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.
Help is Near
We weren’t created to go through life carrying heavy burdens that weigh us down.
Thankfully, we don’t have to.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
When Jesus came to earth, He took our burdens onto Himself. Even though we were far from God, Jesus carried the punishment for our wrongdoing and bore our suffering. And because of that, we have a Savior who understands and has compassion on us.
This Savior meets us in our mess, and invites us to find rest in Him. This Savior is God with us.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Psalms 68:19 NIV
King David wrote that Psalm hundreds of years before Jesus’ arrival. Even then, God was illustrating to people that His character was constant, and He was trustworthy.
God watched over Noah when the earth was flooded (Genesis 8:1), and He made a covenant with Abraham to bless, protect, and multiply his descendants (Genesis 17:4-7). He took care of the Israelites when they wandered through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:7), and He comforted David when people were trying to kill him.
God has never stopped being true to who He is. He is our ever-present help in time of need. He is our constant source of strength. He is our comforter and our provider. The God that David praises in Psalm 68 is our God. He is the One who continually takes care of us, stooping down to meet us in our mess and carry us out of brokenness.
He daily bears our burdens.
Will we still endure hard times? Yes. But we will never have to go through them alone. The Savior of the world is near. God is with us.
With You in the Storm
The Sea of Galilee in Israel is known for violent, sudden storms. Strong winds can create huge waves that threaten seafarers, like we see in the book of Mark.
The night the disciples and Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, a storm set in. Violent. Sudden. Terrifying. And while the disciples frantically worked to keep the vessel afloat, there was Jesus, asleep in the boat. The disciples woke him and asked: “Teacher, do you not care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38 NIV)
That question might read a little differently for you today:
“Jesus, do you not care that my health is falling apart?”
“Jesus, do you not care that my finances are draining out?”
“Jesus, do you not care that my relationship is in tatters?”
But there is more to the story.
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39 NIV
Jesus didn’t join them in their fear. Instead, He looked right at the storm and ...
