What's in a letter?
P = Praise:
Psalm 86:12-13
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.
Don't just say "I love you Lord"; say, "Thank you God, I love you too!" For He first loved us. AMEN
R = Repent:
Matthew 3:8
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
Don't just say "I'm sorry Lord"; say, "Forgive me God, I will NOT do that again!" And always remember, His mercies are new each morning.
A = Ask
Matthew 7:7
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."
Be specific, clear, and bold. The Bible tells us we can come boldly before God (Ephesians 3:12).
Y = Yield
Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Follow Christ's example. Be willing to accept God's answer, even when it is no. He plans to prosper you and not harm you. To give you a hope and a future. He knows what we need more than we do.
Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Faith is?
"Just have faith."
"When all else fails, have faith."
"Faith will get you through this."
Ever heard these types of statements? Ever think or say them yourself? Ever been in the pit of despair when some well meaning person gave you this advice?
How helpful was it? What is faith? Can anyone have it? Does it have to be religious in nature?
I have faith in a lot of things. When I get on an airplane I have the faith the pilot knows what he or she is doing. I have faith the plane will function as designed, even though I don't understand how a 1.3 million pound metal object seems to float on air like it was as light as a feather. I also have faith the plane will land as expected and NOT plummet to the earth in an uncontrolled fashion. If I didn't have that faith, I wouldn't get on a plane. I'm funny that way.
My faith isn't blind. It is built on trust of things I know, and evidence that suggests planes (for the most part) stay in the air when they are supposed to.
Recently I was shopping at a warehouse type store with my parents. Dad found the clearance section! He saw lots of things that he wanted to know what they had them priced at. His eyesight is not that good so he asked me to help. I didn't have my reading glasses on so we enlisted help from mom. One item was what looked like a very nice desk chair. And, it was on the floor where we could really look at it. My first thought is that we should "test" it to see if it is defective. Before that could happen, mom turned and plopped right down in it. I must admit my heart skipped a beat or two as I expected mom and the chair to come crashing down. I immediately had visions of paramedics and an ambulance. I may have even chastised her for "foolishly" trusting that the chair was functional. You see, in this case I had no faith that the chair was safe. I did not have any faith that the chair was put together well, either by store staff or the person who may have bought and returned it. I had no evidence to suggest that it would be okay to blindly plop down in the chair. Therefore, no faith.
So where am I going with this? I have friends and family that would label me "religious". I don't mind really, however, that is not a label I would give myself. When I hear it, to me it means a person practices a particular faith. Who attends church regularly out of a sense of obligation. Who prays and even talks about God. Who "says" one thing but "behaves" a different way. See, for me I consider myself a person of faith. Faith in a God who has revealed Himself in a real way that gives me the evidence I need to truly know He is who He says He is. I am Christian. I am not "a Christian". I am Christian.
Christianity is not a religion to me, it is a lifestyle. Am I perfect at it? Absolutely not! Do I give up? NO! I do however, attempt to learn from my failures and strive to be a little better today than I was yesterday. I do not expect to reach perfection, I am not God. I do expect to grow in my knowledge of the Lord and to grow in my faith. Many years ago, when I was in a dark place, God reached into my heart and gave me hope. I have never been the same. I love this journey called life. With all its up and downs.
In about one week, my husband and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage. I remember the day I walked down that church isle in my bridal dress. A very pretty wedding gown that I purchased off a clearance rack in a discount department store. Nothing fancy, just meaningful. This marriage journey has been wonderful, and God willing we have many more decades to continue to discover each other. My parents recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. My in-laws had been married 62 years and were only separated by death. I feel blessed to have this type of marital legacy. Not "lucky", BLESSED! It is a gift. But why did I go here? Oh, I know...
Marriage on day one is not the same as it will be on day 12,784. Day one was wonderful. Youthful, fun, exciting, adventurous. Day 12,784 is wonderful. Mature, confident, comfortable, loving. Both are good, I can't say one is better than the other.
My life with the Lord is a little different than that. Day one was, to be honest, a little nerve racking. I remember being a little confused. Yet, I had great confidence in my decision to follow Christ. No doubt. No thoughts of "I can always get out of it if I don't like it". But, unsure about it all because I knew, I didn't know very much. Day 7,670 is better than day 1. Day one was good. Exciting, unsure, scary, necessary. Day 7,670 is incredible! Faith-filled, confident, wiser, patient. AND God is not done with me yet!
Things of this earth will fade away. Governments come and go. Friendships begin and disappear. But God is always there. God is not bound by time or age. God is ageless. Trusting God gives me freedom that I have never known before. During life's storms or in calm waters, I know God is there. God has a plan for me and a purpose. I do not know what tomorrow holds but He does. He is already there, waiting for me. That gives me strength and focus to deal with today. He is my Rock. A steady sure anchor that keeps me grounded. Yes, I have faith the plane I'm on will take off and land as expected. But it is my FAITH in God that lets me soar above trials, troubles and the unknown.
What is this FAITH of mine?
It is in God, not me, not man's religion, not things unknown:
James 1:6
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
My faith is build on Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
It is there in easy times and in challenging times:
1 Peter 1:7
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
James 1:3
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
My faith is firm:
Isaiah 7:9b
"Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”
My faith is not build on my ability to do good things and be a "good person":
Romans 4:14
If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
My faith is alive!
