Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Along for the Ride
Do you ever try to figure out God's next step in His plan for your life? Sometimes we as people do this. Its almost like children trying to guess what their parent's got them for Christmas. The anxiety of the unknown is so great that we try to get the answer before we are ready to receive it. Just like the children try to get the gifts before it is time for them to be bestowed upon them. Do you see any similarities here? I do. The children are being somewhat immature in their behavior because they "just can't wait", the thought of waiting is too much to bear. Yet, they DO wait (because their parents don't give them their Christmas presents early), and they do in fact survive. No emergency room visits because they were faint of heart by not getting those gifts early, right? Aren't we as adults sort of doing the same thing when we try to figure out where God is going with His plan? Wouldn't we waste less resources, time, and energy if we simply stepped back and said, "Ok, God. I don't understand. But I am along for the ride." My Pastor preached a similar vein of this recently and it got me thinking, "yes, we do need to trust God more!" Our plans are certainly not better than His. He knows the big picture (and we don't) so He has already taken all variables into account when formulating and carrying out His plan. Just like Isaiah 55:8 says, "...my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." Don't we need to quit trying to re-imagine new ways, and instead trust Him in His ways? I guess in accepting this fact, the only thing we then need is a bit of prayer to help us to gain peace while we "take that ride". Say your prayer, and settle in , because when you look back, it may be a colorful ride that you'll be able to share with others someday of what a testament God is in your life :)
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Faith is the belief in things unseen
Some people have faith. Some people don't.
Some people believe in God. Some people don't.
Some people are at peace in all things. Some people aren't.
All of these second sentences above could have been replaced with "most people", instead of "some people", and still would have been true. Unfortunately.
We tend to surround ourselves with people who are like us. This is normal, you are going to pick your friends based on things you have in common and can share in. However, this sometimes causes us to lose touch with the rest of society who are very different from you. I was reminded of this recently when I shared some unpleasant news regarding a person's illness with two people who are very close to me. First, let me say the immediate family was dealing with the unexpected and sudden news of this illness. We believe in God and His miraculous healing powers. We believe he is all-knowing and has a voice with which He talks to His people when His people are willing to listen. We firmly believe that NOTHING is above God, and therefore NOTHING is too big for God to handle, including any illness. So when we were discussing and "handling" this sudden news, we never lost our faith that God could take care of it. We dissected the news and the consequential procedures that would be needed and tried to learn as much as we could about this illness. But we did not lose faith or act like death was at the door.
When I shared the news of this illness with these two people I was reminded of how different people are. My closest friend who probably IS my best friend because of our shared faith and the fact that we can talk about anything together and pray together, took the news with complete faith. (Just as the immediate family was handling it). She actually knows something about this illness so she had lots of informed, detailed questions. But she did not act like it was a death sentence or was un-treatable, or un-survivable, or hopeless. In contrast, when I told the other person, I could immediately hear it in their voice (the sense of grief, sorrow, pity that someone would have if they had no faith). They didn't SAY anything bad, but you could pick it up in their countenance and physical reaction. They do not know God and His amazing power the way the people who displayed faith know God. It actually saddens me that so many people purport to be "Christians" and "believe in God", yet they don't let Him into their lives to have control of it. Let me tell you something, when God is in control of your life, you will never feel out-of-control!
There is such a huge difference in knowing God exists, and having Him be a part of your daily life. I wish this person (and everyone...myself as well) had a stronger relationship with God.
I wish this person had enough faith in God to not have that pity in their voice. Nobody needs negativity. But everybody needs faith.
Faith gives us hope.
Faith gives us courage.
Faith gives us strength.
Faith can be unwaivering.
Its up to us how much faith we have and therefore how hopeful or hopeless we become in our lives. God is always there. He is always waiting for His sheep to come home. He is the shepherd, we are the sheep. Remember, a shepherd will always take care of his sheep. Have faith.
Some people believe in God. Some people don't.
Some people are at peace in all things. Some people aren't.
