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framing faith


Hebrews 11:1  NLT
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
 
Several years ago I met an incredible dude that is one of the most creative people I’ve ever met.  His name is Matt Knisley.  Matt lived in Oklahoma, and he has written on so many topics about leading, the church and using technology to influence people for Christ.  He has encouraged me from a distance for more than 5 years.
 
He left Oklahoma for the land down under, better known as Texas, to work with one of the premier church technology company’s, but in the most recent days Matt has been crossing the world with a camera in his hand.  The scenes he catches through the camera lens is what I would call “framing faith”.  Matt wrote:
 
I realized there is a central question that everyone has, “What is Framing Faith?”  Well… in a world moving way too fast, Framing Faith is a book for people seeking to focus their lives, to find a deeper knowledge of God, and a more authentic Christian faith.  In this modern age, many of us fill every “spare” moment we have rather than taking an intermission to see the true works of God and realize that he is present in every moment. 
 
I am a sucker for beauty and creativity.  Often I find myself being drawn in to art of different kinds and seeing the beauty, including the beauty of God, painted on whatever the canvas may be.  The canvas is often that of God’s creation.  Sometimes it is in the pages of a book from one of my favorite authors like Mark Batterson or Margaret Feinberg. 
 
Whoever the artist might be it is obvious that the complete origin of beauty and the awe I find in framing fame is from God.  He is the beginning of everything.  Throughout our day God is literally framing faith all around us.  Often the frame is a person that I have the honor of interacting with.
 
This week God has once again framed faith in several different places for me.  One is through photography such as Matt shares with those who follow him.  Another place God is framing faith for me in a few people I have been interacting with.  Remember that I believe that God offers second chances to all of us, and it is the people who take God at His word, accepting His grace and His changing their lives, and live by faith in the face of uncertain times.
 
Has God been framing faith for you?  I be He has.  But maybe, just maybe you have not been seeing it.  Are you looking?  Start now if you haven’t been. 
 
Throughout today watch to see who God brings across your path.  Take note of the sunrise or the sunset, the fog or the sky.  Let the words just off the page as you read the Bible or the book that is in your hand.  Ask God to frame faith for you today and tomorrow and beyond.
 
By asking God and seeing Him framing faith around you and I, we will challenged to go deeper with God and to live by faith more than ever.  I believe that framing faith may just change the way we see ourselves, the way we believe God and the way we make a difference in this world.
 
Romans 5:2  NLT
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
 NOTE: Matt has a book coming out in the future titled Framing Faith.  Watch for it!
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