Sunday, November 23, 2014
What is Faith?
Faith is the refusal to panic. ~ David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Scripture:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 (New King James Version)
So often we hear the phrase “Just have faith,” but how many of you truly understand just what faith is? Faith is often described as; believing and trusting in the power of the unknown. The dictionary defines faith as the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
I love to study the word of God and as I looked up the passage in the NKJ version of the bible, it had a title that stated as part of the lesson, by faith we understand. It raises the question, how can we understand something that we cannot truly touch, taste or feel?
In the flesh we are often taught to believe only in the tangible. Our minds often will not process information that does not make sense to us. In many ways we are too literal for our own good.
Now trust, that’s a whole other topic. However, when we talk about faith, we must also talk about trust. Trust is an emotion that I believe each of us is essentially born with. It is not until we learn betrayal that we begin to lose our trust in others.
Understanding is described as the ability grasp the meaning of, or to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty.
Faith is the belief and trust in and loyalty to God, the firm belief in something for which there is no proof and/or complete trust.
Now when I put those two definitions together I see; I understand and grasp and accept as fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty in the trust and loyalty of God and I firmly believe that even though there is not proof of His existence, I totally and completely Trust Him.
That my friends, is the basis of faith!
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Father, when trouble comes my way, help me to learn to trust and have faith in You. Help me to remember that if I but have mustard seed faith, that I can do all things through Christ Jesus. Lord, sometimes we forget that You are our ever present help in the time of trouble. Thank You Lord, for being there when we need You. Lord, when we begin to falter and start to worry about our problems, help us to remember to be still and pray. When the problems of life seem to overwhelm us, help us to remember You are right there with us. God help us to realize that weeping may endure for a night, and that sometimes it is necessary for trouble to assail us so that we can see You power and Your glory manifested in our lives. Lord, We ask for strength today; the strength to stand and fight the good fight of faith yet another day. Lord, grant us peace today. Your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, fill our hearts with Your love. Your love that is not our selfish definition, but the love of Christ Jesus, that strengthens us. Now Lord, we come together on one accord to pray for one another. For no matter how heavy our cross seems, we recognize that we are blessed beyond our own imaginations. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ. Bless our loved ones who have not come to know You yet. But most of all, we Bless Your holy name. In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 (New King James Version)
So often we hear the phrase “Just have faith,” but how many of you truly understand just what faith is? Faith is often described as; believing and trusting in the power of the unknown. The dictionary defines faith as the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
I love to study the word of God and as I looked up the passage in the NKJ version of the bible, it had a title that stated as part of the lesson, by faith we understand. It raises the question, how can we understand something that we cannot truly touch, taste or feel?
In the flesh we are often taught to believe only in the tangible. Our minds often will not process information that does not make sense to us. In many ways we are too literal for our own good.
Now trust, that’s a whole other topic. However, when we talk about faith, we must also talk about trust. Trust is an emotion that I believe each of us is essentially born with. It is not until we learn betrayal that we begin to lose our trust in others.
Understanding is described as the ability grasp the meaning of, or to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty.
Faith is the belief and trust in and loyalty to God, the firm belief in something for which there is no proof and/or complete trust.
Now when I put those two definitions together I see; I understand and grasp and accept as fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty in the trust and loyalty of God and I firmly believe that even though there is not proof of His existence, I totally and completely Trust Him.
That my friends, is the basis of faith!
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Father, when trouble comes my way, help me to learn to trust and have faith in You. Help me to remember that if I but have mustard seed faith, that I can do all things through Christ Jesus. Lord, sometimes we forget that You are our ever present help in the time of trouble. Thank You Lord, for being there when we need You. Lord, when we begin to falter and start to worry about our problems, help us to remember to be still and pray. When the problems of life seem to overwhelm us, help us to remember You are right there with us. God help us to realize that weeping may endure for a night, and that sometimes it is necessary for trouble to assail us so that we can see You power and Your glory manifested in our lives. Lord, We ask for strength today; the strength to stand and fight the good fight of faith yet another day. Lord, grant us peace today. Your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, fill our hearts with Your love. Your love that is not our selfish definition, but the love of Christ Jesus, that strengthens us. Now Lord, we come together on one accord to pray for one another. For no matter how heavy our cross seems, we recognize that we are blessed beyond our own imaginations. Bless our brothers and sisters in Christ. Bless our loved ones who have not come to know You yet. But most of all, we Bless Your holy name. In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Try Walking In Someone Else's Shoes
You
never really know a man until you understand things from his point of
view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. ~ Nelle
Harper Lee
Scripture:
If
anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Give to the
one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to
borrow from you.
