Skip to main content

living by faith

For we live by believing and not by seeing.

This was a big weekend.  From every angle it began to be a quiet and uneventful time for most of us, but it seemed that every corner we turned around that there was something waiting on us.  Some of it is so good.  Some of it is draining.  Some is eye opening.  Some is even heart wrenching.

My weekends begin with my day off on Friday.  I try to guard that day and schedule some time for my wife and I.  This was one of those GOOD days as she and I went to lunch with a friend and then took a drive.  It was a blessing.  Did you realize that living by faith means you need some down time?

That day ended with going to the local high school football game which was good as my girls who march in the band.  It will be a great year watching them progress.  The football team won too.  Sure enjoyed my time with friends at the game.  Did you know that living by faith means you need to enjoy life with other people?

Saturday was going to be fairly light and ended up being pretty well packed together.  I enjoyed a long 4 mile walk with some great people who help plan ministry event, raise money for ministry projects and encourage me in big ways. Spent some time later with my son and my wife.  It was the day of our 4th Saturday FREE Community meal.  By the way, it was most likely the largest feeding we've done in an evening setting.  During the meal I sat with several people who were hurting big time.  We prayed together, talked about life and pushed to see what God is doing.  Do you understand that living by faith you will find yourself with people who are not always in great places?  It might even be messy.

Sunday is by far the most important day of the week for me and my favorite.  But the sermon was off, or so I thought.  Yet several people took a step toward God.  Many made a commitment to be baptized.  I was able to watch God work.  Later in the day my family spent time with some folks who have been in a tough situation, and we even had some struggle with real life junk.  Yet I got to take to a guy that came to church and hasn't realized in a long time that God loves him.  Pray that this man will take more steps toward God.  Have you seen that living by faith is increased and maximized when you help people take steps toward God?

Dude, I want to challenge you as I have been challenged to take some huge steps of faith.  Dream some dreams that could only come from God and only be fulfilled by God.  Living by faith often takes risk, demands courage and increases our discomfort.  Why is that?  It is because faith means I can't stay where I am and as I am.  God has greater heights for me and for you.  Yet living by faith means you and I have to take some big steps of faith.

Are you living by faith?  God wants us, presses us and demands that we live by faith.

Did you realize that living by faith means you need some down time?
Did you know that living by faith means you need to enjoy life with other people?
Do you understand that living by faith you will find yourself with people who are not always in great places?  It might even be messy.
Have you seen that living by faith is increased and maximized when you help people take steps toward God?

Lets take a step so that others will see and God will agree that we are living by faith.  Will you join me?

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that