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.
The Good Shepherd
"He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart ... "
Isaiah 40:11 NIV
This verse is one of the most tender portraits of God in all of Scripture. Amid a chapter that speaks of God’s overwhelming power—the same God who measures oceans in the palm of His hand and calls stars by their name—Isaiah also gives us this stunning picture of His gentleness.
God is not just mighty; He is merciful. He is not only strong; He is tender.
In this verse, Isaiah compares our God to a shepherd who cares daily for a flock of sheep. We, like sheep, have a tendency to wander and go astray. Sheep fall into traps or are killed and eaten by predators. But a shepherd's only priority is the care and safety of his flock. A shepherd must be strong enough to carry a wounded ewe or to ward off wolves from a stranded lamb, but caring enough to nurture them and lead them to green pastures.
Centuries later, Jesus would stand among the people of Israel and say, “I am the good shepherd.” In doing so, Jesus connected Himself directly to the heart of Isaiah’s prophecy. The care, compassion, and closeness described in Isaiah 40:11 finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Jesus doesn’t keep His distance. He gathers us, carries us, and draws near to us. In our weakness, He lifts us up. In our confusion, He leads. When we’re overwhelmed, He doesn’t demand more than we can give. He walks with us gently, personally, and with deep affection.
This is who our Shepherd is. Powerful enough to rule the universe, yet loving enough to carry us close to His heart.
What Does Love Look Like?
If you were to ask ten random people to define what love is, you would most likely receive ten different definitions. We often define love by what we value or enjoy the most. But with so many different definitions of love that are often contradictory, Jesus’ followers should desire the truth.
A true definition of love doesn’t come from culture, our own values, or from within ourselves—it comes from God, because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). So, any right understanding of love must come from God. 1 Corinthians 13 is entirely devoted to defining what love is.
1 Corinthians 13:6 says love "does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." Evil is anything opposed to God or His ways. When we disobey God’s law, choose to do the wrong thing, or cause harm to someone else—that is evil.
Essentially, evil is when we fail to love God and love others.
For instance, if someone difficult does not know the love of Jesus, we shouldn’t delight in that. Love ...
