• About Us
  • Locations
    • California
      • Southern California
    • Denver, CO
    • Florida
      • Broward County, FL
      • Jacksonville, FL
      • Miami, FL
      • Naples, FL
      • Orlando, FL
      • Palm Beach County, FL
      • Tallahassee, FL
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, GA
    • New Jersey
      • South Jersey
    • North Carolina
      • Charlotte, NC
    • Ohio
      • Northwest Ohio
      • Southern Ohio
    • South Carolina
      • Charleston, SC
    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, TN
    • Texas
      • Dallas, TX
      • Austin, TX
  • Publishing
    • Content Guidelines for Publishing
    • General Article Submission Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Friday, April 8, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Nashville Christian Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Government
    • Nashville
    • National
    • Politics
    • Tennessee
    • World
    Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

    Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

    New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

    New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

    Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

    Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

    Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

    Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

    Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

    Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

    Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

    Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

    Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

    Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

    Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

    Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

    Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

    Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

    Trending Tags

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Books
      • Education
      • Entertainment
      • family
      • Food
      • Health
      • Humor
      • Relationships
      • Travel
      Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

      Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

      Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

      Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

      Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

      Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

      Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

      Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

      Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

      Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

      There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

      There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

      Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

      Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

      Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

      Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

      ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

      ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

    • Church
      • All
      • Missions
      • Pastors
      • Worship
      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

      Why a House Church?

      Why a House Church?

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

      Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

    • Sports
      Bitterness Strikes Out

      Bitterness Strikes Out

      Kia’s Amazing Journey

      Kia’s Amazing Journey

      Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

      Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

      NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

      NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

      Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

      Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

      To Empower and Encourage

      To Empower and Encourage

      Are You Passionate?

      Are You Passionate?

      There is Another Way

      There is Another Way

      Did God See That Coming?

      Did God See That Coming?

    • Home
    • News
      • All
      • Government
      • Nashville
      • National
      • Politics
      • Tennessee
      • World
      Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

      Thousands Join Pro-life March in Peru

      New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

      New Program Helps Churches Provide Mental Health Support in UK

      Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

      Ukrainian Children Hopeful in Palm Beach County

      Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

      Pro-life Groups Demand Justice After Exposé at University

      Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

      Private Spiritual Life Counters Christians’ Role as Disciples—Barna

      Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

      Christian Rivals Unite to Restore Holiest Jerusalem Church

      Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

      Survey: 84% Americans Revere Jesus

      Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

      Christian Charities Unite for Ukraine

      Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

      Ad Shows New Jesus to Skeptics

      Trending Tags

      • Lifestyle
        • All
        • Books
        • Education
        • Entertainment
        • family
        • Food
        • Health
        • Humor
        • Relationships
        • Travel
        Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

        Jeremy Camp doesn’t write songs for radio: I want to ‘connect with the heart’

        Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

        Minno is the new streaming platform for Christian kids — and it’s excellent

        Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

        Newsboys say they will tour until they are 80: We are just getting started!

        Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

        Netflix’s ‘A Week Away’ is a must-watch faith-based musical

        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        Netflix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ has lessons about family, life and death

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        There’s a new streaming platform — and it’s a great option for families

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Pixar’s ‘Soul’ has multiple great messages about life

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        Actress Miya Horcher Leads With Love

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

        ‘Jingle Jangle’ is Netflix’s best family-friendly movie yet

      • Church
        • All
        • Missions
        • Pastors
        • Worship
        Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

        Extollo International: Raising and Lifting up the People of Haiti

        Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

        Patrick and the History of St. Patrick’s Day

        A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

        A Candid Interview with Steve Austin, Author of ‘From Pastor to Psych Ward’

        The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

        The English School in Marietta Georgia is Touching Lives and Sharing the Gospel

        Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

        Reaching the Nepali Bhutanese in Harrisburg, PA

        A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

        A Blueprint for Prayer: Three Personal Petitions

        Why a House Church?

        Why a House Church?

        App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

        App Sees Increase in Bible Engagement with 1 Million New Subscribers in 24 Hours

        Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

        Weighing In On Death of John Allen Chau

      • Sports
        Bitterness Strikes Out

        Bitterness Strikes Out

        Kia’s Amazing Journey

        Kia’s Amazing Journey

        Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

        Bengals Chaplain Kicks COVID-19

        NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

        NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown opens up about faith

        Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

        Taking the Next Step: An Interview with Noah Turner

        To Empower and Encourage

        To Empower and Encourage

        Are You Passionate?

        Are You Passionate?

        There is Another Way

        There is Another Way

        Did God See That Coming?

        Did God See That Coming?

      No Result
      View All Result
      Nashville Christian Voice
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Featured

      The Difficulty of Finding Love

      by Jay Ashbaucher
      August 30, 2018
      in Featured, Pastors
      0
      The Difficulty of Finding Love
      0
      SHARES
      18
      VIEWS
      Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

      A father had two sons who he loved very much. In fact, his love for them was perfect and unending. Unfortunately, due to ignorance, neither son realized his father’s love. They did not know that contentment, happiness, peace, freedom, and the enjoyment of pleasures came from knowing and possessing the love of their father.

