellectual level. But what do these pursuits mean if we don't actually know God?

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Relationally Open  |  Aug 21, 2013
Relationships have been on my mind recently. Perhaps more specifically the way I relate with others and whether it pleases God...

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Addicted to Sin  |  Aug 8, 2013
Christians and sin are like alcoholics: new and being made new; addicted but not enslaved.

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Adoption  |  Aug 6, 2013
How is adopting a child similar to God adopting us?

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Why do we have to live this life? Life as a bridal preparation.  |  Jul 30, 2013
Why do we have to live our lives? Why can't God just take us now? Is it possible that we're on earth for a reason?

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It's not wrong; it's just different  |  Jul 29, 2013
In our quest for holiness, it's easy to think that our way is the right way. But sometimes people aren't wrong--they're just different.

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Glasses, the Gym, and Heaven  |  Jul 12, 2013
Living life on a fallen world is a bit like going to the gym without your glasses—a lot of hard work and very little clarity.

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Words with Friends  |  Jun 27, 2013
Hawk Nelson says, 'Words can build us up, words can break us down.' What effect do my words have on my friends? On myself?

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Celebrating Life in the Midst of Illness  |  Jun 21, 2013
Counting years reminds us we're all one step closer to death. But when illness strikes, it's also a reminder that God has given one more year of life.

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Walking with a Friend through the Valley of Depression  |  Jun 13, 2013
Most of us know someone who has suffered from depression. Knowing what to do about it is another matter. What do our depressed friends need? And how can we love and support them while still acknowledging their pain?

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Practicing Empathy  |  Jun 5, 2013
How TV and movie characters can help us practice empathy so we can demonstrate it in real life.

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Experiencing the Journey of Life  |  May 22, 2013
Life is a journey for a reason. Spiritual growth takes time. If we rush, we'll miss out on life, but we'll also miss becoming who God wants us to be.

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Am I spiritually beautiful?  |  May 16, 2013
The recent Dove Campaign showed how women underestimate their own physical beauty. The spoof joked that men can overestimate how they look. Spiritually, which is closer to the truth?

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For My Christian Brothers   |  Jan 28, 2013
The media has painted men as buffoons, perpetual frat boys incapable of seriousness, clueless lovers unable to truly understand a woman's needs. What does God say a woman wants and what a man should really be?

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Balancing Grace and Truth  |  Dec 30, 2012
God's love of and grace is in perfect balance. His grace does not mean He is a weak pushover or that we are singularly amazing or endearing. God's love is true, tough, enduring, and full of justice and truth. He doesn't wash over the truth of our sin. He deals with realities, but He does so with grace.

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Why should I believe?  |  Nov 14, 2012
We often spend so much time on the intellectual aspects of faith in God that we fail to realize that belief in God is beneficial to our hearts. God isn't just sitting in Heaven, passively hoping that we'll agree with Him. Faith is more than a "ticket to Heaven"—much more!

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Uncensored Prayer  |  Oct 30, 2012
Prayer isn't a formula. It's not about saying the right thing or not saying the wrong thing. Prayer is about spending time with our Daddy. Tell Him about your day, ask questions, express the desires of your heart—completely uncensored. Prayer is not about performance; it's about relationship.

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What went wrong in the world?  |  Oct 22, 2012
When a person can be pro-life when it comes to the murder of Jews during the holocaust, yet support the murder of babies in the womb behind the mask of being pro-choice, we have to ask, "What has gone wrong in our world?"

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Be Still in the Chaos  |  Sep 18, 2012
Are you ever still? Are there moments in your life when you are truly at rest—physically, mentally, emotionally? God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. But do we take time to be still in Him?

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Image: Igen; Untitled; Creative Commons