Matthew 5:41-42 NIV
Very
often we are quick to criticize others based on our own opinions and
positions in life. We think nothing of judging the conditions of
others based on what our life experiences have shown us. We will
shake our heads in disapproval if others do not conform to our
standards and beliefs. We will quickly dismiss those who find
themselves in situations and circumstances we find appalling because
of the hand that life has dealt them. We tend to forget that many of
us are only where we are because of whose we are and but for the
grace of God go you or I.
Years
ago when I first started my writing journey, I wrote a short story
called Death
at a Church.
It was about a young prostitute who worked the corner near a church.
Even though she didn’t know anything about God, there was
something about the beautiful church, the beautiful sounds emanating
from it and its beautiful people that fascinated her.
One
day, she gathers enough courage to put on her best and enter through
its beautiful doors. Once inside, she almost loses her courage
because of how she is treated by those beautiful church folk. Many
of them recognized her by her profession without knowing her story or
that her choice of profession had never been her choice to make but
rather a choice made by someone else. If those good folks had been
given the same cross to bear, would they be as strong?
Remember,
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:
Father, we come to You this day asking forgiveness for the words spoken against another because of what we think they are. Help us Lord, to see other as You see us. Help us Lord to look beyond a persons appearance and see into their hearts. Help us Lord, to show forgiveness towards those who have caused us such sorrow and heartache. Father we ask that You continue to cover our troops with Your wings of protection. Help us Lord to rebuke those who seek to destroy us. Teach us this day to have a forgiving spirit towards those who have misused us. Father, help us to see others in the same way You see us. With the eyes of Love. With a spirit of forgiveness, and with an open mind so that we may come to understand those who seem strange to us. Father, I am asking once again that You touch those saints who have asked for prayer for whatever situation they may be faced with. Father, our prayers are not complete until we tell You just how much we love You. We thank You Lord, for Your forgiveness of our sins and for looking beyond our faults. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Father, we come to You this day asking forgiveness for the words spoken against another because of what we think they are. Help us Lord, to see other as You see us. Help us Lord to look beyond a persons appearance and see into their hearts. Help us Lord, to show forgiveness towards those who have caused us such sorrow and heartache. Father we ask that You continue to cover our troops with Your wings of protection. Help us Lord to rebuke those who seek to destroy us. Teach us this day to have a forgiving spirit towards those who have misused us. Father, help us to see others in the same way You see us. With the eyes of Love. With a spirit of forgiveness, and with an open mind so that we may come to understand those who seem strange to us. Father, I am asking once again that You touch those saints who have asked for prayer for whatever situation they may be faced with. Father, our prayers are not complete until we tell You just how much we love You. We thank You Lord, for Your forgiveness of our sins and for looking beyond our faults. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Footnote:
If
anyone is interested in reading Death at a Church to see how my
character triumphs in this moving story you can order a copy at:
http://amzn.com/B00GNH94JC
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Owning Up to Your Faults
Nothing can work me damage except myself; the harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault. ~ Bernard, St.
Scripture:
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me. Jonah 1:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
This past weekend I heard a very interesting take on the Story of Jonah. In the past, whenever a sermon was given regarding Jonah and his disobedience to God, it simply referenced him running away from what God wanted him to do. However, in all the years that Jonah’s story had been related to me, I had never heard the Prophet Jonah’s story told this way before.
I had on several occasions read and heard of Jonah’s initial refusal to go to Nineveh and tell the citizens to repent of their sins or they will be destroyed. Jonah did not want the city to be saved because he felt that they weren't worthy of God’s grace and mercy. He didn't want God to forgive them so he took it upon himself to run in the opposite direction in and effort to refuse God’s directive.
What I found most interesting about this sermon was that the emphasis wasn't placed upon Jonah running away, but on the fact that he owned up to why the ship and its crew were in trouble. He admitted he was the reason and that it was all his fault.
How many of us are brave enough to admit that we are the catalyst for our own problems? How many of us are willing to take the blame for causing stress and strife in the lives of others? How many of us are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others? How many of us would have continued to run away rather than own up to our mistakes and try to make things right.
It's not hard to find the truth. What is hard is not to run away from it once you have found it.
Be blessed and be a blessing
Prayer:Father God, I come before the throne of grace seeking Your face and Your favor. Lord, often times I hear Your voice and tremble. I tremble because I know that I am not doing your will but rather following my own. Forgive me Lord. I pray that You would forgive me for my mistakes of yesterday and I pray that You would find favor with me once again. Lord, I come standing in the gap for my family and friends. I pray for the family who lost a mother and the family who lost a young child. So many need so much. I ask that You would comfort those who are heartbroken, assure those who are at a lost, strengthen those who are weak. Lord, help us to realize just how blessed we are. We may not have all that we want, but you continue to supply all of our needs. Lord, we just want to thank You for all that You have done in our lives and for all that You are about to do. Keep us all in perfect peace and help us to keep our minds and our hearts set on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.
