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.
Walking Through Trials
Let's start by debunking a myth: Nowhere in Scripture does God promise us a perfect life, free from troubles. In fact, many, many times in the Bible, Christ-followers find themselves persecuted, under attack, or facing trouble of all kinds.
In a letter from James to first-century believers, James informs them about the various trials that they will experience in life:
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
James 1:12 NIV
When we see trials as a means of becoming more like Jesus, then we’ll be blessed by them.
Maybe you can think back to a difficult season of life. Looking back, you might be able to point out how God refined you coming out of it. God is often at work behind the scenes deepening our character and enlarging our capacity, even when we don't see it.
Maybe you're going through one of those difficult seasons right now. Take this passage to heart! You can persevere knowing there is a promised reward for us in heaven. While rewards on this side of heaven are not promised, looking towards our final destination with Jesus gives us hope to endure the trials in the present.
If you’re walking through a difficult season of life, spend some time meditating on the promises of God. He promises to never abandon you or leave you, but to walk alongside you through trials. And at the end of the trial, you’ll be more like Christ.
Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness and love in your life.
What Does Love Look Like?
If you were to ask ten random people to define what love is, you would most likely receive ten different definitions. We often define love by what we value or enjoy the most. But with so many different definitions of love that are often contradictory, Jesus’ followers should desire the truth.
A true definition of love doesn’t come from culture, our own values, or from within ourselves—it comes from God, because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). So, any right understanding of love must come from God. 1 Corinthians 13 is entirely devoted to defining what love is.
1 Corinthians 13:6 says love "does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." Evil is anything opposed to God or His ways. When we disobey God’s law, choose to do the wrong thing, or cause harm to someone else—that is evil.
Essentially, evil is when we fail to love God and love others.
For instance, if someone difficult does not know the love of Jesus, we shouldn’t delight in that. Love ...
