Walk By Faith

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

As I sat and watched Indiana Jones take his leap of faith it made me stop and think about my life and whether I was capable of taking a step like that for God.  He was on a rocky cliff and he was in search of the Arc of the Covenent, His father was badly injured and he was trying to find it and use its power to heal him.  The movie was intense by this time, Indy had dodged blades and made it across an unstable rock floor when it came time to step out into nothingness with miles of air between him and the ground.  As he meditated shortly, believing in God's ability to help, he was transformed and made strong enough to trust in His next step.  He put his foot out over nothing and leaped landing on a bridge that was naked to the eye.  Something that was there all along.........he walked across the bridge to the other side.......to healing.  

How often am I afraid to take that next step because I can't see the bridge to step out on?  How many times do we say no because the conditions aren't right or our worldly wisdom can't see a possible way?  God is calling us all to be more like Indiana Jones.  He says we don't have to know what's up ahead, we don't have to see the bridge below, we just have to believe He loves us enough to make a path for us to walk along.  We don't do what we do because we have seen all of God's ways.  We walk because we trust that His ways are ready for us.  We trust that He is right there building bridges, making something out of nothingness to help us along our journey.  Walking by faith is listening to God's voice and obeying even when it seems impossible.  

Dear God, help me to be more faithful to You.  I want to walk by faith, and not by sight.  Take away my tendency to trust in my ways and my knowledge.  Give me boldness and confidence to step out for You.  You are ready for me.  Help me to be ready for you, trusting in Your ability to keep me safe.  

In Jesus' Name, Amen 

Sunday Scripture

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. James 4:7-10 MSG

24/7 Dad

I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.

Isaiah 46:4

I find peace in this today.  God has each one of us on His mind.  Just like I think of my kids and what I need to do for them each day, God thinks of each of His children and their needs.  Whether we ask or not, he is a part of our lives, either watching from abroad or standing beside us holding our hand.  He made us and will care for us until the day we die.  Some of His children don't want His help and many of us can relate.  Our toddlers who are gaining independence can do it alone, or our teenagers who think they know everything and don't need our help.  We are all just like them with our God and although there are times we may stray or decide to go alone He is always waiting to be called upon.  He is a 24/7 Dad just watching and waiting to help us in our need.  He plans to care for us until the day our hair turns white.  

Praise God for being the ultimate parent keeping watch over and loving every one of His children equally!  His arms are ready to pick us up and carry us along in our need.  He made us because He loves us!  God is our God throughout our lifetime.  Many of us may not always see Him that way or we may not think we need Him but He is there waiting and willing when ever we call on Him!     

Share Your Faith

That precious memory triggers another; your honest faith- and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry that you received when I laid hands on you and prayed- keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. 2 Timothy 1:5-7

In the above scripture, Paul is addressing Timothy. Paul, the key apostle throughout the New Testament, is encouraging his young protege in the ministry of the gospel. At the time this is written, Paul is alone in prison, yet he finds it important to get word to Timothy as a means of encouraging his faith and giving him a focus. Paul understands that the Christian faith is shared not only by word of mouth, but by our daily living. As he addresses Timothy in the beginning of this letter, Paul is quick to remind Timothy that the faith he has was also lived out by his mother and grandmother. He then tells Timothy to live boldly, lovingly, and sensibly. He is to live out the faith he has inherited and make it now his own.

This gets my mind going and encourages me as a mom and grandma; I too must live and talk my faith! As Aimee's blog yesterday encouraged you to share your story, I too am urging you to talk your faith openly. Not for show or to mask the messy life underneath, but to give testimony to the reason you stand strong in life's storms. It is Christ in us that keeps us firm. It is Christ that strengthens and enables us to smile and carry on when the pressures of life try to overwhelm us. Therefore, we should give the glory where the glory is due! Praise God for He alone has rescued us from the perils of this earthly life!

Sharing isn't easy. At first you may feel uncomfortable speaking about Jesus and God out loud. I find it easiest to talk about him with a praise for the gifts he's given. "Isn't this a beautiful day God has given us!" or perhaps, "I am so thankful that God gave me you!" Such simple statements reflect the love in our heart for God, do not demand response, make His name known, and open the avenue for further discussions about God at a later time. 

Dear Lord, we are so grateful for all you have done for us. You surrendered your life that we may live life to the full. Through your Spirit we ask for the courage to speak about you boldly, lovingly, and sensibly! 

In your precious name we pray, Amen.

because You are my strength and protection

My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.  That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.

