05-25-13 Soldier's of Faith 2

Matthew 8:5-10 "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."

 Christian Soldiers from over the world - some with guns... all with prayer.....

Particularly fond of this one.....

Being Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, we remember those who have fallen for our freedom. Other countries as well, can join in and remember those who have fallen in literal battle, as well as for their Christian beliefs.

My absolute favorite pic I found is this one... it's all of us. 

“Soldiers that carry their lives in their hands, should carry the grace of God in their hearts.”  ~ Richard Baxter

Faith can carry us a long, long way into the heart of God.

Blessings today, my friends.

05-24-13 Soldiers of Faith

It just occurred to me that Hebrews 11 - the 'faith' chapter lists a whole bunch of people who had faith to believe and did mighty things in and for the Kingdom of God. As you see, I didn't start with a scripture today, because there are many scriptures I could have put up there... but not just scriptures, real-time newspaper articles of everyday 'normal' people having faith in God and doing what seems impossible.

Biblically-speaking, what about the woman in 1 Kings, who had nothing but a handful of flour and a small amount of oil. She was about to fix it for herself and her son to eat one last meal before they had nothing and would die. Elijah came along and asked for some water and bread. The woman said, she didn't have enough flour or oil. Elijah then said first make a loaf for me, then for you and your son - and the flour and oil will never run out. What about her faith? Can you imagine what you would've been thinking on your way back to the house? No matter what she was thinking, she made that loaf for him. THAT is faith. Then to her surprise, she made more for herself and her son. Then, to top it off there was more left!

What about the jailer in the Acts. He had a couple of prisoners, Paul and Silas who were supposedly really bad news. So much so that, the night before they were stripped and SEVERELY flogged, then they were beaten with rods. So they were literally torn up, battered and bruised, maybe even had broken bones. They were a mess. They started singing at midnight, really? Singing? Yeah. Singing and praising God. But it wasn't their faith that gets to me, it's the faith of the jailer.  Maybe other prisoners around them started to sing and believe also, I don't know.  The jailer hears a rumbling as an earthquake that shook the prison down to it's foundations. He sees the prison doors open - and no one around!  Acts says that 'everyone's chains fell off'. It wasn't only Paul and Silas that were set free, EVERYONE was set free! He thought himself already dead because he was negligent in his duties as guard as he was sleeping. He was probably in a state of shock so much so that he was in despair, so he was about to kill himself - But God....   Paul and Silas (and amazingly all the other prisoners - who had to have some faith in Paul and Silas) - they yelled to him not to do it, they were all still there. The jailer - seeing the demonstration the faith of Paul and Silas - and that it was their 'God' who set them free, came and fell on his knees before them and asked how he could be saved!  He and his household became Christians. THAT is faith. Paul and Silas stuck around - went to the jailer house - and in the morning the magistrate called for the jailer to set them free.  Of course, they were already free...  I'm just wondering if the Lord did all of that just so the jailer and his wife could be saved (and probably a few prisoners got their lives turned around also). Did he go after that one lost sheep (or a few) to bring them home?

What about today.... the news is filled with terror and turmoil and negative acts happening all around the world. What about the stories that get through once in a while that tell of someone's act of kindness and gives the glory to God. Or of Christians in other countries and even our own at times, who are persecuted for holding onto their faith. There are still good people filled with faith in our God and Father, in the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power of the Holy Spirit do remarkable things.... some huge - being filled with the Spirit and having supernatural faith and strength to rescue someone from burning buildings...  some not so huge in the natural, such as believing that God can heal not only physical issues, but deep emotional pain and watching it happen.

We are all called to be soldiers of faith. Let's put on our armor today and exercise it.

Inspiring.... I almost want to watch and read it everyday for the rest of my life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz_VA8ER1I4

05-23-13 Saving Faith

Psalm 69:1-6, 13-18, 30-34 "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me....But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the flood waters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes....I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The poor will see and be glad—you who seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them..."

Sorry everyone, I was thinking about Daffy Duck this morning - not sure why, but the title has too meanings today.... saving faith and saving face.

I like a lot of the Psalms and this is one of them. David knows he did something wrong, and he knows that God knows He did something wrong. Instead of having a pity-party for himself, he prays. He just talks to God. He knows God well enough to know that He listens to what he has to say. 

At first it's a 'in trouble' prayer... "Save me, God, because I'm stuck in a big old mess and this time I don't have anything to hold onto - so I know I'm gonna sink.  I keep calling for help, but no one's answering - I don't even see You anymore." Yet he keeps praying and talking to God, though he doesn't 'see' or sense that God is there.  That's faith. Knowing that God is moved when we pray in faith - knowing that He will rescue us from the mire and not let us sink - because of the goodness of His love for us!

Then he praises and thanks the Lord for things yet unseen. Now that's the very definition of faith. Believing, though what we believe for is not seen in any way, shape or form.

He also prays that other people who see him do not fall away from God on account of his failures.  People looked up to him as a leader, when he fell some may have figured that he wasn't who he said he was, so maybe God wasn't so great after all.  David didn't want that to happen - he was what we say 'saving face' - not really for himself, but in God's stead. 

