Simple faith is the requirement for Jesus to save us.
Simple faith changes us.
Simple faith redeems us.
Simple faith seals forgiveness.
Simple faith reveals mercy.
But faith is far from simple. At least for me.
We have begun a new ladies bible study. The first week has focused on childlike faith.
The faith of a child is our goal. Reclaiming it is hard to do.
Children possess a quality of wonder and simplicity that almost makes their eyes sparkle. We can see it and remember how we used to be...
~They just believe~
It isn't until they get some age under their belt that they start asking "why" and "how".
Somewhere along our journey the "why's" and the "how's" become more important to us than the faith.
Why is that?
I have heard myself ask "why" something awful has occurred on lots of occasions. But honestly, would knowing the "why" change any of the pain?
I don't think so.
Job suffered relentless heartache and he never knew why.
We know his why. He was chosen because he trusted God. He was picked for his pain.
There was good in it for him.
Ugh.
These are the topics I can't stand to think about and discuss but they stay upon my heart.
Our first step into a relationship with God is done by simple faith.
Every other step will be taken the same way too.
God doesn't change course.
Faith is the way. Faith is required.
We detour off this path of simplicity when we start bogging down our brain with the "how's" and "why's". It is the lure of the enemy. He has always offered knowledge and wisdom up on a platter for God's children. Sadly, we continue to take the bait.
We think we should get to know details that God never intended for us to know. Simply read the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3. Verses 1 through 7 describe the lure, bait, and fall.
Faith is lost that way.
We have one obligation to God. Believe.
His Word says it over and over again.
Logic lures us away from faith.
I am not suggesting that anyone should not use the brains that God gave us to think and reason and process. However I know that we can think, reason, and process our way right out of faith.
Let's strive to not make that trade.
Logic wants to know why.
Logic needs to know how.
Simple faith just trusts God alone.
Oh God your ways are not my ways. Forgive me for holding out my faith based on how you may choose to work. Forgive me for wanting to know how and why all the time. Help me to love you more. Help me to trust you more. Help me to keep it simple. Return my faith to that of a child....to simply walk beside you each day and obey through belief.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Harsh
We had the opportunity to slip away for a few days and enjoy a much needed Fall break. The entire trip was wonderful. Really wonderful. Hopefully I can post some pictures later...
The point of this blog, though, is to pass on a lesson that the Holy Spirit taught me while we were away.
I noticed it almost immediately when I walked into the master bathroom in the condo. The light in the bathroom was harsh. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and noticed every single flaw in high definition. I wanted to look away immediately.
(Let me stop right here and say that I am not a girl that fixates on every little thing I hate about my body. I am 37 years old. There are things that just come with the territory. My roots are graying some. I have stretch marks. There are lots of fine lines that have emerged from seemingly nowhere. And there is weight that I carry in certain spots that, despite my best effort, intends to stick with me. I know this and I am okay with it.)
I am pretty sure that this particular light was fluorescent in nature. Walking into that bathroom became something that I dreaded doing. However, it was a place I also couldn't avoid.
God had something to show me. For five days he used harsh light in a bathroom out of town to convict and correct a place in my heart that desperately needed some softening.
Basically what He said was this, "Andrea, I am the Light of the World. I told you this in my Word. (John 8:12) You are to be a reflection of Me. My light lives within you. When you walk into this world and take My light...be a gentle light that draws people. Do not be a harsh light that repels people further from me."
This bathroom light did what lights do. It chased darkness away. However it illuminated its brightness in harsh ways.
When we came home I walked into my bathroom and breathed a huge sigh of relief. The light was gentle. Every single flaw in my appearance was not magnified and scary to see. The flaws were still there but the light was kinder to them.
Those of us who have the Holy Spirit living within us are the Light to this fallen world.
We can shine bright in two different ways. We can be harsh or we can be gentle.
To those walking in darkness a gentle light can speak just as loudly as a harsh light. Sometimes I think that we feel in order to be heard we must be harsh. I think it only pushes people further away.
As one who has been gloriously rescued by the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, I want to remember that I used to walk in darkness. Some days I even choose to now...even with salvation in tact. Some days I am mustering every bit of courage and faith I can to let my little light shine. God help me when I get too harsh with it.
Help me Lord to not be so quick to illuminate someone's flaws.
Don't we want to sometimes?
Don't we want to expose the weakness, meanness, and sin in another to avoid our own?
But if we will simply, humbly, and gently shine then the Kindgom of God will illuminate with lives on Earth that point to our saving Light~ Jesus.
I am so thankful that He is never harsh or unkind with me. Firm~ yes. Mean~ never.
Let us be like Him.
Shine on saints of God.
Gentle and pure...let's follow Jesus and attract some others with His kind of Light.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt. 5:14-16
The point of this blog, though, is to pass on a lesson that the Holy Spirit taught me while we were away.
I noticed it almost immediately when I walked into the master bathroom in the condo. The light in the bathroom was harsh. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and noticed every single flaw in high definition. I wanted to look away immediately.
(Let me stop right here and say that I am not a girl that fixates on every little thing I hate about my body. I am 37 years old. There are things that just come with the territory. My roots are graying some. I have stretch marks. There are lots of fine lines that have emerged from seemingly nowhere. And there is weight that I carry in certain spots that, despite my best effort, intends to stick with me. I know this and I am okay with it.)