James 2:26
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
My faith is unshakable:
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
My faith is compassionate:
Jude 1:22
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
How is your faith? The answer to that might be in how you show love to others:
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
Discover your faith and you will learn to fly!
"When all else fails, have faith."
"Faith will get you through this."
Ever heard these types of statements? Ever think or say them yourself? Ever been in the pit of despair when some well meaning person gave you this advice?
How helpful was it? What is faith? Can anyone have it? Does it have to be religious in nature?
I have faith in a lot of things. When I get on an airplane I have the faith the pilot knows what he or she is doing. I have faith the plane will function as designed, even though I don't understand how a 1.3 million pound metal object seems to float on air like it was as light as a feather. I also have faith the plane will land as expected and NOT plummet to the earth in an uncontrolled fashion. If I didn't have that faith, I wouldn't get on a plane. I'm funny that way.
My faith isn't blind. It is built on trust of things I know, and evidence that suggests planes (for the most part) stay in the air when they are supposed to.
Recently I was shopping at a warehouse type store with my parents. Dad found the clearance section! He saw lots of things that he wanted to know what they had them priced at. His eyesight is not that good so he asked me to help. I didn't have my reading glasses on so we enlisted help from mom. One item was what looked like a very nice desk chair. And, it was on the floor where we could really look at it. My first thought is that we should "test" it to see if it is defective. Before that could happen, mom turned and plopped right down in it. I must admit my heart skipped a beat or two as I expected mom and the chair to come crashing down. I immediately had visions of paramedics and an ambulance. I may have even chastised her for "foolishly" trusting that the chair was functional. You see, in this case I had no faith that the chair was safe. I did not have any faith that the chair was put together well, either by store staff or the person who may have bought and returned it. I had no evidence to suggest that it would be okay to blindly plop down in the chair. Therefore, no faith.
So where am I going with this? I have friends and family that would label me "religious". I don't mind really, however, that is not a label I would give myself. When I hear it, to me it means a person practices a particular faith. Who attends church regularly out of a sense of obligation. Who prays and even talks about God. Who "says" one thing but "behaves" a different way. See, for me I consider myself a person of faith. Faith in a God who has revealed Himself in a real way that gives me the evidence I need to truly know He is who He says He is. I am Christian. I am not "a Christian". I am Christian.
Christianity is not a religion to me, it is a lifestyle. Am I perfect at it? Absolutely not! Do I give up? NO! I do however, attempt to learn from my failures and strive to be a little better today than I was yesterday. I do not expect to reach perfection, I am not God. I do expect to grow in my knowledge of the Lord and to grow in my faith. Many years ago, when I was in a dark place, God reached into my heart and gave me hope. I have never been the same. I love this journey called life. With all its up and downs.
In about one week, my husband and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage. I remember the day I walked down that church isle in my bridal dress. A very pretty wedding gown that I purchased off a clearance rack in a discount department store. Nothing fancy, just meaningful. This marriage journey has been wonderful, and God willing we have many more decades to continue to discover each other. My parents recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. My in-laws had been married 62 years and were only separated by death. I feel blessed to have this type of marital legacy. Not "lucky", BLESSED! It is a gift. But why did I go here? Oh, I know...
Marriage on day one is not the same as it will be on day 12,784. Day one was wonderful. Youthful, fun, exciting, adventurous. Day 12,784 is wonderful. Mature, confident, comfortable, loving. Both are good, I can't say one is better than the other.
My life with the Lord is a little different than that. Day one was, to be honest, a little nerve racking. I remember being a little confused. Yet, I had great confidence in my decision to follow Christ. No doubt. No thoughts of "I can always get out of it if I don't like it". But, unsure about it all because I knew, I didn't know very much. Day 7,670 is better than day 1. Day one was good. Exciting, unsure, scary, necessary. Day 7,670 is incredible! Faith-filled, confident, wiser, patient. AND God is not done with me yet!
Things of this earth will fade away. Governments come and go. Friendships begin and disappear. But God is always there. God is not bound by time or age. God is ageless. Trusting God gives me freedom that I have never known before. During life's storms or in calm waters, I know God is there. God has a plan for me and a purpose. I do not know what tomorrow holds but He does. He is already there, waiting for me. That gives me strength and focus to deal with today. He is my Rock. A steady sure anchor that keeps me grounded. Yes, I have faith the plane I'm on will take off and land as expected. But it is my FAITH in God that lets me soar above trials, troubles and the unknown.
What is this FAITH of mine?
It is in God, not me, not man's religion, not things unknown:
James 1:6
But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
My faith is build on Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
It is there in easy times and in challenging times:
1 Peter 1:7
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
James 1:3
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
My faith is firm:
Isaiah 7:9b
"Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”
My faith is not build on my ability to do good things and be a "good person":
Romans 4:14
If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
My faith is alive!
James 2:26
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
My faith is unshakable:
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
My faith is compassionate:
Jude 1:22
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.
How is your faith? The answer to that might be in how you show love to others:
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
Discover your faith and you will learn to fly!
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