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.
What Jesus Did
If you had access to all the luxuries you could dream of, would you voluntarily give them up? If you had riches beyond your wildest imagination, would you lay them all down for someone you love?
That’s what Jesus did.
“He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:7-8 NLT
Jesus gave up His divine privileges, temporarily, so that He could be with His people. So that He could pay their debt and redeem them back to Himself.
Because of that, God “elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.” (Philippians 2:9 NLT)
So if you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus, you are naturally called to follow Him. To reflect His love. And to, daily, die to yourself.
Though the call to die to oneself can be literal in some cases, more often, it's symbolic. It means giving up what we want in favor of something that could have an eternal impact.
Maybe, instead of binging a TV show or scrolling social media, you could visit someone in the hospital, take a meal to someone who’s hurting, or help a single parent.
Maybe, instead of rushing to get everything on your busy schedule finished, you could take the time to read the Bible with a child, befriend someone who’s lonely, or be present with the people around you.
Maybe, instead of waiting for God to send opportunities your way, you could seek out those who are desperate for Him—and help them see why He occupies the place of highest honor in your life.
The great news is, you have been empowered to do what Jesus did.
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...
