I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
Responding to God at All Times
Throughout our lives, we will experience both suffering and joy. We will have times of great grief and times of overflowing happiness. Sometimes, they’ll be separate seasons—but sometimes these experiences come together.
In either case, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, people were to praise God.
This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and we are cheerful, it’s easy to just enjoy our season and not think to praise God for it. But every season of life is actually just an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about…
When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are cheerful or happy, let us praise God. When others are happy, let us praise God with them. In every circumstance or situation, let’s go to God with everything, and trust Him with everything.
When we do that, we keep our eyes on Jesus, and He helps us endure every situation we face.
So what are you facing right now? Take a moment to pray to God and tell Him all you’re going through. Then, reflect on the good things happening in your life, and tell God, “Thank You.”
Run Your Race
We all know it—life isn’t easy.
Sometimes challenges can arise that are so difficult we may want to throw in the towel. Whether it's an overwhelming circumstance, the demands of family life, or the pressures of work, it can sometimes feel like too much. When we find ourselves wanting to quit, the book of Hebrews gives us a powerful encouragement to hold onto:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
“Witnesses” refer to believers who have gone before us, those whose lives are a testament of faithfulness to God. Their presence reminds us that we're part of a larger story, a legacy of faith that spans generations.
This scripture also urges believers to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Hindrances may be easy to see, such as sinful distractions that...