All of these second sentences above could have been replaced with "most people", instead of "some people", and still would have been true. Unfortunately.
We tend to surround ourselves with people who are like us. This is normal, you are going to pick your friends based on things you have in common and can share in. However, this sometimes causes us to lose touch with the rest of society who are very different from you. I was reminded of this recently when I shared some unpleasant news regarding a person's illness with two people who are very close to me. First, let me say the immediate family was dealing with the unexpected and sudden news of this illness. We believe in God and His miraculous healing powers. We believe he is all-knowing and has a voice with which He talks to His people when His people are willing to listen. We firmly believe that NOTHING is above God, and therefore NOTHING is too big for God to handle, including any illness. So when we were discussing and "handling" this sudden news, we never lost our faith that God could take care of it. We dissected the news and the consequential procedures that would be needed and tried to learn as much as we could about this illness. But we did not lose faith or act like death was at the door.
When I shared the news of this illness with these two people I was reminded of how different people are. My closest friend who probably IS my best friend because of our shared faith and the fact that we can talk about anything together and pray together, took the news with complete faith. (Just as the immediate family was handling it). She actually knows something about this illness so she had lots of informed, detailed questions. But she did not act like it was a death sentence or was un-treatable, or un-survivable, or hopeless. In contrast, when I told the other person, I could immediately hear it in their voice (the sense of grief, sorrow, pity that someone would have if they had no faith). They didn't SAY anything bad, but you could pick it up in their countenance and physical reaction. They do not know God and His amazing power the way the people who displayed faith know God. It actually saddens me that so many people purport to be "Christians" and "believe in God", yet they don't let Him into their lives to have control of it. Let me tell you something, when God is in control of your life, you will never feel out-of-control!
There is such a huge difference in knowing God exists, and having Him be a part of your daily life. I wish this person (and everyone...myself as well) had a stronger relationship with God.
I wish this person had enough faith in God to not have that pity in their voice. Nobody needs negativity. But everybody needs faith.
Faith gives us hope.
Faith gives us courage.
Faith gives us strength.
Faith can be unwaivering.
Its up to us how much faith we have and therefore how hopeful or hopeless we become in our lives. God is always there. He is always waiting for His sheep to come home. He is the shepherd, we are the sheep. Remember, a shepherd will always take care of his sheep. Have faith.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Riches
Wealthy people often give away what they have.
This is such a normal occurance with wealthy people, that Webster's has even created a name for it: philanthropist!
Well, you know what? God wants to give away His riches too!
He wants to give YOU good things. Matthew 7:11 says, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."
Our God is rich.
When you think of rich PEOPLE you probably think of stuff they own that qualifies them as being rich. Well, guess what?! God owns ALOT of STUFF!
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10).
He owns the whole Earth (Psalms 24:1).
He owns all the silver and gold (Haggai 2:8).
A good, rich father would not want his own children to be poor. Just as so, our Father in Heaven, who is rich in so many ways, does not want us (His children) to be poor either. Neither poor in health, poor in finances, nor poor in faith. So remember that God is your Father, and he wants to share his riches with you. You just have to love God with all your heart and have enough faith to ask.
This is such a normal occurance with wealthy people, that Webster's has even created a name for it: philanthropist!
Well, you know what? God wants to give away His riches too!
He wants to give YOU good things. Matthew 7:11 says, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."
Our God is rich.
When you think of rich PEOPLE you probably think of stuff they own that qualifies them as being rich. Well, guess what?! God owns ALOT of STUFF!
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10).
He owns the whole Earth (Psalms 24:1).
He owns all the silver and gold (Haggai 2:8).
A good, rich father would not want his own children to be poor. Just as so, our Father in Heaven, who is rich in so many ways, does not want us (His children) to be poor either. Neither poor in health, poor in finances, nor poor in faith. So remember that God is your Father, and he wants to share his riches with you. You just have to love God with all your heart and have enough faith to ask.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
