Faith Walking 101

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NJKV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

A few years back, the small groups at my church studied the book of James over a six week period. I just love studying the book of James! The people who know me well know that a statement like this doesn't roll off of my tongue quite so easily. After all, who wants to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of any kind” right? Most of us find it next to impossible to see a glimmer of joy during any part of our trial and pain. We just want the joy to come...and the pain to go.

This is me to a "T."  When suffering comes, I would rather head for the comforts of my "pit" than  be joyful. But God doesn't want us to retreat to the comforts of our pits when trials come. I have learned this lesson all too well. For a few years it seemed like every time I walked through a season of trial, our church would either do a sermon series or our small groups would have lessons surrounding the book of James.  OY! God sure knows how to get a point across doesn't He?  

Each time I study the book of James my faith is ultimately strengthened and I sometimes find myself getting excited by what God is going to do in my life and the lives of those going through the series with me. There are always AWESOME testimonies when we go through the book of James. 

“We walk by FAITH, not by sight.” So how do you the tough times of life? Do you enter a trial recognizing you have no control over your circumstances and give the situation to God immediately? Or, do you try to handle "things" on your own until it’s gets to the point where you’ve let it consume you and you just want out? I can remember wondering why God didn’t just step in and stop me from making some of the horrible mistakes I made.

I think the questions above are best answered by how close a relationship we have with Christ. For the longest time, I responded to life's little trials with the same knee-jerk reaction...I tried to control the situation instead of handing it over to God and allowing Him work. I soon learned that I walked through the same trial over and over again because I wasn't looking to the very ONE whom could work all things together for my good (Romans 8:28). 

God is sovereign. He can see the entire canvas of our lives. He sees our times of joy and our times of sorrow/trial. Because of this, we must get to a place where we can trust that He sees the entire picture. It’s faith that leads us on our journey…not sight. Putting our faith (trust) in Christ, is the only way we are going to have the joy and abundant life He has promised us in His word. If we continue to hold on to our own agendas, we will fail every time because only He can see the canvas of our lives. 

So what do you say...are you ready to do some "faith walking" with me?

Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 14:31; Psalms 37:4; Isaiah 40:28-31

Me? A P-P-P-Princess Warrior? (Part 3)

 **This is part 3 of the testimony I posted Wednesday (1/23/12) and Thursday (1/24/13)**

So… things were a “mess” in my house to say the least. My husband rarely talked, we were distant…. Like roommates sharing a house. I felt unloved, unaccepted, and down-right depressed. Equally as bad, were the issues we faced with our 5 year old son. I’m sure the anger and disconnect in our home wasn’t helping. He began to get into major trouble at school. We went back and forth to the doctor and finally he was diagnosed with ADHD. Things did get a little better at school once he got used to the routine of taking the medication. At home, he still lashed out in anger. Rightfully so I presume… after all he lived in a very angry, very bitter house.

“Would you please consider going to counseling?” I asked my husband one day, but he wanted no part of it. I finally got up the nerve to call my senior pastor. I know my husband respects him and, when he does come to church with me for special occasions we always get into a discussion about what we heard during the service. Even through our pastor has a packed schedule, agreed to counsel us and thankfully my husband decided to participate. I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time.

During the first session we talked about a few of the things going on in each of us and in our home. By the end of our time, we both agreed to read the book, “His Needs, Her Needs” by Willard F. Harley and discuss the chapters during our appointments. Immediately after the first appointment I booked the second appointment for three weeks out and bought the book.

For someone who takes a while to read, I read the first three chapters the same day the book arrived and then left it for my husband. I told him I had left the book on kitchen table and then left the assignment in his hands. During this time, I didn’t nag or ask him if he had read his chapters. I just left him alone. I felt it best that way.

The three weeks between appointments seemed to last a lifetime, but excitement over what God was going to do in our marriage carried me through. The day arrived for our second appointment. Not fifteen minutes into our conversation did my husband reveal he didn’t read anything. I was deflated. We were dismissed because we had absolutely nothing to talk about. I was heartbroken. The emotions that raged through me were that of hurt, anger, bitterness and resentment.  On the walk to our cars I asked him “Why? You had 3 weeks to read and you didn’t.” Defensive he huffed “Because I didn’t have time!” After hearing those words I lost my cool. “Why couldn’t you tell me that earlier? I would have rescheduled the appointment. Now I feel so foolish! Don’t you want our marriage to work, to be better?” Absolute silence, then finally “I guess I am not just into this…. What’s the point? I don’t think there are any problems.” He got in his car and drove off.

