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.
Cultivate Healthy Relationships
Imagine planting a flower seed...
If you want the seed to grow into a healthy flower, you have to care for it properly by giving it enough of what it needs to live—good soil, water, sunshine, attention and care.
Now think of the people who are there for you during hard times. The ones who love and encourage you, the people you enjoy experiencing life with. These relationships are much like seeds—we need to care for them properly if we want them to not only grow, but thrive.
"I thank my God every time I remember you."
Philippians 1:3 NIV
In the Bible, we learn that Paul started a church in Philippi. While he lived there, the people were generous and kind to him—partnering with Paul to share the Gospel. But even when Paul eventually continued on with his travels, the Philippian church continued to support him.
And so, after he was put in prison, Paul wrote them a letter. He could have chosen to write about his troubles, but instead, Paul prayed for his friends and encouraged them to continue to live God-honoring lives in the face of hardships and persecution. Paul recognized the sacrifices they were making, and chose to appreciate and encourage them.
In a similar way, we can help our relationships grow by expressing gratitude and appreciation for the people who impact us.
This could look like praying for them, giving them a word of encouragement, or going out of our way to serve them. It could mean slowing down to truly listen to them, or expressing thanks for something that might otherwise go unnoticed.
God gave us the desire to pursue relationships with the people around us. This means that, like Paul and the Philippians, we have an opportunity to encourage one another and pursue God together.
But in order to do this, we have to be willing to care for our relationships and be intentional about helping them grow and remain healthy. One of the best ways we can do this is by pausing to appreciate the people who support and encourage us.
So today, take some time to thank God for the people who’ve poured into you and, if you're able, let them know how they've impacted your life.
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 ...
