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.
Confess and Believe
In the Old Testament, the Jewish people had a very different relationship with God than we have today. Because Adam and Eve went against Him, a divide was formed between humans and God. Years later, God gave Moses a long list of rules—the law—for His followers to live by. A relationship with God was based on how well believers followed the law. In order to become right with God, they would have to regularly go through a series of rituals and follow His list of rules perfectly.
Because this relationship was complicated and challenging—many people had a hard time following the Law. But regardless of the mistakes they made, God still loved His people—and He wanted to make things right with them. So God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a life on earth as a man, and take the punishment humans deserved.
Because of Jesus, we no longer have to follow the law perfectly in order to become right with God. Instead, Paul tells us in Romans:
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:10 NIV
Because of Jesus, becoming right with God is much simpler than it was in the Old Testament. If we believe Jesus is God and declare our faith in Him, we are saved. It can sometimes be hard to believe this, but because of Jesus, God invites us into a relationship with Him just as we are. We don’t have to be perfect. We don't have to do anything to deserve it—we just have to be willing to accept it.
But although we no longer have to follow the law, this doesn’t mean we should do whatever we like. Through a relationship with Jesus, we’re encouraged to become more like Him each day. It’s not always easy, and we won’t always be perfect—but like a loving parent teaching His child to walk, Jesus is forgiving—He will help us after we fall, and encourage us to keep going.
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus—know that He loves you and will meet you where you are. He doesn’t expect perfection. Instead, all He asks for is your belief in Him. Take a moment to tell Him now that you believe in Him, and ask Him to guide your life. The offer is open, all you have to do is accept it.
Remembering God
Have you ever been awestruck by a sunset? Or left speechless by the meticulous details of the living cell, the human eye, the mysterious ocean, or the vast universe? How often do you think about what God has made, or the ways that He has worked?
The psalmist Asaph, wrote:
“I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy, What god is great like our God?"
Psalm 77:12-13 ESV
One of the best things we can do is remember God—how He gives good gifts, writes the best stories, and is constantly making beauty from ashes. He created us, pursued us, and even gave His own life for us.
But remembering God takes intentionality.
Remembering God doesn't happen on accident, which is why we have to intentionally commit to reflecting on Him each day. Purposefully remembering God’s bigness helps us recognize our smallness. Deliberately recalling His goodness helps us understand our deep need for Him.
Pondering God’s work and meditating on ...
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, ...
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something. Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions.
While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation are so great that nothing on this earth is as important as God’s work.
Paul says that nothing in His life matters as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission ...
