Q&A
Faith and trust. The definitions of these words don’t change based on our feelings. Even when our flesh reacts. Even when our mind doubts. They remain the same.
He Who Has Ears Let Him Hear
When we don’t listen to the Word we forfeit the kind of life Jesus died for us to live, and even bigger yet, we fail to show love for our Lord and Savior the One who gave it ALL. That breaks my heart. Does it break yours?
Unshakable
Who is ready for an uncomfortable question? Here is where my mind pictures a room full of people and no one raises their hand. Fortunately, you can read the question in the privacy of your own home and percolate on your answer. That’s where I found myself, at home in my prayer chair, when I felt this being asked of me and, in turn, pondered my answer. Is my faith UNSHAKABLE, that no matter how uncomfortable life may become, no matter the cost, will my trust in Jesus remain? All of us want our answer to be “Yes!” to that question. Yet, we find ourselves in uncertain times where what should be a simple answer doesn’t feel so easy. Even more so if we read through a variety of social media posts from people we know and those we don’t, or watch news outlets, or read articles and see what’s happening in the world. For me, this is where it got personal; there has been a slow yet steady thought that’s been building in me and has made me uncomfortable. I need to be prepared for the possibility of losing relationships. I need to be prepared to be unfollowed, unfriended, no longer invited, included, or called friend. Dare I say disliked, disregarded, even hated, or accused of being a someone I know I am not. While scripture supports this being a possibility, I still find myself feeling frustrated or even angry at times. There is an underlying message designed by the enemy to shake me, to shake you. A message in the world today that says I am supposed to feel shame, labeled a danger, or a hater for not agreeing or supporting things in the world. But God…despite the chaos, deception, and unstable world we see around us, we should ultimately be seeking the only unshakable truth there is: a foundational truth for every sincere believer. Jesus is worth everything. Which leads me back to the question we asked ourselves earlier: Is my faith UNSHAKABLE, that no matter how UNCOMFORTABLE life may become, no matter the cost, will my trust in Jesus remain? Will it be easy? Doubtful. Will I tremble and cry? Likely. Will I be alone? No. There are many today standing firm in faith and remaining unshakable to God’s Word. There were many throughout the Bible that set the example for us. They followed Christ regardless of their loss, suffering, or sacrifice. The Scriptures remind us that to be like them, we may have to be uncomfortable while we serve our God who is unshakable, and pray for the courage to be the same. Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” 1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Bottom line, I don’t want to be uncomfortable. Who really does? I do, however, want to be unshakable. And based on the Bible, it’s rare to have one without the other. Lord, thank You for all the guidance and wisdom you offer. Thank you that in a changing world, Your word does not. Help me share truth with people I disagree with despite being uncomfortable, help me be courageous and kind while doing so. May I be bold and not conform to the world, help me be unshakable in representing You. Let me be so uncomfortable with the idea of Your wrath and live my life accordingly. Let me be unshakable in my identity in You no matter how many false labels the world tries to apply. May I be willing to be uncomfortable in speaking Your truth, even at the risk of loss. Let me be unshakable in remembering who the real enemy is, knowing that just because the world approves of something does not mean You do. Let me be unshakable in my obedience to You above all else. In Jesus Name. Amen. This weeks playlist: Natalie Grant – More Than Anything (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube More Than Anything Natalie Grant Kim Walker-Smith – I Say Yes | Live (Lyrics) – YouTube I Say Yes Kim Walker-Smith So Will I (100 Billion X) Lyric Video – Hillsong Worship – YouTube So Will I Hillsong Worship
Mustard
A mustard seed. That’s it.
That’s the amount of faith Jesus says we need, and NOTHING is impossible. Not a reconciliation of a broken relationship ~not the healing of a body ~not the redemption of a lost child.
Finding Jesus in the Book of Joshua: Faith & Victory
God, in the book of Joshua, showed the Israelites their victory before they received it. Their faith and obedience determined their victory.
Abraham and Lot: The Better Promise
Last time in “Who Was Abraham?”, we saw how God appeared to Abraham and promised that He would bless the entire world through him. This time in “The Better Promise,” we continue to see how God is working in Abraham to strengthen and stretch Him, increasing his faith through every trial and every blessing. Reading: Genesis 12:10-20, 13 Separate Ways When Abraham was 75, he began the long trek to Canaan, the “promised land.” Not too long after arriving, famine plagued the land. To escape, Abraham journeyed southward to Egypt, where he became “very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold” (Genesis 13:2). When he returned to Canaan with his nephew Lot, they discovered that their “possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.” Quarreling arose between Abraham and Lot’s men (Genesis 13:6-7). There simply wasn’t enough room. To keep the peace, they decided to split up. As the elder of the family, Abraham had every right to choose the prime land, but instead, he elected to trust God and believe He would fulfill His earlier promise. Abraham said to Lot, “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left” (Genesis 13:9). Lot decided on the plain of Jordan, which was well-watered, like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). Lot’s decision put him near the land of Sodom, an evil city that would eventually endanger Lot and his family and draw them into its wickedness. Better Promise After dividing the land, Lot and Abraham went their separate ways. Abraham lived in Canaan and Lot in Sodom. Lot may have chosen the more prime land, but Abraham received God’s better promise. Shortly after Lot left, God reaffirmed His covenant to Abraham, saying, “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted” (Genesis 13:15-16). Abraham’s step of faith in giving Lot the first choice of land was in deep contrast to his earlier distrust of God’s provision during the time of famine. Instead of waiting on God, he decided to take matters into his own hands by fleeing the promised land of Canaan for Egypt. Throughout Genesis, we see Abraham engaged in a spiritual tug of war between waiting on God’s promises and taking things into his own hands. Despite his struggles and his mistakes, we know Abraham as a hero of faith. Everyday life presents us with choices, just as it did Abraham. Every day we must ask ourselves, do we choose what looks good to our flesh, or do we choose instead to trust God even if that means waiting on His promises? When we decide to look at our situation through God’s eyes and trust Him in the waiting, like Abraham we will receive the better promise.