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Jesus | Faith over Fear

@shepherdsblood

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Christ is King 👑
Ex-Buddhist, now following Jesus ✝️
Sharing my faith, hoping we'll all be united in Heaven

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What if heaven holds more than we can imagine? The Bible gives us glimpses of life in God's new creation, but there's still so much we don't know.

Which role would you choose?

Revelation 21:4 - 5

Note: The Bible doesn't confirm these as specific jobs in heaven. Some are inspired by biblical descriptions of God's renewed creation, while others are possibilities to imagine. Our ultimate hope is to live with God forever. by @shepherdsblood

"Goodbye" is what's left of "God be with ye" after a few hundred years of people saying it fast. Somewhere along the way "good" slipped in, probably from "good day" and "good night."

I'm not saying anyone's secretly praying at the grocery store. But the next time you say it, notice who you're saying it to.

What other everyday word do you think has a church hiding in it?

#goodbye ##jesuschrist #wordorigins #christian #faith by @shepherdsblood

The Bible never hides how heavy life can get. Some of its most faithful people experienced deep despair while still walking with God.

If you're struggling right now, it doesn't mean you've failed at faith. You don't have to pretend you're okay before coming to God. ❤️

Read the passages in the pinned comment and take your time with them.

Who needs this reminder today? Send it to them.

#Christianity #JesusChrist #FaithInGod #BibleVerses #ChristianEncouragement

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
1. 1 Kings 19:4 - Exhausted and distressed, Elijah asks God to take his life.

2. 2 Corinthians 1:8 - Paul describes suffering so intense that he despaired even of life.

3. Psalm 13:1–2 - David honestly expresses his feelings of abandonment and sorrow to God.

4. Matthew 26:38 - Jesus tells His disciples that His soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

5. Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. by @shepherdsblood

Have you ever prayed and wondered if God was listening?
David asked God how long He would hide His face. Elijah encountered Him in an unexpected way. And Jesus cried out from the cross.
If you're struggling to feel God's presence right now, read these passages for yourself. You don't have to pretend you have all the answers.
Save this Reel for a difficult day, and share it with someone who might need it. 🤍 by @shepherdsblood

Some of the deepest wounds come from the people we trust most.

Betrayal hurts differently when it comes from someone you love. But don't let another person's actions turn your heart cold. Jesus experienced betrayal, yet He never stopped being who He was.

Love others, but ask God for wisdom. Forgive, but don't ignore patterns of harmful behavior. You are allowed to set boundaries without hatred.

“Your relatives, members of your own family, even they have betrayed you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.” Jeremiah 12:6

If this spoke to you, save it for a difficult day. May God give you the wisdom to recognize sincerity, the strength to establish healthy boundaries, and the grace to keep loving without losing yourself. by @shepherdsblood

Same Bible, different habits. 📖

People who read Scripture 4+ times a week reported lower odds of getting drunk, using porn, and having sex outside marriage. They also reported higher odds of sharing their faith (228%), discipling others (231%), and memorizing Scripture (407%).

Important: this is a survey, so it shows a link, not proof that reading causes these results. Those who read more may also differ in other ways. Also, "higher odds" is not the same as "% of people."

And remember: we're saved by grace through faith, not by Bible reading. Reading is how we get to know the One who saves.
Verses: Matthew 4:4, Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 15:16, John 8:31-32, Psalm 1:2-3, Ephesians 2:8-9

Sources:
• CBE 2009 "Power of 4" findings (as quoted): https://faithalone.org/blog/the-effects-of-reading-the-bible-four-days-a-week/
• Center for Bible Engagement research: https://www.centerforbibleengagement.org/research
• Back to the Bible, research history: https://www.backtothebible.org/scripture-absorption
• Lifeway Research summary: https://research.lifeway.com/?p=102134
• Perry & Hayward (2017), Social Forces: https://cpc.unc.edu/resources/publications/bib/9975
Scripture: Matthew 4:4, John 5:39-40 (ESV)

A note on the research: The statistics cited here come from reports on Bible engagement, including research associated with the Center for Bible Engagement. These findings describe associations, not proof that reading the Bible causes particular outcomes. Figures should be interpreted in light of the original studies' methods and limitations.
Sources: Center for Bible Engagement; Back to the Bible; Lifeway Research; Perry & Hayward (2017).
The biblical reflection draws on Matthew 4:4 and John 5:39–40 (ESV). by @shepherdsblood

What do people encounter when they come close to death?

