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.
A Powerful Statement
Have you ever watched someone’s poor decisions—even your own—wreak havoc? Have you ever known the heart-wrenching sting of death? Have you ever paused long enough to notice …
This world is beautiful, but also brutal.
It is full of life, but also loss.
The apostle Paul once wrote a letter to the believers in Corinth, Greece, reminding them that it’s because of sin (falling short of God’s standards) that death has ravished the world. But Paul didn’t stop at death and decay. He went on to say:
“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT
To say we can have victory over sin and death—two of our greatest enemies? That’s a powerful statement. It almost sounds too good to be true … except it’s not.
The foundation of Christianity is not only that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but that He was raised to life for the sake of the world. Because of Jesus, death won’t get the final say. Because of Jesus, this isn’t the actual end. Because of Jesus, victory has already been granted to those who trust in Him!
People in Corinth were preaching that there was no life after death—no resurrection from the dead. Yet Paul had the courage to refute their lies with truth.
In the same chapter, Paul points out that everything about the Christian faith hinges on Jesus’ resurrection. If Christ had not been raised, faith is useless and there is no hope. But because Jesus had been raised from the dead, and hundreds of people witnessed His post-resurrected self, everything was different.
Scripture tells us that Jesus is the first of many who will be raised to life again. Imagine the future reunion with other believers! Can you fathom swapping stories with the disciples and other heroes of our faith?
Jesus has already conquered death. And, at the appointed time, death will die forever and every tear will be wiped away. For those of us who believe in Him, there is so much more to come.
Today, we can live from a place of victory!
Day 24 of the reading of the gospel of Luke
Merry Christmas Eve
Luke 24
“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, ...
The Fulfillment of Promises Made Long Ago
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
To modern ears, this verse is a familiar, warm, and comforting centerpiece of the Christmas story. But to those who first heard these words from the angel on the night Jesus was born, every word was electric, buzzing with fulfilled expectations.
A Savior.
Born in Bethlehem, the town of David.
The Messiah.
The Lord.
For centuries, Israel had lived with a promise. The prophet Isaiah had declared, “To us a child is born, to us a son is given… and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Jeremiah had spoken of a righteous branch from David’s line, a King who would reign wisely and bring justice (Jeremiah 23:5). Micah, too, had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, David’s town (Micah 5:2).
So when the angel announced this birth to shepherds under the night sky, it wasn’t just...
