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.
God over the seemingly impossible
It might feel unlikely that God will show up in your impossible situation: your diagnosis, your infertility, your broken relationship, your disobedient kid, your inconsistent character, your anxiety, your financial struggles, your grief.
Thankfully, God is not limited or bound by the natural world.
Growing up in a Jewish family, Mary would have known about the prophesied Messiah; the long-awaited Savior of the world. But she probably never imagined that those age-old predictions would be fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of her son—who was somehow fully God, yet also fully man.
But as the angel Gabriel explained to Mary:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 ESV
Not only did God plan these events long ago, He also declared them ahead of time through Old Testament prophets and writers.
Jesus’ life: This God-man would come from the lineage of David (Isaiah 9:7), and be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He’d make the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the mute sing (Isaiah 35:5-6). He’d proclaim good news to the poor, comfort the brokenhearted, and set the captive free (Isaiah 61:1).
Jesus’ death: Though innocent (Isaiah 53:9), he’d be betrayed by a close friend (Psalm 41:9) for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12). He’d be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3), beaten and spit on (Isaiah 50:6), pierced in both the hands and feet (Psalm 22:16), and ultimately killed (Daniel 9:26).
Jesus’ resurrection: He would be raised to life again (Psalm 16:10-11) and establish a never-ending covenant with God’s people (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Because He’d be willing to bear the sins of many and intercede for rebels (Isaiah 53:12), many would be counted as righteous (Isaiah 53:11) and He’d be a light to all nations (Isaiah 11:10).
Everything about Jesus seemed impossible, but God is able to do beyond what we could imagine. So remember the God you serve, and be encouraged: God is surprised by nothing. He already knows the end from the beginning. His purposes can’t be derailed. His character will never change.
Nothing is impossible for Him.
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 ...
