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.
Be Prepared
Throughout His ministry, Jesus often used illustrations when giving instructions, compelling His listener to consider a deeper meaning. And when empowering His disciples, right before sending them out into the world, Jesus told them:
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16 ESV
What do a bunch of animals have to do with Jesus’ directions? Here are a few things to note:
First, Jesus didn’t romanticize the disciples’ mission. He didn’t entice them with comfort, luxury, or a false sense of security. Instead, He prepared them for what was ahead by warning them of pending danger—of “wolves” who would try to destroy them.
Second, Jesus compared His disciples to sheep. Not power-hungry and dominant animals like lions, tigers, or bears, but obedient and humble animals like sheep. And sheep need to stick close to the Shepherd—and to each other—for protection and progress.
Third, Jesus advised His disciples to be wise like snakes, yet innocent like doves. To use their brains while also keeping tender hearts. To not forsake their intuition while also keeping themselves pure. To leverage their wit while also remaining blameless.
And even though Jesus gave this particular message to the disciples that were with Him face to face, His words still apply to His followers today.
We live in a good-yet-fractured world. A world where evil is allowed to exist—for a temporary allotment of time. But, despite the wickedness we see on the news and in our own neighborhoods…
We have been sent into the world—to be wise and righteous, to be smart and tender, to be truth and grace.
So be prepared for resistance—because we have a real enemy.
But remember who you are—because you’re a child of God.
And don’t forget to use your brain and your heart—because God gave you both.
Luke 11
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity...
Remember What God Has Done
Remembering what God has done is an important part of Jewish worship...
After God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He instructed the people to remember His words. He told them to diligently teach His commands, and to talk about them in their houses, when they walked, when they were lying down, and when they got up in the morning (Deuteronomy 6:7).
The Israelites were told to constantly remember what God had done, who God was, and what He had said.
And so, in Psalm 85:2, the Psalmist engages in an act of remembrance by reflecting on God’s forgiveness:
“You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.” (ESV)
The Israelites had sinned against God many times, and many times over God forgave them. The author of Psalm 85 didn’t want Israel to forget God’s great kindness, so he crafted a Psalm that would remind anyone who repeated it of God’s mercy, forgiveness, power, and love.
The Psalmist appeared to know that purposefully remembering what...
