Faith

In His Hands

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

The times we need faith most are the times we have our greatest fears. Will God take care of this? Does he fully comprehend how bad… worrisome… unmanageable… sorrowful… depressing… distressing… my life is? Why would He care enough to do anything? Maybe He wants ME to take care of it. And then you start thinking of all the ways you will “fix” your problems without Him, often making things worse, much worse. Faith doesn’t mean sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing. It does mean prayerfully including God in every decision and trusting Him to give you wisdom and discernment. How life turns out from day to day is in His hands. Faith is the most powerful tool of the believer. Faith is the means by which you will get through it all.

Faith

A second Wind

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

How strong are you? How important is it for you to be strong? In what ways would your life be better if you could battle every foe, overcome every obstacle, win every race, endure every heartache, beat all the odds and always be a winner? You already have within your grasp the wherewithal to be that person, not out of pride or a desire to win, but out of faith and a desire to trust. God with us is our saving grace, the one who lifts us when fall, embraces us when we are lonely and chilled by the winters of life. He keeps us above the fray. He gives us our second wind when we are breathless with fear and uncertainty and helps us finish the race, a winner not because of our efforts or because we finished first, but because we finished at all, with His help.

God's Love

God so loved the world...

God is a jealous God. God is a wrathful God. God is a loving God. God is God. When I was a child the idea of God was frightening to me. I saw Him as a bearded guy who could stomp his foot and shake the universe. A Spirit so all-encompassing I couldn’t take in His magnitude and it scared me to think some One knew everything about me. The story in Genesis about the flood is a reminder that God did run out of patience and stomp his foot. Only Noah and his family were spared. How much of this story can be put into an historical context? What can we learn from this horrific event? Is it that God so loved the world He wanted to purge it of selfish behavior and destructive choices? In time He would take a different approach to alter the course of human affairs. God so loved the world that He gave His son that we might be saved. A babe in a manger. A man on a Cross. Christ arisen. Grace unlimited.

God with us

We do not know, but God does

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will life you up. 

James 4:10

We do not know what tomorrow will bring; we can’t even be sure of seconds from now. One moment you’re on your feet, the next your flat on your back. We may not know what is ahead, but God does. He knows when we’re going to fail and fall. He knows when we make a poor choice. He knows when we are struggling with the consequences of our bad judgment. He knows when we are ripped apart by life. He knows when our self-satisfied joy over accomplishments achieved masks our thanks and praise. God is a know-it-all in the very best sense. Yes, he knows and he forgives and FORGETS. Oh, that we could do the same, trusting in Him to redirect our paths.

Trust

Rooted in God's Promise 

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23

FROM CLIPART.COM

Make no mistake. There is one way and only way to stay ahead of the curves life throws you. God. His blessings, mercy, compassion, strength, and love are the roots that keep us firmly planted in faith and trust. Life is not perfect for anyone. Our need for God is constant. In times of joy he is in the fabric of our lives enriching our happiness. When tough times come it is those roots that keep us from being knocked down and run over. God with us is an absolute; everything else is transient.

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Trust: Our Unchangeable God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

When everything is falling apart

there is One and only One you can trust.

The world may tell you to trust in your job,

or your friends, or your own devices,

but no one but God can get you through a crisis,

or through joy. And yes, He does get you through joy

otherwise in the ecstasy of accomplishment

you may believe you did it on your own.

We are nothing and have nothing

that does not come from our heavenly Father.

Our faith is not based on empty promises

or worldly establishments built on human desire,

Our faith is in the unchangeable God

who loves us all the time, in joy and in sorrow.

today, yesterday and tomorrow.

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Day Light

Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Psalm 100:1-2

Red rays weave in and out

Through threads of mauve clouds

Touched with pearl grey

Highlighted with ocher and red

Crimson and gold.

It is day light touched gently

With mist rising out of the

The dark horizon of night.

Rising, rising changing the sky

Brightening, shining, warming

Pulling the day into being.

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