I am pretty sure that this particular light was fluorescent in nature. Walking into that bathroom became something that I dreaded doing. However, it was a place I also couldn't avoid.
God had something to show me. For five days he used harsh light in a bathroom out of town to convict and correct a place in my heart that desperately needed some softening.
Basically what He said was this, "Andrea, I am the Light of the World. I told you this in my Word. (John 8:12) You are to be a reflection of Me. My light lives within you. When you walk into this world and take My light...be a gentle light that draws people. Do not be a harsh light that repels people further from me."
This bathroom light did what lights do. It chased darkness away. However it illuminated its brightness in harsh ways.
When we came home I walked into my bathroom and breathed a huge sigh of relief. The light was gentle. Every single flaw in my appearance was not magnified and scary to see. The flaws were still there but the light was kinder to them.
Those of us who have the Holy Spirit living within us are the Light to this fallen world.
We can shine bright in two different ways. We can be harsh or we can be gentle.
To those walking in darkness a gentle light can speak just as loudly as a harsh light. Sometimes I think that we feel in order to be heard we must be harsh. I think it only pushes people further away.
As one who has been gloriously rescued by the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, I want to remember that I used to walk in darkness. Some days I even choose to now...even with salvation in tact. Some days I am mustering every bit of courage and faith I can to let my little light shine. God help me when I get too harsh with it.
Help me Lord to not be so quick to illuminate someone's flaws.
Don't we want to sometimes?
Don't we want to expose the weakness, meanness, and sin in another to avoid our own?
But if we will simply, humbly, and gently shine then the Kindgom of God will illuminate with lives on Earth that point to our saving Light~ Jesus.
I am so thankful that He is never harsh or unkind with me. Firm~ yes. Mean~ never.
Let us be like Him.
Shine on saints of God.
Gentle and pure...let's follow Jesus and attract some others with His kind of Light.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matt. 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Light#sthash.wVy4TKSa.dpuf
Saturday, October 4, 2014
When Worries Double...Faith Can Too
Shep and I have been walking a single lane road of faith for quite some time. I guess what I mean by that is this...God has called us to believe something unbelievably big. If that single lane had a name it would simply be ~ Caroline~.
There have been other concerns over the past 12 years. The births of our other two children, deaths of extended family and loved ones, financial burdens and life decisions in general that have turned our faces toward God in faith.
But nothing keeps us at His throne day in and day out like our ongoing belief that He will heal Caroline.
It is an overarching theme. We continue walking the one-lane road and believe that each step builds bigger faith and brings us closer to that faith becoming sight.
This past week my personal one lane unexpectantly became a two lane road of faith.
Some news that God has known was coming was made known to me. It answered some immediate questions but presented my family with many more unanswered ones.
I sat in the driveway alone Sunday night and wept with Jesus.
The moment was very tender and sweet. Where could I go but to my Lord??
Shep loves me to pieces but he can't ease my pain.
My children are precious but they can't settle the storm.
Friends and family can draw near but the pain almost numbs us.
None of these folks are qualified to carry my burdens away. But Jesus is....
He sat with me at the top of my driveway at dusk and let me be sad.
It was the most appropriate emotion at the time. He was as real to me as any person sitting there. He comforted as only He can.
I got up and came in the house with a face wiped of tears and fresh resolve.
More faith would be required for the road ahead.
Thankfully my Comforter also dishes out fresh faith in spades.
Our Caroline still isn't healed.
Another big opportunity to believe has been given...
What are we to do?
Walk on.
Persevere.
Be thankful.
Live courageous faith filled lives one day at a time.
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved." Hebrews 10:38-39
There have been other concerns over the past 12 years. The births of our other two children, deaths of extended family and loved ones, financial burdens and life decisions in general that have turned our faces toward God in faith.
But nothing keeps us at His throne day in and day out like our ongoing belief that He will heal Caroline.
It is an overarching theme. We continue walking the one-lane road and believe that each step builds bigger faith and brings us closer to that faith becoming sight.
This past week my personal one lane unexpectantly became a two lane road of faith.
Some news that God has known was coming was made known to me. It answered some immediate questions but presented my family with many more unanswered ones.
I sat in the driveway alone Sunday night and wept with Jesus.
The moment was very tender and sweet. Where could I go but to my Lord??
Shep loves me to pieces but he can't ease my pain.
My children are precious but they can't settle the storm.
Friends and family can draw near but the pain almost numbs us.
None of these folks are qualified to carry my burdens away. But Jesus is....
He sat with me at the top of my driveway at dusk and let me be sad.
It was the most appropriate emotion at the time. He was as real to me as any person sitting there. He comforted as only He can.
I got up and came in the house with a face wiped of tears and fresh resolve.
More faith would be required for the road ahead.
Thankfully my Comforter also dishes out fresh faith in spades.
Our Caroline still isn't healed.
Another big opportunity to believe has been given...
What are we to do?
Walk on.
Persevere.
Be thankful.
Live courageous faith filled lives one day at a time.
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved." Hebrews 10:38-39
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