Researchers examined 302 near-death experience accounts submitted to the NDERF website. Of these, 212 people (70.1%) described meeting or sensing beings. Among the 166 who identified those beings, 25.9% reported blood relatives, while 22.9% reported religious figures. Jesus was named by 12.7%, God by 5.4%, and angels by 4.8%.

But a survey is not proof of what happens after death. These accounts were self-reported by people who chose to submit them, and the study was retrospective. It also did not report the respondents’ own religious backgrounds, so we cannot explain why they reported these experiences.

As Christians, we don't build our faith on near-death stories. We test what we hear (1 John 4:1), measure everything against Scripture, and place our hope in Jesus—not in human experiences.

We point to Jesus not because a survey mentioned His name, but because of what He revealed about Himself.

📖 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

Source: Jody A. Long, J.D., Another Look at Beings Encountered During the Near Death Experience - NDERF.org.

#JesusChrist #Christianity #BibleTruth #FaithInJesus #NearDeathExperience by @shepherdsblood

“I met a Christian, but they were rude, racist, and tried to force their beliefs on me.”

You met someone who claimed to follow Jesus but failed to reflect His character.

Jesus never asked us to force people to love Him. He called us to love them.

A person can know the language of Christianity without living out its teachings. And when someone uses faith to justify hatred, their actions contradict the very Christ they claim to represent.

#explorepage #explore #viral #god #bible by @shepherdsblood

Culture tells us that life is a choice. A convenience.
But the Bible tells a different story.
Before you took your first breath, God knew you.

You were formed with purpose, woven together before the world ever saw your face.
Scripture describes children as a gift, the vulnerable as people worth defending, and human life as something deserving of dignity.
When we forget the value of human life, we risk forgetting the humanity of those most in need of our protection.

Jesus didn't come to save an idea.
He came to save people
.
People like you. People the world overlooks. People who cannot speak for themselves.
Defend the vulnerable.

Honor the dignity of human life.
Because every person has a story worth protecting.

✝️ Psalm 82:3–4 · Psalm 127:3 · Psalm 139:13–16 · Jeremiah 1:5 by @shepherdsblood

i think about the garden of gethsemane, and i break.
he knew. every time i'd ignore him. every time i'd put my phone above prayer. every time i'd doubt his goodness.
he knew i might never choose him.
and he still went through with it. he still endured the whips. he still carried the cross.
that's not just a story in a book. that's the creator of the universe knowing my worst and still choosing to die for me.
what a love. how could i not live for him? 🕊️🎀✝️ by @shepherdsblood

Do pets go to heaven?

The Bible doesn't say clearly. But it does say God will wipe away every tear, and that He's making all things new.

I can't prove it. But I believe God's goodness gives us reason to hope.
If you've lost a pet, you're not silly for missing them. Love like that matters.

What was their name? Drop it below, and share a picture if you can. I'd love to meet them.

Send this to someone who misses theirs.

#christianfaith #doespetsgotoheaven #christiancontent #bibleverse by @shepherdsblood

Some moments in the Bible are almost impossible to imagine. ✝️

Demons entering 2,000 pigs.
185,000 Assyrian soldiers struck down in one night.
A mysterious hand writing a king’s judgment on a wall.
An entire valley of dry bones coming to life.
And darkness falling over the land while Jesus hung on the cross.

These aren't all the same kind of story. Some reveal God's judgment, some reveal His power to restore, and one brings us face to face with the sacrifice at the heart of the Christian faith.

The darkest moment wasn't the end of the story.

Jesus died for our sins so we could be reconciled to God. And through His resurrection, death would not have the final word.

Read the accounts for yourself:
• Mark 5:1–20
• 2 Kings 19:35
• Daniel 5
• Ezekiel 37
• Matthew 27:45–54
• Romans 5:8–9

One detail worth remembering: Ezekiel's dry bones are a vision of God's promise to restore Israel, not a literal historical event.

Which moment shocked you the most? Comment the slide number below. 👇 by @shepherdsblood