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.
Knowing God Intimately
In the book of Philippians, Paul encourages Christians to stay focused on Jesus and not place their faith in their own ability to live good lives. He acknowledges that if anyone has a reason to boast in his good deeds—it’s him.
Paul was a passionate Jew who kept all of God’s laws, and did everything right. He was respected by Jewish leaders before his conversion to Christianity, and according to the Jewish law, Paul was blameless. But Paul emphasizes that whatever he gained then—nothing compared to knowing Jesus.
“I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:8 ESV
When Paul became a follower of Christ, he lost his standing with the Jewish authorities. The people who once applauded him, began to persecute him. They sent mobs of people from city to city to try and stop Paul from preaching. They beat him, whipped him, slandered him, and mocked him. Wherever he went, Paul was met with setbacks and resistance.
But Paul didn’t view his suffering as a problem, but an opportunity.
Suffering for Jesus was an opportunity to draw near to Jesus. When Paul suffered, he was reminded of what Jesus went through on our behalf.
As we get to know Christ intimately, we start to recognize that our good deeds are not good enough to earn His affection or blessings. The only way we are made right before God is by believing in His Son, Jesus. And the evidence for our belief is our willingness to follow Him … and even suffer with Him.
So… do we want to know Jesus the way that Paul did? If so, what are we willing to give up and surrender? Are we willing to view the challenges we face as opportunities to suffer with Christ and know Him better?
We gain a greater understanding of how deeply Jesus loves us when we lay aside our rights in order to love, forgive, serve, and help others—no matter the cost.
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 ...
