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.
Safe with Him
When life feels overwhelming or the world seems extra dark, there's an ultimate security that comes from trusting God.
King David, the author of Psalm 16, faced all kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual stressors throughout his life. And yet, he had an overwhelming sense of peace and joy—knowing that His soul was safe in God's hands.
He wrote...
"No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave."
Psalm 16:9-10 NLT
Scripture tells us that—because of sin—our temporary bodies can bleed, our bones can break, and these physical shells can (and will) eventually wear out. But praise God, even death and the grave will not get the final say! Because Jesus has already paid the ultimate price (giving His own life) to redeem us, and because He refused to stay dead, He has cleared the way for us to have eternal life.
In the following verse and final declaration of Psalm 16, David went on to say...
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."
Psalm 16:11 NLT
Jesus was and is the long-awaited Messiah, the Perfect One, God in the flesh—who lived the life we couldn't, died the death we should've, and even did the impossible by conquering the grave. When we accept the grace and love that He offers, not only will He never abandon us, but we'll also be empowered by His Spirit and given access to forever with Him!
So if you're looking for ultimate security, know that you can't be good enough, successful enough, or amazing enough to earn it for yourself. God alone is the keeper of your soul, and you can be confident in Him.
Responding to God at All Times
Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overflowing happiness. Sometimes, they’ll be separate seasons—but other times, these experiences come together.
In either case and in any situation, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, people were to pause and praise God.
This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and we're feeling cheerful, it’s easy to just enjoy our season and not stop long enough to praise God for it. But every season of life is actually just an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about…
When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are cheerful or happy, let us praise God. When others are happy, let us praise God with ...
