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.
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 brought calm. Then, He asked His disciples why they were so afraid: “Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Have you ever faced a challenge so massive, it threatened to overwhelm you? It can be disorienting, terrifying, heartbreaking, even, when the storm sets in and everything suddenly feels bleak in the face of such a strong force against us.
But God went with the disciples because He cared about them. He goes with you because He cares about you.
What storm are you facing today? Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine Jesus, unafraid of the storm, bringing everything to a calm. He is with you. You are not alone in this storm.
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something.
Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building a 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 were so great that nothing on this earth could compare to doing His work.
Paul said that nothing in his life mattered 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 of ...