Psalm 71:7-9

I have learned in recent years that being honest with people is so very important.  Sharing my real life stories and struggles helps others get through their own.  I realized a while back that sometimes my only opportunity to share God with others is to talk about Him as if He were my best friend, and so during conversations with people I will mention Him.......what He is doing in my life, how He has helped me through the struggles of fostering, the ways in which I place my trust in Him.  I used to be more selective in the people I shared God with.  I would hold back with those people whom I didn't know very well or with those who didn't have the same beliefs as me, but not anymore.  Just like this scripture says, my life is a testament to all, and the things that I do and say reflect on my God.  So to leave Him out of a conversation, to withhold the Glory from Him, and pretend He isn't a huge part of my life and the source of my strength is just wrong.  

I haven't been perfect nor have I had a perfect life growing up and into my adult years.  I have had struggles and sin in my life just like you.  I want people to know that about me.  I want them to know where I come from and especially know Who got me where I am today.  Despite the hardships I have endured God has been my source of strength.  He has carried me out of deep pits and lonely places.  Everything I have is a blessing from God.  I don't ever want anyone to think, nor do I want to let on, that God is not the reason for the great things in my life.  I want to be real with people when I am hurting and struggling.  I am not afraid to look broken and afraid because I trust God to get me through those feelings and circumstances.  (Trust me I haven't always felt this way, I used to try too hard to look like I had it all together and I never wanted to accept help.  Yeah, that didn't work out so well.)  So here I am boasting in my iniquities and giving God the glory as it should be.  Thanks be to God for the good things in my life.  Thanks be to God for the struggles that have brought me closer to Him.  Thanks be to God!   

Now it is your turn.  If you don't already, start mentioning God in your everyday stories and don't be afraid to share what He is doing in your life.  Be a testament to His great love, and protection.  Make sure people know why you are still standing after that illness or where your strength comes from to get through that divorce.  Share your struggles with others and be sure to tell everyone Who carries you. Praise God all day long in your quiet worship and your conversations with people.           

An Important Job!

But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.      1 Timothy 5:4

The lawn needs mowed, the house is a wreck, and there are groceries to be purchased. Life is so full of things to do, but scripture reassures us that the most important thing we have to do is care for the ones that have been entrusted to us. Whether the little ones are fully dependent on our care or adult children that we've already raised, it pleases God when we make time for them. Our speech, our actions, and attitudes affect the lives of the children and grandchildren that have been entrusted to us. 

My daughter read a quote to me the other day that made me stop and think. It was this, "It's not a parent's job to make sure they have Godly children. It's a parent's job to make sure their children have a Godly parent." So, whatever you do today, make sure it is done in a way that will honor God. When you are with your children and grandchildren, be with them fully. Pay attention to their words, share with them how God is working in your own life, laugh together, and most importantly, let Christ shine through you. The list of 'to do' tasks will wait! 

Priorities

Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai:  “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?  This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!  You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

Haggai 1:3-6

This is what it looks like when we have our own agenda and we don't have any intention on living in God's will.  We don't ask God for His help and we don't bother asking Him what He wants from us.  We just do what we want, and what we think is best for us, without relying on God's input.............without putting Him first in our life.  The things we do don't glorify God and we usually always end up unsatisfied.  

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!  Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.  You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

Haggai 1:7-9

I will be the first to admit it's not easy living in God's will, especially when I have my own ideas and plans.  It's easy to get caught up in the things I want to buy and the things I think will make me and my family happy.  I can get on a role and forget to ask God, or even, at times, have no intentions of relying on Him, or inviting Him into my plans.  I have been to that place that says I did everything right but I don't see the results I expected.  I am familiar with planting much but harvesting little, and drinking much but staying thirsty.  And in all those moments the one thing that is always in common is that I'm doing everything on my own and I am not putting God first.  My priorities are my own and it all goes down hill from there.  

So often we get great ideas and we begin the work of building our own careers, families, friendships, futures without ever consulting the Creator of our lives.  Our priorities are our own and they don't match up with God's will for us.  Many times we do great things and we have great ideas but we don't see results because we moved on our own instead of asking God first.  We focus too much on ourselves and forget to invite God in and we work on building our own lives and forget about the lives God wants us to touch for Him and the homes he wants us to help provide for and the jobs he has laid out for His Glory.  While His work lies dormant, and His house lies in ruins, we are working hard and "having fun" working on our personal stuff.  We miss out on so many blessings and  we end up never satisfied.

My dear friends I need your prayers putting God first in my life and I promise to pray for you, as well.  It is a community effort to hold each other accountable to our relationships with God and the God first life that He wishes for us.  If we keep on living me first, we will never be satisfied and we will constantly be looking for something new, better, and more exciting.  Put God first and watch your life transform and be filled with so much Joy you are shining brightly and abundantly overflowing.