      His own passions enslaved him, he ran into troubles due to failed relationships, and he began to struggle to make life work.

      Not knowing the father’s love, one son, feeling restless and too restrained, decided to leave the father and journey out to experience greater freedom. He thought freedom was enjoying life’s pleasures by doing what he wanted to do. He pursued the life he thought would make him happy, but all did not go as he planned. On his own, he did not have what it took to overcome the evils, both within himself, and in the world. His own passions enslaved him, he ran into troubles due to failed relationships, and he began to struggle to make life work. Eventually, his resources diminished, and what others did to help him failed to satisfy a deep hunger for the life he hoped to find.

      One day, this son awoke to the fact that his life was in ruin and he had nothing left, not even his dignity and sense of self-worth. He thought about his father, thinking that life with his father had to be better than the life he was living. He decided go home and admit he was wrong for believing that doing his own thing, apart from the father, was a better way to live. Although feeling shame, and unsure of his father’s response, he would humbly ask his father if he could come back. As he neared home, with unexpected astonishment, the son felt overwhelmed by the non-judgmental warmth and eager love of his father. Realizing his son’s change of heart, the father ordered a great celebration in honor of his return. I suspect that the love he experienced from his father caused the same kind of love to be born in his own heart, and through that love, he discovered and lived the kind of life that went way beyond what he ever imagined could be possible.

      The other son, even though he stayed with the father, was likewise ignorant of the father’s love. When he saw how his father loved his disgraceful brother, he grew angry and would not attend the welcome home party. If he had truly known the love of the father, he would have loved his brother. To him, love was something to be earned by being good and obeying the father’s wishes. His brother did not deserve to be loved, but to be reprimanded and punished for his shameful, unruly and delinquent lifestyle.

      When the stay-at-home son did not listen to his father’s plea to come to the party, he proved to be as guilty of mismanaging life as his brother.

      When the stay-at-home son did not listen to his father’s plea to come to the party, he proved to be as guilty of mismanaging life as his brother. In truth, he deserved judgment for his self-righteousness and refusal to understand what love was all about. I suspect that this son, if never coming to know the father’s lovingkindness, would have a long-standing resentment toward his brother, never allowing him to regain an honorable love and respect.

      Jesus’ telling of this story in Luke’s gospel, chapter 15, lets us know that love is difficult, for we are ignorant of what love is.

      Jesus’ telling of this story in Luke’s gospel, chapter 15, lets us know that love is difficult, for we are ignorant of what love is. The father of the story represents the God who made us, whose love is pure, endless, and unadulterated. We don’t find love by trying to live our own life away from the love of the father, nor do we find love by trying to do the impossible and be good enough to earn it. We find love when we experience God’s undeserved acceptance and have his love instilled in us by his Spirit. We find love when we continually trust the Father’s love toward us, especially in times we mess up. We find love through building our relationship with the father, and by learning, with the encouraging company of fellow believers, to practice the same kind of love that God has given us.

      Article first appeared on Northwest Ohio Christian Voice

      Facebook Comments
      Tags: Finding LoveLoveLuke 15Prodigal Son
      Jay Ashbaucher

      Jay Ashbaucher

      Jay Ashbaucher is a native of Northwest Ohio and is currently a retired pastor and published author. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and has been a pastor and teacher in Montana for over 44 years. Jay taught grief classes in a hospital setting, and worked for twenty years as a fifth-step counselor and lecturer in an alcoholic-drug treatment center getting to know the hearts of people struggling to get well. While pastoring in Montana, he had enjoyed racquetball, hunting, fishing, and traveling the Big Sky State. Now living in Southeast Michigan, Jay enjoys his family, reading, hiking, golf, time with friends, and time with his fun-to-be-with wife. They have two happily married children and seven grandchildren.

      Next Post
      Shepherd’s Gate: Living in a House of Hope

      Shepherd's Gate: Living in a House of Hope

      Recommended

      Clergy Calls for UK Second Lockdown to be a Month of Prayer

      Clergy Calls for UK Second Lockdown to be a Month of Prayer

      1 year ago

      Chocolate Factory Launches Christian-based Contest

      4 years ago

      Popular News

        Connect with us

        About Us

        Nashville Christian Voice is part of One Christian Voice, a growing Christian news network in the United States. We share world news, national news, stories to inspire you and information on activities and events in and around Nashville, TN.

        Locations

        California
        Colorado
        Florida
        Georgia
        New Jersey
        North Carolina
        Ohio
        Pennsylvania
        South Carolina
        Tennessee
        Texas

        Connect with us

        • About Us
        • Advertise
        • Contact

        © 2018 Nashville Christian Voice - Member, Evangelical Press Association.

        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
        • Lifestyle
        • Church
        • Sports

        © 2018 Nashville Christian Voice - Member, Evangelical Press Association.

        Welcome Back!

        Login to your account below

        Forgotten Password?

        Retrieve your password

        Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

        Log In