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.
The Power of Prayer
Prayer is powerful because of who is listening, not because of who is speaking or what they’re saying. You get to pray to your Father, the powerful God who wants you to embrace His love today.
The Lord’s Prayer begins by addressing “our Father in heaven.” A Father who holds all power and authority. A Father who loves you greatly. Unlike earthly fathers, our heavenly Father loves us perfectly—Jesus’ nail-scarred hands prove the depth of His love for us.
In this passage, Christ teaches us how to approach our loving Father in prayer: fixing our eyes on His eternal kingdom, not our temporary one. He tells us to go to God, not the world, with our daily needs. Jesus shows us how to drop the weights of sin and unforgiveness. He encourages us to be controlled by the power of God, rather than evil.
The Lord’s Prayer invites God’s influence to take root in us, guiding our hearts into right relationship with the Lord and welcoming His authority into our lives while rejecting worldly power.
Don’t run from it. Seek Him through prayer, allowing Him to guide you and carry your burdens. He might not work in ways you fully understand, but you will walk lighter knowing He hears you, and He’s fighting for you.
An Opportunity for Joy
James, the half-brother of Jesus, couldn’t believe that his flesh-and-blood sibling was the actual Son of God—until He rose from the dead. Then, he was convinced. It was that same James who wrote:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
James 1:2-3 NLT
According to the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, James was eventually martyred for his confident faith in Jesus—his brother and his Lord.
Here are five things to note from James’ mini-sermon:
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First, the text says “WHEN troubles of any kind come your way…” It’s not if but when troubles come our way. We live in a broken world that has not yet been fully restored, so we shouldn’t be surprised when issues and challenges arise.
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Second, the text says “when troubles of ANY kind come your way…” Not merely ...