I believe God answered out of His mercy and love because His Name will never be tarnished by one who calls themselves a man or woman of God. Others watch us - do we react differently to circumstances or do we react as everyone else does, gossip, slander, becoming angry and vindictive.  Yes, we are human, we have emotions, but it's critical to involve the Lord right away when we are crossed.... so we can learn to handle circumstances and situations His way and let His Name be glorified in our midst.

Down in the Lowlands - Russ Taff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFP6QkmA6w

05-22-13 Faith Without Works

James 2:14-26 "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God.Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

James was definitely on his soapbox with this one, wasn't he?  In my opinion, he's basically saying, "If you faith that God can do something - go out and show the world what God can do."

If you have faith that God can heal the broken-hearted - go out and pray for the healing river of God of flow into the broken hearts of the people around you. God has a wonderful way of laying a certain person that you see, on your heart - step out and show what God can do!

If you have faith that God can heal physical bodies - when you see someone with a physical ailment - put that faith to work!

If you have faith that God can deliver people from addictions - by all means, pray for them to be set free!

In Matthew 5, verses 14-16, Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

We aren't born again into the family of God to just sit around and talk about being in the family of God... we are called on to demonstrate His power, His love, His patience - His mercy - His grace - His glory - to a world that doesn't know the love and power and etc.... that we know.

Smile as people walk by, let the Light of Jesus shine through you today!

Screen Door - Rich Mullins ( a little light-hearted -- but makes sense)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ajdsm9YmhU

05-21-13 Unwavering Faith

1 Samuel 30:1-10 "David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

Ok, if this isn't faith, faithfulness, loyalty - I don't know what is.  I was reading this portion this morning and the Spirit illuminated these verses. By the way, when you read the Word, ask the Spirit to allow you to see what He want's you to see, you just may be surprised by something you've overlooked for quite some time.

David and his men were set to fight with the Philistines, since they were living in their country.  Not sure what the logic was behind that... not even going into that.  The Philistines said "NO WAY".  He'll turn around and kill all of us.  So, David and his men when back to the Ziklag - their settlement and these verse start.

Now, think about coming back home and seeing devastation everywhere and bodies livestock lying here and there. Women and children carried off. The men wept openly - mighty soldiers who were strong enough to allow their grief to come out.  They cried so hard that they had no strength.  I'm thinking a lot of us know what that feels like... once we let it all out. 

But then the because angry with David and wanted to stone him.  David humbled himself - and I personally believe that he asked for the Ephod so that the men could see that he was inquiring of the Lord and not about to act on his own accord.  The Lord honored his faith and in Him and said go, you'll overtake those who plundered you and you will rescue those that have been taken. (Could be a whole other blog post on that one).

Those men who weren't extremely worn out, decided to trust - to have have faith - to remain loyal to David.  They decided to listen and obey, in the midst of their pain. Even the ones who stayed behind listened and obeyed... they needed rest, refreshment - besides, someone had to guard the camp.

To me, this is faith in action.  The Word says 'Faith without works is dead'.  It doesn't mean anything unless we put it use.  

In what areas do we need to put our faith in action?  Something to think about....

And let's pray for those in Oklahoma City today.... such devastation.... Lord look on them and come down with comfort and provision.

Praise you in This Storm - Casting Crowns (played before, but it's still good)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCpP0mFD9F0

05-20-13 Tests of Faith

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I took a day off of writing as I was out of town... 

Tests of faith are not pleasant. Okay, understatement of the year... so far. Right? But without them, we probably wouldn't grow a whole lot in faith.  Nobody really like tests... well, there may be a few people, but they'd be questionable ;)

Let's say you have a loved one who is sick and goes to the hospital.  You send an email out to all your friends... and maybe a few enemies... to pray, pray, pray. Mostly because the family doctor was really, really concerned about them and called you in.... then the texts, emails went out.

You visit them and the doctor says that they should be dead - not in the hospital. Pulmonary arteries more that 50% blocked with a clot... passed out the day before, difficulty breathing, and  he had been in atrial fibrillation (erratic heartbeat) for two days straight. Doctor says the majority end up at the coroners, not at the hospital. The ones that do make it to the hospital have a 95% of making it.

Phew! Talk about the power of prayer. Then there's this place you need to be for a few days and you don't want to leave them. They tell you to go and since they do have a measure of authority over you, you honor them by going.

The Lord blesses you - even though you sneak away the next day to see him then come back...  They are in God's hands and so are you.  

God always continues the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). 
He smiles as we turn to Him in faith instead of listening to the voice of the enemy whispering or yelling in our minds how bad things are and how bad things could get. We let go of all of the lies (even though they may have a shred of truth) and grab a hold of the Truth of God.

The more we do this, the more we become mature and complete - not lacking anything IN HIM. We persevere through the difficulty knowing that God's grace - that unmerited favor - really IS sufficient to get us through what the issue is.

We come to realize that God is doing for ourselves what could never do alone - He's developing Christ in us... the Hope of Glory.

Christ in You - Hosanna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czz8OkT1z0E