My mind raced as my over analytical brain ran scenarios of what exactly he meant. Walking to my car the tears began to fall and then through gut wrenching sobs I questioned “Why didn’ he read? Does he not love me enough to read 3 lousy chapters? How can he not have time for me?” I cried my eyes out. I drove about a half a mile before I figured out that my pastor still had 45 minutes set aside for this meeting. I immediately called the church and asked if I could return and finish the session alone… and that I did. I absolutely love my pastor. He tells you the truth of God’s word – harsh or not. In that first meeting we had he noticed something in me that was “badgering” my husband. I had never noticed that before. It’s tough when you have to admit that you’re the one who is to blame for something. He assured me that I wasn’t the only one at fault but at this point, I had to work on me. He challenged me that day to take a hard look at myself. UGH this was going to be painful… wasn’t it?

God never promised us a painless way… did He? What He did promise us is to never leave us or forsake us because He loves us with an everlasting and unconditional love. He holds us in the very palm of His hand.

***Please come back for Part 4 of my testimony tomorrow.***

Alone time with Jesus

Proverbs 26: 13 – 16 (NCV) "The lazy person says, "There's a lion in the road! There's a lion in the streets!" Like a door turning back and forth on its hinges, the lazy person turns over and over in bed. Lazy people may put their hands in the dish, but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths. The lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give sensible answers."

Solomon really tells us what he thinks about lazy people in Proverbs 26. As I read through this chapter, I couldn't help but go back to verses 13 through 16. I can’t think of one single person I know that is truly lazy. By lazy I mean “someone who does absolutely nothing.” Oh sure, some people do more than others because their jobs may be more physically demanding but in thinking about everyone I know…they all do something. They may have their “down time” but I wouldn’t call that lazy. In fact, rest was something that God did once He spent six days creating the heavens and the earth. He told us to rest and even gave us a day to do it…the Sabbath.

Let’s look at this in a different way. So you may not be a lazy individual, you may be an extremely hard worker…but what about your faith? Are you lazy when it comes to your faith and your relationship with Jesus? Have you set aside time in your hectic day to spend with Christ? Time to talk to Him and work out those tough life issues you may be going through?

Try a little self assessment. If you’ve gotten lazy in your relationship with Christ, it’s not too late to fix it. He’s waiting for you right now. He wants to spend time with you more than anything! I know it’s hard to wrap your brain around that concept right? The God of the universe wants to spend quality time with me. Whether it’s five minutes or an hour and five minutes – I try to find some time to get alone with Jesus… I know when I take the time to "get away with Him" I am always glad I did. 

Growing in our Faith

1 Corinthians 3: 1 – 4 (MSG) But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way?

Paul urges believers in Corinth to grow up in their faith in the third chapter of 1 Corinthians. Before I go more into that point, I want to give you a glimpse of the city. Paul planted this church in 51 AD. The first members of the church were representative of the diversity of the city itself. A major multi-ethnic city, Corinth was the connecting link between Rome and the East. People flocked there to participate in the gambling, legalized temple prostitution, business adventures and all the “fun” that came from being a seaport town.

When we come to Christ, we are new creations in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). He washes away the sins of our “old self” and makes us white as snow… clean. We are no longer muddied by the sin He pulled us out of; in fact, we are citizens in Heaven. Our journey with Christ begins. We begin learning more about Christ through His Word we begin to see the world differently; our perspective begins to change. We no longer live as we once did, where we often gave into the desires of our flesh. Now it’s His desires that matter… not ours.

As we “grow up” in our faith, we learn His ways and we submit to His authority in our lives. The Bible, not the world, becomes the standard by which we live our lives. As we continue to follow, we grow from being an “infant” in Christ to being a mature believer – depending more on Christ in every circumstance and less on ourselves and the world around us.

As Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian church, he is asking them to stop focusing on the “world” around them. Even though they lived in a very “worldly” city, once they became followers of Jesus Christ they were called to be different. Different in the way they lived their lives, conducted business, and raised their families. The same is true for us today.

As Christians we are not suppose to “blend-in” to the world around us. We can be a light in the darkness that surrounds us no matter where that may be; in our jobs, with our extended families and friends, or even in our own homes. As we grow up in Christ, our “worldly” view changes so that we see the things of this world through the lens of the Bible.

As maturing Christians, we should strive to be different in every area of our life… at home, at work, and especially in how we handle difficult situations. When we have our faith and trust grounded in Christ, we depend on Him to navigate us through the churning storms. Christ will change our lives BUT we have to do our part too. We have to take steps in faith knowing that Christ is out in front leading the way.

Remember Peter’s walk on water? He didn’t see the waves crashing all around him, He saw Jesus. When his focus was on Christ nothing else mattered. He didn’t see the world around him. (Matthew 14:28 - 29)

Are you growing in Christ or are you just “blending in” to the world around you? Growth in Christ is up to us. One of the best places to start is by having a daily quiet time. Get away with just you, your Bible and Christ. You will be glad you did.

Related scripture: Titus 3: 4-6, Romans 8: 1 – 14, Phil 2:12 – 13, 1 John 3: 4 - 10